26 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
found, with their distribution. The paper, which was most interesting, 
was illustrated with an extensive series of flowering plants, ferns, and 
mosses, noticeable among which were Sagittaria sagittifolia , Epipactis 
media, E. latifolia, Blechnum boreale, and Lycopodium clavatum, a rare 
Midland plant, not before recorded from that district. Prof. Hillliouse 
made some very interesting and instructive remarks on the subject, 
and a discussion ensued in which Messrs. J. Morley, J. E. Bagnall, 
and others took part. Mr. J. Morley exhibited on behalf of Mr. S. 
Walliker the cast skin of a snake. Mr. J. E. Bagnall, A.L.S., 
exhibited for Mr. J. B. Stone, J.P., Racomitrium atro-virens, I'hilonotis 
fontana, and other mosses from Teesdale ; from Dr. Braithwaite, 
Leptodontium recurvifoliwn from South Wales, and I'hilonotis calcarea 
from Teesdale ; and an interesting series of plants from Colorado, 
U.S., collected by Miss Watkins, daughter of Mr. Leonard Watkins, 
late of this town ; and an extensive series of rare plants from various 
British stations, with microscopical preparations to show modes of 
reproduction observable in mosses. —General Meeting, December loth. 
Mr. B. W. Chase in the chair.—Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E., gave 
his paper on “ The Yosemite Yalley : its Geological and Botanical 
Features in illustration of which he exhibited various specimens 
of rock, granite, Ac., and 120 plant specimens, besides maps and plans 
showing the outline, sections, and position of the valley. The 
paper, which will appear in the “ Midland Naturalist,” was much 
enjoyed by a large assembly of members.— Sociological Section.— 
At a meeting held in Mason College on the 3rd inst., Mr. E. F. 
Morley very effectively read Chapter IX. of the “ Study of Soci¬ 
ology,” on “ The Bias of Patriotism.” On the 17tli inst., Professor 
W. Hillliouse, M.A., F.L.S., commenced the exposition of the Sixth 
and following chapters of Part IV., Yol. II., of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s 
“ Principles of Biology,” on “ Morphological Differentiation in Plants.” 
The President, Mr. W. It. Hughes, F.L.S., Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., 
and others took part. The subject will be completed on the next 
ordinary meeting of the section, on January 21st. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—October 19th. The discussion on “ The Ice Age ” was 
brought to a conclusion, Messrs. Rodgers, Insley, Hawkes, and 
Sanderson taking part.—October 26th. Mr. Beale exhibited two pipes 
and a pipe-head quaintly carved in a species of soap-stone, used as 
calumets or peace-pipes by the Dacotah Indians, also a number of arrow 
and spear-heads and knives in flint, chalcedony, quartz, quartzite, and 
jasper from the grave mounds in the Central States of America. 
Mr. Evans, a specimen of Amphioxus lanceolatus, a vertebrate, from the 
Mediterranean. Under the microscope, Mr. Tylar showed anthers of 
Erica hyemalis ; and Mr. J. W. Neville, Catenicella aurita, an Australian 
polyzoon. A paper was then read by Mr. Beale on “ How a Map is 
Made,” which described the various instruments used, and the necessity 
of testing their accuracy before commencing the survey; also the 
importance of getting a good idea of the district from an elevated 
station. The whole district is then cut up into triangles, and every line 
between the various stations measured, and copious notes of every 
detail made in the field book. The process of plotting or drawing a 
map from the field book was described, and the necessity of exactness 
in every measurement, as the total of all areas added up must corres¬ 
pond with the district surveyed. The paper concluded by describing 
the difficulties of an urban compared with a rural survey.—November 
