REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
87 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—January 18th. Mr. J. Madison exhibited a small collection 
of marine shells ; Mr. Tylar, a series of photographic negatives of 
microscopic objects; Mr. Hawkes the following fungi: —Polyporus 
versicolor, Nectria coccinea, Stereum purpureum , and Nectria cinnabarina. 
Under the microscope, Mr. Hawkes exhibited some preparations of the 
latter fungus, and described, with the aid of highly magnified drawings 
of the conidia and sporidia, its two modes of fruiting, one of which 
was formerly believed to be a different fungus and was known as 
Tubercularia vulgaris. Mr. Rodgers read a paper on “ The Star Sirius,” 
in which he described its enormous magnitude when compared with 
our sun, and that it usually gave a white light, though frequently 
appearing coloured. The ideas of the ancients respecting it were con¬ 
sidered, and the frequency of its mention in their myths. Modern 
researches show that Sirius is not the nearest star, as was at one time 
thought. The writer also described the annual displacement of this 
star, its spectrum, its motion through space, circling around another 
orb, the search for and supposed finding of this orb, shining with a faint 
light, and concluded by saying that Sirius, from its size and rank, well 
merited the title of the “Giant Sun.”—January 25th. A lime-light 
exhibition was given by Mr. C. Pumphrey, of a large number of photo¬ 
graphic views of Canadian and American scenery taken by himself 
during a recent visit to those countries. The views were of a varied 
kind, and comprised many of a most interesting character of the 
Yellowstone Park, with its hot springs and geysers and the peculiar 
rocky deposits formed by them, and also of the Yellowstone River, that 
showed the same rocks in section. At the conclusion a hearty vote of 
thanks was accorded to Mr. Pumphrey for his kindness.—February 1st. 
Mr. Hawkes exhibited a geometric slide for the magic lantern, and ex¬ 
plained the principle by which various designs could be drawn, also a 
lichen, Cenomyces deformis ; Mr. Dunn, a number of insects from 
Calcutta. Under the microscope, Mr. Hawkes showed a series of 
slides of sections of buds from various trees, some through the im¬ 
mature flowers, and drawings and specimens illustrating the same. 
Mr. P. T. Deakin read a paper on “ Oology as a study,” describing the 
period of the nidification of birds as a most interesting one. A 
collection of eggs should not be large, two of each species being amply 
sufficient, with a few varieties. Several classes of birds were referred 
to where the eggs bore a strong family likeness, but local differences 
were sometimes found difficult to account for. The paper dealt with 
the colour of eggs and gave reasons for them, and concluded by 
referring to the ancient ancestry of birds, their embryology, and some 
ways in which evolution had favoured them. A collection of eggs was 
exhibited.—February 8th. The President, Mr. C. Beale, C.E., delivered 
a lecture on “ What is around us.” The extensive view from the sum¬ 
mit of Sedgley Beacon was described, and the fossils of its lower beds 
passed in brief review. The surface layers resting on the topmost 
members of the Silurian caused us to ask “ Where is the carboniferous 
limestone ? ” The absent beds were described at some length, as being 
of enormous extent, amounting in all to 19,000 feet between our local 
development of the Silurian and Carboniferous systems. The fossils of 
each were referred to as indexes of climate and the upward march of 
organisms. The true coal was mostly laid down in fresh water. The 
vast accumulation of vegetable matter composing our 10 yard seam 
was computed to have taken not less than 250,000 years. The lecturer 
concluded by describing the intrusive rocks of the district, and how 
the everlasting see-saw of land and water had left, and was still 
