88 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
leaving, its marks upon the earth.—February 15th. Mr. Hawkes ex¬ 
hibited, under the microscope, Gemmae and Protonema of moss, 
Aulacomnion androgynum. Mr. J, W. Neville, section of cement-stein 
from Isle of Fur, Denmark, showing Trinacria excavata and other 
diatoms in situ. Mr. Tylar, gemmules of Spongilla fluviatilis. 
LEICESTER LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
Section D, Zoology and Botany. Chairman, F. T. Mott, F.R.C.S. 
Monthly Meeting, Wednesday, February 17th. Attendance twelve 
(three ladies.) The following objects were exhibited, viz.:—By Miss 
Shenton, coloured drawings of Leicestershire fungi, Morchella , 
Clavaria , Geoglossum, &c., very delicately executed; and a collection of 
dried plants from the Black Forest. By Mr. W. A. Vice, fresh 
specimens of Leicestershire fungi, Daedalea, Sphceria, &c. By Mr. 
F. Bates, the first number of the new work by Dr. Hudson, on “ The 
Rotifera,” with coloured plates, to be completed in six numbers, at 
10s. 6d. each. Mr. E. F. Cooper, F.L.S., called attention to a recent 
article in the Daily News, referring to the possibility of driving out an 
injurious Bacterium from the human body by the introduction of an 
innocuous and more vigorous one. Dr. Tomkins said in reply that 
there was not at present sufficient evidence of the truth of the state¬ 
ments contained in the Daily News. Several microscopes were set up 
fitted with cameras of different forms, and experiments were made in 
microscopic drawing. Dr. Tomkins remarked that photography was 
now superseding hand-drawing of microscopic objects. Photographic 
apparatus for the purpose could be bought for about 30s., exclusive of 
developing apparatus. 
PETERBOROUGH NATURAL HISTORY, SCIENTIFIC, 
AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—January 22nd. Geological 
Section. — Chairman, Mr. E. Wheeler. Six members present.—Chap. 
VII. of Lyell’s “ Student’s Elements” was read and considered. The 
Chairman read a portion of Darwin’s theory of Atoll formations from 
the “ Voyage of the Beagle”—the remaining part to be read at the 
next meeting.—January 29th. Botanical Section. —Chairman, Mr. J. 
W. Bodger. Nine persons present.—The Chairman gave an address 
on “The Root or descending axis of Plants,” dividing it into true or 
primary and adventitious or secondary, explaining and illustrating the 
terms pileorhiza, coleorhiza, exorhizal, endorhizal, and heterohizal; 
the mode of growth of the chief kinds of roots, giving illustrations of 
fibrous, coralline, tuberculated, palmate, fasciculated, nodulose, annu¬ 
lar, moniliform; and the modifications of taproots, as conical, fusiform, 
napiform, placentiform, contorted, and premorse. — February 5tli. 
Geological Section. —Chairman, Mr. E. Wheeler. Six persons present. 
—The Chairman concluded a reading from Darwin’s “Voyage of the 
Beagle,” relating to the formation of coral islands.—February 12th. 
Botanical Section. —Chairman, Mr. J. W. Bodger. Nine persons 
present.—The Chairman gave an address on “ The Stem or ascending 
axis of Plants,” explaining and illustrating the structure of exogenous, 
endogenous, and acrogenous stems, the terms nodes, internodes, 
cicatrix, &c.; adventitious shoots, exhibiting ferns with young plants 
growing upon older fronds, as examples of the latter ; also bulbils in 
the axils of the leaves of a begonia, and in the inflorescence of Allium 
vineale, and various forms of stems, together with species of Labiates 
with decussate leaves and quadrangular stems. 
