REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
199 
not yet named, found on the dracaenas in the Botanical Gardens; 
Mr. H. Insley, a section of coal ball through a fern stem and leaf bud ; 
Mr. Hawkes, (Ecidium vioUe. —May 24th. Mr. C. P. Neville exhibited 
a Silurian coral, Tliecia Sioindermana, from the Wren’s Nest; Mr. F. C. 
Beale, slabs of Madrepore marble from Iowa and Teignmouth. Under 
the microscope : Mr. Wagstaff, Euglena viridis in the red stage, and 
Draparnaldia plumosa. A lecture was then given by Mr. Edmonds on 
“ Photo-micrography,” describing the scientific value of photographic 
pictures of microscopic objects, on account of the accuracy of their 
detail. The simplicity of the apparatus and mode of manipulation 
were described. The lecture was illustrated with numerous positive 
and negative pictures, many being shown by the lantern.—May 31st. 
Mr. J. Moore showed specimens of the mining bee and nest of the 
same, also nest of wasp ; Mr. Deakin, models of snails and slugs ; 
Messrs. Tylar and Delicate, a series of photographs of the Wren’s Nest. 
Under the microscopes : Mr. Hutchinson, Puccinia umbelliferarum ; Mr. 
Insley, transverse sections of fossil fern stems ; Mr. Tylar, zoea of 
Palcemon squilla ; Mr. Hawkes, a series of slides and sketches showing 
the structure of Arum maculatum; Mr. J. Madison, clausium from 
Glausilia rugosa .—June 7th. The Photographic Section presented to 
the Society an album and note book for photographs and remarks on 
geology, natural history, and general science. Mr. A. T. Evans 
exhibited fossiliferous pebbles from the drift; Mr. J. Madison, a 
monstrosity of Limncea peregra; Mr. Rodgers, larva and imago of tiger 
beetle, Gicindela campestris. Under the microscopes : Mr. J. W. Neville 
showed Gamasus coleoptratorum from humble bee ; Mr. H. Hawkes, 
specimens of coccus found on willow twigs. A paper was then read by 
Mr. J. Collins on “ Modifications of Floral Organs.” The writer 
described the wonderful variety of form, colour, and perfume in 
common wild flowers, and various stages of development from ordinary 
leaves. After describing the two parts of flowers, the reproductive 
organs and their envelopes, the subject was considered under three 
heads—modifications of colour, of the perianth, and of the stamens 
and pistils. These modifications had generally taken place to secure 
cross-fertilisation, though some instances were given where self¬ 
fertilisation was most advantageous, and the flower had been modified 
accordingly. The writer concluded by saying that this branch of 
botany acted as a corrective to the selfish notion that flowers in all 
their variety were only to please the eye of man. The paper was 
illustrated by diagrams and specimens. 
LEICESTER LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
—Section D, Zoology and Botany. Chairman, F. T. Mott, F.R.G.S. 
Monthly Meeting, Wednesday, June 16tli. Attendance twelve (four 
ladies). The Chairman reported that the Field Day Excursion to 
Loseby and Tilton Hill last week was attended by eight members, but 
that not much of special interest was met with beyond a few new 
localities for some of the less common plants. Mr. E. F. Cooper, 
F.L.S., read an extract from Grant Allen’s paper on Arum maculatum , 
in which he states that cross-fertilisation is secured by insects who 
escape from the spathes after the “ lobster-pot hairs ” are shrivelled. 
The Chairman and Rev. A. Preston both stated that these hairs were 
not shrivelled in a number of old spathes which they had examined 
and in which flies were lying dead. The Chairman said he had 
examined a number of spathes in which there were no traces of flies, 
but the stigmas were fully fertilised notwithstanding. The pollen 
