256 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
(for Mr. J. Hamson) Paxillus atro-tomentosus, from near Bedford.- • 
Geological Section, August 24tli. Mr. Edmonds exhibited a dahlia 
with two flower-heads, placed back to back, on one stalk. Mr. W. B. 
Grove exhibited Ag. plialloides, Ag. columbetta (new to county), Ag. 
stanneus (also new), Ag. asterosporus, Gomphidius viscidus , L. cilicioides, 
Tj. cyafhula (new), from Ham’s Hall and Colesliill; Ag. Bongardii (new 
to county), Ag. confluens , Ag. in fundi huliform is , Clavaria cristata, and 
TTehnintliosporinm clavariarum (new), from Edgbaston Park; Biderma 
vernicosum, from Marston Green; (for Mr. H. Hawkes) Gomphidius 
viscidus and Cantharellus cibarius, from Kings wood ; and (for Mr. J. 
Hamson) Ag. chrysopliceus and Ag. liumilis , from Bedford. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—July 19th. Mr. J. Madison exhibited a type specimen of 
TJnio tumidus, and three varieties of the same, ovalis, ponderosa , and 
radiata; Mr. A. T. Evans, pebbles from the Moseley Drift, with fossil 
fucoid forms, carboniferous sandstone, with fossils, &c. ; Mr. H. 
Hawkes, the following fungi:— Melampsora tremulce, Protomyces macro- 
sporus. and Puccinia ccgopodii; Mr. J. Harrison, jun., auditory ossicles 
of human ear. Under the microscope Mr. Tylar showed Alcyonella 
fvngosa; Mr. Hawkes, female flower of Anacharis alsinastrum. An 
exhibition of microscopical slides was then made, Mr. H. Insley show¬ 
ing a series of botanical mounts in glycerine, which, as a mounting 
medium, he held to be superior to jelly or gelatine. The further 
exhibition and discussion was adjourned to August 9th.—July 26th. 
Mr. J. Madison showed specimens of Helix rotundata, var. pyramidalis , 
a caddis case wholly made of shells of Planorbis alba , and a small 
collection of foreign marine shells; Mr. Deakin, the white variety of 
Erica tetralix , from Sutton Park; Mr. J. Moore, British marine shells ; 
Mr. A. T. Evans, pebbles from the Moseley Drift, containing Orthis, 
Modiola, head of trilobite, etc.; Mr. J. Harrison, jun., a stalactite 
from Matlock. A paper was then read by Mr. Corbet, on “ A Visit to 
the Buckstone.” The writer described the Buckstone as a large 
boulder in the Forest of Dean, composed of old red conglomerate, and 
estimated to weigh about eighty tons. It tapered to a point, and. 
resting on a slab formed a rocking stone, and probably owed its origin 
to denuding agencies. The writer described the damage it sustained 
at the hands of visitors who rocked it until it rolled down the hillside 
and was broken into several pieces, and though now restored to its 
former place and still worthy of a visit, it had lost much of its interest. 
PETERBOROUGH NATURAL HISTORY, SCIENTIFIC, AND 
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—July 15th. Botanical excursion. 
Conductor, Mr. J. W. Bodger. By Thorpe Meadows to Orton Stanch, 
thence by river side to Peterborough. Plants collected, Sedum acre, 
Allium vineale , and varieties, bulbiferum and compactum , Spircea Ulmaria , 
Thlaspi arvense, Lychnis Githago, Galium mollugo, G. palustre, Lythrum 
Salicaria, Stellaria glauca, Thalictmm Jlavum, Veronica anagallis, 
Geranium pratense , Cornus sanguinea , Achillea Ptarmica, Epilobium 
hirsutum , Butomus umbellatus, etc.—July 22nd. Geological excursion, 
conducted by Mr. E. Wheeler, to Forest Marble Section, St. Botolph’s 
Field.—July 29th. Botanical excursion, by lane from Thorpe to 
Milton. Trifolium fragiferum, Ononis arvensis, Bullota feetida, Stachys 
Betonica, S. sylvatica, Campanula Trachelium, hi gust rum vulgare , Bunium 
flexuosum, Bromus asper, B. erectus , and Festuca gigantea, were among 
the plants collected. 
