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llcestelia lacerata , on fruit of hawthorn. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited 
Palmodictyou viride , from Yardley Wood ; also a caterpillar, sent by 
Mr. Edwin Smith, from Bantry Bay, said to be poisonous to cattle. 
Mr. W. II. Wilkinson exhibited a collection of plants from the Wren’s 
Nest, Dudley, including Garduus eriophorus , the woolly thistle; Viburnum 
opulus, Gentiana amarella, Polygala vulgaris ; also Peltigera canina , 
Lecanora varia (in fruit), and other lichens. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION. — August 9th. Mr. H. Hawkes exhibited the following 
fungi:— Trichobasis fabce , Xenodochus carbonarius, Splicerotheca castagnei 
and Erysiphe communis; Mr. C. F. Beale, two roses, each with a 
bud growing from the centre of the flower; Mr. A. T. Evans, 
a pebble from the Moseley Drift, with fossil spirifer ; Mr. J. 
Harrison, jun., specimens of quartz crystals, smoky quartz, 
chalcedony, jasper, etc. The exhibition of microscopical slides was 
continued, Mr. Hawkes showing a series of preparations of micro¬ 
fungi, notably one containing fourteen species on a slide, from 
simple Uredo spores to the complex Burnet brand; Mr. J. W. 
Neville, a series of preparations of whole insects without pressure; 
Mr. J. Moore, dissections of insects in balsam; Mr. Delicate, 
vegetable preparations in Deane’s gelatine. A discussion on the 
advantages of certain media closed the meeting. August 16th.—Mr. 
H. Hawkes showed a collection of fungi from Symond’s Yat, including 
Uredo hypericorurn on Hypericum perforatum. Mr. W. Dunn then read 
a paper on “ Low 7 Life.” The writer spoke of the development of low 
forms of life in infusions of oatmeal, fish, and tainted flesh, made with 
distilled water, spring water, and tap water ; the latter gave the most 
speedy results. The infusion of oatmeal showed life in four days; 
that of fish the same. If the oatmeal was boiled a filamentous alga 
was the result, which grew to the end of six days and then gave place 
to animalcula. The manner in which water became sweet and clear 
after passing through stages of putridity was spoken of. A description 
of the life history of Amoebae, Stylonychia, and Actinophrys brought 
the subject to a close.—August 23rd. Mr. 0. P. Neville exhibited 
specimens of flying fish, and a small collection of marine shells, 
including specimens of Pandora rostrata ; Mr. H. Hawkes, two fungi, 
Peziza umbrorum and Cantharellus cibarius ; Mr. J. Collins, Saponaria 
officinalis ; Mr. J. Madison, a two-banded variety of IAmneea stagnalis , 
several varieties of Bulimus acutus, including var. nigriscens from 
Portland, and var. elongata from Weymouth, and Cyclostoma eleqans 
var. fasciata from Tintern and Portland; also a series of models of 
slugs, including seven varieties of Arion ater. Under the microscope 
Mr. J. W. Neville showed llispa atra , a spiny beetle from Turkey; 
Mr. H. Hawkes, ova and young of Balanus balanoides, and cirrhi of 
adult; Mr. J. A. Grew, circulation in Closterium lunula .—August 30th. 
Mr. Hopkins showed larva of elephant hawk moth, Cluerocampa 
elpenor. Mr. Holden then read a paper on “ The Pennine Chain, its 
Scenery and Geological Structure.” The surface of England though 
generally level or undulating has tw r o large mountain systems—the 
Cumberland group and the Pennine Chain. The latter is of 
considerable extent, reaching from the Cheviot Hills to the Peak 
of Derbyshire, or about 170 miles, the width being about forty miles, 
but varying considerably. Several of its summits reach an elevation 
of 2,000 feet or more. The chain forms the water parting of the 
northern drainage, and separates the dialects of Yorkshire and 
