RB3 PORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
309 
Toadstools.— It is a very old-established belief in many districts 
that toads commonly sit upon fungi; this idea has arisen from a 
misunderstanding of the meaning of the word “toadstool” or 
“ paddock stool.” One meaning of the word “paddock” is “toad,” 
and in old times, when the toad was looked upon as ugly and venomous, 
poisonous fungi were supposed to arise spontaneously from its dung ; 
the second syllable, “ stool,” being really the old word which is 
synonymous with dung, or the place where dung is laid down.— 
Worthington G. Smith, in The Gardening World. 
Botanical.— Mr. J. D. Siddall, of Chester, has recently had printed 
for the use of students a “ Classification of the Vegetable Kingdom, 
showing the position therein of the British and some of the larger 
exotic Natural Orders of Plants, with abbreviated details of the floral 
structure of each.” This is printed on one sheet, demy, and includes 
120 natural orders from Ranunculacese to the lowest forms of the 
Cryptogamia. It is very ably compiled, and will be of the greatest 
service to students preparing for examination. 
The British Association.— The following important Committees 
on subjects of local interest were appointed at the recent Meeting in 
Birmingham, on the recommendation of the Committee of Section D, 
Biology:— 
“ That Mr. Valentine Ball, Mr. H. G. Fordham, Professor Haddon, 
Professor Hillhouse, Mr. John Hopkinson, Dr. Macfarlane, Professor 
Milnes Marshall, Mr. F. T. Mott, Dr. Traquair, and Dr. H. Woodward 
be a Committee for the purpose of preparing a report upon the 
Provincial Museums of the United Kingdom ; that Mr. Mott be the 
Secretary, and that the sum of £5 be placed at their disposal for the 
purpose.” 
“ That Professor Hillhouse, Mr. E. W. Badger, and Mr. A. W. Wills 
be a Committee for the purpose of collecting information as to the 
Disappearance of Native Plants from their local habitats ; and that 
Professor Hillhouse be the Secretary.” 
“ That Professor Milnes Marshall, Dr. Sclater, Canon Tristram, 
Dr. Muirhead, Mr. W. R. Hughes, Mr. E. de Hamel, and Professor 
Bridge be a Committee for the purpose of preparing a report on the 
Herds of Wild Cattle in Chartlev Park and other parks in Great 
Britain ; and that Mr. W. R. Hughes be the Secretary.” 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Meeting, October 5th. This being the opening of the 
session, the Chairman and President, Mr. R. W. Chase, gave an 
interesting address, in which he drew the attention of the members to 
the necessity for taking further steps to foster the love of natural 
history, and said he could assure the members that no efforts would 
be spared by the committee to ensure interesting and instructive 
meetings. He insisted upon the necessity of the hearty co-operation 
of the members who were capable of giving papers and otherwise 
assisting in the practical work of the society, and said that the 
interest shown by the visitors to the natural history annexe of the 
