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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
witli several boughs naturally inarched and grown together. By Dr. 
Finch, specimens of Helix ericetorum, and //. virgata, from the Downs 
at Eastbourne ; and a fine example of the pendant nest of a wasp on a 
branch of cedar of Lebanon, from the grounds of the borough lunatic 
asylum. The nest was nearly globular, about five inches in diameter, 
and when taken was deserted, the gardener having seen the wasps fly 
away in a body carrying something with them which appeared to be 
either eggs or larvae. By the Chairman, dried specimens for distribu¬ 
tion of Erodium moschatum , Laminin hybridum , &c. The Chairman, in 
the absence of the author, read a paper by Mr. H. E. Quilter on “ The 
Metamorphoses of Galereuca nympliea, a coleopterous insect,” describing 
the larvae collected from the floating leaves of Polygonum amphibium , 
and the phenomena of their changes into pupae and perfect beetles, 
carefully watched and recorded by himself. The Chairman remarked 
that this paper was a useful contribution to a branch of entomology, in 
which there was still a wide field for amateur work. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—September 20th. Mr. Deakin exhibited the jaws of a 
shark; Mr. Dunn (for Mr. Baxter) larvae of Orgyia pudibunda and 
pup® of Grapta C. album. Under the microscopes, Mr. Corbet showed 
Tabellaria Jlocculosa, a diatom from tap water; Mr. J. W. Neville, a 
plant bug, Tingis, from Turkey ; Mr. H. Hawkes, Isaria farinosa, a 
fungus growing from the abdomen of a spider; Mr. Mulliss, anthers 
of Malva moschata. — September 27th. Mr. J. Madison exhibited 
continental specimens of land shells ; Mr. A. T. Evans, a pebble from 
the Drift, containing several specimens of Orthis budleiyhensis; Mr. J. 
Harrison, a belemnite, illustrating the difference between ancient and 
modern cuttle fish—in the latter the pliragmacone is missing, and the 
guard almost so; Mr. Wagstaff, Australian gum-enclosing insects. 
Mr. J. A. Grew then read a paper—“ Notes on a Foreign Tour.” The 
route taken was from Dieppe, through Rouen, Paris, and Nancy, to 
Strasbourg. The notes comprised sketches of the archaeology, archi¬ 
tecture, and natural history. The writer regretted that improvement 
schemes had coffined so many of the old houses of Rouen in the dust 
of the past. The cathedrals of Rouen and Strasbourg were particularly 
spoken of as monuments of architectural beauty. The natural history 
was not widely different from our own, except that some objects rare 
with us were abundant there. An account of the Lepidoptera seen by 
the way concluded an interesting paper.—October 4th. Mr. Deakin 
showed a specimen of Pholadomya Jidicula and fossil wood from the Lias 
of Dorsetshire; Mr. Wagstaff, an improved microscope lamp with 
metal chimney, the advantages claimed for it being efficiency with 
economy ; Mr. H. Hawkes, a number of fungi, including specimens of 
Cortinarius helvolus, Clavaria vermiculata , Russula emetica, and Spluero- 
bolus stellatus. Under the microscopes, Mr. H. Hawkes showed a 
fungus, Sporodinia dichotoma; Mr. H. Insley, a section of Aristolochia 
latifolia; Mr. Mulliss, stained section of fern.—October 11th. Messrs. 
Deakin and Evans showed a coral, plant-remains, and other fossils in 
pebbles from the Drift; Mr. H. Hawkes, the following fungi:— Dcedalea 
quercina , Boletus badius , Clavaria incequalis , and Agaricus prunulus. The 
subject of the evening was Practical Microscopy—“ Mounting whole 
Insects.” Mr. J. W. Neville demonstrated the simplicity of preparing 
whole insects for microscopical investigation by describing and showing 
the processes they pass through. Several objects were prepared and 
mounted, and afterwards exhibited to the meeting. 
