834 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.—At a meeting of the Biological Section held on Tuesday 
last, Mr. W. P. Marshall in the chair, Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited 
on behalf of Mr. J. B. Stone, J.P., several beautifully prepared 
specimens of the Cactus tribe of plants from Mexico, representing the 
genera Mamillaria , Opuntia, K chi nocactus , and Cereus, with notes on 
their morphology, habitats, and geographical distribution. A copy of 
Gerarde’s “ Herball,” 1636, was also exhibited, from which Prof. 
Hillhouse, M.A., read the quaint description given by this author of 
Cereus , which had just then been brought into cultivation ; also, in 
illustration of a previous exhibition, the graphic description given by 
Gerarde of the origin and development of the Barnacle Goose. An 
interesting discussion followed.— Microscopical Section, November 
16tli. Mr. R. W. Chase in the chair. Mr. Pumphrey exhibited a 
series of beautiful photographs of flowers, some taken by himself and 
others by Mr. Wills.— Geological Section, November 23rd. Mr. T. H. 
Waller in the chair. Mr. W. P. Marshall read a paper on the “Motion 
of Glaciers” (modern theory of), which will be printed in a future 
number. Mr. R. W. Chase exhibited Mustela martes. Mr. Grove 
exhibited a number of fungi. Mr. Bolton exhibited a flagellate monad, 
probably new.—An enthusiastic meeting was held on Tuesday, Novem¬ 
ber 30th, at the Mason College, when Mr. R. W. Chase occupied the 
chair, the subject of the evening being “ Photo-Microscopy.” Mr. J. 
Edmonds in his lucid style gave a popular description of the apparatus 
he used, which was of simple construction, and as he took the views 
at night, no camera was needed. He explained that the negatives 
were taken on the Ilford ordinary plates, while the positives were on 
Mr. Alfred Pumplirey’s new lantern plates, which gave very brilliant- 
effects. The views were thrown on to the screen by the use of the 
new large oxyhydrogen lantern belonging to the society, which was 
very skilfully manipulated by Mr. Charles Pumphrey. Mr. Edmonds 
then explained the views as they appeared on the screen, his descrip¬ 
tions sometimes causing a laugh amongst the audience, as some well- 
known tiny object appeared of an enormous size on the screen, and 
showing the intricate and beautiful structure, the uses of which he 
explained at the same time. Of the insects that were shown were 
the following, amongst many more:—The scorpion fly, the mosquito, 
showing the lance; several new crustaceans and a new caddis worm 
in its bottle-like home, the jaws of a spider, the head of a wasp, with 
its trowel-like tongue and other appendages ; the compound eye of a 
beetle, which could see round a corner, so that the old adage, “ blind 
as a beetle,” is a very questionable quotation ; the tongue and gizzard 
teeth of the cricket, the spiracles and trachasa of the water beetle, 
showing the breathing tubes ramifying into the smaller vessels, and 
then a greatly magnified view showing the “ water-markings ” caused 
by the crossing of the lines. He also showed photos of sections of 
plants, as the stem of the bracken fern (Pteris aquilina), illustrating 
its structure and the scalariform vessels in situ; also a variety of 
diatoms and other objects. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., then exhibited a 
series of photos of rock sections, which he described as Mr. Pumphrey 
threw them on to the screen, amongst which were splierulites in the 
obsidian of the Yellowstone Rock, U.S.A. ; section showing the lava 
flow in rock from the Wrekin; and another showing the junction of 
