48 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Feb., 1892. 
for which a vote of thanks was passed. Mr. J. Collins showed a series 
of slides under the microscope, illustrating the adulteration of fabrics; 
Mr. Linton, palate of Limax viaximus. —December 28th. A reunion of 
past and present members. The meeting was largely attended, and 
during the evening a lime-light exhibition of photographs of castles, 
abbeys, forest trees, and other pictures was given by Mr. S. Delicate, 
assisted by Mr. W. Tylar and other members.—January 4th. The 
committee reported that the new lantern, with lime-light apparatus, 
was complete, and gave every satisfaction, and was now at the service 
of the members. Mr. J. W. Neville exhibited trilobites, graptolites, 
and other fossils from the lower Silurian and Cambrian formations of 
Wales; Mr. G. H. Corbett, lignite from Brook Point; Mr. J. Moore, 
Epeira diadema and E. quadrata, with their nests; Mr. J. Collins, a 
collection of mosses, made in the Highlands of Scotland and North 
Wales, by Mr. Cash, of Manchester. Under the microscope: Mr. J. W. 
Neville, tracheal tubes in nervures of the wing of Sir ex gigas —January 
11th. Mr. Linton exhibited a number of shells of Helix aspersa , 
showing the manner in which they had been repaired by the mollusc. 
The subject for the evening was Practical Microscopy. Mr. H. Hawkes 
gave a demonstration in finishing microscope slides. The ground¬ 
colour used was made of flake white, as supplied in tubes for oil 
painting, mixed with copal varnish. Various designs were then made 
on the white with crimson and blue, prepared in the same manner. 
The slides mounted in Canada balsam had first to be ringed with spirit 
varnish to prevent the running in. Mr. Hawkes also showed a cabinet 
constructed to hold all the requirements for mounting and finishing 
slides.—January 18th. Mr. W. Tylar gave the first of two lime-light 
exhibitions of photographs, taken during a recent tour on the Continent. 
The series mainly comprised pictures of Swiss scenery, many of them 
being taken off the track of ordinary tourists. The pictures were of a 
most interesting description, and called forth the applause of an 
appreciative audience. 
BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. — December 
21st, 1891. Rev. C. F. Thornewill, vice-president, in the chair. Mr. 
P. W. Abbott showed Agrotis obelisca, taken by Mr. A. J. Hodges in 
the Isle of Wight; also a specimen of Noctua c nigrum , with which 
species, Mr. Hodges says, obelisca is often confounded on the sugar. Mr. 
R. C. Bradley showed Pyrellia lasiophthalmia from Sutton. Mr. 
Abbott read a paper on “ A holiday collecting in the Isle of Wight.” 
He worked specially for Agrotis lunigera with considerable success, but 
such was the danger of collecting on the cliffs, where alone they are 
to be taken, that he advised others to leave it alone. He took many 
other good things, the methods of capture of which he described ; 
and the paper was illustrated by two drawers of the specimens taken. 
—January 11th, 1892. Mr. W. G. Blatch, president, in the chair. Mr. 
R. C. Bradley showed some diptera which had been shown at a 
former meeting as Pteropcecilia lamed , with the note that they had 
been confirmed as that species by Mr. Verrall. They had since, at his 
request, been again submitted to Mr. Verrall, and he names them as 
Toxoneura muliebris , and remarks that P. lamed is not yet recorded as 
British satisfactorily. A letter was read from Mr. C. J. Fryer record¬ 
ing Stenamma Westwoodi, from Warwick. Mr. C. J. Wainwright 
read a paper on “A holiday spent in North Cornwall last year,” in 
which he described the results of a fortnight’s collecting on the north 
coast, during which he took Plusia orichalcea and many good diptera. 
The paper was illustrated by photographs and the collections made. 
