72 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Mar., 1892. 
by the line of the Mediterranean Sea, and one remarkable plant, an 
orchid (Disa grandiflora ), was confined solely to a mountain at the 
Cape of Good Hope ; this was a good instance of restricted distribu¬ 
tion. Now let them consider how botanists explain these facts. Plants 
can only live under certain conditions. If these conditions are changed 
the life of the plant is changed too. The effects of heat, cold, light, 
drought, &c., were described. The direction of winds and the nature 
of soil were important factors. The distribution of seeds by winds, 
currents, and animals was referred to, and the extirpation of plants 
by drainage, deforesting, &c. If a plant cannot change its habit it goes 
out of existence.—Feb. 8th. Mr. H. Hawkes exhibited about fifty species 
of Erica and described their area of distribution as a somewhat 
limited one. They were found from Iceland to the Cape of Good 
Hope, and eastward to the Ural Mountains. Their centre of distri¬ 
bution was said to be the Cape, as all species, except about thirty, were 
found there. Mr. Hawkes also showed a series of plants from a 
herbarium made during a tour round the world ; Mr. Linton, a series 
of marine shells from Panama; Mr. Foster, a boomerang from 
Australia; Mr. J. Collins, mosses from Llandudno.—Feb 15th. 
Professor Hillhouse, M.A., F.L.S., exhibited a singular fruit with 
recurved horn-like processes and dorsal spines, doubtless to adapt it 
for transmission by animal agency. A lecture was then given by Mr. 
A, W. Haines, B.Sc., on “ Digestion and the Digestive Organs.” The 
speaker said the magnitude of the subject precluded him from dealing 
with it generally, he should therefore only speak of digestion 
in Mammalia. After defining the uses of digestion, the speaker said 
foods were of four kinds, and we should have to trace them through the 
alimentary canal until all the nutrition was absorbed. The following 
processes were then described :—Mastication, the use of saliva, and the 
structure of the glauds that secreted it, the swallowing of food, its 
passage through the oesophagus into the stomach, the structure of the 
stomach and pancreas, and the formation of chyle. The chemical 
changes that take place in the passage of different kinds of food 
through the organs were dealt with at considerable length. The 
subject was illustrated by drawings on the black-board, and at its 
conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer. 
BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—February 1st. 
Annual Meeting, Mr. W. G. Blatch, President, in the chair. The 
Secretary read the annual report of the Council, which showed the 
number of members to be about the same as at the last annual 
meeting ; and the Treasurer presented his report, showing a balance in 
hand of £4 18s. 4d. The following were elected as officers for the 
ensuing year:—President, Mr. W. G. Blatch, F.E.S. ; Vice-president, 
Mr. G. H. Kenrick, F.E.S.; Treasurer, Mr. R. C. Bradley ; Librarian, 
Mr. A. Johnson; Auditors, Messrs. Herbert Stone, F.L.S., and A. 
Stone-Wainwrigbt; Hon. Sec., Colbran J. Wainwright. Messrs. G. T. 
Betliune-Baker, F.L.S., F.E.S., and G. W. Wynn were also elected on 
the Council. Mr. C. liunge showed cocoons of Trocliilium apiformis , 
containing larvae, which he had dug out of poplars from near the 
roots, at Arley.—February 8th. Social Meeting. By invitation of the 
Council the members and a few friends met together at the Grand 
Hotel, when a pleasant social evening was spent. A number of 
interesting books and insects were shown aud examined, and the 
pleasure of the evening was much added to by the music which one or 
two members aud friends provided. 
