120 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
May, 1892. 
society’s instruments and his own in turn, under which objects were 
suitably exhibited, and fully explained the management of the 
light, and the results obtained by the various accessories. A pro¬ 
longed discussion followed, and a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. 
Marshall concluded a lengthy and well attended meeting.— Biological 
Section. April 12th. Mr. John F. Goode (President) in the chair. 
Mr. Steele Elliott exhibited a specimen of the Long-tailed Field Mouse 
(Mus sylvaticus). Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited the root stock of Arrow¬ 
head ( Sagittaria sagittifolia) , from the River Cole, near Coleford. Pro¬ 
fessor T. W. Bridge exhibited skeletons of several species of fishes 
(Siluridse), and called attention to the spines with which they were 
armed. These, he said, served a double purpose both as weapons of 
offence and defence, and also as organs for the production of sound, 
the construction of which organs and the mode of producing sound 
he explained. He also exhibited a beautifully preserved collection of 
marine invertebrata, which had been received recently from the 
marine zoological station at Naples, amongst which was a specimen 
of Balanoglossus minutus, one species of a genus representing the 
oldest and most primitive type of vertebrate structure. A vote of 
thanks was accorded to Professor Bridge. —Microscopical Sub-section. 
April loth. Mr. T. Y. Hodgson occupied the chair, and Mr. J. 
Edmonds gave a demonstration in dry mounting. An adjourned 
meeting was held on April 22nd to put into practice the instruction 
given. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—March 21st. Mr. W. Tylar read a paper “ A Tour on the 
Continent,” Part II., illustrated by lime-light pictures. The views 
were a series of photographs taken in France, Germany, and Holland. 
The German pictures were chiefly taken on the Rhine. Some of the 
instantaneous views of market places, crowded piers, and timber 
rafts were much appreciated.—March 28th. Special. Geology. Mr. 
J. Madison exhibited specimens of trilobite, Phacops caudatus , from 
Sedgley; Mr. Rolan, fossils from Oolite of Cheltenham; Mr. Linton, 
a collection of Ammonites, from Whitby. Mr. J. W. Neville, a section 
of Carboniferous Limestone, showing foraminifera in situ; Mr. W. J. 
Parker, Actinophrys sol; Mr. H. Hawkes, flea of monkey, and galls of 
ground ivy with the gall-fly.—April 4th. Mr. H. Hawkes showed 
specimens of fossil corals and peculiar water-worn stones from Scot¬ 
land; Mr. Rolan, specimens of Terebratula biplicata, from the Cots- 
wold Hills; Mr. J. Collins, the following plants: Dianthus prolifer, 
Anagallis ccerulea, and Bupleurum aristatum. —April 11th. Mr. J. 
Madison exhibited specimens of Planorbis complanatus and Limncea 
peregra, both curiously contorted ; Mr. G. H. Corbett, Lima gigantea, 
from Lower Lias, Harbury, and other localities. Mr. Matley then 
read a paper on “ The Anodon.” The writer said this mollusc could 
be found plentifully in the pools and canals of the district, and was very 
available for biological purposes. If one was placed in a small vessel 
of clear water, the current could be seen passing in and out of the 
posterior end. When one valve was removed the creature could be 
examined in detail. The different parts were then described—the 
branchiae, ciliated epithelia, and directions of the currents, the circu¬ 
latory system, digestion, kidneys, liver, and nervous system, the 
latter being of a very simple type and consisting only of a few ganglia, 
one of the nerves going to the auditory sac in the foot. The creature 
was unisexual. The reproductive organs were described, and the ova 
traced until they emerged from the mantle in a sufficiently advanced 
state to begin the battle of life. A discussion closed the meeting. 
