166 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Jui.y, 1892. 
half are European, a large proportion of the others are only varieties 
of European plants, many of the remainder are endemic species, and a 
small proportion belong to Africa. This is singular, seeing that Africa 
is a hundred miles nearer than Europe. Alpine plants are unknown 
in this island. In the Canary Islands, one third of the plants are 
peculiar to them. These islands are near to Africa and far from 
Europe ; of the other two-thirds, most are of European genera, a less 
proportion are European species, and the smallest group is of African 
origin. No Alpine plants are found in these islands. In the 
Azores, which are about 750 miles from Europe, one-tentli of 
the plants are peculiar to the islands, the remainder are European 
in their affinities, and they have very limited relations with 
America. Practically speaking, these three groups of islands 
resemble each other. The island of St. Helena was spoken of 
as one where man had greatly altered the flora, but, at the commence¬ 
ment of this century, of forty-five plants forty were peculiar to the 
island. In Kerguelen Land, of eighteen flowering plants two were 
peculiar and the remainder came from the Cape Horn district. The 
lecturer then enlarged on these facts, and what they taught. An 
oceanic island generally had a flora resembling that upon the nearest 
land. Madeira and other neighbouring islands pointed to the fact of a 
more intimate land connection between them and Europe, and that in 
this connection Africa did not share. The difference found in plants 
in various areas could be accounted for by the law of natural selection 
through vast ages in which plants had gone on diverging from the 
original types. A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. W. Dunn, seconded 
by Mr. W. J. Parker, brought the meeting to a close.—May 16tli. Mr. 
John Betteridge reported seeing a flock of fieldfares at Westheath, on 
May 8th, being the latest date upon which he had observed them. Mr. 
G. H. Corbett showed polished specimens of tabulate and rugose 
corals from the Wenlock limestone ; Mr. H. Hawkes, specimens 
of Lathrcea squamaria, calling attention to its peculiar life-history. 
Under the microscope : Mr. J. W. Neville, a section of cement-stein 
from Jutland, showing diatoms in situ ; Mr. W. J. Parker, 
two rotifers, Dinocharis detractus and Lindia torulosa. — May 
23rd. Mr. J. W. Neville exhibited a series of molluscan palates, and 
called attention to their chief differences of structux’e, and the 
best methods of mounting them; Mr. Hawkes, for Mr. White, Paris 
quadrifolia and other plants from Solihull; Mr. Hawkes, saw of saw¬ 
fish, and the following fungi :— Reticularia umbrina , TJstilago receptacu- 
lorum, and the secidiospore stage of Puccinia tragopogi ; Mr. J. 
Madison an abnormal specimen of Planorbis spirorbis ; Mr. G. H. 
Corbett, a number of the rarer varieties of quartz, including specimens 
of agate (natural colour and stained), moss agate, onyx, chalcedony, 
cornelian, bloodstone, cat’s-eye, and opal. Under the microscope, Mr. 
Hawkes showed bird’s head processes on Bugula avicula and Halecium 
halecinum , with polyps expanded. Mr. J. Collins showed a micro¬ 
scope of an old type, but giving good definition. Mr. J. Betteridge 
gave a list of birds of the Umberslade district. —May 30th. Mr. H. 
Hawkes showed Montia fontana, Nardus stricta , and other plants from 
Sutton ; Mr. J. Moore, a series of prints from an old book on micro¬ 
scopy ; Mr. Mulliss, larva of tiger beetle; Mr. G. H. Corbett, palatal 
teeth of fish and ichthyodorulite of Hybodus Keuperi from Upper 
Keuper, Shrewley Common ; Mr. W. J. Parker, a small crab embedded 
in a piece of mother-of-pearl; Mr. J. Betteridge, nest and eggs of 
nightingale (Philomela luscinia). Under the microscope, Mr. Hawkes 
showed spicules from among polycistina ; Mr. Parker, spores of 
Equisetum arvense ; Mr. J. Collins, Scenodesmus quadratics. —June 13tli. 
