216 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Sept., 1892. 
Iqjorts of Societies. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Biological Section. August 9tli. Mr. W. P. Marshall 
iu the chair. Mr. T. Y. Hodgsou gave a brief account of the 
excursion to Barnt Green on Saturday the 6th inst., and exhibited 
Gristatella mucedo with Trichodina parasitica upon it, Ceratium longicortie, 
Notholca longispina, Pedetes saltator, and Tubifex rivulorum. Mr. S. P. 
Bolton exhibited Sida crystallina and some Algae from the same 
locality. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—July 11th. Mr. P. T. Deakin exhibited specimens of 
Sage Brush, from the soda deserts of Utah; Mr. H. Hawkes, 
Hydra vulgaris , stained for the microscope; Mr. J. W. Neville, 
a peculiar abnormal flower of pansy, that has been continued 
for several years. Mr. Biddle then read a paper on the “ Fertilisa¬ 
tion of Flowers,” in which the writer described the functions of the 
stamens and pistil and the structure of the pollen and ovules. The 
■methods of self-fertilisation and cross-fertilisation were described. 
To the latter, when performed by insect agency, it was stated, we 
owe the brilliantly coloured flowers, and many of those singular 
modifications to adapt them to the particular insects that visited 
them. The advantages of this mode of fertilisation were enumerated. 
The changes taking place in the ovules after the process of fertilisa¬ 
tion was completed were described at some length, the writer saying 
that from this point the life of the new plant began.—July 18th. 
Mr. W. J. Parker exhibited male and female specimens of Dytiscus 
marginalis , the former an abnormal insect having no suckers on. the 
front feet; Mr. P. T. Deakin, a collection of Micro-lepidoptera from 
Sutton Park, giving also a short demonstration of the best method of 
killing and setting them ; Mr. J. Collins, a specimen of Gardamine 
impatiens from Bridgnorth ; Mr. S. White, Epipactis palustris from 
Wyre Forest; Mr. G. H. Corbett, polished slabs of Purbeck Marble ; 
under the microscope, Mr. Hawkes, parasite of pig, Hematopinus suis. 
—July 25th. Mr. S. White, a collection of plants from Yardley Wood ; 
Mr. J. Moore, photographs of foraminifera from various localities; 
Mr. J. Collins, Draparnaldia glomerata. —August 8th. Special Holiday 
Exhibits. Mr. G. -H. Corbett showed a collection of fossils from 
the Wren’s Nest, including a number of parts of Trilobites and a 
series of corals, many of them polished to show their internal 
structure; Mr. S. White described the botanical features of the 
country between Dolgelly and Barmouth and showed a collection of 
plants gathered during the ramble ; Mr. Linton, gorse covered with 
the flowers of Cuscuta europcea ; under the microscope, Mr. J. W. 
Neville, section through the leaf bud of Populus candicans ; Mr. W. J. 
Parker, Nitella translucens. —August loth. Mr. J. W. Neville showed 
a number of ironstone nodules containing fossil ferns from the Tipton 
coalfields and a series of young forms of marine shells ; Mr. J. Moore, 
a series of photomicrographs of molluscan palates, probosces of 
insects, &c. ; Mr. W. J. Parker, a section through flower-bud of tulip. 
BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—August 8th, 
1892 ; Mr. R. C. Bradley in the chair. Mr. G. W. Wynn showed a 
boxful of moths, taken on sugar during two nights at Wyre Forest, 
including a nice row of Aplecta tincta ; also Gossus ligniperda, Gymato- 
phora or, &c. Mr. C. J. Wainwright showed a nice series of Xylota 
sylvarum , from Wyre Forest ; forms of Amphydasis betularia , inter¬ 
mediate between the type and Double day ana, &c. Mr. A. Johnson 
showed a series of Choerocampa elpenor, Sphinx ligustri, &c., and some 
varieties of Arctia caia, from larvie fed on lettuce. 
