Dec., 1892. 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
279 
November 4fch, Sub-section for Microscopical Mounting. Mr. C. 
Pumplirey gave a practical and interesting demonstration of the 
methods of obtaining the palates of the gasteropoda and of preparing 
them for mounting. —Biological Section. November 8th. Mr. W. Eh 
Wilkinson, Vice-president, in the chair. Mr. A. J. Parker was pro¬ 
posed for membership. The chairman exhibited the following sea¬ 
weeds from the Isle of Man :—A rare form of Fucus nodosus, Fucus 
cuniculatus , and also, under the microscope, a section of the fructi¬ 
fication of the latter species. Mr. E. C. Rossiter exhibited a specimen 
of Colias Hyale, and a series of twenty males taken near Market 
Elarborough, and called attention to the fact that those taken in Sep¬ 
tember were considerably smaller in expanse of wings than those 
taken in June. Mr. W. E. Collinge then read a paper on “British 
Slugs and Land and Freshwater Shells,” which he illustrated by a 
number of specimens forming part of the Hunter-Barron collection 
from the Mason College, and also by many specimens of slugs preserved 
in spirit by himself.— Geological Section. November 15th. Mr. T. 
H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., in the chair. There was a very large 
attendance, quite filling the Biological Theatre, Mason College. 
Mr. A. J. Parker, of Mariemont, Birchfields, was elected a member of 
the Society. Mr. T. V. Hodgson exhibited specimens of Cicadse, 
perfect insect and pupae, from Melbourne. Messrs. C. Pumphrey and 
C. J. Watson exhibited and described pictures (many geological 
subjects), taken during an excursion in Ireland. The chairman in 
welcoming the visitors to this sectional meeting, cordially invited 
them to become members of the Society. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—October 24th. Mr. J. Wykes showed two drawings of the 
planet Jupiter made on the nights of October 5th and 19th. Mr. J. W. 
Neville (for Mr. W. Tylar) exhibited lichens from Scotland. Mr. J. W. 
Neville read a paper on the “ Circulatory System of Insects.” The 
writer described the circulation in the higher animals, and traced it 
down to the Insecta, where it became of a simple type. The appar¬ 
atus that did service for a heart was a dorsal vessel with valvular 
partitions, along which the blood circulated from the posterior to the 
anterior extremity. It was then carefully traced along the lateral 
branches and through the tissues, visceral cavity, & e. The latter part 
of the paper dealt with the various methods by which the blood was 
brought into contact with the air to be re-oxygenised. The spiracles 
and tracheae of caterpillars, the leaflets from tail of larva of Dragon¬ 
fly, abdominal gills of Ephemera and tracheae in rectum of Dragon-fly 
were severally described. The paper was illustrated with drawings 
and a series of microscopical preparations.—October 31st. Mr. J. 
Moore showed specimens of Mason Wasp, Odynevus murareus , with nest; 
Mr. H. Hawkes, twelve botanical slides illustrating the arrangement 
of elementary tissues ; Mr. J. Round, fossils from Cromer; Mr. Rolan, 
mercury ore and other minerals ; Mr. Bleasdale, a large collection of 
fossils, &c., from various localities; Mr. G. H. Corbett, polished 
specimens of fossil corals from the Oolite, Carboniferous, Devonian, 
and Wentock formations. Under the microscope, Mr. W. J. Parker, 
Cypris ornata ; Mr. Wykes, Cristatella mucedo ; Mr. Hawkes, annular 
vessels in maize ; Mr. J. W. Neville, section of coal through a fern 
stem.—November 7tli. Annual Meeting, election of Officers and 
Presidential address, the President in the chair. The following reports 
were read and duly passed :—General Secretary’s, Secretary of Com¬ 
mittee’s, Curator’s, and Treasurer’s, the latter showing a balance in 
hand. The President nominated Professor Bridge as President for the 
