26 
EE PORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Preparations of Coal. —P. F. Reinsch’s preparations of coal from 
the carboniferous strata, the Dyas and Trias (the material being very 
difficult to reduce to thin and sufficiently transparent sections), are 
made by using the finest emery employed in polishing mirrors; 
powdered chalk obtained by levigation, and carbonate of lime precipi¬ 
tated from lime-water by soda are also used. A small piece of cork 
serves as a rubber. During the process the preparation is moistened 
with glycerine.—Bull. Soc. Belg. Micr., IX., pp. 87-8 (1888). 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Geological Section, Nov. 27tli.—Mr. T. H. Waller read a 
report on the Geological Specimens collected by the Society during the 
Oban excursion. General Meeting, Dec. 4th.—Mr. T. Clarke exhibited 
glass microscopic slides, with the etched ring on the surface, as referred 
to at the previous meetings, by which greater security is obtained for the 
adhesion of the cement when mounting in cells containing glycerine or 
other liquids. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Ditrichum flexicaule , from 
near Bidford; also (for Mr. J. B. Stone) Racomitrium canescens , from 
Norway; R. lanuyinosum , Hedwigia ciliata, Pterogonium gracile, and 
JEurhynchium myosuroides, from Barmouth; Hookeria lucens , from 
Malham; also (for Mr. Wm. Mathews) Galium sylvestre from Lanca¬ 
shire; Linaria repens , Thymus Ghamcedrys , and Galium uliginosum , from 
Clent; and Linaria minor , from Knowle. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited 
the following Fungi:— Polyporus obducens, Typhula Grevillei , Agaricus 
pyxidatus, from Harborne; Russula drimeia, and Chondrioderma 
deplanaturn, from Sutton. Professor W. Hillhouse, of the Mason 
College, then read the first part of a paper “On the Continuity of 
Protoplasm,” which will appear in a future number. Biological 
Section, December 11th. — Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Potamogeton 
Zizii and Selinum Carvifolia and read notes on the same from Mr. 
Charles Bailey, F.L.S., Manchester; also Potamogeton lucens from 
near Anstey; Leucojum vernum, and Erica ciliaris, from Dorset; 
Plantago arenaria and other plants, from near Warwick. Mosses:— 
Hypnum Kneiffii and II. Liudbergii, Leucodon sciuroides, etc., with 
microscopical preparations, from Bardon Hill; also (for Mrs. Bailey, of 
Brixham) Lycopodium clavatum, Cladonia pyxidata, C. fimbriata, C. 
elegans. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited Foliaceus Coregoni, male and female, 
a fish parasite from the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, sent by Mr. 
Carrington, the Naturalist of that Aquarium. Mr. W. R. Hughes 
exhibited My sis Fabricii (a stomapodous crustacean), the slide prepared 
be Mr. F. W. Sliarpus of London ; also on behalf of Mr. F. H. Collins, 
a slide of eggs of parasite (Ectozoon) from Reeves’ Pheasant. Mr. W. 
H. Wilkinson exhibited a Lichen from Oban, Ricasolia amplissima. 
Mr. W. P. Marshall gave an explanation of the causes of the remark¬ 
able sunrises and sunsets which have been observed during the last 
few weeks, which is printed in this number. Microscopical General 
Meeting, Dec. 18tli.—Mr. W. P. Marshall read a paper on the “Great 
Kimberley Diamond Mine,” which will appear in a future number. 
Mr. Austin, who has recently returned from Kimberley, then gave an 
amusing account of the way in which the mine is worked and the 
