56 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
Nitella, and Flint Implements. —In the fall of 1882, Mr. J. Saunders, 
of Luton, discovered Nitella mucronita in a pond at the end of the Ouse 
embankment, Bedford, but during the summer scarcely a trace of the 
plant could be found. Mr. W. Davis, however, has just re-discovered it in 
a locality nearer the town. A few weeks since I found a perfect specimen 
of a flint axe-head in gravel, which came from the river deposits at 
Kempston. These beds were investigated by the late Mr. Wyatt, F.G.S., 
who discovered several flint implements therein, and they belong to 
the same series as the implement-bearing gravels of Biddenham, which 
are represented in Lyell’s “Elements of Geology,” by fig. 86, giving k 
section across the valley of the Ouse, two miles west-north-west of 
Bedford. Several of Flint Jack’s productions are still extant in Bedford, 
but I have found, on comparison, a marked difference between his 
handicraft and the genuine specimens. Some months ago Mr. Harrison 
inquired through the columns of “Knowledge” what had become of 
Flint Jack. I am informed that he was committed to Bedford gaol 
for stealing a clock, and that he died while an inmate of that 
institution.—J. H. Hamson, Bedford. 
♦ 
BIRMINGIIAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.—January 8th.—At a specially summoned General Meeting, 
the Committee of this Society recommended an alteration of the rules 
which has been long under consideration, by which the annual sub¬ 
scription of ordinary members is raised to one guinea. This recom¬ 
mendation was proposed by the President, Mr. T. H. Waller, and 
seconded by the Vice-President, Mr. R. W. Chase, and after a discus¬ 
sion, in which it was supported by Messrs. Levick, Wills, Hughes, 
Hillhouse, and others, and opposed by Messrs. Woodward and Barrett, 
on the ground that the augmented expenditure, to meet which the 
increase was made, was unnecessary, the resolution was carried by a 
large majority. Several other changes of the laws, involved in the 
the foregoing, were then carried. Under the new arrangement the 
privileges of members will be greatly increased, and the Society will 
be consolidated. It was also provided that resident members of 
the family of a subscriber may, on payment of half a guinea, 
be entitled to most of the privileges of membership.— Soiree, 
January 22nd.—The President, Mr. T. H. Waller, in the chair. 
The evening was chiefly devoted to the exhibition of microscopic 
objects, among which were the following:—Mr. W. P. Marshall, a 
section of an excreting gland on the edge of a Saxifrage leaf, showing 
the excreted lime deposited at the discharging orifice; Mr. T. H. Waller, 
section of Perthite (felspar) and Microcline felspar, showing the 
characteristics of these minerals ; Mr. W. R. Hughes, section of 
sponge, “Venus’s Flower Basket,” showing the strengthening spicules 
in situ; Mr. W. H. Wilkinson, a lichen ( Gladonia ) from the Scotch 
Highlands, showing the brilliant scarlet fructification ; Mr. W. Graham, 
