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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
the section was held on Thursday, 20th March, in the Society’s Room 
at Mason College. The President, W. R. Hughes, Esq., F.L.S., was 
unanimously requested to re-deliver before the Section the lecture on 
“ The Synthetic Philosophy of Mr. Herbert Spencer,” which he has 
recently given to the Handsworth Natural History and Scientific 
Society. The consideration of Mr. Spencer’s “ Principles of Biology ” 
was then continued, Chapter 2 of Part II., on Development, being 
introduced by Mr. W. W. Collins. On Thursday, 27tli March, at a 
special meeting, the index to Mr. Spencer’s “ Study of Sociology ” was 
proceeded with, under the leadership of Mr. F. H. Collins. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—February 18th.—Mr. Flower showed egg of budgerigar. 
Mr. Madison the following shells: Bythinia leachii, from Weston- 
super-Mare ; B. tentaculata, from the Birmingham district; and large 
specimens of Valvata piscinalis, from near Cheddar. The following 
objects were shown under the microscopes : Mr. Dunn, sugar mite 
(Acanis sacchari) ; Mr. Tylar, eggs of shrimp, showing development of 
embryo; Mr. Foster, spring plant bug ( Tingis hystricellus ), from Ceylon. 
February 25th.—Mr. Dunn exhibited several ammonites from Lyme 
Regis, some cut and polished, showing casts of the shell in iron pyrites; 
Mr. Tylar, cat’s-eye-stone, Grococodolithe , in the rough, also polished ; 
Mr. J. W. Neville, specimens of horned aphis ( Gerataphis latanice), an 
insect new to this country, having been introduced into English hot¬ 
houses on foreign orchids. Apterous females and young were shown, 
the perfect or winged form being as yet extremely rare ; Mr. Foster, 
Challenger dredgings from Antarctic Ocean. Mr. Delicate then read 
a paper on “ Some phases of mind common to man and the lower 
animals.” The paper dealt with reason, instinct, and genius, defining 
them and showing their existence in various degrees. The paper was 
largely illustrated with anecdotes and diagrams. March 3rd.—Mr. 
Madison showed Anodonta cygnea and A. anatina, from Blackroot Pool, 
Sutton Park. The following objects were shown under the micro¬ 
scopes : Mr. J. W. Neville, a trough of Cyclops quadricornis all infested 
with epistylis taken from a pool where they abound in this state. 
Mr. Tylar, crystals of menthol by polarised light. March 10th.—Mr. 
F. Shrive, a house sparrow (stuffed) with curiously misshapen 
upper bill; Mr. Madison, Planorbis corneus, from Hall Green, a 
large variety from Stensall Common, York, and P. corneus var. 
albida , from Minster, Kent; Mr. Tylar showed under the micro¬ 
scope viscid lines of spider’s web; Mr. Moore, gizzard of Locusta viridis; 
Mr. J. W. Neville, a wing of foreign butterfly, Orthoptera rhadamanthus. 
Mr. Dunn then read a paper. “ Notes on the Naiads.” The paper 
described their place in the animal kingdom, and compared them with 
the familiar earthworm. Of the several species two, the free-swim¬ 
ming and mud-boring, were taken as types of the whole class; their 
food and manner of feeding, their anatomy, mode of breathing, 
nervous system, peculiar circulation, natural economy, parasite, 
locomotion, reproduction, etc., were fully described. The paper was 
illustrated with a living specimen and diagrams. 
CARADOC FIELD CLUB.—The Annual General Meeting 
of the club was held at the George Hotel, Shrewsbury, March 14th, 
the Rev. J. D. La Touche, President, in the chair. The Field Meetings 
fixed for the forthcoming season are as followsMay 20th. Lebotwood 
