NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
145 
Handsworth.— I heard the note of the Cuckoo here on Saturday 
morning, the 26th inst., and I saw in a friend’s garden, in the after¬ 
noon of that day, two swallows which appeared to have just arrived. 
—'W. R. Hughes, 28th April, 1884. 
Antedon (Comatula) Rosaceus. —It may he interesting to record 
the fact that a small specimen of the rosy feather-star, measuring 
l£in. in length, was picked up by me on the shore at Brixham during 
the easterly gales that prevailed in Easter week. It will he remem¬ 
bered that on the occasion of the first Dredging Excursion of the 
Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society to Teignmouth 
in 1878 one or two specimens of this beautiful star-fish were dredged 
in Torbay in the stalked condition.—W. R. Hughes, 28th April, 1884. 
Geologists who study the Lias may like to know of the formation 
of an extension of railway at Market Harborough. The Lower, 
Middle, and Upper Lias are exposed—the Upper ^nd Middle in the 
embankments. The representative of the marlstone is rather thinner 
than at the Harborough brickyard, although of the same character. 
In a field dug to the extent of 14ft. for ballast, 7ft. of Mid-Lias clays 
were exposed, and underneath 6ft. of Lower Lias. This was full of 
nodules, containing Ammonites capricornus and a few other well 
preserved fossils. The Middle Lias was very unfossiliferous ; the clays 
of the Upper Lias yielded some good fossils.—H. E. Quilter. 
Flora of British Fungi (Hymenomycetes). —The Rev. John 
Stevenson, author of “ Mycologia Scotica,” and honorary secretary of 
the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, announces the intended publica¬ 
tion of a book with the above title, illustrated by Worthington G. 
Smith, F.L.S. The work will contain full descriptions of all British 
Hymenomycetes (chiefly Agaricini, Mushrooms, and Toadstools), 
with habitats, seasons of growth, &c., &c. Edible and poisonous 
species will be specially noticed and commented on. All genera and 
sub-genera will be figured. The illustration of sub-genera will supply 
a much-felt want, and will greatly facilitate the study of Agarics. It 
may be added that the value of the flora will be much enhanced by 
embodying the views of Fries, contained in his “ Monographia 
Hymenomycetum Suecise.” The work will extend to two volumes at 
10s. 6d. each, and the names of subscribers may be sent to the Rev. 
John Stevenson, Glamis, Forfarshire, N.B. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— General Meeting, April 1st.—Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited 
Hypnnm polymorphum, new to Warwickshire; H. glareosum, rare; 
H. piliferum; H. pumilum, rare; Tortula intermedia , rare; Fissidens 
