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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
tamarindifolius, rare; Camptothecium lutescens, and other mosses from 
Henley-in-Arden, also on behalf of Dr. M. C. Cooke, Odontia fimbriata, 
Merulius coriuvi, and a singular alga found in the lakes of Scotland— 
Cladophora cegagropila. Mr. W. H. France then read his paper on 
the “ Ethics of Sociology,” which will be published in a future 
number. Biological Section, April 8th. — Mr. R. W. Chase in the 
chair. Mr. J. B. Stone, J.P., presented a copy of his recent work— 
“ Children in Norway ; or, a Holiday on the Ekeberg ”—to the library 
of the Society. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Viola permixta, Compton 
Verney; Festuca rubra, var. fallax, Earl’s Wood, both new to the 
county ; Mosses:— Bryuvi uliginosum, Ansty, near Coventry; Tortula. 
fallax, var. brevifolia, Earls Wood, both new to the county; Campylopus 
brevifolius, var. elongatus, banks of the Wye, near Builth, and other rare 
mosses. Lichens :— Cetraria aculeata , from Sutton Park and Baddesley 
Common, new to the county; Usnea fiorida, Ramalina cuspidata, etc. 
For Dr. M. C. Cooke, Hyvienoclicete tabacina, Radulum orbiculare, and other 
fungi. For Mr. Towndrow, Juncas tenuis, from Cradley, Hereford, 
new to England. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson then read a paper, “The 
Study of a Lichen from Oban— Ricasolia amplissima .” After giving a 
graphic description of the physical features of Oban, and briefly glancing 
at some of the more noticeable natural phenomena of the district, he 
passed on to describe the minuter structure of Ricasolia, the gonidial 
stratum, the medullary layer, the apothecium, with its asci, paraphyses 
and spores, the spermogones and their spermatia, and the soredia, all 
of which were ably and minutely described, their minute details fully 
dwelt on, and their functions, or supposed functions, fully and carefully 
discussed. The paper, which was both interesting and instructive, 
was rendered the more so by a series of sections, showing the various 
structures noticed in the paper, together with drawings representing 
the plant, natural size, and figures of the various parts magnified, 
also by black-board illustrations, and specimens of various 
groups of lichens. A discussion followed, in which Mr. R. W. Chase, 
Mr. J. Morley, and Mr. J. E. Bagnall took part. Geological Section, 
April 22nd.—Mr. R. T. Brain exhibited a remarkable concretion 
found in a paving stone, in Ashton-under-Lyne, the property of 
Superintendent Wilcox. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited some plants, 
collected by Mr. Hughes in Devonshire, and some mosses and 
lichens from this county, and mosses from Cumberland. Mr. W. R. 
Hughes exhibited, on behalf of Mr. John Carey, F.R.G.S., of Brixham, 
specimens of moss agate from India. Mr. J. F. Goode exhibited a slide 
of entomostraca tests and foraminifera, obtained at Oban, 'mounted 
in balsam. Mr. T. H. Waller exhibited chips from the boulders 
dislodged in the neighbourhood of King’s Norton, in the making of the 
new Midland line, collected by Mr. C. Pumplirey. Mr. W. P. Marshall 
called attention to the remarkable astronomical fact that all the 
planets known to the ancients are now visible at one time, and that 
the moon will pass under each one in the course of the next fortnight. 
One effect of all the planets being on one side of the sun was stated to 
be that the centre of gravity of the whole solar system is at present 
nearly at its maximum distance outside the globe of the sun. Mr. W. 
P. Marshall then read a very interesting paper on “ The volcanic 
origin of the recent remarkable sunrises and sunsets,” which will 
appear in a future number. Mr. Marshall exhibited a large mass of 
the floating pumice picked out of the sea, and some of the ashes which 
so thickly covered the ship “ Berbice,” which was about forty miles 
from Krakatoa at the time of the eruption. These had been sent to 
the members of the society by Captain Ross, whose steam yacht the 
