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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
periodical. Mr. A. Pumphrey then gave an interesting paper on the 
effects of the recent earthquake in the eastern counties. He first 
described the wave-like motion of earthquakes generally, then some 
of the modes of ascertaining the force and direction of the shock. 
Next he gave a graphic description of the recent earthquake in Essex, 
describing the damage done to the Congregational Church, Colchester, 
the Rose Inn, and the porch of the church, Peldon, the church at 
Langenlioe, etc. The paper was illustrated by a series of photographs 
taken on the spot a few hours after the event, shown by the oxy- 
hydrogen lantern. The views added much to the interest of the 
paper, and were duly appreciated by the audience. He after¬ 
wards showed a number of striking and life-like photographs of 
animals and human beings, all taken by the instantaneous process. 
Sociological Section. —On Saturday, June 14tli, thirty-nine members 
and friends made the summer excursion of this section to “ Landor’s 
Country” (Warwick). The weather was extremely fine. Interesting 
visits were paid to Warwick Castle, Leycester’s Hospital, and Landor’s 
birthplace; and after a bountiful meal a most charming account 
of Walter Savage Landor and his writings was read by Mr. Howard 
S. Pearson. This crowning pleasure was followed by a few short 
speeches and votes of thanks, which were crowded in before the train 
time for returning. On the following Thursday, at the ordinary 
meeting of the Section, the study of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s “Principles 
of Biology” was resumed, the important chapter on Genesis receiving 
an interesting and instructive exposition from Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—May 19th.—Mr J. Betteridge read a short paper describing 
a day’s ramble from Birmingham, with a list of sixty-two birds seen 
on the way, with remarks on the same. At the close of the paper the 
writer exhibited nest and eggs of sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus) and 
specimen of long-tailed tit (Acreclula rosea) with nest and young. 
Mr. Madison, Livmcea peregra var. labiosa , from Acocks Green. Under 
the microscopes, Mr. Tylar showed Heliopelta euleri , Mr. J. W. Neville 
leaf of Drosera rotundifolia with captured insects, Mr. Hawkes eggs of 
alder fly, Mr. Insley sori of bracken fern and fossil sori in section of 
elland coal. May 26th.—Mr. Betteridge exhibited specimens of grey 
wagtail in summer and winter plumage, also nest and eggs of great 
crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus). The subject for the evening was 
Special Botany—microscopical fungi. Mr. Deakin showed a large number 
of dried and mounted specimens ; Mr. Hawkes the following freshly 
gathered ones :— AEcidium ari, Uredo conftuem , Uromyces intrusa, Puccinia 
malvacearum , etc. Under the microscopes, Mr. Deakin showed Xeno- 
dochus carbonarius , Mr. J. W. Neville Aregma bulbosum, Mr. Hawkes 
JEcidium urticce. June 9th.—Mr. Moore exhibited nests of mason bee 
(Anthophora acervorum) and the perfect insects, also ruby-tail flies 
(Ghrysis ignita) reared in the same nests and sometimes called from 
this fact cuckoo flies. Mr. Madison, lead ore and other minerals from 
Isle of Man, also the following shells: —Helix aspersa var. tenuis , H. 
nemoralis var. arenicola. Ancylus ftuviatilis var. albida, and Limncea 
truncatula var. elegans. Mr. J. Turner, a portion of the lightning 
conductor of Francis Road Chapel, showing the effects of the previous 
day’s storm ; the wire had been partly fused, and was twisted into a 
spiral form. The following objects were showq under the micro¬ 
scopes :—Mr. Dunn, nais worm ; Mr. Tylar, pedicellaria of Echinus; 
Mr. J. W. Neville, head plate of Megalicthys from Lancashire coal beds. 
