238 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
specimens. On the Continent of Europe it occurs not only on lily of 
the valley, but on various allied plants such as G. verticillata, C. 
Polygonatuvi and G. multiflora, Majanthemumbifolium and Paris q uadrifolia. 
It is synonymous with (Ecidium Majanthce, Schum., Cceoma elegans, 
Schum., and C. Polygonatuvi, Link. 
Puccinia Anthoxanthi , Fuckel. Uredospores: Sori elliptical or 
linear, orange, soon naked; spores elliptical or obverse, egg-shaped or 
oblong, rough, dark yellow, 20-30x14-19 mk. Teleuto-spores: Sori 
scattered, small, elliptical or linear, soon naked, brown. Spores on 
very long stout brownish stalks, generally elliptical, more rarely 
oblong w r edge-shaped, slightly constricted at the centre, thickened dis¬ 
tinctly at the apex, where they are rounded, generally rounded off at the 
base but sometimes wedge-shaped, smooth, chestnut brown, 26-42 x 
16-21 mk. On Anthoxanthun odoratum : King’s Lynn, May and June; 
Bradford, Mr. H. T. Soppit, July. I have little doubt that ours is 
the true plant of Fuckel. There is one point, however, in which they 
differ, namely,in that the uredospores are accompanied by abundant and 
well-marked capitate parapliyses, of which Fuckel makes no mention. 
To those mycologists who confine themselves to anatomical 
characters, this would of course afford unimpeachable evidence of 
their distinctness. From a series of experimental cultures with 
the paraphysed Uredines made during the present summer, I have 
been led to attach less value to the presence or absence of paraphyses 
with the uredospores as a specific character than I formerly did. 
At the present time however, I cannot speak confidently but hope in 
the course of time to be able to throw some additional light upon the 
point in question. —Charles B. Plowright, 7, King Street, King’s Lynn, 
July 15th, 1884. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY. —Geological Section, May 27th.—Mr. Thos. H. Waller 
described the characteristics of the minerals Augite, Hornblende, and 
Mica, with special reference to their appearance as the constituents of 
rocks, and their discrimination by the use of the microscope. In 
illustration of his remarks he exhibited some specimens of the various 
minerals and sections of rocks containing them, and Mr. C. J. Wood¬ 
ward also exhibited a beautiful specimen of Hornblende. Mr. J. Udall 
was unanimously elected Hon. Secretary of the Geological Section. 
Geological Section, June 24tli.—Mr. W. R. Hughes exhibited a 
specimen of Kieselguhr (German earth), used in preparation of 
dynamite. The earth when mixed with four parts of nitro-glycerine 
forms dynamite. Mr. Hughes also exhibited a slide mounted by 
Mr. Sharpus showing fossil Diatoms, Infusoria, &c., contained in 
Kieselguhr. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson exhibited Lonicera Xylosteum, 
Gornus sanguinea , Myrica gale, from near Chillington, Listera ovata, 
Ophioglossum vulgatum, Burbarea vulgaris, Carex Pseudocyperus, Vicia 
hirsuta, and other plants from near Barnt Green. Mr. W. P. Marshall 
read a paper on “The Flow of Solids,” which will appear in a 
future number of the “ Midland Naturalist.” General Meeting, 
July 1st.—Mr. W. B. Grove B.A., exhibited Rhinotnchum repens, new to 
