REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
87 
and several species of living foraminifera. Annual Meeting, February 
3rd.—Mr. T. H. Waller, 13.A., 13.Sc., presided. The twenty-sixth 
annual report of the committee, which was read by the Chairman, 
referred with pleasure to the very valuable work which had been done 
during the past year. It w«s with pleasure that the committee 
recorded the honour conferred upon Mr. J. E. Bagnall by his being 
elected an Associate of the Linnean Society in recognition of his 
valuable original work in the various branches of botanical science. 
He was one of the oldest members of that society, and had rendered to 
it most useful service, his papers on Bryology and his “ Flora of 
Warwickshire” having gained for him a reputation far beyond his 
native town. At the end of 18S3 the society numbered 300 members. 
The total number of members and associates was now 288, being a 
decrease of twelve. The reports of the proceedings of the different 
sections were also presented. The statement of accounts, which was 
read by the Treasurer (Mr. C. Pumphrey), showed an expenditure of 
£293 18s. 10^d. for the past year, and there was a sum of £60 owing to 
the treasurer. The deficiency, it was explained, was due to arrears of 
subscriptions. The election of officers for the ensuing year was then 
proceeded with. Mr. B. W. Chase was elected president, Mr. J. E. 
Bagnall and Professor Hillhouse vice-presidents, Mr. C. Pumphrey 
treasurer, Mr. W. B. Grove librarian, and Messrs. Morley and Wilkin¬ 
son lion, secretaries. Biological Section.— February 10th. Mr. J. Morley 
in the chair. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson exhibited mounted specimens of 
Batrachospermum mouili forme, var. Boltoni, the new variety recently 
found by Mr. T. Bolton. Mr. J. E. Bagnall mosses, Sclcropodium 
ccespitosum , in fruit, from near Brinklow, very rare in fruit. For Mr. 
J. B. Stone, mosses, Eurhynchium circinatum and Orthotrichum saxatile 
from Tenby. For Mr. R. Rogers. Pleuridium mhulatum and other 
mosses from Hampton-in-Arden. For Mr. Frederick Enock, Lycopo¬ 
dium clavatum (wolf’s claw), and an abnormal condition of the male 
flowers of the common hazel, Corylus Avellaua, in which a cone-like 
body was formed of about seventy-five of the catkins. Mr. R. W. 
Chase then gave his short notes upon Panurus hiarmicus (bearded Tit), 
with specimens showing their life history, from observations made in 
Norfolk, illustrating his remarks by specimens in various stages, also 
nests and eggs. He stated that owing to the drainage of the fens the 
localities suitable to this beautiful species are annually becoming more 
limited, and afterwards described the nest, which is placed nearly on 
the ground amongst the reeds and other aquatic foliage, but not 
attached to them. Nidification commences about the first week in 
April, but owing to the demand for eggs the marshmen rarely allow 
the first clutches to hatch, consequently eggs can be taken as late as 
July. He concluded with a description of their habits, food, and 
internal construction. A discussion followed, in which Messrs. Wilkin¬ 
son, Morley, France, Udall, Grove, Pumphrey, and Bagnall took part. 
THE BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—January 19th.—Mr. Moore exhibited specimens of Burying 
Beetle, Necrophorus vespillo; also gizzard of the same under the micro¬ 
scope. The following objects were also shown under microscopes :— 
Mr. Rodgers, a marine alga, Ceramium strictum; Mr. J. W. Neville, 
Bicellaria ciliata and Catenicella viargaritacea, Australian polvzoa; 
Mr. Hawkes, calcareous granules from A vion a ter. January 26tli.— 
The President, Mr. Beale, exhibited a skull of Bottle-nosed Porpoise ; 
Mr. Madison, Terebratula caput-serpentis , and other shells from Oban. 
