REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
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and Collema nigrescens ; also rhyscia stellaris , var. actinota, from 
Blockley. —Microscopical Section. March 17tli. Mr. W. H. Wilkin¬ 
son exhibited a specimen of the pretty white-flowered Allium from 
France, sold in shops as the “ Star of Bethlehem,” in which the 
central axis was continued upwards through the umbel, then forming 
a second and smaller umbel of flowers above. He also exhibited an 
abnormal orange, which Professor Hillhouse explained was a double 
orange, viz., a second orange, with carpels and rind quite complete, 
growing inside the other. Mr. C. Pumplirey then exhibited, by the aid 
of the lime-light lantern, the second series of photographs taken by 
him during his late visit to America. After showing maps and plans of 
the district visited, he threw upon the screen a large number of 
beautiful views, comprising scenes in Quebec, the Falls of Mont¬ 
morency, Chicago, the steam engines with their peculiar chimneys 
(spark catchers), the style of carriages used, the railway lines and 
bridges; also views on the St. Lawrence and Hudson Rivers, showing 
the tall steamboats used there ; views of Lake George, and a very 
interesting series of pictures of Niagara Falls, showing the grandeur 
of the falling mass of water from many different points of vantage. 
The display was much appreciated, and complimentary remarks were 
made by the chairman, Mr. R. W. Chase, and Mr. W. P. Marshall; 
and a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Pumphrey was passed unanimously. 
—Sociological Section. March 5th. Mr. W. H. France read the 
second chapter of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s “ Study of Sociology,” and 
the reading was followed by an interesting discussion.—At a meeting 
of the Section held on Thursday, March 19th, Chapters 6 and 7 of 
Part III. of Mr. Spencer’s “ Principles of Biology ” were considered, 
the discussion being introduced in a paper by Dr. Hiepe. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—February 23rd. Mr. J. W. Neville exhibited twelve 
botanical sections, double stained, prepared by Mr. G. Wilkes, of 
Manchester; Mr. Bradbury, a collection of butterflies, from the Malay 
Archipelago. Under the microscope, Mr. Hawkes showed cirrhi of 
barnacle (Balanus balanoid.es) ; also ova of the same and young in the 
first stage—March 2nd. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., delivered a 
lecture on “ The Microscopic Structure of Rowley Rag,” which was 
largely illustrated by specimens and sections under the microscopes.— 
March 9th. Mr. Moore exhibited specimens of the slug Testacella 
haliotoidea, from Chiswick; Mr. Tylar, a fossil Echinus, in Lias 
clay, with spines in situ ; Mr. Insley, a collection of ferns, grasses, Ac., 
made in Afghanistan and the district. Under the microscope Mr. 
Tylar showed larva of Coretlira plumicornis , pierced with threads of 
hydra ; Mr. J. W. Neville, mouth organs of wasp, mounted without 
pressure, and explained the mode of its preparation.—March 16th. 
Mr. Wykes showed stems of Ijepidodendron in true coal. The follow¬ 
ing objects were exhibited under the microscopes :—Mr. Dunn, pulsa¬ 
tions of the heart in rianorbis vortex ; Mr. Tylar, anchor plates of 
Synapta inhcerens and S. digitata ; Mr. Foster, parasite of Red- 
throated Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis ); Mr. Moore, alimentary canal 
of Agrion pulcliellum. A paper was then read by Mr. A. Foster on 
“ Some common objects of the microscope,” which described the edu¬ 
cational advantages to be derived from microscopic observations. The 
minute structure of entomological, botanical, and anatomical objects 
was described, and the additions made by the microscope to our know¬ 
ledge of the structural peculiarities of the objects by which we are 
surrounded. The paper was largely illustrated by microscopic slides. 
