142 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
iu'ports of Societies. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Geological Section. March 24tli. T. H. Waller, Esq., 
in the chair. Exhibits:—1. Mr. J. E. Bagnall. A number of mosses 
from near Stockingford, including Hypnum molluscum, II. chry sophy llum , 
H. pumilum, Tortula spadicea, Fissidens tamarindifolius, Ac. 2. Mr. 
T. H. Waller. The following sections :— (a) Red vein in Rowley Rag, 
showing radiating zeolite ; (b) Rowdey Rag, showing parallel arrange¬ 
ment of plates oi ilmenite ; (c) Very coarse Rowley Rag, showing large 
quantities of apatite ; (d) Rowley Rag from Tansley Hill, showing 
microporphyritic structure and fluidal arrangement; (r) Grey vein in 
Rowley Rag, showing long blade-like crystals of orthoclase ; (/) Grey 
vein in Rowley Rag, showing inclusions in the glassy base ; (y) Rowley 
Rag from Hailstone Hill, showing olivine; (7a) Rowley Rag from 
Tansley Hill, Dudley, showing microporphyritic structure. Mr. Allport 
then took the chair, while Mr. Waller read his paper, entitled 
“ Some recent observations on the structure of Rowley Rag.” After 
the paper, a very interesting discussion ensued. Mr. Waller congratu¬ 
lated the section on once more having Mr. Allport in the chair. 
—General Meeting. March 31st. Mr. James Mathews, Clent, sent 
for exhibition Thuja occidentalis covered with blossom. Mr. W. B. 
Grove, B.A., exhibited the following fungi:— S clii zopliy llum commune 
and (Ecidium grossularice , collected by Mr. W. H. Wilkinson in America ; 
also OEc. plilogis, CEc. podophyllalum , (Ec. convallarice, (Ec. porosum and 
Hypocrea citrina , all from Iowa, U.S.A.; Sphcerellapinodes, from Ireland; 
also from this neighbourhood Ilelmint hosporium cylindricum, Hyalopus 
ater, Acrothecium tenebrosum (all three new to Britain), Hypomyces 
candicans (very rare), and Entyloma ranunculi. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson 
read his paper on the “ Flora of N. America,” and exhibited 85 sheets of 
specimens collected, containing nearly 150 different species, including 
many curious and interesting plants. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited 
living specimens of Balanus balanoid.es, also the larval (Narplius) 
form, under the aquarium microscope'. —Sociological Section. April 
2nd. At this meeting Mr. F. J. Cullis tendered his resignation as 
lion, secretary, in consequence of the pressure of his engagements. 
It was unanimously resolved that the best thanks of the section be 
presented to Mr. Cullis for the able and courteous manner in which he 
has fulfilled the duties of the office. Mr. Alfred Browett was unani¬ 
mously appointed as his successor. Mr. Browett then read, with 
illustrative comments, Chapter III. of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s Study of 
Sociology, “Nature of the Social Science,” upon which an interesting 
discussion followed. A suggestion that a second excursion should be 
made to George Eliot’s Country early in June next met with approval. 
—Biological Section. April 14th. Mr. R. W. Chase in the chair. Mr. 
T. Bolton exhibited the larval form of the common fresh-water mussel, 
Anodon cygneus ; the rose beetle, Cetonia aurata, sent by Mr. Sylvanus 
Wilkins, and discovered in an old thatched roof near Lyme Regis ; and 
also one of the Jungermanniae, Pellia epipliylla, from Sutton Park. Mr. 
J. Levick, a fine gathering of Volvox globator and Argulus foliaceus. 
Mr. W. H. Wilkinson, Hellebonis viridis, Hepatica trilobata, Omphalodes 
verna, and a lichen ( Peltigera canina) in fine fruit, all from Blockley, 
Worcestershire. Mr. J. E. Bagnall, Webera carnea, Eurhynchium 
piliferum, Tlypnum cordifolium, and other mosses from the Anker 
district. The Rev. H. Boyden then read a paper, “ Natural History 
Rambles in the Neighbourhood of Llandudno.” Having first given a 
