REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
148 
very interesting and humorous description of the various scenes and 
episodes to be noted by the observant visitor to such places during the 
tripping season, he then passed on to notice some of the geological 
features of the district, then the seaweeds and corallines, mosses and 
flowering plants, illustrating his remarks by a fine and beautifully 
prepared collection of the various objects; among the more rare were 
Trollius Europceus, Helianthemum canuvi, Frankenia Icevis, Geranium 
sanguineum , Erodium viaritimum, Spiraa Filipendula, and many others. 
A discussion followed, in which Messrs. It. W. Chase, J. E. Bagnall, 
W. B. Grove, J. Morley, and W. H. Wilkinson took part. Mr. Boyden 
also presented to the library of the Society a carefully prepared MS. 
list of over *250 flowering plants noticed in the Llandudno district.— 
Microscopical General Meeting. April 21st. Mr. W. P. Marshall, 
M.I.C.E., explained the new process of continuous section cutting, 
the apparatus for which he described from a diagram, and illustrated 
it by the exhibition of a series of twenty-nine slides with eight hundred 
sections of the Pennatulida, prepared by Dr. A. M. Marshall and 
himself. The slides were shown under about a dozen microscopes, 
and the members were much interested and pleased with the very 
successful results. Mr. Frederick Fitch, F.R.M.S., exhibited a series 
of exquisitely mounted specimens of dissections, showing the anatomy 
of the earwig, snout fly, &c., which he had prepared himself. Mr. 
W. H. Wilkinson exhibited three lichens, finely in fruit, from Blockley, 
viz., Physcia ciliaris var. actinota, Evernia prunastri, and Parmelia 
plnjsodes. Although the two latter are amongst our commonest tree 
lichens they are very rarely found in fruit.— Sociological Section. 
April 16th. The President, Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., in the chair. 
Mr. W. H. France read a paper on Chapters VIII., IX., X., of part 3, 
of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s Principles of Biology , “ How is Organic 
Evolution Caused?” “External Factors,” “ Internal Factors.” Speeches 
upon the subjects treated were delivered by the President, Dr. Hiepe, 
Mr. F. A. Walton, and Miss Naden, and a generally interesting discus¬ 
sion followed, in which all the members present took part. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.-—March 23rd. Mr. Insley exhibited remains of fossil fish 
from the Lower Lias formation of Lyme Regis. Mr. Tylar described 
the use of osmic acid in the preparation of microscopic objects, and 
showed a number of slides of entomostraca, &c., prepared by it that 
retained a life-like appearance. Mr. J. W. Neville showed, under the 
microscope, Carchesium polypinum. —March 30tli. Mr. H. Hawkes 
exhibited a male specimen of the four-horned spider crab, risa tetraodon; 
Mr. Madison, specimens of Zonites radiatulus ; Mr. F. Shrive, two living 
adders taken a few days previously in Sutton Park. Under the micro¬ 
scope, Mr. Tylar showed a section of coralline limestone, and also one 
of pentacrinite from Lyme Regis. Mr. Moore, palate of slug, Testacella 
haliotoidea ; Mr. H. Hawkes, Batracliospermum moniliforme, showing 
oospores ; Mr. Insley, fossil polyzoa, from the mountain limestone.— 
April 13th. Mr. J. W. Neville showed a collection of marine algae 
from Weymouth ; Mr. Madison, leaf impressions from Tertiary beds, 
near Bournemouth ; Mr. Sanderson, specimens of Jungermannia 
bidentata. Under the microscope, Mr. Moore showed stomach of 
green saw-fly, containing pollen and insect remains; Mr. Tylar, Hydra 
vulgaris, greatly distended through swallowing a phantom larva ; Mr. 
H. Hawkes, Epistylis grandis, and Vorticella nebulifera; Mr. Grew, 
operculum of Cyclostovia elegans. Mr. J. Betteridge presented to the 
Society, as a first instalment, nineteen specimens of birds preserved 
