238 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Reports of Societies. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Geological Section, June 30tli.—T. H. Waller, Esq., 
in the chair. The Chairman of the Section accepted, with thanks, 
on behalf of the society, from Dr. Callaway, D.Sc., E.R.S., two 
pamphlets, 1. On Comparative Lithology ; 2. On the Granite and 
Schistose Rocks of Northern Donegal. Exhibits :—1. A fine specimen 
of fossil wood from the Isle of Portland ; 2. By Mr. Robinson, a tiger 
lily, in which several stems had grown together into one flat stem ; 3. 
By Mr. W. H. Wilkinson, a very interesting specimen of an abnormal 
development of the White Foxglove ( Digitalis purpurea v. alba), in 
which the terminal flower was formed by the union of 3^ ordinary 
blossoms united together, forming a large lily-like bloom of 3in. 
diameter and 2^in. deep, from a garden at Acocks Green ; 4. By Miss 
Taunton, Asarum Europceum, from Ludlow (originally from woods 
in Herefordshire); 5. By Mr. Bolton, Argulus coregoni, found in the 
canal, near Birmingham (it is a European species, and was found in 
1883, in the Royal Aquarium, at Westminster, but its source was 
not known) ; 6. By Mr. Udall, Rock specimens from Malvern and 
Foxyards. Sociological Section, June 25th.—Mr. W. R. Hughes, 
F.L.S., Chairman, in the chair. Mr. C. H. Allison read and 
expounded the last two chapters, 13 and 14, of the first volume of 
Mr. Herbert Spencer’s “ Principles of Biology,” viz., “ The Co¬ 
operation of the Factors” and “ The Convergence of the Evidences,” 
and concluded with a paper on the “Appendix.” A discussion followed, 
joined in by the President, Dr. Hiepe, Mr. F. H. Collins, Miss Naden, 
and others.— General Meeting, July 7tli. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson 
exhibited Orchis maculata , 0. latifolia, O. pyramidalis, and the cut¬ 
leaved mignonette, Reseda lutea , from Broadway, Worcestershire.— 
Biological Section, July 14th. The following were exhibited : By Mr. 
W. H. Wilkinson, a fine collection of plants from Scotland, including 
Stellaria nemorosa , Cerastium arvense, Myrrhis odorata, and Equisetum 
sylvaticum; by Mr. Thomas Clarke, marine alga, Callithamnionplumula, 
showing fructification; Mr. Thomas Bolton, F.R.M.S., Lacinularia 
socialis , from Warwick ; Euglena, from Harborne, possibly distinct 
variety ; Mr. J. E. Bagnall, A.L.S., Scapania irrigua, from Baddesley 
Ensor, new to the district; Anisothecium crispum, var. datum, new 
record for Warwickshire, from Sutton ; for Mr. Fred. Encck, Pyrola 
minor; for Mr. John Humphreys, Acorus Calamus , Sweet Flag, in fine 
fruit, from Hewell Grange ; for Miss Taunton, Asarum europceum, from 
Herefordshire ; for Mr. R. M. Serjeantson, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, 
A. Trichomaues , Carduus pratensis, and other plants, from Bampton, 
North Devon. —Sociological Section, July 2nd. Chapter Seven of 
Mr. Herbert Spencer’s Study of Sociology on “ Subjective Difficulties 
—Emotional,” was read by the lion, sec., Mr. A. Browett. On Satur¬ 
day, the 4tli instant, the fifth excursion of the Section was made to 
the “ Country of William Shenstone,” under the leadership of Mr. W. 
Showell Rogers, M.A., LL.M. The party left Mason College at two 
o’clock, in a four-horse break, and drove first to the Leasowes, the 
birth-place and almost life-long residence of Shenstone, and where he 
died. After inspecting the interesting old place and wandering 
through its shady groves, they proceeded to St. Kenelm’s Chapel at 
the foot of Clent Hills, where Mr. Rogers delivered a short address. 
They then returned to Belie Yue, Halesowen, at the invitation of E. 
Gem, Esq., J.P., where they were most hospitably and sumptuously 
entertained by him. Mr. Rogers then read an able and eloquent paper 
