REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
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Madison, specimens of henbane, Hyoscyamus niger , from Solihull ; also 
specimens of Vertigo pygmaa from Knowle. Under the microscopes 
Mr. Tylar showed a section of the ovary of snapdragon ; Mr. Hawkes, 
Triphragmium ulmarice. A paper was then read by Mr. J. A. Grew on 
“ An Insect,” in which he described the vague and indefinite notions 
many persons had upon this subject, notions that were shared by 
many writers of only a few years ago. He defined the position and 
distinguishing features of the section Insecta of the animal world. 
The remaining part of the paper was taken up with a description of 
the peculiarities of their structure, and concluded by remarking that 
much yet remained to be done in working out the uses of some of the 
organs. The paper was illustrated by diagrams.—July 27th. The 
following exhibits were made by Mr. Madison : Specimens of Ancylus 
fluviatilis , var. compressa, from Weatlieroak Hill; also a case of 
specimens of Gryphea incurva from various localities. Mr. Evans, 
a fossil shell (Modiolopsis) in a pebble from the Moseley drift. Mr. 
Sanderson, a series of photographic views of the Yorkshire dales, 
etc. Under the microscopes Mr. Tylar showed a zoophyte, Obelia 
dichotomy, with polypes in situ. Mr. J. W. Neville, ruby sand with fluid 
cavities, from New Zealand.—August 10th. Mr. Moore exhibited six 
well-marked varieties of Avion ater from the Isle of Man. Mr. 
Hopkins, specimens of Valvata cristata and Helix sericea. Mr. 
Hawkes, leaves of violet infested with Trichobasis, and leaves of 
Tragopogon pratevsis attacked by iEcidium and Ustilago. Mr. 
Madison, a number of shells collected at Dovedale, including speci¬ 
mens of Helix arbustorum, var. cincta , also var. flavescens; H. 
ericetorum , var. minor; Ancylus fluviatilis , var. alba; etc., etc. Then 
followed a paper, “ Notes on the Green Woodpecker,” by Mr. P. T. 
Deakin. The writer described the habits of the bird, and the order to 
which it belonged. The peculiarity of the legs and claws was pointed 
out as adapted to the habit of climbing and supporting the bird while 
it obtains its food, which is procured by tearing off the bark of trees, 
and consists of the larvae of wood-boring beetles, etc. The habits of 
nesting, colour of eggs, plumage of young, etc., was dwelt upon, and 
the whole illustrated by wall pictures and stuffed specimens of the 
green woodpecker and its allies.—August 17th. The President in the 
chair. Mr. Deakin exhibited a collection of shells from the King’s 
Norton district. Messrs. Madison and Hopkins, specimens of Helix 
rotundata, var. alba, and Clausilia rugosa , var. albida, the latter new 
to the district. Mr. Tylar, a zoophyte in spirit, Aglaosphenia myrio- 
phyllum. Mr. Delicate, two plants, one a native rose from Manitoba. 
Under the microscopes Mr. Moore showed palates of Zonites cellarius 
and Neritina fluviatilis. Mr. J. W. Neville, the brittle starfish, 
Ophiocoma neglecta. Mr. Hawkes, a type slide of five micro-fungi, 
showing degrees of complexity of spores from Puccinia to Xenodochus. 
Specimens of the infested plants were also exhibited. 
CARADOC FIELD CLUB.—On Wednesday, June 17th, this club 
made the second excursion of the season to Bishop’s Castle by railway, 
thence proceeding by carriages to the Bishop’s Moat, an extensive 
earthwork on the extreme border of the county, consisting of a lofty 
mound raised for a point of observation and signalling, surrounded by 
a ditch, and protected by a camp, which it joins, also surrounded by a 
ditch. The Bishops of Hereford, somewhere about the eighth century, 
had a large estate granted to them of 18,000 acres by Egwin Shakehead, 
which being in near proximity to Wales, they had to defend, for which 
