REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
331 
Sociology,” and on the completion of Part VI. of that work on 
“ Ecclesiastical Institutions.” On Saturday, the 17th October, the 
members of the Section and other friends, to the number of nearly 
fifty, paid a second visit to George Eliot’s country, and were, by the 
kindness of C, N. Newdegate, Esq., M.P. (who personally conducted 
them over the building), allowed to see Arbury Hall, the Clieverel 
Manor of Mr. Gilfil’s love story; after which they drove to South 
Farm (the Hall Farm of Adam Bede), and from thence to Coventry, 
where a substantial tea was served at the King’s Head Hotel. After 
tea, some opening remarks were made by the President (Mr. W. II. 
Hughes) with reference to the early association of Mr. Herbert 
Spencer with George Eliot, and the mutual influence for good each had 
had on the other; after which Mr. W. Showell Rogers, M.A., LL.M., 
delivered a most interesting address on George Eliot’s works. Thanks 
were voted to Mr. Showell Rogers for his address, and also to Mr. C. N. 
Newdegate, M.P.; and to Mr. Alfred Browett, lion. sec. of the Section, 
for the able manner in which he had organised the excursion. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION. — September 19tli. A visit was made, by invitation, to 
Warley, to inspect the geological collection of Mr. Holden. The 
specimens were very numerous, and comprised fossils, &c., from' 
nearly all formations. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Holden for his 
kindness brought a pleasant afternoon to a close.—September 21st. 
Mr. H. Insley exhibited a polished slab of chain coral from the 
Rushall Canal; Mr. Hawkes, the following fungi:— Xenodochus carbon- 
arms and Splicerotheca castagnei , both on Great Burnet; TJromyces intrusa, 
Gystopus candidus, P hr ay mi drum mucronatum, Puccinia lychnidearum and 
TJromyces ulmarice, the latter on Iiosa canina; Mr. Moore, internal shells 
of Limax fiavus; Mr. J. A. Grew, a male specimen of convolvulus hawk 
moth, Sphinx convolvuli; Mr. Evans, Aviculopectenpapyraceus from the 
Gannister beds, Staffordshire, and native copper from Lake Superior. 
Under the microscopes, Mr. Tylar showed eggs of Scatophaga stercoraria; 
Mr. Hutchinson, Paludicella Ehrenbergii; Mr. J. W. Neville, head of 
Plialangium ; Mr. Hawkes, conceptacles of hop mildew, Splicerotheca 
castagnei. — September 28th. A discussion on “The Ice Age” was 
opened by Mr. Rodgers reading a paper that explained the theory of 
Lieut.-Col. Drayson that the earth’s axis moving in a circle round a 
centre six degrees removed from the pole of the ecliptic brings about 
a great change in the obliquity of the earth’s axis, and thereby brings 
the poles more under solar influence in the summer, and, in the 
winter, by bringing down the arctic circle to a low latitude, the result 
is a hot summer and severe winter each year. This polar movement 
is completed every 81,000 years. To the ice accumulated during the 
winter and removed each summer for 16,000 years is attributed the 
glaciation of Europe and elsewhere. The discussion was adjourned.—■ 
October 5tli. Mr. Madison exhibited specimens of Helix pulcliella var. 
costata from Minworth; Mr. Hopkins, Helix aspersa var. albofasciata; 
Mr. C. F. Beale, a specimen of long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus, also a 
series of photographs of microscopical objects; Mr. Hawkes, the 
following fungi:— Trichobasis oblongata, Puccinia Indiana, Spluerotheca 
pannosa, and Uncinula bicornis, the latter under the microscope. The 
discussion on “The Ice Age” was continued by Mr. H. Insley 
explaining the well-known theory of Dr. Croll.—October 12th. Mr. 
Hopkins exhibited specimens of Paludina contecta and Helix aspersa 
var. unicolor; Mr. Madison, Helix pomatia and very young specimens 
