352 NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.-REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
C. contraria, Kutz. 
Native : In pools and canals. Very rare. July. 
II. Canal and pool near canal, Sowe Waste. 
C. fragilis, Desv. Brittle Cham. 
Native : In pools and canals. Rare. May to September. 
I. Earlswood Reservoir; 1883, Oldbury Reservoir, abundant; near 
Bolehall, Tamworth, in streams, abundant. 
Var. lledioigii , Ag. Rare. 
I. Canal, near Knowle, 1870 ; Spring Pool, Kenwalsey, 1883. 
II. Near Harborough Magna, Blox, M.S.; canal near Shrewley tunnel 
on the way for Rowing ton. 
Yar. capillacece. Thuill. Rare. 
I. In pools and marshes Sutton Park. 
All the species and varieties of this group of plants collected by 
myself have been submitted to our best authorities on the Characeae, 
Messrs. H. and J. Groves, and I am greatly indebted to them for 
kindly help. 
Puccinia Sonchi, Desm.—I am glad to be able to state that Puccinia 
Sonchi has again made its appearance at Hamstead, the only locality 
as yet recorded for it in Britain, and where it was first found in the 
autumn of 1884. It is still in the uredo stage, as described by Mr. 
Grove in the “ Midland Naturalist ” and “ Science Gossip.” While it 
is to be hoped that this fungus will establish itself as a permanent 
addition to our flora, it should nevertheless be sought for in other 
localities, as the sonchus upon which it occurs is being gradually 
exterminated (probably by rabbit fanciers), few plants being now left 
where they were once abundant.—H. Hawkes. 
Guide to the Geology of London.— It is not usual to find a 
Geological Survey Memoir running through as many editions as a 
popular novel, but this appears to be the case with Mr. Whitaker’s 
excellent work on the Geology of London, of which the fourth issue 
has just reached us. Clearly written, carefully revised, and sold at 
the low price of one shilling, it is a model for all similar works. 
Deep Boring at King’s Heath, near Birmingham.— The depth of 
this boring, now being executed by Messrs. Le Grand and Sutcliff, has 
been increased to 561 feet, with the result that it continues in the 
Triassic red marls. The gypsum is still present; 350 feet of gypseous 
beds having now been penetrated. 
lUjm'ts of Societies. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY. —General Meeting, November 3rd. Mr. J. E. Bagnall, 
A.L.S., exhibited for Mr. J. B. Stone, J.P., the following mosses: 
Amblystegium irriguum , Ilypnum crassinerviuni , II. falcatum , Ac. Mr. 
