REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
353 
W. H. Wilkinson exhibited Schcenus ferrugineus, one of the bog rushes, 
a plant new to Great Britain, recently found by Mr. J. Brebner in 
Scotland. Also from Dr. F. Buchanan White, F.L.S., Utricularia 
vulgaris, U. intermedia, U.'minor; the single-leaved strawberry, Fragaria 
vesca v. unifolia; Polypodium alpestre v. flexile, Poly stichum Lone hit is, 
and Woodsia ilvensis ; also the blue daisy, a variety of Beilis sylvestris, 
from Mount Atlas, and other rare and interesting plants from 
Scotland. Mr. A. W. Wills, J.P., read Mr. J. D. Siddall’s paper 
on “ The American Water Weed, Anacliaris Alsinastrum, its structure 
and habit; with some notes ou its introduction into Great Britain, 
and the causes affecting its rapid spread at first, and apparent present 
diminution.The paper was illustrated by large coloured diagrams of 
the plant, its flowers and seeds, with sections showing its structural 
details ; besides which Mr. J. E. Bagnall, A.L.S., exhibited specimens of 
the plant itself, and various sections under the microscopes. The paper 
was listened to with great interest by the meeting and appreciation 
expressed of the very able manner in which Mr. Wills had given it.— 
Biological Section, November 10th. Professor Haycraft exhibited a 
specimen of the oviduct and ovary of a fowl, and demonstrated by the 
aid of a diagram the process by which an egg assumes its well-known 
form. Leaving the ovary as a globular yellow mass (the yolk), it 
receives a coating of glairy fluid (the white) during its passage through 
the upper part of the oviduct, and then the calcareous matter (the 
shell) is precipitated outside that during its progress through the lower 
part of the oviduct. Mr. A. H. Atkins exhibited a pitcher of Nepenthes, 
upon which Professor Hillhouse made some interesting observations. 
Mr. J. Morley exhibited Asplenium microdon , a rare fern, which has 
been found only in Guernsey, near Barnstaple, and near Penzance. 
Mr. T. Bolton exhibited Lucernaria auricula, Podura aquatica, and 
Asplauchna Brightwellii (male and female) ; the latter species is the 
rotifer in which the male was first discovered. Mr. W. B. Grove 
exhibited three fungi, new to Great Britain —Bamularia calcea, from 
Hereford ; Cercospora ferruginea, from Bradnock's Marsh ; and Stachy- 
lidium extorre , from Harborne. On the motion of Mr. Grove, seconded 
by Mr. It. W. Chase, a vote of regret was passed by the meeting at the 
untimely death of Dr. Bull, of Hereford, so soon after the completion 
of his great work, “ The Herefordshire Pomona.” Mr. W. P. Marshall 
exhibited and made a few remarks upon the large botanical collection 
which he made during his last visit to the United States, from 
Arizona, California, Virginia, Niagara Falls, and the Mammoth Cave, 
Kentucky. The specimens were much admired. —General Meeting, 
November 17th. At the meeting of the Microscopical General 
Section, Mr. R. W. Chase read his paper on “ Ornithological Notes 
from Norfolk,” giving details of the plumage and habits of some of the 
rare birds he had observed, and pointing out the loss of some of the 
rarer kinds of birds by the drainage and cultivation of the land. In 
illustration of his paper he exhibited the following birds :— (Edicnemus 
crepitans, Stone Curlew; Machetes pugnax , Ruff; Tringoides hypo- 
leucus, Common Sandpiper; Tringa alpina, Dunlin, all from 
Norfolk. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited a marine polyzoon, growing on 
the glass of his aquarium in Newhall Street, Bowerbanlda gracillima (?). 
Mr. J. Morley exhibited the following ferns:— Lastrea Filix-mas, 
cristata . originally found near St. Austell, Cornwall; Lastrea Filix- 
mas, cristata angustata, raised from spores; Lastrea rernota, found in 
Westmoreland in 1859, by Mr. F. Clowes, of Windermere, the only 
one found in Great Britain; Lastrea Filix-mas, v. Pinderi , found near 
Eller Water, in the Lake district; Lastrea Filix-mas, v. Barnesii, 
