ANNUAL REPORT. 
71 
of life, sucli as the micro-organisms shown from time to time 
by Mr. T. Bolton, F.R.M.S., the Society’s assistant-curator; 
the micro-fungi by Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A.; to these must be 
added as a constant contributor, Mr. J. E. Bagnall, A.L.S., 
whose “ Flora of Warwickshire” has won for him a high 
position amongst the local botanists of our country, and who 
from time to time has exhibited rare and interesting flowering 
plants, mosses, &c., with notes upon their geographical dis¬ 
tribution. Still the committee believes that if a larger pro¬ 
portion of the members would bring specimens for exhibition, 
the interest of the Society’s meetings would be yet further 
enhanced. 
The committee are pleased to report that the diminution 
of members by withdrawal—owing to the increase in the sub¬ 
scription—has now practically ceased, and they look forward 
hopefully to an increase of membership in the early future. 
On account of the visit of the British Association, no 
conversazione was held this year in the Town Hall; but 
each session was commenced by a soiree on a smaller scale, 
held in the examination hall of the Mason College, which was 
kindly placed at the disposal of the Society for that purpose. 
The committee feel it an honour to point to the prominent 
part taken by many members of the Society, in the proceed¬ 
ings of the Meeting of the British Association in Birmingham 
in 1886, not only in the reading of papers before the various 
sections, and in their work on the different committees ; but 
especially in connection with the Natural History portion of 
the Exhibition in Bingley Hall, and in their valuable help in 
the preparation of the “ Hand-Book of Birmingham,” which 
was published for the occasion. A resume of the relations of 
the Society with the visit of the Association written by Profes¬ 
sor W. Hillliouse, M.A., appeared in the “Midland Naturalist” 
for 1886, page 316 ; and the final report of the executive, pre¬ 
sented to the general local committee, contains a generous 
and hearty recognition of the work of the Society in connec¬ 
tion with the meeting of the Association. 
The annual meeting of the Midland Union of Natural 
History Societies was held in Shrewsbury, on June 22nd and 
23rd, when a conversazione was held in the Music Hall, and 
three excursions were made :—The geological to Norton and 
Stokesay Castle, the botanical to Ellesmere, and the archaeo¬ 
logical to Uriconium and Buildwas Abbey. 
A whole-day excursion of the Society was made on Easter 
Monday, April 26th, to Chirk, when about fifty members 
attended. A fortnight’s excursion was made to Tenby by a 
party of members of the Society, when the marine fauna 
