78 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
country, and following the base of the upper neocomian greensand. 
There the beds range from six inches to two feet in thickness. In 
Cambridgeshire, where they are likewise worked extensively, they 
come either from the gault or the lower greensand. In Suffolk they 
are met with at the base of the Red Rag, and probably derived from 
the Coralline Crag. They are very interesting deposits, partly the 
debris of denuded beds, partly bones of dead saurians and fish, but all 
rolled about in shallow seas, till their identification becomes very 
difficult. True coprolites of fsecal origin were first found in the lias of 
Gloucestershire, but never occur in quantity sufficiently great to make 
them of value for agricultural purposes. 
Pulicaria dysenterica, Gaertn., var. longiradiata. —Last autumn I 
noticed on Bowar’s Hill, Berkshire, a form of P. dysenterica , which 
differed considerably from the usual state in having the ray ligules 
narrow strap-shaped, half an inch long The flowers of the disc were 
normal and fertile, nor did the plant in habit differ from the type. 
This variety does not appear to have been noticed in our own or 
Continental floras. The figures of the plant, too, represent it as having 
a short contiguous ray. Sir J. D. Hooker considers it a handsome 
form. Should the character be constant in cultivation, it, however, 
would appear to be at least worth varietal distinction, and the above 
name, although rather uncouth, has at least the merit of describing its 
special feature. [G. C. Druce, Oxford.] 
tu'ports of Societies. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.—February 1st, Annual Meeting. Mr. R.W. Chase presided, 
and there was a good attendance of members. The report for the past 
year was read by the hon. secretary (Mr. W. H. Wilkinson), and an 
abstract of it appears at page 70. On the motion of Professor Hillhouse, 
seconded by Mr. W. R. Hughes, the best thanks of the society were 
cordially presented to the president (Mr. Chase) for his services during 
the past year. Similar votes were accorded to the officers and com¬ 
mittee, and to the local press. Professor Hillhouse was elected 
president of the society for the forthcoming year; Mr. W. B. Grove 
and Professor Lapworth, vice-presidents, together with four ex¬ 
presidents ; Mr. Pumphrey, treasurer ; Mr. W. H. Wilkinson and Mr. 
VV. P. Marshall, general secretaries ; Mr. J. E. Bagnall, librarian. The 
committee was also appointed, and some changes were made in the 
society’s laws. Professor Hillhouse, in taking the presidential chair, 
said he regarded it as a happy augury that that great scientific college 
in which they were assembled had now two of its professors occupying 
the presidential chairs of the two great scientific societies of Birming¬ 
ham. —Biological Section, February 8th. Mr. R. W. Chase was 
elected president of the section, and Mr. W. P. Marshall was elected 
secretary for the ensuing year. Mr. J. E. Bagnall read a paper on 
“ South American and European Mosses,” describing several genera of 
South American mosses, and giving notes of their distribution in 
America and in Europe. The paper was illustrated by specimens, 
together with micro-preparations, to show their structure ; also a series 
of Italian mosses was exhibited from Dr. Bottini, of Pisa, including 
Hypnum Bottinii , Grimmia Lisce, and Bryam juliforme. Mr. T. Clarke 
