REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
107 
the great advantages of his new lens. He also made sketches from 
it by the camera lucida. Remarks were made upon its use and 
structure by Prof. Hillliouse, Messrs. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., T. H. 
Waller, B.Sc., and J. Levick. The exhibition was much appreciated 
by the large attendance of members and friends.— Biological Section, 
March 8tli. Mr. R. W. Chase in the chair. A paper was given by 
the Rev. H. Friend, of Worksop, on Micro-Fungi, describing the minute 
parasitic growths that infest various plants, as mildew, mould 
and rust, Ac., causing extensive damage in some cases from their 
great rapidity of growth. The paper was illustrated by a series 
of interesting coloured slides, prepared by Mr. Friend, and exhibited 
in the lantern by Mr. C. Pumplirey.— Geological Section, March 15th : 
sixteen present. Mr. T. H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., in the chair. Mr. 
John Farthing, Prescott House, Kenilworth, elected a member. 
Specimens: Mr. Blakemore, Sagartia bellis, the daisy anemone, from 
Shanklin ; Mr. Cullis, mica schist with garnets, basalt containing 
olivine inclusions, both from Scandinavia. Notice given that at the 
next General Meeting it will be proposed that the word Committee 
(in the Laws) be changed to Council. Professor Hillliouse read a 
paper on the “Distribution of Plants in time”; a cordial vote of 
thanks was given to the Professor. It was resolved that the Publishing 
Committee be requested to have the above paper printed in the 
•* Midland Naturalist” at an early date.— Biological Section. Supple¬ 
mentary Meeting, Friday, March 25th. Mr. R. W. Chase in the chair. 
Professor Hillliouse gave the conclusion of iiis address on the “ Life 
History of Mosses,” tracing the gradual development from the fertilised 
archegonium to the matured ripe capsule discharging its spores.— 
Sociological Section, March 22nd. Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., in the 
chair. A paper was read by Mr. F. J. Cullis, F.G.S., on the first 
four chapters of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s “ Data of Ethics,” in which 
the gradual development of moral conduct was considered from the 
naturalist’s point of view.—At supplementary meetings, on March 3rd 
and March 17tli, Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., in the chair, papers on 
the first portion of Mr. Spencer's “ Factors of Organic Evolution ” 
were read by Mr. Alfred Browett. At these two meetings tea was 
served at 5.30. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—February 21st. Mr. P. T. Deakin exhibited specimens of 
Helix pygmcca, Zouites radiatulus, and other shells from Solihull; Mr. 
J. Madison, My a truncatula, with siphon and other marine shells. 
Under the microscopes Mr. Hawkes showed archegonia and gemmi- 
parous conceptacles of Marchantia polymorpha ; Mr. J. W. Neville, a 
slide of a series of jaws of Helices, mounted for comparison.— 
February 28tli. Mr. C. P. Neville exhibited a specimen of sea fan 
(Gorgonia). Mr. A. T. Evans then read a paper on the “ Geology of 
the Birmingham District.” The writer spoke of rocks as being of 
two kinds, Archaian, in which all traces of life were held to be 
obliterated, and Fossiliferous. The former were divided into two 
sections, Huronian and Laurentian, which were reviewed with some 
theories of their formation. They were devoid of fossils with possibly 
one exception. From this point the writer described the rocks of the 
district. The Cambrian and Silurian were well represented, but we 
had then a great gap that brought us to the coal period. One of the 
most singular features in this formation is the 30ft. seam of coal 
in the Bilston district, thinning out and being separated by sandstone 
layers into 330ft. at Pelsall. The Permian and Trias were dealt with 
