136 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
colours, viz,, yellow, red, and purple, by touching them with the 
chemical reagents. He further illustrated the paper by carefully 
prepared and coloured drawings.— Biological Section, April 15. Mr. 
R. W. Chase in the chair. A paper was read by Mr. A. Bernard 
Badger, of New College, Oxford, on “ Phosphorescence in the Animal 
Kingdom,” illustrated by an extensive series of coloured slides which 
were exhibited in the lantern by Mr. C. Pumphrey. The display of 
phosphorescent light in living animals was described and illustrated, 
from the minute marine infusoria ( Noctiluca ) that cause the luminous 
appearance of the surface of the sea, the sea-pens ( Pennatula ), and 
many other marine animals, to the glow-worms and fire-llies of this 
country and tropical climates. The emission of the light appeared to 
be the result in all cases of some external excitement or irritation ; 
and it was considered to be produced either by a slow oxidation or 
combustion of some fatty or oily matter, or some conversion of 
nervous energy into light energy. The latter hypothesis appeared 
very questionable ; but the former one was supported to a remarkable 
extent by the discovery from microscopical examination in the majority 
of cases of special phosphorescent organs containing stores of minute 
fatty or oil globules.— Geological Section Meeting, April 19. Mr. T. 
H. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., in the chair. Exhibition of specimens : Mr. 
Bolton, the plasmodium of a myxomycete in active] motion, in form, 
like a very large amoeba from three to four inches long, from near 
Sutton ; Mr. W. B. Grove, the three earliest leaf fungi of Spring, viz., 
(Ecidiuvi ficarice, TJromyces ficarice (both, in some instances, on the same 
leaf), and Puccinia adoxce , all from Water Orton, gathered on Easter 
Tuesday; on behalf of Mr. Iliff, Daldinia concentrica, from Aldwmckle, 
Northants. Mr. John H. Lloyd, M.A., exhibited specimens of gold 
ore from Australia and New ifealand. Mr. Waller, B.A., B.Sc., read 
a note on the occurrence of gold at Mount Morgan, near Rockhampton, 
Queensland. Votes of thanks were accorded to both the above gentle¬ 
men for their interesting specimens and notes thereon. Tbe secretary, 
on behalf of Mr. W. R. Hughes, read a paper (by Mr. A. H. Cocks), on 
“ Cliillingham Wild Cattle ; ” the paper was illustrated by photo¬ 
graphs. The secretary was directed to convey to Mr. Cocks the 
thanks of the section for his note and illustrations.— Sociological 
Section, April 26th. Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., in the chair. Mr. 
J. H. Salter, of Queen’s College, was unanimously elected a member 
of the Society, and a paper was read by Mr. Hughes on the fifth and 
sixth chapters of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s “Data of Ethics,” treating of 
the physical and biological aspects of conduct. At supplementary 
meetings on April 7th and 21st, papers were read by Miss Bvett and 
Mr. F. J. Cullis, F.G.S., on the second portion of Mr. Spencer’s 
“Factors of Organic Evolution.” 
CARADOC FIELD CLUB.—The Annual Meeting was held at 
Shrewsbury, on Tuesday, March 29. In the unavoidable absence of 
the president the chair was occupied by T. P. Blunt, Esq., one of the 
vice-presidents. The minutes of the last annual meeting having been 
confirmed and the treasurer’s accounts approved, the Rev. J. D. La 
Touche was re-elected president, and G. R. Jebb, Esq., was elected a 
vice-president, in place of W. E. Beckwith. Esq., who retired by 
rotation. The Rev. P. B. Brodie, president of the Warwickshire Field 
Club, was also elected an honorary member. Field meetings for the 
ensuing season were fixed as follows : Larden Ditches (Wenlock Edge), 
May 27 ; Malvern (long meeting), at the date of the meeting there of the 
Midland Union of Natural History and Scientific Societies ; The 
Breidden, August 10 ; and Pulverbach (for Cryptogamic Botany), 
September 23. 
