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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
Mr. Bolton exhibited Anurcea serrulata, a rotifer, from a pool within 
the borough. Mr. Marshall exhibited specimens of plants from the 
island of Skye, including Drosera anglica and Sedum Rhodiola ; also, 
geological specimens of rocks from the Black Cuillins and the Red 
Cuillins of Skye. Mr. Waller gave some interesting particulars of the 
remarkable and unique geology of Skye and the surrounding district. 
—Sociological Section, July 26. The President, Mr. W. R. Hughes, 
in the chair. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson exhibited Pimpinella magna , 
Carex remota , and the following lichens, all from Hartshill:— Physcia 
parietina and Lecidea canescens. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited a fine display 
of rotifers from a pool near Hartshill Castle, including the rare one, 
Asplanchna intermedia , male and female; also Brachionus ampliiceros, 
B angular is, Polyarthra platgptera , Triartlira mystacina, and Anurcea 
brevispina. The President read a series of letters relating to the work 
of the Section, and the Hon. Secretary reported that the excursion to 
Hartshill on the previous Saturday had passed off very pleasantly. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY.— Sociological Section.— The ninth excursion of the Section 
was made on Saturday, July 23rd, to Hartshill, near Atherstone, the 
country of Michael Drayton, by a party numbering twenty-nine 
members and friends. The remains of Hartshill Castle were visited, 
and the house m which Drayton is said to have lived. In this and 
some of the neighbouring cottages the manufacture of silk ribbons in 
homely wooden machines, cleverly actuated by hand and foot, excited 
much interest among the visitors. By the kindness of the Vicar and 
other governors tea was served in the Hartshill Schools, the President 
of the Section, Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S., presiding. After tea Dr. 
Showell Rogers, M.A., read a characteristically interesting paper on 
“ Michael Drayton,” and exhibited Dr. Johnson’s copy of Drayton’s 
poems, now the property of Mr. Sam Timmins. The arrangements for 
the excursion were made by Mr. F. J. Cullis, F.G.S., the Hon. Secretary 
of the Section, and the enjoyable character of the excursions of the 
Sociological Section was well maintained through the afternoon. 
LEICESTER LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
—Section D. Last month four of the members visited Stonesby and 
Saltby, which are situated on the strip of oolitic rock which occupies 
the north-eastern edge of the county. The following rare plants were 
collected near Saltby, of which the first two are new to the county:— 
Senecio campestris, Hippocrepis comosa, Cerastium arvense, Astragalus 
hypoglottis. On the 13th of July four members made an excursion to 
Glen, and thence through Wiston Park. No very rare plants were 
met with, but some Conium maculatum and good specimens of Acorns 
Calamus were found. On July 20tli the ordinary monthly meeting of 
the section was held, when the above plants were shown, and also 
several others by the Rev. Mr. Preston, amongst the latter being an 
unusually fine example of Carduus tiiberosus. A short discussion 
took place on the best methods of teaching elementary science in 
public schools, with special reference to natural history studies. A 
paper was read by the chairman (Dr. Hy. Tomkins) on “ The Active 
Principles of some British Poisonous Plants.” Various specimens of 
these were shown in the fresh state, and the alkaloids and other active 
principles from them were exhibited, with a brief account of the 
various parts of the plants in which these were found. Their properties 
and physiological action were also referred to. 
Erratum. —No. 115 (July), page 192, line 13 from the top. Ranunculus 
“ parvus ” should be parvijlorus, as it was described at the meeting 
(Dudley and Midland Geological and Scientific Society). 
