238 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
in limited quantities. This is so unusual an occurrence in the history 
of this plant, as known in Britain, that it will probably interest the 
readers of the “Midland Naturalist” ( vide Messrs. Groves’ “ Review of 
the British Characese,” “Journal of Botany,” 1880, p. 163, pi. *200; 
in reprint, p. 16). The uncertain appearance of these plants and 
their apparent independence of roots is worthy of note. The writer 
has at the present moment living Nitella mucronata in an aquarium, 
gathered more than a year ago, and in obtaining them they were broken 
off about the roots, so that they have existed without them, never 
having developed any during that period.—J. Saunders, Luton. 
|Uporfs of .Societies. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY. —Microscopical Meeting, August 2nd, 1887. Mr. Thomas 
Clarke exhibited piece of fossil wood and three siliceous pebbles brought 
from the Soudan by Gunner W. Allen, E Battery, Royal Horse 
Artillery. Mr. Edmonds exhibited a specimen of rose with the sepals 
of calyx converted into leaves. Mr. Bolton exhibited specimens of 
male and female Asplachna intermedia , a rare rotifer found at Harts- 
hill.— Biological Section, August 9. Mr. R. W. Chase in the chair. 
Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited and described for Mr. W. R. Hughes 
a fine series of plants representing the rarer flora of the Medbourne 
district of Leicestershire, and containing Vida sylvatica and Euonymus 
Europeans; these were all collected by the Rev. T. Norris, Rector 
of Alexton, and one of the authorities referred to in the “Flora 
of Leicestershire.” Mr. W. P. Marshall exhibited a collection of 
plants from Hartlebury Common and the neighbourhood, including 
Sagittaria sayittifolia, Carex ampullacea , Jasione montana, and Comarum 
palustre. — Geological Section, August 16. Mr. Thomas Clarke in the 
chair. Mr. Horace Pearce, F.G.S., exhibited specimens of silver¬ 
bearing rocks from the Rocky Mountains near Pueblo, in Colorado, 
United States. Mr. Bolton exhibited specimens from the Severn at 
Hampton Loade of the rotifer Ladnularia sodalis, and of a curious 
Caddis larva in a transparent case, having vibrating gill appendages. 
Mr. Reading exhibited a specimen of Daphnella Wingii , an entomos- 
tracan from Sutton Park. Mr. Rabone exhibited a photograph from 
Dunedin, in New Zealand, showing very luxuriant vegetation ; also a 
specimen of a double kidney bean. Mr. Wilkinson exhibited for Mr. 
Pumplirey a specimen from Switzerland of the lichen Usnea barbata , 
variety florida, that was beautifully in fruit. Mr. Marshall exhibited 
a number of plants collected in the Dingle, near Hampton Loade, and 
the neighbourhood, including the following rare specimens:— Hypericum 
androsoemurn, Dipsacus pilosus, Vicia sylvatica, Viburnum opulus , Eupatoria 
cannabinum, and Cynoglossum officinale. — Sociological Section, August 
23rd.—Mr. Bolton exhibited the freshwater alga, Hydrodictyon utricu- 
latum , from Sutton Park. Mr. Reading exhibited the very rare and 
most remarkable rotifer, Pedalion mira , which so much resembles the 
nauplius larva of an Entomostracan in its jumping movements, from 
a new locality, King’s Norton. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ 
UNION.—June 27. Mr. Deakin exhibited specimens of Pupa umbili- 
cata, var. edentula, and Helix pulchella, from Brecknockshire, also a 
curiously distorted specimen of Anodonta anatina ; Mr. J. Madison, 
specimens of Patella longicosta and other shells, from Australia, also a 
small collection of insects from the same place. Mr. H. Insley then 
