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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
is tlie most ancient of all the geological collections. The collection 
formed by Gustavus Brander, F.R.S., is of special value in that it is 
the earliest in which types of named and described species of fossils 
have been preserved, the descriptive account of them having been 
published in 1766. Dr. William Smith’s collection, commenced about 
1787, purchased in 1816, and subsequently extended, is remarkable as 
being the first collection in which a connection was shown between 
fossils and strata, i.e., in which fossils were used in determining 
strata. Lastly, there is the collection made by the Sowerbys, father 
and son, and used in the preparation of their great work on the 
Mineral Conchology of Great Britain, published in parts between the 
years 1812 and 1845. 
A Specimen or the Giant Puffball ( Lycopeedon yiganteum ), more 
than deserving of its name, has been produced (mid-September) in a 
garden in Edgbaston. The monster was as nearly as possible globular, 
37in. in circumference, and weighed, when at length gathered, 71bs. 
15oz. It grew in the midst of a clump of Michaelmas daisies, and 
when first discovered had attained 26in. circumference, and was taken 
by the gardener to be a stray fox terrier dog curled up in a comfortable 
berth. This puffball when young is edible, is indeed a great delicacy 
to mycophagists; its skin is of a delicate white kid-glove texture, and 
the interior likewise white ; when old the interior becomes yellow, and 
the skin rougher and brownish.—W. H. 
Examination Answers.-— Below we give a specimen answer extracted 
from a paper, worked by one of the candidates in Geology, at this 
year’s examinations of the Science and Art Department. As an 
example of “ how not to do it,” this attempt would not be easy to 
surpass. It is only fair, however, to say that such answers are the 
exception, and not the rule:—“The age of sedimentary rocks are 
known by their fossils. If you know the age of one rock you can 
easily tell the age of other rocks. You find fossils in the rock you don’t 
know the age of. You then compare them with the fossils of the rock 
you know. If there are more fossils in the rock you don’t know, of 
the same species of the rocks you do know, it must be newer. For 
there are more species of the same kind. If there are not so many 
species of the rocks you do know, the rocks must be older.” 
Imports of .Societies. 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPIC \L 
SOCIETY. —Biological Section, September 13. Mr. W. B. Grove in 
the chair. A number of specimens were exhibited by Mrs. Kent of un¬ 
usually luxuriant galls on oak leaves, three species being represented in 
some cases on one leaf. Mr. Walliker exhibited a collection of mosses, 
lichens, and hepaticae that he had found in Norway, including Racomit- 
rium lanuginosum, Tortnla tortuosa , lJlota Bruchii , and Parmelia perlnta ; 
Mr. Wilkinson exhibited Medictigo sativa from Stratford-on-Avon. 
Atropa Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) with its seeds under the micros¬ 
cope. and some grasses from Dudley Castle ; Mr. Grove exhibited 
the following fungi from the Rhine :— Phyllosticta ceuenta, P. scropli- 
nlariee, Septoria saponarice, S. rubi , liamulana a evens is, Gamarosporimn 
robinue, Asteroma reticulaium, and Xylaria polymorpha ; Mr. Marshall 
exhibited some microscope objects from the Puffin Island dredging 
expedition of the British Association. Professor Harrison, of Barbadoes. 
presented to the Society, through Mr. Alleyn, of Bristol, a box of micros¬ 
cope slides of Polvcvstina and Diatomacese collected in Barbadoes. 
