REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
T2 
Mucorini, new to the British Flora. Mr. K. W. Chase read a paper “On the Study of 
Ornithology.” The subject was divided under the following heads, viz •.—Classi¬ 
fication, Feathers, Skeleton, Digestive Organs and Trachea, Life History and 
Habits, all of which were fully treated. One of tne most important points of 
study for the collector is to obtain a perfect knowledge of the various stages 
which each species goes through until maturity is reached, some species taking 
longer than others to arrive at their mature plumage, e.g., some require three or 
four years, whilst others attain it on being fully fledged, or after the first moult. 
A striking change of plumage also occurs as they assume their winter or summer 
garb. The construction of the nest, the materials employed, the situation 
chosen, and the colouring of the eggs should be noted ; also if they simulate the 
surroundings, so as to make it difficult to discover them. TTie importance of 
noting the colour of the legs and eyes in freshly-killed specimens is essential, as 
many mistakes occur in descriptions taken from dried specimens from which 
the colouring matter has faded or disappeared. The contents of the birds’ 
stomachs also furnish a vast amount of information, and will repay examina¬ 
tion to ascertain upon what the bird feeds, and so be able to tell the habitat of 
the species. The paper was illustrated by numerous typical specimens and 
interesting preparations. MicBOSCOPiCAn General, Meeting —February 20th. 
—Mr. T. Bolton exhibited a new infusorian, just discovered by himself, to which 
he had given the name of Chilomonas spiralis. The Eev. H. Boyden exhibited 
a small collection of plants from the South of France and South of Portugal, 
gathered by the Rev. F. H. Thompson ; many of them rare. Mr. J. F. Goode 
exhibited a minute Alga, Coccochloris Brebissonii. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited 
Utricularid neglecta, from Staines; Eldtine hexanclra, from Surrey; E. 
triandra, from Kew Gardens; Selinicni carvifoliwni, from Lincolnshire (newly- 
discovered in Britain), with Peucedanum palustre, from Norfolk, with which it 
has been hitherto confounded ; Ulota intermedia, Tetraphis pellucida (in fruit), 
Eunaria fascicidaris, and Mnium rostratum (for Mr. R. Rogers), all rare, from 
Hampton-in-Arden; also two Hepatic®, Lunula ria vulgaris and Metzgeria 
furcata, and a fungus, Galera sphagnorum, from the same place; also Geaster 
limhatus, from near Kidderminster (for Dr. Arnold Lees), and a series of Fungi 
to illustrate Mr. Plowright’s paper. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited the following 
fungi i—Hypoxglon marginatum, Helicnmijces (probably roseus), Corticium 
incarnatum, and Peziza Chavetii from Sutton; Dactylium obovaUmi 
(Berkeley), also from Sutton, growing on willow twigs, and showing all stages 
between that figured by Mr. Berkeley in the “ Annals of Natural History ” under 
the name given above, and the ordinary form of Dactylium roseum, thus 
rendering it probable that the two species are not distinct; also Elaphomyces 
V rriegatus, from King’s Lynn, sent by Mr. C. B. Plowrigh and the zygospores 
or sexually produced spores of Mucor mucedo, obtained by cultivating the Mucor 
ill a deficiency of oxygen. Mr. T. H. Waller exhibited globular phosphate of 
lime, from South Russia. Mr. Bagnall then read a paper by Mr. C. B. Plowright 
on “ T he Reclassification of the Uredines,” in which the writer gave an account 
of the changes which have recently been made in the arrangement of those 
fungi, owing to the adoption of the theory of their Trimorphism, and appended 
a list of the British species, according to the system adopted by Dr. Winter. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPISTS’ AND NATURALISTS’ UNION.— 
Microscopical and General Meeting. — January Bth. — Mr. Madison 
showed Limax flavus (living specimen) ; Mr. Boland, a collection of Indian 
marine shells ; Mr. Delicate, microscopical section of shell of cocoa-nut; Mr. J. 
W. Neville, dredgings from “Challenger” Expedition. January 13th.—Mr. H. 
Insley exhibited a collection of Australian woods, polished, showing their 
structure. A paper, “ Notes on Nebul®,” was read by Mr. J. Wykes. January 22nd. 
—Mr. Tylor showed a microscopical Fungus found in an Oporto wine cellar 
and Mr. Baxter, a specimen of Membranivora pilosa. January 29th.—Special 
pond life; various common objects shown and described. February 3rd.—Mr. 
Tylor showed a s})ecimeu of Laln-adorite; Mr. Baxter, Ophiocoma neglecta, 
and O. rosula. A paper was read by Mr. Wheeldon, “ Notes on Dragon-Flies, ’ 
illustrated by diagrams. 
