118 
COKEESPONDENCE-REPORTS OF SOCIETIES 
We Understand that Mr. Clement L. Wragge, having first 
reorganised the Ben Nevis observing system and arranged his museum 
in the new building at Stafford, intends to follow up the ocean 
meteorological work of the “Challenger,” under the auspices of the 
Scottish Meteorological Society, during a third voyage to Australia. 
He hopes moreover to add to his Ethnographical and General Natural 
History collections, and, being anxious to make the best of his travels 
in a scientific point of view, solicits, and will gladly receive any notes, 
recommendations, or suggestions, from any of the associated Societies. 
Address, until May 25th, Farley, near Cheadle, Staffordshire; thence, 
till August 1st next, O, East Mayfield, Edinburgh; and afterwards, 
until further notice, 9G, King* William Street, Adelaide, South 
Australia. 
BIRMINGHAIM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.— 
Annual Meeting (adjourned)—April :ird.—The Retiring President (Mr. J. 
Levick) delivered his address, in which he gave some useful advice, derived 
from his own experience, relating to the collection, preservation, and exhibition 
of microscopic fresh-water life. He advocated the examination of one’s captures 
on the spot in order that gatherings of no value might not be taken, and showed 
how this could be done to a great extent with the aid of a simple pocket lens; 
he observed that he had generally no difficulty in deciding as to the presence or 
absence of amoeboB, for example, in the gathering by that means alone, and that he 
had enabled many who could not find an amoeba even with the aid of a 
microscope to see them without one. He described his garden-pond, in which 
he kept an unfailing supply of such rarities as Melicerta annulata, Tubicolaria 
naias, CEcistes umbella, as well as Floscules, Stephanoceros, Tardigrades, 
Desmids, and many other microscopic organisms in abundance. Finally, he 
gave directions for the efficient display of these creatures beneath the 
microscope in all their beauty. The address, which abounded with useful 
hints, will be published by the Society at an early date. Biological Section— 
April 10th.—Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited mosses : Tortul i muralis, var. rupes'vis 
(rare), T. convoluta, T, revoluta, T. aloides (local). T. unguiculata, var. apiculata 
(rare), Encalypta streptocarpa ; Hepaticae—PeJHn epiphiilla, Conocephalus 
conicus, in fine fruit; Lichen— Usnea barbata, var. hirta (new as a record for 
Warwickshire), all from the Arley district; for Dr. F. Arnold Lees, Pterygo- 
phyllum lueens, in fruit (rare), from near Bewdley, Worcestershire; for Mr. 
J. Saunders, Luton, Brachytheciiim albicans and Gamptotliecium lutescens in 
fruit. Mr. W. H. Wilkinson exhibited Lichens; Pamalina fraxinea, var. 
ampliata, B. fraxinea, var. fastigiata, B. farinacea, Physcia pr^mastri, P. 
ciliaris, Parmelia piclverulenta, P. caperata, and P, parietina, all growing on 
trees, from Blockley, Worcestershire. Mr. J. Morley exhibited for Mr. T. Clarke, 
Wild Flowers from Tanfield, on the banks of the Ure, North Riding of Yorkshire, 
Helleborus foetidus, Helleborus viridis, and Daphne laureola. Mr. J. F. Goode 
exhibited Colletonema neglectiini and VaiLcheria geminata, from Handsworth. 
Microscopical Meeting— April 17th.—Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Viola hirta, 
from Alvestonpastures; Hypnwmpratense, from Earlswood (rare); Diplophyllum 
albicans, in fruit, from Chalcot; Scapania irrigua, from Earlswood, new to 
Warwickshire; also for Mr. Bolton King, Herniaria hirta, from Christchurch ; 
Aspar igi(s officinalis, from Waterford ; Viola Symei, from co. Clare, and other 
rare plants. Mr. W. G. Blatch, exhibited a species of Sclerotium, an imperfect 
state of a fungus, from dried stems of Hollyhocks. Mr. W. B. Grove then read a 
paper on “ The British Species of PilobolidJP, with a synopsis of the Eurojiean 
species, and a description of a new one from this district.” After speaking of 
