REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
119 
the position which the Pilobolidee hold among the Mucorini, he described the 
characters which separate the two genera of which that tribe consists, viz., 
Pilobolus and Pilaira. This was followed by a minute description of the 
morphology and physiology of Pilobolus, especially with reference to the forma¬ 
tion of the sporangium and its projection. Mr. Grove recorded an instance in 
which a specimen of the fungus, unier one-tenth of an inch in height, threw its 
sporangium by an ex^ilosive action to a distance of 4ft. lOin., and that a bell- 
glass, twelve inches high, beneath which some specimens were growing, Avas 
covered with the projected s^jorangia on all sides to the very top. He then gave 
a short description of the genus Pilaria, followed by a summary of the history 
and bibliography of the subject, and, finally, a list of the nine European species, 
three of which, Pilobolus occlipus, Pilobolus Kleinii, and Pilaira Cesatii, were 
here recorded as British for the tii’st time, and a descripCion of a new species, 
Pilaira inosculans, found by him in Worcestershire, near Quinton. GeoliOGICALi 
Section —April 24th.—Mr. J. Bagnall exhibited Viola hirta, var. florealbo (a 
rare form), from Wootton Wawen, and Viola sylvatica, var. Beichenbacliiana, 
from Preston Bagot, a new locality. Mr. W. J. Harrison, F.G.S., then gave an 
interesting lecture on “The Ancient Life-History of the Earth” to a large 
audience. The lecturer described a number of fine photographs and diagrams 
which were exhibited by means of the optical lantern, and consisted of views 
showing the chief varieties of geological action, and also a large number of 
sketches of the principal fossils of the Palaeozoic period. 
BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY.— 
March 23rd.—The members had an excursion to Gloucester. The party walked 
on to Whitcombe and Birdliji, then through Crauham Wood, to the Roman 
Camp on Spooiibed Hill, and I'eturned through Upton St. Leonard’s to Gloucester. 
April 4th.—Mr. D. Hooper read a paper on “ The Chemistry of the British 
Coinage.” After briefly describing the history of coins, he gave a full description 
of the processes through which they passed at the Mint, also the methods used 
in testing the various metals used for the coinage. 
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY—March 15th.— 
A general meeting held at the Toavii Hall, at which Mr. S. J. Newman read 
some notes upon “Man’s agency, direct and indirect, in exterminating some 
species and extending the range of others; an agency by which thousands of 
different species of the animals, plants, and insects — in fact, representatives 
of the whole flora and fauna — are being distributed or re-distributed about the 
world; an agency by which one and another rare bii'd and beast or insect is 
becoming extinct and lost to us in its living state for ever.” All this was 
going on so rapidly (said the reader) that in one generation we saw vast 
tracts of Australia turned into sheep walks, or a thousand miles of prairie 
changed to a huge cornfield, or a whole country half-bared of its forests 
for speculating builders. Unless we were cpiick in getting precise lists of the 
natural habitation of the various species, and of their original geographical 
distribution, they would become so mixed up over the face of the globe (unless, 
indeed, exterminated), as to make the task of Avorking out the analogy betAA’een 
their structure or habits and their natural surroundings too difficult a problem 
to be satisfactorily solved, if not impossible. It Avas this relation of cause to 
effect to which Ave look for aid, and, indeed, as our sole guide in working back¬ 
wards the succession of life, and thus to grasp the laAvs Avhich have resulted 
in forming in their present state the whole animal and A^egetable life now on 
the world, with their countless variations of shape, colour, structure, and habits. 
If it were so necessary to learn the native geographical distribution of animals 
and plants, if Ave would understand Avhy their forms were as Ave now saw them, then 
it was important that the Avork should be done speedily, before the movements of 
man in his restless journeyings from continent to continent have disturbed 
too much the balance of Nature, as with his goods and chattels, his corn and 
cattle, he unwittingly conveys many a seed or insect to a new home, and before 
he has ])ortioned out all the Avorld into cornfields for foed, pasture for cattle. 
