m 
REPORTS OE SOCIETIES. 
Essex. Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S.: A pebble, evidently broken from the junction 
of a sandstone bed with a calcareous vein, as it shows both layers, from Brixham, 
South Devon ; and a fragment of slate with vein of aragonite, from Rossthwaite, 
Borrowdale. Mr. W. H. France: A remarkable fungus growth which had sapped 
and destroyed a great part of his dining-room floor, at Sandford Road, Moseley. 
This fungus (Merulius lacrijmansi is vei-y destructive, especially as it can be 
eradicated only with very great difficulty. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Ag. 
vnginatus, Ag. gnlopus var. candidvs, Ag. uclvs, Ag. ceruginosus, Ag. camp mulatus, 
Ag. asterosporus, Ag. drgoph'lm, Ag. sanguinolentm, Ag. {Pluteiisi nanus,Ag. melas- 
permits, Coprinus niveiis, Bolbitius titubans, Bussula integra, B. alutacea, 
Lactarius rufus, L. quietus, L. niitissimus, Hggrophoriis virgineus, Marasmius 
androsaceus. Boletus chrysenteron, Tlielepliora laciniita, Torrubia milt tar is, 
Isaria farinosa, and Mucor macrocarpus, from Four Oaks Park; Ag. pascuus 
and Polyporus hispidus, from Sutton. Mr. J. E. Bagnall: the following fungi— 
Amanita verna, Lactarius deliHosus, Mycena leptocephala, M galopus, Hygro- 
phoruspratensis, Collybia dryophila,Cortinarius elatior,Boletus elegans,Lactarius 
glyciosmus, etc., from Coleshill Heath ; and on behalf of Dr. Cooke, Cantharellus 
cibarius, Agaricusprunulus, Pholiota mutabilis,Marasmius foetens, and Lactarius 
torminosits, from Hereford. Mr. C. J. Watson : Minerals from Barmouth, and a 
large number of beautiful photographs of Welsh scenery, taken by himself. 
Genebal Meeting, October 2nd.—The President introduced the work of the 
winter session by a few graceful words of welcome to the members. A Conver¬ 
sazione was then held, at which the following exhibits were made;—By Mr. T. H. 
Waller: A section of Precarbonifei’ous lava, from the Cheviot Hills, containing 
Hypersthene, and traversed by a vein of jasper, with a minute agate in its 
course. By Mr. W. R. Hughes: A series of slides prepared by Mr. F. W. Shariius, 
illustrating the development, structure, etc., of the Cephalopoda. By Mr. R. M. 
Lloyd: Formica rufa, and Bugula plumosa. By Mr. J. Morley: A section of 
Hippuris vulgaris (the mare’s tail), and a species of Ceramium. By Mr. J. E. 
Bagnall : Ag. spermaticm, Glitocybe clavipes, Boletus bovinus, Cortimrius 
subferrugineus, and other rare and local fungi, from Coleshill and Middleton. 
By Mr. J. Levick: Carchesiumpolypinum. By Mr. C. Pumphrey: Spiral fibres of 
root of lily, and the remarkable seeds of Parnassia palustris; also Pyrola 
rotundifolia, from Southport. By Mr. W. P. Marshall, a small rock-plant, 
Accena microphyll'i, having the flowers grouped together in a dense head, 
from which the calyx-leaves, modified into four long red spines, project on all 
sides. By Mr. R. W. Chase : Charadrius morinellus, from near Bristol; 
Phalaropus hyperboreus (in winter plumage), from near Boston; Tringa 
suharquata (in summer plumage), from Breydon, Norfolk; Phalaropus hyper¬ 
boreus and Stercorarius crepidatus (in the down', from Shetland; Somateri t 
mollissima and Fratercula nrctica (in the down), from the Fame Islands; Mr. 
Chase also gave an account of the nesting habits of some of these birds. 
Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited the following Fungi:— Lactarius deliciosus, L. turpis, 
Boletus scaber, Agaricus rimosus, from Sutton Park; Agaricus cucnmis, 
Plnteus 7ianus, and Helotium lutescens, from Sutton; Polyporus hispidus, 
Cortinarius elatior, Polyporus abieUnus, Ag. fragrans, and Ag. Gandolleanus, 
from Hints Wood. SocioLOGiCAii Section.— October 4th. The fifth meeting 
for the study of Mr. Herbert Spencer’s “ System of Philosophy” was held 
at the Mason College. The President (Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S.) occupied 
the chair, and there was a large attendance, including ladies. A letter 
from Mr. Alfred Hayes, B.A., was read, resigning the Hon. Secretaryship on 
the score of distance from Birmingham, and Mr. Greatheed was unani¬ 
mously elected to take his place. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to 
Mr. Hayes for his valuable services. A letter from Mr. M. J. Savage, of 
Boston, U.S.A., author of “ The Morals” and “The Religion of Evolution,” 
proposing some sort of co-operation between English and American Spen- 
cerians, was read. The discussion of the “Principles of Biology,” which work 
has been chosen by the Section for perusal during this session, was opened 
by Dr. Hill, F.I.C., and the first chapter lucidly explained by him in spite of its 
more than ordinai'y technicality. Mr. Spencer begins by drawing attention to 
