REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
283 
Packiiigton (both new to the countyi, and other fungi; also (for Mr. C. B. 
Plowright) Ag. hutyraceus, Ag. maculatus, Ag. carcliarias, Ag. flavo-hrunneus, 
Lactarius exsidsics, L. glyciosmiis, L. titrpis, Russula, drimeia, R. ochroleuca, 
Boletus bovinus, Rolyporus spumeus, Hyclnum auriscalpium, Cortinarius 
scandens, Peziza cochleata, and P. rutilans, from Norfolk; also (for Mr, W. H. 
Wilkinson) Hymenophyllum Wilsoni, Asplenium trichomanes, Plagiothecium 
undulatum, Thamnium alopecurum, CUiloscyplvus polyantlms, etc., from Oban. 
Mr. W. P. Marshall exhibited the flowers of Accsna microphylla. Mr, T. Clarke 
exhibited the specimens of Entomostraca to which reference is made on page 286. 
Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Rolyporus versicolor and Lenzites betulina, two fungi 
which, growing upon the same log and closely united with one another, presented 
so great a similarity on the upper surface i though they belong to two distinct 
orders of fungii as to suggest that there was probably some action of the nature 
of mimicry involved. Mr. R. W. Chase exhibited a nest of eggs of Rallus 
aquaticus, the Water Rail, from Horsey, Norfolk, taken May 16, 1883. Genebal 
Meeting, Nov. 6.—Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited a slide to illustrate the micro¬ 
scopical structure of Sphagnum papillosmn; Agaricus inopus (rare), and Ag. 
sublateritius var. Q, from near Packiiigton; also ifor Mr. C. B. Plowright) 
Clavaria umbrzna, C. argillacea, Peziza badia, Torrubia ophioglossoides, 
Elaphomyces variegatus, and Spliceria spermoides, from near King’s Lynn. 
Mr. W. B. Grove then read a paper on “New and Noteworthy Fungi, chiefly 
from the neighbourhood of Birmingham.” He enumerated a list of 42 species, 
of which 2L were rare, and the other 21 new to Britain; and of these 21, 
four were new to science. The paper was illustrated by drawings of most 
of the fungi mentioned, made for the most part to a uniform scale. 
Sociological Section. —Nov. 11.—At the sixth meeting of this Section a letter 
from Mr. Minot J. Savage, of Boston, U.S.A., author of the “ Morals of Evolution ” 
and the “Religion of Evolution,” also of “Christianity the Science of Manhood,” 
was read, which stated among other things that he was engaged in preparing a 
publication on the life and work of Mr. Herbert Spencer. Dr. Hill, in entering 
on an exposition of the second chapter of Mr, Herbert Spencer’s “ Principles of 
Biology,” enumerated, first of all, the forces which act on organic matter—viz., 
mechanical force, quasi-mechanical force as exemplified by absorption of water 
a nd osmose, heat, light, chemical aflinity,and indirect chemical action or catalysis. 
The importance of the quasi-mechanical forces was shown in the absorption of 
water and the introduction with it of the agents of chemical change as well as 
in the conveying away of the piroducts of such change. The phenomena of osmotic 
action were full}^ described, as well as its instrumentality in the work of re¬ 
distribution in organised bodies. The action of heat in increasing iflolecular 
vibration and so favouring the operation of the various incident forces, was 
explained, and its more direct action in effecting vital changes by producing 
evaporation and thus setting circulation going in the tissues of plants and 
animals, as evidenced by the drooping of a plant whose roots were not sufficiently 
supplied with water. The influence of light on mineral, animal, and vegetable 
forms was illustrated, and the compound nature of a ray of light explained. 
It was pointed out that it is the yellow or luminous portion of the ray which 
stimulates the plant to decompose its mineral food and fix its carbon and 
hydrogen in the tissues and secretions; and the undulatory theory of the nature 
of light by which these changes are supposed to be explained, was treated at 
considerable length. Independently of all hypothesis, however, it is established 
that light is indispensable to the production of chlorophyll, the colours of 
petals, and numerous other effects. Chemical affinity was shown to be the most 
powerful agent of the whole, and the part played by oxygen was remarked upon 
with considerable fulness. Ordinary chemical action and indirect chemical 
action or catalysis were contrasted, and the peculiar nature of the latter illus¬ 
trated by the part played by yeast in fermentation, by diastase in germination, 
the Vinegar Plant in acetification, synaptase in the production from amygdaloid 
of essential oil of bitter almonds and prussic acid, etc. In conclusion, the 
speaker pointed out the great difference between plants and animals in the 
