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REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
amounts of nitrogen they respectively contain, and shewed that in the former 
light is necessaiy to enable them to carry on their functions, while in the latter 
light is not essential. Fungi are apparently an exception to this rule, as many 
grow in darkness, but this class of plants is known to be particularly rich in 
nitrogen, and therefore to resemble animals in this respect. Again, although the 
parts of plants poor in nitrogen require sunlight, those parts particularly rich 
in nitrogen—viz., the seeds, germinate in darkness. Thus, while the “ferments” 
referred to are all nitrogenous, and seemed to owe their activity to nitrogen, 
those parts of living animals displaying the greatest vital activity are also 
distinguished by the presence of a comparatively large quantity of this element. 
The greater rapidity and completeness of the metamorphosis of a substance 
like sugar in the body than out of the body was shown; thus, while sugar is 
quickly converfed in the organism into water and carbonic acid, out of the 
organism it has to pass through numerous chemical stages capable of the 
easiest verification; first, forming by fermentation alcohol and carbonic acid; 
next, acetic acid; and finally, by further oxidation, carbonic acid and water. As, 
then, these changes are shown not to be brought about by mere chemical and 
thermal actions it is to be concluded that they are produced in the body by the 
aid of that indirect infiuence called catalysis. The discussion was then pursued 
by the President, Mr. W. K. Hughes, P.L.S., and by Messrs. France, F. H. Collins, 
J. F. Cullis, A. Hayes, Barratt, and Greatheed. Notice was given that at a special 
meeting on the 18th November Mr. Eabone would read “Some Jottings about 
Shakespeare and Stratfoi'd.” BiOLOGicAii Section— Nov. 13.—Mr. J. E. Bagnall 
exhibited Mosses:—Microscopical pi'eparations of Antheridia of Sioliagnum con- 
tortum, from Coleshill; Pleuriclium niticlttm, from Hampton-in-Arden ; also (for 
Mr. J. B. Stone) Disceliiim nudum, from near Malham, Yorkshire. Mr. Bernard 
Baker exhibited Tarantula and nest. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited Fungi:— 
Agaricus ejnxanthus, Ag. squamosus, Ag. vitilis, Phlehia merismoides, Hydnum 
ferruginosum, Bactridium helvellcs, Peziza coronata, Hypoxylon ruhiginosvm, 
Nectria flavida, Triposporium elegans, and Trichia pyriformis, all from Sutton. 
Mr. J. E. Bagnall read “Notes on some Plants collected in the Lake District, by 
Mr. W. R. Hughes, F.L.S.” The collection consisted of flowering plants and 
ferns, comprising 93 species, 71 genera, and 36 natural orders, mounted and 
arranged with differently coloured labels to show their geographical distribution, 
respecting which Mr. Bagnall made some very interesting remarks, leading to a 
discussion in which several of the members present joined. Microscopical 
General Meeting —Nov. 20.—Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Erioc nilon septangu- 
lare, and Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, from Ireland ; Scirpus maritimus from 
Flecknoe, and Sphagnum intermedinm, var. p'dchrum mew to the county); 
Coniiim macidntum and Myriophyllum verticillatum, both from a new 
locality, from Birdingbury; also (for Mr. J. B. Stone) Dicranella squarrosa 
(rare', from Malham, Yorkshire. Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited a number 
of Fungi:— Eosellinia ligniaria (rare), Eutypa velutina (new to Britain', Peri- 
chcena depressa irare', Acrothecium simplex, and Melanconis aceris, Plowright 
(a new species), from Marston Green and Sutton. Rev. H. Boyden, B.A., then read 
a paper on “Our Marine Algae,” illustrated by numerous specimens. After 
speaking of the great advantage which we in Britain, with our 2,000 miles of sea- 
coast enjoy in the study of sea-weeds, he proceeded to speak of the methods of 
their multiplication and reproduction. In relation to the economic importance 
of sea-weeds, he said that it was small directly, but great indirectly, because 
they furnished food for hosts of molluscs and fish, which in their turn were food 
for man. Finally, he spoke of the aesthetic aspect of sea-weeds, and said that 
his splendidly-mounted series of specimens had often been exhibited in school¬ 
rooms and elsewhere, where they had afforded pleasure to many young persons, 
educating them in the knowledge of the beautiful, which their bright colours 
and graceful forms are well fitted to impart. He lamented that although a 
great taste for mounting sea-weeds in albums existed, especialls’’ among ladies, 
who were very expert in that art, yet there was little real desire for a scientific 
study of these plants. 
