capsules and perichætial leaves of moss, Cryphæe heteromalla, by Mr. J. E. Bagnall. Sections of stems and leaves of plants, differentially stained to show the structure, by Mr. W. Teasdale, Section of potato, with starch grains in situ, polarised; compound spiral vessels from rhubarb, polarised; group of fern scales, Nethochlæna lævis, polarised, by Dr. Denne; and Chara, showing the spurious circulation, by Mr. T. J. Slatter. Mr. J. E. Bagnall contributed a complete collection of the grasses and sedges of Warwickshire, (dried specimens;) Dr. W. Hinds a collection of the British poisonous plants, (dried specimens;) Mr. J. Morley a collection of nearly all the species of British ferns, (living plants;) and Mr. E. Wheeler a most instructive series of microscopical preparations, illustrating the histology and reproduction of plants.
The Conchological display made by Mr. G. Sherriff Tye was of marked interest, and consisted of part of his collection of British Shells, which numbers many thousand specimens. The series included fine selected examples of nearly all the land and freshwater shells hitherto found in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, viz. about eighty species and fifty varieties; also many very local and some rare shells. Among the former may be mentioned Sphæriam corneurn, var.flavescens; S. lacustre, var. Ryckholtii; Anodonta cygnea. var. pallida; A. anatine, var. complanata; Planorbis linestus; P. dilatatus; Limnæa peregra, var. lacustris; L. peregra, var. maritima, &c, &c. Among the rare shells were albinos of the following species:—Anodouta anatina, Bythinia tentaculata, Limnæa peregra, L. palustris, L. trunculata, Helix sericea, H. virgata, H. Pisana, Pupa secale, Clansilia rugosa, and others. The rare Vertigo Moulinsiana, Helix obvoluta, Succinea oblonga, Limnæa glutinosa, and Limnæa involuta were noticeable species. We might specify many rare or uncommon forms in the marine portion, but want of space forbids it; we will only add that the collection was characterised by neatness and clearness of arrangement, and is the result of years of labour. Dr. Schwarz also exhibited shells from Celebes and Ceylon. Mr. W. H. Pearson exhibited Japanese and Chinese Silk-worm Moths with Cocoons; while cases of insects collected in Brazil, comprising moths, butterflies. and beetles, showing the brilliant colouring characteristic of tropical insects, were exhibited by Mr. B. Allport.
The Geological exhibits were very numerous and interesting, There were sections showing junction of Igneous and Sedimentary Rock, and section from Bone Bed of Rhætic age in South Wales, exhibited by Dr. Deane; Pitchstone from Arran showing plumose crystals arranged in lines forming contoured weather markings, by Mr. C. Pumphrey; sections of Volcanic Rocks, illustrating their microscopic structure, by Mr. S. Allport; fossil Animal Life: Eozoon Canadense, the earliest known form of animal life, specimens showing the canal system and tubular wall of the chambers, and decalcified specimens showing serpentine casts of the canals, by Rev. H. W. Crosskey; Trilobites from Wenlock shale and limestone, Dudley, by Mr. E. Hollier; Crag Fossils and Devonian Fossils, by Mr. W. Graham; Pleistocene Animals from Cresswell Crags, by Mr. T. Heath; Chalk and Lias Fossils, by Mr. H. A. Vincent; Agates, Jaspers, Porphyrics, &c., collected from the Drift, near Redditch, by Mr. W. T. Heming; and a very extensive collection of specimens, illustrative of the Glacial epoch, by the Rev. H. W. Crosskey. This collection must be referred to at some length. It illustrated both the physical action of ice and the changes of fauna connected with the epoch, The illustrations of the physical action of ice comprised (1) a specimen of encrinital limestone taken from beneath a mass of boulder clay. The stems of encrinites were shown, cut into sections and polished by ice action. (2) ice-marked boulders, covered with balani, showing that they had been dropped by icebergs into the sea. (3) A
