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Hybridisation.—From the "Herefordshire Pomona" we glean the following interesting facts as to the results of some of the fertilisation experiments made by Thos. Andrew Knight. From pips or seeds of the Orange pippin apple fertilised by pollen of the Golden pippin he obtained the Grange pippin (1802,) Downton pippin (1804,) Red Ingestrie (1800.) and Yellow Ingestrie (1800.) The two last-named apples were not only derived from the same parentage, but actually sprang from two pips which occupied the same cell in the same apple. From pips of the Siberian crab, fertilised by pollen from the Orange pippin, were produced the Yellow Siberian (1815,) the Siberian pippin (1806) and the Foxley apple (1808.)

Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society.—Gelogical Section.—October 22nd, Some specimens of rocks from Malvern, sent by the Rev. W. S. Symonds were exhibited, and the thanks of the section were ordered to be sent to that gentleman. The section determined to take part in the scheme for the united examination of the glacial deposits of the midland counties, as proposed by Mr. W. J. Harrison, and appointed the Rev. H. W. Crossley as secretary of the committee, to whom all communications may be addressed, Mr. G. J. Watson exhibited specimens from the carboniferous limestone of Yorkshire. Mr. Wilkinson showed some beautiful fungi from Malvern. Mr. T. H. Walker read some notes on specimens of rocks from Shetland and Germany, and showed specimens and microscopic sections of them.—General Meeting.—November 5th, Mr. Mortagu Brown exhibited two beautiful butterflies (Morpho Cypris) from Brazil. Mr. J. Bagnall exhibited microscopic slides, illustrating free cell formation and cell formation by merismatic division of protoplasm; he also exhibited one of the Hepaticæ, Riccia glauca, new to the district; Mnium cuspidatum, in fruit, from Sutton Park; and a number of rare plants, amongst which were the following: Euphorbia Peplis, Carrigiola littoralis, Frankenia lævis, Lysimachia thyrsiflora, Ophioglossum ambiguum, &c. Six beautiful slides were exhibited and presented to the society, together with a full description of the way in which they had been mounted, from Mr. F. W. Sharpus, of London. They consisted of the following: Bagula flabellata, B. plumosa, Vanessa Urticæ, Pedicelluriæ of Uaster glucialis, Bombyx mori, and Palate of Buccinum. A cordial note of thanks was passed to Mr. Sharpus.—Biological Section.—November 12th. Mr. J. H. Bagnall read "Notes on Plants Collected this Season," with special reference to their distribution—first, in Warwickshire; second, in Great Britain; and third, over the general surface of the globe. He also reviewed the several hypotheses which have been advanced to account for plant-distribution, summarising the theories proposed respectively by Linnæus, E. Forbes, Hooker, and Darwin. The paper was illustrated by a large and beautifully mounted collection of rare plants, collected during the past season in new Warwickshire stations, such as Potamogeton zosterifolius, Vicia gracilis, Agrimonia odorata, Centunenlus minimus, and many others of equal rarity, Mr. T. Bolton gave "Notes on the Examination of Rotifers and Infusoria under the Microscope," in which he dealt with the manipulations necessary in isolating and observing the motile and fixed forms of these organisms severally, the use of various kinds of live-troughs, compressoria, and other contrivances for facilitating their investigation under the microscope, &c., illustrating his remarks by the selection and exhibition of a variety of such animals, e.g., Stephanoceros Kichhornii, Stentor Mülleri, Limnias ceratophylli, Vortecellæ, Philodina roscola, &c., &c. Both the papers of the evening elicited considerable discussion.

Birmingham and Midland Institute Scientific Society.—October 30th. Mr. J. Levick read a paper on "Microscopical Apparatus". In the course of it the purchase of cheap binocular instruments was deprecated, as they generally proved unsatisfactory, so that unless a considerable outlay could be made it was better to buy a monocular. One common sources of mischief was