Asplenium tricJiomancs. Scolopendrium vulgare. 



adiantum nigrum. 



Keturning by the old house of Pimbury Park, with its fine 

 terrace of yew trees, we dined, to the number of 70 in the Wood- 

 house. Papers none were forthcoming ; but the toast to the 

 health of the strangers, was responded to by the Hon. General 

 Watson Webb, now of New York, but whose ancestors were of 

 our own county ; and Mr. Buckman gave us some moat interest- 

 ing and amusing details of his recent American tour. 



On September 12th, the Club, contrary to all but irrevocable 

 decree, accepted the invitation of the Earl Ducie to breakfast and 

 dine at his hospitable mansion at Tortworth. The day was most 

 auspicious, and while Lord Ducie most ably acted as Geological 

 pioneer, led one section through a fine geological country embrac- 

 ing the trap rocks, Silurian, old red sandstone, and mountain lime- 

 stone of the neighbourhood, a second section roamed through the 

 Park, along the walks, round the lake now being opened out and 

 restored to order by the entrenchment, which still bears the 

 otii i nous name of Bloody Acre ; by the site of the Vineyard, which 

 flourished at no distant period (though of the flavour of its wine 

 wo have no accurate record) ; by the Lover's Leap, the pens of 

 Circassian Deer (Cervus Wallicliii) ; the kitchen gardens, close to 

 which is a remarkably fine Auracaria ; and then, crossing the road, 

 to the Court, where the Chestnut, described as " The Old Chest- 

 nut," in the days of king John, still grows broad and green, a 

 noble specimen of antiquity ; while near at hand a considerable 

 variety of Pines, amongst them a remarkably fine Insignis and 

 Sabineana attest the improvements which latter years have made 

 in giving variety in colour and form to the landscape. 



A fi er dinner, several papers were read, particularly one by Dr. 

 \V right, on a number of Echinoderms, collected in Malta by our 

 noble host, and which forms a prominent feature in our forth- 

 coming number. 



And now, Gentlemen, before I release you, I must touch upon 

 a few other matters relative to the year which has passed since 

 our last winter meeting. 



I cannot but allude to the loss which the cause of science has 

 sustained in the death of Professor Edward Forbes, of whom it 

 has justly been said, by Professor Buckman, He will long be re- 

 membered as a genius ; as a naturalist, who, while he could well 

 trace distinctive characters, was not a mere species maker: this 

 his thorough acquaintance with morphological views, and the great 

 physiological facts connected with both plants and animals, kept 

 him above and beyond. His mind was that of the great but not 

 fanciful ^nirraliser. In Natural History, indeed, he was a Philo- 

 sopher, not a mere collector. 



Another point you must allow me to mention, is that of the 

 new number added, or being added, to our transactions. It is 

 one of which we may justly be proud, but I must also remind you 



