112 



into as many parts as he has friends),* called the attention of the 

 Club to some new works on Natural History. Firstly — deservedly 

 firstly, — to a "Manual of the Mollusca," well worthy the attention 

 of every naturalist, not only because its author is S. P. "Woodward, 

 whose name is something in itself — nor only because he is an asso- 

 ciate of the Linnean Society, and an Assistant in Geology of the 

 British Museum ; he has a far higher claim on our attention, in be- 

 ing "a member of the Cotteswold Naturalists' Club." I confess I 

 no sooner heard the fact than I immediately purchased two copies, 

 determined to read them both. Mr. Buckman then alluded to the 

 second edition of one of the most pleasing guides to the wild 

 flowers of England and "Wales, " The Botanical Looker-out," by 

 Edwin Lees, E.L.S., the President of the "Worcester Naturalists' 

 Club, a sister institution of our own. The Secretary's account 

 concludes with mentioning Mr. Buckman's promises to bring to 

 Bredon some notes on the Yucca Gloriosa. Which he didn't. 

 However, we'll say no more of that at present. 



On September 16, the Club met, nominally, at Bredon. "Why it 

 was, I know not — the distance does not appear greater for the 

 majority of the Club than Dursley — but somehow there appears 

 to be a fate against our meeting there. "We have tried it before. 

 On the former occasion, though our highly-valued member (I 

 might say in his long absence from us, our regretted member) Mr. 

 Strickland, offered us not only breakfast, but the sight of his Col- 

 lection into the bargain. A Collection — not of a Collector, but of 

 a Naturalist — not a number of ill-arranged objects, each valuable 

 individually from their rarity, but leading the mind to nothing be- 

 yond; but a collection made subservient to illustrating grand 

 views of the course of nature, which must lead the mind to some- 

 thing far beyond the petty pleasure of merely possessing that 

 which your neighbour has not. If even the hope of studying Mr. 

 Strickland's collection failed to attract the members of the Club, 

 how could we wonder that at our second attempt at meeting at 

 Bredon, a partie quarree of the President, the Secretary, Dr. 

 "Wright, and Mr. Jones, formed the whole representation of the 

 Club. However, a small meeting may occasionally see somewhat, 

 and may suggest ideas to those who do not choose to attend. Im- 

 primis, a point by no means alien to Natural History, we found 

 in the Royal Oak, at Bredon, a grate, which diffused caloric in a 

 most unusual degree, in proportion to its size. The grate con- 

 sisted merely of three bars and a bottom, built into the brickwork 

 on each side. The sides were two simple perpendicular planes of 

 brick, meeting at an angle of 108°, or thereabouts, at the back. 

 If this be found, as I believe, to radiate heat in an unusual degree, 

 I beg that it may be carefully kept secret from all those who 

 would not come to Bredon on that day. 



After breakfast our very small party, in the way to Bredon Hill, 



* He is doubtless an odd fish — perhaps he might — like the polypus— bear 

 division. Not that I will be the one to cut him. 



