634 NATURAL SCIENCE. ""S^: 



for next year's award is that of Geology. During the last session the Cheltenham 

 Natural Science Society and the Worcestershire Naturalists' Field Club have joined 

 the Union, while the Tamworth Natural History and Antiquarian Society has 

 ceased to exist. 



At the twenty-first annual Conversazione of the Chester Society of Natural 

 Science held last month, the Kingsley Memorial Medal was awarded to Mr. 

 Osmund W. Jefts, the energetic secretary of the British Association Committee on 

 Geological Photographs. 



Several new publications of the British Field Clubs have lately been issued. 

 Vol. vi. of the Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and Field Club is 

 now completed by the issue of parts 8 and 9, which comprise a record of proceedings 

 and excursions, with an index and list of members. The Essex Naturalist continues 

 actively to record the fauna and flora of the county to which it relates. Few of the 

 papers are of more than local interest, but the proximity of Epping Forest and of 

 the Essex marshes will make the journal interesting to the London naturalist. We 

 are sorry to read so many records of the extermination of rare species. 



The Proceedings and Transactions of the Croydon Microscopical and Natural History 

 Club, Feb. 11, 1891 — Jan. 13, 1892, contain little original matter beyond tables of 

 rainfall. The reports of the six sub-committees (or sections) occupy only four pages, 

 and among the chief achievements of the geologists during the year it is recorded 

 that photographs were taken "of an interesting old gabled farmhouse." The 

 ^lalden Natural History Society issues a small 4-page monthly Gazette, price one 

 penny, with very brief general articles. Part I. of the new volume (xxiv.) of the 

 Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists ' Society contains a readable report on Meteorology, 

 by F. G. Evans ; an article on Hardy Fruit Culture in South Wales, by A. Pettigrew ; 

 a description of the Neath Valley, by T. H. Thomas, and smaller notes. 



The Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society for 1891-92 

 contain several papers of more than local interest, though as usual their strong 

 point is local natural history. The President, Mr. F. D. Wheeler, writes of the 

 extinction of the Fenland lepidoptera; Dr. C. B. Plowright on Neolithic imple- 

 ments in West Norfolk ; Mr. Southwell on the St. Helen's Swan-pit (near Norwich) ; 

 Mr. Clement Reid on the Natural History of Isolated Ponds; Mr. Aplin on the 

 distribution of the Red-backed Shrike ; and we have the usual miscellaneous notes 

 on local meteorology, ornithology, and fishes. Why does not this society do any- 

 thing with the marine invertebrata ? Norfolk has an extensive coast-line. 



T?iE Report and Transactions of the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian 

 Society for 1891-92 completes vol. iii. of the new series. The Council suggests the 

 award of prizes to juveniles for collections of specimens by way of fostering an 

 interest in Natural History, the society being much in want of members and contri- 

 butors to its museum. The Transactions deal chiefly with antiquities, but there 

 are also valuable lists of sea-anemones, corals, beetles, and mosses. 



