204 THE LOCAL FIELD-CLUBS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



papers, reports of the meetings, and notes on the natural history of 

 Buckinghamshire and the adjoining counties. This has been continued 

 up to the present time, but will conclude with the number for June, 

 1S70. The subscription is 2s. per annum. Botanical papers have 

 been contributed by Messrs. M. C. Cooke, Robert Holland, W. G. 

 Smith, and the Secretary, those by the latter being exclusively deyoted 

 to the flora of the district. The last number contains extracts relative 

 to Buckinghamshire plants from some of the older botanists, from 

 Gerarde (1597) to Hill (1770). Besides this lerial, the members 

 rendered considerable assistance to their fellow-member. Mr. Clark- 

 Kennedy, in the compilation of his work on ' The Birds of Berks and 

 Burks.' A list of Buckinghamshire plants, and a paper on " Local 

 Museums," complete the brief list of publications. 



Meetings are held monthly, by invitation, at the houses of members 

 during the winter ; at these an exhibition of objects takes place, papers 

 or lectures are delivered, and there is usually a large attendance. The 

 session terminates with a conversazione in the town-hall, to which 

 friends of the Society are invited. It was originally intended to have 

 a field-meeting, at least monthly, during the summer ; but this portion 

 of the programme is not now carried out. This must be attributed to 

 a defect in this as well as in other similar societies, — the lack of work- 

 ino- members. The natural history of the Wycombe district, however, 

 has been fairly investigated, owing to the energy of a few ; the birds, 

 lepidoptera, and phanerogamic plants, having received the largest share 

 of attention. 



An interesting feature in this Society is the co-operation of a few of 

 the working chairmakers ; two of whom have made themselves fully 

 acquainted with the flora of their immediate neighbourhood, — one having 

 added several rare plants, — while another has brought together a good 

 collection of local lepidoptera. It is no uncommon thing in the north 

 of Eno'land for artisans to interest themselves in natural history, but 

 it is comparatively rare in the south. 



The establishment of a local museum has been proposed, but has not 

 yet been set on foot. The treasurer's report for the year ending 

 April, 1869, is satisfactory. 



