292 THE LOCAL FIELD-CLUBS OF GllEAT BltlTATN. 



the oblivion into whicli these words have fallen since their introduction 

 looks as if their equivalents ordinarily in use were too firmly established 

 to be supplanted. It is perhaps just worth notice that sympetalous 

 would be the correct form, on the analogy of such words as sympathy, 

 symphysis. Though Dr. Steele's book is not now very well known, it 

 is well conceived, and a new edition would be useful. A book for the 

 pocket with mere diagnoses of plants is a real want. — W. T. Thiselton 

 Dyer. 



SiLENE Armeria, L. — Professor Church has given me a specimen 

 of this plant, which he noticed in 1867 at intervals on the sandhills 

 and in hedges, over some fifteen miles of country, in Cornwall 

 between Par station, near Lostwithiel, and Fowey Point. The loca- 

 lity, according to Professor Church, was almost destitute of houses, 

 but much cannot be inferred from this, as to the spontaneity of the 

 plant, looking at the way in which Suponaria officinalis establishes 

 itself in similar localities. — W. T. Thiselton Dyer. 



THE LOCAL PIELD-CLUBS OP GIIEAT BRITAIN.' 



By Jambs Britten, P.L.S. 



V. The Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical 



Society. 



This Society, which held its first meeting on Noveml)er 17, 185S, 

 was established by the exertions of an artisan, himself a practical 

 naturalist, and may now be reckoned among the best of our local 

 clubs. Particulars of its rise and progress, of the trials it lias suc- 

 cessfidly passed through, and of the more notable events connected 

 with it up to November, 1866, are given in a little pamphlet, re- 

 printed from the 'Midland Herald' of that date, for which, as for 

 most of the following statistics, we are indebted to Mr. James Bag- 

 nail, the active Secretary of the Botanical Section. 



At the present time the Society numbers about 150 members, of 

 wliom a fair proportion are real workers, the average attendance at the 

 meetins;s beiny; about one-fifth of (hat number. These meetings are 



