274 -^ F^"^ Notes on Bird Life, &c. [Sess. 



see you've got the Devil with you to-night." " Oh, yes," the 

 guard replied, " we're taking him down to Bristol." These 

 remarks naturally excited my curiosity, as I had not observed 

 anything super- or rather infra-human in my companion. 

 However, the mystery was solved a few months afterwards, 

 when the guard of the Aberystwith mail got into difficulties 

 through dishonesty, and I was sent to have an interview with 

 Mr John Bull, the Government inspector of mails, on the 

 subject, and in Mr Bull I at once recognised my quondam 

 fellow-traveller. I can only say I found this " prince of dark- 

 ness " civil, even courteous, and, as he is proverbially said to 

 be, "a gentleman," though the erring guard whom he dismissed 

 from the service might not coincide with my opinion. The 

 other incident was, that I found a crowd on the quay at 

 Bristol looking at and discussing a steamer just arrived, which 

 proved to be the Great Western — the first steamer which ever 

 crossed the Atlantic, and then just returned from her first 

 voyage. Some were sanguine enough to prophesy that a 

 regular monthly steam communication might be established 

 between the two countries, while others held the Utopian idea 

 that it might even be weekly ; but look what is the case now, 

 and who can say what may happen in another half-century ? 

 The power employed will probably not be the direct action of 

 steam : it may be compressed air, or a series of gas explosions, 

 or electricity, or some other as yet unknown or undeveloped 

 power. I do not suppose the passage will be submarine — it 

 may still be on the surface, or perhaps a pleasant aerial 

 voyage, terminating in a Baldwin landing ! 



The last indoor meeting for the Session, held in the Hall, 

 20 George Street, on the evening of Wednesday, the 24th 

 April, was almost wholly taken up with a Lecture delivered 

 to the members of the Society and their friends by Dr Alex. 

 Edington, Lecturer on Bacteriology, on " Bacteria — what they 

 are, what they do, and what they may suffer." This lecture, 

 which was illustrated by diagrams and by numerous " cultiva- 

 tions," was much appreciated by all present, and a hearty vote 

 of thanks was accorded to Dr Edington for his kindness and 

 courtesy in delivering it, and for the trouble taken to illustrate 

 it in such an interesting manner. 



