28 



Moolhopc jaaturalists' 3Fhl5 ®iuli 



Third Field Meeting, September 21st, 1852. 



AYMESTREY. 



The last meeting of the season of this useful society was held on Tuesday last, 

 at Mortimer's Cross Inn, the object of the members being to explore the geology 

 and botany of the neighbouring districts, which has given name to a very important 

 formation of the Silurian system, the Aymestrey limestone. The morning, although 

 wet and stormy at an early hour, gradually cleared up, and the day was very fine 

 for the season, the high equinoctial S.W. winds having carried off the masses of 

 rain-cloud which gathered so ominously in the morning. The members met at 

 breakfast at 9 a.m., at the Mortimer's Cross Inn, those who had come from 

 Hereford having greatly enjoyed the ride of fifteen miles through the charming 

 scenery of that district. The chair was filled by Mr. R. M. Lingwood, the 

 President of the Club, and there were also present the Rev. T. T. Lewis, Rev. 

 J. F. Crouch, Dr. Bull, Dr. Rowan, Messrs. Ballard, Blashill, Cam, Otte, 

 W. H. Purchas, Thompson, and the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Scobie, F.G.S. 



Lord Gifford and the Rev. A. Kent, Minor Canon of Gloucester Cathedral, 

 who had been proposed at last meeting, were elected members. 



The Hon. Secretary read letters, regretting inability to attend, from the 

 Ven. Archdeacon Lane Freer, J. Lee Warner, Esq., the Rev. W. S. Symonds, 

 Dr. Davis, of Tenbury, and Sir R. I. Murchison. The letter of Sir Roderick, 

 which was dated "Bangor, September 20th, 1852." contained the following 

 passage : — 



"I have only just got your letter, and much regret that I cannot be at 

 Aymestrey, having been kept so long in Ireland. Offer my kind regards to all the 

 Silurians, and assure them that my heart is with them." 



The letter of Dr. Davis enclosed a list of ferns (with their habitats) found in 

 the neighbourhood of Bocldeton by Mr George Miller, as follows :—Pteris 

 aquilina, P. crispa. Poly podium vulg.are, P. Dryopteris, P. Phegopteris, Asplenium 

 Adiantum nigrum, A. Ruta muraria, A. Trichomanes, and A. viride ; Aspidium 

 aculeatum, A. dilatatum, A. Filix faemina, A. Filix mas, and A. lobatum ; 

 Scholopendrium vulgare, and S. Ceterach, Blechnum bore.ale ; Osmunda Lunaria ; 

 and Ophioglossum vulgatum. The classification is that of Sowerby, except in 

 the case of Asplenium viride, which is taken from Newman. 



After the transaction of the routine business, the party started upon the 

 pedestrian part of the excursion. 



