96 



3- A more enlarged list of birds of Herefordshire than any yet published, 

 was afforded by Mr. Lingwood, which we may hope ere long to have recorded in 

 our pages : and 



4. — An ingenious paper by Mr. Flavell Edmunds, on the distribution and 

 causes of Colour in Plants, which has already been placed within the reach of the 

 general reader. 



Considerable progress has been made by our botanical members towards 

 completing the Flora of Herefordshire. The approximate number of species is re- 

 garded by them a little short of 800. Of these, 723 flowering plants and ferns 

 have been met with in our excursions, e.xclusive of such as have been regarded 

 as doubtful, or escapes from cultivation, which have also with their habitats been 

 carefully noted and excluded from the lists. The old catalogues of Duncomb and 

 others (Agricultural Survey of Herefordshire) give the names of some plants 

 which have not been met with ; some of these may yet be discovered, whilst 

 others, it may fairly be presumed, from the known distribution of British plants, 

 will be looked for in vain within our area. We record with pleasure that several 

 of the rarer species have been brought to light by the Herbarium Prizes offered 

 by the Club, at the Hereford Floral Meetings of the past year, which, under certain 

 conditions, we propose continuing the ensuing year. 



In the formation of a Flora, it is not a mere catalogue of plants which the club 

 has in view, but their distribution, as affected by soil, moisture, temperature, 

 aspect and elevation above the sea ; a design in which we have, I believe, the 

 co-operation of the Cotteswold and Malvern Clubs, for their respective districts. 



With this subject that of Meteorology is intimately connected. It is well 

 known that considerable attention has been given to the ranges of the barometer 

 and thermometer for many years, by many persons, in different parts of Here- 

 fordshire. The late Mr. Prendergrass' observations extended over a continuous 

 period exceeding 30 years. Unfortunately his instruments were, as those of many 

 others of the time, imperfect, and his observations not up to the requirements of 

 modern science. Within the last few years very considerable improvements have 

 been made in meteorological instruments, and methods of observation and correc- 

 tion much improved and facilitated. Under the direction of the Meteorological 

 Society of London uniform and contemporary observations are being organized 

 in very distant parts of the world. In this then, the very infancy of the subject, 

 it has been proposed to our Club to purchase a set of improved instruments, 

 which, if resolved on, Mr. Wheatley has kindly engaged to take charge of : and 

 from his habits of accurate research, we may confidently look forward to a most 

 faithful, interesting, and useful record of his observations.* 



* A Barometer by Barrow. — Wet and dry bulb Thermometers, — maximum and minimum 

 Thermometers, — Day and night Thermometers for solar and terrestrial radiation ; ram gauge and 

 wind gauge by Negretti and Zambra. Hatton Garden, London, compared with the standard 

 instruments by James Glaisher, Esq., F.R.S., Secretary to the Meteorological Society, have been 

 obtained and placed in the care of Hewett Wheatley, Esq., of Eign House. His observations 

 are now forwarded monthly to Mr. Glaisher. The first three months are recorded, as on next 

 page, in the Meteorological Tables, published in the Registrar-General's Report, for the quarter 

 ending 30th June, 1S55. 



