107 



H. Bellairs, H.M. Inspector of Schools, Mr. Herbert Mackworth, H.M. Inspector 

 of Mines, the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, Sir M. H. Crawley Boevey, Bart., 

 and Mr. E. D. P\Tke, Verderers of the Forest, Jlr. J. Atkinson, Deputy Gaveller, 

 and others. 



On the removal of the cloth, the Chairman gave the health of the Queen. 

 This toast was followed by the health of the President of the Malvern and Woolhope 

 Clubs, in acknowledging which toast, the Rev. VV. S. Symonds stated that they 

 had hoped to have been favoured by the presence of Professor Phillips, of Oxford, 

 and of Sir R. Murchison, but that other engagements had rendered those eminent 

 geologists unable to attend. \ 



In the course of the evening, a member of the Cotteswold Club mentioned 

 a singular fact showing that the Hedgehog is carnivorous. His gardener, while 

 at work, had heard the scream of a leveret, and on going to the spot found a 

 hedgehog devouring the leg of one. He had previously suspected that the 

 disappearance of some chickens was to be accounted for in the same manner. 



Mr. Jones, of Gloucester, read a short paper upon the Rhynchonella of the 

 OoUte," a fossil allied to the Atrypa and the Terebratula, which showed close 

 observation and extensive knowledge of fossil conchology. A collection of 

 specimens of the fossil was handed round for inspection. 



Tlie Rev. J. H. Thompson, of Worcester, announced the discovery of two 

 plants uew to Worcestershire, in the neighbourhood of Evesham, viz., the Car ex 

 montana, and the Potamogeton flabcllatus, of which he produced specimens for 

 the inspection of the botanical members. 



The Chairman remarked that at the Eastnor meeting, the drawing up of a 

 complete Flora of the three districts had been committed to Professor Buckman, 

 Mr. Lees, and Mr. Purchas. The two former gentlemen had previously completed 

 their portions, and he wished to know if the Herefordshire portion was near 

 completion. 



Mr. Purchas observed that the work was in progress, but was not yet suffici- 

 ently advanced for publication. 



The Chairman read an extract from a letter received from Sir Thomas 

 Tancred, now in Australia, the former Secretary of the Cotteswold Club, upon 

 the model of which the other two had been formed. The letter announced 

 that a numbei of specimens of plants, insects, etc., illustrating the Flora and Fauna 

 of Australia, had been sent to this country. The members of the different clubs 

 were invited to meet the Worcestershire NaturaUsts' Club, at Worcester, in Sep- 

 tember next. 



Mr. Herbert Mackworth then delivered an interesting address on " the 

 Ventilation of Mines." He briefly sketched the different stages of the conversion 

 of vegetable matter into Coal, observing that in its first condition, that of Lignite, 

 its exhalations consisted of watery vapours ; in its next stage it gave oS carbonic 



