159 



Our third and last meeting was at Ludlow. The early morning was spent in 

 the Museum, where we had the advantage of seeing some of the most interesting 

 specimens lately collected in the neighbourhood, by Mr. Lightbody and others. 

 The route for the day was by way of Bitterley to Titterstone summit, where, 

 after examining the basaltic capping, and tracing the walls of the ancient encamp- 

 ment, we crossed the basin to Hoar-Edge, and on to the mountain Umestone, and 

 works at Nover's Farm, remarking, as we went, the columnar form of the basaltic 

 rocks, and picking up some specimens of the Ironstone. Here Sir Charles Lyell 

 called our attention to a remarkable curve in the strata, and a red line in those 

 overlying the limestone, which did not appear to be explained. On our way 

 back to Ludlow we examined a quarry or two at the base of Tinker's Hill, near 

 Cainham Camp. The botanists were more successful than usual. Mr. Hodges, 

 of Ludlow, shewed a specimen of Osmunda RegaUs, gathered on Clee Hills. 

 Polypodium Phegopteris, P. Dryopteris, Pteris crispa, Aspidium Borreri, 

 Campanula Hederacea, and other curious and interesting plants, were found. I 

 may say that our physical wants were most carefully attended to by Messrs. 

 Salwey and G. Pardoe, Nash Court, who kindly threw open their houses for our 

 accommodation, and of them I must beg the acceptance of the best thanks of the 

 Qub. Such is the best account which I am able to give of our meetings. I only 

 wish that it were more worthy of your notice. Your eighth rule seems to look 

 for " such observations as your President may deem conducive to the welfare 

 of the Club, and the promotion of its objects." 



The constitution of our Club supposes us each more or less engaged in the 

 pursuit of natural science, and provides " that members finding rare or interesting 

 specimens, or observing any remarkable phenomenon relating to any branch of 

 natural history, shall immediately forward a statement thereof to the Honorary 

 Secretary," and this is required for " the formation and pubhcation of correct 

 lists of the various natural productions of the country." This rule has not been 

 so exactly observed as probably it might have been. I have, however, endeav- 

 voured by applications to particular members, to do something towards the 

 supply of this deficiency, and I am bound to say that those applications have 

 been met in a very liberal spirit : so much so, indeed, as to persuade me that it is 

 only necessary to call attention to this rule, in order to obtain very interesting 

 papers at our meetings. 



I shall begin with Mr. Puichas, who has, in a particular manner, taken 

 charge of the botanical portion of the objects of the Club. It has been often 

 remarked, that no Hst of the plants of this county has been pubhshed. This is 

 true, but it must not be supposed that no attempts have been made. The 

 labour of examining a county is no light affair. It must be borne in mind that 

 unpublished manuscripts like Mr. Williams', the value of which is acknowledged 

 by Mr. Leighton in his excellent Flora of Shropshire, are known to exist, and that 

 he has had only a small number of assistants in his enquiries. That j'ou may 

 know something about what has been done and is doing, he has kindly furnished 

 me with a statement, the substance of which I will read to you. 



