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of the deep, in their turn succeeded by the Fishes, and at last a Flora, of which 

 faint traces before appeared, of gigantic Ferns, Palms, and Conifers, covering 

 the surface of the earth with a luxuriant tropical vegetation, and he will rise 

 from the contemplation of the subject more and more impressed with the infinite 

 wisdom, power, and goodness of God in the works of creation. 



When we consider in how few places the crust of the earth is broken, and 

 how seldom, when the tocks are exposed to our view, we have an opportunity of 

 arriving at their contents, we may reasonably expect that fresh discoveries will 

 from time to time reward the persevering searcher of the Palaeozoic rocks. We 

 know how the accidental discovery of a Star-fish at Church Hill led to a further 

 search, and an addition of thirteen or fourteen new species of Star-fishes to the 

 three or four species previously known in the Silurian rocks, and to the discovery 

 of several new species of Crustaceans ; — how the discovery of the contents of the 

 Downton Sandstone at Bradnor, and of its equivalent at Lesmahago, induced 

 a general search in the beds which range upwards into the Old Red, and the 

 results ; and how the beautifully preserved forms of the Lanarkshire Pterygoti 

 enabled Mr. Salter to arrange the scattered members of Pterygoti in other rocks, 

 and by comparison to discriminate the different species. We know, too, that 

 the Cornstones of Herefordshire have recently yielded several new species of 

 fishes, and many more specimens of previously known species than were a few 

 years since supposed to exist in the Herefordshire Ola Red, and we have every 

 reason to believe that the contents of these beds are still unexhausted mines, 

 which will gradually unfold new facts to the diligent and constant observer. 



I feel that I am promoting the interests of the Club when I call your attention 

 to the Museum at Ludlow, and urge the members of this Club to give it their 

 aid and support, either by contributions to its funds, or the gift of specimens of 

 those branches of Natural History which it contains. Those of us who have 

 visited it must feel the aid which we have derived from the inspection of the 

 specimens of Ornithology and Fossils in its well-arranged cases, and from the 

 valuable works of reference which its small but weU-selected library contains. 



I may reasonably be expected to touch on other subjects, which the idea of 

 a Naturalists' Field Club embraces, such as the Ornithology, the Entomology, 

 and the Botany of the district. The fact that none of these subjects have, during 

 the past year, been brought under the notice of the Club, in some measure relieves 

 me from a charge of omission. I must, however, admit my inability to offer any 

 useful observations or suggestions on these subjects, and confine myself to a request 

 that any members, whose tastes and inclinations lead them to the study of any of 

 these branches of Natural History, will record the result of their observations in 

 a written paper, and bear in mind that the colleetion of a number of common -place 

 facts leads to a useful result. 



Mr. Crouch, in his Presidential Address on January 22nd, 1856, very clearly 

 and ably explained to you the scope of the Flora of Herefordshire, which has been 

 prepared under the direction of Mr. Purchas ; hopes were entertained that a part 

 of it would be placed in the publisher's hands during the past year. Mr. Symonds, 



