220 



Dr. Bull, who had illustrated the different plans as he came to them 

 with rough chalk sketches on the black board, now proceeded to show in 

 the same way the various methods of taking "observations" with Jlr. 

 Wells's instrument, and said that he himself had tested its exact accuracy in 

 some instances by actual measurement with the tape afterwards. 



In conclusion, he said that as it would suit his own circumstances at 

 present, he would read to them the last paragraph of the letter he had 

 received from Mr. Wells when he wrote in the first instance to inquire 

 about the instrument. After showing how he was led on to invent it and 

 what it would do, Mr. Wells wrote, " excuse my taxing your patience so 

 much ; but when I tell you that I have been riding this hobby for four or 

 five years, you will forgive me. My real opinion is that for simplicity, 

 accuracy, despatch, and general adaptation, the instrument has no superior. 

 This is puffing, certainly." Now, he agreed with this paragraph, except as to 

 the last four words, for he did not think " truth " could be rightly called 

 " puffing " (applause). 



The Presidi»nt then said he would tnke that opportunity of making 

 one other remark, and that was upon the extraordinary absence of any 

 remarkable trees on the Ross side of the county. He had heard there was a 

 fine oak near Boss, a fine elm at Marcle, some fine yew trees here and there 

 in the churchyards, and many fine elms at the Hill Court, but, a.s a matter of 

 ■course they could not exist, since, in spite of all the notices sent out by the 

 club, not a single answer kad been received by Mr. Cornewall, the honorary 

 secretary (lauyhter). It really was very curious, because the Ross district was 

 the elm distriat of the county ; but he hoped, if the inferencj he had thus 

 drawn was not correct, that some gentleman or other would at least write 

 and tell the secretary what fine trees did exist in this district, and where they 

 were situated, that the club in its perambulations might take some oppor- 

 tunity of measuring and describing them. 



The President then said that Mr. Alfred Purchas would now read to them 

 a paper on " the Lepidoptera of Herefordshire." It was the first paper on 

 Entomology that had been brought before the club, and he trusted that it 

 would shortly be followed by others. 



