53 



snggesting to the mind of our late Secretary the very just re- 

 mark that "it is not wise to talk too loudly about a scarce plant," 

 for several of our number who climbed the heights of the wood, 

 in search of it, came out of it with the rare Astrantia ruthlessly 

 torn up, in some cases by the roots, and borne in ruinous triumph 

 on their hats, and other parts of their dress. "I took two speoi- 

 mens— for I do not like to exterminate" —■aMs. his communication, 

 but if all the septuagint of naturalists assembled on that day 

 were equally forbearing, the exterminating process will hardly 

 have received a very exemplary check. 



But the "Wood of View Edge contained another attraction 

 in its celebrated Quarry of Aymestry Limestone, where nearly 

 the whole of the rock, exposed to a thickness of from 30 to 40 

 feet, is composed of Pentameris Knightii cemented together. 



As the very interesting ruin of Stokesay Castle is the sub- 

 ject of a printed account, I will not attempt any extended notice 

 here of its almost indescribably angulated Tower, and its old 

 Court Yard, and very curious and grotesquely carved Gateway. 

 The brief notice of it in Hudson Turner's "Domestic Achitecture 

 of the I2th and 13th Centuries" places it in the catalogue of what 

 may be called the classic ruins of our^early history. I should be 

 wanting in justice if I did not mention that it owes its preserva- 

 tion in the existing condition of interest to the Archaeologist en- 

 tirely to the tasteful interposition of Mrs. Stackhouse Acton, who 

 took a most kind interest in the opening it for the scrutinising 

 inspection of the Society, at which she was present daring the 

 whole day, affording the aid of her own accomplished archaeolo- 

 gical experience, towards the explanation of the original plan 

 of the ancient Hall, and other parts of the building. I must 

 add that the presence of Mrs. Acton during the day, and with a 

 laro'e party of Ladies of the neighbourhood at the dinner of the 

 Society at the Craven Arms, will be remembered by the Members 

 present, of many Clubs, almost as an illustration of what may 

 be done to render these Meetings interesting and useful both to 

 the Societies themselves, and to the residents of the districts 



