316 
Rivers have their youth, manhood and old age, our river has 
reached the latter stage, and can no longer carry its burden of 
abrasion aud atmospheric weathering seawards. 
Such, gentlemen, are some of the facts and inferences gathered 
by an old geological bee in his short flights. Whether they are 
of interest to anyone else but himself he knows not. But this he 
does know, that like an old drone he now and again flutters around 
the hive where in past times lived some working bees, but he 
finds the hive empty and all the young geological brood absent. 
Food is abundant but where are the gatherers ? 
Summary of Proceedings for the year 1896-97. 
Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN, 
The Anniversary Meeting of the Field Club on February 
18th, 1896, was held at the Royal Literary and Scientific 
Institution, and the Members present were greatly pleased by the 
information of the Honorary Treasurer, Surgeon-Major Mantell, 
that his accounts had been audited by Col. R. L. Taylor, C.B., and 
that a balance of £44 4s. 9d. in favour of the Club enabled them 
to look forward to the work of the year without fear of 
bankruptcy. The Rev. Canon Ellacombe was_ re-elected 
President, the Rev. H. H. Winwood and H. D. Skrine, Esq., vice- 
Presidents, Surgeon-Major Mantell, Treasurer, W. H. Barlow, 
Esq., Librarian, and Rev. W. W. Martin, Secretary, a hearty vote 
of thanks to all those Officers being returned for their past 
services. Mess‘ T. F. Inman and W. H. Henderson, and the 
Rev. C. W. Shickle were the three members elected to serve on 
the Committee for the ensuing year. 
The Bath Literary and Philosophical Society having arranged 
in their rota of proceedings a soiree for February 28th, whereat 
Col. H. C. B. Tanner, F.R.G.S., one of our Members, was to lecture 
