126 



way near the summit of Cleeve Hill, to allow of an examination of the 

 " Road-stone" quarries, where Dr. Wright gave to the assembled com- 

 pany a brief but lucid description of the very interesting beds opened up 

 at this point, which, with their peculiar organic contents, are of especial 

 interest to the geologist, as at no other locality throughout the Cotteswold 

 district is the " Middle" or " Humphresianus zone" of the Inferior Oolite 

 equally well displayed. This section was made a special subject for 

 elucidation by the Cotteswold Club two years ago, when it was thoroughly 

 woi'ked out by Dr. Wright, and Messrs. Jones and Norwood. 



From hence the excursionists proceeded direct to Sudeley Castle, where 

 they met with a most hospitable reception from Mr. and Mrs. Dent, 

 who had most considerately provided luncheon for their visitors. 



The dinner, which took place at the Queen's Hotel, was well attended, 

 both by gentlemen and ladies ; amongst the latter the presence of the 

 distinguished authoress of the Queens of England must not be over- 

 looked. 



After dinner a paper was read by Professor Bdckman, on the " Enno- 

 bling of Wild Plants," and some observations by Dr. Bird upon the 

 " Tumulus," lately opened by the Club, at Njrmpsfield, gave rise to an 

 animated discussion, embracing the question of pre-historic evidences, and 

 the probable duration of man upon the earth during periods of time far 

 exceeding those to which some computations would limit his existence. 

 The sTibject was debated in all its aspects by different speakers, the Rev. 

 W. S. Symonds, Dr. Wright, Mr. D. Nash, and the Rev. Mr. Norwood, 

 taking a prominent part in the discussion, which seemed at last to favor 

 the ante-dating of humanity, though whether to the extent of " myriads 

 of years" as one gentleman contended, seemed hardly to be conceded. 



With the account of this meeting terminate the records of the trans- 

 actions of the Club during the year 1862, — a season distinguished among 

 many others by the large amount of energy displayed by the Club in the 

 pursuit of all those branches of science which come within the range of 

 its cognisance, — an energy which, well applied and judiciously directed, 

 cannot fail of securing for us, as a scientific body, that place and conside- 

 ration which we have striven to obtain. But further, I believe, that by 

 persistence in such a course of action, we shall best accomplish a primaiy 

 object of our association, — that of fostering a love of natural science 

 amongst those who come within the circuit of our influence, and of hold- 

 ing out a helping hand to younger students of nature, who should be led 

 to group themselves around us — as around a nucleus — which offers to 

 them at the same time a position as naturalists, and the society of those 

 who are well qualified to lead and instruct them in those delightful paths 



