vi 
that it is one which entails upon us a considerable expense, and 
although I for one should be glad to see the expense still farther 
increased by an increase of such papers—still, as it was not con- 
templated in the original formation of our Club, I think it right 
to bring the matter fairly before your consideration. 
It appears to me that three courses lie before us. First—to 
print ail such papers as may be read, even at an additional in- 
_erease of expense, yet still amounting to buta small sum per 
annum if regularly collected. Secondly—to limit ourselves, as 
was originally intended, to matters connected with the Natural 
History of the County. And, Thirdly, to make an arrangement 
by which any members might subscribe for any number of copies 
they might wish for, and so divide the cost according to the 
number of copies ordered. This matter, Gentlemen, I beg to 
leave in your hands—reminding you, however, that the unpreci- 
dented call of one pound each is made this year—it is in fact for the 
transactions of this year and last, as nothing was collected last year. 
Though I, however, should be sorry to limit our papers strictly 
to county matters, yet I confess I should be glad to see these 
more closely followed up. We have as yet no list of Fossils, 
Plants, Shells, or Insects, any of which would form a most desir- 
able and apppropriate feature in the works of our Club; while of 
our numerous and interesting antiquities, with the exception of 
Mr. Pooley’s paper of this year, not a word has been said save 
the simple record that the Club has visited them, as given in the 
address of your most unscientific President. Forgive, Gentlemen, 
my calling your attention to this subject. I am, as you all know, 
a man of few ideas beyond my county, and though I should be 
sorry to see the transactions of the Club strictly limited to the 
field of our rambles, yet I cannot but think that we should more 
especially fulfill our mission, as a County Club, by devoting more 
attention to the Natural History and Antiquities of our own 
district. 
"Notes on the Natural History of the County of Gloucester. 
By Professor J. Buckman, F.G.S., F.LS., &c. 
ON THE ORCHIDACEZ., 
The Orchids present such a large assemblage of highly curious 
plants, that it seems astonishing so little should be popularly 
known about our native examples. It is true that a few species 
of exotic Orchids may be met with in the hot houses of the more 
wealthy, and these are esteemed on account of the strange forms 
which their flowers frequently assume, and the exquisite perfume 
some of them exhale. But though it is quite true that these have 
had their share of attention, yet who in a country walk at home 
ever plucks an Orchis, much less examines its structure, and yet 
they abound everywhere, and offer a showiness of flower, a variety 
of colour and structure with, in some species, an odour which 
