55 



One of these extended from 980,000 to 720,000 years ago, the 

 other about 240,000 years, and extended to about 10,000 

 years ago; in this the excess of winter over summer was 267 

 days, while the mid-winter temperature was lowered 37 "4 degrees. 

 He further shows that 850,000 years back winter exceeded summer 

 by 37 '4 days, whilst the temperature in mid- winter was lowered 

 45 '3 degrees. If these calculations are admitted to be correct, 

 the conclusion arrived at is that the glacial epoch must be 

 assigned to one of them. In this case, and taking the lowest 

 calculation, we carry back the extinct mammalia and some of the 

 beds in the Bath basin in which they are found, to between 

 240,000 and 80,000 years ago ! If this period be, as I have before 

 remarked, the yesterday of geological time, how are we to calculate 

 the chronology of the deposits to the Cambrian series, and these 

 again to the base of the Laurentian rocks, which are supposed to 

 exceed in thickness the whole of the stratified beds of this 

 country. 



Remarks on some of the Fungi met with in the neighbourhood 

 of Bath. By C. E. Become, M.A., F.L.S. Bead April 

 7th, 1869, and Feb. 9th, 1870. 



One of the objects aimed at in the formation of Field Clubs is 

 the acquiring a correct knowledge of the natural history of the 

 district in which they are situated, and to bring this up to the 

 requirements of the present day it is necessary that no branch of 

 such knowledge be neglected. To say thus much, may perhaps be 

 a sufficient excuse for offering some of the results of the investiga- 

 tions that have been made in our own vicinity, in one of the lowest 

 departments of botany, to the notice of the present meeting. 

 Fungi, here alluded to, seem to occupy an intermediate position 

 between vegetables and animals, some of their characteristics 

 pertaining to the latter (such as the presence of nitrogen, and the 

 resemblance of the substance, called fungine by chemists, to animal 

 matter), while they are universally allowed to constitute a 

 division of the vegetable kingdom. It may be observed that the 

 order, or suborder of Myxogasters is au exception to the last 



