483 



Mr. ScARin said there seemed to have been no payments to the 

 poor of the parish ; they were gifts to strangers. 

 New Rain Guage. 



Dr. Black exhibited a marine rain gauge which he has invented 

 for the purpose of obviating the difficulties that at present exist in 

 making observations on the rainfall at sea. He had tested the 

 instrument on a small scale and found it to act successfully, but of 

 course it required more extended trial. Dr. Hunter thanked Dr. 

 Black for bringing the matter before the Club, 

 Excursions. 



The four distant excursions have all been carried out with but 

 partial success owing to the extremely uncertain state of tho 

 weather during the past year. The first to Brockley Combe and 

 Wriugton was decidedly successful, however, and is remembered with 

 pleasure by those who joined owing to the kind exertions of our Vice- 

 President, now Rector of Wrington, and the profuse hospitality of 

 Mr. Long. The morning of the 7th of May opened most unpro- 

 pitiously ; in spite, however, of the pelting rain seventeen members 

 with their friends, induced no doubt by the enticing programme of 

 the day, started by the 8.50 a.m. train for Brockley Comb and 

 Wrington. Arrived at Nailsea the first gleam of sunshine welcomed 

 them as they turned towards the hills and continued with but 

 slight intermission throughout the day. Following the tui'npike- 

 road as far as the hamlet of West Town a detour was here made 

 to the left, and the Dolomitic conglomerate, which flanks the hills, 

 traced to the opening of Brockley Combe. Delightful was the 

 stroll up the ravine through the flickering shade of the yet almost 

 unopened vernal leaves, rendered well nigh translucent by the 

 rain-drops and sunshine. Botanical and geological excursus' were 

 made on either hand ; the fertilization of an orchid illustrated with 

 knife and pencil ; the " screes" on each side of the ravine pointed 

 out as the result of Nature's pei-petual wear and tear. Halts were 

 also involuntarily made from time to time to admire the contrast 

 between the dark foliage of the gnarled old yew trees, springing up 

 wherever the joints in the limestone afforded a hold, and the 

 beautiful light green and variously tinted foliage of the larch, the 

 oak, and the ash. It was generally agi-eed that the leaves were 



