90 



of view it was stated that most of our storms come from America 

 and are cyclonic. They extend sometimes over an area of 600 

 miles, and are two or three miles in depth • their velocity in 

 rotation is 60 or 70 miles an hour, their onwai-d movement from 

 15 to 30 miles, being variously retarded by the friction of the 

 earth's surface. The percentage of successful warnings from 

 America seem to be on the increase ; in 1874 it was 78-2, in 

 1876 it rose to 82. There is believed to be a connection between 

 atmospheric disturbances and sun-spot phenomena, and an eminent 

 scientific man has said that we must look here for the fixture of 

 meteorology. The writer believed that in the time to come it 

 would not only be possible to predict the near approach of storms 

 but the years and seasons at which they are most likely 

 to occur. The chairman, Mr. Bankart, and the secretary 

 joined in the conversation on the paper. The latter regretted 

 that failing health prevented Mr. Blomefield from being present 

 himself and joining in the discussion. The Rev. H. H. Win wood 

 then made a communication regarding a curious infilling of flint 

 gravel between two beds of Oolite in a quarry at Bathford. The 

 third paper on the list, " Report on Roman Diggings at Bathford," 

 was not read, owing to the illness of Mr. Charles Moore. 



Excursions. 



Pen Pits. — The first excursion took place on Tuesday, April 

 17th, when the spots visited were the Pen Hts and Stavordalc 

 Priory, both which places are in the neighbourhood of Win- 

 canton. The Club mustered to the number of 15 persons, 

 including visitors, and took the picturesque line of railway along 

 the Midford Valley to Wellow, and by Radstock, Shepton Mallet 

 and Evercreech to Wincanton. The mornmg was very fine but 

 cold, and occasional flakes of snow whitened the tints of early 

 green which seemed everywhere to be struggling to escape from 

 the grasp of winter. The hedge banks were yelloAV with primroses 

 and pui-ple Avith early violets, and abundance of daflfodils might 



