HISTORY OF OUR SOCIETY. 193 
Thornewill, the Rev. W. Fowler, Messrs. J. T. Harris, 
W. C. Owen, and W. G. Blatch reading papers, some of 
which were of special interest to Agriculturists. Messrs. 
Jerome Harrison and H. T. Ford read papers of consider- 
able Geological value, and the Rev. T. F. Fenn, Dr. Lawson 
Tait, and Mr. J. C. Grinling treated of Nature from a 
Botanical point of view. In the department of Zoology 
there was Mr. Henry Tomlinson’s delightful paper on ‘‘ Birds 
and their Habits,’ Mr. Auty’s paper on “ British Fresh 
Water Fish,” and Mr. Mason’s ‘ Introduction to the Jelly 
Fish” with his most beautiful glass models. Finally, papers 
by the Rev. J. M. Mello, provided for those who took an 
interest in recent discoveries as to pre-historic man. 
During this period of the Society’s life, two Soirées or 
Conversaziones were held, the first, in the original home of 
the Society—the Grammar School, the next in 1878, on a 
larger scale, in St. George’s Hall. 
In addition to the general meetings, there were special 
meetings for the junior members, who then formed a not 
inconsiderable portion of the Society, and I think we may 
look upon the introduction of many of our present members 
as due to their early connection as juniors and the interest 
fostered by those meetings. 
During this period there arose certain conditions which 
seemed to form’the very ideal for an Archzological Society 
to build up a reputation upon. I refer to the discovery of an 
ancient, and possibly, pre-historic, burial ground at Stapenhill, 
and the exposure of the foundations of the old Burton Abbey 
when preparing the ground for our Market Hall. The 
Society having obtained permission to fully investigate these 
two sites, a provisional Committee of members and others 
was appointed, and a special fund started to pay for sys- 
tematic exploration. As you have a very complete account 
of the work done at Stapenhill in the first Volume of 
Transactions I need not further describe our operations 
