MIDLAND UNION SOCIETIES. 113 



systematic manner, by driving trenches 3ft. wide, and at intervals of 

 3ft. apart across the brickfield from north to south. These explora- 

 tions resulted in showing that a very valuable archaeological find had 

 been made, and that an extensive Pagan Saxon burial ground had 

 existed here. The graves being opened up, objects usually 

 characteristic of Saxon interments were found, such as sepulchral 

 urns, some of them highly ornamented with bosses and cord-like 

 patterns in relief. In some of the urns were found burnt human 

 bones, with beads, etc. Several tibulie, iron knives, spear heads, and 

 bronze ornaments were also found. Since then the explorations have 

 been carried on more extensively, and probably some years will elapse 

 before the investigations will be completed." Mr. Robert Thornewill, 

 The Abbey, Burton-on-Trent, is the President ; and Mr. C. U. Tripp, 

 M.A., Grammar School, Burton-on-Trent and Mr. J. O. Sullivan, the 

 Hon. General Secretaries ; Mr. J. Heron and Mr. T. C. Martin, the Hon. 

 Secretaries for Excursions. 



The Cheltenham Natukal Science Society was commenced in 

 January, 1878. It has ninety-seven Members, paying 10s. yearly, 

 and four Honorary Members. Meetings are held on the third 

 Thursday of the month from October to April ; the General 

 Meeting is held on the first Thursday in October. During 

 the last Session seven papers, described as " all exceedingly 

 interesting and of a high order," were read before the Society. 

 At present the Society has not published an Annual Report, 

 but it issues to the Members, monthly during the Session, a full 

 report of the papers read and the discussions thereon, reprinted from 

 one of the local newspapers. The President, (who is also the 

 honoured President of this Union,) Dr. Thomas Wright, F.R.S., 

 F.G.S., 4, St. Margaret's Terrace, Cheltenham, has won a world-wide 

 reputation by his grand monographs, published by the Palasonto- 

 graphical Society, on " British Fossil Echinodermata," Oolitic and 

 Cretaceous, and " The Lias Ammonites of the British Islands." The 

 Hon. Sec. is Colonel Basevi, Elm Lodge, Prestbury, Cheltenham. 



The Dudley and Midland Geological and Scientific Society and 

 Field Club dates from 1862, and has 148 Members subscribing 10s. 6d. 

 a year, and fifteen Honorary Members. It holds a winter Meeting 

 for business, and has six or seven Field Meetings during the summer, 

 which are largely attended. The papers read before it are limited to a 

 description of the Geology of the districts visited during its excursions. 

 It publishes Transactions from time to time. This Society organised 

 the successful excursion of the Union at its first Annual Meeting in 

 1878, including the inspection of the underground workings (258^ 

 yards deep) of the Lye Cross Coal Pit, at Rowley, by more than 400 

 Members and Friends of the Union, many of whom were ladies. Mr. 

 Alfred Freer, M.R.C.S., Stourbridge, is the President, and Mr. W. 

 Madeley, Kingswinford, near Dudley, the Secretary. 



The Evesham Naturalists' Field Club was formed on the 1st July, 

 1873. It has 33 Members, who pay a subscription of 2s. 6d. annually. 

 It meets monthly, and during the summer has excursions monthly. 

 One of its Members, Mr. R. F. Tomes, F.G.S., has for some time past 

 been engaged in the study of Fossil Corals ; and has contributed 

 papers to the Journal of the Geological Society. The Society does not 

 publish an Annual Report. The President is Mr. Thomas James 

 Shatter, F.G.H., The Bank, Evesham ; and the Hon, Sec. Mr. Thonias 

 E. Doeg, Evesluim, 



