144 REPORTS OK SOCIETIES. 



lated (hu-iiiK the winter hibernation. This it did by fixing itself firmly to 

 to a wall by means of its fore legs, and scrapinK off the incumbrances with its 

 other limbs. He then alluded to the flower Cori/dalis sulida, which had so long 

 a spur that few bees could get at the honey which lay at its extremity. The bee 

 solved the difficulty by biting a hole towards the end of the spur, and thence 

 extracting the honey. Mr. O. V. Aplin read a paper on " British Kodents, with 

 some remarks on the order llodentia." Having pointed out the characteristics 

 of the order, he gave a short account of the British genera and species, alluding 

 especially to those found in the district. He illustriited his remarks with 

 specimens and drawings. The President exhibited specimens of, and made 

 remarks on, the geology of the Banbury streets. He enumerated eight kinds, 

 viz., (1) Quartzites, or " Hartshill Stone ; " (2) l-iasalt ; (3) Altered or Weathered 

 Basalt; (f) Syenite; (.5' Hornblende Granite ; (d Diorite or Greenstone; and 

 (8) Pebble or Lydite, or Touchstone ; and also described the structure and com- 

 position of each kind and their various uses. Forms jfor phenological observa- 

 tions during April were distributed. May 6th. — Field Day. An excursion was 

 made to Edgehill. The members visited on their way the line old church of 

 Warmington — the ' exterior of which is principally of later Fourteenth 

 Century or Decorated work, although there are traces of the materials 

 of the preceding iNormam Church having been rebuilt into the 

 walls. In the churchyard was noticed a gravestone which records the burial 

 on the 24th October, 104'2, of Captain Gourdin (Gordon ?) who seems to have 

 been mortally wounded in the battle of the preceding day. Arrived at Edgehill, 

 the party proceeded to botanise in the woods. Lamiiim Oaleobdolon was here 

 found in abundance, this being the only locality for it in the district. The 

 " blue bells," which here grow in the greatest profusion, presented a beautiful 

 sight. The "Marlstoue" Quarries ilong famous for their paving and grave- 

 stones) having been reached, a short description of the beds, as well as of the 

 zones of the middle and lower lias " cropping out " on the slope of the hills, was 

 given by the President and General Secretary, and copies of a diagi-am were 

 distributed. This bed produces, by its weathering, the rich red soil of the 

 north of Oxfordshire, and portions of the adjoining counties. At Edgehill 

 House, the residence of J. N. Godson, Esq., the members and their friends 

 were most hospitably entertained. The interval before tea afforded 

 an opportunity of examining many interesting relics from the battlefield. 

 Of especial interest was a basket-hilted sword, having on the guard a 

 " Saracen's head," the crest of the Earl Lindsay, who was mortally wounded 

 in the battle. A short visit was then paid to the '' Red Horse," a rude figure of 

 the animal carved in the sloping turf, and said to commemorate the slaughter 

 of his horse by the Earl of Warwick, at the battle of Towton, fought on Palm 

 Sunday, 1461. Mr. Godson pointed out, as far as the hazy atmosphere would 

 allow, the distant eminences visible from the spot, including a faint glimpse of 

 the Malvern and the Glee hills. A sunset, somewhat hidden by clouds, but of 

 which the rosy tints were of exquisite beauty, closed a most successful day. 

 May .8th.— Monthly Meeting. Mr. T. Beesley, F.C.S., President, in the Chair. 

 Mr. J. B. Littleboy, of the Watford Natural History Society, read a most 

 interesting paper on " The Migration of Birds." He attributed migration to 

 hereditary instinct or impulse, and accounted for southern migration in the 

 autumn by the fact that the birds were compelled to do so by the exigencies of 

 life, and for the northern movement in the spring because the districts to 

 which they resorted were not only their breeding haunts but their natural 

 homes. It was, however, impossible to lay down any hard and fast line in 

 reference to the subject, for contradictions of a difficult kind were met with at 

 every turn. The coast lines were the great means by which migrants found their 

 way, and these they followed. The paper was replete with most interesting and 

 instructive matter bearing on the subject. After some little discussion on the 

 paper, a warm vote of thanks was ijassed to Mr. Littleboy. Mr. Stutterd 

 exhibited the Plantain Leopai'ds-bane, Doroniciim plantagineiim, Linn, from 

 Upper Boddington, which was new to the district. Forms for phenological 

 observations during the month were distributed. 



