216 REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



read a short paper ou " Natica cincta, its surface-markings and variations in 

 growth." The characteristic feature of the shell was said to be the euonnous 

 increase in size of the lower or body whorl as compared with the spire. He 

 pointed out two varieties, the one almost a counterpart of Phillip's type species, 

 the other variety having waved lines passing from the summit to the base of the 

 whorls. The top of the whorls sliowed a deep channel and traces of encircling 

 lines. The waved lines wei-e instanced as disappearing towards the mouth of 

 the shell, whore the thickness of the test was reduced to one millimetre, and 

 where the ordinary lines of growth were noticeable as being distinct from the 

 waved lines.— The President exhibited a specimen of a species of grass (Bromus) 

 which had attained the height of seven feet.— Mr. O. V. Aplin exhibited living 

 examples of the Natterjack iBiifo calamita, Buon.i, originally from Surrey, but 

 lately jiurchased in Seven Dials and sent to him. 



OSWESTEY AND WELSHPOOL NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB AND 

 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.— On Thursday, July 6th, there was an excursion 

 of this Society iu the neighbourhood of Talerddig. The party arrived at Carno 

 Station at 1 p.m., and followed the course of the River Carno up to Talerddig. 

 Here they took refuge from a heavy thunder shower. This is the highest point 

 of the Cainbrian Railway. They then descended tne gi-eat cutting which passes 

 through beds of hard stone with layers of shale, ou which are seen some good 

 impressions of ancient wave-lines. This formation belongs to the Lower 

 Silurian strata, but tliere is an absence of lime. About half way down the 

 cutting there is a remarkable example of a natural arch or anticlinal ridge of 

 strata on either side of the line, but the best is on the left hand. At this ijoiut 

 the Lower Silurian beds give place to the Upper Silurian. A little lower down 

 the party left the railway, and ascended the hills to the left, on the top of which 

 there are some Druidic (':*) remains consisting of four stones forming a square, 

 called Lied Croon'r Yet, and not far off a perfect circle, about thirty yards in 

 diameter, called Cerrig Caerau, and still farther on a smaller circle, called the 

 Carnedd, the inner space of the latter being filled up with loose stones. Here 

 there was a glorious view of the fine valley of the Twymyu, with Plynlimmon, 

 Cader, and the Arans in the distance. They then descended the hill to Llau- 

 brynmair, and walked down the valley to the Wynnstay Arms, where they did 

 justice to an excellent tea. Among the plants found we may mention tlie small 

 Butterfly Orchis (Habcnari.i bifolia) ; the blue and yellow Mountain Pansy 

 {Viola lutea, with var. amcena) ; a white Foxglove, and three species of the 

 genus Lycopodiinn — clavatum, in an da turn, and selago. — The next excursion 

 of tliis Society was on Tuesday, August 15th. Bleeting at Broxton Station in 

 Cheshire, the party ascended the Broxton hills, and had a magnificent view from 

 the summit, extending over the plain of Cheshire to the Mersey and the Dee on 

 the one side, and to the Welsh hills on the other. They explored some caves iu 

 the sandstone rock, said to be old workings for copper ; and then went on to 

 Fowler's Bench, the head of a picturesque ravine, commanding a beautiful peep 

 at the distance. Here they entered the grounds of Peckforton Castle, and pro- 

 ceeded along a grassy drive through the woods to the castle, over which they 

 were shown by the kind permission of Lord Tollemache. Next they visited a 

 well in the gardens at the foot of the hill, called Horsley Bath, and supposed to 

 be of Roman construction. They then went ou to Beeston Castle, the ruins of 

 which crown an isolated hill, very precipitous on three sides, and only ap- 

 proachable up the steep slope to the south. This castle was built by Ranulph, 

 Earl of Chester, al)out the year ]200. It was very strong, and supplied with 

 water from a well within the keep, said to have been 100 yards deep. In the 

 Civil war the castle was Ijesieged by the Parliamentary forces under Colonel 

 Jones. The party returned home from Tattenhall station after a very jjleasant 

 excursion. There were no very rare botanical finds, but wo may mention the 

 Climbing Corydalis, Water Purslane (PeiAis portula). Slender Cudweed {Filaiio 

 minima . and the (rolden-rod iSolidafjo rirnaured). 



