PKOCEEDESrGS OF SOCIETIES. 49 



colour, and was covered with minute rounded granulations. Perhaps 

 the most interesting group was the Caryophyllacece, some of the finest 

 examples of which might be found among oui" EngKsh wild plants, 

 such as the catchflies, chickweeds, stitchworts, campions, and soap- 

 worts, one of the most beautiful being the " ragged robin," Lychnis 

 flos-cuculi. 



Other families would supply beautiful objects ; one must not be 

 omitted, the orchids, which had been compared to gold coins in silk 

 purses ; with the exception of these, which might be viewed as trans- 

 parent objects, the rest should be mounted diy. He had brought 

 down between one and two himdred different kinds for examination. 

 These he proposed should be arranged under the microscopes in 

 groups for comparison of the different families. 



Dr. Hallifax mentioned the facility with which those who had studied 

 seeds could separate not only those closely allied, but also hybrids. 



Mr. Sewell inquii'ed whether seeds required drying with heat to 

 prevent fungus growth. 



Mr. Wonfor stated that care should be taken to gather them dry, 

 and make sure they were free from moisture when mounted. Many of 

 those he had brought down for exhibition had been moimted ten years. 



Mr. Hennah said he could vouch for the truth of Mr. Wonfor's 

 assertions, for looking at the seeds he had himself brought down, he 

 foimd the greater part were mounted by Mr. Wonfor, and bore the 

 date 1863. 



The meeting then became a conversazione, when Messrs. Hennah, 

 W. H. Smith, F. E. Sawyer, Sewell, K. Glaisyer, Wonfor, and Dr. 

 Hallifax exhibited seeds, the latter gentleman showing some of his 

 admirable sections. 



April 10th. — Ordinary Meeting. Mr. G. Scott, President, in 

 the chaii". 



Messrs. Balean, J. Jeffcoat, and the Rev. C. Payne were elected 

 ordinary members, and Mr. J. C. Ward an honorary member. 



The receipt was announced for the library of the last Proceedings 

 of the Eastbourne Natural History Society, and of the Second Rej)ort 

 of the Sub-Wealden Exploration. 



Mr. Wonfor then read a paper entitled " Suggestions towards the 

 verification of the Faima and Flora of the county of Sussex." 



After detailing the work done by the Society since its formation, 

 and pointing out how it had from time to time, as it felt strong enough, 

 increased its sphere of action and usefulness, Mr. Wonfor considered 

 the time had arrived when the Society should undertake the great 

 work of verifying the natural history of the county. He then pointed 

 out the advantages derived from a study of, or even attention to, some 

 one branch of natural history, indicating the pleasures which a true 

 naturalist, as compared with a mere collector, derived while in j^ursuit 

 of plant or animal, not resting satisfied with a dried jjlant, a stuffed 

 bird, or a set-out insect, but endeavouring to discover something in 

 the life-history and economy of each. 



The suggestions resolved themselves into what the Society collec- 

 tively and the members individually could do. He proposed the 



