REPORTS. 123 



to the members of the Society. The Address was chiefly devoted to a review 

 of our past and present knowledge of Archebiosis, or spontaneous generation, 

 with particular allusion to the researches of Dallinger and Drysdale. It also 

 gave several valuable suggestions for the future conduct of the Society. On 

 the motion of Mr. Wills, seconded by Mr. Levick, a resolution was unani- 

 mously passed thanking Mr. Graham for his able address, and for the uniform 

 kindness and ability with which he had discharged the duties of his office 

 duriDg the past year. Mr. Montagu Browne exhibited three young squirrels, 

 just taken from the nest. This is very early in the year for them to be found. 



BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY.— 

 April 7th. — Mr. G. H. Twigg read a paper on " The Oolitic Formation en the 

 Borders of Warwickshire." After noticing the character of the formation as a 

 whole, he referred to some localities in detail, selecting principally those within 

 easy distance from Birmingham, describing the fine exposures in the Lias to be 

 seen at Wilmcote, Harbury, and Birdingbury, as well as tbose in the Inferior 

 Oolite, at Leckhampton, and other localities in the Cotswolds, around Banbury 

 and Noithampton. The paper was illustrated by a variety of fossils, collected 

 .n the district referred to, and concluded by an allusion to the enormous 

 'denudation which must have resulted since the first deposit of the calcareous 

 rocks of the formation, as rendered manifest by the outliers, of which Bredon Hill 

 is a notable example. April 10th. — The members visited the new sinking at 

 Hamstead. Upon arrival Mr. F. Meacham exhibited the various rocks passed 

 through during the sinking for coal. Attention was then given to the spoil 

 banks, and many specimens of carboniferous plants were obtained. The thick 

 coal, of excellent quality, has since been found at a depth of 615 yards. This, 

 it need scarcely be added, is a valuable find. April 14th. — Mr. W. P. Wynne 

 read a paper on " Water Analysis," Drs. Frankland and Armstrong's process 

 being described. 



BURTON-ON-TRENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY 

 SOCIETY.— March 30th.— The annual meeting was held in the Wesleyan 

 School Room, Station Street, the Rev. C. F. Thornewill, V.P., presiding. — 

 From the statement of accounts for the past year it appeared that the receipts 

 had been £74 7s. 10d., and the disbursements nearly the same sum. The report 

 was adopted, and the Committee's report was taken as read. Prizes to Junior 

 Members. — The Chairman said no mosses had been sent in ; the only collections 

 were moths and butterflies. — Mr. Baker was asked to examine these collections, 

 and make a report on them, and he reported that there had been five 

 collections sent in, and he had awarded the prizes as follows : — 1st, 126 species, 

 J. E. Nowers ; 2nd, 86 species, Miss M. E. Day ; 3rd, 64 species, Miss Gibbs.' 

 The election of Mr. W. Molyneux, F.G.S., to the office of President was 

 carried unanimously. The following gentlemen were appointed Vice-Presidents 

 for the year : — Mr. S. Evershed, Mr. J. C. Grinling, Mr. H. G. Tomlinson, 

 Mr. Robert Thornewill, and the Kev. C. F. Thornewill. Mr. Partridge was 

 re-elected Treasurer. Mr. T. C. Martin and Mr. C. U. Tripp were re-elected 

 Secretaries. Mr. W. G. Blatch, of Birmingham, was elected an Honorary 

 Member of the Society. The following excursions have been arranged : — 

 Cannock and Stone ; Breedon and Melbourne, leader, Mr. Ford ; Dudley and 

 Wren's Nest, leader, Mr. Molyneux ; Chatsworth, leader, Mr. Boden ; Morley, 

 leader, Mr. R. Thornewill ; Wirksworth, leader.Lott . 



NORTHAMPTON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— March 18th.— 

 —Annual Meeting.— The reports of the Treasurer and Committee were 

 presented, both of which were eminently satisfactory. Four gentlemen were 

 elected as members of the Society, and eleven others nominated. The officers 

 and committee for the ensuing year were elected, Sir Herewald Wake, Bart., 

 being chosen as one of the Vice-presidents, in the place of Rev. Wm. Thornton, 

 F.G.S., resigned. 



NOTTINGHAM LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.— The 

 following meetings were held during April: — 8th. — The Rev. C. Hargrove, 



