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232 CORRESPONDENCE REPORTS. 



months, I venture to think, a perfect system of climatological observation 

 of the highest interest from a scientific, sanitary, and practical point of 

 view ; and especially as regards rainfall, earth and air temperature, and 

 hygrometrical conditions, will the farmer, by publication of reports and 

 synopses, be benefited. The values of atmospheric pressure taken from 

 the barometer at Farley are duly considered ; and observations of the 

 sun are also made in connection with the climatological readings. The 

 results already obtained are of considerable value. — Clement L. Wragge. 



Imports of Jbrixtb. 



BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SOCIETY.— General Meeting.— August 3rd. Mr. T. Bolton exhibited Argulus 

 foliaceus, living specimens from Eingswood ; medusal gonophores of marine 

 Hydrozoa, and zoea stage of larval shore crabs, (Nymphon gracilis,) from Aston 

 Aquarium. Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited Campanula patula, from Shustoke ; 

 Catabrosa aquatica, from Mancetter ; section of stigma of Mimulus luteus, to 

 show pollen tubes, also the mixture of pollen on same s-tigma, the stigma having 

 been dusted with the pollen of Oenothera, Mimulus, and Tropreolum. Mr. W. H. 

 Wilkinson exhibited Corydalis claviculata, from the Lickey Hills. Mr. J. H. 

 Pumphrey exhibited Genista tinctoria and Hypericum Androsmmum, from near 

 King's Norton. August 10th. — This meeting was made special for the election 

 of trustees. August 17th.— Mr. Bagnall exhibited for the Rev. W. H. Painter, 

 Dianthusccesius, from Cheddar ; aud Trinia vulgaris, from Clifton ; for the Rev. J. 

 Caswell, of Oscott, Habenaria bifolia, Ophrys mucsifera, and Monotropa Hypopitys ; 

 for Mr. Harris, of Atherstone, Atropa Belladonna, from Oldbury, Warwickshire ; 

 and Ceterach qfficinarum, from near Atherstone ; and, to illustrate Dr. Braith- 

 waite's second part of the British Moss Flora, he exhibited Buxbaumia indusiata, 

 very rare ; B. aphylla, very rare ; Georgia pellucida, local, infruit ; and G. Brownii, 

 very rare. Mr. Bagnail exhibited on his own behalf, Centunculus minimus, 

 (a note on which will be found at page 228,) very rare in Warwickshire ; Sagina 

 apetala, Arundo Epigejos, and Mentha arvensis, all from near Combe Abbey ; 

 and Rubus foliosus, a rare bramble, at present only recorded from Devonshire 

 and Warwickshire ; and Spergularia rubra, both from Hartshill. Mr. Wright 

 Wilson exhibited six Ligules, or immature tape-worms, which were found in 

 three small roach, (Cyprinus rutilusj brought to him for examination by a local 

 Naturalist. They were all alive, although the fishes had been dead many hours. 



DUDLEY AND MIDLAND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND FIELD 

 CLUB. — The fourth field meeting of this season was held on Wednesday, the 

 28th July, at Church Stretton, for the purpose of examining the Cambrian rocks, 

 which are eo well developed in this typical district. The party numbered 

 upwards of thirty, including Mr. A. Freer (president) and many ladies. The 

 weather was very unsettled, and prevented the whole of the programme from 

 being carried out. On arriving at Church Stretton, the party walked up the 

 Carding Mill and Light Spout Valleys to the pretty little waterfall, and in the 

 course of the walk observed the remarkable manner in which the rocks are tilted 

 up, almost perpendicularly, and in some places strangely contorted. It was 

 stated that these beds attain here a thickness of 26,000ft., consisting of slates, 

 schistose flags, and grits ; and they are remarkable as containing the earliest 

 evidences of animal life known in this country, consisting of the burrows of 

 marine worms, (Arenicolites,) thus showing that these were littoral deposits. 

 The vast length of time it must have taken for the deposition of beds of this 

 enormous thickness, (nearly equal to the loftiest Himalayas,) and the regular 

 depression of the land surface during that long period, are subjects of great 

 geological interest and importance. The party ascended to the pole at the top 

 of the hill, (1,674ft. above the sea,) and were just able to get a brief glimpse of 

 the surrounding country, with its numerous hills, when the rain came on and 

 necessitated a hasty retreat to the shelter of the hotel, where an acceptable 

 dinner was provided, after which the party returned home. 



