96 REPORTS. 



read to fair attendances of members. The following were the papers con- 

 tribnted : — " Microscopical Organisms," illustrated by specimens taken from 

 the Biver Avon, by Mr. T. J. Slatter, F.G.S., president; "Some of the 

 British Papilionacess," by Miss Edith New ; and "Certain New and Old World 

 forms of lUts' by Mr. K Fisher Tomes, F.G S. Fewer excursions than 

 usual have taken place, owing to the disturbed state of the town by reason of 

 in , ecti ms an I petitions, but the following places have been visited, viz.: — 

 Oddington Wood, near Addlestrop ; Stanway, Snowshill, and Oversley 

 Woo I, Dear Wixford. The following are among the rarer plants found during 

 the past year: — Thla.ipi perfoliatum, Anemone Pulsatilla, Senecio arvensis, 

 tfyriophyilum verticillatum, Peplis Portula, Cerastium arvense, Centun- 

 CXUUS minima* A cordial vote of thanks was given to the retiring officers, 

 especially to Mr. Geoffrey New, who has for several years filled the office of 

 hou. secretary. The following members were elected officers for the ensuing 

 year:— President, Mr. T. J. Slatter, F.G.S.; treasurer, Mr. J. S. Slater; 

 secretary, Mr. T. E. Doeg ; assistant secretary, Miss L. E. Martin ; committee, 

 Mrs. Martin, Messrs. A. H. Martin, G. New, and F. Wright. Mr. R. Fisher 

 Tomes, F.G. 8., then read an interesting paper on "The Typical and Sub- 

 ;vi.iil Plumage of Certain Groups of Birds," for which he received the 

 hearty thanks of the meeting. 



OXFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— February 9th.— A 

 meeting was held in the Lecture Hall, Botanic Gardens, Oxford, Professor 

 Westwood, F.L.S., in the chair. The Secretary (Mr. G. C. Druce) read a 

 communication from Mr. Milner, of Queen's College, on the early flowering of 

 plants, from which it appears that the Hazel, Alder, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, 

 Primrose, nod Barren Strawberry were all noticed in flower earlier this year 

 than in 1880 or 1879. Notice was given that the society had joined the 

 Midland Union of Natural History Societies, and that a prize had been offered 

 by the President of the Union, Sir Herewald Wake, Bart., for the best original 

 life history of any genus of insects indigenous to the Midland district, and 

 also that the Darwin medal offered this year was for a geological memoir. 

 Professor Westwood briefly addressed the meeting. G. B. Poulton, Esq., 

 M.A., then gave a lecture on "The River Valleys of Oxford," lucidly explaining 

 the manner in which the river had cut its way first through the thin layer of 

 high-level gravel, composed of masses of quartzite, probably carried by 

 icebergs from the mountains of Wales, Scotland, or even Scandinavia, which 

 had dropped their burden when melting in a shallow sea, which at that time 

 — towards the end of the glacial epoch — covered this portion of our island. 

 Afterwards the land was gradually upheaved, the rivers began to flow, and in 

 tl >wing commenced that system of denudation which resulted in cutting 

 through, not only the thiu layer of high-level gravel, which might be seen 



ipping Wytham Hill, but also through the coralline oolite, which once 

 Btretohed from Wytham across to Elsfield, both hills being formed of 

 tins substance. This denudation left behind confirmatory evidence 

 iu the layer of more recent gravel which at present stretches across 

 the valley in an almost uninterrupted course, coming to the surface 

 at Binsey, and on the tongue of laud which forms the watershed of the 

 Cherwell and Isis, on which Summertowu and the Ports are situated, while it is 

 covered on tiie depressions of Port Meadows and the Cherwell Meadows by 

 clay or alluvial deposit of more recent formation Mr. Poulton illustrated 

 In- lecture by diagrams, and further explained the differences between the high- 

 level and low-level gravel, the fossil and organic constituents of the more 

 recent alluvial deposit and of the olden Oxford clay and the physical appear- 

 ance of the old river, which at one time assumed the appearance rather of a 

 chain of lakes than a river, and that th" water cutting through, as at 

 Bandford, ,v ■ , gradually drained the lakes of which Port Meadow might be 



a type. — A nearly vote of thanks was given for the lecture. — After- 

 ward-, ■ number of exhibits were made, including a living Shore Lark, by 

 l£r. Macpherson, of Oriel College; several stained sections of Lavatera and 

 by Mr. .1 \Yri"h; ; specimens of Dracaena Draco, &r. , by Professor 



1 1 lll|, i thn bin roses, Rata amernata, Kosinciana, and. 

 andegavensis, by the Secretary. 



