L82 MIDLAND DNION MEETINGS. 



the moss-green shrubberies, where Botanists will find ample to repay 

 them, and thence hon 



The fifth party, under the guidance of Major Barnard, will be 

 especially attractive to Botanists. Leaving the town at half-past nine 

 p.m., and driving first to the Seven Springs or Wells, the source of the 

 Thames, the neighbourhood, and Chalcombe Wood will be examined for 

 botanical specimens, and, after allowing full tune, the party will 

 proceed to Cubberly, visit the church, then to Cowley, where Mr. 

 Richardson Gardner's grounds and park will be thrown open; then, 

 )•/./ Colcsbourne, to Elkstone Church, the most unique specimen of 

 Roman architecture in the kingdom, and alone well worth a visit. 

 Over the Chancel is the unusual instance of a dovecote, and the walls 

 are pierced for the access of the birds. In the neighbourhood can be 

 found Geranium lucidum, GephalantJiera grandifiora, &c, &c. Leaving 

 Elkstone, the party will, if time permit, proceed to Brimpsfield, and 

 visit the site of the Old Roman Castle, otherwise it will go straight to 

 Birdlip, where a long halt will be made, and a meat tea provided, 

 after which, and giving ample time to botanise in Cranham Woods, 

 the carriages will convey the party home by the same route by which 

 the first excursion left Cheltenham. Those who love botanising, and 

 are n.it too tired, are invited to leave the carriages at Crickley, and 

 walk thence to Leckliampton with the conductor. To the mind of the 

 writer, this will be a most enjoyable excursion, but members are 

 recommended to take some refreshments along with them. 



To Bryologists, the neighbourhood of Cheltenham is very attractive. 

 Some eighty kinds of mosses are to be found, amongst which are 

 Phascum rectum and cuspidatum, Dicranum scoparium, Splachnum 

 sphcericum, and three of the Fissidentaceoe, and many others too 

 numerous to occupy your pages with a mere list. 



Hi \i.\ Basevi, Bon. Sec. Chelt. Nat. Science Society. 



THE \T.YY XATUKAL HISTOEY MUSEUM, SOUTH 

 KENSINGTON. 



BY GRENVILLE COLE, 

 Demonstrator in the ecological Laboratory, Royal School of Mines. 



For years past frequenters of South Kensington, that ugly quarter 

 in which the homes of soienoe and of art are at last producing a noble 

 \ aria t ion. have vie we. 1 the steady progress of one of the largest London 

 buildini lew Natural History Museum ; or rather, as it is 



barbarously and officially entitle.!. "The British Museum (Natural 

 History. i" A front of 700 feet in length has stretohed between Queen's 

 < i Exhibition Road; towers have arisen that can be seen Ear 

 above the Chelsea roof-tops; greal picturesque masses have 

 loomed against the sunset, with the pinnacled massiveness of some old 



