1-49 



of the raptorial birds of Great Britain, seventeen species, of which five, viz., 

 Hobby (Falco suhbuteo.) Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus,) Sparrow Hawk 

 (Accipiter nisusj Tawny Owl (■yrinum aluco,) and Barn Owl (Aluco 

 flammeus,) were from this neighbourhood, exhibited by Mr. 0. V. Apiin. The 

 Society's first summer excursion took place on Saturday afternoon, May 7th, 

 at which about thirty members were present. The route taken was across the 

 Constitution Hill fields to Bretch. The inferior and great Ooiites (at the top 

 of the bib,) which have been let down by a fault, were first examine! and 

 explained by Messrs. Waiford and Stutterd, who illustrated the geology of the 

 district by means of a large map which they had prepared. Upon reaching 

 Bretch field many of the gentlemen of the party spent a short time in looking 

 through 'he Giant's Cave. The party then separated, the greater part continuing 

 the journey so far as the Great Oolite pits, near Tadmaston, whilst the others 

 returned through the Crouch Lane to Banbury. Owing to the lateness of the 

 season very little botanical work was done. Fossils from the vineyards, by 

 Mr. C. Gillett ; diatoms and fos-iis, by Mr. T. Beesley ; microscope, by Mr. 

 Stutterd ; and Hook Norton and Chipping Norton fossils, by Mr. E. A. Walford. 



BURTON-ON-TKENT NATURAL HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL 

 SOCIETY.— March 1st.— Rev. Chas. F. Thornewill in the chair. A paper by 

 H. Louis, A.R.S.M., on "Dolomite and Magnesian Limestone," was read by 

 F. Lott, A.R.S.M., F.J.C. The author pointed out that the mineral Dolomite, 

 in which Calcic Carbonate and Magnesic Carbonate occur in approximately 

 equal molecular proportions, is not a mixture, but a chemical compound of 

 these carbonates. Dolomite, as it occurs with Calcite, commingled in rock, 

 (Magnesian Limestone,) is a true mineral. Calcite can be dissolved from the 

 rock by dilute acids, leaving Dolomite, which would not be the case if Dolomite 

 were a mixture of Calcite and Magnesite. Dr. T. Sterry Hunt says that 

 acetic acid, containing fifteen per cent, glacial acid, and kept at 0°C., will 

 not, or only very slowly, attack Dolomite, whilst it will readily, even 

 if weaker, dissolve Calcite, aad that carbonated water dissolves Calcite, 

 but will not attack Dolomite. Magnesian Limestone, much used 

 for building purposes, is found to vary in its power to withstand atmos- 

 pheric degradation ; and this variation appears to be due to the amount of 

 Dolomite it contains, as a true Dolomite is a superior building material. The 

 author's opinion on the formation of Dolomite is that it was deposited as such 

 through the agency of water, fresh and salt, and is not the result of pseudo- 

 morphism. Waters impregnated with magnesium salts, chloride, and sulphate, 

 coming in contact with waters containing carbonates of the alkalies and lime, 

 would have their magnesium precipitated as carbonate, while the sulphate of 

 iiine and alkaline salts produced would remain in solution. As Dolomite 

 occurs in England principally in the Permian formation, it would be natural 

 to find sulphate of lime impregnating the Sandstone and Mari of the late 

 Permian and early Triassic formation. This is the case — a large quantity of 

 sulphate of lime is found in water obtained from the New Red Sandstone. 



CHELTENHAM NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY.— February 23rd.— 

 Mr. R. Tyrer, B.A., F.M.S., read a paper on "Meteorology and its Practical 

 Results," in the course of which he described (1) the instruments required for 

 making observations ; and (2) the practical utility and result of those obser- 

 vations. Th* paper was illustrated by excellent diagrams. Dr. Puilar 

 afterwards exhibited a remarkable South American (Ecuador) Indian war 

 trophy, which excited much interest. Dr. E. T. Wilson exhibited living objects 

 under the microscope. March 23rd — Major Barnard read a paper on " The 

 Influence of Authoritv in Matters of Science." 



NOTTINGHAM LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY— 

 Natural Science Section. — The following communications have been made 

 to the section uuring the past session : — Address by J. H. Jennings, president 

 of section, on " The Preparation of Rock Sections for the Microscope ;" lecture 

 by A. H. Simpson, F.R.M.S., on " Tne Chemistry of a Kitchen Fire : " paper 



