HOW TO WORK IN THE ARCH.EAN ROCKS. 215 



sedimentary or volcanic, or both. If successful in this point, we 

 narrow the issue to be decided. 



The microscope is of great value in these investigations. It gives 

 precision to field-work, and discovers facts which held tests are not 

 competent to ascertain. 



The strike of a series has often been used as an aid in correlation, 

 and, within due limits, it decidedly adds to the weight of other 

 evidence. 



In conclusion, it is to be observed that in Archaean work the proof 

 is generally cumulative. Results are often obtained by the accumula- 

 tion of minute facts, most of which cannot be published, or even 

 recorded without incalculable labour. Each tap of the hammer helps 

 to build up the conclusion. Different lines of evidence, each of which 

 taken alone would fail to convince, converge towards the final issue. 

 Thorough and detailed labour is above all necessary. With patience 

 and zeal there is no reason why the Archaean fields of work, barren as 

 they appeared to our predecessors, should not yield most fruitful 

 additions to our knowledge of the early history of the globe. 



MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 



The following particulars of the several Societies in the Union 

 formed part of the Council's Report presented at the Cheltenham 

 Meeting, held June 16th, 1881 :— 



The Banburyshire Natural History Society axd Field Club was 

 formed on the 7th of March last. On the 1st of May it numbered 

 seventy Members, paying a subscription of 5s. annually. It meet? at 

 Banbury on the first Monday in each month ; it has arranged for 

 excursions occasionally during the summer months. Nine papers 

 have been read before the Members during the past three months. 

 Mr. T. Beesley, F.C.S., High Street, Banbury, is the President, and 

 Mr. E. A. Walford, 21, West Bar Street, Banbury, the Hon. Sec. 



The Bedfordshire Natural History Society and Field Club was 

 founded in 1875. It consists of 86 Members, who pay a subscription 

 of 5s. per annum. Meetings are held on the second and fourth 

 Thursdays in every month, the former being ordinary meetings, and 

 the latter microscopical. Excursions are made frequently during the 

 summer months. During the year eight papers have been read before 

 the Society. The Botanical Section is engaged in preparing a new Flora 

 Bedfordiensis and a large number of the rarer flowering plants have been 

 collected and aiTanged in a herbarium. The Society has published its 

 Transactions for the years 1875-7 : the publication of those for the 

 past three years has been unavoidably postponed. The Society has 

 no President. Mr. Thomas Gwyn Elger, F.R.A.S., is the Honorary 

 Secretary. 



The Birmingham Microscopists' and Naturalists' Union dates from 

 June, 1880. It has about 40 Members, who pay a subscription of 5s. 

 per annum. It meets weekly, and has half-holiday exclusions about 

 every three weeks during the summer months. On Bank Holidays it 

 has whole-day excursions. Nineteen papers have been read before 



