168 REPORTS, ETC. 



NOTTINGHAM NATURALISTS' SOCIETY.— April 17th.— A paper on the 

 "The Teredo, or Sbipworm," was read by Mr. B. S. Doild. May 1st. — Lecture 

 on " Australian Natural History," by Dr. Bancroft, formerly president of the 

 society. May 15th. — "Fertilization of Plants," by Mr. C. L. liothera, B.A. — 

 Several afternoon excursions have been made during the month. 



OSWESTRY AND WELSHPOOL NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB AND 

 ARCH^OLOCtICVL SOCIETY.— First Excursion for 1878 on Thursday, May 

 9th. A visit was paid to Selattyn, near which were found Bofn/chium Lunaria, 

 Havenaria hi/'oli(i, and Myrrhis odorata. The route then lay along the line of 

 Offa's Dyke, which is vei-y plain here. A quarry of mountain limestone waa 

 also visited, where specimens of Litho.sfrotionjuncenm and irregvlarc were found, 

 together with other mountain limestone fossils. The junction of the limestone 

 ■witli the millstone grit is shDwn near Carrybig, and from thence the party walked 

 to the limestone quarries at Llawnt. 



TAMWORTH NATURAL HISTORY, GEOLOGICAL, AND ANTI- 

 QUARIAN SOCIETY.— April 1.5th.— The Rev. Brooke Lambert, M.A., B.C.L., 

 read a paper entitled " The Slough of Despond, and how to bridge it." An 

 animated discussion ensued. May (ith. — A paper was read by Mr. Alfred Lucy on 

 " Meteors and Meteorites," in which he pointed out that certain streams of 

 these bodies occur periodically both on the same date, and coming from the 

 same quarter of the heavens, owing to the earth's orbit crossing their tract. 

 The high velocity of meteors protects us from the vast number which fall, by 

 causing such friction with the atmosphere as not only to render them luminous 

 but convert them into vapour by the intense heat. The connection between 

 orbits of meteors and orbits of certain comets was shown and explained by Mr. 

 Lucy, who also described the new theory of the origin of both meteor and comet 

 streams. A discussion followed, and a hearty vote of thanks was awarded. — A 

 rich collection of spring wild flowers was exhibited by Miss Harding. 



WOOLHOPE NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB.— April 23rd.— Annual 

 Meeting. — Mr. Theophilus Lane was apiiointed secretary in the place of the late 

 Mr. A. Thompson. The President (Mr. J. GrifBth Morris) delivered his retiring 

 address. A large part of it was devoted to " Mycology," a subject to which the 

 club has for many years devoted much attention. This portion ( f the address is so 

 valuable and important that we shall in future numbers publish it in full. — The 

 first Field Meeting of the year was held on Tuesday, May 28th. The members left 

 Ban-'s Court Station at 9 40 a.m., to reach Ledbury at 10 23 a.m., where they were 

 joined by members of the Malvern Club. They then proceeded to " The Wonder," 

 where an address on " The Geological Features of the District " was given by 

 the Rev. W. S. Symouds, M.A., F.G.S., &c. ; and afterwards drove through 

 Much Marcle, visiting Kempley Church, where some ancient " Mural Paintings " 

 have been recently discovered; returning by Haffield to Ledbury. By Dr. 

 Henry's kind permission, the members were allowed to visit the Camp at 

 Haffield, and other objects of interest there. 



WEST LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.— May 3rd.— Half- 

 yearly Meeting. — The following officers were elected for the ensuing six 

 months :— President, Mr. Mapleson ; vice-president, Mr. Smith; secretary, Mr. 

 Timms, reelected ; curator, Mr. Silcock ; treasurer, Mr. Dow, re-elected ; 

 librarian, Mr. Maycock, re-elected. On May 6th Mr. Meek took two specimens 

 of that rare noctua, X.conxpiriUaris, at Darn Wood. On May 12th Mr. Russell 

 took N. trepida at Highgate Wood. 



EXCHANGE. 



Wanted, Side-blown Eggs in quantities; good value offered in other 

 varieties ; over 200 species to choose from. — Sissous, Sharrow, Sheffield. 



