REPOETS. 231 



BIRjVnNGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SOCIETY. — General Meeting, July 211(1.— The following exhibits were made 

 by Mr. Hughes, on behalf of Mrs. Randall : — Ecfilnocijaimi-^ jmsillus, the Green 

 Pea Urchin, from Falmouth, and mounted specimens of Spatangus inirimreus, 

 showing the spines peculiar to that species ; by Mr. J. Bagnall, a Stag Beetle, 

 (Lucanus cervus ;) by Mr. H. E.Forrest, a fine living specimen of Sponrjilla 

 Jiuviatilis, from Sutton ; Argulus foliaceus, the fish flea, taken from the dead 

 body of a roach, at'Windley Pool, button; and a fine specimen of Carchesium, 

 found in au aquarium ; by Mr. Boltou, a young Newt, Triton punctatus, 

 showing the circulation in the gills and pulsations of the heart ; by Messrs. 

 Caldwell and Butterfield, a large number of plants ; by Mr. T. J. Slatter, a well- 

 preserved specimen of a species of fern, from a band of marly clay, in the 

 Waterstones and Lower Keuper Sandstones, near Redditch. The remaining meetings 

 during the month were devoted to the exhibition of specimens contributed by 

 various members. July 19th. — At 10 .30 p.m. a party of tweuty-eight of the 

 members left Birmingham, viu Midland Railway, for Arran, which they reached 

 before noon the following day, where they remained till Saturday, July '27tb. 

 A steam yacht having been secured for the week, much active work iu dredging 

 was done, with what result will be reported in a future number. 



BURTON-ON-TRENT NATURAL HISTORY AND ARCH^OLOGICAL 

 SOCIETY. — On July 10th, under the leadership of Dr. Perks, the members made 

 an excursion to Wall (the Roman Etocetum) and neighbourhood. Reaching 

 Walsall by rail they proceeded next in carriages to Barr Beacon, an isolated 

 eminence, from which on a clear day a vast tract of country is visible. Sutton 

 Park and the neighbouring town of Sutton Coldfield were afterwards visited. In 

 the churchyard of the latter is the grave of Mary Asbford, who was supposed to 

 have been murdered by Absalom Thornton in 1817. The accused on arraignment 

 pleaded not guilty and offered the " Wager of Battle." There being no one to 

 accept the challenge on behalf of the murdered girl, Thornton escaped. He 

 emigrated to America, where he died iu 1870. It was this case that brought 

 about the rejjeal of the statute under which Thornton availed himself of the 

 " Wager of Battle." Sbenstone was next visited, where the party were met by 

 Col. Bagnall. In the churchyard is au ancient dial shaft, now surmounted by a 

 cross, on which the Rev. R. W. Essington, the present vicar, has caused the 

 following inscription to be placed : — 



If o'er the dial glides a shade, redeem 



The time, for lo, it passes like a dream ; 



But if 'tis all a blank, then mark the loss 



Of hours unblest by shadows from the Cross. 



From Sbenstone the party proceeded to Wall, which is believed to be the site of 

 the Etocetum of the Romans. Col. Bagnall stated that some years since be made a 

 series of excavations in the neighbourhood, and fouud a great quantity of bones 

 of horses, swine, deer, and other animals, a large quantity of bronze, &c. 

 Copper coins and fragments of glass bad also been dug up, as well as large 

 quautitif;s of charcoal and Samian ware. It is said that where Wall Church now 

 stands was originally the site of a temple of Minerva. Dr. Perks commented 

 uijon the fortifications of Wall, and, in referring to the Roman Vallum discovered 

 and described by the Rev. S. Shaw, contended that it was highly probable that 

 another Vallum had run in a south-easterly direction to the hill on which Sben- 

 stone Church now stands, and that the two would afford an imposing and 

 extended barrier to any attack from the north-east. The excursionists proceeded 

 to Lichfield, from whence they took train to Burton. — On July 20tb the members, 

 under the guidance of Mr. Thos. C. Martin, (bon. sec.,) went to Alrewas and 

 Wicbnor, where they were joined by members of the North Staffordshire Field 

 Club. 



EVESHAM FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB.— The second excursion of 

 the club took place on Saturday, June 29th, to Dovedale, near Blockley. There 

 was a small attendance, and only botanical specimens wei-e taken. They included 

 the following: — Listera nidus-avis, Paris quadri/olia, Spirtva filipendula, Vicia 

 sylvatica, Campanula (jlomerata, Diyitulis purpurea, and Aqnilegia vulgaris. A 

 meeting of the club was held on Tuesday, July 2nd. The Chairman (Mr. A. H. 

 Martin) exhibited eggs of the red-legged partridge found at North Littleton. 



