XATURAUST FTEU) CLUB EXCITESIOXS. 251 



on the palates and digestion of their enterprising but adventurous 

 members, are -well known not only in England, but throughout Europe. 

 They have lately added Lo these the description of varieties of apples 

 and pears, and will doubtless attain the same success in this branch of 

 study as has attended their efforts in others. 



A subject which might with much advantage be taken up by any 

 club, and which is within the reach of any one of ordinary observation, 

 is that which goes by the name of Teratology, or a record of abnormal 

 growths in plants and animals. The appearance of such unusual forms 

 has been made much use of by our great physiologists to solve some of 

 the most interesting problems in the science of development and genera- 

 tion. When inteUigently correlated with other facts, they oft«n supply 

 links now lost, and explain the use of organs and the connection between 

 the successive races of creatures which have from time to time existed 

 in the world. To read these phenomena rightly, to put together the 

 disjointed members of the puzzle, is indeed within the power of but few> 

 as it is perhaps one of the highest functions of which the human mind 

 Is capable ; but the more humble task of recording them is one which 

 anybody might undertake, and would seem to be a very appropriate and 

 feasible object for the members of clubs to propose to themselves ; in 

 doing so they might hope to materiall}- promote the cause for which they' 

 exist, since there can be no doubt that large numbers of facts of 

 this kind, which if known to a Darwin or a Huxley would be made of 

 the greatest use, are lost to science from the want of observation and of 

 record. As a guide to this branch of research, a volume on Teratology, 

 by Dr. Masters, pubhshed by the Eay Society, has been highly recom- 

 mended. 



METEOROLOGY OF THE MIDLANDS. 

 THE WEATHER OF JULY, 1878. 



BY. W. JEROICE HARBISON, F.G.S. 



The rainfall of July presents several interesting features. It is 

 generally below the average, and greatly so in the few places which 

 escaped the severe thunderstorm of the 24th. The return from Cromford 

 of one rainy day only in July was so extraordinary that I wrote specially 

 to ilr. Tissington, who rephes, " I beg to say that my return for July is 

 quite con-ect. I heard of rain falling within a few miles of here, but 

 unfortunately it did not reach us." The dry period, which com- 

 menced on June 18th, lasted till the 24th of July. Up to the 17th of 

 the latter month the weather was warm, but the sky cloudy, with a 

 prevalence of north-westerly winds. From the 17th to the 22nd the heat 

 was intense, the thermometer rising daily to above 80=. On the 

 23rd the temperature fell suddenly, and the next day a succession of 

 thunderstorms -sisited almost ever^- point in the Midlands, producing the 

 maximum and only important rainfall of the month : in the neighbour- 

 hood of Coventrj-, nearly 2J inches fell in as many hours. At Coston 

 Kectory, the Ughtning in this storm was noted as being very vi^^d, and of 

 a remarkable rosy hue. Afterwards fine weather, but with a lower 

 temperature, prevailed to the end of the month. 



