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NORTHAMPTON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— The June escursioa 

 to RotUwell, Riisliton, and Lamport proved a very enjoyable one. The party 

 first visited tlie gardens and grounds of Rushton House, in wLiich is situated tUe 

 Triangular Lodge where the conspirators met to concoct the Gunpowder Plot. 

 The wilderness used to be the habitat of the fly orchis, but this was searched for 

 in vain. Rothwell Church and Market House were then visited, the miserere 

 seats in the former being very curious. After a pleasant drive through the 

 Harrington Valley and Orton to Foxhall, near which occurs the almost sole 

 piece of boglaud left in Northants, the botanical section eagerly 

 searched over this ground, which yielded among other plants, 

 Pirif/uicula vulgaris, EriopJiorum angustifolium, Carex jnilicaris,* C. stel- 

 lulata* C.flava* C.fidva* Carduus pratensis, Pedicidaris palustris, Pimpinella 

 viagva, Gymnadenia conopsea. Orchis latifolia, Ophioglossum vulgatum, 

 Molinin carulea* Triodia decumhens* Valeriana dioica, and a very rare plant, 

 Bhjsmus cdttipressus* In the hedgerows, nearer Mosely Wood, A'oArt fo//(^«^j«rt, 

 li. micro iithn, and E. Doniana occur. Rejoining the photographic seclion at 

 Foxhall the party proceeded to Lamport, uoliciug on the way Festuca iin/nrus. 

 At Lamport the grounds of Sir Charles Isham afforded some jileasant rambles, 

 the rockeries being covered with some interesting Alpine plants. The rectory 

 pond is said by Kev. J. M. Berkeley to yield Acorus calamus. [Plants marked 

 thus * are not included in "Topographical Botany."] 



OSWESTRY AND WELSHPOOL NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB AND 



ARCHJSOLOGICAL SOCIETY.— Fourth Excursion, August l-2th.— The Club 

 met at Lydhani Hvath Station, and proceeded to Linley Hall, the residence of 

 Jasper More, Esq., which is approached by a fine double avenue of oaks, a mile 

 long. At the top of the avenue is the site of a Roman villa. The park is very 

 beautiful, and thei'e is another fine avenue of beeches two miles in length ; the old 

 archery practice ground of the Norman soldiers, called The Butts, was also visited. 

 It consists of two large mounds, eighty yards apart. The party then went on to 

 the Stiperstones, the second highest hill in Shropshire, l.TO'Jft. high. Some of 

 the party visited a quarry on the Shelve Hill, and found specimens of Diet'iimema 

 sociale, and a species of Graptolite, and also of Bellerophon. Amongst the 

 plants found were Camjjaitida patula, Artemisia absinthium, and Vacciniuni 

 vitis-idcea. 



SEVERN VALLEY NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB.— On August 6th, 

 forty-five members and friends visited Ellesmere. The Great Western train 

 landed them at Whittiugton Station, whence, inspecting en route the picturesque 

 ruins of Whittingtou Castle, they drove to Ellesmere. Here they walked to the 

 Bowling Green on the site of the old Castle mound, and thence along the side of 

 Ellesmere, then to Oteley Park, where, by kind permission of the owner, S. K. 

 Mainwaring, Esq., they were able to enjoy a walk through the lovely gardens 

 and grounds. After luncheon under the trees in the park, the walk was resumed 

 by Newton Mere and Kettle Mere to Coleniere, Blackmere being also seen on the 

 way to Whitemere. This part of the day's proceedings was interfered with by 

 heavy thunder rain, which, however, ceased wh(Mi Whitemcre was reached, and 

 a tine drive was enjoyed to Rednal Station. The explorations of the botani-sts 

 were cut short by the weather, but the Rev. W. A. Leighton directed attention 

 to a singular phenomenon which occurs in Ellesmere at this season, and was then 

 taking place. It is locally called the " breaking up of the water," which resem- 

 bles the turbid state of boiling wort. " The innumerable minute bodies in 

 motion causing this appearance, are (sai<l Mr. Leighton) composed each of a 

 central a','glomeration of spherical cellules, from each of which cylindrical 

 filaments radiate in every din-ction. These filaments are broader near the 

 central globule, and are attenuated gradually' towards their apices, and are 

 divideil into short uniform cells, separated bj' distinct septa or joints, the cells 

 being filled with chlorophyll of a glaucous or venligris green colour. The mode 

 in which this nnnute plant reproduces itself has not been observed, but it is not 

 imi)robable that some sort of conjugation takes place as in the conjugate 

 Conferva', when the chlorophyll of two adjacent cells is united into a third or 

 new cell, which forms the winter spore. These winter spores are doubtless the 

 central spherical cells above mentioned, which sink to the bottom of the lake 

 and remain there dormant till August, when they rise to the burface, and germiu- 



