CORRESPONDENCE GLEANINGS. 283 



the annual increase would be less, and the tree might be 200 or even 220 

 years old, but I tliink it is scarcely possible to carry back the origin of an 

 oak of the dimensions given so far as 250 yeare, and, therefore, there 

 seems a strong probabihty that the present tree is not the original 

 but the descendant spoken of by Dr. Stukelej' . — F. T. Moix, Leicester. 



The AxxuAii Fungus Foeat of the "Woolhope Naturahsts' Field 

 Club will be held at Hereford on October 3rd. 



The Cktptogamic SocrEXTOF Scotland will hold its Annual Conference 

 at Edinburgh, on October 9th, 10th, and 11th, under the presidency of 

 Professor Balfour. The programme includes excursions, a dinner, and an 

 exhibition of fungi. 



Locusts. — The United States Entomological Commission have 

 issued their report on the ravages of the Eocky Mountain Locust. 

 Nature says it is "a very important addition to the scientific and 

 practical Hterature on this subject." 



Plant List for Dekbtshfre. — The Eev. W. Hunt Painter, of 2, 

 Belgrave Street, Derby, is engaged in editing a "Plant List for Derby shu'e." 

 He will be glad of any assistance that botanists, residing in the neigh- 

 bouring counties, can render him. Specimens of the plants found will 

 be thankfully received, and, if desired, others will be given in exchange. 



MicEOscoFicAL. — llr. Thos. Bolton, Naturahst, 17, Ann Street, 

 Birmingham, announces that for a subscription of £1 Is. per half-year, 

 paid in advance, he will supply a tube of hving specimens every week. 

 The specimens will include all varieties of which he may obtain a 

 sufficient supply, and will be forwarded as nearly as possible in twenty- 

 six consecutive weeks. To some subscribers he has agi'eed to forward 

 the twenty-six tubes during twelve months, or one per fortnight, and to 

 others (science teachers) more rapidly as they ma}- require them for class 

 work or exhibition. To such subscribers he also will fi'om time to time 

 post any notices or sketches that he may print of the various objects he 

 is distributing. 



Thos. Oldhasi, born (Dubhn) 1816, died (Eugby) 1878.— 3Ir. Oldham 

 received his first lessons in geology at Edinburgh, from Prof. Jamieson. 

 EetiuTiing to L-eland he aided Portlock in the survey of Derry and 

 Tyrone, (1843,) and afterwards held several offices in connection with the 

 Geological Society of Dublin and the Government Geological Survey ; in 

 1849 he discovered the fossil named after him by Prof. E. Forbes, 

 (Oldliamia radiata,) the then oldest known fossil organic remain. In 

 18-50 he was appointed first director of the Geological Sirrvey of Lidia, 

 and in ten years he succeeded in mapping geologically (with the aid of 

 about twelve assistants) an area in Bengal and Central Lidia of about 

 twice the extent of Great Britain. The pubhcations of the Indian 

 Survey, issued iinder his direction, are of a magniiicent description — 

 quite equal to those which Dr. Hayden sends forth with such hberahty 

 from Washington. He was awarded the gold medal of the Eoj-al Society 

 in 187-3, and shorilj- afterwards rethed fi'om his post of Superintendent 

 of the Indian survey. His last days were spent at Eugby, where he took 

 much interest in the School Natural History Society. His obituary (fi-om 

 wliich this short notice is mainly compiled) appears in the " Geological 

 Magazine " for August, as do also two reviews by him (his last work, he 

 wrote them but did not Uve to coiTect the proofs) on Barrande's 

 " Cephalopoda of Bohemia" and Hayden's " Geological and Geographical 

 Atlas of Colorado." 



