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the party either ririing up or do^vn in the floating' boats. The way was then 

 taken to the Wittou Salt Mines, which were illuminated, and the mode of 

 blasting and working the rock salt was explained by Mr. Thompson, the owner, 

 and great interest was taken in collecting specimens of the fine crystals reformed 

 in the water remaining on the iioor of the mine. Eeturning to Chester, all dined 

 together at the Grosvenor Hotel, after which the Chester Society of Natural 

 Science received the members at their Museum, where great preparation was 

 made by collections of microscopic and other objects. A hearty welcome was 

 expressed by Prof. Hughes, the President, and most interesting addresses were 

 given by Messrs. Hughes, Shone, Shrubsole, and De Ranee, on Local 

 Antiquities, the Boulder Clay, the Origin of Salt, and Local Geology. On 

 Wednesday, Mr. Hughes conducted the party around the walls of the city and 

 the other objects of interest which so abound there. At the Town Hall, Mr. 

 Jeafferson snowed some of the more interesting of the public documents, which 

 he is examining on behalf of the Historical Commission. After dining together 

 at the Queen's Hotel, the party separated with hearty thanks to those who had 

 received the Club and taken so much pains to make the visit one of exceptional 

 interest. 



EVESHAM FIELD NATUR.ILISTS' CLUB.— On Saturday afternoon, 

 August 31st, by the kind permission of E. C. Budge, Esq., of the Abbey Manor, 

 Evesham, the Club visited his grounds, and a very instructive and pleasant 

 afternoon was spent in viewing his garden, greenhouse, and collection of 

 curiosities, mostly dug up on the site of the Abbey. The party were accompanied 

 by Mr. Herbert New, who gave some valuable information relating to Simon de 

 Montfort, the Battle, the Abbey, &g. A meeting of the Club was held on 

 Thursday evening, the 5th instant, Mr. J. S. Slater in the chair. It was decided 

 to pay a visit to the Worcestershire Natural History Museum at Worcester, on 

 Saturday, the 21st September. The annual meeting of the Club was arranged 

 for Wednesday, the 23rd October. 



NORTHAMPTON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— The principal field- 

 day of the year was the one to Fotheringhay and Burleigh. A )arp;e party of 

 members and friends proceeded on August '20th, by L. & N.-W.E., to Elton Station, 

 and then walked to Fotheringhay Castle, of which but one fragment of masonry 

 is left, although the general plan of the castle can still be made cut. From the 

 keep a very picturesque view is obtained over the valley towards Oundle, and 

 the moat sides are interesting to Botanists, as being the only habitat in 

 Northants for Ranunculus parviflorus ; Faparer somniferum, Htioscyamus niger, 

 Onojjordon Acanihium (relics of the old castle garden) were also found, tbe thistle 

 being called by the villagers Queen Mary's Thistle. In what was once the 

 castle yard a fine bush of Cratccc/us o.vi/acantJioides was noticed. A short 

 description of the old castle having been given, the interesting church was 

 next visited. There an owl was disturbed and flew about the churchyard, 

 close to the members, affording a close view of a rarely day-flying bird. 

 Vehicles conveyed the members by portions of the old woods ot Bedford 

 Turlieus, the borders of the forest here and there being festooned 

 with Clematis vitalba in rich profusion. The woolly - headed thistle 

 C. eriophorus. Inula conyza, Calamintha menthifolia, Origanum vulgare, Cam- 

 panula glomerata, vars. ccendea and alba, and Euphrasia officinalis, were noticed 

 passing Wansford, where Verhascum nigrum is to be found, and looking to the 

 Nene specimens of <S'i'?i?» latifolium were seen. The party proceeded by the old north 

 road to Thoruhaugh, where the botanists left the party to visit Southorpe Marsh, 

 and were well rewarded by finding Juncus ohtusiflorus, Carex flava, Schcenus 

 nigricans, Menyanthes tnfoliata, Parnassia palusfris, Pedicularis palustris, 

 Carex vesicaria, EriopJiorum angustifolium, E. latifolium, Eupatorium canna- 

 hinum, &c. The calcareous borders of the road from here to Southorpe Quarries 

 yielded Campanula glomerata, Asperula cijnanchica, Gentiana Amarella, and 

 Chlora perfoliata, the same plants beiag found on the quarries of Soitthorpe and 

 Barnack. These quarries are the most productive of all the Northants localities 

 for rare plants in spring time, being covered with Anemone Pulsatilla, Acei-as 

 antkroijopliora, Hippocrepis comosa. Astragalus Jujjjoglotfis, Antennaria dioica, 

 Habenana viridis, &c., but in August, as was to be anticipated, a different flora 



