316 



Magazine," for May, 1H78.) Mr. Mussou exLibiteil a fossiliferous piece of quartzite, 

 fouud by him restiug on the Buuter cout'lomerate of Nottiugham " Forest." 

 Mr. Wilsou also exhibited a fine sjecimen of Ceratodus alius, found by bim some 

 time siuce in the " bone bed," present iu the Kbaslic (Aviciila contort a) Shales, 

 recently exposed in the Barnstou cutting, on the new line, near Bingham, Notts. 

 This section was visited by tbe members about a year ago. Mr. Wilson also 

 noted tbe occurrence of the same genus (once thought to be coutiued to the 

 Aust locality) at Stanton-on-the-Wolds, near Nottingham, at Leicester, 

 and another locality. He pointed out its afiSnities to the fossil 

 genera Ctenoclus and Dipteruti, and to the modern Ceratodus of Australia. 

 September •27th. — Mr. H. Marshall Ward read a valuable paper on " Starch, and 

 its Uses in Plant Life." October 5th. — A Geological Excursion was made to Frog- 

 hall, Caldon Low, and Alton. Ai'iiving at Froghall at 9 40 km., the members 

 spent some time iu examining tbe " Froghall hccmatitc," which is worked iu this 

 district, and which occurs near the base of tbe " coal-measures " series of tbe 

 Cheadle Coalfield. A ride up tbe tramway then brought the party to the Caldou 

 Low Quarry. This quarry is iu the lower beds of the " mountain limestone," 

 and in one part of the quarry tbe " wbite sands and clays " lying underneath tbe 

 boulder clay were seen. These beds are also well exposed in the Ribden Pit, 

 (near the base of the Weaver Hills,) which was next visited. An interesting walk, 

 via Cotton, brought tbe party to Alton, where a luncheon at the " Shrewsbury " 

 terminated .a very pleasant excursion. 



NOTTINGHAM NATURALISTS' SOCIETY.— Meetings have been held 

 daring the last mouth as follows : — September 18th, when Mr. L. Lee gave a 

 lecture on " Tbe Lower Forms of Vegetable Life." October 9tb, Microscopical 

 evening. October 16tb, Lecture on " Coal," by Mr. C. T. Musson. 



STROUD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— October 8th.— First Meeting 

 of Session. A paper was read by Mr. J. A. Tannahill on " Bees and their Habits." 

 A short description of some scientific objects in the Paris Exhibition was given by 

 the President, Chns Playne, Esq., followed by a brief account of some kinds 

 of Entozoa by Dr. Partridge, the secretary, illustrated by drawings and 

 specimens. 



WOOLHOPE NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB.— The usual annual Fungus 

 Foray took place on October 3rd. There was a large attendance, iucludiug many 

 scientific visitors from a distance. Tbe members and visitors drove to tbe lawns 

 of bufton Court, and were very kindly received by Mr. Hereford. The 

 mycologists were soon succpssfuUy occupied in tbe woods, whilst tbe less scientific 

 portion ©f tbe company wandered up the hill to tbe British Camp at Adam's 

 Rocks, Backbury Hill. Later in the day a meeting of the members was held in 

 the Club Room, at tbe Free Library, Hereford, when the following officers were 

 elected for the ensuing year : — President, Mr. Arthur Armitage ; Vice-Presidents, 

 Rev. W. H. Pbillott, Mr. W. A. Swinburne, Rev. A. Ley, and Rev. G. M. 

 Metcalf ; the Central Committee, Messrs. T. Curley, J. Griffith Morris, 

 C. G. Martin, and O. Shellard ; Treasurer, Mr. Cam ; Auditors, Messrs. 

 J. Davies and J. T. Owen Fowler; Secretary, Mr. Theo. Lane. The 

 annual dinner took place at the Green Dragon, when the two fuugiisses, 

 Jlyyrophoru.i pratensi.'! and Agariciis nebidosus were served to the guests. The 

 latter, which is one that is rarelj' eaten, proved to be a species well worth3' of the 

 occasion. Dr. Bull, after dinner, gave the cordial welcome of tbe Club to the 

 scientific strangei-s present, and then gave a report on the progress of Mycology 

 during the past year. Tbe Rev. Augustus Ley read a carefully prepared 

 paper on " The Mosses of Herefordshire," which was very highly applauded for 

 the results of real work in tbe fields which it contained, and which was ordered 

 to be printed in tbe Transactions of tbe Club. A soiree was held in tbe evening 

 at the bouse of the Treasurer, Mr. Cam, wbich was well attended by tbe members 

 and visitors. Dr. Cooke read an elaborate paper on tbe genus Cortirinvi, with 

 observations on the modes of distinguishing tbe British species. Mr. Phillips, 

 of Shrewsbury, described a new Peziza, (P. cnici/cra.) which gave rise to a long 

 and animated discussion. The Rev. J. E. Vize exhibited an .Kcidinm from tbe 

 Cape of Good Hope, one of the finest of its tribe. He showed a number of other 

 interesting objects under the microscope. 



