REPOJITS. 330 



pointed out, namely, tbafc the two eyepieces, although m^ant for a pair, are 

 frequently of different focal power, and thus produce imapes of different sizts ; 

 60 that the eyes iu trying to couibiue these two images suffer more harm thau 

 from a monocular The paraboloid and other- ai'juncts were described, and their 

 uses illustrat^d.— November 13th. Mr. A. Gresswell described a new method of 

 Automatic Railway Sifualling invented by himself. In this method, which is 

 worked entirely by electricity, there is required a metallic conductor electrically 

 insulated, running aiouf: the whole length of the railway, with which, by meausof 

 a metallic brush or friction wheel, the engine makes connection. This conductor is 

 divided into sections of convenient length — such as a mile — and wires connect 

 each of these segments with the automatic signalling insiirument at the nearest 

 convenient station. When a current passes through a segment and the engine 

 on it, an all-right signal is exhibited on the engine to the driver ; but the action 

 of the current; passing is also by means of an electro-magnet in the station 

 instrument made to break the electrical circuit in the segment behind the train ; 

 and, therefore, on an engine entering this segment, its indicator will fly to danger. 

 The breakage of a conductor or failure of a battery will also put the indicator 

 to danger, and thus, thoush it may delay the train, will render a collision 

 impossible. The jiosition of any train on the line can at any time be ascertained 

 by simply inspecting the station instrument, although the instiument itself 

 requires no one to attend to it. The details were fully explained by Mr. Gresswell, 

 by the aid of a wmking diagram ; and he also promised that a working model 

 should shortly be exhibited to the public. 



BURTON NATURAL HISTORY AND ARCH^OLOGICAL SOCIETY. 

 — The Wmter Session was opeue'l on the 22Lid October by a Conversaziojie, which 

 was held at St. George's Hall. There was a large number of eshil)it.^, biological, 

 geological, arclueological, anii scientific. A very jileasaut evening was spent, to 

 which the singing of the Burton Glee Club agreeably contributed. 



EVESHAM FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB.-Tbe Annual Meeting was held 

 on the 30ih October, the Rev. J. C. Odgers iu the chair. The Hon. Secretary 

 (Mr. G. New) i-ead tlie annual report, by which it app-ars the number of 

 members has decreased to twenty-eight, compared with thirty-two last year. 

 During the past season there were excursions to Tuldesley Wood, Dovedale, 

 Buckland Woods, the Abbey Manor Grounds, and to Worcester Natural History 

 Museum. The evening meetings were held once a month throughout the winter. 

 The financial position of the Club is reported to be satisfactory. Mr. John 

 Oibbs was re-elected president, and Mr. J. S. Slater treasurer. Mr. E. B. 

 Martin was elect^Ml hon. secretary, and a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. 

 Geoffrey New for his services during the past two years. The Rev. J. C. Odgers, 

 Mrs. Martin, and Messrs. A. H. Martin and T. E. Doeg were elected to form 

 the committee. Ou the secretary reporting the receipt of papers from the 

 Hon. Secretary of the Midland Union of Natural History Societies on the subject 

 of the examination of tlie glacial deposits of the Miilland Counties, he was 

 instructed to send a copy to Mr. Winnington Ingrain and Mr. Gibbs, with a 

 request that Mr. lugram would represent the club. 



NOTTINGHAM LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.— 

 Natural Science Section. — October IStb. Mr. A. Bush read a paper on the 

 " Morphology and Physiology of a Freshwater Mussel." November 8th. — Mr. E. 

 Smith, M.A., read a paper on "Infusoria," illustrated by photographic and other 

 lantern slides. This paper is printed in the " Mi iland Naturalist " for November 

 and December. November loth.^Microscopical meeting; subjeet : "Fresh- 

 water Life." 



NOTTINGHAM NATURALISTS' SOCIETY.— The following meetings 

 have been held :— October 16, Lecture ou Coal, by C. T. Muison; November 6, 

 Lecture on the Phonograph, by Mr. A. H. Simpson ; November 13, Special 

 General Meeting, at which " The position of the Society with regard to other 

 Nottingham Societies " was the subject of discussion. 



