REPORTS. a | 
plaster marls extend all under Needwood Forest, and crop out in the valleys of 
the Trent and Dove. At Shobnall, crystallised gypsum or selenite occurs in 
fine veins. The superior quality of the Burton beer is owing to the amount of 
gypsum dissolved in the well waters. Distant brewers are now regularly getting 
this material supplied in sacks, to make the water they brew with somewhat 
similar to the Burton water. The author concluded by proposing an excursion 
_ as spring to Tutbury, the plaster quarries at Fauld, &c., and returning from 
udbury. 
CHELTENHAM NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY.—November 21st.— 
The second evening meeting of the Society for this session was held at the Corn 
Exchange. Dr. Wright, after having briefly returned thanks to the Society for 
having re-elected him as President for the present session, introduced the 
subject for the evening—an address on the geographical distribution of the 
existing races of plants and animals, by Mr. H. J. Elwes, F.Z.S., &c., who was 
well known to the scientific public as a most energetic traveller, and as a careful 
collector not only of objects of Natural History but also of facts bearing upon 
ae geography. An abstract of the address and the discussion thereon will 
e found at page 9. 
NOTTINGHAM LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.— 
Natura Scrence Secrion.—November 29th.—Lecture on “‘ Trees,” by the Rev. 
G. E. C. Casey, M.A., F.G.S., illustrated by diagrams and photographs. 
December 13th.—“ The Animals of Australia,” illustrated by photographic 
slides from life, by A. H. Scott White, Esq., B.A., B.Sc., F.G.S. 
NOTTINGHAM NATURALISTS’ SOCIETY.—Meeetings have been held 
as follows:—November 20th, paper on ‘“ Insect Architecture,’ by Mr. H 
Johnson. December 4th, exhibition of prize collections of Natural History objects. 
Prizes were awarded as follows :—Botany: 1st prize, Mr. H. Johnson ; 2nd, Miss 
Cross. Conchology: Ist prize, Mr. C. T. Musson. Entomology: 1st prize, Mr. 
W. J. Rawson; second Mr. R. Wix. Geology: 1st prize, Mr. C. T. Musson. 
Microscopical objects mounted: Mr. Thornton. December 18th, paper on 
“Oysters and their Culture,” by Mr. B. S. Dodd. 
PETERBOROUGH NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 
—November 6th.—The President (E. Wheeler, Esq.,) read a paper on ‘“‘ Climbing 
Plants,’ mainly based on Dr. Darwin’s work on that subject. The parts of 
plants that climb and how they climb were described. The most common and 
the most interesting plants that twine merely or that have irritable leaves or 
tendrils were also described, and the special adaptability of each climber to 
its work was noticed. A number of pen and ink sketches were exhibited to 
explain the various organs mentioned. November 25th.—Mr. W. Wakeford gave 
an address on oxygen and hydrogen. Mr. Bodger exhibited geological speci- 
mens, consisting of plants from the coal shales; shells and corals from the 
Silurian Rocks; and a few Oolitic plants, of rare occurrence, from the Gris- 
thorpe beds; together with several specimens of various iron-ores. December 
10th.— The Rev. W. Katterns read a paper on “‘ The Food and Organisation of 
Plants.” The paper, which is an introduction to a series upon the growth of 
vegetation, is the outcome of experiments made since 1873. A brief reswmé 
would fail to state explicitly the author’s views, which, it may be stated, differ in 
several particulars from those usually held on the subject. It was decided, 
owing to the importance of the paper, that it should be printed at the expense of 
the Society, for exclusive circulation amongst the members. The Secretary 
(Mr. J. W. Bodger,) read a paper on the substances he had obtained from garden 
soil, which, at the suggestioa of Mr. Katterns, he had analysed. An animated 
discussion took place, which lasted so long that a special meeting had to be 
called for the further discussion of this paper. Mr. Bodger exhibited a number 
- seaweeds and corallines which he had received as a present for the Society’s 
useum. 
