EXCURSION TO CHARNWOOD FOREST. 173 
EXCURSION TO CHARNWOOD FOREST. 
The programme of the second Annual Meeting of the Midland Union, 
hela in Leicester, was carried out on the second day by an excursion to 
Charnwood Forest. A par ty of about 200 left the Museum at 9 30 a.m., 
being divided into two sections—one botanical and the other 
geological. we 
The botanical party numbered eighty-five, and were under the guidance 
of Mr. F. T. Mott, F.R.G.S. Among the visitors of well-known scientific 
reputation were Mr. W. R. Hughes, Mr. T, Bolton, Mr. J. Morley, 
Mr. J. Levick, Mr. W. P. Marshall, all of Birmingham; Rev. J. D. La 
Touche, of Stokesay; Rev. J. E. Vize, of Forden, Shropshire; Mr. 
G. B. Rothera, of Nottingham; Rev. O. M. Fielden, and others. The 
President of the Union, George Stevenson, Esq., with Miss Stevenson 
and Miss Florence Stevenson, were also with this party. The route was 
by Groby Pool, through Bradgate Park, Swithland Wood, Woodhouse 
Eaves, the Hanging Rocks, Beacon Hill, Hammercliff, Ulverscroft, and 
thence to Newtown Linford for tea. The lateness of the season making 
vegetation very backward was unfortunate for the botanists, but the 
weather was so mild and genial that this first foretaste of summer made 
up for the absence of many of the usual flowers. The Moonwort 
(Botrychium Lunaria) was found in two unexpected places. A specimen 
was taken from each locality for preservation in the herbarium of the 
Leicester Museum, in order that a permanent record of the discovery 
might be secured; but, with a self-control worthy of the members of a 
scientific society, but too seldom exercised among amateurs, the 
remaining fronds of this rare fern were left untouched, that it might not 
be extirpated and lost to Charnwood Forest like its congener Osmunda 
regalis. Alchemilla vulgaris, Cardamine amara, Chrysosplenium oppositi- 
folium, Polygonum Bistorta, Carex precox, Teesdalia nudicaulis, and a few 
‘others of the usual early spring flowers, were gathered in fine condition. 
Several of the party interested in microscopic fungi found a rich collect- 
ing ground in Swithland and other woods. About twenty species of 
mosses were collected, chiefly in Bradgate Park. Volvox globator was 
taken from a pond on Beacon Hill, and a fine colony of Melicerta ringens 
was procured by Mr. Levick, on a spray of Ranunculus aquatilis in Ulvers- 
croft fish pond. During the stay at the Hanging Rocks, where the party 
‘sat down on various rocks and crags for lunch, Mr. F. T. Mott delivered an 
address on the “‘ Colours of Flowers,” which appears in the present number, 
(page 175.) On the conclusion of the address, the party ascended Beacon 
Hill, enjoyed for a few minutes the magnificent panorama visible from the 
summit, and then drove to Hammercliff, walking over the hill to the 
‘fish pond below. Here it was necessary to cross the broad weir which 
discharges the surplus water, and the only bridge was a narrow plank 
about nine inches wide and thirty feet long. The ladies and some of the 
more ponderous gentlemen looked aghast at this prospect. But necessity 
is the mother of courage as well as of other things, and the whole party 
camé bravely and safely over, Mr. T. Carter distinguishing himself by 
the gallant assistance which he rendered to the ladies. The ruined 
Priory of Ulverscroft was then visited, and the party drove off to 
Newtown. The time was well kept, and Beck’s was reached at four 
o’clock, the appointed hour, where a substantial and well prepared tea 
was awaiting them. Afterwards the party enjoyed a pleasant ramble in 
Bradgate Park. The geologists arrived an hour later, and both parties 
BB 
