CORRESPONDENCE—REPORTS, 189 
is very late this year, 23rd ; the Horse Chestnut and Lilac trees, Asperula 
odorata, Rumex Acetosella, Poterium Sanguisorba, May 29th; Ranunculus 
acris, Ranunculus sceleratus, Berberis vulgaris, Arenaria trinervis, Vicia 
sativa, and Myosotis arvensis, May 31st; Potentilla anserina, June 2nd; 
Laburnum, Geraniuin Robertianum, Oxalis Acetosella, Valeriana dioica, and 
Veronica Beccabunga, June 4th ; Geum urbanum, June 7th ; Lychnis vesper- 
tina, Polygala vulgaris, Potentilla Tormentilla, and Butterfly Orchis, 
(Habenaria bifolia,) June 9th; Lotus corniculatus and Geranium dissectum, 
first seen in flower June 12th; Malva rotundifolia and Rhinanthus Crista- 
galli in flower June 15th.—R. R., Castle Ashby. 
SrasonaBte Nores.—May 11th, Maythorn, bud, (flowered about 30th ;) 
16th, Oak, fl.; White Nettle, fl.; 17th, Wild Plum, fi.; 19th, Apple, 
fl.; 20th, Nightingale, at H. G. Tomlinson, Esq.’s, (Woodlands;) 24th, 
Ash and Sycamore, fl. ; Early Purple Orchis, also a white variety ; Glow- 
worm first seen.—C. U. Tripp, Burton-on-Trent. 
Discovery or A Fosstz Fresu-warer Tortoise IN NorrotK.— 
Remains of the common European Emys lutaria, obtained from the 
Post-glacial Freshwater-bed at Mundesley, have lately been brought 
under the notice of the scientific societies in Norwich. The specimen 
has been placed in the hands of Mr. E, T. Newton, F.G.S., and will 
shortly be described in the “Geological Magazine.” In the meantime 
the fact of this discovery is of considerable interest, for only one other 
record exists of the occurrence of Testudinate remains in post-pliocene 
deposits in this country. The earlier discovery was communicated by 
Prof. A. Newton, (see his paper ‘‘ On the Zoology of Ancient Europe,” 
read before the Cambridge Phil. Soc., 1862,) and this consisted in the 
finding of remains of two individuals of the same species of Tortoise in 
a peat-bog at Hast Wretham, in Norfolk.—H. B. W. 
Brack Banp In tHE Drirt.—In reply to Mr. Woodward’s letter, 
which appeared last month, I regret that I have but little to add to my 
former communication. I was sorry to find that the bed in question 
does not extend far in the direction the cutting is being made, but appears 
to have its greatest dimensions at right angles, i.e., east and west. The 
result is that the section is all but obliterated by the sloping banks which 
form the sides of the cutting. It was, however, too much decomposed to 
yield many recognisable remains, and after a careful search I have only 
found one good specimen. This appears tobe a fragment of a twig from 
some tree or shrub, and is about two inches long by one-eighth of an 
inch thick. JI have made enquiries from the foreman of the work, but 
the men have not met with anything sufficiently remarkable to attract 
their attention.—A. H. Arxins, Birmingham. 
Areports of Societies, 
BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND INSTITUTE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 
—Wauit-Monpay, June 2nd.—Excursion to SToNEHOUSE AND D1strRicr.—A 
party of twenty-four members and friends left Birmingham at 6 30 for Stone- 
house. Thence the way was taken, under the guidance of Mr. C. Pumphrey, 
over Doverow Hill to Randwick, just beyond which a quarry was found yielding 
an abundance of fossils. A most charming wood was next traversed, and many 
interesting plants collected. The walk was continued tothe ancient camp on 
Standish Beacon, where a grand view was disclosed of the valley of the Severn, 
with the range of the Cotswold Hills stretching to the south, and on the other 
side the Malvern, May, and other hills. Signs of rain appearing, the party made 
a speedy return to Stroud, where tea was obtained. Afterwards some of the 
more enterprising of the party walked through the rain over the hills to Stones 
house, collecting fossils on the way. 
