1859.] WORCESTERSHIRE NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 277 



The drug here referred to by Lady Macbeth might have been 

 the juice of the berries of the same plant, "^ Mekilwort/' as the 

 effect produced was a fast, deep sleep, similar to that which af- 

 fected the Danish soldiers. 



I hope that some of your contributors will be able to give us 

 the description and properties of this plant, its place of growth, 

 and other names, if any, to enable us to clear up this doubtful 

 question. S. B. 



WORCESTEEHIEE NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. . 



The members of this club assembled at Droitwich en Friday 

 last, the 8th instant, for their July meeting. A breakfast was 

 hospitably provided on the occasion by Richard Smith, Esq., of 

 Westacre, and numerous gentlemen responded to the invitation. 

 Amongst those present, besides the members of the family and 

 some lady visitors, we observed the Vice-President of the club 

 (Edwin Lees, F.L.S.), Wm. Matthews, Esq., A.M., Hon. Sec, 

 Revs. D. Melville, V/, Lea, John Adlington, Whiteley (Ped- 

 more), T. Wilde, and G. Hough; R. Smith, Esq., Dr. Shor- 

 lock; Messrs. Whitmore Jones (Pensax), J. Robertson, JefFery, 

 R. Binns, H. K. Lines, J. Smith, Parkes, and Allport (Bir- 

 mingham), Kent, T. Westcombe, G. Piercy (Kidderminster), 

 W. Pouting, Haywood, etc. 



The rose-garden of Mr. Smith was an object of much attrac- 

 tion, many of the finest forms of that beautiful tribe appearing 

 at this time in full perfection, and scenting the air with their 

 fragrance. Various Rock-ferns are also growing very well here, 

 benefited perhaps by the pervading influence of the Droitwich salt, 

 for we actually observed the little Erodium maritimum growing 

 as an interloper on the gravel walks here. The various botanical 

 curiosities treasured by Mr. Smith having been fully inspected, 

 the exploration of the day commenced in the open country. The 

 first point made was a headland of the Keuper marl, which 

 stands out boldly from the vale to the west of Briar Mill, like 

 some great earthwork formed by Roman hands, but which, in 

 the former overflow of the country during the Estuarine Period, 

 has resisted the action of opposing currents, and so been left like 

 an islet in the waters. A pleasing view of the surrounding 



