Notes and Comments. 3 



Though this is generally known amongst mycologists, we place 

 the fact on record, as in two or three instances recently the 

 point does not appear to have been quite clear, in one case even 

 the place and origin of the society was stated to be in another 

 county. 



EAST RIDING NATURE STUDY. 



The East Riding Nature Study Association held its ninth 

 annual meeting and Conference at Beverley, on December 2nd, 

 and there was a large attendance of teachers from all parts of 

 the Riding, and others interested in the nature study movement. 

 Prof. J. H. Priestley, B.Sc, F.L.S., of the Leeds University, 

 gave an admirable lantern lecture on 'The Relation of Insects to 

 Flowers,' which was precisely of the type that was required by the 

 teachers. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. J. Algar, (Lockington), 

 presented his annual report, which contained particulars of a 

 good year's work. The Rev. Canon Nohoth, D.D., occupied 

 the chair. There was an excellent exhibition of nature study 

 books, including a fine show of the publications of the York- 

 shire Naturalists' Union, by Messrs. A. Brown & Sons. 



METALLURGY AND ENGINEERING. 



In an address dehvered to the Durham Philosophical 

 Society ' On the Mutual Development of Metallurgy and 

 Engineering,'* Prof. Henry Louis refers to the progress made in 

 smelting, etc., since the days of ancient Rome and Greece. 

 He pointed out that probably before Roman times iron-smelt- 

 ing was carried on by a built-up furnace five or six feet high, 

 the front wall of which would be taken down to allow the lump 

 of malleable iron produced to be taken out. Such furnaces 

 are still in use in Africa, India, Brazil, etc. In Roman times, 

 if not before, iron was smelted in this country as far south as 

 the Weald, and north as far as the Tyne. Lead was also made 

 by the Romans, both in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, etc., and pigs 

 with the words ' Ex Arg ', i.e., de-silverised, are not uncommon. 

 Many other interesting points bearing upon early metallurgy 

 are given by Prof. Louis in his paper. 



HISTORY OF FOSSIL BOTANY. 



In his Presidential Address to the Linnean Society, Dr. 

 D. H. Scott refers to ' A Chapter in the History of Fossil 

 Botany.' He deals with that interesting period about the 

 year 1830 ; the period of Witham and Cotta, and of the earlier 

 work of Brongniart. As Dr. Scott points out, whilst some of 

 the opinions then expressed may appear crude and fantastic, 

 on the other hand, it is surprising what a great advance had 

 been made at -that early time. It is shewn that the problems 

 of the early investigators in Fossil Botany were essentially 



* Proc. Univ. Durham Phil. Soc, Vol. 4, pt. 2. 

 1912 Jarii I. 



