Reviews—Proceedings of Field-clubs. Kasi 
‘Estuarine swamps,’ says this careful observer, ‘such as this, seem to be 
the nearest analogues we now possess of those extensive lagoons which, 
during the Carboniferous Period, supported the rank vegetable growth now 
fossilized in our Coal-measures. To the Palecontologist it must be matter of 
considerable interest to note the association of species in such localities; and 
I think enough has been said to show that considerable caution should be 
used in pronouncing upon the saline or freshwater nature of any deposits 
merely from the nature of the animal forms which they enclose. Judging 
from analogy, however (if our own island may be taken as a type), we 
should suppose that any great luxuriance of vegetable growth must be in- 
dicative of freshwater conditions. We uniformly find in the saline portions 
of these marshes a peculiarly dwarfed and stunted vegetation, while as we 
recede from the salt-water influence it often assumes a rank luxuriance, 
putting on a character quite as much in accordance with vegetation of the 
Coal-period as can be expected in these degenerate days.’ 
The Warwickshire Field-club publishes a lecture on the Hyzna- 
den at Wookey Hole in Somerset, by Mr. Parker, the fellow- 
workman with Mr. Dawkins in exploring this cave, and in the careful 
collection, sorting, and preservation of the numerous bones from the 
different layers of cave-earth and breccia, and from different parts of 
the cave, as well as of the more rare and valuable stone implements 
of human manufacture, found there. A Presidential Address well 
adapted for Naturalists,Geologists, and Archeologists, and interesting 
notes of the doings and sayings at the several indoor and outdoor 
meetings of the Club, form the rest of this part of the Proceedings, 
which, though neither printed nor edited so well as those already 
mentioned, is an honest and useful witness of scientific life in 
Warwickshire. 
The Teign Naturalists chronicle six excursionary meetings, at 
which old churches, quarries, mines, fossils, botany, and social dinners 
were, as usual, important features, advancing knowledge and tending 
to good fellowship. 
The Presidential Addresses for 1861 and 1862 to the Woolhope 
Naturalists, by Messrs. Banks and Lightbody, treat con amore of 
the geological work done and to be done in those parts of the country 
visited by the Club; and Mr. Hoskyn’s Address in 1864 (there 
seems to have been none in 1863) indicates clearly and pleasantly 
the comprehensive character of the scientific and social purposes of 
Field-clubs. Mr. E. J. Isbell contributes a short paper on the 
Earthquake of October 6th, 1863, illustrated by a lithograph sketch- 
map, representing the varying intensity of the shock along a line 
from Lancashire to Somerset, and transversely east and west. 
The Bristol Naturalists, counting 214 ordinary and 16 correspond- 
ing members, announce that they make steady scientific progress 
and enjoy continued financial prosperity ; they look back with plea- 
sure, and forward with hope. Enjoying the use of the Museum of 
the British Institution, they have presented a valuable specimen of 
Apteryx as a contribution in acknowledgment, as well as money- 
grants. They enjoyed and profited by four excursions, and had 
several interesting papers read at their indoor meetings. Geology 
has a fair share of their attention. 
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