Reports and Proceedings. 279 
BERICHT UBER DIE BISHERIGE WIRKSAMKEIT DES VEREINGTEN 
Comitis FUR DIE NATURWISSENSCHAFTLICHE DuRCHFORSCHUNG 
von Boumen. (Notice of the results obtained up to the present 
date by the united committees for investigating the Natural His- 
tory of Bohemia.) Sheet. 1864. 
(Malus brief notice of the progress of investigation into the Natural 
History of Bohemia we owe to our correspondent Dr. Anton 
Fritsch, Keeper of the Museum at Prague. Bohemia is a country 
so centrally placed in Europe, so rich in all departments of natural 
history, and one in which enquiry of this kind was so much needed, 
that we welcome the present investigation as in every sense desirable. 
The labours of the committees involve:—(1) A complete orographic 
investigation of the country; and (2) a geologico-agronomic inves- 
tigation. Taking the map of the Geological Survey of the Austrian 
Empire as a basis, it is proposed to describe (1) the various members 
of the formations in detail, geologically and paleontologically ; (2) 
the diluvial and alluvial deposits in reference to the culture of the 
land; and (3) all varieties of minerals and rocks found in each dis- 
trict. A complete account of the botany, zoology, and meteorology 
are also to be included. 
What seems most astonishing is the extraordinary economy with 
which this work is proposed to be carried on. Dr. Fritsch, in con- 
junction with Professor Krejci, undertakes to conduct the geological 
part of the work for a yearly allowance of 600 fl. (about £60). 
REPORTS AND PROCHEDINGS.- 
4 -— 
Tue Members of the Exeter Naturatists’ Cius, on September 
24, went to Exmouth, on their fifth and last excursion this sum- 
mer, and were disappointed, by the rain, in their intention of visiting 
Littleham Cove. After tea (A. H. A. Hamilton, Esq., president, in 
the chair), three new members were balloted for. Mr. Ellis then 
read the minutes of the last meeting, and some letters he had re- 
ceived in reference to an Ornithological paper recently brought before 
the Club by Dr. Scott. 
Mr. Pycroft, of Kenton, then read a paper on ‘The Waters under 
the Earth.’ He explained the sinking of the rain into the earth,— 
its settling down into sandy or other porous strata, its forming 
underground streams and watercourses, the boring ef artesian wells, 
and the facts learnt from their formation, viz., that the rain-water 
will penetrate to very great depths, and that during the process of 
boring sheets of water and streams of considerable size are some- 
times passed through ; that these streams are not caused directly 
by rain, but have in many cases communication with lakes and 
river-beds on the surface, as is proved by the fact that stems and 
roots of fresh-water plants, seeds, fresh-water shells, and even living 
fish similar to those of neighbouring rivers, have been thrown up 
from artesian wells of great depth. He pointed out that this fact 
