Bournemouth Geological and Natural History Field-club. 521 



cognized superiority is attributable to a certain chemical property- 

 possessed by the waters used in its production. This property con- 

 sists of sulphate of lime, and is derived from the gypseous deposits 

 contained in the Keuper marls of the district. 



It appears that the average amount of Gypsum derived from the 

 water used in brewing 1,000 barrels of ale equals 250 pounds weight. 

 " Assuming, therefore, by way of illustration, that Burton produces 

 annually 1,400,000 barrels of ale, no less than 350,000 pounds of 

 this mineral are raised from the valley-gravels, and assist in the 

 manufacture of that quantity of ale or bitter beer, and are, with 

 those beverages, imbibed at different points in the four quarters of 

 the earth." (p. 208). 



The time is probably not far distant when, by careful chemical 

 admixture of sulphate of lime or other ingredients in proper pro- 

 portions, the water of any district may be made to brew equally 

 good ale to that of Burton-on-Trent. 



Meantime let us thank Mr. Molyneux for his useful book, and 

 drink Burton ale until we can find out a way to brew better from 

 the regenerated Thames and the waters of the London basin. Mr. 

 Molyneux gives a good deal of information about the geology of the 

 country around Burton, with reliable sections and lists of fossils from 

 the Coal-measures, etc. 



Geological and Natukal History Field-club for Bourne- 

 mouth. — We are glad to be able to record in our pages the formation 

 of another Field-naturalists' club. A Bournemouth newspaper in- 

 forms us that on the 24th of September a meeting was held at the 

 Assembly-rooms to hear a lecture by W. Stephen Mitchell, Esq., on 

 the Geology and Leaf-beds of the neighbourhood, and to consider 

 the suggestion of the formation of a local club. Eear- Admiral Sir 

 J. B. Sulivan, K.C.B., was announced to take the chair, but being 

 called away to Portsmouth, Captain Haggard presided. The meeting 

 was very numerously attended, and a list of distinguished residents 

 reported in the paper as present shows that the club starts under 

 favourable auspices. Mr. Mitchell solicited the loan of specimens 

 from various gentlemen, and we see that Sir J. Sulivan, Eev. A. M. 

 Bennet, Eev. T. H. Wanklyn, Captain Haggard, E. J. Sanders, Esq., 

 E. Kemp-Welch, Esq., contributed fossil leaves from various localities, 

 and Barton, Purbeck, and Portland fossils ; flint implements from 

 Bournemouth. These were, with the assistance of Captain Creek, 

 Mr. Sulivan, and Mr. Kemp-Welch, arranged in cases in the 

 room. At the close of the lecture the Eev. H. B. Clissold proposed 

 that a club be formed, and a number of gentlemen adjourned to a 

 private room, where some club-rules, which had been suggested and 

 circulated by the lecturer, were discussed. An adjourned meeting 

 has since been held, and Sir. J. B. Sulivan, K.C.B., has been elected 

 President. Sir James was Lieutenant in H.M. ship " Beagle," 



