Effects of the Winter, 1880-81. By Rev. James 565 

 Farquharson, A.M. 



sor Sedgwick, President of the Geological Society enunciated similar views in 

 his address to the Geological and Geographical Section of the Association. 

 If this argument was thought to have such force in 1831, how much more 

 powerful has it hecome now, when the number of Local Societies has in- 

 creased more than tenfold. And accordingly we find that it has forced itself 

 on the conviction of groups of these bodies who have combined to assist each 

 other by united action in various parts of the Kingdom. 



1. In Yorkshire, so far back as 1863, several Societies formed themselves 

 into the "West Eiding Consolidated Naturalists' Society," which after a 

 fluctuating existence for some years, was re -inaugurated in 1871, under the 

 Presidency of Mr 0. P. Hobkirk. 



2. The Societies in the south west of England have always been distinguish- 

 ed for their zealous scientific work. With a view of strengthening their in- 

 fluence, they organised an annual meeting under tho title of the Devonshire 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature, and the Arts in 

 1862. They meet each year in different places, and publish reports of their 

 Proceedings, which now extend to several volumes, and contain many valuable 

 papers. 



3. A union of the Natural History Societies of the Midland counties was 

 inaugurated in 1877, which already includes 23. The members of each Soci- 

 ety joining the scheme contribute threepence annually, and meet once a year. 

 The Union publishes a journal and gives an annual prize for an essay on a 

 given subject, the competition restricted to members The President, Mr 

 Herewald Wake, also offered a prize in 1880, for the best Entomological 

 paper on a genus of insects in the Midland counties. 



With regard to the proposal for working in concert on given subjects, it 

 will be in the recollection of members, that the importance of drawing their 

 attention to the practice of more sustained observation and inquiry in pro- 

 moting the objects for which the Club was instituted, was discussed at the 

 Annual Meeting of Oct., 1878, and that a Committee was then named tore- 

 port further on the matter. The result of their deliberations is now in the 

 hands of their colleague, Capt. Norman, who consented to act as Secretary, 

 and it is hoped an early day will be found for considering the suggestions 

 there offered in connection with the papers which may be expected from the 

 Committee of delegates. 



Note on the Effects of the Winter 1880-81 on Vegetation. <&c., 

 in Selkirkshire. By the Rev. James Faequhaeson, M.A., 

 Selkirk. 



The extraordinarily intense and prolonged cold of the winter of 1880-81 

 is not likely soon to be forgotten; and in indicating its nature for this county 

 it is not necessary to do more in this brief note than place side by side the 

 mean of all the highest and lowest readings of the thermometer for the winter 

 months of 1878-79, 1879-80, and 1880-81, along with a note of the lowest 

 readings from October to April in 1880-81. As on former occasions these 

 have been furnished to me by Mr. Mathison, the Meteorological Society's 

 observer at Bowhill. 



