1865.] Science in the Provinces. 525 



" Organization in Field-Club Work." The author makes an earnest 

 appeal to his fellow-members to work out the science of the district, 

 instancing as desirable objects the formation of a " Midland Flora ;" 

 the history of the names of Midland families and places ; the study of 

 the Coal Measure fossils, particularly with reference to the various 

 beds; the examination of the "Permian breccia;" and other similar 

 topics. He recommends for imitation (and we cordially agree with 

 his recommendation) the example of the members of the Malvern 

 Club, who are collecting materials for a Scientific Guide Book to their 

 district. He is also anxious that the Society should take up the dis- 

 cussion of questions of practical mining, obtaining the co-operation of 

 those engaged in the pursuit. It will be seen that this suggestion has 

 already been acted upon. 



Tlie Dudley and Midland Geological and Scientific Society and Field 

 Club. — This Society appears to be in a very flourishing condition, its 

 ' Transactions ' giving evidence of a considerable amount of work 

 done, and of results obtained. There are two or three special features 

 worthy of notice. Its object, according to the revised list of rules, is 

 " to amass and diffuse practical and theoretical information respecting 

 Geology and other sciences by the reading of papers and discussions 

 thereon ; the delivery of lectures ; the formation of a library and 

 museum ; the collection of plans and general statistics relating to 

 Mining ; the publication of the Society's proceedings ; by holding 

 field-meetings ; arranging scientific exhibitions in various towns in the 

 district ; and by such further means as the Committee may see fit to 

 adopt from time to time." We find that a conversazione and exhi- 

 bition of fossils, botanical specimens, diagrams, and philosophical 

 apparatus was organized by the Society, and held at Wolverhampton 

 in January, 1864. During the evening, papers were read " On the 

 Working of Mines in South Staffordshire ;" " On Eoman Mosaics found 

 in Britain ;" " On Palaeozoic Genera still existing ;" and " On the Litera- 

 ture of Geology." In the following April, a Fine Arts, Industrial, and 

 Scientific Exhibition was held at Dudley, which appears to have been 

 very attractive and successful, except perhaps pecuniarily. A balance 

 on the debtor side, however, must be considered not as so much lost, 

 but as expenditure resulting in the accession of new members and the 

 spread of scientific or artistic tastes. At an evening meeting held 

 during the exhibition, Lord Lyttelton presiding, a paper was read by 

 the Eev. W. Symonds, F.G.S., Eector of Pendock, and President of 

 the Malvern Field Club, "On the Progress of Geological Science 

 during the previous year." The author gave a masterly sketch of the 

 geological discoveries of the year, including a summary of Sir Charles 

 Lyell's conclusions on the antiquity of man. In conclusion, he 

 remarks, " Taking the whole testimony, there can be little doubt that 

 man, the pre-eminent creature on this planet of his Creator, has been 

 subjected physically, morally, and intellectually to the same great law 

 of progress that we trace throughout the system of creation from the 

 Pre-Cambrian epoch to the present time ; while if we argue from 

 analogy we must believe in a future history of advancement and of 

 progress." The following evening a conference of colliery proprietors, 



