Eeports of Societies. 



Ill 



view he adduced numerous instances where the rocks of a district merged 

 imperceptibly from a soft clayey slate, through various stages of crystalline 

 development, into mica-schists and granite. The varying susceptibilities 

 of diflPerent rocks to the metamorphosing force was also referred to. 

 The lecture was illustrated by several sections and a large number of 

 valuable mineral specimens. 



Nottingham Working Men's Naturalists' Society. — Annual dinner, 

 16th January. — The room was tastefully decorated, very many superb 

 insects being exhibited, some of them of a rare character, notably the 

 following : — Orichalcea, Alhimamla, Parthenias, Conspicillaris, Apiformis, 

 Nerii, and Galii, and some goods pecimens of butterflies were also shown. 

 A case of geological specimens exhibited by the president (Mr. W. Rigby) 

 attracted much attention- Some admirable cases of birds, &c , were 

 exhibited by Mr. T. B. White and others. After dinner the chair was 

 taken by Mr. Councillor Walter Gregory, and the vice-chair by Dr. 

 Varley. The secretary, Mr. William Wright, presented the annual 

 statement of the affairs of the Society, which appeared to be in a most 

 prosperous condition. After the purchase of numerous standard works 

 of reference, and many valuable specimens of natural history, together 

 with cabinets, &c., there was a satisfactory balance remaining in the 

 hands of the treasurer. — W. Wright, Secretary. 



OvENDEN Naturalists' Society. — Monthly meeting, Mr. R, Earnshaw, 

 vice-president, in the chair. A few geological specimens were exhibited, 

 amongst them being a very good Sigillaria, by Mr. T. Smith. Mr. 

 T. Hirst named and exhibited a number of British birds, including two 

 pairs of pheasants, two pairs of short-eared owls, one pair of screech owls, 

 a tawny owl, one pair of kestrel hawks, and one pair of merlin hawks. 

 Mr. Henry Bradlaugh, of Beggerington, presented a copy of the latest 

 edition of " Dr. Livingstone's Travels and Explorations in Central 

 Africa." — J. Ogdbn, secretary. 



Selby Naturalists' Society. — Annual Soiree, 5th January. — The 

 proceedings consisted of an exhibition divided into four sections. The first 

 section consisted of specimens collected by members during the past year, 

 supplemented by loans from non-members, and comprised dried plants 

 and ferns, fossils, butterflies and moths, stuffed birds and animals, birds' 

 eggs, &c. Scientific apparatus formed the next section, under the charge 

 of Dr. Parsons. Here were several microscopes, the property of mem- 

 bers of the Goole and Selby Societies ; a photometer, radiometer, and 

 Luccato's papyrograph (at work). The third section contained a small 

 but choice collection of antiquities, chiefly by Selby collectors. Amongst 

 other objects was exhibited a coffin containing a skeleton, found recently 

 with several others, in excavations at Selby. There is reason to suppose 

 that it is of Saxon date. The fourth section consisted of the industrial 

 products of the town, in which were shown specimens of the various 

 trades of the district. The chair was taken by the president, Mr. J. T. 



