28 



The Naturalist. 



Marsh also exhibited some from Leeds and Bishops Wood, and Mr. 

 Smethurst some hymenoptera parasitic on a beetle-larva. Mr. John 

 Grassham, larvae of Vanessa atalanta, and all the stages of existence of 

 Orgyia antiqxia. A number of plants collected at Goole were shown by 

 the president and Messrs. S. Schofield and C. Smethurst. The president 

 called attention to a plant of Drosera rotundifolia, in which one leaf was 

 green from the absence of the usual red colouring matter. Mr. James R. 

 Murdoch showed plants from Adel and the Isle of Man. Mr. John W. 

 Taylor, Helix souverhiana and H. farafanga, from Madagascar, and H. 

 Falconeri from Australia ; remarking that Madagascar possesses numerous 

 fine types of Helix, while the adjoining region of East Africa has not one 

 representative of that genus, thus tending to show the zoological distinct- 

 ness of the two regions. 



259th Meeting, August 14th, the president in the chair. — Mr. Charles 

 Rider read an excellent paper on " The Classification of the Protozoa," 

 in which he gave the substance of the latest researches in this group. 

 The paper, which was illustrated by diagrams, was much appreciated by 

 the members, and very vigorously discussed. — Wm. Denison Roebuck, 

 Secretary. 



North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club and Archaeological 

 Society. — We have received the annual report and transactions of this 

 Club. As is generally well known, it is in a most flourishing condition, 

 and has always held its own with any similar one in the kingdom ; the 

 report just issued certainly shows that it still maintains its position, as it 

 is, if possible, even more interesting than usual. The summer excursions 

 were evidently well chosen, as at all of them capital work was done, 

 either in the natural history or archaeological departments, generally in 

 both. The winter evening meetings were also quite as successful, the 

 papers read (notably one on " The Wild Flowers of North Stafibrdshire," 

 by the Rev. D. Edwardes, M.A., on February 22nd) being of more than 

 ordinary interest and character. We are pleased to find, too, that the 

 sectional system of working has been in full operation, and in the geo- 

 logical, archaeological, and entomological departments with success ; but 

 in the other branches the plan has been somewhat of a failure. It is odd, 

 indeed, that botany, so universally a favourite science, should have so 

 few adherents in North Staffordshire. We should like to give many 

 extracts from this report, but want of space forbids, but probably we have 

 said sufficient to indicate the high state of efficiency and good manage- 

 ment of the Club. At present it consists of 307 members, and has a 

 balance in hand of £24 8s. lOd. 



OvENDEN Naturalists' Society. — Monthly meeting, 30th June, Mr. 

 R. Earnshaw, vice-president, in the chair. — A number of botanical speci- 

 mens were collected and named by Mr. C. Sheard, including Lysimaohia 

 nemorum, Stellaria liolostea, Pedicularis palustris, Carum carni, &c. 



