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The Natuealist. 



mens and 95 species, of wliich 5 were British, 65 European, and 25 

 American, and they inckided 3 Coleoptera, 3 Hemiptera, 51 Orthoptercif 

 24 Neuroptera, and 14 of the extinct order Paleodictyoptera. The lecture 

 was concluded by a summary of the results of the three papers, thus 

 giving a resume of the known fossil insects. 



GooLE Scientific Society. — 31st Meeting, Nov. 7th, Mr. Hunter, 

 F.C.S., president, in the chair. — A paper was read by Dr. Parsons, 

 entitled "A Naturalist's first impressions of the Alps." The author, 

 after alluding to the geographical position of the Alps, described their 

 scenery, and the four zones into which the surface might be divided, 

 viz. those (1) of cultivation, (2) of x^ine forests, (3) of alpine pastures, and 

 (4) of perpetual snow. He then explained how it was that in ascending 

 mountains we found the temperature to fall. Above the hne where the 

 mean annual temperature was 32° Fah. snow was present all the year 

 round. The removal of snow was effected (1) by evajDoration, (2) by 

 melting, (3) by avalanches, and (4) by glaciers. He then described 

 glaciers, their mode of formation, appearances, movement, termination, 

 and efiects as transporting and abrading agents ; also moraines and other 

 recent glacial deposits, comparing them with the glacial beds of England. 

 The geologic structure of the Alps was briefly described, with their centres 

 of crystalline rocks flanked by masses of altered secondary strata, all 

 remarkably contorted, and the remarkable difference in form exhibited 

 by the Alps and the Jura, corresponding to their difierence in geologic 

 structure, was alluded to and compared with similar contrasts between 

 difierent ranges in this country, as the Cotswolds and Malvern. Cascades, 

 and their appearances and efi'ects upon the rocks were described, and an 

 account given of an Alpine ascent. The author then gave a summary of 

 the observations which he had been able to make in zoology and botany, 

 mentioning the great abundance and variety of insects, many kinds being 

 plentiful which in this country are very scarce. The same thing was 

 noticed as regards the flora, which, though on the whole resembling that 

 of Great Britain, was richer, exhibiting together species which in this 

 country were found respectively in the south, the east, and the north, 

 containing also many additional species, the latter however, with very few 

 exceptions, belonging to orders, and for the most part to genera, which 

 had representatives in Britain. The characteristics of the flora of the 

 four zones were alluded to, as also the influence of situation and aspect 

 upon vegetation. Cryptogams were noted as being remarkably abundant, 

 luxuriant, and fertile. A number of specimens were exhibited in illustra- 

 tion of the paper, comprising dried flowering plants. Lichens, &c., insects, 

 geological specimens, and photographs of scenery. An ice-marked 

 boulder from the Gorner glacier was exhibited side by side with one from 

 the boulder clay at Escrick, and the similarity between them was such as 

 to leave no room for doubt that they had been shaped by the same agent. 

 — H. Franklin Parsons. 



