Barnsley Naturalists' Society. — Meeting Nov. 22nd, Mr. A. R. 

 Kell in the chair. — Dr. W. J. Lancaster gave an interesting paper on 

 " The Osteology of some species of Mammalia/' which was illustrated by 

 skeletons, bones, heads, and feet of animals. 



Meeting Dec. 6th, Mr. T. Lister in the chair. — A paper was read by 

 Mr. J. C. Mitchell on •• The Lower Orders of the Vegetable Kingdom— 

 the Cryi^togams, or flowerless plants." He dwelt on the necessity of a 

 knowledge of the cryptogamic plants, in dealing with zymotic diseases, &c, 

 A few bird occurrences are recorded since last month's report. Flocks of 

 wild geese and ducks have passed over Walton Lake, Nov. 6th, also 

 herons, pochards, wigeons, and the dusky grebe. A pair of little grebes 

 obtained at Barmby Hall ; a pair a few weeks before, all recorded by Mr. 

 C. Wemyss, of Cannon Hall. As many as six or eight herons have 

 frequented the pools and streams around. A few goldfinches and the 

 bullfinch observed in the town and country. Many instances of flowers 

 peeping forth in the spring-like weather we have had. — T. Lister. 



Bradford Naturalists' Society. — Annual Soiree. — The president in 

 his opening remarks dwelt upon the uses of the study of Natural History, 

 dealing more especially with the help which designers may derive 

 from the study of botany. He said that in the sections of plants might 

 be found an endless variety of designs, surpassing in originality and 

 beauty any of the artificial geometrical designs that had been used for so 

 many years. The He v. W. Fowler, M.A., of Liversedge, delivered a very 

 instructive address on the causes why Natural History societies are not 

 more successful than they usually are. Mr. James Spencer, of Halifax, 

 made some interesting remarks on the recent advancement made in the 

 study of fossil botany by the aid of the microscope. He described how 

 Prof. Williamson and others, including himself, had studied the micro- 

 scopical structure of the vegetable matter found in coal beds. 



Akntual Meeting, Mr. Spencer in the chair. — The secretary read the 

 annual report, which showed that during the past year twenty- three 

 meetings had been held, at which lectures, papers, microscopical exhibi- 

 tions, &c., had been given. The objects of the society had also been 

 furthered by most of the members giving accounts of their various 

 rambles, and exhibiting specimens. The district mapped out last year 

 for investigating fauna and flora had been steadily and satisfactorily 

 worked. The society had been represented at the following rambles of 

 the Yorkshire Naturalist Union : — Skipton, Hornsea, Thorne, and the 

 fungus rambles to Harrogate and Ripon. A number of volumes hcwi 

 been added to the library during the year, and freely used by the mem- 

 bers. The treasurer read his annual statement, which showed the society 

 to be in a healthy and prosperous condition. After the reports had been 

 adopted, and a vote of thanks given to the retiring officers, the election 

 of officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with, and resulted as 



