Reports of Societies. 



189 



distributed specimens of the rarely fruiting Saccogyna viticulosa, which 

 he had recently collected at Festiniog, in fruit. He also exhibited 

 specimens of Asplenium septentriojiale and Olyphomitrium Daviesii, which 

 he and Mr. Stabler had collected a few days previously at Llanberis. The 

 hon. secretary exhibited a few recently gathered lichens from Sweden, 

 and specimens of three beautiful ferns, belonging to the genus Cheilanthus, 

 which had been sent from the mountains of the Pacific coast, California, 

 viz. : Cheilanthus Californica, G. Fendl&i'i, and C. Clevelandii. — Thomas 

 Rogers, Hon. Sec. 



OvENDEN" Naturalists' Society. — The monthly meeting, May 26th, 

 Mr. J. Spencer, president, in the chair. — The following botanical 

 specimens were named by Mr. C. Sheard, viz. : — Equisetum sylvaticum, 

 Myrrhis odorata, Vicia Lathyroides, Doroniciim Pardalianches, Fedi- 

 cularis pahistris, Polygonum Bistorta, &c. Mr. Thomas Oockroft, who 

 has so often enriched our local geology by the discovery of rare and 

 interesting specimens, has again been successful in finding a specimen of 

 a new fossil plant which is of great interest, not only to local geologists, 

 but also to all those engaged in the study of fossil botany. He exhibited 

 a fine specimen of this small fossil plant, which he had obtained from the 

 Stannary quarry, belonging to the Halifax Corporation. It has a slender 

 tapering stem, which is furnished with four very slender branches 

 arranged alternately. The chairman observed that in its form and mode 

 of branching, it ofiered a striking contrast to the great majority of fossil 

 plants. He is acquainted with only one fossil plant which could furnish 

 such a " cast," namely, Astromyelon. Scores of specimens of this pretty 

 fossil plant have been found in our Halifax coal-nodules, but this is only 

 the second instance (and the finest specimen) recorded of the occurrence 

 of Astromyelon in an ordinary fossil condition. The fact of it having been 

 found in the mill-stone-grit rock is also interesting, as the only other 

 rock, with the exception of our local " balls," from which it has been 

 recorded is the Ringby flag rock. Recent discoveries in our Halifax 

 nodules have shown us the interesting fact that the Astromyelon was an 

 aquatic plant, but like most of the other coal plants, it attained a much 

 larger size than any of its modern representatives. — J. Ogden, Sec 



Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. — Filey, June 11th. — The second 

 meeting for 1883 was held at Filey, with the view of investigating the 

 section of the Yorkshire coast-line which includes the bold prominences 

 of Filey Brigg and Speeton Cliffs, and the intervening concave sweep of 

 Filey Bay. There was a large muster of members from all parts of York- 

 shire, and the excursion was a decided success. The weather was bright 

 and sunny, in accordance with the usual experience of the Union, nothing 

 occurring to the personal discomfort of the members. Only two parties 

 were arranged, both starting from Speeton railway station. The 

 geological party was in charge of the Rev. E. Maule Cole, M.A., while 

 the ornithologists had the benefit of the experienced leadership of Mr. 



