36 
The Boston Natural History Society is like our own, the occupant of a 
new building;. The collection is far from complete at present. Its 
members hold two general meetings in the month, and there are sections 
for Microscopy and Entomology, but none for Geology, which does not 
seem so favourite a study as at Bristol, probably on account of the nature 
of the formations occurring in the district, these are all Palteozoic, and most 
of them unfossiliferous. 
I learn that there are 13 distinct species of Oak in Massachusetts alone, 
none of which can be identified with our English Oak. Many of the 
English trees are very common here, probably all introduced, but there are 
many more that are unknown in our country, quite enough to take away 
much from the feeling of familiarity, and sometimes sufficient to cause one 
of strangeness. Among familiar English plants, I have already noticed 
the following : 
The Common Barberry, The Blackberry, 
,, „ Elder ,, Great Mullein 
,, ,, Privet ,, Tansey 
„ Burdock ,, Common Polypody 
Stinging Nettle ,, „ Yellow Toadflax 
IV. 
Twenty Years' Kainfall at Clifton, 
By George F. Burder, M. D., E. M. S. 
The year 1872 completes an unbroken series of twenty years, during 
which rainfall observations have been taken at No. 7, South Parade, 
Clifton, either by my late brother, William C. Burder, or by myself. The 
rain-gauge employed has been throughout of the* form known as 
" Glaisher's," the receiving surface having a diameter of eight inches. 
The cylinder of the gauge is partly sunk in the ground, and the receiving 1 
surface is six inches above the ground. The height above the mean sea 
level is 192 feet. The position of the gauge has been changed once only, . 1 
a movement of a few feet having been rendered necessary by the growth 
of trees. As a rule, the gauge has been emptied daily when rain has 
fallen. 
