6 
Geologists mustered in force to examine, under the guidance of the 
Eev. Frederick Smithe, one of your honorary members, the 
Cynocephala Bed of Mr. Lycett, near Frocester, and the Cephalopoda 
Bed of the same series, in the Oolite contiguous to Dursley. The 
party returned home after dining at Dursley, well pleased with the 
day's proceedings. 
The third and last excursion (to which ladies were invited) 
took place on the 8th of September, to Portishead, when a numerous 
party availed themselves of the welcome opportunity of renewing 
their acquaintance with the interesting geological features and 
noticeable botanical and entomological objects of that favorite 
watering place. 
This closed the field studies and out- door recreations of the 
Society for the year 1862; but it is proper to add, that the 
repetition, from year to year, of these delightfnl trips is looked 
forward to with great satisfaction by many of the members, and 
will prove a great and increasing source of attraction for the 
future. 
On the 2nd of October the session of the Society may be 
considered to have fairly commenced for continuous business. On 
this occasion Dr. William Bird Herapath gave a paper on the 
Echinoderraata, and Mr. W. W. Stoddart, your Treasurer, another 
on certain Fossil Plant Beds in the Isle of AYight. 
On ISFovember the 6th, Dr. Beddoe read a paper on the 
Physical Characters of the Natives of this District, and Mr. W. W. 
Stoddart made some remarks on Stipa Tenacissima as a substitute 
for Rags. 
The evening of the 4th December was occupied by Mr. Adolph 
Leipner, your Hon. Secretary, on Textile Vegetable Fibres, and 
especially on the Zostera Marina as a substitute for Cotton — also 
with a second short series of notes on the History of a Tortoise, by 
the same. On that occasion too, Mr. William Lant Carpenter gave 
a clear and interesting account of Professor Graham's researches in 
Dialysis. 
