PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 
377 
PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 
Geological Society of London. 
In the report of the proceedings of the Geological Society of London, 
given in our last number (p. 365), we inserted the abstract of Mr. 
Powrie's paper on the Old Red Sandstone of Forfarshire, in which it was stated 
tliat the author " believed that the marls and sandstones at Whiteness (near 
Arbroath) are not unconformable, as Sir Charles Lyell has represented them 
in his published section." 
We are requested by Mr. Powrie to state, that having revisited Arbroath 
since his paper was read to the Geological Society, he has ascertained that Sir 
Charles Lyell's section was correct, and that the newer strata alluded to are 
uncomformable. — Ed. Geol. 
Half a Day with the Cotswold Cltib. 
Field natural history excursions diffuse a knowledge of nature's fair creation; 
they are not vain pursuits ; the sedentary professional man, who is fond of 
natural science, can therein counteract that strain, stress and tension of the 
brain, which the wear and tear of life imposes. Besides, are they not agree- 
al)le vehicles of a mode of instruction not to be despised in these bookish days ; 
of a kind of teaching, the value of which we can scarcely overrate, namely, of 
that peripatetic species that the " stout stagyrite delighted in." Perhaps we 
are not rash in suggestinoj that even Aristotle may have been the first founder 
of field-clubs ! — He certainly, it appears, lectured while walking; the members 
of his club were dubbed " the walking philosophers," or peripatetics, and as to 
their president's knoMdedge of natural history, why " c.ela va sans dire .-" since 
Cuvier, Forbes, Huxley and many another 6«iY/« vouch for his careful study and 
sagacious insight ; and have we not his " History of Animals" and other 
treatises akin to testify this. Whether further resemblance to our Field-clubs 
can be traced or not, it is not too much for us to indicate that perhaps they 
had their annual subscriptions, their dinners " a la carte,'" and their ladies' 
days. The latter is at least problematical. The Athenians possessed their 
accomplished hetaerias, and surely it is not too mild to conjecture that 
ladies may have been admitted to the lecturing saunters of that age ! — Be that 
as it may, field-clubs are an ancient institution, and, with this powerful sanction 
for them as such, it was not without a heightened pitch of expectation that 
we determined to get off for a day's ramble with one of the West of England 
Societies. We were told by a member tliat they usually reckoned on doing 
from twelve to fifteen miles at a tM'u ; this much is not an inordinate dose, 
thought we, and will well oxygenate the blood. So we prepared to start 
over the hills and far awav," and join the Cotteswold Society. This society 
does not rank among the epliemerals ; it is of some standing ; its transactions 
are quoted ; and it has inscribed on its list some choice names, such as 
Daubeny, Buckman, Strickland, Voelker, Wright, Brodie, and Symonds. 
Even compared with the Tyne Club, if not superior, it may certainly be 
bracketed with it. And then, what a noble field for these explorers, leaving 
out for the nonce the ecclesological, arch«bgical, botanical and entomological 
richness of the shire and only regarding the cathedral city of Gloucester. North, 
VOL. IV. 2 R 
