POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
533 
PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIETIES. 
MIDLAND SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 
The report of the proceedings of this society has reached us too late to 
admit of a lengthy notice. On the 8th April a meeting was held at 
Bank House, Burton-on-Trent, when the following papers were read by 
members : — 
“ On the Benefits and Injuries to Agriculture by Small Birds,” by Mr. 
Edwin Brown. The author advocated the exterminating work of sparrow 
clubs ; these birds being, according to his views, very prejudicial to agri- 
culture. Great difference of opinion prevailed on the subject amongst the 
members, some of whom supported whilst others opposed the views of 
Mr. Brown. 
The Secretary then read a paper contributed by the Rev. W. Coleman, 
“ On the Indications of Combustion prior to the Glacial Epoch, in a Bed of 
Coal near to its Outcrop,” and afterwards exhibited a specimen of coal 
containing ramifying veins of galena, or lead ore, found in a disused 
colliery in Leicestershire. 
Mr. Knobel next read a paper “On the Occurrence of Native Metals.” 
Then followed an address by Mr. Edwin Brown, “ On the Possible 
Effects on Vital Phenomena of Tea when used as a National Beverage.” 
The author believes that the use of tea is calculated to lower the vital 
energy of the consumer, and that possibly in the course of time a large 
use of tea may reduce us “ to the physical stamina of the Chinese.” 
After one or two remarks from medical men, 
Sir Christopher R. Lighton jocularly expressed the hope that Mr. Brown 
had not been bribed by the brewers of Burton to bring on the subject. 
“ The general opinion of the meeting appeared to be that tea enables the 
mental worker to perform his task with greater ease, but that used as the 
sole beverage it has a lowering effect ultimately upon the human frame.” 
Thus ends the report. Did the discussion take place before or after a 
repast? And to what beverage were the members obliged to resort in 
consequence of Mr. Brown’s paper ? 
THE WARRINGTON FIELD NATURALISTS 5 CLUB. 
This society, which was inaugurated in the spring of 1862, under the 
presidency ofT. Glazebrook Rylands, Esq., E.L.S., held its first anniversary 
meeting on the 8th of April. The proceedings were rendered exceedingly 
interesting by the exhibition of geological, botanical, and other specimens, 
including some of great rarity and interest. The geological department 
was under the care of Mr. Paterson, manager of the gas works, who kindly 
lent a series of valuable fossils, chiefly from the Carboniferous formation of 
the North of England. Tables were also set apart for plants, both native 
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