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viewing the fine church at the former place, the party proceeded to 
Westwick Hall, J. B. Petre, Esq. having kindly given permission 
to view the grounds and lake, on which were great quantities of 
semi-domesticated fowl; also to inspect his collection of birds, 
fossils, &c. at the Hall. 
For many objects of interest exhibited, we have again to thank 
Messrs. Bayfield and Burcham; the former gentleman at the 
October meeting exhibited a young specimen of Eucalyptus 
globulus, (of which much mention has been made of late,) grown 
by himself ; he stated that the flora of Australia is peculiar for the 
paucity of fruit bearing species, and the general dullness of the 
greens of the foliage, and referred to the valuable disinfecting pro - 
perties and rapid growth of the tree. Mr. Southwell exhibited 
specimens of flowering plants and ferns collected by him during an 
excursion to Norway, and Mr. Corder at the same meeting showed 
a collection of dried flowers which he had made in Switzerland, 
amongst which were capital specimens of Gnaphalium 
leontopodon (or Edelweiss). Mr. Corder stated that he was 
astonished at the profusion of flowering plants at the snow line, 
and the bright colour of the blossoms, which had not departed 
even in their dried condition. At the November meeting, Miss 
Barnard exhibited a number of beautifully mounted dried plants 
collected by herself in France and Switzerland during the year of 
1874. 
To this, I cannot say brief resume , I propose to add the result 
of my doings and observations among the Aculeate Hymenopter- 
ous insects during the past season ; which has been the worst I 
have had for this purpose, since I commenced the study, for though 
in novelties and rarities I have had no reason to complain, yet 
the days on which they could be collected have been very few; 
a few in April, the end of May and beginning of June, and a fort- 
night in August were about the only occasions when there was a 
succession of fine weather. 
Many causes probably combined to render these insects so scarce 
in the past season; to the want of fine weather must bo added in 
some degree, the long continued cold of the previous winter, which 
