ELLESMERE NATURAL HISTORY AND FIELD CLUB. 157 
During the summer months five excursions were held for the 
outdoor study of Natural History. The first excursion was held on 
May 19th, when Shrewsbury was visited. Rev. W. G. D. Fletcher, 
M.A., F.S.A., of St. Michael’s, Shrewsbury, kindly acted as guide, 
and a very pleasant day was spent. On June 18th we visited 
Wliixall Moss. The journey was made by boat, and was, as usual, 
a success. On July 21st the society visited the Dukes Woods, and 
a pleasant afternoon was spent. A commission, consisting of Rev. 
H. J. Wilcox, Messrs. H. J. E. Peake and A. J. P. Child, was 
appointed to conduct some excavations on the banks of Crosemere 
Mere. On August 20th, Whittle Moss and Crosemere Mere were 
visited, and the excavations on the banks of the mere seen. The 
Rev. H. J. Wilcox was asked to supply an account of these excava¬ 
tions to the local papers, which he lias done. He also kindly 
entertained the party to tea. On September 8th we accepted the 
hospitality of Mr. T. Ault Walker, of Manley Hall, and visited 
Erbistock Woods. The journey was made by wagonette, and an 
enjoyable evening was spent. 
A considerable amount of local work has been done, and the 
thanks of the society are due to those landowners who have so 
kindly allowed us to visit their woods, &c., during the season. We 
also owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. H. J. E. Peake, who so kindly 
undertook the arduous duties of providing tea on several occasions. 
On September 10th we decided to join the Midland Union, and 
to take the “ Midland Naturalist.” This paper has been laid upon 
the reading room table. 
During the winter six lectures were arranged as follows :—On 
October 24th, an instructive paper on “Zoology” was read by 
Rev. W. 0. Tabor. On November 29th, Rev. W. L. Martin, 
vicar of Bettisfield, kindly consented to redeliver his lecture on 
“ Early Human Dwellings and their Influence on Later Forms.” 
The lecture was illustrated by a number of diagrams, and was a 
very interesting one. On December 19th, Rev. 0. M. Feilden gave 
us an interesting paper on “ Local Marsh Plants,” which was 
illustrated by a number of mounted specimens from the Ellesmere 
Museum collection. On February 21st, A. C. Nicholson, Esq., 
July, 1898. 
