192 
EE PORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
of wild strawberries. The party were handsomely entertained on 
their way home by Rev. T. A. Preston, at Thurcaston Rectory. The 
oaks in the wood were much devoured by the caterpillar of the Oak 
Egger. Exhibits: Specimen of Brachythecium salebrosum, by the 
chairman ; curious branched frond of the Geterach fern, by Mr. G. C. 
Turner; leaves of the variegated Negundo maple, by Mr. Headley. 
Mr. Knowles reported that damson trees were much damaged in their 
foliage this year, apparently by the high winds. Dr. Finch confirmed 
this. A short discussion took place on the question, “ What causes the 
Caterpillar to change into a Butterfly?” The chairman pointed out 
that, though there might be no greater difficulty in this question than 
in many similar ones in the science of biology, yet this was a peculiar 
case, because the caterpillar was a complete living animal, which 
without any external cause went to sleep, and by an extraordinary 
change in its muscles, mouth, limbs, skin, and clothing, woke up an 
entirely different creature. Where, in the caterpillar, was the plan 
of the butterfly, and the power to produce it ? 
SEVERN VALLEY NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.—The 
first Field Meeting of the season 1888 took place at the Wrekin, 
and was attended by between forty and fifty members. At the 
large quarry at the foot of the Wrekin, Dr. Callaway gave a brief 
sketch of the progress of discovery in the district, referring first to 
Mr. Allport’s determination of the true nature of the igneous rocks 
of the Wrekin. The bedding of the rock in the quarry was pointed 
out, and its structure as a normal felspatliic ash was shown on hand 
specimens. The steps of further investigation from the discovery of 
the Cambrian age of the Shineton shales, with the underlying Holly- 
bush sandstone, and the still older Quartzite, resting discordantly 
upon the volcanic series, led to the conclusion that the last-named 
was of pre-Cambrian (Archaean) age. To this great volcanic group 
the name “ Uriconian ” (from the Wrekin) was given. The great 
antiquity of the Uriconian rocks was further confirmed by the fact 
that the conglomerates and grits of the Longmynd, which were at 
least as old as Lower Cambrian, were largely derived from them. 
Evidence of a still more ancient formation was supplied by the 
Uriconian conglomerates of the district. In these were found rounded 
pebbles of many kinds of liypogene rock, such as were seen at 
Primrose Hill and the Ercal. These were the true “ Bottom Rocks.” 
They were similar to the Crystalline rocks of Malvern (Malvernian), 
and to the gneisses which went by the names of “ Hebridean ” and 
“ Laurentian.” At the summit of the Wrekin the lavas (Rhyolites) 
of the Uriconian series were pointed out, and the general geology of 
the district was described. Many of the readers of the “ Midland 
Naturalist” are already familiar with Dr. Callaway’s discoveries from 
the Journal of the Geological Society of London. After ascending 
to the summit and returning via the cottage, carriages, kindly sent 
by Dr. Cranage, of the New Hall, were in waiting, and conveyed the 
party to his residence, where a most sumptuous dinner was provided. 
The secretary, the Rev. R. C. Wanstall, R.D., Vicar of Condover, 
proposed fourteen new members, and on the proposition of the Rev. 
H. J. Ward, Vicar of Morville, seconded by Mr. Homfray, and warmly 
supported by the hon. secretary, Dr. Callaway was elected president 
of the Club. The learned doctor, in accepting the office, said his aim 
and object would be to assist the members in the investigation of 
science. 
