Nov., 1891. MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 247 
bv which impressions of the fingers were taken to be “ used 
in evidence against you,” as it were. Mr. T. Y. Hodgson 
took impressions of the fingers, and it appears that the fine 
lines on the fingers form a ready and infallible means of 
identification. They are of a definite shape and number, and 
never alter during life ; an impression of a finger will enable 
its owner to be identified at any future time, however great 
the interval. Professor F. Galton, F.R.S., is the sponsor for 
this interesting discovery, and an article in the “ Nineteenth 
Century, 5 ’ in August last, exemplified it to a very interesting 
extent. The National Telephone Company had a number of 
instruments in an ante-room, and visitors were able to hear 
music which was being performed at the Savoy Theatre, 
London, and other places at a distance. During the evening 
Dr. Lapworth, F.R.S., delivered a most interesting lecture 
on local geology, of which we hope to give a resume in a 
future number. Mr. W. Madeley also gave an address on 
“ Crinoids,” of which there is a very fine collection in the 
Dudley Society’s Museum. 
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14th. 
Tuesday night was one of the stormiest and most rainy of 
the season; but between six and seven on Wednesday 
morning the clouds dispersed, and there then seemed to be a 
prospect of improvement in the weather. It was just a little 
too bright, however, and about nine o’clock the rain was as 
heavy and the wind as boisterous as at any time during the 
previous twenty-four hours. It had, however, cleared again 
when the members of the Union assembled in the Courtvard 
of Dudley Castle to begin the proceedings of the day by the 
inspection of the stately ruins. The number as compared 
with the previous day was very much increased, and reached 
the figure of seventy or eighty. Mr. G. H. Claugliton and 
Mr. E. B. Marten pointed out the most interesting features of 
the Castle ruins. The Keep was thrown open, and many 
ascended to the top, which commands a view not easily 
equalled in the Midlands. Unfortunately black clouds were 
being driven up before a south-west wind, and a leaden and 
tempestuous looking sky lowered over many of the most 
interesting points in the varied scene. From the Castle the 
party proceeded to the caverns underneath the hill, pausing 
for a moment at the great landslip about midway. Here 
Mr. Wickham King explained for the benefit of strangers, 
that the pillar left to support workings similar to those they 
were on their way to visit, had given way and so dropped in 
the surface, which necessitated the making of the road on 
