144 
REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 
June, 1890 . 
arvense. A paper was then read by Mr, S, White, “ Notes on Coal- 
brookdale and district.” The scenery of the Severn Valley had been 
called lovely, but the writer’s experience was that that expression 
would apply to the whole of Shropshire. The hills were spoken of as 
of peculiar interest, and the county abounded with historic spots. 
Coalbrookdale was famous for a great ironworks that is said to have 
cast the first three-legged pot and made the first iron bridge. From 
this starting point a series of rambles was made to Benthall Edge, 
Buildwas Abbey, Much Wenlock, Willy Hall, and Apley Park, the 
fossils, plants, shells, and birds being mentioned that were seen on 
the way. The writer said the Severn Valley was a naturalist’s para¬ 
dise, and as the river rolled on as it had done for untold ages, we 
thought of the wonderful story it could tell if it had articulate speech. 
—May otli. Several members placed on the tables collections of 
fossils made during a ramble from Bescot to Pouk Hill, on the pre¬ 
vious Saturday ; they comprised ferns, fish scales, and the usual coal- 
measure fossils. Mr. Deakin showed specimens of Balea perversa and 
other shells, from the Isle of Wight; Mr. J. W. Neville, fossil ferns 
from Coleford Mine ; Mr. Hawkes, iEcidio-spores of Uromyces poce, on 
leaves of the lesser celandine, also eggs and young of Tetranychus 
telarius ; Mr. Linton, butterflies from Zanzibar and Burmah.—May 
12tli. A paper was read by Mr. Round on “ The Geological History 
of Oldbury.” The writer said the more striking features of the dis¬ 
trict were three elevated ridges, the Castle Hill, Rowley Hill, and 
Warley Hill, and they were all different in formation. After describ¬ 
ing the manner in which the sandstones, shales, and limestones of the 
district were laid down, the writer dealt with the different seams of 
coal, and the manner in which they were faulted. When 200 feet of 
beds had been deposited on the coal, an eruption took place covering 
a considerable area with lava, and forming the Rowley Hills. The 
changes that have taken place since that period were enumerated, and 
the evidence of the sea having washed the base of the Rowley Hills 
enlarged upon. The paper was illustrated by diagrams. 
OXFORD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.—April 29. Mr. H. 
M. J. Underhill gave a lecture on “ Japanese Pictorial Art,” profusely 
illustrated by lantern slides prepared by himself, mainly from original 
sources. After dealing with the rise and progress of the various 
schools, sacred and secular, and exhibiting typical illustrations, the 
lecturer exhibited a series of copies of native illustrations of the sacred 
mountain of Fujisan, under varying conditions of season and weather ; 
and concluded with a set of pictures setting forth the adventures of 
Urashima, the fisher-lad (the Japanese Rip van Winkle), and native 
illustrations of an amusing fairy tale, “ The Tongue-cut Sparrow.”— 
May 13.—The Society welcomed the President (Mr. E. B. Poulton) on 
his return after a three months’ absence. Mr. Kent delivered a lecture, 
illustrated by lantern slides, on the Manchester Ship Canal. The 
geological features of the district laid bare by the excavations were 
shown and described, beginning with the Triassic Red Sandstone and 
Marls, these latter being immediately capped by the Glacial Boulder 
Drift (leaving a long geological series unrepresented), and the whole 
topped by alternating layers of silt, gravels, and waterworn stones of 
the River Drift series. Several photographs were shown of the 
ancient “dug-out” discovered below the surface during the excava¬ 
tions, and now preserved in the Owens College Museum. The pro¬ 
gress of the excavation and the machinery employed was illustrated 
and explained, and the daily life of the navvy at his work and his 
play. 
