Dec., 1890. midland union of natural history societies. 277 
liead-quarters, the Belvoir Street School. It had been pre¬ 
viously arranged that the party should divide into two 
sections, botanists and geologists, and that the former should 
drive to Swithland, Woodliouse Eaves, and UlverscroftPriory; 
while the others should proceed by way of Mountsorrel, Lough¬ 
borough, Longcliffe, and the Monastery. Newtown Linford was 
chosen as a convenient rendezvous where the excursionists 
might again be merged into one party for the purpose of 
assisting each other to carry out that admirable function—a 
meat tea. 
BOTANICAL. 
To deal first with the botanists, it should be premised 
that, although they were the smaller party of the two, they 
were animated by an excellent esprit de corps , which conduced 
in a very large degree to the enjoyment of the excursion. It 
was soon discovered that to be a botanist, on this occasion at 
any rate, a precise acquaintance with a unicellular organism 
or a cryptogam was not so much a desideratum as a large 
capacity for enjoying the more diversified beauties of nature 
in which the Charnwood neighbourhood is so remarkably 
rich. It is true that under the skilful and experienced guid¬ 
ance of Councillor Mott, the president of the Union, the really 
ardent botanists of the party were afforded ample scope for 
enhancing their knowledge of the Charnwood flora, but the 
almost numberless other objects of interest seen during the 
journey claimed their share of admiration. Mr. Mott was 
quite indefatigable in his efforts to give his party an insight 
of everything that might be novel or of exceptional interest 
to them, and he was very ably assisted in this by Mr. Hull 
and Mr. C. J. Billson, M.A., who formed part of the contin¬ 
gent. The botanists were also fortunate in having amongst 
them a well-known Yorkshire naturalist, the Bev. E. Jones, 
of Skipton, whose genial qualities were thoroughly appre¬ 
ciated by all. 
The first point of interest after leaving Leicester, and 
getting just a passing glimpse of the Abbey ruins, was the 
village of Thurcaston, celebrated as the birthplace of Bishop 
Latimer. From the high ground about here a grand view was 
obtained of the Bradgate Hills that stood clearly defined 
against the blue sky, Old John, with its historic antecedents, 
claiming particular attention. The land and waterscapes in 
the vicinity of Cropstone wore a charming aspect, and further 
on, when Swithland Wood was reached, the magnificent 
autumn tints of the foliage gave rise to animated comment. 
Wending their way along the forest path the explorers soon 
found themselves on the very brink of the great slate pit, 
