28G 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
Orontium, Euphorbia platyphylla ; and on the roadside, with many a 
limestone plants, numerous specimens of the Fly Orchis; while the 
wood itself affords acres of Lily of the Valley, and on the further 
side of the Purlieus the underwood consists of indigenous specimens 
of Tilia parvifolia, and when the underwood is cut down, the whole 
land is sometimes blue with the common Columbine, which I think is 
indigenous there, if anywhere in England. The same country is 
undoubtedly rich in Fungi, and some part of the district has been 
thoroughly examined. There is no doubt that if the country were 
properly searched many species of Truffle would he found. The 
common English Truffle, Tuber crstivum, certainly occurs at Milton. At 
Apetliorpe it is sometimes so abundant that one or more pounds may 
be collected by experts in a few minutes, and in the lime region of 
Bedford Purlieus nearly twenty species have been found. Nearer 
home we may observe that in the brickfield at Wliittlesea the late 
l)r. Porter made many valuable discoveries, and there is still the 
same opportunity and hope of novelty, and such rare plants as 
Lythrum hyssopifolium may still reward close research in swampy 
ground. Much might be added of interest, but to enumerate all the 
capabilities of the neighbourhood would require a formal paper and 
more energy than an old naturalist in his 82nd year can command. 
METEOROLOGICAL NOTES.— June, 1884. 
The barometer, which was falling at the commencement of the 
month after a slight fluctuation, rose steadily till the 12th, from 
whence it continued generally high without material alteration. After 
the 8th the weather was fair, with light air, chiefly from the westward, 
though cloud was prevalent, and the amount of sunshine below the 
average. Some high temperatures were recorded, the maximum ex¬ 
ceeding 82° at Loughborough and Henley-in-Arden on the 28th; on the 
13th 80°'9 was registered at Strelley, and 80°-7 at Hodsock. The 
minima were low for the time of the year; the lowest readings were 
registered on the 1st: 30 o, 2 at Coston liectory, 32°-3 at Hodsock, and 
33°-0 at other stations. On the grass 5 degrees of frost were registered 
at Hodsock and Strelley, and 4 degrees at Loughborough. The rainfall 
was decidedly below the average, the total values being less than 1 inch 
at Hodsock, Strelley, and Coston Eectory; and 1-13 inches at Lough¬ 
borough. At Henley-in-Arden the total was 2-95 inches. The number 
of rainy days varied from 6 to 10, and as the greater portion of the 
rain fell at the beginning of the month the grass crops suffered 
severely. Lightning and thunder were observed on the 5th and 6tli. 
Wm. Berridge, F.R.Met.Soc. 
12, Victoria Stieet, Loughborough. 
ftittal listener Botes. 
Notes from Woking.—Curled Web of Spider. —During May and 
June, amongst the heather I observed a great number of the small 
webs of Dictyna latens—Ergatis latens, of Blackwall, one of the spiders 
belonging to the family Dictynides, all of which possess four pairs of 
spinners instead of three pairs, which is the usual number possessed 
