FIELD CLUBS AND SOCIETIES. 
121 
behind the glass were, of course, unable to see the reflected 
image, and therefore had to exercise great caution in correctly 
locating the “ ghost.” The refraction of light was next touched 
on. This occurred on its entering a denser medium, and led to 
the apparent displacement of heavenly bodies near the horizon, 
and also to the bent appearance of straight objects when partly 
under water. The well-known phenomenon of the “ mirage ” 
was produced by the light striking a cooler and denser stratum 
of air as it was reflected upwards, and being again bent towards 
the earth to become visible to an observer in the distance. By 
admitting light through a small hole and then passing it through 
a prism, Sir Isaac Newton had first produced the solar spectrum. 
But the sunshine falling upon drops of rain was decomposed and 
gave rise to the rainbow, this being a natural manifestation of 
the same thing. Having spoken of complementary colours, the 
the lecturer concluded by showing how light travelled in waves, 
which was also true of sound, but while sound was confined 
within atmospheric limits, light knew no bounds, but was trans¬ 
mitted by an all pervading lumeniferous ether. The lecture on 
February 5th, will be on “A Piece of Marble,” by Mr. A. P. 
Wire, of the Essex Field Club, and at the gossip meeting on 
February 19th, Mr. Baskerville’s paper on ‘ k Tin and Lead” will 
be read. 
Wincanton Field Club. —The fifth annual meeting was held 
on June 25th last, the president, Mr. T. H. Baker, f.r.m.s., in 
the chair. The report contained a local list of birds compiled 
by Mr. A. E. Swanton. Mr. John Phyllis read a paper on the 
discovery of Roman remains at Shepton Mallett. Principal ex¬ 
hibits : Mr. John Phillis, many Roman articles, pottery, coins, 
etc., from the neighbourhood of Shepton Mallett. Mr. A. E. 
Swanton, local birds’ nests with clutches of eggs, including 
Emberiza cirius. Mr. E. W. Swanton, local coleoptera, in¬ 
cluding Lucanus cervus. Mr. W. Herridge, a large and well 
mounted collection of grasses; also Carduus tuberosus from 
Mere Down. The three excursions were : 
1. To Kelmington and Maiden Bradley. 
2. To Buckhorn-Weston and Cucklington. 
3. To the Godney Lake Dwellings near Glastonbury. 
The first of the winter lectures was given in the Wincanton Town 
Hall, on November 9th, by the Rev. F. Weaver, m.a., of Milton 
Clevedon, his subject being “ Pre-reformation Wills.” 
Hastings and St. Leonards’ Natural History Society.- 
On Thursday evening, December 14th. Mr. E. Connold gave a 
very interesting lecture on “ The life-history of a caterpiller.” 
The lecturer exhibited a number of cleverly drawn diagrams on 
