Magazine, for May, 1878.) Mr. Musson exhibited a fossiliferous piece of quartzite, found by him resting on the Bunter conglomerate of Nottingham "Forest," Mr. Wilson also exhibited a fine specimen of Ceratodus atlas, found by him some time since in the" bone bed," present in the Rhætic (Acicula contorta) Shales, recently exposed in the Barnston cutting, on the new line, near Bingham, Notts. This section was visited by the members about a year ago. Mr. Wilson also noted the occurrence of the same genus (once thought to be confined to the Aust locality) at Stauton-on-the-Wolds, near Nottingham, at Leicester, and another locality. We pointed out its affinities to the fossil genera Ctenodus and Dipterus, and to the modern Ceretodas of Australia. September 27th.—Mr. H. Marshall Ward read a valuable paper on "Starch, and its Uses in Plant Life" October 5th.—A Geological Excursion was made to Froghall, Caldon Low, and Alton. Arriving at Froghall at 9 40 a.m., the members spent some time in examining the "Froghall hæmatite," which is worked in this district, and which occurs near the base of the "coal-measures" series of the Cheadle Coalfield. A ride up the tramway then brought the party to the Caldon Low Quarry. This quarry is in the lower beds of the "Mountain Limestone," and in one part of the quarry the "white sands and clays" lying underneath the boulder clay were seen. These beds are also well exposed in the Ribden Pit, (near the base of the Weaver Hills.) which was next visited. An interesting walk, via Cotton, brought the party to Alton, where a luncheon at the "Shrewsbury" terminated a very pleasant excursion.
Nottingham Naturalists' Society.—Meetings have been held during the last month as follows:—September 18th, when Mr. L. gave a lecture on "The Lower Forms of Vegetable Life." October 9th, Microscopical evening. October 16th, Lecture on "Coal," by Mr. C. T. Musson.
Stroud Natural History Society.—October 8th.—First Meeting of Session. A paper was read by Mr. J. A. Tannahill on "Bees and their Habits." A short description of some scientific objects in the Paris Exhibition was given by the President, Chas Playne, Esq., followed by a brief account of some kinds of Entozoa by Dr. Partridge, the secretary, illustrated by drawings and specimens.
Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club.—The usual annual Fungus Foray took place on October 3rd. There was a large attendance, including many scientific visitors frow a distance. The members and visitors drove to the lawns of Sufton Court, and were very kindly received by Mr. Hereford. The mycologists were soon successfully occupied in the woods, whilst the less scientific portion of the company wandered up the hill to the British Camp at Adams Rocks, Blackbury Hill. Later in the day a meeting of the members was held in the Club Room, at the Free Library, Hereford, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. Arthur Armitage; Vice-Presidents, Rev. W. H. Phillott, Mr. W. A. Swinburne, Rev. A. Ley, and Rev. G. M. Metealf; the Central Committee, Messrs. T. Curley, J. Griffish Morris, C. G. Martin, and O. Shellard; Treasurer, Mr. Cam; Auditors, Messrs. J. Davies and J. T. Owen Fowler; Secretary, Mr. Theo. Lane. The annual dinner took place at the Green Dragon, when the two fungusses, Hygrophorus pratensis and Agaricus nebulosua were served to the guests. The latter, which is one that is rarely eaten, proved to he a species well worthy of the occasion. Dr. Bull, after dinner, gave the cordial welcome of the Club to the scientific strangers present, and then gave a report on the progress of Mycology during the past year, The Rev. Augustus Ley read a carefully prepared paper on "The Mosses of Herefordshire," which was very highly applauded for the results of real work in the fields which it contained, and which was ordered to be printed in the Transactions of the Club. A soirée was held in the evening at the house of the Treasurer, Mr. Cam, which was well attended by the members and visitors, Dr. Cooke read an elaborate paper on the genus Corticium, with observations on the modes of distinguishing the British species, Mr. Phillips, of Shrewsbury, described a new Peziza, (P. crucifera,) which gave rise to a long and animated discussion. The Rev. J. E. Vize exhibited an Æeidium from the Cape of Good Hope, one of the finest of its tribe. He showed a number of other interesting objects under the microscope.
