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ISTS FIELD CLUB.

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Published by W. Phillips, Hereford. .

BOTANICAL DISTRICTS

WOOLHOPE NATURAL

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NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB,

se bs (ESTABLISHED MDCCCLLI.)

¥ INCLUDING THE FIRST PART OF
da

ay

THE FLORA OF HEREFORDSHIRE,

BY THE REV. W. H. PURCHAS, L. Th. (/ » of

ae : ;
JS4 Panera, eo f (Po ly, S. } /

——

1866.

‘*Hopr on - Hope EVER.”

Heyeford :

PRINTED BY WILLIAM PHILLIPS, HIGH TOWN,
AND AT THE TIMES OFFICE, MAYLORD STREET. t

MDCCCLXYVII. i

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

THE FLORA OF HEREFORDSHIRE. PART I.

Tue Botantcat Districts, AND THEIR GEOLOGY.
THE GENERAL SUMMARY OF PLANTS.

THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE YEAR 1866.

Orricers, MEMBERS, AND RULES.
Retirine¢ ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT ........ ednvaee Ratan eas pa

THE TALGARTH MEETING...................2. 0. pages 150-165
_ The Geological Address ; by the Rev. H. Griffiths, 152.
Legends of Llynsafeddan, 160.

WHE KINGTON MEBTING (obo sci ie. .c ccc ccecee pages 166-191
The Geological Field Address ; by T. Curley, Esq., 170.
On the British Oaks; by the Rev. H. C. Key, 178.
On Wandering Plants ; by Dr. Bull, 185.

SMEAR ey MISE GY 9, 5 tek canjeeecee dicsse ser sceees pages 192-225
Address on Coal; by the Rev. P. B. Brodie, F.G.S., &., 196.
Plants of the Doward District ; by Mr. H. Southall, 202.

The Lias—its Insect and Saurian beds; by Mr. Brodie, 205.
Description of Mr. Wells’ Climometer, 216.
Lepidoptera of Herefordshire ; by Mr. A. Purchas, 221.

Meee. BUILTH MAERTING .....02.0c0ekeal. pages 226-262
_ Geological Address ; by the Rev. W. S. Symonds, 234.
Herefordshire Yew Trees} by the Rev. T. Woodhouse, 243.
Peat with Shell Marl at Hereford; by T. Curley, Esq., 253.
The Bone Caves of the Lesse; by Sir W. Guise, Bart., 255.

THE MALVERN MEETING.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

THE AAT Vi MBN Grin edeee sve a ecswtsatons pages 263-285
Dr. Grindrod’s Museum; by the Rev. H. Housman, F.G.S.,
and Dr. Wright, F.R.S E., &., 264.
Malvern Priory Church ; by the Rev. G. Munn, 269.
Geology of the Malvern Hills; by Dr. Holl, F.G.8., &., 273.
Plants of the Malvern Hills, by E. Lees, Esq., F.L.8., &¢., 278.

THE ANNUAL, QURE TENG: [...6.dcc-0ccusdeer es» one pages 286-321
Exection or Orricers ror 1867,
Water Ranunucli; by T. Blashill, Esq., and Discussion, 287.
Meteorology of the Year; by Messrs. Isbell and Cooke, 292.
Ozone ; by J. E. Smith, Esq., 297.
Circular on the Remarkable Trees of Herefordshire ; 500.
The Crossbills in Herefordshire ; by Mr. J. Lloyd, 303.
List of the Lepidoptera of Herefordshire ; by the Family of
the Rey. Thomas Hutchinson, 307.
Discussion on the Two Species of British Oaks ; 314-20.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE CLUB.

OFFICERS AND MEETINGS FoR THE YEAR 1867.

ILLUSTRATIONS.
Map of Herefordshire .............seseceeeeee seveecenees Frontispiece.
he Yow ‘Erees of OCusop cctdeagdoc vance toines sumuen to face page 145
The Mistletoe-Oak of Eastnor .............0.000008 es 149
The Mistletoe-Oak of Tedstone Delamere......... s 165
Sketch in Colours of Xanthium Spinosum ...... + 187
The Yow Treasiot Lemihally or.) oi sac eee. oe > 246
The Xew Trea of Peterchurch. ...,-....-cc0e ens As 247
The Silurian Chieftain’s Cup.......1.sccssseeeereees es 275

PART I.

’ BY THE REV. W. H. PURCHAS, L. Th.

ee

HONORARY MEMBER OF THE WOOLHOPE NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

WS. Sya owe regu

Hereford :

PRINTED BY WILLIAM PHILLIPS, HIGH TOWN,
FOR THE WOOLHOPE NATURALISTS FIELD CLUB, <

1867.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

After lengthened delays, the first portion of the “ Frora or
HEREFORDSHIRE” is here presented to the Members of the Woolhope
Club.

This portion will be found to consist of—First, an account of the
Botanical Districts into which it has been found necessary to sub-
divide the County; Second, Geological Notes on each of these
districts, from the able pen of the Rev. W. 8. Symonps, F.G.S.,
Rector of Pendock; Third, a Map of the County, illustrating
these divisions; and Fourth, a Tabular Summary of the plants
hitherto found in each district.

It has of late years been felt that a very senpertlot view of the
botany of any county was given by the plan on which the older
local Floras were drawn up ; that plan being to mention Stations for
the rarer plants, or those supposed to be such, whilst it was left to
’ be inferred that the remainder were equally common throughout the
whole area to which the Flora related. The real truth being that
species, which from their frequency in one part of a county, might
be expected to prevail equally throughout its whole extent, are
found, when specially sought after, to be comparatively local. Nor
on the older plan was any distinction shewn between those parts of
the County which had been fully examined, and those which had

& received little or no attention. The plan of sub-dividing* the county

and forming separate catalogues of plants for each district obviates
this, and shews, at one view, what has been done, and how much
remains to be accomplished.

* This plan was first adopted by my acute and deeply lamented friend, the
* Rey. W. H. Cotrmay, one of the Authors of the ‘‘Fiora HERTFORDIENSIS.”

ADVERTISEMENT,

As this first portion of the ‘‘ Ftora or HerrrorpsairE” supplies
a condensed view of the results hitherto attained, it has been
thought better to issue it at once, rather than to delay its appearance
until the remaining portion of the work shall have been printed. The
latter will consist of a more detailed mention of the different plants,
specifying their localities when desirable, and giving any further
information that may seem needful. In that portion of the work I
hope to mention by name the many kind and able correspondents
who have aided me with their observations. At present I must
content myself with a brief and general expression of thanks for
their invaluable assistance. I hope this first instalment of the work
will prove to them that their labours have not been vainly bestowed,
and that it will stimulate them to further exertions in the same field.
I shall be glad to hear of any additions they may make to the
different district lists, and to be informed of any inaccuracies they
may detect. It is very desirable to confirm the accuracy of any new
locality, by sending a specimen of the plant whenever practicable.

W. H. PURCHAS.

Gloucester, April, 1867.

_ (Myosurus minimus, is
Ranunculus heterophyllus, Fr, 1
—_—_— Jrouettii, Bab.
trichophyllus, rr
circinatus, Sibth. |

fluitans, Lam. ... *
hederaceus, L. ... 1
Micarianls, 4 s-/... 1
Flammula, L. ...| 1
Lingua, L. ...... :

auricomus, L, ...| 1
eeris; [.173.; Bb... 1]
repens, L....... ad
bulbosus, L....... 1
hirsutus, Curt. ...| 1

‘ sceleratus, L....... |
ee parviflorus, i Dope he

_ ————_ arvensis, L. ......) 1
' Caltha palustris, L. ......... 1
“if Trollius europeeus, L, aaa
Helleborus viridis, L..... ......!

foetidus, L. .........
A tee vulgaris, L. ek

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1

Clematis Vitalba, Linn. ...... 1
Thalictrum flavum, L- ......... )

Anemone nemorosa, L. . Jl

bo ne no | to | Ross.

bo bo bo bo > bo

bo bo bo bo
Go Go Oo Co Co Qo Oo OO

bo bo bo bo

bo bo bo bo LO

APPENDIX No.

SUMMARY
OF THE

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS

I.

IN HEREFORDSHIRE.

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

wo ovce | co | WOOLHOPE.

oo

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= | = | LEDBURY.

| ox | BROMYARD.
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! A
ald
Aiea 05 al i4|s
aleiale| el ele] 3
7|/ H/o] se! 24
S B/E} 8/5/8/a|8
BigiS| el 2lal sia
BS ElAa} 4a) 8) 4] 5
7/819 10} 11 12/13] 14
si9l10| 12%) 414
7/8
7/8/9/10 12 14
?
118/9/10/ 11/12 14
18
; ;
7 10
7.8\9 ”
7\8/|9|10 12 14
7/8/9/10| 12 14
7/8/9110 12 14
: 13
71819110 12 14
7/8|9{|10 11] 12 14
7/8/9110 11|12 14
7/8|9|10 12 14
'8|9|10 12/1314
71819110 139114
71/8} 110 13
7/8/9|10 12113} 14
17/8|9}10|- |12 14
8 13\14
8| 9 14
7
8| 9
GPs ciao p
I7\819 12
7! g

wa
:
Z
g
e
Bi
1
Papaver Argemone, L. ......
dubiumy, diy .-ctess
hehe, “Seip eben
somni ifer OF OBNOEE Sco
*Chelidonium majus, L. ......| 1
Corydalis claviculata, D.C..
lutea, D. Gis cue *
Fumaria capreolata, L ......... 1
offieimalis; Wy 525.282. 1
micrantha, Lag.......
Coronopus Ruelli, Gaertn.
Thlaspi arvense, L, ............ 1
Capsella Bursa pastoris, D.C. | 1
Hutchinsia petra, Br. ......
Lepidium Smithii, Hook. ...|1
campestre, Br....... 1
Armoracia rusticana, Baumg.
Draba werna, Ls scc.dscnteans 1
Camelina sativa, Crantz. *
Cardamine pratensis, L. ...... 1
hinstpasluseeencees: 1
sylvatica, Link.. .} 1
—————_ impatiens, L....... 1
Arabis titiliana, Ts .:......5... 1

a3

aS, Mtv aes. nak
Barbarea vulgaris, Br.... .....
— stricta, Andrz. ......
Nasturtium officinale, Br.
terrestre, Br.......
sylvestre, Br.
amphibium, Br...
Sisymbrium officinale, Scop.
Sophia, I J. 3.
Erysimum cheiranthoides, L.

———

—

allramtea, Gls gs cecsteteee
Cheitranthus cheirt, L.........
Brassica campestris, L.........
Sinapis arvensis, L,............
albay Bs, Mince unde en'

metas Wire Reostae ces
tenuifolia,” L. ......

Raphanus Raphanistrum, L.

1
1

bo to no | to | ROSS.

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bo * bo

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_ A = | & | LEDBURY.

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|= | HEREFORD.
| co | WEOBLEY.

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MINSTER.

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11

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12/13) 14
12
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=
12|13)14
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12/13 |14
12
12|13)14
12 14
12 14
12 14
12
12
12 14
12 14
12
12 14
12
13
12 14
12
12 14
*
12 14
12 14

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

-| &
be _
S| [elal@] lelelBle] 2/2] =/ 8
2) |BiSlelalelsi4| 2/8) 2! 8] w
Pla/s(Blz/=iS/Sls|2/5/8]a| &
|Slolsl2zigislalgi&/alal]aia
Bl\eiElalalelei/Elal<|/8]a| o] a
1}2/3/4/5/6|]7/8/9|10)11)12)13/ 14
Reseda luteela, L. ............ 1)2|3)4 6 "7 8} 9/10 12
- Helianthemum,vulgare,Gaertn.|1|2)3/4) |6) |8/9
"Viola odorata, L................ 1/2/3|4 6/7/8|9}|10 12 14
variety imberbis......... 2/3/4 8} |10
Re Beet 1/2|3)4 8/9
- sylvatica, Fries. ......:.. 1|2/3|4/5/6|7/8/9|10/11 14
Gourd) sd Pare ape pe me ee 4 8 12
Wrmolor, Ve, 204 csc cssicxe 2)3/4) |6/7 9/10 12 14
Uo lc She GE eae gee ae q
' Drosera rotundifolia, L. ......) | 2) | 4
| Polygala vulgaris, L. ....... .}1/2|3/4] |6 8|9} 10/11} 12 14
_ Dianthus Armeria, L..........) | 2|3| 4 7
a _ deltoides,” L.... ... q
_ Saponaria officinalis, L. ...... 1)2 7|8|9 12/13
_ Silene inflata, Sm. ............)1|/2/3/4] |6|7 9}10}11 13/14
i a 1|2
noctiflora, L..:..........| | 2
~ Lychnis Floscuculi, L.......... 1}2/}3})4}| |6|7|8|9}|10 12 14
diurna, Sibth. oe 2/3) 4 6|7/8|9}10)11/12 14
- vespertina, Sibth. . .|1|2/3/4 7|8/9/10 12
= Githago, Lam. ...... 1}2)3/4] |6|7/8/9|10/11)| 12 14
‘f -Meenchia erecta, Sm. Pee. 3/4 11
- Sagina procumbens, L......... 1}2)3}4/5| |7|8|9]10/11} 12 14
prema Ti. 1. sede dese 1|2|)3/4/5 7|8/9}10)11}12 14
nodosa, Mey............ 2 + 12
‘Spergula arvensis, L.-......... 1/2/3/4] |6/7|8|9|10/11/12
‘Spergularia rubra, St. Hil. ... 4 11
_ Arenaria scrpyllifolia, E Mites 1) 2/3] 4 7|8/|9]10 12 14
trinervis, L. ......... 1/2/34 i) 9 11; 12 14
verna, L. (Poh daanaine t
aria nemorum, L.......... q “(13
media, With..........,1]2|3]4 6|7|8/9|10/11] 12 14
Holostea, Tee hE. 3-4: 617/8)9)10/11)12 14
graminea, L......,...| 1] 2 4 6/7/8|9)10]11)12 14
uliginosa, Murr...... 1)2)3)4] |6|7 10 12/13
tium aquaticum, L....... 1/2/3|4 6)}7|8|9/10 12 14
glomeratum,Thuill.| 1 | 2) 3} 4 8/}9/10]11)]12 14
triviale, Link....... 1)2] |4 7/8|9/|10
semidecandrum, L.} | 2/3/|4
tetrandrum, Cutt.. 2

erccnse. Te jo, t ee 12
um usitatissimum, L. ...| *

*
*

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT,
z
. fH ~
z HIE
Bel del Wah lal gs a | 3| 6
z| |Siel2) [elelelel2|ale le
S| |HiSlelalelals| 21|Sla1 ale
Figlo/RiS/elelajale|/e/;8]ales
olSislelelSlBlale|alalsia
B\S\Elalal(alniElal a|/e|aloe|s
1}2/3/4]5/6/7/8|9/10/ 11] 12] 13] 14
Linum catharticum, L......... 1/2/3/41/5/6|7/8/9110 14
Malva moschata, L............. 1|2}3)/4 6/7 9) 10111 12 14
sylvestris, Tu. 6 G25. ude 1/2|3)4 6/7 9}10)| 11) 12 14
rotundifolia, L..... ...)1/2|3)| 4 7/8}9}10) 11) 12 14
Tilia parvifolia, Ehrl. ......... 41)2)3/4]5 10 13} 14
-—— intermedia, D.C. ...... * | a | x *
grandifolia, Ehrl. ...... 2 7 "
Hypericum androsemum, L. |1| 2/3) 4/5 7/8) 94% 13
—— perforatum, L. ...}1|2|3|4|}5]6|7|8|]9]10/ 11] 12] 13) 14
dubium, Leers..../1/}2/3/4/5|6|7/8 10/11) L2)a3) 14
quadrangulum, L.}1|2/3/)4/5 8}9]10 12 14
humifusum, L, ...|1 | 2|3|4 6 8|9)10).11 | P2314
pulchrum, L....... 1/2/}3|4 6/7/8}9/10] 11) 12) 13) 14
hirsutum, L....... DS le. 8}9/10)11} 12 14
montanum, L, .../1| 2/3 6/7
elodes, i. i.s..:... 11
——_ calycinum, L...... rs *
Acer campestre, L. ............ 1/2/8/4 8|}9/10 14
Pseudoplatanus, L...... *| x x * | x *
Erodium maritimum, Sm. ... gy
cicutarium, Sm. ......,1| 2] 3/4
moschatum, Sm. ...}1/|+|3 7 ila)
*Geranium Pheum, L.......... tAep ti iF .
pratense, L.......... Les 7/8/9110 V4
pyrenaicum, L. .. 7
pusillum, L. ......) |2)3 6 12
— mole, Lire ca eco 1/2|3)4 6/7/8|9}10 12 14
dissectum, L. ... ..J1|2|)3/4 6/7|8/9]10 12/13) 14
columbinum, L. ...)1}2/ 3/4 8 10 13
— lucidum, L.......... AAS} 8.91.16 13] 14
—— robertianum, L. ...|1|2/3/4/5/6/7/8|9|10 12/13] 14
sanguineum, L. ...| | 2 1|8 q
Oxalis Acetosella, L. ......... 1/2/3/4/5|6/7)/8)9] 10) 11) 12)138114
Enonymus europeus, L. ...... 2 4/5 8/9} 10
Rhamuus catharticus, L....... 2/3 9 12
Frangula, L. “...... 2/3 8
Spartium scoparium, L. ...... 1/2}3/}4/5/6/7/8/9] 10)11) 12 14
Ulex europeus, L. ............ 1) 2\3 6/7/8|9} 10 12 14
nanus var. Gallii, Planch) 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 9/10) 11) 12) 18
Genista tinctoria, L. ......... E21 31415) 61718) Silo. 12) 13) 14
anplion Ge S.6c..4.5.2 4 9 12) 13

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

alse | BLACK MOUNTAIN.

—
He»

14
14

F a
Bebaemehs be ahs hak
S| [Elaelel lelele| Biel 8] >
2] |BiSlelalElalal #/el2] 4
Ela|/a(ajalais 8 a; eis5|/8/a
NZ olBlersialalslwlal es |e
ale lES|2/2 8/2 /8| 2/21 8| 8
12/3 AE 6|7/8|9] 10] 11) 12] 13|°
Ononis arvensis, MAS oi. sanctie 1|/2)3 5 G7, (8) SLO 12
antiquorum, L.......... 1 3 9}10
Anthyllis vulneraria, L. 2} |4 9
M Ledicago lupulina, L. ......... 1/2/3/4|5/6|7|8/9]10| 11] 12
od denticulata, Willd. Ps
M [elilotus officinalis, Willd.... 3|4 6 9410
é arvensis, Wallr. Be: tT) «
ty fifolium Oe see on 1|2)3}4/5)6}7/8}9110] 11] 12
= pratense, L. ..... ...,1}2|3)4/5|6|7|8/9)]10 12
medium, L. .........|. 1/2|3)\4 8/9/10} 11) 12
arvense, L. ....... 1|2 4 9
striatum, L. .........| |2| 3/4 7 10
fragiferum, L. 2/|3)4 é
procumbens, L...../1/2/3]4/5|617|8|9]10/ 11] 12
minus, Reth. ...... 1|2 4 6 8 10} 11] 12
fatormea; Ls. *..255... 2 4
s corniculatus, L. ......... 1/2/3}4/5/6|/7/8/9)10/ 11] 12/13
tenuis, W. & N. ......... 3 9
MEE DCOD) 2 .ccccas suas. 1)/2)3/4 6|7|8|9]10} 11] 12) 13
tragalus glyciphyllos, L. . 3/4 6|7/8
nithopus perpusillus, L. 2 4 10
ppocrepis comosa, Linn. 2 q
obrychis sativa, Lam. ...... 2 4 9
tia sylvatica, Pian is, 2)}3/}4/5/6/7)8|9110 12] 13
Cracea, L.... Meee sh cliealen |, 7\8|9110 12] 13
RELI dS ee ee ee 5H OB i + +
—— Bobartii, Forst. ......... 2)3)4 6|7 9 12
m—=——sepium, L. ........ JE RF. 1}/2|3)|4 6|7/8|9]10 12/13
m——hirsnta, Koch. ..........1. 1/2/3)/4 9|10 12] 13
— tetrasperma, Koch. ......|1|2| 3) 4 6|7|8|9}10 12] 13
“Le iyrus latifolius”) ?. 1
ithyrus pratensis, L. ......... 213)4)516/7/8/9|10 12
—— sylvestris, L. ......... 3| 4 7|8/9] 4 | 11
obus tuberosus, L,............ 2)3/415|)617)8|9] 10 12) 13
Becenwifolius..............200- 2 10
Prunus spinosa, L. ............ 1/2 415 7\8 10
. Seti: Lal seca snnoae 2
domestica, L, ......... F
emt Ea.) . os sinsbeans ae 1 5 9 12
=—Cerasus, L. ...........- 1p
—— avium, L.... ........... 1)2/3/4 6|7)\8 10

NUMBER AND NAMS& OF DISTRICT.

|
tH —
a Hi} .|A a] ./el BH} 4} 2
e| |s|e/e) (BR el el eal) =
SB] |AlSslelslieje/a|a2)/S)ea)a] x
Fla l/S Ale aieiela; Blo} s}als
2/8 /e/elelalels| =| e18| S| =
Bla l/Elalalieimiela| <|8/a|o] a
1) 2)/3/4}5|6/7)/8/ 9/10] 11] 12) 13) 14
Spirea Ulmaria, L. ............ 1)}2/3} |5)6/7|8/9)10 12] 13) 14
Filipendula, L.......... 2 .
Geum urbanum, L. ............ 1)/2/3/4 6/7/8/9}10 12/13/14
var intermedium, Ehrh. 9)
PIVALG, OU odes -nideecbeeacns 5 q
Agrimonia Eupatoria, L. ......)1|2/3}4/5/6]) |8|9/10 12/13) 14
— odorata, Mill. ...... 1 q ;
Potentilla anserina, L. ......... 1/2)3)4/5|6/7/8)/9)10 12/13/14
argentea, L. .........,1]2)3 if 10 13/14
weit, Me eckson 2 3/4 q
reptans, I ......... 1|2|3|4|5|6|)7/8|9|10 12} 13) 14
Tormentilla, Schk, 2/3)4 6/718}9|10 12 14
nemoralis, Nestl. ...| 1 3 g 13
—— Fragariastrum, Ehrh| 1) 2/3/4} |6/7/8] |10 14
Comarum palustre, L. ..:...... 10} 11/12/13
Hragaria vesta, Li. -...1..6.s005¢- 1)2/3/4/5/6)/7/8|9)| 10 12/13/14
elatior, Ehrh: ..: ....7 8|9
Rubus Ideeus, L. ...............)1/2/3}4| |6 8 10 12/13/14
plicatus, W. & N. ...... 4
— nitidus, Bell. Salt. ......)1] 2 4
— rhamnifolius, W. & N. |1|2 4
—— thyrsoideus, Wimm. ...| 1
— discolor, W. & N. ...... 1|2 4 q
— leucostachys, Sm......... 1) 2)3)4
—— carpinifolius, W. & N. 2; |4
—— pampinosus, Lees. ...... La 4
— macrophyllus, W. & N. 4
—— Hystrix, Weihe. ......... 1)2| |4
= BUGIS, WING. 2.455 .5.050 1|2 4
—— pallidus, Weihe. .........|1 4
— Keehlen, Weibe.......... 1|2 4
— fuscoater, Weihe.......... 1 4 7
— glandulosus...............
— var. Bellardi, Weihe. ... 4
— var. fuscus, Bab.......... 1 4
— var. Lejeunii, Weihe.... 4
—— var. rosaceus, Weihe.... 2
— Balfourianus, Blox....... 1
— corylifolius, Sm. ......... cae
—— nemorosus, Hayne ...... 1 t
—— cosius, L. ...ceeeeeee eee 1/2 4 8|9]10

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

Fal <2)
(eee tae Pe alle
S| l€)2la] leiwlé el ./2/=/8
S| jeislelslelaiai Blo) e| a] w
elelalelslelaisiz 2/s|e/8/§
6/olgigieiaiaia/e&|/4lal/ela
q B/S\FIA(AlE|R lal <| e/a) o| a
| 1/2/3/4/5/6/7|8]9| 10] 11/12/13 |14
Rubus altheifolius, Host....... 2
_ Rosa spinosissima, L. .........
Doniana, Woods.......... 4
f=—— tomentosa, L. ..... ...... 1)2/3/4|5| ? i 9 12 14
= Villosa, L..........0.s.00000 4) jt) 3
———- micrantha, Sm............. 2 4 117 9
—rubiginosa, L.? ......... q i a ? ,
— —canina, Lee 2| |4/5/6/7| |9/10]}11|12)13|14
4 -—— b. sarmentacea, Woods. +
——c, surculosa, Woods. ...| 1/2
_ — d. dumetorum, Woods. 2 9
a e. Forsteri, Smith ...... 2; |4
— systyla, Aut................ 4
—— arvensis, L. ............... 2/31/415/6]7|8)9)/10}11)12
Sanguisorba ficinalis, he ed 2/3 7/8} | 10 13 | 14
~ Poterium sanguisorba, L. ...... 213)4 6 8|9
—— muricatum, Spach....| | 2
- Alchemilla vulgaris, Bee 5. 1)2/|3/4 617|8|9|10 12/13] 14
——— arvensis, Lam. ...| |2/3/4 6|7|8|9|10)11)12 14
teegus oxyacantha, L. ...... 1) 2/3/4 6 a 9/10/11)12 14
s communis, L. ............ 2 4 * 9
= malus, L 1) ees ae 213/4 6/7|}8|9|10 14
~— torminalis, Sm. ......... 2/3)4 8|9
—— MM 5... 4.0 vas ae 2
—— scandica, Bab............. 2 F
i aucuparia, Gaertn. | |2)3)4 6 9}10)11)12 14
-Epilobium augustifolium ...... 1/2/3 6
hirsutum, L or oe 2)3/41516|7|8)|9)10 12 14
parvifiorum, Schreb.| 1 | 2 | 3 5/61.7|/8/9)10/11
montanum, L. ...... 1)2/3|4|5|6|7|8)9 11} 12 14
roseum, Schreb. ...} | 2/3 6|7 9}10}11|12
palustre, L. ......... 1 4 9 11] 12
tetragonum, L....... 2
obscurum, Shreb....} 1 | 2 4 2 8|9}10}11}12
iorea Iutetiana, L. ...........- 213/415 7/819| 10111) 12 14
nothera biennis, L. .......+. + + +
uris vulgaris, L. .. 1 12/13
ophylum verticillatum, Fe 3 7
3 — spicatum, L. 213 7|8)9
Sallitriche verna, L.. .......... 21314 ]5 7|8/9)10 12}13)14

7 — platyearpa, Kiitz....| 1

.

<a
»

10

e
NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT,
|
Se kept Vee ligell Aleta || 8
z| |Slele!| lalele| el] 2|/ sie] sg
g q 2 mlalela 4| & a Bi td
Ela|Rimiala | ee = o|/8|/a|o
alSlolajalzlalaia|&| a\als| 4
a\S/Fla|a|se|Aie/a|] 4) 4] a] co] a
1}2}3)4)%|6)7)8)9/10}11)12/13} 14
Callitriche pedunculata,
var. sessilis, Bab.) | 2
autumnalis, L, ? .. a) %
Ceratophyllum demersum, L. 2 13
Lythrum salicaria, L. ......... 2/3 7|8|9 12
Peplis Portula;L. j.:5...scce.003 1|2 6 11] 12
Bryonta dioica, Ti... 2iije<e<s2.5. 1)/2|3/4 6/7|8}9/10 12
Montia fontana, Tb. .2.cevenc es 1}2/3)4 12 14
Scleranthus annuus, L.......... 1)/2\3}4 7/8|9 12
Rites rubrum, Te :..5.26sc0.c. «. 2 4 7 9
mremamnS Ba. Meee tee: 1\2 4 9
—-— alpinum, L.........0. ee. *
== (Grossulania, dad. decors! (ETP iti salts ‘t
Sedum Telephium, L. ......... 2 t 12
BETO» Muse nw rene ose cee ices 413)4 Via lel 12
dasyphyllum, L. ...... * * *
RA CONTON, ¢ DR pe temo PANE tse *
ifsligey-gsbidyy ID Mea asheee don * | # «| 10 + +
Forsterianum, Sm. ... 10
Cotyledon umbilicus, L. ......) 1] 2}3})4/5 7/8/}9}10/11]12)13)14
Sempervivum tectorum, L. * * * |
Saxifraga granulata, L.......... 2/3/4| 16/7} |9/10 13
tridactylites, L. ...... 2|3)4 7/8|9/10
— hypnoides, L. ...[L.| | * * | 14
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium! 1 | 2 | 3) 45 7/8}9/10 12/13/14
alternifolium,L,) 1 3/4 718}9/10 14
Adoxa moschatellina, L, ......) 1} 2 C8920 12/13) 14
ed era pate lx witseenes Sicca ire 11/2/13 516|7|8}9]10 12/13/14
Cornus sanguinea, L............ 2/3 6)/7/8/9}10}11)12)13)14
Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L ...... 2 4 8} 9 12/13} 14
Sanicula europeea, L............. 11}/2)3}4/5/6/7)8| 9) 10 12/13} 14
Conium Maculatum, L.......... | |2138/4 7|8/9}10 12|}13)}14
Petroselinum sativum, Hoffm. *
segetum ......... 6
Helosciadium neodiflorum, Kh. 2/34 7/8/}9}10)11]}12) 138) 14
— inundatum, Kh. | 1 | 2
Sison Amomum, L. ............ 1/2/3)4 7|8/9 12} 13
/Egopodium Podagraria, L. ...) 1 | 2| 3 7 9/}10)11)12] 13/14
Caron, West) .n 3. easace tei estes 3
Bunium fiexuosum, With. ...|1/2)3|4 7/8]9 12|}13|14
Pimpinella Saxifraga, L. ...... 1)2|3|4/5 7/8/9}10/11)12)13) 14

t _ Pimpinella magia, T. 2...4.2.,
| Sium angustifolium, L
Gnanthe fistulosa, L.
= Lachenalii, Gmel. .
—— silaifolia, Battech.
= crocata, 1 ES >
aap Lam.
Githusa Cynapium, L. .
Silaus pratensis, Bess.

E Pastinaca sativa, ‘f :

_ Heracleum Sphondy lium, ie
4 Daucus Pamota, slirte. Ssaccorss oat
_ Torilis Anthriscus, Gaertn.
infesta, Spr. ey pe
- nodosa, Gaertn. .........
_ Beandix Pecten, L.

_ Anthriscus Peg em Hofim.
oe. Cerefolium, Hojfm.
heerophyllum temulentum, L.
yithis odorata, Scop. .........
Viscum album, L................
Sambucus nigra, L.
: ebulus, L............<
Viburnum opulus, L
- — Lantana, L. ....
0) onicera Periclymenum, L. ...
Aylosteum, L.
bia peregrina, L, ....
lum verum, Li eee
cruciatum, With. .
palustre, ieee |
uliginosum, L- .........
SARS, Ty 1.3 tecc dees
Mote, Ti yc 0:05 secon
Aparine, L.
boreale, L.
ardia arvensis, L. Ree,
la odorata, L........

‘e]
«

See tee ere eae

wee tee wwe ee

Peete teens

teen eee eee

| + | sv. wronarps.

| to | Ross.

_ Angelica sylvestris, L. .........

anthus ruber, D.C. . et

pt pet pet

etek
Baa
1

1

bo

bo bo bo bo bo lO bb

ll

oo

eo Qo G9 Go CO Qo Go Go Oo OO

bo bo bo bw bo bo bo+ bo bo bo bo bo bt bo

bo bo NDNwnwnwwwly
ow oo oe co co oo oo Co

| eo | WOOLHOPE,

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

‘s
: 2
a] lal.Jels| || 2
: .|8 3
ale(sia/als|s)/S)]/ala
aleleleleis| 6/4/88
A/S/S/RI/ElA}/ 4+) 6) a] so
4/516}718]/9|10)11}12/13
4
9
7/819 12/13
8
718/9/10}11)12)13
8 q 13
4 8|9 12) 13
41516171819/10 12
415 7181/91/10 PAILS
4 12
AV5 16171819110) 11 22413
4/516/718/9110]11)/12)13
4)5 819} 10) 11 )312)13
819
4 8
4 6/7/18] 9 12) 13
4 THE FLO 13/138
4/5 718|9110] 11
11
415/6/7/8)9/10/11/12'13
4 718/9|10/11/12/ 13
6 9/10 12/13
4 6 8/91/10 12/13
4 10 12
415/6/7/8/9}10]11)12)13
*
4/5|6/7|8/9|10 TI es
4/5)6/7!8/9)10 12113
- 16)718/9]|10 LAs
6,7 10 12/13
4 7\8 TO EE Las
415)617)8 10 Lees
6|7|8/9}10 PQs
*
4 6|71819 12}13
4 61718}9|10)11)12
* *

| we | BLACK MOUNTAIN,

14
14
4

14
14
14

14
14 —

14
14
14
14

14
14

14
14
14
14
14
14
14

12

Zz
=
e
a
1
Valeriana dioica, L. ............ 1
sambucifolia, Mik. | 1
Fedia olitoria, Vahl. ............
COMING, Stes... eese. as
ae Agoiia, ING. \gainess: a
dentate; Bieb. s2..5. 76.8.) 2
Dipsacus sylvestris, L. .........] 1
PULOSUS, Us Wena shen
Scabiosa succisa, L. ............ 1
columbaria, L..........
Knautia arvensis, Coult. ..... 1
Tragopogon minor, Fries. ......
a porrifolius, L.
Helminthia echioides, Gaertn.
Picris hieracioides, L. ......... 1
Thrneia hirta; Hothic. se: .2-.2- 1
Apargia hispida, Willd. ...... 1
autumnalis, Willd. ...| 1
Hypocheeris radicata, L. ...... 1
Tactuea ‘virosa, Tu. .f...25s200000
muralis, Less, .........| 1
Sonchus arvensis, L.............| 1
asper, Hoffm. ......... 1
oleraceus, L. 41)
Crepis virens, L. .... ......+..
Hieracium Pilosella, v7 erate oe 1
seas pallidum, Fries. ...
lasiophyllum, Koch
mMUrOmIM, | ls,) s2...2 1
vulgatum, Fries, ...| 1
gothicum, Fries, ?
umbellatum, L.
——— boreale, Fries. ...... 1
Taraxacum officinale, Wigg....| 1
d. palustre, D.C....
Lapsana communis, L. ......... 1
Cichorium Intybus, L. ......... mi
Arctium majus, L................ 1
tomentosum, Pers. ...| 1

; minus, Schkuhr. ...... 1
Serratula tinctoria, L.

See ewneee

ARDS.

| o | BROMYARD
a o| o | FROME.

ro to no | po | ROSS.

bo bo bo bo

bo bo

WWH DH LH HDL DH WWD Www LO

bo+ bo bo bob
iss) oo eo oo co

bo bo

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

wo | o | WEOBLEY.

<< <> | © | LEOMINSTER.
PEMBRIDGE.

AYMESTRY.
KINGTON.

|
|
|

SS

| ~ | HEREFORD.
—
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_
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wove | oo | WOOLHOPE
== | & | LEDBURY

wo oo v9 O9 9
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11
ll

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12

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GOLDEN VALLEY.
BLACK MOUNTAIN.| |

|
|
|

13
13
13
13
13 |.

13
13 |

13

Carduus Me... 5. sacks,
acanthoides, L,
MATLANUS, [a
lanceolatus, L.
eriophorus, L..........
palustris, L.
arvensis, Coult. ......
pratensis, Huds. .
acaulis, L. ee
i pordum Acanthium, ee
-Carlina vulgaris, L.
f Centaurea nigrescens, Angl. ..
nigra, L.
ae L,

see wee nee

arene

seen eee

See ee eee eee

es

tripartita, L....... .....
Eupatorium cannabinum, L. ...
acetum vulgare, L. .........
emisia Absinthium, L.......
vulgaris, L. .

halium sylvaticum
uliginosum
0 minima, Fries.
gommanica, L.......54 54.
ites vulgaris, Desf. ......

Hee eee

tenn eee

| / | ST. WEONARDS.

bo bo to no* bore | ro | ROSS.

lago, Farfara, L.
Pomsaenis) La: '..5 2.2.
idago Virgaurea, L. .........
mo vulgaris, L. .........4,.
sylvaticus, L. inate
erucefolius, L. .........
Jacobea, L. ....:.......
aquaticus, Huds. ......
cum Pardalianches, L.
ee DB OR er emer
ia dysenterica, Gaertn.

vulgaris, Gaertn. ..
lis perennis, L,..............

1

bo bo bb bb bt by b&w bb bb Sb bb DOD dD Wt FS DD WO DD

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

bi
: e,
a] ia] la/./8| os a] 3
S/ 2/3] .|8/8|2| 2/2] 8] 2
DIF ISIS|Rise!| 2/8] &8!1 a8
a\alal2i8 B)a/ 8/5 g a
olglzigisiels|kiE/a] 5
Elaljalsel|HiEFlAl +/M)]a/]6
314/516171819 | 10) 11) 12) 13
3/4 6|7|8|9}10 12
3/4 6 8/9/10} 11
Pact
314151617/8/9]10/ 11] 12) 13
ope 6 9\10 13
31415161718) 9!110) 11] 12
3/4/516/7)8)9110 12/13
gi 6
*
3| 4 48)9} 10) 11) 12) 13
3) 9110
3/41/5/617/819] 10; 11] 12/13
4 8 13
4 6 §|9 13
5} 9 12
3 ae 7\81/9}10 12
3/4}5/617|8/9)10 1,
3/4 7181/9110 12
3/4 8/9/10 12
3/415/6/7/8|9110 12
4 10 1
3/4 61718)9110] 11} 12
4 9 11} 12
3)4 617/8}|9]10 12
71819110 T2413
314/5|/6/7/8/9110 12/13
5 9
4 8/9110 12
314151617/8)9)10)11 12/13
3/4 7|8 q
4 9
31415|6/7)8/9}10)11)12)13
3 8/9} 10)11)12)13
; *
+|9|10 13
3/415 7|8|9/10 12
3/4 6|7/8|9)10 12/13
3)415/6/7/8)/9/10)11) 12/13

| me | BLACK MOUNTAIN,

14
14

14

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

=
“ a| é
| lal lel lalcléle||elehe
B| \s/e/S| (8le/) 2/2/28 e| 2
re) HIiS|F IB |Slel/o| 2) 6] el] a)
Pig SiS Sisigiois|e/e|e| 8) 3
a/E//BIBIEBIE|E| 3/2 | 8] 8| 3
1/2)3/4/5/6|7/8|9410|11 |12) 13] 14
Chrysanthemum segetum, L. *|3/4 71819110 | 11) 220s lee
—__—_—— — Leucanthemum,L.|1|2)3}4/5|}6|}7|8)|9 10 12/13) 14
Pyrethrum Parthenium, Sm...|_ | + 4 6/7)8| 9) 10 be) 14
inodorum, Sm. .../1}2}3/4/5|6/7/8|9/10/11)12)13/ 14
Matricaria Chamomilla, L. ...|- |2)3|4 T1819) LO |Past
Anthemis arvensis, L. .........) 1] 2 TE Mg 10
Cobilay Sasser os. fee 1/2}31}4/5/6/7/8/9| 10) 11] 12) 13 }-14
Achilleea Ptarmica, L. ......... 1}/2/3/4/5/6|7|8/9| 10 12 ‘14
Millefolium, L. ....../1/2/3/4/5/6)7/8|9|10)11)12|13)|14
Campanula rotundifolia, L. ...)1}2)3/4)5|6/7)8/9|10/ 11/12/13) 14
jcc 1 asl PA eee 1)/2)3}41}5)%|7/8|9|10) 11/12/13) 14
Rapuneulus, L. ...| | 2 q
Jatifobia, 1. ",7......- Lee 7/8 12/13
Trachelium, L. .. 2|3/4|5|6 8| 9} 10 12
Wahlenbergia hederacea, Rich. 8
Specularia hybrida, A. D. C. 2/3 7 9
Jasione montana, L.............} | 2 4 6 9/10 PAS
Dario awa relniic dD ope Use ner ae bere 1 14
eimonen, Li, hy oieacansat vac 2\3 13
Calluna vulgaris, Salisb. ...... 1)2\3)4 718/9/10/11| 12] 13) 14
Vaccinium Myrtillus, L. ......) |2/3/4 10) 11 | 12 14
Witis Wideea, Wice.:. 14
Pyrola manor, TL, U7... cseceyielns 2 9
Monotropa Hypopitys, L....... 2
Tlex Aquifolium, L. ............ 1) 2)3)415) 171879710 12} 13) 14 -
Ligustrum vulgare, L. .........| |2|3|4 6 8) 9 12 .
Fraxinus excelsior, L. ......... Dy 213% 7|8|9}10 12|13| 14
+ Vaneay minor, wade, snesene re 1} +) 3) 4 ip 12 ‘14
MON Me rsorcevee sell eT + | -
Gentiana Amarella, L. ......... 1)2/3)4 9|10 13
Erythrea Centaurium, Pers....}1|2)3/4/5|/6)7|8)9|10)11/12)13) 14
Chlora perfoliata, L.... ........ 1/2)3)4 6|7/8/9 13/14
Menyanthes trifoliata, L. ...... 2 4 6 8}9}10 12/13
* Polemonium cceruleum, L. 13
Convolvulus arvensis, L, ......,)1}2/3/4/5|6)7|8|9|10|11|12)13/14
sepium, L. ...... 1)2/3|4/5|6|7/8|9/10 12)13|)14 |
Cuscuta epilinum, Weihe. ... +
Trifoltt, Bab......,.:. +|+ +
Hyoscyamus niger, L. ......... 1|2/3 1184-4 10). 13
Solanum nigrum, L. ............ 2 7|8
Dulcamara,.L. ... .. 1) 2/3/4)5)6|7)8/9/10 12

15

.

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

aE
Sl ‘etl olen) teal teal es i) 3/8
A = ra 5 a BIR) ale =e Ge g
S| |m\Blmlaelelel4|2/Sle18]
Plalsiale|slelsjs|8/8/s}als
so [elsieigigislaisi&|2/a] sia
a 5 @IS|EF(A(alel|MIE)a| <4) ] a} o| aw
a 1|2/3/4/5/6|7/8/9/10]11| 12] 13] 14
Atropa Belladonna, L. ......... 2 7/8 t
_ Verbascum Thapsas,. L....<.-2:: 1)2/3/)4} |6|7)8|9)10)11)12
- Blattaria, L. ...... 8 q
_ —— virgatum, With. ...)1) 2 ép.19
- nigrum, L. ....:.... 7
i, “Veronica arvensis, Biel op hd ad he 8|9}10)11/12|. ;14
— serpyllifolia, L. ......)1}2| 3) 4 6|7/8)9/10)/11)12 14
Jy scutellata, L. 2) |4 8|9 11/12/13
b. parmularia, Tratt, heal 9
Anagallis, L. 1] 2)3 6|7|8)9 12/13
Beccabunga, L. . wees] | 213/415 6 8|9|10}11/12 14
—— officinalis, L. ......... 1/2 4 6|7}8/9}10 14
—— montana, L. ......... 2|3/|4 7/8|9|10 14
—— Chamedrys, L. ......)1)2/)3)/4/5)/6/7)8)9)10)11) 12 14
—_ hederifolia, L.......... 1|2/3)4 7|8|9 {10 12 14
— agrestis, L. ............ 1/2}3)4 7/8/9/10 12 14
—e - polita, Beg. oo, 2/3) 4 7|8|9 12
»——_ Buxbaumii, Ten. ...| 1|2|3 7 10 12 14
sia Odontites, Huds. ......1}2/3/4/5/6|7|8|9|10)11/12)13|14
jhrasia officinalis, L.......... 1)}2)3 6|7)}8|9)10 12/13) 14
nanthus Crista galli, L. ...)1|2)3 6|7/8|9|10 12/13) 14
ampyrum pratense, L....... 1)2/3 5|6|7)/8|9)10)11/12 14
Pedicularis palustris, L. ...... 1/2)3 10 12 :
»————._ sylvatica, L. ...... 1)2)3 6/7|8|9|10 12 14
Soo i Ey iit ede. 1}2/3 6|7|8/9)10/11) 12 14
- Ehrharti, Stev... 3 9}10 12
aquatica, L. Ai 2\3)4/5)6)7/8/9)10 12/13/14
italis purpurea, L. veeseeeesf 1 {213} 4/5|617/819| 10/11] 12|13|14
irrhinum majus, L.......... + +
- — Orontium, L. ...| 1/2 13
Linaria Cymbalaria, Mill. ... FT Terri Pekin. Det
— spuria, Mill............ 9
Elatine, Mill. ......... 1)2}3)4}] |6) |8/)9 13/14
vulgaris, Mill. ......... 1|2/3 6|7|8|9}10) 11) 12
quahor, Dest. ...::. 02.008 1)2)3 6 8|9|10 12
ella aquatica, L 12/13
ache major, Augl. 213/4|5| 217) 2 13
minor, Sutt. 2-2... 1/}2 7|8 13
squamaria, L, ......... 3, 14 7|8\9 13) 14
officinalis, L. .........| 1} 2 7|8/9 11|12)13)14
i t

verbenaca, tS Ne

16

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

a
a eee
a : : BO ke fee aba s
z| [SelB] [Elz/e) 2) 2] s|=| $
S| (SISl|elalelela| 2) 2] 2148] w
Fl\e/S/R/S/S/8/Sla| | 5] 8] alo
w|olS ale elslele|e|218!\ola
a|/RIFlalml|eiRi/ela| «| ¢]/a| o| a
1}2/}3/4/5)6)7)8/9|10]11/12] 13) 14
Lycopus europeus, L. ...... .. 2|3 6|7|8}9}|10 12
Mentha rotundifolia, L.......... 1|2 5 9/10 12
sylvestris, L.............| 1] 2) 3 6|7\8 14
+ b. viridis... t
—— piperita, L. ............ 2\3)4
—~ aquatica, L. ........... 1}2)\3 6}7/8}|9/10 12 14
— b. citrata, Ehrh, | 1
—— sativa, L. ............... 1/2 718|9 14
——— —b. rubra, Sm....} | 2 8/9/10 12
—— c. gentilis, Sm. 2 7 10
—— arvensis, L. ............ 1/2/3 6|7|8/9/10/11)12 14
Thymus Serpyllum, L. ...... .. Lp2} ali te 8|9/10 12 ¢
— Chamedrys, Fries, 1|2 5 10/11
Origanum vulgare, L. .........) 2/2] 3 7|8}9}10 12 i
Calamintha officinalis, Angl....| 1 | 2| 3 8/9 12 14
———— Clinopodium Spen.| |2/3} |5/6/7}8|9/10/41]12 14
Melissa officinalis, L. ......... th
Teucrium, Scorodonia, L. ...... 1}2)3 6\71/8 10/11/12 14
Agneereptans, Le...s. seeaesat 1/2/3]4 6|/7}8)/9}10 12)13444
Ballota migra, Li Yio0-. since 1}2/3 6|7/8}|9/10 12
Leonurus Cardiaca, L.......... +| 2 q
Lamium Galeobdolon, Crantz. | 1|2)|3| 4 6)7/8|9/10 12
==. Ml ondary I LEY Pee ys ay tne 1/2/3/4 6/7/8|9/10/11)12}13}14
+——— maculatum, L.......... 5 eh
— amplexicaule, L.......| | 2 12 14
——— purpureum, L.... ..... 1|}2)3 6|7/8/9)10]11])12} 13) 14
— incisum, Willd. ....../ | 2 t
Galeopsis Ladanum, L. .........|1| 2 7/8/9 11 13
Metrahateie i cecatec: Tey 2s} 516 8|9/10 12
—— versicolor, Curt. ...| 2 10 12
Stachys Betonica, Benth. ... ...1/2/3] |5} |7/8/19/10/11]12| 13} 14
patastris, Gc $5... 02-3) 1/2/3 6}7|8}9}10)/11/12 14
sylvatica, Li. .a...s 1/2/3 5/617/8/9/10 12
—— arvensis, L. ............ 1|2)3 7/8/9/10 12
Glechoma hederacea, L. ......)1/ 2/3 6}7/8|9/10]11}12/13
Nepeta Cataria, L...........:.... 1|2)3 1/7 9
Marrubium vulgare, L......... 1| 2 ff
Prunella vulgaris, L............. 1/2)3}4/5/6]7/8)/9}10/11]12)13)14
Scutellaria galericulata, L.......| | 2 7|8/9 12/13
Myosotis palustris, With. ......)1/2}3]4] |6/7]/8/9]10 12] 13
cespitosa, Schultz...) |2|3 5|6 8/9 11;12

17

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

eS
| ne
3 r=} S 5 : =I : z
a) |eiela| jeielele| jae | 3
=] Mipielsjel/ywl/Gi 2lelel|ealy
Elalsialale(SiSle\2/eS/al\als
‘ 6lSlglalzieiais|\&|/2/a)]eia
BleIElalalel|HiEla| ¢<|/Mlalo|a
re, 1}2}3]4]5|6}7| 8} 9| 10] 11] 12] 13| 14
“gy _ Myosotis arvensis, Hoffm....... 1/2/3/415/6 7/8 9|10)11)12)13)14
collina, Hoffm. ...... 1);2)3)4 7 9
— versicolor, Lehm...... 2)3/4 6|7/8)9)|10 12|13|14
eiticpesen officinale, Bit 2)3/4 7/8} 9410 13
ARVGHSG) Ih.» J. Adee. 11 2/3)4 61718) 9 12
_ ———— purpuro-ceruleum 4
_Symphytum officinale, L. ......} 1} 2) 3 7|}$/9}10 12/13|14
| Lycopsis arvensis, L............. 1)2}) |4
~ Cynoglossum officinale, L....... 2|3)4 6/7|}8|9/10 12/13
*Pulmonaria officinalis, Big ge t| ?
Echium vulgare, L. ............ +] ot 12
- Pinguicula vulgaris, L. ...... .. 8|9}10 12|}13)14
Beeericularia.................. 924.) 13
Primula vulgaris, 66S Mn ee 1/2)3|4 6/7}8|9110 12/13) 14
—_ ers elatior, Aut. 3| 4 8|9|10 12
, weris, L. ........-.00..) 1} 2/3) 4 6|7| 8/9/10 12 14
ysimachia vulgaris, i: Be ee Ge DNs" 7|8|9
Nummularia, 10 Pike (at Ga he be: 617/8/9)]10 12
am nemorum, te A EPA a Te 7/8|91)10 12 14
A nagallis arvensis, L. wf 1) 2/3)4 6/7/89 12 14
— coerulea, Ant.......... 1
= tenella, L. . sail, Se 8; 9/10 12/13] 14
ewe minimus, L Ris 4
Plantago ee eee 1;}2;3/4)5/6/7/8/9)10)11)12 14
———_—_ -niedia, L..: eee eA re | 451.916) C481 94 LO 12 14°-
lanceolata, Tes de Sl 1/2/3/}41}5/6|7/8/9]10/11/12 14
Coronopus, L....... ..| | 2 4
eeropodiam polyspermum, L.| | 2/3) 4 6 12
intermedium, M.} | 2 4 6| 2 9 12
rubrum,L. [© K.| | 2/3) 4 6|7
— murale, L. ...... 7
album, L. ....:: Wp S| 4 7 9/10/11] 12
b. viride, L... 2 4
Bonus Henricus, L.| 1 | 2} 3/4 7|8|9|10 12/13) 14
triplex patula, E. B. .........,) |2/3/4 7 9
deltoidea, Bab. ...... 1h cs
——— angustifolia, Sm....... 1/2/3/4/5) |7 2/10 12
— erecta, Huds. .........)1/2/3]4 6|7 9/10} 11
wergatum, D.t...0...3-.-) | F
rgonum Bistorta, L.......... 2 7|8)9/10 121.135 |
2/3/4 6|7/8/9/10 14

—— amphibium, L....]1

— | | ST. WEONARDS.

mb bw bt rrwrrwrnrrrprnd | to | ROSS.

Polygonum lapathifolium, L...
—— laxum, E. B. 6. ...
Persicaria, L. ...... 1
Hydropiper, L. ...
aviculare, L. ......
convolvulus, L .
Rumex Hydrolapathum, H. ..

SRISDUB, his duGe ba dotetac 1

pratensis, M. & K. ...
obtusifolius, L.......... 1
sanguineus, L. b. viridis, 1

—— conglomeratus, Murr.

ACOLOSH Ml Ae sinccnen eS. 1
acetosella, L.....,..... 1
Daphne Laureola, L............. 1

— Mezereum, L. .........

Empetrum nigrum, L, .........
Euphorbia helioscopia, L. ......| 1
exigua, wae. ie. 24:0) 1
Peplus, Te #..5.25; 1

— Pathyris, 2 | 3.60.42.
— amygdaloides, L. ...| 1

Buxus sempervirens, L..........
Mercurialis perennis, L. ...... 1

b. ovata, Steud. ...

—— annua, DL. .........
Urtica urens, L..........0...0000. 1
TLS Died FD ae 1

Parietaria diffusa, Koch. ...,.
Humulus Lupulus, L. .........) 1
Ulmus montana, L. ............ 1

-~—— suberosa, Ehrh.........

campestris, Sm. ......... 1
glabra, Mill. ........
Quercus pedunculata............ 1
sessiliflora, Sm......... il
— var. intermedia, Leight
Fagus sylvatica, L. ............
Carpinus Betulus, L. .........
Corylus Avellana, L..- ......... 1
Alnus glutinosa, L. ............ 1

bo bo bo

bo

bo bS bO bo bo + Wb

bob bo bo + LO

bo bo

18

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

WOOLHOPE.
LEDBURY.
BROMYARD.
FROME.
HEREFORD.

oo | WEOBLEY.
LEOMINSTER.
AYMESTRY.
KINGTON.

eo
© |
S|
°

| ox
a|[x4
©
—
Be
_
| 2 | pempriper.

ft et
bo bo

b

A
DAD
moma
— at et
bo bo bo

©

Ia oN NWA

or Or

PS a a a a
MOmMmM~nmnD

or or
mewwoowo wo

wo co
AAD
ean

11

wo v9 09
i arn
Or Or
aa
om @Moa

SIS To STI

(2)

ll

wo v9
4

11

loro or orm er)

oo co

Ears

11

SONATA

11

—

11

cn) felons |

ll

oom +OOo Da+nannmnnmnmwm@

Pe +e RE
SSpcipo ees

| SE | GOLDEN VALLEY.

13

13
13

3.

13
13

= | BLACK MOUNTAIN.

—
we

14

19

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

-* | « a
ee 2) lalis| lalelele]. |S] 8
Be Bl 41o1 Bl Siai2| 8/2) ale2|%
aa = B)Blale|ela fi a|o|leleala~
me elals|Blzislelsis| =|2/218| 3
4 glS/S\S{SIEIE(E(2| 2/2 | 2/3 | 2
j 1/2}3}4|5/6|7|8|9|10| 11) 12] 13) 14
Mteiala alba, L. ................0. 213 9/10 12 14
3 glutinosa, Wallr. ...... 1\2 8 10
5 Populus alba, L. a} 4 2

a canescens, Sm... ......| #| * 4}5 9|10
a tremula, L .........-. 1|2 8|9\10| 11] 12
a MRORUG oU « via’ koe oles * * * *
| Salix pentandra, L. ............ *
| —— fragilis, L. ...--.........| | 2 10 12
me ——_ Russelliana, Sm. ......... 2 9} 10
| — alba, L. ow... eee 2 7\8
- ceerulea, Sm. .....0...00- 2
vitellina, Sm. .....--0+6++ +
4 —— undulata, Ehrh........... 2
= —— triandra, Sm. ........-... 2 8/9} 10
— triandra, @urit ses | 2
Hoffmanniana, Sm. . 2 8
amygdalina, Sm. ......... 2
—.. BE EG ofan. Fs. «shies 13
Beeerviminalis, L .....:-.---- 2 8
Smnithiana, Eng., Bot...| + \ + q 2) 2
ferruginea, And. ......... 2
Cinerea, BUM ri ot ag bates 1)2 7| 819] 10
b. aquatica, Sm.| | 2 8
c. oleifolia, Sm. 2
Sa el 1/2)3 9/10
—— caprea, L. ............... 1}2 6|7)8 10 12
nigricans, Fries. ... ..... 10
niperus communis, L. ...... 3) 4 8 10 12
SCULETO ES Ee ie dee 2)3)4/5 8/9) 10 14
nthes autumnalis, Rich. | 1/2) 3 8/9 11, 12] 13) 14
ttia Nidus-avis, Rich. ...... 213)415 7|8 10 13
: 1/2/31) 4 6 8|}9| 10 14
tis latifolia, Sm. -11)2)3|4 6|7|8|9|10 12 14
ovalis, Bab. | ...¢..c0h 2
palustris, Sm. ...... 4\5 8 10 12
grandiflora, Bab.) | 2
ensifolia, Rich. 2|3
0 ogium aphyllum, Sm. 5
a... cen sare a 1)2/3|4 6|7|)8)9}|10 12)13}14
SU Ae 1|2)3)4 7|8|9|10 12}13}14
| SEUSS (ae Be 2\3 (fake

NUMBER AND NAM& OF DISTRICT.
onl ree
val Las!
mA a! a
& : . : me], gi 3 z
sa Rlalel/c/4|a2/oC|]g|4
elalslaleleielalsielSi/alal|é
\S/S/R/Z/elBlele|&) 8} a] 3} 3
B\S\ElAlalelR/Ela| «|S ] a] oo] &
1)2/3}4/)5/6/7|8/9|/10/11 | 12]13| 14
Orchis pyramidalis, L. ......... 3] |5 9 13
Patitl ia, ec esas ts: 1|2 617/8/9 13
—— maculata, L. ............)1]2/3] 4 6/7/8/9110 12/13} 14
Gymnadenia conopsea, Br...... 1 5| |7|8\9 12} 13
Habenaria bifolia, Br. ........| 1 3/4 t 8/}9]10 12| 13
chlorantha, Bab. ...| | 2/3] 4 8|9 13/14
VITICHS oP swyes sss. el 3 6|7/8|9 12
Ophrys apifera, Huds. .........| |2|3 5 8| 9 ilies
—— = MUsciera, ELUGSs: 1. se 2
Tris foetidissima, L. ............ 213 7\8
= PEcud-ACOLUG wae are rae. 2? 3 6|7/8|9}10 12) 13) 14
Narcissus biflorus, Curt. ...... 5 ill 4 TEA; sina asil
Pseudo-narcissus, L.| 1 | 2 | 3| 4 6/7/8|9 Ii43
Galanthus nivalis, L. ......... F 415 fe Selly)
+Allium schcenoprasum, L....... 13
=—avineal Oelneeem cence. cae 2 9 12
warsibanbuin, Ibe scaatsaason UV aye! 6 8 10 12
Gagea lutea, Ker. ..:.......5..... 2
Ornithogalum nutans, L....... *
Hyacinthus nonscriptus, L. ...)1)2/3}4] |6]7)8|9)10]11)12)13) 14
Ruscus aculeatus............ eee 6
Convallaria majalis, L. ......... 2|3 5 8
multiflora, L....... 5 9
Paris quadrifolia, L. ............ TDS: 6|7/8/9}10 13/14
Tamus communis, L............. 1)2/)3/4/5/67718)/9| 10/11 |12)13)14
Colchicum autumnale, L. ...... 1) 2)3)4 7/8|9/10 12) 13) 14
Anacharis alsinastrum, Bab....| | x *
Alisma Plantago, L. ............ 2)3 5|6|7/8|9}10 12}138
——-— ranunculoides, L. ...... 2/3 12 14
Sagittaria sagittifolia, L. ......] | 2 6|7
Butomus umbellatus, L. ...... 213 7181/9
Triglochin palustre, L. ......... 2 4 8/9 12/13
Potamogeton densus, L. ...... 2 7}, (9110 12
————— pectinatus, L. ...| |2|3 10
—_——— pusillus, L. ...... 1 5 9 13
— gramineus, L. ...| 1
— crispts; Ls ic... 1/2/3 7|8|9|10 12
— perfoliatus, L....) | 2/3 7|8)9 13
———=———. Jucens, Eiiy....:. 2|3 8
eee Se natane wine eee 1/2/3 5|6 8/9}10 12
—_——— oblongus, Vir....} | 2

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

| 5S) | GOLDEN VALLEY.

m
= FIDlFlal=ai[a/a| a/ ele
Ele re nlel/e a = = = o | a
1o|2 ale 2\e|8/8/ hb] 4 5
Q\B\Flalalele/Elal <q] se] oa
1}2}3}4/516)7/8/9/10/11/12
Zannichellia eet 1 Pane 2/3
Lemna minor, L. ered ee pW E 7/8|9/10 12
gibba, L. Sach pbpeys 7 10 12
polyrrhiza, L............. 2 7
= tristiica, L............. ee 819 12
Arum maculatum, L....... ..... 1/2/3/4 6|/7|8}9| 10 12
Sparganium minimum, Fries. | 1
— simplex, Huds. . 2|3 5 9
ramosum, Huds, | 1}2/3 5/6 §|9/10 12
Mypha latifolia, L................ 1/2/3 5 7}8/9/10
angustifolia, L. ......... 9
Juncus conglomeratus, L. ...... 1)/2/3)4 718|9|10 12
effusus, pI! RAP RS 1/2|3)4 8|9}10)11)12
elaucus, Sibth. . J1)2)3)415 8|9/}10 12
diffusus, Hoppe. Sabet 2
acutiflorus, Ehrh.......| 1) 2|3)4 819} 10
lamprocarpus, Ehrh....| 1 | 2/3} 4 9/10 12
obtusiflorus, Ehrh, 2 8 12
supinus, Meench. ......) | 2/3) 4 10 12
compressus, Jacq. ...... 2/3)4 7
j [hc 1)/2/3)4/5 7/8} 9/10) 11) 12
_ Luznla sylvatica, Bich. ......... 1)2)3)4 8|9)10]11
pilosa, Willd,... .2...... 1/2|3)4 7/8 10 12
Borreri, Bronf. . 4 | Qi
Waser, DEC. 620.08) 1/2/3 7/8 10
campestris, Br. ......... 1)/2/3)4 7|8|9}10 12
multiflora, Lej. ......... 2 4 7/8}9)10
_ Blysmus compressus, Panz. . 2 4 8/9 12
Seirpus lacustris, L. ............ 1 3/4 9
= setaceus, L.... .......5 2\ 3 8 10| 11} 12
. Byivaticus, Ty 032k 2/3 8 12
— palustris, L. ...... 2.0... 2/3 D 7|8|9 12
4 — paucifiorus, Lightf. 2 .12
- mbvemlaria. Ey J Sat 2 10
fluitans, ee ras 12
Eriophorum ancustifolium, Rhj |2) |4 6 9/10 12
— latifolium, Hoppe 2} 14 12
ee 2 8/9|10 12
stellulata, Good. ......... 1/2 819/10 12
— ovalis, Good. ............ 1/2 8/}9|10 12
ON a 2\3 819 12

= | i | BLACK MOUNTAIN.

Carex axillaris, Good.

AOU PSO ROROSAUERORROURGREGE

intermedia, Good. ......
muricata, L.
divnlsas Goods. sceseses-.-
Walp, Uy if) oe hapele ews
paniculata, L. ............
vulgaris, Fries.
CUbAL Ls Vay. ns cceeacaseieris
i eave eel De Heme pacanaoabeste
(Ederi, Adt.
pallescens, I. .........+..
fulva, Good.
binervis,; Sm... c..c.<s0
PANG. TG Ae ye sens sae
strigosa, Huds.
sylvatica, Huds. .........
pendula, Huds. és
Pseudo-cyperus, L.......
glauca, Scop. :

PERCOM, cl) GCG. co -icns's ass
MGA, Lev. aes pede bear
pilulifera, L.
clandestina, Good. ......
diotiata, Tayo... 5-3. soe->
artes Wola. band oe Actaaecises
ampullacea, Good. ......
Vesicatia, Min vssmnse dada.
paludosa, Good. .........
Miparia, Curb ...\.00 00 fe

eee eee ewes

eee ee tweens

Phalaris arundinacea, L. ...
Anthoxanthum odoratum, Le
Phleum pratense, L. ............ 1
Alopecurus pratensis, L. ......

: geniculatus, L.
agrestis, L. .........

Gastridium lendigerum, Gadd.

Milium effusum, L.

Agrostis canina, L...........++++

vulgaris, With. .
alba, L.

bo
bo

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

| | ST. WEONARDS,

| to | Ross,

1
1
if

sya

1

ig

bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bt

bo bo bk

bo bo bo

bo bo bo bo hb bo bb bb bb bb bs

Ww oo co

bo b bob bo

| ov | WOOLHOPE.
|. = | LEDBURY.
| cx | BROMYARD.
| o | FROME.

oo oO 09

=e oS

ow oO

PEE PRR PPE

Or

Cr

ao oo

| ~ | HEREFORD.
| co | WEOBLEY.
| © | LEOMINSTER.

lo oe 2} mom lo ello oo oe 2)

aaa NN

RS Os SS ES SG

Ce ed

mmomnrm

CO ~

| AYMESTRY.

—
je>)

10
10

© oO

OmoOMOH OOO OH SO

Oowmowowoe

10

10

10
10

10

10
10

10
10

10
10

KINGTON.

—
oO
(oo
ee

11

11
At
ll

1B
ile:

PEMBRIDGE,

GOLDEN VALLEY.

13

13

13

BLACK MOUNTAIN.

14
14
14
14°

14
14

23

Dee eee

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

| | st, WEONARDS.

bo bo bo bb bD bo bo bo bo bO Lb LO bO SO bw bo be bb bt bs bs bo bo bo bo bo bo bo * bo bo bo by bo by | bo | ROSS.

_ Arundo Epigejos, L. ......:.....
meAdra ceespitosa, L. ...............
ees bie)
caryophyllea, Weal 5 ue
precox, L.
_ Avena GS ee ee ee
strigosa, Schreb
maneweens, D.:: .4%...... 4
flavescens, L...............-
lt enathierum avenaceum,

_ Holeus lanatus, L...... [Beauv.
; Brig ltrs Wye 2, act's. Seeeas
_ Triodia decumbens, L. .........
Keeleria cristata, Pers. Eerie
-Melica uniflora, Retz.
— cite bees: @ EME Sa ee
mM folinia czerulea, Mcench. .....
Catabrosa aquatica, Presl.
iam aquatica, Sm.
finitans, Br............. 1
plicata, Fries. . 1
pedicellata, eens pre
distans, Wahl. ......
WM ATS. 25 sds 0 +
Poa annua, L.
pratensis, L.
— trivialis, L.
f——compressa, L. .............--
nemoralis, L.

-

see eee

eee ee tee

wee ee eee twee
>t

tee ewww ene

ee

a bromoides, L.
pseudo-myurus, Soy.-
ovina, L. Will.
duriuscula, L. .........
arundinacea, Schreb...
— pratensis, Huds.

—— loliacea, Huds. .........

ri

a

| oo | WooLHoPE.

ee co Oo oo

Go Go Go Oo CO

OS o> OO OO oo

Geo co

oo Go ise) qo oo Oo

eo

| aE
a| 8
ro : eee a bahe
dle) (Sele| El 2| Sle] 2
DIFISIS/;g/8) 2/8] a6) 8)8
MIS SIS/S=/ 81s} al] als
algigigiars ae ape le
A(SBlBjelala/e| a) S| a
4 5 6|7|8)9 10
415 Ae
4 Z| |9/10/11
4 8| |10
4 7
4
4}5| |7
4 7/8|9/10
4|5|. 171819110
4/5} |718)9/10
4|5| |7|8|9
8|9110
10
4\5| 17/8/9110
q 8|9
4 7| 19/10
i
q 7|8.
5| |7|8|9}10
5
4 7 10
4 7/8/9110
4|5| |7/8|9
4 7|8\9
4 7| |9/10
7| \9|10
5|6|71819|10
4|5| 1718/9)10
4/5} |7/8] |10
4 8|9|10
4 7|8\9
4 8|9}10
4. 7|8|9/10
2
4 8|9/10
4 10

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

Te
a
Fa : Hl &
Sl lal jal lal.lBl se A) 2] 8
2| |ole/3] |S/el2| e|e|ale|
3 o/Hlal/Slal}a] 2@1e] ea] als
Flgo/Blsigiaiols| =|2| 81 8\ 4
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1) 2|3)4/5}6/7/8|9)| 10/11) 12] 13] 14
Bromus giganteus, L. ......... 1/2/3/4|5 7/8(9)10] 11 14
BADEN SB hiv, derneebys 1|2 4} 5 7|8|9|10] 11) 12] 13) 14
SUSEIIS, CE. dine Lester sce 1) 2)3/4 7|8|9/10 12/13] 14
erectus, Huds. .........) | 2/3] 4
Secalimus, Useeceeeeta: 2 9
commutatus, Schreb, | 1 | 2 4 6
PROS Vs, Sie ctir tee since 1)2)3/4 7|8}9}10}11)12|13) 14
var. pseudo-racemosus 2 4 8/9/10
Brachypodium sylvaticum, Beauv. 2/}3/4]5 8|9)10}11);12
————— pinnatum, Beauv. 2 4
Triticum caninum, Huds. . 2 4 8|9 12
POPORG Le Veneer to a5 as 1)2/3)4|5 8/9}10 12) 13)14
Lolium perenne, L. ...... .....)1]2/3/4/5] |7|8/9}10) 11] 12/13/14
italicum, Braun. ...... * * *
Hordeum sylvaticum, Huds....} | 2
pratense, Huds....... 2/3) 4 7|8|9
MUEM UI, Lwe «2.25 oo 1/2/3)4 7
Nardus:strictay (a: to.n sce. sconce 2 9| 10 12
Ceterach officinarum, Willd....| 1 | 2 (Gea S a! 12} 13/14
Polypodium vulgare, L.......... 1)2/3/4/5/6/7)8/9}10/11{ 12 14
———— Phegopteris, L. ...| 1 10 14
a Dryopteris, L. ...) | 2 10 14
———-caleareum, Sm....| | 2 14
Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh. 2 8 10 13} 14
Polystichum aculeatum, Roth, | 1] 2 4/5 7 9/10 12 14
— var. lobatum, Sw.| 1 4 7|/8/9/10 12 14
augulare, Newm. |1/2]3] 4 7|8/9)10 12 14
Lastrea Filix-mas, Pres]. Bf S328 sy (| 8/9) 20) dk ie 14
— var. padeacea, Mbore. 2
Oreopteris, Presl....... 1/2 7/8 10 12 14
—— spinulosa, Presl. ...... 1/2/3)4 7 9/10 12 14
dilatata;, Presi. ...:::... 2 4 7/8 14
— foenisecii, Wats......... 2
Athyrium Felix-foemina, Roth.| |2} [4/5] |7/8|9/10 12 14
rheeticum, Roth. ...} 1 2 7 10/11
Asplenium Trichomanes, L. ...| 1 | 2] 3] 4 7/8/9/10}11|12)13) 14
VITICG sao este Bae
Adiantum nigrum |1/2] |4 7/8}|9}10 12} 13/14

.

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i MM Blechnum boreale, Bin ae
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_ Botrychium Lunaria, Sw. .....
; © Ophioglossum, vulgatum, L....
_ Lycopodium clavatum, L. ......

PRUBORS, .. 2b svenv’

_ Equisetum Telmateja, Ehrh...

arvense, L, .........
sylvaticnm, L.......

—

Ree | | st. WEONARDS.

ro boro ror | pw | ROSS,

bo
Or

NUMBER AND NAME OF DISTRICT.

w wovcoc | oo | WOOLHOPE.

| co | BROMYARD.
| @ | Frome,

~1-a-a-1-1 | ~ | HEREFORD.
~ Macca | oo | WEOBLEY.

ee eS | & | LEDBURY.
Or Or Sr Gr

ad i=)

for)

‘
7
7
7
7

G2, TGpL.Ge

| S | AYMESTRY.

momo! o | LEOMINSTER.

BLACK MOUNTAIN,

KINGTON.
PEMBRIDGE,
GOLDEN VALLEY,

12
12

11] 12) 13
11) 12/13
13

11

FLORA

OF

HEREFORDSHIRE,

DEFINITION OF DISTRICTS,

WITH
NOTES ON THEIR GEOLOGY,
BY THE REY. W. S. SYMONDS, F.G.S., &c. Ps
Sie eens s< of
NO. 1. THE ST. WEONARD’S DISTRICT. a

x This District, which occupies the southern angle of the County,
% eonsists of the basin of the river Garran, together with the tract to
the N. W. of this as far as the Worm Brook.

-_- Tt forms an irregular parallellogram, one of whose longer sides
extending from Gannerew to Monmouth Cap Inn, is bounded by the
County of Monmouth; the opposite longer side, and the South
Eastern shorter side, are defined by the line of watershed between
"the Garran basin and the valley of the River Wye—a line which is
represented with sufficient exactness by the turnpike road from
‘Hereford to Monmouth, passing in its course the following places :

; D ewaall, Sige Tump, Llanwarne, beep une End, New i

2 ST. WEONARDS DISTRICT.

GEOLOGY.—tThe St. Weonards district is composed of beds of
the Cornstone series of the Old Red Sandstone. The Cornstone
deposits of the great series of rocks known as the Old Red Sandstone,
or Devonian system of Geologists, commence low in the Old Red
deposits as thin Cornstones, or impure concretions of lime and marl,
interstratified with red, yellowish, and white coloured sandstones and
beds of clay and marl.

The lowest bands may be seen at Ledbury tunnel, where they pass
downwards into the Downton sandstone and upper Ludlow shales,
and upwards into red marls, grey sandstones, and marly impure
cornstones, which constitute the lower Old Red sandstone of Here-
fordshire and Monmouthshire.

Sub-crystalline masses of impure limestone, vulgarly called “corn-
stones,” occur some hundreds of feet higher in the Old Red rocks of

Herefordshire than the calcareous bands of the lower deposits above’

mentioned. They are quarried at Kilpeck, north of the St. Weonards
district, and again at Kentchurch and below Orcop Hill, where, in
company with my friend Mr. Linewoop, I obtained fragments
of the Old Red fish Pteraspis, and Cephalaspis. The hills of
Kentchureh Park, Saddlebow, Rowlstone, and Orcop, are capped
with grey sandstones and marls, which I look upon as the summit of
the cornstone series, and which pass upwards on the Skyrrid, near
Abergavenny, in the Black Mountains, the Blorenge, Sugar Loaf,
Daren, and Pen-Cerrig-Calch into the brownstones, marls, and
chocolate coloured sandstones, which, with the overlying conglomerate
and yellow sandstone, constitute the upper Old Red. At Orcop,
Saddlebow, and Kentchurch hills, the brownstone series are denuded,
and I believe but just denuded. The southern division of the
St. Weonards district, at Gannerew, passes into a district most inter-
esting to the geologist, and revealing a most complicated geological
history.

The geologist who would comprehend the wondrous physical
geology of Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, will soon learn the
necessity of visiting many distant hills and rolling vales before he
can hope to understand the geology of a single district of the land of
the Old Red. It must suffice here to remark that the rocks of the
Old Red that underlie the Carboniferous limestone of the Great
Doward and Symonds’s Yat, a little south of Gannerew and Whit-

: ROSS DISTRICT. 34

church, are the equivalent beds of those Old Red deposits which cap
the summit of the Sugar-loaf and the Skyrrid, range high up on the
Daren, and support the outlying limestone of the lofty Pen-cerrig
Calch. When, therefore, we examine the position of the Carbonifer-
ous limestone at the great Doward, and reflect that the hills of
Garway, Orcop, Kentchurch, and many others in the St. Weonards
district belong to the cornstone series of the Old Red, we shall be
at once struck by the upheaval which has elevated the cornstone
strata to the north of Gannerew, and depressed them towards the
south.

ne

NO. 2. THE ROSS DISTRICT.

This consists mainly of the valley of the V Tye from the borders of
Gloucestershire on the south, to Aconbury Hill and Mordiford on
the north. The western boundary is formed by the line of road
from Gannerew, northward, to Dewsall, described under District L

: From Dewsall, at the north-western base of Aconbury Hill, the
, northern boundary follows a small brook eastward to the river Wye,
crossing which at Mordiford, it takes the course of the turnpike road
to the §.8.E. through Fownhope, Old-Gore, Crowhill, and Broomsash,
reaching the borders of Gloucestershire near the Lea.
The S. and S.E. parts Copped Wood Hill, near Goodrich, although
formerly an outlying portion of Monmouthshire, is physically a
part of Herefordshire, and is therefore included in this district.
By including the hills of Great and Little Doward in this district,
all such portions as belong to Herefordshire, of the belt of Carbon-
iferous limestone which surrounds the Dean Forest Coalfield, are
included in one and the same district. Thus the plants of these lime-
stone rocks appear in one district list only, instead of two, which

might have given rise to an impression that they are distributed over
a larger portion of the County than is really the fact. The tract of
country included in this district has long been deemed the most
fertile portion of Herefordshire. Botanically it is rich in species,
and this, as well from the varied character of its surface, as from the
addition of the limestone plants. Of the Herefordshire rocks, the
oI _ earboniferous limestone is, I believe, by far the richest as to the
number of plants it produces ; not only are some of the most rare

4 ROSS DISTRICT.

and local species confined to it, but in addition to these specialities,
it produces a larger number of the remaining species, in the county
list than does any other rock. It must, however, be owned that this
last remark is made from memory, and has not yet been strictly tested
by the formation and comparison of distinct catalogues of the plants
of the different geological formations.

GEOLOGY.—tThe south and south-eastern portions of the Ross
district as above described, include the hills ‘of Great and Little
Doward, as well as Howle Hill; all of which consist of strata of
the Carboniferous epoch.

On the banks of the Wye, opposite Whitchurch and below
Symonds’s Yat, there is a section which shews the transition from
the upper beds of the Old Red sandstone, the conglomerate or pud-
ding-stone, and the yellow sandstone, to the overlying carboniferous
limestone shale, and carboniferous or mountain limestone.

The upper part of the section is much obscured, but may be traced
by the yellow sands which crop out on ascending from the Wye -
ferry to the rocks of Symonds’s Yat.

IT recommend my brother geologists to examine a far superior
developement of the transition rocks between the Old Red and
Carboniferous systems at Drybrook, on the Ross and Drybrook road,
and of which I have given the particulars in a former work.*

I rejoice that Howle Hill falls within the district of the Hereford-
shire Flora, for a band of the lower coal measures still remains
there, a relic, as it were, to remind the botanist of the most profuse
vegetation the world has ever beheld.

Ascending to Howle Green, and Howle Hill, from Ross, the ex-
plover passes successively over the upper beds of the Old Red sand-_
stone, the mountain limestone shale and limestone, the millstone
grit, and lower coal measures. The following may be taken as the
arrangement of the strata in passing from the Speech-house in Dean
Forest, to the rocks of Ross.

1. Upper sandstone and clays with various coal seams, lower
sandstone and lower coal seams.

2. Millstone grit.

"

* Stones of the Valley.

ROSS DISTRICT. a

3. Carboniferous (mountain) limestone, with limestone shale
underlying.

4, Yellow sands with red bands, and red marls.

5. Old Red conglomerate, and marls and sandstones.

6. Red sandstones of Ross district, as below the Royal Hotel.

I have often searched the Old Red quarries of the Ross district for
fossils, but hitherto unsuccessfully. There are quarries at Pengethly
and Hentland where the new parsonage house is built of excellent
stone by the Rev. W. Poole, Harewood, and many other localities.

q The railroad also cut through a considerable amount of Old Red rock,
: but I never succeeded in obtaining, or even hearing of a fossil. The
- Carboniferous limestone of the Dowards is not very fossiliferous, but
.

if watched by geologists of the neighbourhood, would, I doubt not,
yield many characteristic remains. In my few passing visits with
friends and brother naturalists, I have noted various brachiopodous
shelis, such as the common spirifers, Producti and Rhynconellide,
both at the Great Doward and above Whithall, near Ross. At the
Great Doward I once obtained a portion of a large Ichthyodorulite,
or fish spine, shewing that such relics of former life are to be found
if searched for. There is a bone bed full of fish teeth, and defences,
at the base of the carboniferous strata, at Bristol; and Lord
Ducie found it at Tortworth ; does it exist in the Ross district, and
has any one ever searched for it ?

The Millstone grit of Dean Forest may be easily mistaken for the
Old Red conglomerate, as they are both pebble beds. A little
observation, however, will enable the geologist to detect the difference
at a glance, as the matrix of the Millstone grit is far more crystalline
than that of the other. I observed when I was last in the neigh-
bourhood of Ross, that travelled boulders of Millstone grit, and Old
Red conglomerate, also of coal measure sandstone, rested against strata
to which they did not appertain, high up on the flanks of the hill
above Bishop’s Wood house, and towards Howle Green. My
attention was drawn to this fact by Mrs. Partrines, of Bishop’s
Wood, and the attention of residents in the neighbourhood should
be directed to these phenomena. Howle Hill, Egypt, and Howle
Green are on an outlyer of millstone grit and the lowest coal mea-
sures, separated from the equivalent carboniferous strata at Ruardean.
_ The ixtervening tract thus gives a good example of partial denuda-

6 WOOLHOPE DISTRICT.

tion. The physical geologist who visits from the Forest of Dean
the Blorenge, Pen-cerrig Calch, and the South Wales coal field, the
Clee Hills, the Vans of Brecon, and the heights of Gader-vawr, will
soon realize the great probability that these distant hills, with strata
now widely separated, once formed portions of a regular series of
continuous and conformable stratification of Old Red rocks with
overlying Carboniferous deposits, and that the mountain limestone,
nay, even the coal measures, once stretched far and wide above the
plains of Herefordshire. At Mordiford and Fownhope, the upper
Silurian rocks of the Woolhope valley are upheaved through the
lower Old Red deposits. The hill at the Old Gore is Old Red, and
the strata are highly inclined. The northern portion of the Ross
district, towards Aconbury and Holme Lacy is interesting only to
the physical geologist, who would trace the effect of the upheaval
of the Silurian dome of Woolhope in the hills around, and the
effects of whole ages of denudation as exemplified in the deep and
fertile yales. é

NO. 3. THE WOOLHOPE DISTRICT.

This district is intended to coincide, as nearly as artificial bounda-
ries will allow, with the area of the geologically famed Silurian rocks
of Woolhope; a tract, which from Tarrington, Dormington, and
Mordiford on the north, extends southwards into the County of
Gloucester. The main turnpike roads have been made use of as
boundaries, since they approach very near to the actual geological
limits.

From the borders of Gloucestershire, near the Lea, the western
boundary of this district is traced by the continuous line of roads
passing Eccleswall Court, Broomsash, Crowhill, Old Gore, Fownhope,
Mordiford, Dormington, Tarrington, The Trumpet Inn, and Little
Marcle ; the remainder of the eastern boundary is formed by the
county of Gloucester.

GEOLOGY.—The Woolhope district is one of the most remark-
able geological districts in Great Britain. It is an example of the
elevation of a large tract of underlying strata, the Upper Silurian
strata, through the overlying Old Red strata by earthquake action,

WOOLHOPE DISTRICT. 7

while all those rocks were beneath the waves of an ocean. The
whole of this district may be described as a mass of Upper Silurian
strata elevated in the shape of a pear, and extending from Mordi-
ford, four miles from Hereford, on the north, to Gorstley, near
Newent, on the south. At Gorstley the Silurian rocks dip for a
short distance under the Old Red sandstone, and rise again at Aston
Ingham and near Kilcot Green, into the Silurian dome of May Hill.

It is not easy to describe the geological phenomena of this remark-
able upheaval and denudation of Silurian rocks briefly and succinctly. _
I can only say that, I believe, there was a period when the high hills
of Seager Hill, Stoke Edith Park, Backbury Camp, and Cherry Hill,
near Fownhope, were horizontal stratified Aymestry rocks, overlaid by
the Old Red sandstone, and overlying and surmounting the Wenlock
rock of Dormington quarries, Hollinghill Wood, and Limekiln Bank,
near Fownhope. The Wenlock rocks also overlaid the Woolhope lime-
stone of Woolhope, Littlehope, and Scatterdine ; and this limestone
again surmounted the Llandovery rocks of the dome-like wood of
Haughwood. Earthquake agency upheaved the Silurian rocks
into this cone-like form through the Old Red overlying strata ;
but all these rocks must have been underneath the sea at the period
of upheaval, for sea-waves and currents have swept away every frag-
ment of the mass of rock that once linked together the continuous
strata of Aymestry with Aymestry rock, and Wenlock with Wenlock
limestone, and swept out the soft intervening Ludlow and Wenlock
shales into deep and nearly circular vales.

Mordiford, at the} north of this district, is well worthy of the
attention of geologists, as it is the only locality where any amount
of debris is collected of the immense masses of rock that have been
denuded. Probably a second elevation occurred, and the Mordiford
gorge may have been wider than at present. Near to Mordiford are
the lower Wenlock limestone (Woolhope limestone) of Scutterdine.
These beds are renowned for their fine specimens of the large
trilobites, Ienus Barriensis, and Homolonotus Knightii. One spe-
cimen I obtained from them, now in the Malvern Museum, is as
large as a fair sized lobster. Dr. Wricut, of Cheltenham, and the
Rey. F. MerEWeTHER, of Woolhope, have also secured good specimens.

Dormington village, on the Hereford high road, must not be
confounded with Dormington quarries. The village stands upon

8 LEDBURY DISTRICT.

rocks which constitute a passage between the Old Red and the upper
Silurians, in fact is near the line where the Silurian beds are upheaved
through the rocks which once overlaid them. Dormington quarries
can only be reached by surmounting the hill and passing over the
uplifted ridge of Aymestry rock, by Backbury, or the landslip.
They are of Wenlock limestone, the valley intervening between
them, and Haughwood, being a valley of denuded Wenlock shale.
The mansion of Stoke Edith Park, the residence of Lady Emily
Foley, stands very close on the line of upcast of the Silurian rocks,
as also does Tarrington village, and the Foley Arms Inn. The upper
Silurians rising through Old Red rocks, may be seen at many localities
on the south of the village of Fownhope. Capler Wood and Nash
Tump on the west, Putley, and Little Marcle on the east of Woolhope
dome, are on the Old Red.

At Much Marcle the junction of the Old Red and upper Ludlow
deposits may again be observed. I accompanied the late Mr. Srrick-
LAND, some years ago, to look for the Ludlow bone bed, which we
found at a locality north of the Ross and Ledbury high road, between
Lyne Down and Gamage Ford, where our friend and companion, the
Rey. Henry Sront, discovered for the first time the seed vessels of the
earliest known land plant—the seed vessels of a small Lycopodium.
At Gorstley there is a section, near the large pool, shewing the
junction of the upper Ludlow beds with the Downton sandstone.
The fossils here are interesting. The interior of some of the fossil
shells contains spicules of sulphuret of nickel, which the quarrymen
of course call ‘ gold.” The Lea, at the southern extremity of this
district, is situated on the Lower Old Red, and near the junction of
the upper Silurian upceast of May Hill. It is chiefly remarkable for
its well-restored village church, and a parsonage house of better taste
than common.

EEE

NO. 4. THE LEDBURY DISTRICT.

This consists of the basin of the little river Leadon, a tract
extending from the hills of the Woolhope District to the hills which
rise immediately to the east of Ledbury. To this is added the tract
intervening between these hills and the Malvern range, which
constitute the natural boundary of Herefordshire on the east. Of

LEDBURY DISTRICT. rg ; 9

this latter part of the district, the northern part is drained by
Cradley Brook—the southern by a tributary of the Leadon. The
whole of this district is therefore a backwater of the Old Severn
Straits.

The exact boundaries of this district are formed on the north by
the Worcester and Hereford road, from its intersection of the County
boundary at Holywell turnpike to the Frog and Half-hide, near
Castle Frome ; from thence the western boundary follows some
small roads to Canon Frome, Ashperton, Pixley, Aylton Chapel,
and little Marcle, where it meets the boundary of Gloucestershire.

GEOLOGY.—The Ledbury district, as apportioned by Mr.
Purcnas, takes in at its northern extremity, the western flanks of
the Chase-end and Ragged Stone hills, which constitute the southern
end of the Malvern hills. There is no locality along-the range of
the Malverns so important to the geologist as the section on the
Ragged Stone. In the Dictyonema shales at the south end of the
Chase-end hill, and the volcanic dykes and black schists containing
Oleni, near Fowlet’s farm, we have evidence of the great, and,
we may say, extreme antiquity of the Malverns, for rocks as old as
the Lingula Flags of Wales are deposited upon stratified old gneiss
rocks, which were as much hardened ‘and consolidated at the
time those Lower Silurian rocks were laid down upon them by
Pre-Cambrian waters, as at the present time.

The Middle Lingula Flags are fossiliferous near Fowlet’s farm,
and have yielded many fossils, trilobites, and small brachiopodous
shells, to the researches of Miss Marcarer Lowe, of Great Malvern,
and Mr. Turner, of Pauntley. Proressor Parizies was the first
to discover these fossils, several years ago, Agnostus, which is an

important form of crustacean, for it is a form found in the Lingula
Flags of Sweden and America, as well as of Great Britain, was first
detected here by the late Mr. Hucu Srrickianp.

' Again, we here observe that old lava rocks, have been injected into
_ fissures, and erupted through crevices in the Hollybush sandstones
and Black shales. This old lava rock is of considerable thickness,
and occupies the physical position of the Llandeilo, and Bala (Caradoc)
_ rocks of Murchison. It is also worthy of remark that the Upper
Silurian deposits which were deposited on this volcanic rock, present

10 LEDBURY DISTRICT.

no sien of metamorphism, or alteration by heat, within a few yards
of the trap bosses. The May Hill beds appear to have been deposited
on the trap floor of the old sea bed after it had become cold and
consolidated. Eastnor Park, the demesne of Earl Somers, falls
within the district of Ledbury, and there are few finer fields for the
geologist,

The oldest known specimen of the Pterygotus, a Silurian lobster,
was found in the May Hill sandstone, at the base of the Obelisk
hill, by Mr. Jonn Burrow, of Malvern. The developement of
Upper Silurian rocks between the Obelisk hill and Ledbury is
very fine, and should be followed out by Netherton, and Awkeridge
Farms, to Chance’s Pitch, and thence to Colwell by Wellington
Heath, where the Old Red rocks may be seen flanking the hills of
Hope End and the Frith Wood. The railway tunnel at Ledbury, on
the western side, enters in lower Ludlow rock. A little distance
within the tunnel there is a fault, and the Aymestry limestone is cut
through. The Wenlock shale and limestone are then traversed,
being nearly in a horizontal position. The Lower Ludlow beds
again come in, followed by Aymestry rock, Upper Ludlow shales,
Downton sandstone, and, at the west end of the tunnel, by red and
mottled marls, grey shales and grits, purple shales and sandstones,
with grey grits containing abundance of a little fossil fish termed
Auchenaspis, and which constitute a passage into the Old Red
sandstone proper, which sets in before we reach the Ledbury Station.
Wall Hills Camp near Ledbury, consists of Old Red rocks, with a
crystalline cornstone, and bands of red and grey sandstone. At the
base of this hill is a thin band of impure grit, and cornstone, con-
taining many fish spines and scales. Henry Brooks, of Ledbury, a
working geologist, furnished me with many specimens. Cradley,
Castle Frome, Canon Frome, Munsley, and Pixley, are all situate on
the Lower Old Red. At Cradley there is a valley drift deposit on
the line of the brook, ‘but considerably higher than the present water
shed. Lias shells were detected in this valley drift by the Rrv.
R. P. Hr, some years since. The drift was evidently formed
in a valley where the waters opened out into the Severn straits.
Near Ledbury the valley drifts have furnished fossil bones, and
mammoth’s teeth, as also at Clincher’s Mill gravel pits, near
Eastnor. Bosbury, Coddington, and Mathon, are all situated on the

—— so

a a8 BROMYARD DISTRICT. il

Old Red rocks, ahd are far more famed for cider than fossils. The
land of the Old Red is, however, infinitely superior to the poor
_ washy clays of the Silurian deposits.

——EEEEE—EE————
NO. 5. THE BROMYARD DISTRICT.

y This district, lying at the extreme N.E. point of the county of
. 3 Hereford, is bounded on the N. and N.E. by the county of Worcester,
the line of separation between the counties being exceedingly irreg-
ular and unnatural. ;

From the borders of Worcestershire to the intersection of the
Ledbury and Bromyard road, near Castle Frome, the southern
boundary is formed by the Worcester and Hereford turnpike road.
From Castle Frome the western boundary is marked by the turnpike
road northward to a point near Bromyard, whence, taking a more
westerly direction to Bredenbury and Grendon Bishop, it proceeds
along the line of watershed, and reaches the borders of Worcester-
shire near Bockleton. The western part of the tract thus defined is
drained by the Frome: the eastern by the Teme and its tributary
brooks.

This district is in one respect of great botanical interest, for it is
the only part, not only of Herefordshire, but also of Britain, in
which the curious plant Epipogium aphyllum, Sw., has been found.
This plant is rare and of very uncertain occurrence even in these
parts of the continent of Europe which have long been known to
produce it.

GEOLOGY.—The Bromyard district consists entirely of lower
Old Red clays and marls, with hills of cornstones and sandstones, as
at Castle Frome and Bishop’s Frome. There are certain quarries
between Acton Beauchamp and Castle Frome highly fossiliferous,
_ The rock consists of thin cornstones interstratified with clays and
_ thin-bedded sandstones. One quarry, situate about a mile from
_ the great quarry, at Ridgeway Cross, near Stifford Bridge, is full
a of fossiliferous remains, the plates, heads, and tails of those remark-
able Old Red fish, the Pteraspis, and Cephalaspis. Mr. Giz, the
_ overseer of the Ridgeway quarries, generally possesses some good
specimens of the heads and plates of Cephalaspis Lyellii,, Pteraspis

12 FROME DISTRICT.

Lloydii, and P. rostratus. Unfortunately the fish are never found
entire. It was from Mr, Gin that Mr. Ray Lanxester obtained
a portion of Pteraspis with the scales attached.

At Acton Beauchamp, my friend Mr. Humpnrey Sanwey, of
Ludlow, found a new Cephalaspis, now named in honour of the
discoverer, C. Salweyii. I have heard of fossil fish being discovered
near Tedstone Delamere, but never saw a plate of one there
‘myself ; although near Bromyard I have seen the roads mended
with stone containing fragments of Pteraspis. I am not acquainted
with the district between Thornbury and Stoke Bliss, but have

geologised over the upper part of this district, from Upper Sapey .

to Stanford. The Old Red is still the rock of the county, but
unfossiliferous as far as my experience goes. Mammoth’s teeth
have been discovered in drift above the Teme, near Stockton, a few
miles north of Upper Sapey. I have also seen the teeth of Rhinoceros
in the possession of Mr. Jones of Cleobury Mortimer, from the
Teme gravels.

NO. 6. THE FROME DISTRICT.

Between Steen’s Bridge, near Humber, on the west, and Flaggoner’s
Green, near Bromyard, on the east, the northern boundary of this
district is formed by the Leominster and Bromyard turnpike road.
From Flaggoner’s Green, the eastern boundary follows the Bromyard
and Ledbury road, until within five miles of the latter place; it then
turns south-westwards, by Canon Frome and Ashperton, to the
Ledbury and Hereford road, which it meets at the Trumpet Inn,
and follows westwards to Dormington. From thence the western
boundary follows the principal roads passing Bartestree Chapel,
Withington, Felton, and Bodenham ; near which latter place it takes
the course of the Humber brook, and returns along its course to
Steen’s Bridge. The drainage of the eastern side of this district is
effected by the Frome and its tributary the Leddow. The western
half is drained by small tributaries of the Lugg proper.

GEOLOGY.—tThe whole of this district is covered by the rocks
of tho Old Red, but the most interesting portion to the geologist

:
:
;
j
‘
:

HEREFORD DISTRICT, 13

is the southern extremity, which includes Shucknall Hill, Weston
Beggard, Bartestree, and Wilcroft. Shucknall Hill is a great
wedge of Aymestry rock faulted on edge through the Old Red

‘sandstone. At Bartestree there is a dyke of Trap traversing and

roasting the Old Red marls and clays into a hard sandstone ; while
a quarter of a mile farther north, near Hagley House, there is an
upcast of uppermost Silurian deposits just appearing at the surface,
capped by Downton sandstone, and red marls, as displayed in
the Ledbury tunnel. At Weston Beggard the Old Red is quarried.
At Wilcroft there is the most instructive section of High level Drift
T ever beheld, and I have to thank Lapy Emity Fotey for directing
my attention to this excavation of these gravel beds. The Wilcroft
drift is extensively excavated for railway purposes, and occupies
a position of a hundred, or a hundred and fifty feet, above the
Frome, and existing watersheds. This drift consists of well rounded
pebbles of greenstone and Welsh rocks, interstratified with beds
of fine sand, in which are large angular blocks of Old Red
sandstone. We saw one sticking out of the sand, and asked the
workmen to disinter the block. It was so large that it took three
of us to tum it over; it was sharp and angular at the edges, and
evidently had been dropped in the sand as it lay. How but by an
ice floe, when every other pebble near was well water-worn and
rounded. The men informed us that they had quarried numbers of
these great blocks out of the sand, and that some were a ton in weight,

——————>>————_-

ee "7; THE HEREFORD DISTRICT.

This consists of the valley of the Wye, from Preston-on-Wye on
the west, down to Mordiford on the east, together with a portion of
the valley of the Lugg, as high up its course as Bodenham, the
whole forming an irregular central plain to the county, and near the
middle of which stands the city of Hereford. The actual boundaries
adopted are a line from Mordiford westward, by the northern base of
Aconbury Hill to Dewsall, following some roads past Thruxton and
Kingstone, as far as Tibberton and Preston-on-Wye, returning in a
N.E. direction past Byford, Bridge Sollars, Credenhill, Wellington,
and Bodenham, to England’s Gate. Thetice south-eastward to.

14 _ . HEREFORD DISTRICT.

Felton, southward thence to Withington, Bartestree Chapel, and
Mordiford. .

GEOLOGY.—tThe City of Hereford stands partly on the lower
Old Red sandstone, partly upon an alluvial gravel of the ancient
Wye; ranges of hills composed of upper Silurian rocks, as the hills
of Backbury, Mordiford, and Fownhope, and the Cornstone rocks of
the Old Red, as Dinmore, the Pyons, and Aconbury, rising on
every side. ,

This appears to be the place to allude to the drifts of Hereford-
shire, those relics of ancient rivers, lakes, and even sea straits, which
appertaining to the more recent of geological phenomena, belong,
nevertheless, to periods which, chronologically speaking, were
immensely remote, I have endeavoured, in another pamphlet, to
correlate, though I fear roughly and imperfectly, certain of the
phenomena displayed by the Worcestershire and Herefordshire
drifts ;* can only give the briefest notes here.

The examination of the Wye leads me to the conclusion arrived
at by Mr. Ricuarpson, C.E., namely, that the Wye has altered
its course, and destroyed and reformed its alluvia over and over
again, without having encroached upon the land bounding the
alluvium, to any appreciable degree, for many past ages.

From the excavations of the Severn alluvium, we infer that
there was a time when the Severn flowed, as the river Shannon
does now, through a chain of various sized lakes. The lacustrine
silt has been penetrated in two or three instances, and les some
forty feet below the alluvium of the Severn. The lake silts are full
of fresh water shells, fossilized bones, and vegetable remains. The
alluvium is nearly wanting in fresh water shells, as the Severn does
not cover its alluvial meadows with fresh water shells in its autumnal
floods. The bed of a lake is a quiet resting place for fresh water
mollusks, and there they congregate by thousands. I believe the
same history attaches to the Wye, and that, before the present
physical conditions obtained, the Wye flowed through a chain of
lakes, which were gradually silted up into marshes, until the over-
flowings of the river raised the alluvium, and constituted the fertile

* Geology of the Railway from Worcester to Hereford. Hardwicke, Piccadilly.

of abyegone age. Search among the drifts of the Wye, the Luge
and the Arrow!

ESSERE Se te Pier er a eee Lae

‘HEREFORD DISTRICT. 15

meadows we now behold. But how often has the Wye again and
again shifted the bed of its stream and its shingle beaches, since it
first began to deposit its alluvium above the lacustrine silt? My
friend, Mr, Curtey, informs me that the lake silt was reached in
the sewerage excavations at Hereford, at the depth of thirty or forty
feet.

The investigation of the drifts of the Severn and Avon leads
us to believe that there’ was~a period when broader rivers than
the existing Severn and Avon flowed through a chain of broad
water lakes upon the Avon, and down a marine estuary of the
Severn. These rivers deposited their shingle, and have left their
proofs in beds of sand and rolled gravel, twenty feet above the
highest flood-mark of the existing rivers. These are the low level
drifts of Mr. Prestwicu, and they contain in great numbers the
remains of the animals that lived upon those river shores. Tho
elephant, the rhinoceros, cave lion, cave bear, hyzena, and others
were the denizens of our county.

These drifts of an ancient Wye are developed near Hereford. Tho
Infirmary stands upon their shingle; and Mr. De Braquiere has
lately been fortunate enough to find in them a Mammoth’s tooth,

_ It is in good preservation, but water-worn. These drifts should be

* carefully watched.

A hundred or two hundred feet above these low level drifts,
we find the high level drifts of Prestwich. In my own dis-
trict’ of the Severn straits, I can point to several examples, but
never have I seen so really good and interesting a section as at
Wilcroft, Lugwardine, which I have already alluded to.* Nowhere
have I seen such large boulders imbedded in the drift. We want
fossils from these interesting deposits. I have succeeded in pro-
curing a few from the Severn high level drifts, but they were few
and far between. They belong to the Mammoth, and the long-
haired Rhinoceros. Search, geologists of Herefordshire, and botanists
likewise! With aid and observing eyes we do not know what light
we may yet throw on these, at present, dim and indistinct records

toler)

* Frome District, p. 13,

16 WEOBLEY DISTRICT,

The whole of this district consists of Old Red sandstone, but the
character of the soil varies. The vallies of the Lugg and Wye are
rich, especially that of the Wye, but some of the stiff says as about
Allensmore, require draining and much culture.

The fossils are rare. A few broken fish spines from we quarries
near Hereford, and a tail of Cephalaspis Lyellii, in the posses-
sion of the Rey. J. H. Barker, are the only fossils I have ever
seen, from the Old Red of this district. Such as they are they
indicate the position of the beds as appertaining to the lower series
of the Old Red strata.

—————

NO. 8. THE WEOBLEY DISTRICT.

A hilly tract to the N.W. of the Hereford district. It is drained
in its S.W. parts ‘by the Wye; in its N.E. parts by Stretford Brook
and other lesser tributaries of the Lugg, as well as by the main
branch of the Lugg.

Starting from Bridge Sollars, six miles west of Hereford, the
boundary ascends the left bank of the Wye, to Willersley ; thence
it turns N.E. along the road by Kinnersley and Sarnesfield, to
Leominster ; “continuing from Leominster eastward to Steen’s Bridge,
three miles on the Bromyard road. From this point it turns south-
ward to Bodenham, thence it takes the course of the Lugg, till it
approaches the village of Wellington, and returns by some small
roads to Credenhill and Bridge Sollars.

GEOLOGY.—This district is remarkable for the number of
picturesque and wooded hills which have withstood the denuding
powers that hollowed out the vales, and which owe their preservation
to the concretionary masses of Cornstone which are imbedded be-
tween beds of sandstone and clay, and are used for road purposes.
The Pyons, Dinmore, Lady-lift near Foxley, and the hills south and
south-east of Weobley, are among the best examples of the corn-
stone hills of Herefordshire. I have seen fragments of fossil fish,
probably Pteraspis, from Dinmore tunnel, on the Hereford and
Shrewsbury railway, and also from Wormsley and Brinsop, and have
no doubt the quarries of the neighbourhood would furnish a collec-
tion to a diligent geologist. I would also call attention to any gravel

LEOMINSTER DISTRICT. 17
deposits at Monklands that may be quarried. Mr. Curtey has in
his possession a worn molar of Rhinoceros tichorinus from the Lug
drifts near Dinmore.

$$ ——___

No. 9. THE LEOMINSTER DISTRICT.

A tract extending from the borders of Shropshire on the north,
tothe Bromyard and Leominster road, and the river Lug, on the ©
south and S.W. The Bromyard road bounding it from Grendon
Bishop to Leominster, the Lug from thence to Mortimer’s Cross.
The turnpike road between Mortimer’s Cross and Richard's Castle
defines it on the N. W., and a line of watershed running from Grendon
Bishop in the direction of Bockleton, in Worcestershire, on the east.

With the exception of a small tract lying north of Berrington and
the hamlet of Leystex’s Pole, and which pertains to the valley of the
Teme, the Leominster district mainly consists of the basins of
Stretford Brook, Risbury Brook, and Ridgemore Brook, the chief
parts of its drainage reaching the Wye by means of the Lug.

GEOLOGY.—This is a district of Old Red sandstone, but it
contains more than one locality where the stones of the quarry
glisten with plates that belonged to the enamelled armour that cased
the fishes of the Old Red epoch. Leyster’s Pole is one of these
localities. Heads, tails, snouts, and plates of two or three species of
Pteraspis and Cephalaspis abound in these quarries. The Rav. J. F.
Crovon, and other members of the Woolhope Club have collected
some fine specimens from this neighbourhood. A quarry near
Puddlestone is famous for its wave-rippled sandstone, and for tracks
of crustaceans, or some such animals, preserved on thin muddy layers
that lie between the sandstone slabs. In the Worcester Museum
there is a fine slab beautifally rippled, and with the marks of some
ereature that paddled across the ripples. It was left me, as a last
token of kindness, by my departed friend, the Rev. T. T. Lewis.
The Cornstones of Kimbolton, and the hills east of Leominster, are
fossiliferous, and contain many plates of fish.

Per een eee Seen ee a ere

18 AYMESTRY DISTRICT.

NO. 10. THE AYMESTRY DISTRICT.

This consists of the extreme northern angle of the county, and
belongs partly to the valley of the Teme, and partly to that of the
Lug. Its boundary may be roughly described as a line from Richard’s
Castle, on the borders of Shropshire, on the east, to Presteign, on
the borders of Radnorshire, on the west. To speak more exactly,
‘from Richard’s Castle, three miles south of Ludlow, this line takes a
S.W. direction along the principal road to Mortimer’s Rock, thence
it proceeds westward along the line of highest ground to Byton Cross,
from which point it takes the turnpike road to Presteign. It has
been intended to embrace in Districts 10 and 11 the tracts occupied
by the Silurian rocks, so far as was consistent with the adoption of
boundaries which might readily be found.

GEOLOGY.—This most interesting district requires a long
chapter of explanation, rather than a few brief notes. Such how-
ever, is beyond the scope of the present work. The Silurian districts
of Ledbury, Woolhope, May Hill, and Usk are Silurian masses up-
lifted through the Old Red rocks, and are surrounded, or nearly so,
by the deposits through which they have been faulted. At Ludlow,
Aymestry, and Kington, however, the Silurian strata prevail far and
wide towards the west, and if it were not for certain outliers of Old
Red sandstone near Clun, Presteign, and Radnor, we might doubt
whether the Old Red had been deposited above the Upper Silurians
of this district. However, there is no doubt upon the subject, for
in some instances patches of the Old Red rocks have been borne
up upon hills of Silurian rocks, and preserved from denudation.
Indeed we may be sure that the Old Red sandstone was once con-
tinuous from Herefordshire to the Long Mountain, and North Wales.

The Aymestry district takes in Ludford, though not Ludlow.
Too much cannot be said of the perseverance of the Ludlow Geolo-
gists, with Cot. Cotvin, Mr. Licurpopy, and Mr. Satwey, as their
leaders, or of the admirable local museum which has sprung up
under their auspices. The discoveries made by these gentlemen,
and their coadjutors, Mussrs. Marston, Parpor, and others, have
added great interest to the geology of Siluria and the Old Red Sand-
stone. The note I give for my readers respecting the Ludford and
Ludlow district, is “Go to the Ludlow museum, and ask for inform-
ation from the Ludlow naturalists,”

RN ———————————————

AYMESTRY DISTRICT. 19

Leintwardine and Burrington are interesting districts for the
geologist, and [many beautiful Silurian fossils are to be obtained
there—such as Star-fishes and Trilobites. Leintwardine furnished

one of the most important fossils ever discovered. There was for-

merly a prevailing notion among geologists that they had detected
the precise”period, in past geologic epochs, when fishes were created,
and that this period was during the deposition of the uppermost
Ludlow strata, the well-known “bone-beds.” They were mistaken,
for Mr. Lex, of Caerleon, a member of the Woolhope Club, found
the remains of a fish at Leintwardine, in the /ower Ludlow deposits ;
and these lower Ludlow beds are many hundreds of feet lower than
the bone bed of the Upper Ludlow rocks.

At Pedwardine, near Brampton Brian Park, there is a remark-

_ able section, shewing the Lingula flags uplifted, and containing

Dictyonema sociale, and a small Obolella. These beds are precisely
similar in mineralogical character, as well as in fossil remains, to
those detected some years ago on the south-western flank of the
Malvern Chase End. The beautiful scenery of Croft Ambrey, and
Shobdon with its ruined Church, come within the Aymestry district.
Therein we have Wigmore Castle, and Leinthall Earls, and many
other; localities most interesting to the archzologist, botanist, and
geologist. Lucton, at the extreme edge of the district, is close on
the junction of the Old Red and upper Silurian rocks. The trap
of the Clee Hills is no doubt a portion of the Plutonic agent
that uplifted the Silurian rocks of this district. Aymestry was
for many years the residence of the discoverer of the fossils of the
“Silurian System,” the Rev. T. T. Lewis. He it was who, with
Dr. Lion of Ludlow, first correctly established the divisions of the

_ Upper strata, and collected the fossil remains of the Old Red and

Upper Silurian deposits. He communicated his discoveries to Sir
Roperick Murcuison, who was then indefatigably engaged upon
the investigation of the rocks of Siluria; and we possess the result
in those”standard English volumes, “The Silurian System,” and
“ Siluria,” works of which not only the author, but the English
nation, may be justly proud.

20 KINGTON DISTRICT.

NO. 11. THE KINGTON DISTRICT,

This consists chiefly of the upper basins of the Arrow, and of
Backbrook, one of the tributaries of the Lug.

From Mortimer’s Rock, near Mortimer’s Cross, its south-eastern
boundary follows a nearly straight course through Shobdon village
to Lyonshall. From this point it takes the line of highest ground
westward until near Michaelchurch it meets with the boundary of
Radnorshire. The county of Radnor bounds it on the west and
north-west to Presteign. The northern boundary may be roughly
taken as a line from Presteign to Mortimer’s Rock; whilst more
strictly it may be described as following the turnpike road from
Presteign and Byton Cross, thence taking the line of highest ground
along Shobdon Hill wood, descending from thence to Mortimer’s Rock.

GEOLOGY.—The Kington district is nearly as interesting as
that of Aymestry, and would be more so if we could include a few
square miles to the west, and appropriate the Trap district of Stanner
Rocks and Hunter Hill, and the metamorphosed Upper Llandovery
rocks of Old Radnor. Kington, like so many other small towns and
villages,of Herefordshire stands on or near the junction line of the
Old Red rocks and the uppermost Silurians, My friend, Mr. RicHarp
W. Baynxs of Ridgebourne, rendered important service to Silurian
and Old Red geology, by detecting in the Passage beds between the
Old Red and Silurian systems a series of fossils that proved beyond
a doubt that fossils are not so distinctly characteristic of particular
formations as they were formerly supposed to be. The Passage
rocks between these two systems of rock deposits have lately
furnished to the investigation of geologists organic remains of
animals which evidently existed both in the Upper Silurian and
Devonian times. The Pteraspis is found in the Lower Ludlow rocks,
and ascends high into the Cornstone strata, while one or two species
of Cephalaspis occur as low down as the passage rocks, or Tilestones
of Munrcuison.

There are quarries of fine building stone at Penhros, near Kington ;
and the Lower Old Red of Kingswood contains the same Lingula as
the Auchenaspis passage beds at Ledbury. There is an outlier of
Old Red resting on the Upper Silurians at Park Wood, near Kington,
and again at a place called Little Foyce, south of Gladestry, and west
of Huntington, The boulder rocks of the Huntington district
yoquire attention and investigation. Knill, and Knill Garraway near

, canes GOLDEN VALLEY DISTRICT. 21

Offa’s Dyke, the partially metamorphosed Woolhope Limestone of
Nash Scar, resting against highly fossiliferous Llandovery sandstone ;
and the outlying Old Red rocks of Upper Radnor wood, are all
worthy of the investigations of the geologist.

_ Near Staunton-on-Arrow there is an alluvial flat, probably the site
of a former lake silted up by the Arrow and other mountain streams.

es

NO. 12. THE PEMBRIDGE DISTRICT.

This is a level and rather narrow strip stretching in a north-
westward direction from the left bank of the Wye, where it first
enters Herefordshire, to the river Lug, which forms its boundary
between Mortimer’s Cross and Leominster. The hills of the King-
ton district form a natural boundary on the north and north-west,
as do those of the Weobley district on the south-east. The road
from Leominster to the Hay is taken as an approach to this natural
boundary on the south-east. The river Wye has already beon
mentioned as the southern boundary. The western limit is, of
course, the county of Radnor. From the neighbourhood of Michael-
church, in Radnorshire, a line of roads through Lyonshall, Staunton-
on-Arrow, and Shobdon, defines the north-western boundary, which
rejoins the Lug at Mortimer’s Cross.

GEOLOGY.—This district is altogether on the Lower Old Red,
as Mr. Purcuas draws his lines of demarcation. The only subject
of interest to the geologist, that I ever met with in this neighbour-
hood, is the collection of Old Red fish remains and other fossils, in
the possession of the Rey. J. F. Crovon, the Rector of Pembridge.
I believe Mr. Crovucu has a few Old Red fossils from the strata of
the neighbourhood, from a locality near Shobdon, where the Silurian
rocks rise through the Old Red to the high grounds of Shobdon
Park.

NO. 13. THE GOLDEN VALLEY DISTRICT.

This consists principally of the Golden and Grey Vallies, with
the ranges of hills on either side, thus extending from the Wye at
Whitney and Willersley, southward to the Worm brook, and from
Thruxton and Tibberton, westward, to Cusop Hill and the hills east
of Michaelchurch Escley. Owing to its being thinly populated and
little traversed, it is difficult to fix on artificial boundaries, such as

22 BLACK MOUNTAIN DISTRICT.

lines “of road in this part of the county. The actual limits fixed for
this district are—on the north, the Wye from Clifford to Preston-
on-Wye, from thence a line taking a south-east direction by some
roads passing Kingston and Thruxton, to Willock’s Bridge farm, as
the extreme eastern angle. From thence the course of the Worm
brook to Pontrilas, as the south-western angle. From Pontrilas the
course of the brook is followed north-westward to Ewyas Harold
and Dulas ; from which latter place the western boundary is con-
tinued by a line drawn along the slope of Cusop Hill to Hardwick
and Clifford. Owing to the formation of the ground, and other
causes, it is difficult to fix on a satisfactory western boundary for this
district, although the district itself is tolerably natural, since it
consists of ranges of hills, with intervening vallies running parallel
with the ranges of the Hatterel Hills or Black Mountains to the
westward ; yet intermediate in character, elevation and climate,
between these and the lowlands near the Wye on the east.

GEOLOGY.—This may be described as a district of Old Red
strata of hills of Cornstones, and sandstones, and denuded vallies.
It possesses some important features for the physical geologist,
and sundry boulder rocks that rest on high elevations on the flanks
and summits of the hills below the Black Mountain, deserve our
especial attention. The‘more I examine into the history of these
masses of transported rock, and the masses of Trap and boulders
of Llandovery conglomerate on Bradnor Hill, and other hills around
Kington, the more I feel assured that these rock masses were
deposited when the summits of hills as high as Merbridge and
Bradnor were beneath a sea traversed by ice-bergs and ice-floes
transporting those rock masses.

——$—$—$—————

NO. 14. THE BLACK MOUNTAIN DISTRICT.

This consists of the extreme western portion of our county, and,
as the name given to it will shew, it contains within its area such
portion of the Black Mountain ranges as belongs to Herefordshire.
It is separated from District 13 by the line from Pontrilas to Clifford,
which was mentioned as the western boundary of that district.
The remainder of its outline is defined by the borders of the adjoming

counties.
On the second range of the Black Mountains, reckoning from

BLACK MOUNTAIN DISTRICT. 23

east to west, there is an outlying part of Herefordshire, called the
Ffwddog ; it is between five and six miles in length, and one in
breadth at its widest part. A small portion of the county of Mon-
mouth—the valley of the little river Honddu, or valley in which
stands Llanthony and its Abbey, intervenes between the Ffwddog
and the main area of Herefordshire ; but as the Ffwddog is of some
extent, and as its greatest distance from the parent county amounts
scarcely to three miles, it has been thought better to extend the
limits of the present district so as to include both the Ffwddog and
the intervening portion of Monmouthshire. By this means we are
enabled to include in our list the names of some few plants recorded
from the vicinity of Llanthony, but whose localities were given too
vaguely to make it clear to which county they in strictness belong.
By the present arrangement this uncertainty is removed, and the
plants belong unquestionably to the district to which this Flora
relates,

Whilst, however, a part of Monmouthshire has thus been appro-
priated to District 14, and another outlying portion of the same
county adopted into District 2, there are several outliers of our own
county which are left to be appropriated by botanists of the adjoin-
ing counties ; these are

1, A small piece of ground on Devauden Hill, Monmouthshire.

2. A larger portion between Cascob and Whitton, Radnorshire.

3. Another of about two square miles near Rochford, on the
left bank of the Teme, about one mile and a half to the éast of
Tenbury, is physically a part of Worcestershire, and to the able
botanists of that county we commend the examination of its plants.

4. Farlow, the largest outlier (from two to three square miles),
is situated at the north-eastern base of the Titterstone Clee Hill, in
Shropshire.

Whitecliff, on the right bank of the Teme at Ludlow, lies within
the boundary of Herefordshire, but the Sedum reflexum and other
plants which grow there have, like the plants of Farlow, been
included in the Rey. W. A. Lereuton’s “Flora of Shropshire.”
In order, therefore, to avoid misleading others by including the same
station within two county Floras, the Sedum and other Whitecliff
plants are omitted in this “Flora of Herefordshire.”

GEOLOGY.—There are certain physical and geographical fea-

24 BLACK MOUNTAIN DISTRICT.

tures in geology which it is impossible to condense, and the student
must make up his mind, if he would understand them, to become
thoroughly acquainted with the phenomena themselves. In notes
necessarily so brief as these, we can do nothing but give a few hints
respecting the most striking of the wonders presented to our investi-
gation, and then ask the geologist to pass onwards and to observe,
record, and theorise for himself.

The geological history of the Black Mountain district cannot be
described, it must be studied. I can but reiterate here what I have
endeavoured to impress, at greater length, in another treatise,* state-
ments of which the proofs are difficult to express in words, but of
the truth of which I am firmly convinced.

The strata on the summit of the Black Mountain are the beds of
the Upper Old Red Sandstone. These strata formerly extended far
over the highest Cornstone hills of Herefordshire ; over the Silurian
rocks of Kington ; over the vales to the distant Clees and Malvern ;
over Dean Forest and the Severn at Tortworth.

The outliers of the South Wales Coalfield, the Carboniferous roeks
at the Forest of Dean, Pen-cerrig Calch, the Clees, reveal that over
a great portion of this Upper Old Red district, the Carboniferous
rocks must have been deposited, and the physical geologist who
stands upon the summit of the Gadir Vawr, that point of the Black
Mountain that rises high above Talgarth, and stands out a monumental
witness of the wonders of geology, knows that even above that
moufitain peak there was once piled a mass of sedimentary deposits,
themselves formerly the bed of an ocean.

At Cusop, near Hay, the grey Sandstones that overlie the Corn-
stones are quarried for building stone. They contain remains of
plants, and the equivalent rocks, near Kentchurch, at the summit of
Rowlstone hills, have furnished the only fossil, a Stylonurus, that has
been hitherto discovered in beds so high up in the Old Red rocks of
Herefordshire, with the exception of the Upper yellow sandstones
of Farlow, in which Mr, G. Roperts and Mr. Baxter, of Worcester,
detected the remains of Pterichthys and Holoptychius. I mention
these Farlow Sandstones as I perceive that Farlow is an outlying
portion of Herefordshire.

* “¢Old Stones.”

25

IT recommend tlie route from Talgarth vid The Gader, by Pencerrig
Calch to Llanthony, Longtown, Rowlstone, to the Station at Pontrilas,
for the study of any Geologist who loves the physical grouping of
rocks, and the lore communicated by a hill-top and a mountain stream.
If this investigation of geological wonders does not make him a lover
of the physical revelations of our science, nothing else will!

‘* A primrose by the water’s brim,
A yellow primrose is to him,
And twill be nothing more.”

To those who can appreciate such history I wish all success, and
part with one word of warning. Do not be induced to overwork
either your legs or your brains. Fifteen miles a day of hill-side
walking, with the necessary geological investigation, is enough for
the heartiest and the healthiest. Lastly, don’t sit up poring over
your notes and sections when you ought to be in bed and asleep.

SUMMARY

OF THE

FLORA OF HEREFORDSHIRE.

EXPLANATION OF SIGNS EMPLOYED.

In the column of Names of Species:
/

A dagger (+) prefixed to a name indicates that the plant is
possibly—an asterisk (*) that it is probably—and the name
itself printed in Italics, that it is certainly introduced in most of
its recorded stations.

In the columns of Figures :

(+) indicates probably, and (*) certainly introduced in that
particular district.

A note of interrogation (?) accompanying the Name of a Plant
or the No. of a District, indicates that there is some doubt either
as to the Plant being the true one, or of its having really occurred
in that particular District.

TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

WOOLHOPE

NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

(ESTABLISHED MDCCCLL.)
1866.

** HOPE ON—HOPE EVER.”

be: HEREFORD :
PRINTED AT THE TIMES OFFICE, MAYLORD STREET,
MDCCCLXVU,

CHoolhope Raturalists’ Hield Club.

OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR
1866.

PRESIDENT :

Dr. BULL, Hereford.

VICE-PRESIDENTS :
The Rev. H. C. KEY, M.A., Stretton Rectory, Hereford.
D. M. Mc CULLOUGH, Esq., M.D., Abergavenny.

- ©. G. MARTIN, Esq., Hereford.

ELMES Y. STEELE, Esq., Abergavenny.

HON. SECRETARY :
The Rev. G. H. CORNEWALL, B.A., Moccas Rectory, Hereford.

ASSISTANT SEC, AND TREASURER:
Mr, ARTHUR THOMPSON, Hereford.

-—

LIST OF HONORARY MEMBERS.

Sir W. Jardine, Bart., F.R.S., &c., &c., Jardine Hall, Dumfriesshire.
Sir Charles Lyell, Bart., M.A., F.R.S., &c., London.

Sir Roderick J. Murchison, Bart., F.R.S., &c., 16, Belgrave Square, London,
George Bentham, Esq., President of the Linnean Society, &c., London,
Rev. P. B. Brodie, M.A., F.G.S., Vicarage, Rowington, Warwick.

J. E. Davies, Esq., F.G.S., London.

W. Henry Fitton, Esq., M.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., &.

Dr. H. B, Geinitz, Professor of Geology, &c., Dresden,

Professor John Lindley, Ph. D., F.R.S., &c., London.

Professor W. Melville, Queen’s Cellege, Galway, Ireland.

Professor John Phillips, F.R.S., F.G.8., St. Mary’s Lodge, York.

Rev. W. H. Purchas, Falkner Street, Gloucester.

J. W. Salter, Esq., F.G.S., &c., London.

Rev. Professor A, Sedgwick, B.D., F.R.S., &c., University, Cambridge.

Sir W. V. Guise, Bart., F.G.S., &c., Elmore Court, Gloucester, President of
the Cotteswold Naturalists’ Field Club.

W. H. Paine, Esq., Stroud, Honorary Secretary, of the Cotteswold Naturalists’
Field Club.

Rev. W. 8. Symonds, F.G.S., Pendock Rectory, Tewkesbury, President of the
Malvern Naturalists’ Field Club.

Edwin Lees, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., &¢., &., Worcester.
Rey. R. P. Hill, Bromesberrow Rectory, Ledbury, Hon. Secretary.
The President of the Warwickshire Naturalists’ Field Club.

_ The President, Vice-President, and Hon. Secretary of Worcestershire

Naturalists’ Club.

The President, Vice-President, and Hon. Secretary of the Oswestry and
Welshpool Naturalists’ Field Club.

The President, Vice-President, Curator, and Hon. Secretary of the Dudley and
Midland Geological and Scientific Society and Field Club.

The President, Vice-Presidents, and Hon. Secretary of the Severn Valley Field
Club,

The President, three Vice-Presidents, and Hon. Secretary of the Caradoc
Field Club, Shropshire,

ORDINARY MEMBERS, 1866.

Adams, W., Esq.

Armitage, Arthur, Esq.
Banks, R, W., Esq.

Bayliss, Mr. Phillip.

Bevan, G. P. Esq., F.G.S.
Blashill, Thomas, Esq.
Bright, H., Esq. (dec.)

Bull, Dr.

Cam, Thomas, Esq.

Candy, Rev. T. H., M.A,
Clive, G., Esq., M.P.
Cocking, Mr. George.

Colvin, Colonel, C.B.
Cornewall, Rev. G. H., B.A.
Crouch, Rev. J. F., B.D.
Curley, Timothy, Esq., C.E., F.G.S,
Davies, Isaac, Esq., C.E.
Dixon, Rev. R., M.A.

Du Buisson, Rev. E., M.A.
Eld, Rev. F. J., M.A.
Feilding, Lieutenant Colonel,
Garrold, T. W., Esq.

Gray, Rev. Arthur, M.A.
Greenhow, R., Esq.
Hanbury, Rev. J. Capel, M.A.
Hereford, Richard, Esq.
Hereford, Rev. R., M.A.
Hill, Rev. H. T., M.A,
Hoskyns, Chandos Wren, Esq.
Isbell, E. J., Esq.

Jenkins, Henry J., Esq.

Johnson, R,, Esq.

Jones Thomas, Rev. W., M.A.
Jukes, Rev. J. H., M.A.

Key, Rev. H. C., M.A.

King, Rev. T., M.A.

Lee, John Edward, Esq., F.G.S., &e.
Lightbody, R., Esq.

Lingwood, R. M., Esq.

Martin, C. G., Esq,

Mc Cullough, D. M., Esq., M.D,
Merewether, Rev. F., B.C.L.
Mildmay, Humphrey, Esq. (dec.)
Morris, J. Griffith, Esq.
Newton, Marcellus, Esq.
Nicholls, W. H., Esq.

Phillips, Mr. William.

Phillott, Rev. H. W., M.A.
Poole, Rev. William, M.A.
Power, Captain.

Purchas, Alfred, Esq.

Salwey, Humphrey, Esq.
Scudamore, Colonel.

Smith, Rev. Charles, M.A.
Smith, J. E., Esq.

Stanhope, Rev. B. L. S., M.A,
Steele, Elmes Y., Esq.
Thompson, Mr. Arthur.

Weare, Rev. T. W., M.A.
West, Rev, T., M.A.
Woodhouse, Rev, T., M.A,

NEW MEMBERS ELECTED DURING THE YEAR

1866.

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Edmunds, Flavell, Esq. | Lingwood, R. M., Esq., F.G.8., &c.

ORDINARY MEMBERS.

Banks, Wm., Esq., F.S.A. Phillipps, Rev. Thos., M.A.
Bodenham, C. De la Barre, Esq. Rankin, James, Esq.

Clark, the Rey. 8., M.A. Reaveley, Rev. F. Fenwick, 8.C.L,
Collins, John Stratford, Esq. Southall, Mr. Henry.
Davies, Rev. James, M.A. Styles, R. H. P., Esq.
Fowle, Rev. W. C., M.A. Tweed, Rev. H. W., M.A.
Hereford, Viscount, Vaughan, James, Esq.
Hernaman, Rev. J. W. D., M.A. Westropp, Rev. J. C., B.A,
Jones, Rev. J. Edward. Williams, Captain.

Lane, Mr. Theophilus. With, Mr. George.

Lloyd, John, Esq. Wood, J. H., Esq.
Pateshall, Captain, Wynne, N. §., Esq.

eAO OR»

Ce

RULES

OF THE

WOOLHOPE NATURALISTS FIELD CLUB.

I.—That a Society be formed under the name of
the “ Woonnore Naturauists’ Frecp Cuus,” for the
practical study, in all its branches, of the Natural
History of Herefordshire and the districts immediately
adjacent.

II.—That the Club consist of Ordinary Members,
with such Honorary Membersas may be admitted from
time to time; from which number a President, four
Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, and
Assistant Secretary, be appointed at the Annual Meet-
ing to be held at Hereford in the early part of each
year.

III.—That the Members of the Club shall hold not
less than three Field Meetings during the year, in the
most interesting localities for investigating the Natural
History of the district. That the days and places of
such regular Meetings be selected at the Annual
Meeting, and that fourteen days’ notice of each be
communicated to the Members by a circular from the

Secretary ; but that upon a requisition being signed
by the President and five Members, the Secretary is
empowered, upon urgent occasions, to alter the days
of such regular Field Meetings, and also to fix Special
or Extra Field Meetings during the year.

IV.—That those Members to whom it may be
convenient, shall breakfast together at the nearest
country inn, at Nine o'clock, after which the researches
of the day shall commence.

V.—That Four be the hour appointed for Dinner
after which any papers shall be read by the respective
authors. Each Member may introduce a friend on
such occasions, who must pay his own expenses.

VI.— That the Annual Subscription be Ten
Shillings, payable on the 1st of January in each year,
to the Treasurer, or National Provincial Bank, Here-
ford, to be laid out in defraying the cost of Printing
such Papers as may be selected for that purpose by a
Committee of five Members, chosen at the Annual
Meeting from the general body, and to meet any
expenses which may be incurred for stationary, post-
age, &c. That the cost of any lithographic or other
illustrations be defrayed by the author of the paper
for which they may be required.

ViII.—That the papers of the Club be printed in
a cheap octavo form.

VIII.—That at the Annual Meeting, the President
be requested to favour the Club with an address, con-
taining a written summary of its proceedings at the
several Field Meetings during the previous year,
together with such observations from himself as he
may deem conducive to the welfare of the Club, and
the promotion of its objects.

IX.—That all Candidates for Membership shall be
proposed and seconded by existing Members, either
verbally or in writing, at any Meeting of the Club,
and shall be eligible to be ballotted for at the next
Meeting, provided there be Five Members present ;
One blank ball in THREE to exclude.

X.—That Members finding rare or interesting
specimens, or observing any remarkable phenomenon
relating to any branch of Natural History, shall
immediately forward a statement thereof to the
Honorary Secretary.

XI.—That the Club undertake the formation and
publication of correct lists of the various natural
productions of the County of Hereford, with such
observations as their respective authors may deem
necessary.

XII.—That Members whose subscriptions shall
remain for three years in arrear, be held to have
withdrawn, and their names shall accordingly be
omitted from the list of Members at the ensuing
Annual Meeting.

XIII.—That the Assistant Secretary do send out
circulars, one month at least before the Annual
Meeting, to all Members who have not paid their
subscription, drawing the particular attention of
all those that may be effected by the operation of
Rule XII, to that Rule.

XIV.—That these Rules be printed, and a copy
sent to each Member.

i . ey t i
ay Mage * Me ae ‘ ~
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“Tas our Lir, EXEMPT FROM PUBLIC HAUNT, =

Finps Toncugs In TREES, Books IN THE RUNNING BROOKS,

a Sermons IN STONES, AND GOOD IN EVERYTHING.” 4
;
- “tind
; fee
rm

THE REMARKABLE TREES

OF

HEREFORDSHIRE.

THE SOUTH-EASTERN YEW TREE ar CUSOP, near HAY.

(Taxus baccata, fem. )
MAY, 1867.

This fine luxuriant tree is one of the four trees in Cusop Churchyard, stand-
ing N.E., S.E., N.W.,and $.W. of the Church. It has a sound and solid bole.
The card of the Club (ft. by 6in.) is placed at three feet from the ground.
Immediately below the green twigs at 3ft. 10in. the circumference of the trunk
measures 21ft. 10in., but at one foot from the ground it measures 18ft. 4in.

(Ladmore, Photographer to the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club. )

ADDRESS OF THE RETIRING PRESIDENT,

(DR. BULL,)

READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. TUESDAY, FEB, 26, 1867.

ho aed »—One last duty remains for me before I quit this

presidential chair. I have to review as briefly as may be the
progress of our Club during the past year, and think I may con-
fidently appeal to you to bear me witness that that progress has
been most pleasant and satisfactory. Our excursions have been
favoured with the brightest and most cheerful weather, The
attendance both of members and visitors has been unusually large.
The papers and addresses have been remarkable for their number,
their interest, and the ability they displayed. But more than all
this, the Woolhope Club has this year accomplished one of the
primary objects for which it was originally formed. The first
part of the Flora of Herefordshire is now printed, and ready for
distribution to the members. This part contains a list of the
flowering plants and ferns of Herefordshire, showing the part of the
county in which each species has been observed ; a map of the
county, divided into botanical districts corresponding with those in
the table of species ; an exact statement of the boundaries of each
district ; and a full description of its geological characteristics. We
have thus before us, for the first time, a general view of the Botany
and Geology of Herefordshire.

The able and painstaking author of this Flora, the Rev. W. H,
Purchas, has been at work on it for many years. His minute
accuracy, and his laborious perseverance, have been unwearied, and
deserve our warmest gratitude. His labours reflect a lustre, not

147

only on our Club, but on the county at large, which now sees its
Botanical treasures put on permanent record. In some districts of
the county this list is, after all Mr. Purchas’s endeavours, exceed-
ingly imperfect ; and no one is better aware of this than Mr.
Purchas himself. But living as he has done for so many years out
of the county, and incessantly occupied with the higher duties of his
profession, his progress has necessarily been slow, and he feels that
the assistance of other members of the club is required to work out
effectively the more distant parts of the county. For these reasons
he has kindly yielded to the wish of the club that the first portion of
the work should be printed without further delay. We shall then
be in a position to render him effectual help ; for we shall see
exactly what districts want exploring and what blanks yet remain
_to be filled up before the list can be considered in any way complete.
Personal observation is the only means of ascertaining what our
Flora really is, and how itis distributed.” Is it too much to ask
those of our members who take an interest in Botany to note down
the plants they meet with, and the localities in which they are found ?

The Geological description of the several districts has been
written by the Rev. W. 8. Symonds, president of the Malvern Club,
and one of our honorary members. He has conferred a great
favour on the club by this series of very interesting sketches, which,
taken together, present the most accurate description of the
Geology of the country that has yet been published.

We have also the satisfaction, this year, for the first time, of
placing on record a list of Herefordshire Lepidoptera for two districts
of the county, amounting together to 546 separate species. For this
list the club is greatly indebted to the family of the Rev. Thomas
Hutchinson, M.A., of Grantsfield, near Leominster, and to Mr.
Alfred Purchas, of Ross.

At the beginning of the year an inquiry was commenced as to
the exact size and condition of “the more remarkable trees of
Herefordshire” at the present time ; and circulars were distributed
through the county for information with regard to them. The result
thus far obtained, besides many observations for future use, has
been the very excellent paper on “‘ Herefordshire Yew Trees,” by the
Rev. Thomas Woodhouse, M.A., which will appear in the Trans-
actions, illustrated by photographs of the yew trees of Peterchurch,

148

Leinthall, and Cusop. It is intended to persevere with this subject,
and to present to the members a valuable series of pictures of the
trees themselves in the successive volumes of Transactions.

To come now to the more ordinary proceedings of the year.
The club, by an arrangement with the proprietor of the Hereford
Times newspaper, decided for the future to publish a full account
of its meetings iu that paper. The type was afterwards to be re-set
in octavo shape for the Transactions. This arrangement was made
immediately after the Talgarth meeting, and has been fully carried
out. The duties of your President, therefore (as defined by Rule
VIII.), have been considerably lightened. I have now simply to
notice this change and give the reasons which induced the club to
adopt it.

It might seem frivolous, at first sight, to give a more permanent
form to the common incidents of our excursions. It is not really so,
for independently of the associations, which this account in its fresh-
ness will carry with it to all who were present at the meetings, this
plan entirely removes every objection to the publication of the
papers read ; and thus, set in this simple framework, papers of much
local interest have been preserved, which would otherwise have
been lost. Our Transactions this year will contain no less than nine
addresses and papers on Geological subjects, five on Botany, and
five on Entomology and other general subjects. It is not my in-
tention, nor would it become me to criticise these papers, but I
should not do justice to them nor to myself, if I did not express my
belief that our volume of Transactions this year will not only be a
credit to our club, but will also prove a valuable contribution to
the Natural History and scientific knowledge of the County.

The full publication of all our proceedings and papers has
moreover proved a most successful means of calling public attention
to the objects for which the Woolhope Club was formed ; of
spreading more widely an interest in the natural productions of our
county ; and therefore of actively promoting the study of natural
science in the district. Gentlemen, it seems to me that this too is
a result on which we can look back with satisfaction. The published
reports of our ‘field days” make people wish they had been with
us. The excursions themselves furnish us with a delightful recrea-

149

tion. We are taken into scenes always of great interest and often
of great beauty. Hill and dale, rock and meadow, not only yield
fresh spoils for the vasculum and the hammer, but they refresh our
eyes and banish from our thoughts many of those corroding cares of
which busy life is full. Varied as our occupations are, different
as may be our lines of thought, here we find one pursuit in which
all can take interest, one pleasure which all can enjoy. Natural
science affords a common ground on which those can meet in pleasant
intercourse who might otherwise never meet at all, There.is room
in it for the exercise of the loftiest powers of intellect ; there is
room also for the humbler gifts that fall to the lot of most of us.
None can venture to despise it as beneath him ; none need shrink
from it as above him. So long as ‘‘Truth” is the object the student
keeps stedfastly before him, he need not fear that his researches
will be idle, or his toil without reward. The practised eye, the
quickened ear, the keener exercise of all the faculties of observation,
are in themselves no small gain. Yet even this is less valuable than
the effect which such pursuits,—honestly and rightly followed,—
have upon the mind and heart. The order and harmony of outward
nature.—imperfectly appreciated perhaps at first—shine out upon
the observant eye with ever increasing clearness ; and the heart is
made conscious of the presence everywhere of one great beneficent
Power, the Author of all that beauty, the Promulgator of all those
marvellous laws, the Sustainer of the universal fabric. Bowing
before His unsearchable Majesty, the student is drawn upwards
towards Him; low aims and mean desires, and the hurry and
turmoil of this world’s strife and troubles, have less and less effect
upon him as he traces everywhere the handiwork of the Great
Artificer perfect in wisdom and in goodness.
“Thus the men

Whom Nature’s works can charm, with God himself

Hold converse ; grow familiar day by day

With His conceptions, act upon His plan,

And form to His, the relish of their souls.”—Akenside.

2a E>,
SSS SoS

THE REMARKABLE TREES

OF

HEREFORDSHIRE.

THE MISTLETOE-OAK at EASTNOR.

APRIL, 1867.

This well-known tree is situated by the side of the drive leading from
Eastnor Castle (The Right Hon. The Earl Somers), up the Ridgway towards
the Herefordshire Beacon,—about 400 paces from the Park Lodge, on the
left-hand side. The oak (Q. pedunculata) is certainly more than 100 years
old, and at five feet from the ground from the ground has a circumference of
5ft. 3in. Earl Somers himself was one of the first to observe the Mistletoe
upon it many years since. It grows freely upon the tree. The three most
luxuriant branches are about thirty feet from the ground, near the main stem,
and in each instance the oak branch is killed beyond the place where the
Mistletoe is situated. It grows also in four other places on the tree, and has
indeed taken thorough possession of it. The card of the Club (ift. long by
6in. deep) is here placed at 4ft. from the ground.

(Ladmore, Photographer to the Woolhope Naturalists’ Pield Club. )

150

Che Wloolhope Haturalists’ Sield Club,

MEETING AT TALGARTH,

May 24TH, 1866.

The first field meeting of this club for the season took place on Thursday,
May 24th, at Talgarth, under the most auspicious auguries. Dr. Bull, of
Hereford, the appointed president of the year, like a wary general,
determined to survey the ground previous to its occupation by his troops,
provide against any untoward event, and see that the commissariat was duly
arranged. In company with a brother naturalist, he accordingly proceeded to
Llynsafeddan, or as more commonly called Llangorse Pool, Breconshire, and
the lake was most successfully trolled for pike, eight or ten of those
“tyrants of fresh waters” being safely hauled in, with a fair show of perch
and eels. These were safely stored for conveyance to the Ashburnham
Arms at Talgarth, and the worthy hostess served them up at the banquet
the next day in a most creditable manner; the largest pike being a five
pounder, that had required all the art of the skilful president, in his
character as a fisherman, to subdue. But we must now take the events of the
day in order.

The weather, if not all that could be wished—for the wind was perhaps
a little too rough for the lake—was yet brilliant at times, and fair through-
out, just as Barham describes in the “‘Ingoldsby Legends” :—

The sun shone bright upon tower and tree,

_ And the meads were as green as green may be,
The dear little dickey-birds caroll'd with glee,
And all was love and harmony.

So the start was made from the station at Talgarth by half-past eleven
o'clock, when nearly fifty gentlemen had assembled, and carriages, rather
closely packed, conveyed them on the appointed route. A bill of promise
seldom carries out all its events, and so it was on the present occasion.
Geology, botany, and ichthyology had all to be attended to, ‘including
carriage, boat, and dinner ;” and how was all this to be done in the time?
It was clear that something must be left out ‘‘in the representation,” as players
say, and Dr. Bull wisely judged that two fortresses could not be carried
on the same morning, so ‘‘Castle Dinas” was only summoned to surrender,
and the main force was directed against the lofty mountain called ‘‘Mynydd
Troed.”

151

The members of the club present were: the President, Dr. Bull; the
Vice-presidents, the Rev. H. C. Key, Stretton; CO. G. Martin, Esq , Hereford ;
Dr. McCullough, E. Y. Steele, Esq., and Master Steele, Abergavenny; the
Honorary Secretary, the Rev. G. H. Cornewall, Moceas, and the Assistant
Secretary, Mr. Arthur Thompson; E. Lees, Esq., F.L.S., &c., Vice-president
of the Worcester and Malvern Clubs; Arthur Armitage, Esq., Daduor; T.
Cam, Esq., and T, Curley, Esq., Hereford; Richard Hereford, Esq , Sufton
Court ; J. E. Lee, Esq., Caerleon, Monmouthshire; J. Griffith Morris, Esq.,
Hereford; H. Salwey, Esq., and Mr. T. J. Salwey, Ludlow; the Revs,
Robt. Hereford, Sutton; W. Jones Thomas, Llanthomas ; J. H. Jukes, Preston
Wynne; H. W. Phillott, Staunton-on-Wye ; C. Smith, Tarrington; and Thos.
Woodhouse, Hay ; and J. E. Smith, Esq., Hay; with William Aston, Esq.,
T. T. Davies, Esq., H. C. Hurry, Esq., R. P. Styles, Esq., F. Thomas, Esq.,
and N. 8S. Wynn, Esq., Hereford; J. Stratford Collins, Esq., Wythall,
Ross.; Dr. Grindrod, Malvern ; Joseph Joseph, Esq., Brecon ; — Nash, Esq.,
Ludlow; Mr. Blashill, Bishopstone ; and the Revs. 8. Clark, Bredwardine ;
J. Davies, Moorcourt ; H. Dew, Whitney ; — Dumbleton, Brecon; W. D. V.
Duncombe, Allensmore; W. C. Fowle, Ewyas Harold; W. P. 8S. Stanhope,
Holm Lacy; H. J. W. Stillingfeet, Clehonger; H. W. Tweed, Bridstow,
Ross ; and R. H. Williams, Byford.

As already stated, a stage coach and several carriages awaited the arrival
of the train from Hereford at the Talgarth station, and at once conveyed
the members up a gradual ascent of some three miles length to the foot of the
Mynydd Troed. Here leaving the fosses and mounds of Castile Dinas to the
left, the gentlemen at once began the ascent. The mountain is very steep on
this side, and the want of rain had made the ground hard, and the grass dry
and slippery. The party were soon scattered over the face of the hill, each
taking the direction he most fancied. It seemed easy to begin, but like a
true mountain, for the first twenty minutes, the higher you got up the further
off seemed the top to be. By perseverance, however, most of them had
reached the summit a few minutes before one o’clock, and had opened and
spread out before them, perhaps, the most varied and extensive view afforded
by the Black Mountains. The Mynydd Troed is the most westerly point of the
range, and stretches out boldly into the valley much further than its neigh-
bours. The views throughout the ascent had been very fine, but that from
the top far surpassed them. Looking eastward towards the Black Mountain
across the valley, up the gorges, and over Mynyd Llysian, the square top
of the Gadr-fawr was seen—this is the highest point of the range, 2,545
feet above the sea level—further east still, the long ridge of the Pen-cerrig-
calch, then the round back of the Mynydd Llangorse. To the south, the lake
of Llangorse, or Liynsafeddan, lay at the foot of the mountain, over it the
beautiful hill, the Allt, close to the lake, and over that again the Toryfoet ;
then came the beautiful outline of the Breconshire Beacons, and further
beyond still, the Carmarthenshire Van was plainly visible; whilst to the
west aud north you overlooked the numerous hills of Brecoushire, &c, The

152

wind blew very coldly on the top, and the President therefore took his seat a
little below the summit, on the south side, and the members soon began to
cluster around him like a swarm of bees.

“It was very gratifying,” he said, ‘‘to see so good an attendance at
this the first meeting of the year, and he congratulated all present on the fine
weather they had to enjoy such beautiful scenery. He trusted the recollection
of the day would be a bright spot in the memory of all present. The Rev.
Heury Griffiths, Dean of Queen’s College, Liverpool, was to have been
present at this meeting, and he regretted very much that he had been
unavoidably prevented from coming. But though he could not come himself,
rather than disappoint the club, he had sat down to his desk—fancied himself
to be where we are now placed—and at one sitting wrote off this paper.
Though a written paper, therefore, it was fair to consider it an extempore
address. He felt called upon to say thus much in explanation, because Mr.
Griffiths had thrown in here and there an apology, which he did not intend
to read. He put them in parentheses for omission, and, to say the truth, he
did not think them in the least necessary.” Dr. Bull then read the paper.

MYNYDD TROED, BRECONSHIRE, MAY 24, 1866.

Gentlemen of the Wooihope Club,—Our standpoint at the moment is one of the
upper beds of the socalled Devonian series. Taken in mass, these rocks represent
the long period which elapsed between the deposition of the Silurian, seen to the N.-West
at Corn-y-Fan, and the millstone grit, to the S.S.-East, on the hills of Llangynider.

In other parts of the kingdom they form a succession of hard calcareous or slaty
rocks, of nearly all the colours in the rainbow, and abounding in fossil shells and corals.
Here, they are however, best known as constituting the Old Red Sandstone System, of
which the following subdivisions are commonly accepted by geologists.

On passing out of the Ludlow rock we come to a marked change, not less in the
lithological character of strata than in the general cast of their organic contents.
Ordinarily, however, there is no absolute break, but a rapid transition, so rapid as to be
instantly felt, yet so gradual as often to render it extremely difficult to draw the exact
line of demarcation.

First then, come the TILE sTONES: consisting of finely laminated, hard, reddish or
greenish micaceous sandstone, which readily splits into flags, with occasional beds of a
dull red shale. Magnificent sections may be seen in the gorge of the Teme, and
especially in the valley of Cwm Dwr, near Llandovery. The latter is sometimes called
the Thermopylz of South Wales, and is celebrated alike for its beauty and its historical
associations. Perched near the top, is a little Dissenting chapel, built over the dividing
line: the pulpit in one age, and the end gallery in another, separated by a gulph of
unnumbered centuries! The rock beneath is remarkably full of shells, with, it is said
(but I have never found any), occasional examples of Dipterus and Onchus.

Over the tile stones appeais the coRNSTONE, consisting of red and green argillaceous
and spotted marls, with courses of concretionary, impure limestone, mottled red and
green. Splendid sections may be seen at Llanstephan, near Hay, and in the valley of the
Usk, near Abergavenny. The Hereford and Newport Railway gives the traveller a
passing glimpse of several very fine cuttings. Its characteristic fossils include the well-
known Cephalaspis. Its surface is characterised by numerous circular depressions. Let
us suppose a walk from Llanfihangel to Llanthony Abbey. On the way, your old guide
(mind, he must be old, the young ones are all growing so dreadfully prosaic), will

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point, reverentially, to multitudinous ‘ Kelpie rings” on the surface of the rock. He
will tell you, how once on a time, a naughty woman (the chroniclers declare it was
Satan in the shape of a woman), wishing to lead St. Anthony astray, on a certain dark
night stole a favourite mare and colt of his, expecting he would follow in pursuit.
The good Saint, however, was too old a bird to be caught with such chaff. He wisely
kept within doors, and simply prayed that the mare, the foal, and the woman (who
foolishly wore pattens), might leave clear footprints on the rock, by which his servants
might track them in the morning. It was done; and there they are to this day as
distinct and fresh as ever!

Meanwhile, sub rosa, what says the geologist about them? He has the credit of
being able to believe very strange and abnormal things, when they happen to “fall in”
with his philosophy ; but that is confessedly too much forhim. Whatever his opinion of
human nature in general, he cannot be persuaded there were ever enough of naughty
women in the world to make all such marks with which he is familiar. In the escarp-
ment of the Skyrrid, and all along the precipices of the Daren and the Holy Mountain,
and the dependent ranges stretching up through the Black Mountains into Montgomery-
shire, he sees these depressions by tens of thousands. Wherever, in fact, a rock of
such varied composition as the Cornstone is exposed to atmospheric agencies, the result
must be a wearing away of all blotches or concretions, which are softer than the
enclosing rock. Some one compares them to pits left on the fair face of Nature, by an
attack of smallpox, on a large scale.

Next to the cornstone, comes the GREAT CONGLOMERATE which fills up by far the
greater part of our field of vision. It consists in the main of a chocolate brown, coarse-
grained sandstone, deposited in a troubled sea; and is beautifully exposed at not a
few points along the old coach road from Hereford to Brecon. For its type in this
district, let those who have passed through it, recail, and those who have it yet to come,
look out, for the splendid sections along the favourite honey-moon excursion down the
Wye from Ross to Monmouth. Nowhere else can it be studied to such advantage,
excepting perhaps on the many-headed cloud-capped sierras of the glorious old
Beacons of Brecon and Carmarthenshire! In the last, we have, according to Murchison,
a mass of red rocks not less than 9000 feet thick, though the mountain itself is only 2860
feet above the sea! The Blorenge is another capital study, where the old red plunges
suddenly under the carboniferous limestone.

I fear there is no spot of any very special interest in the Conglomerate within reach
this morning. The nearest must be five or six miles off, N.E. by E., within a few
hundred feet of Maesyberllan chapel. It is an old copper mine, described at some
length by Sir Roderick Murchison. The vein stuff thrown out from the trial shafts
(the works having been long ago abandoned) contains much crystalised carbonate of lime,
chiefly of the primary rhomb, with sulphurets of copper and iron, partially diffused
through a mass, the remainder of which is made up of scales of green earth and
erystalised blende, known by miners under the euphonious name of ‘Black Jack.”
The rock sections in the neighbourhood are nothing particular to boast of, but the
scenery around will amply repay a good long walk. A little beyond is the celebrated
Brecon Anticlinal. He whocould go so near that, and yet be able to resist the tempta-
tion of a visit, would, in verity, be a Goth of the first water! I would not, for a trifle,
“put him on my list of friends!” But before leaving this part of my subject there are
two remarks I should like to make, which perhaps the company will be good enough
to carry with them in their rambles for the next hour. They relate to the chemistry of
the system, and furnish a key to the explanation of not a few of its most common
superficial phenomena.

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Everybody at all acquainted with the Old Red Sandstone must often have been
struck with its prodigious number of nodules, containing in nine cases out of ten a
nucleus of organic matter, with spherules of black or colourless blotches. In accounting
for them Sir C. Lyell gives the following beautiful story :—‘‘ An earthern pitcher contain-
ing sulphate of iron had been suffered to remain undisturbed for twelve months. Some
luckless mice had meanwhile fallen into it and been drowned. Whenit came to be
examined, an oily scum and a yellow sulphurous powder, mixed with hairs, were seen
floating on the top, and the bones of the mice discovered at the bottom Over the
decaying bodies the mineral components of the fluid had been separated and precipi-
tated in a dark-coloured sediment, consisting of grains of pyrites and sulphur of copperas
in its green and crystalline form, and of black oxide of iron. The animal and mineral
matters had acted on each other, and the metallic sulphate, deprived of its oxygen in the
process, had cast down its ingredients.” In like manner, we are told, the putrifying
bodies of the fish of the Old Red were covered with a deposit of lime, with which
the water was charged, and hence the nodules enclosing them. The form of the nodule
almost invariably agrees with that of the ichthyolite within. It is a coffin in the
ancient Egyptian style. Was the ichthyolite twisted half round in the contorted atti-
tude of violent death? the nodule had also its twist. Did it retain its natural posture ?
the nodule presents the corresponding spindle form. Was it broken up and the outline
destroyed? the nodule is flattened and shapeless. In almost every instance the form of
the organism seems to have regulated thatof the stone.

The next fact to be noticed is still more important in this immediate neighbourhood.
I shall give it in the words of Hugh Miller. ‘‘A very different chemical effect of
organic matter may be seen in the darker coloured arenaceous deposits of the formation,
and occasionally in its stratified clays. In a print-work, the whole web is frequently
thrown into the vat and dyed of one colour; but there afterwards comes a discharging
process. Some chemical mixture is dropped on the fabric; the dye disappears wherever
the mixture touches, and in leaves, in sprigs, and patches the cloth assumes its original
white. Now, the coloured deposits of the Old Red have in like manner been subjected
to a discharging process. The dye has disappeared in oblong or circular patches of
various sizes, from one-eighth of an inch to afoot in diameter; the original white has
taken its place; and so thickly are these speckles grouped in some of the darker tinted
beds, that the surfaces, where washed by the sea, present the appearance of sheets of
calico. The discharging agent was organic matter. The uncoloured patches are no
mere surface films, for when eut at right angles their depth is found to correspond
with their breadth. It is well for the young geologist carefully to mark such appearances,
to trace them through the various instances in which the organism may be recognised
and identified, to those in which its least vestiges have disappeared. They are the
hatchments of the geological world, and indicate that life once existed when all other
legible record of it has long since perished.” All over this district these are specially
abundant, as shown by almost every stone wall in Breconshire. Perhaps one half the
pebbles you look at are colourless in the middle.

Besides, however, the great mass on which we now stand, there are very important
outliers, like islets of Old Red in an ocean of gray, especially interesting to geologists,
See, for example, the Forest of Clun, near Newtown, covering about ten miles square,
composed of the lower group of the old red, and having the Silurian underneath,
See another, about five square miles, between Presteign and Knighton, and a third,
still smaller, on the 8.W. of Presteign, called Nash Scar Ridge. It is sufficient to state
that these have been separated from the main by elevatory forces, which pushed in
igneous rocks and caused great denudation in the overlying deposits. Wherever they

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occur, the agricultural surface presents a marked contrast to that of the surrounding
Silurian, being, in fact, cepetitions on a small scale of the large basin of the Devonian

Let me now speak of its fossils. As a whole, the system was by no means fertile in
plants, or at any rate their remains are few and confined to limited areas Among
the tiles and the laminated shales of the upper division we have impressions of sea
weeds, of marsh plants apparently allied to the bulrush and sedge, and of Jand plants
allied to the tree fern. These generally occur in a fragmentary and carbonised state, as if
they had been drifted froma distance to the sea of deposit. In the Fife and Forfar
flagstones there is also an abundance of so-called ‘‘ black-berries” and ‘*yaspberries,”
supposed by some to be the spawn of mollusca, and by others the fruit of some unknown
plant. Of its zoophites, nearly forty species have been found in this country, and
thirteen species of echinoderms, the names of which it would be dangerous to the teeth
to pronounce. With them have been found many crinoids, generally distinct from
those of the carboniferous lime. Its mollusca present a still more formidable list,
amounting to about 300 species. Its crustacea are specially important. In fact, the
tile stones constitute a great zone of crustacean life, altogether distinct and peculiar,
and which is only beginning to reveal its treasures to paleeontologists. Notice parti-
cularly the Brontes flabellifer, a characteristic trilobite, and the gigantic Pterygotus,
called by quarrymen “ seraphim,” remotely allied to our modern king crab.

Still more wonderful and much more important are its fishes. The whole system is
called by way of eminence the Thaumichth}ferous, that is, in plain English, the
wonderful fish period. And truly wonderful they were, unlike anything the world ever
saw before or since. An extract from H. Miller will make this plain :—‘‘ Half my
closet walls,” says he, ‘‘are covered wtih the peculiar fossils of the old red, and cer-
tainly a stranger assemblage of forms have rarely been grouped together; creatures
whose very type is lost, fantastic and uncouth, and which puzzled the naturalist to
assign them even their class; boat-like animals furnished with oars and rudder ; fish
plated over like the tortoise, above and below, with a strong armour of bone, and
furnished with but one solitary rudder-like fin ; other fish, less equivocal in form, but
with the membranes of the fins thickly covered with scales; creatures bristling over
with thorns, others glistening in an enamelled coat, as if beautifully japanned—all testi-
fying of a remote antiquity, a period ‘ whose fashions have passed away.’ The figures on
a China vase or an Egyptian obelisk are scarcely more unlike what now exists in nature.”
Any attempt to describe these would require a volume ; they must, therefore, be ‘‘left
alone in their glory” for the present. That is the less to be regretted, as you are not
likely to meet with any specimens to-day. No doubt there are points, quite within
view from Mynydd Troed, where you might expect to find a variety of shells, and
perhaps a few worm-tiacks in the tiles, scales, &c., of fish, as the Cephalaspis, &c., in
the cornstone, and an abundance of instructive nodules in the conglomerate. In the
main, however, the rocks about Talgarth were too stormy in their origin, and too
deficient in lime, to be likely to afford the fossilist any satisfactory harvest.

Have I wearied you beyond all endurance? If not, pray lend me your attention for
two or three minutes more. Turn your eyes directly S.E. and look carefully at that
stalwart, ragged interloper called Pen-cerrig-calch, which the club visited last year.
Speaking of this, Sir R. Murchison says—‘‘I found the culminating point of this arid
and lofty mountain 2200 feet above the sea, presenting the limestone not less than fifty
feet thick, and occupying an isolated yet distinct escarpment, covered by the true
millstone near 200 feet thick. The chief mass is thick bedded, compact, crystalline,
and cream-coloured, without fossils; but on some of the thinner beds on its southern
face, where they disappear beneath the millstones they become oolitic, and contain a

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few organic remains. In this, therefore, we have a palpable demonstration of violent
dislocation. After the deposit of the millstone grit, however recent that may be, as
compared with the Devonian, in whatever way the carboniferous deposits may have
accumulated, their present basin was produced by subsequent upheavals and disloca-
tions. The removal of the enormous masses of grit and limestone, which formerly
connected this outlier with the coalfield, and the formation of the present valley of the
Usk—here five miles wide and nearly 2,009 feet deep—must be ascribed to such dislo-
cations, combined with the action of powerfulcurrents. This, therefore, is manifestly a
“*valley of denudation,” and the detritus of the excavating process is seen piled up in
vast mounds and terraces of gravel near Abergavenny, and for miles on both sides of
the river. Standing there, with Murchison in your hand, you could at once mentally
realise the process. Let us imagine it, somewhere about the chalk age, possibly at the
time of the great volcanic outburst which threw up the Giant's Causeway in Ireland,
and the Isle of Staffa, &c ,—a hot, sultry, heavy, and murky-looking day, with an awful
stillness in the air,—when suddenly a long-drawn, sepulchral howl or crash, is heard
at a distance, and a tremor and strange quivering and surging are felt in the earth,
followed by a fearful wrench—a rending and toppling of mountains in chaotic confusion
—while beyond, the sea bottom madly leaps to the surface, driving the waters with a roar
to which that of Niagara is but a whisper, in a body several hundred feet deep, far up
into the gorges of Brecon and Radnorshire, and sweeping away in the recoil many
mnillions of tons of old red sandstone and mountain lime. Some such process as this
made the Welsh coal-fields accessible. And all for what purpose? Merely that in the
19th century of the Christian era, ‘‘ Molly might put the kettle on” for tea, or
Johnny have a fire to warm his toes in winter, or the Naturalist Field Club to travel in
spring by express. Doubtless, it. was done fer Molly, and Johnny, and the Naturalist,—
not, however, as mere short-lived animals requiring food, or warmth, or even scientific
knowledge,—but as immortals placed here at school, in preparation for an incomparably
larger, nobler, truer, and more enduring existence. The issue.will yet prove it was well.

Of the patches of modern Alluvium in the valleys of the Usk and the Wye,—
around the lake of Llangorse—and in the flat near Talgarth, [ need not speak. ‘‘ He
who runs may read them,” without any trouble. At certain points in them, however,
especially between Talgarth and Brecon, along the old tramway, there are occasional
drifts of sea sand, which are well worth studying, though Iam not prepared satisfac-
torily to explain them. Note should be taken by compass of the exact direction of
the dip, and talus (or least abrupt side) of every hill you climb. Gravel heaps always
tell the story of their birth pretty plainly, if you will only mark carefully their relative
position and material. The boulders, many obviously of Scandinavian origin, strewed
over the surface, are in themselves a library, on the much controverted subject of
drifts. In the Black Mountains—he must be strangely blind who cannot find a thou-
sand indisputable examples of glacial action !—if my memory is not singularly treacherous,
the “‘mind’s eye” may see glaciers as clearly on the eastern side of Cwm Du (near
Crickhowell) as at Chamounix itself! That perhaps is a bold saying, but it is neverthe-
less perfectly true. History falls not just now within my province, otherwise Mynydd
Troed would be a tempting pulpit from which to preach sermons, on or about the old
encampment on the Criig, near Brecon. the medizval monkish college not far from Crag
Cadarn ; Prince Llewelyn, Lord Cobham, Cwm Pweca, where Shakspere is said to have
written his ‘‘Midsummer Night's Dream ;” Walter Cradock, John Penry and Howell
Harris, Lady Huntingdon, Lord Oxford, the Marquis of Worcester’s ‘‘ Century of Inven-
tions,” &c., &c. ‘Cum multis aliis, whose name is legion.” The somewhat scampish,
mock-heroic Twm Sion Katty may be added in quality of a tail-piece! Assuredly the

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picture need not be dull for want of life figures. By the way, Mrs. Siddons’s advent at
the Brecon “‘Leg of Mutton,” should not be forgotten, nor yet perhaps Sir Hugh
Evans, at the Priory Church, or Sir David Gam, at the adjoining manor house. Crom-
well preaching at Maesyronen (the field of the ash trees) is another vision worth recalling.

The President concluded by pointing out the road to be taken to Llan-
gorse Common, and announcing that as the trains left Talgarth very early,
and there were many visitors, the business of the club must be transacted
before dinner.

When the paper was finished, Mr. E. Luxus, of Worcester, made a remark
in reference to the legend of the circular marks said to have been super-
naturally impressed on the sandstone. This was in fact a repetition of the
old Herefordshire legend of St. Catharine, the tracks of whose mare and colt
were so well known in the old red sandstone between Clifton-on-Teme and
Ledbury. Some legend invariably accompanied these hollows in sandstone
wherever they appeared, and it was very curious that in former times such
notice should have been taken of natural objects, when if noticed by rustics
for the first time in the present day no pains would be taken to make a tale
out of them, or give any saint the credit of contributing to their formation,

On the summit of the hill the whortelberry, vaccinium myrtillus, was
found blossoming freely, and froma hole in the rock Mr. Martin got a few
specimens of the brittle fern, the Cystopteris fragilis. In a meadow on the
descent of the hill the same gentleman discovered that rare fern, the moonwort,
the Botrychium lunaria. The Lycopodium alpinum—the alpine club moss—
was also gathered on thehill. The herb Paris—Paris quadrifolia, the bird
cherry— Prunus Padus, and the globe flower—Trollius Europeus, were also
observed to be growing freely in several localities.

Pointing to the lake in view, though with a considerable breadth of
country to get over in steeple-chase fashion, the PRESIDENT then gave the
word to advance, and a somewhat irregular scutter took place down hill,
the slippery turf rendering the descent more treacherous to the feet than
even the arduous ascent, and when the cultivated country was gained there
were many stiff fences to surmount, in the course of leaping or struggling
through which some of the party came to grief. The botanical section, how-
ever, were solaced with the view of several meadows refulgent with the
globe-flower (Trollius Europeus), the pretty pink-coloured Pedicularis
sylvatica was plentiful, while in one pasture numerous specimens of the
moonwort ( Botrychium lunaria) was gathered. The crest of the Mynydd itself
had only produced Lycopodium alpinum, and the delicate little fern Cystopteris
fragilis. In various copses and hedges, one of the most beautiful objects
seen during the day was the bird-cherry (Prunus Padus), which scattered
over the whole country between Talgarth and Llangorse exhibited its
pendulous racemes of silvery flowers most profusely. But little could be done
with the hammer, and fossils were therefore scarce, but in one part of the descent
a quarry of cornstone recently broken into was observed, and here the Rev.
G. H. Cornwall detected portions of the Pteraspis and Cephalaspis.

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On Lilangorse Common the broken columns of the adventurous
naturalists were re-formed, and no losses were reported except that of a rather
unweildy and worn vasculum which unfortunately received a compound frac-
ture from the wheel of a carriage going over it, and to the grief of its owner
was left hors-de-combat, The mysterious lake of Llynsafeddon, whose waters,
according to the legend, overwhelmed the old city of Loventium in days of old,
now tempted the naturalists to look out for those sunken towers that
Giraldus Cambrensis has mentioned ; and one gentleman, we understand, had
determined to find a crannoge, such as the Swiss and Irish lakes furnish, if
possible. Several Charons, with boats, that had rather a flimsy appearance,
presented themselves, but these when loaded and in “the trough of the sea”
proved rather too suggestive for timorous landsmen, and the wind really
raising the disquieted lake into waves, it was not deemed adv isable to risk a
lodgment in the ruined towers below, and this part of the programme was
rather quickly rowed over; but the zealous antiquary alluded to declared to
have seen “a pile” himself—though whether it can be assigned to the cran-
noge era is more than we are inclined to assert. The separation of the party in
boats, however, occasioned one little misadventure, which may adorn, or at
least vary our tale. A band of devoted medizvalists chartered a boat across
the lake to the church of Llangasty Tal-y-llyn, which as a prettily adorned
structure,‘ all beauteous within,” has attained some celebrity, and has
numerous ‘‘octaves” und services almost daily of a high ritualistic character.
Here lingering beyond the time noted on the card, seduced by the “dim
religious light” that invested them in the storied aisle, the coaches, by some
error or misunderstanding, went on from Llangorse, and the medizvalists
found too late that modern improvements in travelling were denied them, and
they had to foot it all the way to Talgarth, arriving when the feast had been
brought almost toa close, though, fortunately, some bg had been reserved
for them.

No other incidents of flood or field intervened between Llangorse and
Talgarth, and the large room at the Ashburnham Arms was well furnished
with guests to a substantial dinner soon after four o’clock p.m.

The President and leading members of the club did not go upon the lake,
but left at once for Talgarth to transact business before dinner, leaving the rest
to follow. R. M. Lingwood, Esq., the late honorary secretary to the club, and
Flavell Edmunds, Esq., were unanimously elected honorary members of the
club. This and the other business matters had scarcely been concluded, when
the carriages with the members and visitors began to arrive, and wander over
the hotel in all directions. At the dinner summons, however, they soon
assembled again in the large room, which they were not a little surprised to
find decorated with flowers, and flags, and evergreens and mottos, English
and Welsh, in great abundance, A fine painting of the harp ornamented the
top of the room, whilst the characteristic leek hung on the walls at the
bottom. The Gwendolin festival had been held there the day before, and the
ladies had most kindly left their decorations for us. It was soon seen that

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there was something wrong at the head of the table. Vacant places were
there, and names began to be called out without eliciting an answer. At
length the Chairman asked if any gentleman was present who went on the
lake in the first small green boat. Still no response. It was now plainly
manifest that five gentlemen had been left behind—and the last seen of them
was, as they left the green boat to visit the beautiful church at Llangasty
Tal-y-llyn on the other side of the water. The regret was universal, but
nothing could be done, for the carriages came from Brecon and Hay, and had
all been dismissed. In about half an hour, however, a pleasant rumour ran
through the room that they had arrived, and the honorary secretary imme-
diately left the table to welcome them. Space was made for them at the top
of the room, and as they appeared, to their great surprise they were received
with such unanimous clapping of hands that their fatigue was soon forgotten,
and—now that the four mile walk was over—they must have felt themselves
in great measure repaid by this cheerful reception.

Leaving them to make up for lost time, the PRESIDENT immediately rose
and said, that although it was against the custom of the club to propose
toasts, her Majesty’s birthday must not remain unnoticed. He gave her
Majesty’s health, and leaving them to express their loyalty with all the zeal
they pleased—for time did not allow him to pause—he had next the pleasant
duty to perform of thanking in the name of the club, Capt. Williams, of
Talgarth, for the great trouble he had taken, and the information he had
obtained for the club, without which they would not have been able to make
the arrangements for the meeting which had been so successfully carried out
to-day (applause). If the members had been gratified by the exact programme
for the meeting which was given on the card, it was to Capt. Williams that it
was due—if we were all so pleased and surprised to find this room so prettily
ornamented to receive us, with a ‘‘ Welcome” in capitals, it was due to Capt.
Williams’s sister—and presently the club would again, he was sure, be gratified
by a legend from Miss Jane Williams, another sister, the celebrated authoress,
which he would read to them. In short the influence of the Williams’s
surrounded the club, and clearly that is all that is requisite to ensure a brilliant
reception at Talgarth (applause), The club had that day unanimously elected
Capt. Williams a member, and he was sure they would wish also to give
him a vote of thanks from the meeting (applause).

He had next to propose a vote of thanks to the Rev. Henry Griffiths for
the very able address on the ‘‘ Geology of the District,” which he had had the
pleasure to read to them from the summit of the Mynydd Troed. He was
quite sure this vote would be unanimous, from the attention with which it
was listened to, and from the pleasure it had given to them.

HUMPHREY SALWEY, Esq., of Ludlow, here rose, and, apologising for
the interruption, said that he hoped the President would add to the vote of
thanks the wish of the meeting that Mr, Griffiths would be so kind as to
allow the paper to be printed. He had listened toit with so much pleasure,

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and had gained so much information from the broad clear way in which it was
expressed that he trusted that they might all have the advantage and oppor-

tunity of reading it also.

T. CunLeEy, Esq., of Hereford, and some other members, at once rose to
second Mr. Salwey’s proposition, and at the evident wish of the meeting the
President undertook to communicate with Mr. Griffiths on the subject.

The PRESIDENT then arose, and expressed his regret that the members
had been able to see so little of the very beautiful lake they had that day
visited. It was full of interest in every point of view; but before he entered
upon its especial objects of interest with reference to the club, he wished to
bring to their notice a curious legend relating to it, for had time permitted
he had intended doing so upon the lake itself. He believed that almost every
lake in Wales was supposed to have been the site of a buried city, of which
the remains at certain times became visible through its waters. It certainly
was so with Llangorse, or more properly perhaps, Llynsafeddan, Sir John
Colt Hoare, in his edition of ‘‘ Giraldus Cambrensis,” gives the following old
legend, in Monkish Latin, with regard to it—a copy of which had been kindly
given to him by the Rev. James Davies, of Moorcourt, that morning. It
should be prefixed by the statement that the buried city is said to have
been ‘‘Loventium,” and the lake is called ‘‘ Brecheinomere” :—

Ad Brechnoc est vivarium

Satis abundans piscium

Szepe coloris varii

Comma gerens pomarii

Structuras sedificii

Seepe videbis inibi

Sub lacu cum sit gelidus

Mirus auditur sonitus.

Si terre princeps venerit

Aves cantare jusserit.

Statim depromunt modulos,

Nil concinunt ad czeteros.
This legend has been very happily told by Miss Jane Williams, in her
“Qeltic Fables, Tales, and Legends,” to which he had before alluded, and

which he would now read to them :—
A LEGEND OF LLYNSAFEDDAN.
By old Brecheiniog’s famous Lake—
That Lake in many a tale renowned,
Three noble chiefs their journey take
Along Cathedin’s awful ground.
Full oft those wondrous waters gleam,
A moving field of verdant hue ;
And oft with intersections stream,
Of blood like crimson passing through.
And sometimes on the watery plain,
Courts, palaces, and gardens rise ;
Graves decorate a gay champaign,
And charm the fisher’s wondering eyes.
There when the ice of winter broke,
"Twas with a wild unearthly groan ;
As if the horrid jar awoke
A hecatomb’s discordant moan.

161

For shelter to the tangled reeds
Ten thousand fugitives repair ;
The grebes are diving in the weeds

Herns shriek, and wild swans whistle there.

Returning from King Henry’s court,
Prince Gruffydd sought the wide domain,
Which homage, by subjection taught,
Preserved of his extensive reign.

Earl Milo, old Brecheiniog’s lord,
And Ewyas’ chief of Norman blood,

Friends of the royal heart and board,
Beside the pensive Britain rede ;

And tauntingly Earl Milo smiled,
And spoke, as near the brink they drew ;
And all the surface vast and wild,
Serenely noble, lay in view.

“Tt is a legend of the Lake,
That when the Lord of Wales shall say—
‘Ye birds your herald songs awake !’
These birds his bidding will obey.”

“Then be it yours,” the Welshman said,
“Who hold dominion o’er the land ;
Lords of the castle and the blade,
To issue forth the high command !”

They paused. Earl Milo’s thundering voice,
Which oft had moved the ranks of war,
Now pealed a solitary noise,
Whose echoes rang from shore to shore.

Then Payn-Fitz-John with angry speech
Adjures the magic Lake in vain,
While smiling retinues impeach,
In whispered words the Norman reign.

Prince Gruffydd knew misfortune’s place,
Yet scorned the petty sneer of pride ;
Nor chose that his illustrious race
His prosperous foeman should deride.

Dismounting towards the east he kneels,
As champions ere they meet the foe ;
His gesture silently reveals
A heart in supplication low.

At length he rose, with solemn air,

Then crossed his forehead and his breast,
And looking upward thus in prayer,

Aloud his fathers’ God addressed :—

“Oh, let thy providence and power
The line of British sovereigns own,
And vocal birds proclaim this hour
The heir of southern Cambria’s throne

He spoke, the smitten Lake grew bright,
With flash of many a humid wing ;

In solemn notes that breathe delight,
Obedient birds their anthem sing.

162

The PRESIDENT then said that he had had the pleasure and advantage of
spending the day—yesterday—at the Lake with Mr. Lees, the distinguished
botanist, who had done him the honour to come here and attend this meeting
of the club. They had taken up their abode at the comfortable fishing
quarters of Mr. Henry Pritchard on the common, and he could now bring
before their notice some of the spoils they had brought with them. The pike,
the perch, and the eels to which they had just done such ample justice, were
all caught yesterday or this morning in the Lake, and so they could now
testify Llangorse pike were very different from pike in general. They are as
firm in flesh as delicate in flavour. He who has not tasted one properly
stuffed, roasted, or boiled, as we have to-day, direct from Llangorse, can
scarcely knew how good pike can be. The next trophies I have to show you
are some of the wild fowls’ eggs that build in its reedy margin. Here are
eggs of the loon, or great crested grebe, the Podiceps cristatus, and others of
the bald coot, the Fulica atra, The grebe egg is remarkable for the porous
character of its shell. The lime seems to have scarcely any glazing or enamel
on it, and is moreover of very unequal thickness in different parts of the
shell. It is so porous that, although perfectly white when first laid, it becomes
very quickly discoloured and stained from the absorption of the dark colour
of the decayed weeds with which the nest is built. This one which looks so
old and dirty is probably quite fresh. The grebes are very numerous upon
the Lake, but their nests are exceedingly difficult to find, or to approach
when found. The coots are still more abundant, and the eggs more easily
obtained. They are of a light brown colour, often with a greenish tint, and
numerously spotted over with small dark brown spots. The swans and wild
ducks, and plovers and sandpipers breed there, and numerous sea birds are
constant visitors and add much to the interest of a row on the lake. It
is rather early for water plants, but one of the prettiest objects just now
are the red-coloured young growing leaves of the white water lily, the
Nymphea alba, as contrasted with the light fresh green of the young leaves
of the yellow water lily, the Nuphar lutea. They grow mingled together in
great abundance, and when seen in the early morning or evening sun are very
beautiful. The President then exhibited a specimen of each plant to the
meeting. He next produced a very fine bunch of the marshtrefoil or bog-
bean, the Menyanthes trifoliata, and pointed out the abundance of the globe-
flower, the Trollius Europeus, in the fields round Talgarth and Llangorse,
This was also shown by the room being decorated with large vases of it, and
which quite threw into the shade the few which Mr. Lees and himself had
been careful to bring from Llangorse as a rare plant.

The botanical members were very much interested by a small box of
orchideous plants, which the President had received that morning by post,
W. Leyland Woods, Esq., of Chilgrove, near Chichester, had most kindly
forwarded them for exhibition at this meeting. The box contained no less
than five specimens of the rare Orchis muscifera, or fly orchis, ut great
freshness and perfection, At first sight it almost seemed as if real flies had

163
settled on the green stems of the plants. The box also contained two speci-
mens of the birds-nest orchis, Weottia nidus avis, several flower spikes of the
tway blade Listera ovata, and of the green winged meadow orchis, the Orchis
morio,

The PRESIDENT then called upon the Hon. Secretary, the Rev. Geo, H.
Cornewall, to introduce the subject of ‘‘The more remarkable trees of
Herefordshire,’”—adding at the same time that it was evident his own paper
on ‘* Wandering Plants” must wander on still to another meeting.

The Rev. Grorce H. Cornewatt then said that he had not brought
any written paper on Herefordshire trees. The members had already received
a printed notice on the subject, and it seemed to him most desirable that
the members should unite their efforts to obtain an exact account of our
remarkable trees. It was a very extensive subject, and no one member could
hope to carry it out in any reasonable time without the assistance of others.
He thought it would be better if different members of the club would take
up a different kind of tree, so that the descriptions received might at once be
sent to the proper quarters. The President had kindly undertaken the elm
and sweet-chesnut, and the Rev. Thomas Woodhouse had chosen the yew
tree, the oak had fallen to himself, and he should be very glad if any other of
our members would take any of the other trees and let him know. He thought
a most interesting record might be thus obtained, and that it was the peculiar
province of the Woolhope Club to obtain it.

The PRESIDENT then said that his friend Mr. Edwin Lees, of Worcester,
had in the course of his researches collected more particulars as to curious
Herefordshire trees than perhaps any other person. As he was present among
them, they would be doubtless pleased to hear any remarks he would favour
them with.

Mr. Lrzs then said that, in making preparation for a work on old trees
some years since, he had met with several curious veterans in Herefordshire,
of which he had taken portraitures, He then exhibited drawings of a yew tree
in Cradley churchyard, a most remarkable hollow one in Much Marcle church-
yard, and a magnificent ash growing, when the sketch was taken, at Hope
End, near Ledbury. Views of some fine oak and other trees were also shown,
and remarks made, on trees as objects of scientific study and artistic beauty.
Too many landscape painters had made conventional trees in their studios,
which might be trees to the artist, but not any one in particular to the
naturalist ; but it was important that the physiognomy of vegetation should
be studied correctly. With regard to the age of the trees, the yew as most
enduring deserved particular attention, and many yews now stood alive
that had commenced their existence before the Norman conquest. This was
doubtless the case with the Cradley yews, and the massive one at Much Marcle.
The rings of annual growth were good evidence in the case of the yew
when attainable, and he had in his possession the section of a branch of
yew, which within a diameter of only nine inches, had 227 rings of annual
growth fully discernible. The connection of the yew-tree with the church was

:

164

symbolical, as representing immortality, and not as some had thought for the
purpose of making bow-staves for the parish, for curiously enough the bows
of the English archers, “dreadful with the bended yew,” had been generally
made of foreign wood, supposed to be the better material. Hence, in many
instances, the original Saxon or Norman church had been built beside a yew
tree that stood on a convenient site, and it was not always the yew that was
brought to be planted by the church. Oaks, in accordance to an old adage,
might very well stand for 900 years, and probably the celebrated Moccas oak
was as much as this. Where a yew was hollow, it was not so easy to deter-
mine its age, because, as in the case of one of the Cradley yews, fresh layers of
alburnum descending from above had surrounded and encased the old decaying
hole. Several other noble Herefordshire trees were adverted to, as some
grand yews on the Ridgeway, near Eastnor, those in Stanford Bishop church-
yard, of very great magnitude, one 27ft. in girth ; and the stag’s-horn oaks at
Colwall, where the Bishops of Hereford once had a hunting-seat.

Mr. Lees was prepared to have extended his observations much further,
but as it was announced that the railway train for Hereford was approaching,
the proceedings were necessarily brought to an abrupt conclusion. The
company now hastily snatched up their impedimenta, and hastening to the
railway, a very pleasant meeting was most satisfactorily ended by a safe
journey homewards.

A LEGEND OF LLYNSAFADDAN.

Under the title of ‘‘ Cynfig,” the same story, with variations, is
related in the Iolo MSS.

Where mountain heights surround the vale,
And humbler hills their summits rear
To ornament the spreading dale,
Amid a marish dank and drear, .

Calm as the glow of summer skies,
The lake of old Brecheiniog lies.

Tradition tells, in days of yore
(Dates suit not this mysterious tale),
Where the lake spreads its watery store,
A village smiled amid the vale,
And there its lovely Lady dwelt,
To whom an humble Suitor knelt.

A wealthy dower the Maiden owned,
Yet coveting augmented store,
The suitor’s poverty she scorned,
And bade him see her face no more :
His melancholy way he went,
On thoughts of love and wealth intent.

When in a solitary place

A travelling Merchant crossed the way,
A man of wealth—with rapid pace

The Suitor fell upon his prey :
Beneath his sword the Merchant dies,
The murderer seizes on the prize :

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Prepares a grave with fearful haste,

And hides his hapless victim there,
Then at the Lady’s feet he cast

His treasure, and preferred his prayer.
Surprised, she questions ; thrilled with fear
The horrid secret greets her ear.

«Hence, guilty youth,” she trembling cries,
‘“ Why should I join my lot to thine?
Vengeance to smite the murderer flies ;
Oh, may far other fate be mine !
Receive thy sentence at his tonyb,
Nor bid thy loved one share thy doom {i ; |

He went, the moon her radiance veiled
Beneath a cloud of sombrous hue,
The screech-owl’s note his ear assailed,
‘As near the lonely copse he drew,
Sepulchral tones amid the wood,
Asked, ‘Is there vengeance for this blood ?”

« There is,” a hollow voice replied,

“A sure, though distant curse shall come,
Nine generations multiplied

The Murderer’s race shall share his doom !”
Well pleased, the Murderer hastes away,
Nor fears the long-protracted day.

Nor does the Lady now refuse
To join with his her future lot,
Sin’s punishment escaped she views,
The guilt of sin she dreaded not :
Theirs, ere that tardy vengeance fall,
Must be the common lot of all!

They lived their offspring’s race to see
With rapid increase spread around,
Survived that hour of destiny
When time the threatened period found,
Yet on the Murderer’s hoary head
No storm of wrath its lightning shed,

The festive board, the song of mirth,
Their safety and their joy declare ;
Terrific tremblings rend the earth,
Lo, vengeance, ruin, and despair !
And where the Murderer’s turrets rose,
The Lake is spread, and Llynfi flows.

THE REMARKABLE TREES

OF

HEREFORDSHIRE.

S

=~ : > 8 ba
Bie We

ay

~~

THE MISTLETOE-OAK at TEDSTONE DELAMERE.

MARCH, 1867.

The Mistletoe is known to have existed upon this oak for about 38 years.
Dr. Cradock (Principal of Brasennose College) discovered it there in 1851, but
¢he woodman had known of it for more than 20 years before. He kept it a
secret, and only produced a small portion on particular occasions. The
Mistletoe grows in one bunch of five stems close to the trunk of the tree, at
about 40 feet from the ground. The oak (Q. pedunce. ) is situated in the corner
of a wood on Primrose Hill, on the property of E. Bickerton Evans, Esq.
As shown here, it is crowded by other trees, and the ivy has nearly reached
the Mistletoe. At the request of the President of the Woolhope Club,
Mr. Evans at once had the ivy cut from it, and has very kindly promised to
remove the trees around it.

(Ladmore, Photographer to the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club. )

166

Che GHoolhope Haturalists’ Sicld Club.

MEETING AT KINGTON,
JUNE 26TH, 1866.

On Tuesday, the 26th inst., the second field meeting of this club for the
present season was held at Kington. The day was a magnificent one, the
brightness and heat of the sun being tempered in some degree by a gentle
breeze, and there was a large attendance of members from various parts of the
district.

The President, (Dr. Bull) and the committee met at the Barton Railway
Station in this city at 9 a.m., and held a meeting at which several gentlemen
were elected as members of the Club, and others duly proposed,

At 9.50 a large party left Hereford for Eardisley, by the Hereford, Hay
and Brecon railway, the clean neat state of the carriages, and the smoothness
of the travelling being remarked by some of the visitors from a distance, as
giving a satisfactory idea of railway developement in this district. The
beauty of the scenery along the line, too, was the theme of general admiration ;
the wooded Credenhill with its suggestions of Roman and Saxon warfare, and
its picturesque church; the peaceful fields dotted with sheep, once covered
with the houses of busy Magna Castra; the “leafy honours” of Garnons-hill ;
the ivy-covered ruins of old Yazor church, and the “heaven directed spire ”
of its neat successor; the beautiful Lady-lift with its diadem of trees, sug-
gestive of the renowned author, Sir Uvedale Price, who was not only their
planter but the cause by his writings of many other beautiful estates being
so laid out as to develope their natural capability of being made beautiful ;
and then, in descending the long incline between Kinnersley and Eardisley
stations, the glorious view westward of the richly wooded vale of the Wye,
with its noble framework of wooded hills, behind which rise the huge wall of
the Hatterill range, the Radnorshire Beacon, the far-off Radnor Forest, and
other lofty summits, all successively delighted the visitors, as far as the hazy
state of the atmosphere permitted them to be seen. This difficulty, however,
did not mar their view on returning, when the exquisite clearness of the
atmosphere not only revealed the full beauty of the view, but invested it all
with an added charm in the golden glory of the evening light,

167

At Hardisley station, where the party left the train for another “train” of
vebicles which awaited them, they were joined by the hon. secretary (the
Rev. G. Cornewall, of Moccas), and some gentlemen from Hay and other places
farther westward; and the whole party proceeded to Kington, on the way,
owing to the haziness of the atmosphere already mentioned, seeing but imper-
fectly the fine view of the Breconshire Beacon and the long range of mountains
stretching down far into Carmarthenshire, of which those twin summits are
the culminating points,

The party reached the pretty little town of Kington shortly before 11
o'clock, and were there received by R. W. Banks, Esq., Rev. J. F. Crouch,
of Pembridge, and other members residing in the Northern part of the Club’s
district. After a very few minutes’ delay, the whole party started on a
pedestrian ramble, Mr. Banks kindly acting as guide.

The first place visited was the ‘‘Crooked well,” as to the etymology of
the name’of which two interpretations were offered: one, that the word was
a corruption of ‘‘crochan,” from the cup-shaped indentation of the hill in
which the copious spring rises ; and another and more probable interpretation,
that the word ‘‘ crooked” is merely the British ‘‘eriig coed,” or woody hill—
an appellation which fairly enough describes the present aspect of the lower
part of Bradnor hill, as viewed from the spot where the spring rises. This
well is referred to in the Rolls of the Manor of English Huntington, temp.
Henry V., as ‘“‘vocatum a croked mill.”

From the Ortig-coed well, the party passed by Ivy Chimney to Bradnor
quarries, where an outlying bed of Downton Sandstone is worked. The
fossils found in these quarries are the following :— Hurypterus pygmaus,
E. acuminatus, E. linearis, E. abbreviatus ; Pterygotus Banksti, P. stylops,
P. gigis, P. problematicus; Pteraspis Banksii, P. truncatus. In the Lower
Ludlow rock of Brandon wood, Pterygotus punctatus, the same as at Leintwar-
dine quarries.

Mr. Banks explained that the fossils were found on the tile-stone beds,
which, singularly enough are found to thin out as the quarrymen advance
into the rock. Consequently the fossils had become scarce of late,

The most recent discovery must he noted by the way, which is that in
the Downton beds on Huntington hill, in Colva parish, Radnorshire, a short
distance to the S. «f Kington, a slab of stone with tracks upon its surface has
been found; and that Mr, Salter, the eminent geologist, proposes to show in
an early number of the Geological Magazine that these tracks are those of the
Pteraspides, which are peculiar to the Downton beds.

From Bradnor quarries, the party passed by Wallstich farm to Bradnor
wood. Near Wallstich are the remains of some fruitless workings for lead,
which afford a curious illustration of the errors that ‘‘ practical” miners,
ignorant of Geology, often fall into, Misled by the appearance of a whitish
loam a little below the turf, a person who had made a few trials on the Black
Mountains was induced about two years since to sink a well here in the hope

168

of again finding some fathoms deep in the rock the same white loam, which
he regarded as a sure indication of the presence of lead. As the rock at this
spot is the Upper Ludlow, it seems scarely necessary to add that the search for
lead was a failure. Not that this speculative miner thinks so. He believes
fully that the lead is there, and would have gone on boring to this day pro-
bably, if the “supplies” had not very wisely been withheld.

After visiting several quarries, the members made their way to Downfield,
the seat of Mrs. Miles, which they had been kindly invited to visit. In the
beautiful grounds of this residence they saw and admired a number of noble
specimens of Araucaria, Cryptomeria, and other exotic trees, which flourish
at Downfield +o a degree almost unprecedented in a very wide district. One
fine luxuriant Araucaria was about 30 feet high, and on very few of them could
be discovered any brown stems or leaves, those marks of the severe frost of
1861, which destroyed so many of these trees throughout England, and sadly
disfigured almost all of them. They examined, too, a fine witch-elm (Ulmus
montana), which measures 20 feet in circumference at about 3 feet from the
ground. After spending some time in admiring the very beautiful view from
the terrace in front of the mansion, the party entered the house, and were
hospitably received by Mrs. Miles and her daughter. After partaking of a
lunch kindly set out for them, the members took leave of their considerate
entertainer, and proceeded to the summit of Stanner Hill, upon which the
scientific business of the day was to be transacted.

The Rev. Thos. Hutchinson very kindly brought his Vasculum, well
supplied with specimens of the ‘‘Lesser Winter Green” (Pyrola minor),
gathered near Leominster, and which he freely distributed at this time.

In the ascent of the hill, the botanical members of the party were
delighted with the spectacle, in many parts magnificent for the richness of
the colours, presented by the wild flowers. The golden yellow of two species
of Sedum (S. Fosterianum and S. reflecum), the purplish crimson of the
Geranium sanguineum, and the paler hue of the Lychnis viscaria—all being
somewhat rare plants—seemed to clothe the rugged hill with beauty. The
scene, as viewed from the peak around, and upon which the members seated
themselves to hear Mr, Curley’s paper on the geology of the district, was
striking for its wild grandeur,

** Hills beyond hills in wild succession rising,”

While the deep valleys were rich with waving woods, and here a mansion
and there a farm-house looked out. over green corn-field or smooth lawn ; but
was also especially interesting to the geologist from the evidence it affords
of geological history. In the beautiful view from that hill the loftier hill
called Herrock (‘‘ Hercope” of Domesday Book, probably from Hi, long, and ~
cop, a hill), along the summit of which runs Offa’s Dyke, distinguishable from
Stanner as a line of brighter green, is a conspicuous feature. The adjoining
parish of Knill (the ‘‘Chenille” of Domesday) is chiefly remarkable for the

169

lofty hill known as Knill Garroway (probably from garw, rough), The two

quaintly named places, Burlinjobb and Evanjobb—manifest corruptions from
y called ‘‘ Burchop” and

Burchelin’s cop and Evan’s cop (and commonl
““Enjob”)—also form constituents of the view. At the former village the
Woolhope limestone appears on the side of the Old Radnor hill, being tilted
up by the outburst of trap.

The conflicts of igneous action, fierce beyond anything dreamt of by Ovid,
when he sang of the strife of hot and cold, and dry and moist, when all things
were unstable and mixed, here write themselves out at large,

‘*Plain for all folk to see,”
Who have eyes to see withal ; and the course of the fiery tumult of elements
is worth tracing, as may be done easily with the help of the able essay read on
the spot, which we append.

170

GEOLOGICAL FIELD ADDRESS,
By T. CURLEY, Ese., 0.E.

STANNER HILL, JUNE 26, 1866.

The Woolhope Club possesses one of the most interesting districts in the British
Isles for the study of Geology. Taking Hereford as the head quarters of our club,
and describing a circle of 40 miles around it, we have within that radius the whole
of the upper and lower Paleozoic rocks, aud the whole of the Mesozoic rocks, with
the exception of the Cretaceous; and what is more, on the Malvern hills we have an
example of the Laurentian formation so largely developed in Canada. The Cambrian
system within our circle can be examined at Church Stretton; the Llandeilo formation
at Llandegly and Llandrindod, the Llandovery at Mayhill and Woolhope, the Wenlock
and Upper Ludlow at Woolhope, Ludlow, and all around Stanner, where we now stand ;
the Old Red or Devonian all over Herefordshire ; the Carboniferous at Pontypool, Forest
of Dean, and Clee Hill ; and the Permian to the north of Bewdley.

The following formations belonging to the Mesozoic series may be found within the
same circle, viz., the Trias at Worcester, the Lias along the banks of the Severn, between
Berkeley and Gloucester, and at Maindee, and the Oolitic at Stroud.

The igneous rocks within this district are very remarkable, and I shall presently
refer to them. Hereford must certainly be considered the most central and convenient
head-quarters for the geological student, for there is no other city in Great Britain
that, within a circle of 40 miles, will embrace so many geological formations without
any break in the order,

The great valley of the Wye, in the centre of which the city of Hereford is itself
placed, affords, too, a most promising opportunity to the physical geologist for the study
of Drifts and Gravel beds. We have there three distinct terraces of gravel, proving as
many distinct levels at which the Wye has stood in former remote periods. These
beds require careful investigation. Sir Charles Lyell, my friend the Rev. W. Symonds,
and many ether of our best practical geologists are now studying them closely in other
places, We must follow their example, and as they are worked, carefully watch for
any remains of organic life that may become exposed. In one of these terraces, in a
gravel bed near the Infirmary, the tooth of an elephant was found a few years since,
and two years ago I myself had the good fortune to find in an ancient gravel bed of the
Lugg near Dinmore the tooth of the Rhinoceros tichorinus, which I now exhibit to you,
and which is the only relic of that extinct pachyderm yet found in thecounty. The
beds are not rich in organic remains, but at any time they may possibly be discovered,
and probably have often been lost to science for want of an observer.

The valley of elevation of Woolhope, from which our club takes its name, presents
a most interesting field of geological phenomena. There is no other example within so
short a space that gives the geologist better data for computing the amount of denudation
which has taken place since the upheaval of the Silurian rocks through the Old Red
Sandstone. The central dome of Llandovery rock is there flanked all around by highly
tilted formations of Wenlock Limestones, and Shales, and Upper and Lower Ludlow
formations, which were once continuous over, and concentrical with, the dome of the
Llandovery rock. It may be calculated that something like 3,000 feet of Silurian rocks
have been removed by denudation, without taking into account the immense mass of

171

Old Red which must originally have overlaid the Silurian Rocks. Imagine a slice cut
from the top of an onion. If you wish to compute the thickness of the part cut off,
you may véry readily do so by means of the thickness of the coats remaining, and this
will give you aclear idea of the data that the Woolhope Valley affords for computing
the amount of its denudation.

The Malvern range affords an excellent example of volcanic action. The force which
probably threw up the Silurian rocks through the Old Red Sandstone at Usk and Wool-
hope found a vent at Malvern, and poured forth in a fluid state the rocks which
form so beautiful an outline in the scenery of this county and Worcestershire.

The Clee-hill Coalfield is again a most interesting subject of study. It is perhaps
the highest in England above the sea level, and there is reason to suppose that it was
absolutely lifted upwards by volcanic action. Dislocations having occurred from this
violent action, the molten Basalt has passed upwards through the crevices thus formed,
and has overspread the entire coal formation. :

There is also an exceedingly interesting coalfield at Leebotwood, near Church
Stretton. It is, I believe, the only example where the coal formation rests, immediately,
on the Cambrian rocks. This fact has been overlooked by Sir R. Murchison in his
“Siluria.”

To come now to the geology of this immediate district. Let me draw your atten-
tion to the remarkable eruption of the Stanner rocks, on which we now stand, and which
form so prominent an object in the landscape. This rock is charged with Hypersthene,
and is the only rock in the British isles, with the exception of one at Skye, which con-
tains this mineral in any appreciable quantity. Ordinary typical granite is composed
of quartz, mica, and felspar. The Syenitic granite of Hunter-hill, which you see before
you, and also of that of the Malvern range, is composed of quartz, felspar, and
hornblende, whereas the hypersthene granite of Stanner is composed of quartz, mica,
and hypersthene. Hypersthene is a member of the hornblende family, and is so called
from its power of resisting acids, as compared with augite, to which it is closely related.
It has a vitreo-resinous lustre and a brown or greyish green colour, passing into black.
Hypersthene is a ferrosilicate of magnesia, with only traces of alumina and lime, and in
this it differs also from augite, which contains as much as about 20 per cent. of lime.

Many persons think that the age of geological discovery has passed away; yet in
this very district, at a Woolhope club meeting held on the 29th July, 1856, the carapace,
swimming feet, pincers, and some other portions of a gigantic lobster, some six or
seven feet long, were discovered in the quarry of Downton sandstone on Bradnor-hill,
which you have had the advantage this morning of visiting under the guidance of Mr.
Banks. This distinguished member of our club had previously discovered, and worked
out with much care and perseverance, several parts of an allied crustacean, and on the
day to which I allude Mr. Salter, who was present at the meeting, drew the animal
full size from the portions obtained, restoring by outline the missing parts. Mr. Salter,
in honour of the discoverer, gave to this huge lobster the name of the Pterygotus Banksit
(hear). "Whether the temperature of the sea in which the creature lived may have been
greater than which at present prevails around the British isles, I will leave to the specu-
lative and inductive geologists of the meeting.

We found on this same day a specimen of the Pteraspis, which Mr. Banks was
also so fortunate as to discover, and which also bears his name. It is not necessary to
allude further to the fossils of the district, for Mr. Banks himself, in his address as
president of our club, has given us the very valuable list which is published in the
transactions, :

SS

i
i
%
ia
.

172

The Downton Sandstone has been generally included in the Silurian rock, and of
the ordinance geological maps it is so coloured; but it is to be hoped that on the next
revision of the maps these distinctive beds will be shown by a colour of their own.

The Downton Sandstone is lithologically a true transition formation, and cannot
be classed as a whole with the Silurian or Old Red Sandstone. It is not composed of
the denudation of the adjacent Ludlow rocks, but is probably formed from the destruc-
tion or disentegration of the Caradoc Sandstone, which it greatly resembles.

These passage beds are here, according to Murchison, only 40 to 50 feet in thickness.
Mr. Banks has again rendered good service to geology by detecting in them a series
of fossils which prove beyond all doubt, that fossils in themselves are not so distinc-
tively characteristic of particular formations as they were before supposed to be.
I believe the Downton Sandstone contains the oldest recognisable vegetation yet found
in England and Wales; but it does not at all follow from this negative evidence that
there was not arich flora at the time of its deposition, for in the old Silurian rocks in
Scotland traces of land plants have been discovered.

The Downton Sandstone is well developed in the band at Ludlow. In the pub-
lished geological section running across that town, it is represented from my own actual
observations to be 80 feet in thickness. Few organic remains occur there, the principal
ones being the fishes Pteraspis and Cephalaspis, with the crustaceans Eurypterus,
Pierygotus, and the small Beyricha.

On examining the district immediately around Old Radnor you will find that
there isalineof Fault running from the West side of Stanner hill, in a north-easterly
direction, to Nash Scar. On the east side of this line of Fault the Wenlock Limestone
and Upper Llandovery rock are thrown up. On the western side of the Fault appears
the Old Red Sandstone of Radnor wood. This Fault was caused by the force which
caused the protrusion of the Stanner rocks, and the upheaval of the Wenlock Limestone
of Nash Scar.

There is also another Fault running past the east side of Old Radnor hill, nearly
parallel with the Fault already alluded to, and about half a mile from it. This line of
Fault was caused when the Syenitic granite of Hunter hill was thrown up, and the
Wenlock Limestone and Llandovery rock of Old Radnor appeared.

The flat district north-west of Old Radnor and around Harpton Court is on the
Wenlock Shale, where it is very much obscured with a deep covering of gravel. Radnor
Forest belongs to the Upper Ludlow formation, and the country south-east of Llandegley
is on the Llandilo Flags and Shales.

The amorphous, massive, and crystalline condition of the Wenlock Limestune at
Nash Scar and Old Radnor was caused by the action of heat issuing along a line of
fissure, which, emitting the igneous rocks of Stanner and Hunter-hill, fused the strata
into huge amorphous masses, and left films of Serpentine on the faces and joints of the
altered limestone.

On the western slope of Old Radnor hill in the Wenlock Limestone casts of the
Pentamerus ob’ongus and other f ssils may be found.

Looking to the north-west of Old Radnor, all the land visible was above the level
of the sea when Herefordshire and the other parts of England eastwards were below it.
Possibly at that time Wales, with the Isle of Man and Ireland, may have formed a
series of islands in the ocean.

From the distribution of land and water, and from astronomical causes, there is
no doubt but that the climate of this district was much more severe at one time than
at present, for we have abundant evidence of glacial action in many places. I may

,

173

instance, the large boulders of Conglomerate strewed over Llandrindod Common as
examples beyond doubt of masses of rock transported by ice, for there are no rocks of a
similar character within many miles of the place. There is one boulder lying near the
road below the Pump-house, which I measured. It now weighs about 100 tons, and was
much larger before they broke off large portions to mend the roads.

Tn conversation with one of the natives a few years ago, I found that the theory
he entertained of this transported boulder was that the Devil in passing along had got
this pebble in his shoe, and as it hurt his foot, he cast it on the common. I gave the
old man great offence by suggesting the ice theory to him.

Among the facts put in evidence by geologists regarding the former conditions of
land and sea, none are more convincing of change and systematic diversity than the
remains of plants and animals. By this testimony it appears that over every part of the
earth's surface, in every class of organic life, the whole series of created forms has
undergone great changes. The prevailing opinion is that variations of the forms of
existing animals and plants must be exceedingly slow, since no material change has
taken place in our cultivated grains or amongst our domestic animals for many
hundreds of years of human experience. It follows, as a necessary consequence, that
no considerable changes, such as the total extinction of old forms of life and the intro-
duction of new forms, arising from such causes as are now in action, could take place
without allowing very long periods of time. Estimated in this way, and considering the
great number of living creatures that have lived through their periods and actually
become extinct, the antiquity of the palwozoic rocks which surround you is incon-
ceivable. Nevertheless, during all that inconceivable period, we have no reason to
suppose but that the same forces were seated in the same particles of matter; that the
same infiuences resided on the surface of the earth; that the same laws governed the
movements of the planets in their ever-changing paths around the sun.

Geological phenomena of every order can be expressed in terms of magnitude,
such as the uplifting of mountains, the deposition of strata, and the numerical changes
of the forms of life.

The time required to produce these effects could also be calculated if we did but
know the rate at which they were produced: but if we only know the limits within
which it must have operated, the result of any such attempted calculation must have
a corresponding uncertainty; and, if we are positively without any knowledge of this
rate, all exact calculations are utterly out of the question.

Astronomers tell us that the varying eccentricity of the earth’s orbit produces cor-
responding changes in its temperature. By this cause the total quantity of heat
received by the earth within a year is increased or lessened; and the mode in which
this heat is distributed on the circumpolar spaces is still more largely affected. At one
epoch the summer and winter temperature are made more equal; at another they are
made more widely different. Now, if at one of these epochs of maximum eccentricity,
the earth was in aphelion at the time of our winter, much heavier falls of snow might
take place and continue for ages, and glaciers might be largely increased both in number
and extent. Under contrary circumstances, less snow might fall, its duration might
be shorter, and its attendant glaciers might become smaller and less permanent.
To this latter condition the present state of the Arctic Regions corresponds, and by
consulting the astronomical tables, Professor Phillips maintains that a condition of
extreme glaciation, dependent on the maximum eccentricity of the earth's ~
cannot have happened within the last 100,000 years.

174

The opinion, however, has long been growing among geologists that it is rather
by a rising and falling of the surface of the land, and consequent alteration in the sea
level, that the great variations in temperature must be explained. Such changes are
admitted to have taken place in the mountain regions of the Polar circles. In Switzer-
land also there is distinct evidence of two great extensions of ice having taken place in
former times, the latter one corresponding possibly to the age of our own glacial drift.

Gentlemen,—The Rev. W. 8S. Symonds, who was to have given us the geological
address to-day, has been called suddenly to Belgium to examine some fossilized human
bones found in a cave there. Let us hope that his enthusiasm in the matter of drifts
and gravel beds will not lead him unconsciously within reach of any German military
earthworks. He has promised to attend our Builth meeting, when he will no doubt
kindly give our club the benefit of his researches if he should happily bring his own
“Old Bones” safely away. Meanwhile it was only at the particular request of our
worthy President that I considered it my duty as a member of our club to answer
to his call, and boldly to venture on the task of supplying Mr. Symonds’s place—a
post which I cannot but feel would have been much better filled by many of the
gentlemen I see around me.

After the conclusion of the paper, which was received with applause, the
party proceeded to descend the hill, separating on the way into two groups.
One of these took the longer round by the Hanter hill and through the pass
between that hill and Worsal wood back by Rhiwbach farm, and thence
under Hergest ridge and Held wood to Kington; while the others chose the
shorter but more difficult route down the steep side of the mountain, and
through the tangled brambles, huge rocks, precipices, and debris-covered
slopes, here and there gemmed with flowers cf the ‘‘Devil’s Garden.” The
characteristic plants of Stanner hill abounding in this part of the ‘‘ rocks,”
many a vasculum was enriched on the way down. Among the plants obtained
by one or other of the many botanists present were the following :—
Veronica spicata (spikeflowered speedwell), Erodium cicutarium (hemlock
storks-bill), Lychnis viscaria (viscous catchfly), Geranium sanguineum (blood-
hued cranesbill), Lepidium Smithii (wall pepper), Scleranthus perennis (knawel),
Menchia erecta, and the two Sedums already mentioned.

About 4 p.m., the whole party re-united at a well-served dinner at the
‘Oxford Arms Hotel, Kington. The chair was occupied by the President of
the Club, Dr. Bull; and there were also present—the Vice-Presidents, the
Rev. H. Cooper Key, Dr. McCullough, and Elmes Y. Steele, Esq. ; the Hon.
Secretary, the Rev. George Cornewall; Arthur Armitage, Esq. ; R. W. Banks,
Esq., Ridgeborne ; Thomas Blashill, Hsq., London; T. Curley, Esq., Flavell
Edmunds, Esq., and T. W. Garrold, Esq., of Hereford; J. E. Lee, Esq.,
Caerleon, Monmouthshire; Rev. J. F. Crouch, Pembridge; Rev. E. Du
Buisson, Breinton ; Rev. J. H. Jukes, Preston Wynne ; Rev. H. W. Phillott,
Staunton-on-Wye ; Rev. Charles Smith, Tarrington ; Rev. Thomas West,
Fownhope; Rev. Thos. Woodhouse, of Hay; J. E. Smith, Esq., of Hay;
Captain Williams, Talgarth ; and the following visitors :—Miss Hodgson, of
Stanton Lacy; Wm. Aston, Esq., H. G. Apperley, Esq., Captain Cowtan,

175

H. Oribb, Esq , W. Blakely, Esq., James Davies, Esq., and J. T. O. Fowler,
Esq., of Hereford; OC. Neate, Esq., Weobley; F. Nash, Esq., and T. J.
Salwey, Esq., of Ludlow; A. R. Lomax, Esq., Eardisley; Rev. T. H. Bird
and Mr. Bird, of Yarkhill; Rev. S. Clark, Bredwardine; Rev. E. Cunning-
ham, Hereford; Rev. — Clay, Pembridge; Rev. J. E. Jones, Llanddewy,
Caerleon ; Rev. C. J. Westropp, Wormbridge, and his friend, Mr. Canning ;
Rev. T. Hutchinson, Kimbolton, his son, and friend, Mr. Routh; Rev. R. H.
Williams, Byford ; J. Morgans, Esq., Kington; Mr. Blashill, of Bishopstone ;
Messrs. Southall and Watkins, Ross; and the assistant secretary, Mr, Arthur
Thompson.

Dinner was scarcely half over when the PRESIDENT rose and said that the
time had arrived when he must begin the business of the evening, in order to
get through it satisfactorily. He hoped they would continue their dinner
nevertheless. When the meetings for the season were fixed at the beginning of
the year, there was an impression at Hereford that the Kington meeting
would be the weakest. Every one knew the great interest Bradnor Hill
quarries, and the ‘ Devil’s garden” at the Stanner rocks presented to the
geologist and botanist; but yet, for reasons not necessary to go into, it was
thought the attendance to-day would be a small one. No sooner was it known
here, however, that Kington had been fixed upon, than the excellent pro-
gramme they had that day carried out was sent. If they had been desirous at
Hereford to make the best arrangements they could, there was one gentleman
at Kington who was more anxious still that every effort should be made for
the comfort and convenience of the members who came here. If a difficulty
arose, by return of post it was happily solved. Mr. Banks invited that excel-
lent field lecturer, the Rev. W. S. Symonds, president of the Malvern Club,
to give the address on Geology; and, indeed, he left nothing undone to secure
a successful meeting (great applause). When all was arranged he wrote yet
once again, and if the letter was opened with some fear lest a hitch had
occurred somewhere, it was soon allayed—it was merely to beg our care that
the salmon he had ordered for the dinner to-day should be properly sent
(applause). He felt very grateful himself, and he was quite sure the club
would wish him in their names to give their warmest thanks to Mr. Banks for
the trouble he had so kindly taken in making the arrangements, for the atten-
tion he had given them on a day which must have been inconvenient to him,
and for the excellent salmon he had so generously provided (great and con-
tinued applause). Instead of being a weak meeting it was the very strongest
the club had ever held, and he thought he might safely attribute it in great
measure to the esteem in which Mr. Banks himself was held (applause).

He had secondly the pleasure of at once giving, in the name of the club,
their thanks to Mr. Curley for the excellent address which had been that day
read to them from the heights of Stanner (applause). It was only justice to
Mr. Curley to state that the cards were printed with Mr. Symonds’s name
attached, but the news of the interesting discovery of bones in Belgium carried

176

him off there to examine them, and it was in the dilemma in which they
were left that Mr. Curley, when applied to, very kindly at once consented to
prepare it (applause), and he therefore all the more deserved their best thanks.

The next subject he had to bring before them was the resolution with
regard to our next meeting at Ross, which had been unanimously carried at
the club that morning, and that was that ladies were permitted to attend it
(applause), so that however good thcir present meeting was, Ross was to be
the meeting of the year, nevertheless (laughter). The Ross meeting would
be a most interesting one, and attended with very little fatigue. They would
go from the train to the boats, have a delightful two hours’ row down our
beautiful river, land at the Culdwell rocks, and walk over Symond’s Yat to
the ferry—about a mile and a half—where the carriages would meet them to
convey them back to Ross,

He was happy to inform them that the Rev. P. B. Brodie, the distin-
guished geologist, had most kindly consented to come and give them not only
a short field address on Symond’s Yat, but also a short lecture on ‘‘ Coal” after
dinner, a subject peculiarly interesting just now. There were also several
most interesting papers to be read from which a selection would be made.
The following had been kindly announced :—‘‘On the means of measuring
the height of trees and other objects,” by the President, with the exhibition
of a self-calculating instrument, made for this purpose by Mr. Wells, of Holm
Lacy ; ‘“‘The Lepidoptera of Herefordshire,” with a special reference to the
neighbourhood of Ross, by Alfred Purchas, Esq. ; “‘ Herefordshire Yew Trees,”
by the Rev, Thomas Woodhouse, of Hay ; ‘‘The Variations of the Water
Ranunculus,” by Thomas Blashill, Esq., of London; and ‘“‘The Elm Tree in
Herefordshire,” by the President. With reference to the trees, he must
again call on all members of the Club to assist the gentlemen, who had
kindly taken up the several trees. The Rev. Thomas Woodhouse, of Hay,
would be very much obliged to any gentleman for measurements of any
remarkable Yew trees in the county, or if any gentlemen did not know how to
do this carefully, if they would kindly write to Mr. Woodhouse and tell him
where such trees were situated. In the same way our honorary secretary, the
Rev. George Cornewall, Moccas Rectory, Hereford, would be very glad to
get all particulars with reference to the remarkable Oaks of the county, and
he himself would be thankful to be told of any large Elms now in existence
in Herefordshire.

The last subject he had to mention was that he had again received a
very interesting box of orchidaceous plants from Surrey. Mr. Woods had
most kindly sent him the following kinds :—A few fly orchis ( Orchis muscifera ),
several specimens of the bee orchis (Orchis apifera), a few of the sweet-
scented orchis (0. conopsea), and some of the Helleborines (Epipactis grandi-
flora and ensifolia). Now all these varieties were more or less rare in Here-
fordshire. He could not keep them until the present meeting, but he had
carefully dried them, and should be happy to present specimens to any

177
gentleman of the Olub, who may be desirous to add them to their collection of
plants, if they will apply to him and name the kinds they wish. It will be
better for every one to name all the kinds he may want, and he would send
them what he could.

The PRESIDENT, having resumed his seat, called upon one of the vice-
presidents, Elmes Y. Steele, Esq., to exhibit some geological specimens which
he had brought with him of a very interesting character. '

Etmes Y. StenLe Esq., after proposing a vote of thanks to Mrs. Miles
for her kind hospitality (applause), exbibited to the meeting an extraordinarily
fine fossil, obtained a few days before from a quarry of the Old Red rock,
about the middle of the eastern flank of the Scyrryd, near Abergavenny.
It consisted of the shield-protected head of one of the large fishes of the
Old Red seas, and was either a Cephalaspis or an Astrolepis. It was handed
round for inspection, with the characteristic advice from Mr. Lee, of
Caerleon, ‘‘ Handle it tenderly as if you loved it,” as Izaak Walton said of his
fish. The remarkable state of preservation, and the beautiful contrast between
the silvery sheen of the fish’s “‘armour plates” and the dark red stone in
which it was embodied, made the fossil a striking as well as an interesting
object.

The Rev. HENRY CooPER Kzy, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Club,
next read the following paper.

ON THE TWO SPECIES OF THE ENGLISH OAK,
BY THE REV. HENRY COOPER KEY, M.A.

I wish to draw attention in this paper to a subject which has not had
much notice taken of it of late years, although 30 or 40 years agoa good deal
used to be written about it, viz., the merits and demerits of the two species
of our English oak. I am no botanist myself, and therefore I must apologise
for treating upon a botanical subject in the presence of many experienced
botanists; but this particular question has attracted my attention for the last
25 years at least, and I have lost no opportunity of gaining information upon
it by carefully noticing oak timber on all occasions, both in a growing and
dry state,

The two species of oak grown for timber in England are, as every one
knows, the QuzrRcus ROBUR, or PEDUNCULATA, with leaves short-stalked and
not generally glossy, and acorns pedunculate; and QUERCUS SESSILIFLORA,
with leaves long-stalked, larger, and always glossy, and the acorns sessile, in
fact the reverse of the other 3 the leaf-stalk characteristic however is not
constant, It is no doubt also generally known that Q. ped. is of low and
spreading growth, in short very like what we call a pollard. Many fine oaks
are called pollards, which never were polled at all, but merely follow their
natural growth. The oaks at Moor Park, in Herts (all Ped.), are popularly
supposed to have been pollarded by Anne, the widow of the Duke of Mon-
mouth, after his execution. On the other hand, P. Sessil. is of upright
growth, somewhat similar to the elm; and while the Ped, is exceedingly
common everywhere, the Sessil. is rather rare. I think I may say that in
the West of England you will meet with at least 300 specimens of Q. Ped. to
one of Sessil. In the more eastern counties, such as Kent, Herts, Middlesex,
and Essex, I have never yet met with a single specimen of the Sessiliflora
oak. This scarcity of the Sessil, isa remarkable fact, but the cause of it is,
I think, not far to seek, as we shall see presently, *

Now the comparative merits of these two species, if we consult the
various writers who have occasion to mention the subject, is involved in
some confusion ; in fact writers contradict each other point blank. One says
the Q. ped. is the hardest and most difficult to work; another says it is the
softest timber; a third says the sess, is liable to warp and split; a fourth
says that these are the qualities of the ped., and so forth. Such contradic-
tions as these must, I think, have arisen from a mistake in the particular
specimens under notice. In a small Piece of oak timber it is not always an
easy matter to pronounce upon the species with certainty. But in reviewing
the published evidence (at least so much of it as I have been able to meet

179
with) there is a circumstance which strikes one at once, which is that the
botanists are all upon the one side, and persons of other professions upon the
other. The botanists give the superiority to the sessiliflora oak, while the
other writers, and among them three civil engineers, are in favour of
the pedunculata, or, at least, if not altogether, partially so; and even these
contradict one another in important particulars.

In order to lay the subject more completely before you, I will give a
very brief summary of a portion of the evidence I have been able to collect
on both sides.

And first, as to the advocates of the Q. ped. Mr. Ranger, C.E.,
says the ped. is the best for lintels, sills, sash and door frames, joists, plates,
rafters, &c., and where stiff and straight-grained wood is required. The
sess., he says, is harder and more elastic than the other, more difficult to
work, but liable to warp and split in seasoning; the strength, hardness, and
toughness of this species render it eminently superior for ship-building,
loch and dock gates, piles, ties, braces, &e., &e.

Mr. Cresy, C.E., says that Q. ped. cleaves easily into pales and laths,
and where stiffness is required it is very useful, as it does not bend easily.
Again, he says, that Q. sess. is a softer wood, and consequently yields more
readily to the tools of the workmen (the very reverse of what Mr. Ranger
says above). The timber, he says, is liable to warp and split in seasoning,
but in consequence of its elastic properties it is highly prized for ship building,
its toughness and strength recommending it for that purpose ; its hardness is
sufficient for all purposes where such is required, The grain of this variety
bearing a strong resemblance to chestnut it is often mistaken for it; it is very
durable both under water and in interiors. He says that the weight of a cubic
foot of this species green weighs 80lbs. 5oz., quite dry 51 Ibs, 10oz., while a
eubic foot of Q. ped. green weighs 76lbs. 130z., quite dry 52lbs. 130zs., showing
obviously that the former, which loses more weight by seasoning, is the
faster growing tree of the two; and also telling us a fact, perhaps not
generally known, that green oak timber of either species is of greater specific
gravity than water. I have not myself proved the experiment.

The evidence of Mr. J. M. Rankine, C.E., and others, is substantially the
same as that above.

Another writer in favour of Q. ped. is the author of the work ‘‘On
Useful and Ornamental Planting,” published by the Diffusion of Useful
Knowledge Society. He says, after speaking of the Q. sess. as the inferior
species, “ Although there are not such clear and specific facts recorded of the
comparative difference of value between the quality of these two species of
oak, as to determine the exact amount of loss which is occasioned every time
the acorns of the inferior species are used for planting, instead of those of
the more valuable above mentioned ; yet the general opinion being so strong
in favour of the superiority of the footstalked oak (the pedunculata,) that it is
of much importance to collect and sow the acorns of that species only.”

180

Here we have a strong condemnation of the sessiliflora oak, coming from
one who may be supposed thoroughly acquainted with this subject; at the
same time it is obviously an opinion based merely upon hearsay evidence, and
not supported by facts.

Thus we have on the one side the evidence of practical men inquiring for
the timber best suited for the various purposes to which it is applied in the
course of their professional practice ; and if we could be quite sure that the
opinions given were based upon trustworthy specimens of these two species of
timber, we ought to accept them without much hesitation; but considering
how easily the two species may be mistaken, the one for the other in the dry
state, and in the face of the evidence given on the other side by eminent
botanists and others, we may fairly suspend our judgment.

We now come to the testimony on the other side of the question, and the
first instance I shall give is the writer of the botanical articles in the Penny
Cyclopedia, whose valuable contributions are too well known to need any
eulogy on my part. He says, speaking of Quercus sessiliflora, “‘We have
already stated that the timber of this tree has been supposed, although erro-
neously, to be inferior to that of Q. pedunculata. Experiments as to strength
and toughness have shown that there is no material difference between the
two in these respects ; and the durability of the wood of the sessile cupped oak
is attested by the well-known fact that the roof of Westminster Hall is
constructed of it, and not of chestnut, as has been sometimes said. It has
been found to be the timber of some of the most ancient buildings in this
country and elsewhere. An immense beam in an old house in Shropshire,
now called Stonehouse, was Q. sessiliflora, and the oak usually obtained from
bogs, where it must have lain for centuries, has often proved to be the same.
The wood may be easily known by its medullary rays, or silver grain, being
so far apart that it cannot be rent, and this gives it a peculiar aspect. Q.
sessiliflora is found all over England now, but nowhere in much quantity,
It is, however, more abundant in the west than elsewhere, and constitutes
the greater part of the oak of North Wales. It is a much handsomer tree
than the Q. pedunculata, and grows considerably faster, and therefore is by
far the most advantageous for the planter.”

The next writer whom I shall mention is Sir William Hooker, in whose
British Flora, while speaking of the Q. sessiliflora, we find the following :—
‘The wood of the present species is said to be much inferior to the last (Q,
pedunculata), and a general opinion having prevailed that it has been more
extensively planted, especially in Scotland, no little alarm was in consequence
excited lest our forests should be thereby deteriorated. An eminent modern
author has however lately expressed his opinion that it is the Q. sessilifiora
which yields the best timber for shipping. This subject deserves the serious
consideration of the planter.” The eminent modern author referred to by
Sir W. Hooker is Mr. H. T. Cooper, author of the Botany of the County of

isi

Sussex, whose work was published in 1834, I will now read to you what he
says upon the subject :—

“‘T may refer to the supposed difference in the durability of the timber
produced by the two species of oak indigenous in this country, viz., Q. sessili-
flora and Q. pe-dunculata. * * * Upon a transverse section of the trunk
of the Q. ped. a vast multitude of medullary rays are found, which, by forming
continuous lines from the centre to the circumference, divide the whole trunk
into so many thin plates ; but upon viewing a section of the Q. sess. no such
appearance is found. It has been stated by many persons, and is still a very
prevalent notion, that the wood of the Q. sess. is of no use, being very
weak, and unfit for those purposes for which oak is usually used ; and even
cases of shipwreck attributed to the vessels having been built of Q. sess. have
been cited by those who have spread this absurd notion in support of their
theory. Even in a lecture on botany, delivered by Dr. Murta in the School
of Medicine at Dublin, April 14th, 1834, I find the following statement, and
quote it to show how great the prejudice is :—‘ Having casually alluded to
forest trees, I may observe in further illustration of this point, that there
are in this island two species of oak growing indigenously; one of them
furnishing wood of the most durable kind, while that of the other is compara-
tively worthless.’ * * * On the faith of such statements as these, many
noblemen’s grounds have been freed of the Q. sess., very great sacrifices having
been made by cutting down young and vigorous trees, on the supposition
that it would be folly to allow them to occupy valuable space. That the
wood of the Q. sess. is of as much, if not more, value than that of the Q. ped.
will be at once acknowledged, when it is learned that the piles used in the
Thames, the wood found in old buildings, the wood in Westminster Abbey,
&c., is all of this now contemned species; in fact all the wood commonly,
though erroneously, called by carpenters chestnut, is of the Q. sess., the real
chestnut wood being of a very different sort.

‘To what cause the mistake may be ascribed it is difficult to say.
It may possibly have obtained the name of chestnut wood from the want of
the large quantity of continuous medullary rays so prevalent in the Q. ped.,
which are the cause of the latter being so much used for park palings, these
rays giving it the property of being easily split by wedges, and obtaining for
it the name of ‘rent oak,’

‘Besides, the Q. sess. is decidedly the most handsome tree, growing
much more erect, and being of richer colour, at the same time growing more
freely and with greater rapidity.”

Finally, Dr. Lindley, in his Synopsis of the British Flora, says Q. sess. is
as superior in the quality of its timber to Q. pedunc., as it is in beauty and
vigour of growth.

The balance of published evidence seems to preponderate so greatly in
favour of the Q. sess. that further quotations are, I think, unnecessary, I
will only add the results of my own observation,

a ee

182

The Q. ped. is that species of timber which is used for park palings,
laths, &c., on account of its splitting so readily, and if any one will take the
trouble to examine park paling he will find that it is invariably wedge-shaped ;
the lines of cleavage radiating from the centre to the circumference of the
tier, along the course of the principal medullary rays peculiar to the Q. ped.
When we see split oak timber in the shape of laths or poles, we may put it
down at once as of this species. The Q. sess. refuses to split in this manner
at all; it is more homogeneous, having no principal river of cleavage,
because it has no principal medullary rays; when it splits at all it splits
irregularly, Again, this easily split wood of the ped. is also more easily
broken across than the other, and on examining the fracture it will be fouad
to occur just where the medullary rays have been severed in shaping the
plank. In short, this species is comparatively brittle, and the sess. is the
tougher of the two. It is true the wood of the ped. is harder than that of the
other, and more difficult to work, but hardness in wood is no test of strength ;
in fact, the hardest woods are usually the most brittle, Hardness in wood
genera!ly accompanies slow growth, and the Q. ped. is much slower in growth
than the sess. But now mark the results of Professor Barlow’s experiments
at Woolwich on the comparative strength of slow and fast grown oak of the
same species. The fast grown was deflected one-fiftieth of its length, with a
weight of 606 lbs., and broken with 999 lbs.; while the slow grown was
deflected by 439 Ibs., and broken by 943 lbs., showing that the fast grown was
superior to the other in the proportion of 15 to 14 nearly. These speci-
mens, experimented upon, were, as I have said, of the same species, the
ped. ; but the experiment is of some value, as showing the great probability
of the superior strength of the faster growing species, the sessiliflora,

That the sess, is by a great deal the faster growing tree of the two no one
can doubt who has ever examined many specimens, There can be no question
about it, and from these twigs (exhibited), which are fair average specimens
of the two trees you can readily judge for yourselves. The sessil. is distin-
guished by its larger, glossy leaves, and its more luxuriant shoots.

And now with regard to durability. The evidence of durability of the
Q. pedunc. is negative, and this is somewhat remarkable; there is no
evidence at all of great durability, at least I have not been able to meet with
any—by great durability I mean 300 or 400 years—and I think this is remark-
able, because the advocates for the Q. pedunc. being the superior wood would
naturally have furnished us with examples of this durability if such examples
were to be found. I do notsay that it is not durable, but only that there
is no existing proof of its being so.

On the other hand, the great durability of the sess, oak is unquestionable.
It was formerly supposed that the timber used in the fine roof of St. Alban’s
Abbey, Westminster-hall, and many noble timber roofs in London, was
chestnut ; it is now known for certain that it is sess. oak, The mistake arose
from its going among carpenters and others by the name of chestnut oak, from

183

the grain being like that of the chestnut, and to this day old carpenters
may be heard to speak of chestnut oak as now no longer to be met with.

I myself, when a boy, saw some of the piles which formed the founda-
tion of old London Bridge taken up out of the bed of the river, I think in
1831, when the bridge was being taken down; the wood was as hard as iron,
and as sound, apparently, as on the day the piles were driven—more than 600
years before! And we have distinct evidence that those piles were of sess,
oak.

In the year 1844 a huge canoe was brought up from the bottom of one of
the small boggy lakes S.E. of Cavan, in Ireland. This canoe had been hollowed
out of a trunk of sess. oak ; it measured 40 feet in length, 4 feet 3 inches in
diameter at the one end, and about 3 feet at the other. The tree from which
it was fashioned must have measured at the least 21 feet in girth at the
base, and 15 feet at the height of 40 feet from the ground. No one can say
what was the age of that canoe, but some of our geologists would probably
count it by thousands of years, and yet the wood was sound !

It may be considered that the timber used in our churches and dwelling
houses, if of later date than the middle of the 16th century, may sometimes
be ped. oak, but earlier than that is invariably sess., and with regard to large
beams, I do not think you will find anywhere one of ped. of 100 years old.
The great beams in the curious wooden tower of my own church at Stretton
are all sess, ;some of them are forty feet in length, and they are all perfectly
sound, although the rain often penetrates to them.

But now, setting aside the extreme durability of the Q. sess., and
granting for a moment (which I by no means allow) that the timber of the
ped. is equally durable, still, in point of profit from planting, there can be
no question, inasmuch as the rate of growth of the sess. is so far greater. I
have searched in vain for published evidence of the fact, but fact it is, From
my own observation, I believe that at the lowest the annual growth of the
sess. exceeds that of the ped. as much as 5 to 4,

What, then, can be given as the reason why the Q. ped. is so universal in
these islands and the sess. so rare? Why the former, with its gnarled and low
spreading habit, should be looked upon as the type of the English oak by
painters and poets, and indeed by every one, while the sess. is almost ua-
known? Is it that the ped. has good qualities which the other is without?
We have seen that it has not. The fact is, the finest and best timber has
been leng ago used up by those who knew its value, and the inferior is left on
our hands. The sess. is the timber tree, the ped. the picturesque; and the
timber tree has been felled, while the other has been left standing. Where

your population is the largest there you may expect to find fewest sessili- _

flora oaks, as witnessed by its scarcity in the south-eastern counties (which
are timber counties), and its comparative abundance in North Wales, as I men-

tioned before,

184

We are now actually in danger of losing, through the mere inadvertence
of the landowner and planter, our most durable, our fastest growing, our
most productive, our handsomest English oak. Should any one doubt its
being really the handsomer tree of the two, I would direct him to, the
‘*Monarch” oak at Holm Lacy, and the giants at Tibberton, nearly 20 in
number, which tower over the dwarf ped. The largest of these trees at
Tibberton, was estimated, about I5 years ago, to contain 28 to 30 loads of
timber, or about 1,100 feet, and it is still a vigorous and growing tree.

I do not deny, far from it, that many very fine trees of the ped. species
are to be met with; the various habits of trees grown from seed are infinite,
and here and there the ped. takes a more erect and, so far, a finer and hand-
somer growth than usual, as may be seen in the noble oaks in the park at
Moccas; but that which I maintain is that the sess. oak stands alone as a
timber tree, superior to all in its glossy dark-green foliage, its handsome form,
its rapidity of growth, and the extreme durability of its timber; and this
noble species we are well-nigh losing out of thecountry.

Our President has kindly sent me a carefully compiled list of the finest
oak trees in this county—not certainly a complete one, nor pretending to be
so—and he has marked the species of each tree. I find in the list 31 speci-
mens of the pedunculata, the ordinary oak of the country, and 14 of sessil. ;
and if to these last we add the 19 magnificent trees at Tibberton (which he
does not mention, but which are probably not to be surpassed in the same
space anywhere in England), we have 33 fine oaks which are sessil., the rare
species. This circumstance is significant.

I cannot help, therefore, appealing to the members of our Woolhope Club
on behalf of this now rather scarce tree, and urging them to impress the
importance of propagating it upon all whom it may concern. To the
nurserymen the species is unknown: with them an oak is an oak, and it
matters nothing to them from what tree they get their acorns. The question
seems to me one not only of interest, but of some practical importance, for,
although we live in an age when iron is superseding timber to a great extent,
yet it never can supersede it altogether; and probably there is now as much
call for oak timber as ever there was. It seems to mea matter of so much
importance, that I almost think I may appeal, not merely to our individual
members, but te the Club itself, as a Club, to advocate the planting of the
sessiliflora oak by such means as may lie in its power (applause).

The PRESIDENT said the Club was much obliged to Mr. Key for the very
interesting and important paper he had just read tothem. The time would
not permit them to enter into any discussion upon it now, but the best way,
perhaps, to call attention to it for the present would be to publish it in the
columns of the Hereford Times newspaper, and in the transactions of the Club
(applause).

The President then read the following paper.

185

ON WANDERING PLANTS, WITH RECENT EXAMPLES.
BY wR. BUG Ly

The native flora of every thickly-populated country must ever be gradually
changing. Some plants disappear before drainage and cultivation, whilst others which
have been introduced become naiuralized, and spread through the land. Indeed it
is but the repetition of an old tale from a botanical aspect. Wherever man himself
has wandered from one country to another, he has ever carried with him the objects
he has found useful, or to which from old associations he had become attached, and is
ever seeking to surround himself with others that may minister to his comfort or add
to his pleasure. Thus trees and flowers and plants of vatious kinds have been brought
to this country from time to time, and many of them have thoroughly established
themselves here, until now, even in Herefordshire, our club can no longer take a
botanical ramble without meeting many plants which do not properly belong to the
British flora. If we overlook the long-established forest trees ; if we stop only to admire
the numerous ornamental trees which are so continuously introduced ; if we pass by
the many flowers wanderingfrom gardens; or the shrubs, that becoming naturalized have
strayed over the country; we shall still find numerous examples to attract our atten-
tion amongst the ordinary insignificant plants of the cornfields and hedgerows—plants
which have been introduced accidentally, and which liking the climate and soil of
their new country, make themselves completely at home, and thrive and flourish—
ripen their seeds, and otherwise propagate themselves with perfect freedom and
independence.

These introductions have taken place from the earliest times—from times quite
pre-historic, botanically speaking—but of late years the increased facility of communi-
cation and the great increase in trade with foreign countries has added greatly to their
number, and often brings us plants—wanderers from more southern climates—which
can only flourish for the summer season of their introduction.

Forest trees were doubtless amongst the earliest to be introduced, and several of
those now most familiar to us in our lawns, and woods, and hedgerows are simply
wanderers from cultivation. The Ulmus campestris, the so-called ‘‘English elm,” isa
very doubtful aboriginal British tree, though it is now usually considered so, and Mr.
Babington goes so far as to say that the common Hawthorn is also an introduced tree.
The Yew, the Box, the Beech, the Lime trees (Tilia intermedia and parviflora), the
Hornbeam, the Sycamore, with several of the Willows and Poplars, and some other
trees, though admitted into the British flora under protest, that is to say, in italics, are
certainly introduced trees; whilst the Spanish Chesnut (a tree, by-the-way, certainly
brought into this country in those pre-historic times to which I have alluded), the
Walnut-tree, the Plane-tree (Platanus orientalis and occidentalis), the Horse Chestnut,
and many coniferous and other trees, are not even mentioned in the British lists.

Wanderers from the Garden, however, form the most numerous band of naturalised
plants. In Herefordshire the Columbine, the Globe Flower, the Soapwort, the Lungwort,
and some others, now recognised as British, belong to this category—as certainly do the

¥
~

186

wall-flower, the snowdrop, the Narcissus pale (Narcissus biflorus), the star of Bethlehem,
the Periwinkle (Vinca major and minor) the greater snap dragon (antirrhinum major),
the ivy-leaved toad flax the evening primrose, the honeysuckle,the stonecrops (Sedum
album and S. dasyphyllum, and perhaps S. reflecwm), the house-leek, the cranesbills
(Geranium pheum, and perhaps G. columbinum), the leopard’s-bane, the cross-leaved bed-
straw, the St. John’s wort, (Hypericum calycinum), the red valerain, the wild sage, or
clary, (Salvia verbenaica), the motherwort, Jaeob's ladder or Greek valerain, the dame’s
violet, and some others.

Several of our Herefordshire plants are wanderers from the kitchen or herb garden,
as the horse radish, the horehound, the hellebores (Helleborus jetidus and H. viridis),
the opium poppy, the celandine, the thorn-apple, the peppermint, and the carraway.

Agriculture has also introduced plants which have quickly naturalized them-
selves and spread over the country as the Dutch Clover, the Italian Rye-grass,
Saintfoin, the Field Cabbage, Cole seed, the field Melilot, the Vetch, Rye, and Brome grass,
the Dyer's woad, the Medick, and some others.

All these naturalized plants have been designedly introduced for some special
virtues er properties of their own; but there is yet a large class of other plants that
owe their English residence to accidental circumstarces. How some of them came it
is impossible to say. The home weeds of the farmstead, the docks, the goose-foot tribe
(Chenopodie), thistles, wormwood, mallows, &c., &c.; those of the garden and cornfield,
chickweed, groundsel, chamomiles, &c., &c., accompany civilisation, and may thus be
said to follow the footsteps of man wherever he goes. No doubt some of these, and
many others, have arrived by their seeds being accidentally mixed with some imported
seeds, or perhaps they may have been brought over in the packages of commerce, and
many of them have wandered widely through the country. It is probable that with
foreign seed came originally all the poppies (Papaver Rheas, P. argemone, and P,
dubium), the common fumitory, and the field Ranunculus (R. arvensis), and several
others now recognised as British. More recently the Lamb's Lettuce, the Pennycress,
the Pepperwort, the Parsley, the Dog Mercury, the beaked Parsley, the flax and clover
Dodders, (Cuscuta epilinum and C. Trifolia), have established themselves here, and are
admitted in italics to the British lists. The American, or rather Canadian water-weed,
(Anacharis Alsinastrum) which spreads so rapidly through our streams—and nowhere
more plentifully than in Llangorse Lake—is supposed to have been brought over bodily
with American timber—although Mr. Babington who carefully propagated it in the
Botanical Gardens at Cambridge, and thus spread it through that county, has been much
quizzed about its introduction. It is a curious fact that, according to Dr. Torrey, the
Italian plant Valisneria spiralis has made the same inroad on some American rivers
—the Hudson in particular—as the Anacharis has done in this country.

- The particular examples of wandering plants which I now wish to bring to your
notice, belong to this last class of foreigners—that is, to plants accidentally or mechani-
cally introduced.

f The Veronica Buxbaumii, which has now become thoroughly naturalised in Eng-

land, is a comparatively recent introduction. It was first observed in England in the
year 1826, and was doubtless brought over mixed with foreign corn, or clover seed. It
seems as hardy, and issues its seeds as freely as any of our common native veronicas,
and is a more elegant, beautiful plant than most of them. It was first observed in this
county, in the neighbourhood of Ross, by Mr. Purchas, in 1850; and in 1852, at one of
our Club meetings, it was found growing very freely on the Croft Castle estate,
particularly in the field of that noble grove of sweet chestnut trees. Since that time it

187

has become very common in several localities—Ewyas Harold, Holm Lacy, and Holmer—
and has evidently taken up its permanent residence here. In one place, however, at
Holmer, it has disappeared again, so that it still remains an interesting subject for
observation. (Fresh specimens of the plant were handed round the room.)

The next plant I present to you is the Blitwm virgatwm (Willdenow), or small
strawberry blite. Mr. Purchas found this plant at Ross in 1853, when the turf of a
portion of the Prospect was dug up and planted with potatoes, and it was thought to
have grown from buried seeds. The ground, however, was shortly afterwards laid
down for turf again, and it disappeared. The strawberry blite is a native of central or
southern France. It is an annual or biennial belonging to the family of Chenopodiz,
and has the usual insignificant flower of its order. In fruit, however, it is extremely
graceful and pretty, and when fresh is so highly coloured as closely to resemble small
strawberries. Mr. Steele, who sent me this specimen, found it in the year 1861 in the
corner of a field on the outskirts of Abergavenny, and supposes it to have been
brought there by the manure cart froma garden mixen. He quite failed, however,
to trace its origin. He could neither find it in any of his neighbours’ gardens, nor did
any of the gardeners themselves know it. Mr. Steele, with his usual energy, had the
plant taken up and removed to his own garden, where it has re-appeared, abundantly
self-sown, every year, so that it may readily become naturalised. He has no doubt but
that it would make an excellent spinach, and it is possible that it may have been intro-
duced for this purpose.

I have now lastly to call your attention to a wanderer from still more southern
regions, which appeared at Hereford last year. It is a remarkably rough specimen of @
delicate plant. In the beginning of September, 1865, the Xanthiwm Spinosum was
found growing in two localities at Hereford. It was first found flourishing on the site of
the Old Mill between the Castle Green and the garden of the Infirmary. There were
not less than 33 plants scattered widely over about a quarter of an acre of waste ground,
contending for space with mallows, docks, nettles, wormwood, and various members
of the Chenopodie that abounded there, and holding well their own. Three plants
were afterwards found growing together in an uncultivated cottage garden on the
same side of the city, but about a quarter of a mile distant from the first locality.
The Xanthium Spinosum (Willdenow) or Spiny Burweed, or Burdock, is 2 moncecious
plant of the natural order Compositz, sub-order Ambrosiz. It is an annual, and very
common in the South of Europe. Its congener, the Xanthiwm Strumariwm, the
smaller Burweed, has long been admitted in the catalogue of British plants; but the
occurrence of Xanthium Spinosum in England has not been previously recorded.
Specimens were forwarded to Mr. Oliver, at Kew Gardens ; Messrs. Babington, Watson,
Boswell Syme, and some others; but none of them were aware of its having been
found here in a wild state, and all unanimously, of course, regard it as quite accidental,
and as not in the least likely to become naturalised. However, on sending a specimen,
as in duty bound, to our then president, Elmes Y. Steele, Esq., of Abergavenny, he at
once recognised it, having found it in 1857 growing vigorously on a ballast heap at New-
port, Monmouthshire.

“A very interesting plant,” said one botanical friend, ‘‘ but I am thankful it is not
British, and fervently hope it may never become so.” Indeed, as you see from the
specimens presented, it is so very unattractive that it is the more difficult, for this very
reason, to account for its occurrence in such abundance at Hereford. It is impossible to
consider it as a garden wanderer, or as coming mixed with other seed, and it is ex-
tremely improbable that it should have been brought designedly in any way. The most

an i

i i

‘yoopung to Spoamung fandg

188

reasonable explanation seems to be this: the waste ground on which most of the plants
were found had been used during the spring months for pitching the contents of
the city mud-carts ; and if we suppose that the seeds had come accidentally in the
packages of merchandise from the south of Europe, its mixture with the street sweep-
ings would be easily accounted for, and once thrown on the waste ground, the hot
summer and autumn of 1865 would readily encourage their growth. This explanation,
however, does not meet the fact of its appearance in the uncropped cottage garden,
where, so far as appeared, no street sweepings had been thrown. Some of the plants
ripened their seed, and it will be curious to observe whether it will again make its
appearance this summer. There is one circumstance against it, and that is that most of
the waste ground where it grew has been added te the infirmary garden, and has been
raised three or four feet from its former level.

Some five years since Mr. Edwin Lees read a paper on the Anacharis Alsinastrum
before the Cotteswold Club, and continued his observations to the introduction of
plants in general to the Flora of Britain. Since he was unable to be present with us
to-day, he has kindly placed his MSS. in my hands with free permission to use it for the
conclusion of the present communication: a permission which will most certainly
give to this paper the character said to belong to ladies’ letters, wherein the chief and
most interesting portion is always contained in the postscript. After a single quotation
peculiarly his own, I shall, for the sake of better adaptation, use my own arrangement
and often my own words in apprepriating the chief part of his very interesting paper.

“Tf we strike from the British Flora,” says Mr. Lees, ‘‘all the plants that have
come in since the Celtic colonization, hundreds would ‘be lost to us. Our own island
was not the centre of vegetable creation, and I can only admit the true ancient Britons,
indigenous to our present rocks, to have been the humbler tribes of Algw, Mosses, and
Lichens, These we may admit

“True natives to the manner born,”
the only genuine colourers of the rocks, which had no painted robe of beauty of much
greater thickness than that

“Prince Vortigern had on
Which from a naked Pict his grandsire won.”

Such was the true native vesture of this country, and its present robe of green and
floral adornments are all of exotic origin.”

Without going quite so far as this, however, we may be sure that from the earliest
times, whenever man has migrated from east to west, various plants have accompanied
him—some he has gladly carried, whilst others have clung to his robe and sprung up in

, his path against his will. Go where he will the various docks will spring up around
him, growndsell and chickweed or choak-weed will grow in his gardens; plaintain and

_ butter-cups will appear in the grass; fat hens or the chenopodic will cover the rubbish

heaps ; sow-thistles, poppies, chamomiles, corn flowers, ox-eyes, and numerous other
‘‘furrow-weeds ” will shoot up in his corn fields; whilst everywhere the universal nettle
makes its appearance. The nettle, though really of extraneous origin, is now so abun-
dant everywhere in England that Watson in his Cyb. Brit. has made it one of the
features of our indigenous flora.

Every nation that has landed on our shores has contributed something to our
present accredited flora, though in the majority of instances we may not now be
able exactly to trace the giver.

189

The Romans, perhaps,"more than any other people, have enriched our fields. It is
generally believed that to them we owe the introduction of the elm tree, which now
forms so striking a feature in the landscapes of this country. It is most probable, too,
that the Romans introduced the bow tree, and it is certain that they brought the
cherry. Lucullus carried it from Asia Minor to Rome, and history states that it had
reached Britain before A.D. 150. ‘All our wild cherries have been propagated by the
birds from the cultivatedone, and the bird cherries of the woods are simply degene-
rated cherries from the garden.” The Roman nettle haunts yet some of the ruined
Roman stations, though not in Uerefordshire, and perhaps the coarse pot-herb,
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum), generally found near or upon their earthworks, was
used either by the soldiers of Rome or their auxiliary German bands. It is quite
possible, also, that the Romans first introduced the Spanish chestnut, and the walnut
tree, of which we know they were very fond, and the yew tree, if this last really is an
introduction ; for few botanists who know its frequency in the hanging woods on the
banks of the Wye, in Surrey, and many other places, would regard it in the character
of an alien.

The Danes are commemorated in the Danewort or Danesblood (Sambucus ebulus),
which was said, curiously enough, to spring up wherever their bloed was spilt. Even
Worsaae, a grave historian, in his ‘‘ History of the Danes in Britain,” relates that
after the siege of Warwick by King Canute an enormous quantity of Sambucus ebulus
sprang up around that town, and was commonly said to have grown from the blood
of the Danes. Whatever we may think of the legend, we may perhaps take the fact, that
this shrub was brought to Britain in the train of the Danes.

The Saxons brought us the Beech tree, at all times graceful and beautiful, but in
autumn, with its rich and varied tints, perhaps the most beautiful tree we have. They
are said to have brought it for its mast to feed their enormous herds of swine They
called it boc or buch, and so the salted flesh, flavoured by the buch or beech mast, was
said to be buchon, now corrupted to bacon. Buckinghamshire took its name from the
beech woods planted there, and so with the Buckhursts, Buckholts, &., &.

The Normans, after their sword had won the country, introduced a better kind

of apple, for the Saxons appear only to have known the crab that
“‘ Hissed in their bowls when roasted |”

And they probably added greatly to the number of ordinary British plants, by the foun-
dation of numerous Monasteries and Nunneries. From the gardens attached to these
institutions many plants might readily wander through the country. The monks,
hermits, and nuns in the early ages of Christianity, “‘bound, in many instances, by
their vows to live on vegetable diet, a garden was indispensable to their purpose, while
the calls of the peasantry on their medical skill required the cultivation of such as would
furnish them with decoctions and balms for the protean forms of disease, as then
understood and encountered. But, independent of this, amusement was required to
unbend the mind tired with the sameness of austerity ; and nothing could surely be
more innocent than the cultivation of that love for flowers which all mankind possess,
bent as it was presumed to pious uses, by connecting the names of the Virgin and saints,
and tle recurrence of festivals, with the appearance of the varied blossoms of the year.
In the old oratory gardens, were a host of disease-destroying plants, which as wound-
worts, heal-alls, or loose-strifes, effected wonders in their day, and were balms for all
possible ailments, though now abandoned and neglected. Even in later times, certain
plants have obtained celebrity for some fancied power or property, and so been spread
about. Such, according to Willdenow, has been the case with the common Thorn-apple

190

{Datura Stramonium), which is now scattered throughout the greater part of Europe
as a noxious weed, but was brought originally to us from the East Indies and Abyssinia,
and so followed the steps of a set of quacks, who used its seeds as an emetic or
cathartic. Probably many plants have been accidentally carried about in this way,
and assuredly others have been purposely planted.”—Lees’ Botanical Looker-out.

“Thus Senecio squalidus remained a great number of years on old walls, near Wor-
cester Cathedral, a former member probably of the convent garden, and yet existed in
1849. The same plant grows abundantly, on walls at Oxford, escaped from the physic
garden there. Atropa Belladonna, although now naturalized among the stony hollows of
the Cotteswolds, in Gloucestershire, and in other neglected spots, is a lurid plant,
certainly derived from the monasteries, and it now flourishes in such profusion, near
Furness Abbey, Lancashire, that the ‘‘ Vale of Nightshade” has been appropriately
applied to the spot. Aristolochia clematitis, having a celebrity for female complaints,
was cultivated in the gardens of nunneries, where, from its abiding roots, it is still to
be met with at the ruins of such structures as Godstow Nunnery, Oxfordshire, from
whence I have aspecimen. Such historical or memorial plants have a peculiar interest,
and deserve to be noted, though there can be no necessity for insisting, as some
botanists do, that they are “certainly wild,”—meaning thereby that they had an ab
origine existence in our island.”—lIbid.

Té this source we are also probably indebted for the Barberry—so much used of
old in confectionery—the eye bright, the wall flower, the ivy leaved toad flax, and many
other of the plants before mentioned. A botanical ramble around the site of an old
abbey or monastery to this day will almost always afford some interesting plants not
common in the district.

The Flemings, who were brought in as colonists by some of the Norman monarchs
to occupy parts of South Wales in the reigns of Henry I. and II., seemed to have
been particularly fond of the narrow leaved mustard (Diplotazis tenuifolia), for this
plant now covers the old walls and ruins where the Flemings once resided. It is
especially common—amongst other places—in Tenby and the neighbourhood, where
every ‘“‘coign of vantage” on the low picturesque houses is covered with it.

Many instances, amongst the plants already pointed out as ‘‘ Wanderers” into the
British Fiora, might be given to illustrate the influence of modern international com-
munication in the introduction of fresh plants, but it is not necessary. The rule is a
general one, and applies to all countries. If America has given us the Anacharis alsinas-
trum, the @nothera biennis, the Erigeron canadensis, the Impatiens fulva, and several
other plants, it has received and has heartily welcomed from Europe a host of others
in return, insomuch that Sir Charles Lyell has called New England the ‘‘ Paradise of
European weeds.” From the little knot-grass, that Dr. Terry says abounds in the
vicinity of New York, to that rankest of our arable weeds, the common black mustard,
which Professor Buckman found towering on the banks of Ohio—in short, wherever
clearings are made in the primitive forest and corn fields are introduced, there the
European agrarian weeds quickly appear in abundance.

A curious example of the unconscious persistent attendance of certain plants on
man is afforded by the fact that the little waybred or plaintain (Plantago major) was
ealled by the Indians ‘‘ Englishman’s foot,” because they always observed it to spring
up whereever the English had encamped.

I will give but one other illustration, and it shall be from the Antipodes. In
Australia, wherever sheep farms are established, the buttercup, the horehound, the
thistle, and other plants of British origin immediately begin to appear; indeed, as you

191

are doubtless aware, the thistle has increased to such an extent in South Australia, that
an Act has been passed for its extirpation. Whether it will be effectual to destroy it
seems problematical, for a worthy Scotchman of the colony (or more probably a
facetious friend for him) thus recorded his protest against the bill:

«Tis idle wark, as time will show
To root the bonnie plant frae ground,
For nature still mak’s thistles grow
Where cannie Scots are to be found.”

Dr. Bull resumed his seat amidst general applause. There was no time
to comment on this most interesting and suggestive paper, every page of
which affords ample matter for discussion, and sometimes even for dispu-
tation. In that very excellent and entertaining book, ‘*The Botanical
Looker-Out,” by Mr. Edwin Lees, much additional information on the subject
is very happily given. This badly named book, as the President remarked
in conversation, is not half so well known as it deserves to be. It is full of
sound practical knowledge, conveyed in a most original and interesting manner,
and cannot fail to be most useful to all young beginners of botany. There was
no time however for discussion; the President had read against time with his
watch in his hand, and as he finished the carriages arrived at the door, and
the meeting immediately broke up.

About 6 p.m. the company separated, the President and a large party
returning by coach to Hardisley, and thence by rail to Hereford, which they
reached about 7 p.m., having spent a very delightful day.

_ oe

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The Toolhope Haturalisis’ Hield Club.

MEETING AT ROSS,
JULY 27TH, 1866.

The third meeting of the Woolhope Club has been most successful.
A dull, cloudy sky for many days before, a sinking barometer, and a sudden
change of the wind to a southerly quarter, were certain indications of
approaching rain, and caused some fears lest the day should prove unfavour-
able. Ladies had been invited, and fine weather was all the more desirable.
At 8o’clock a slight shower occurred, which, though it may have prevented
some of them from coming, enabled others to show a faith in the good fortune
of the club, that met with its just reward in a very enjoyable day. Members
and visitors began to arrive at the Barr’s Court station by halfpast 9 o’clock,
and before the train could start an extra carriage had to be put on. Already
the club assumed an unwonted air of gaiety—the members were observed to
take first-class tickets—the pretty hats of the ladies and the little baskets
they mostly carried, though they might be intended for ferns or fossils, were
eminently suggestive of a pleasant pic-nic; the geological hammers were of
course unmistakeable; but as to the botanical boxes, the proximity of parasols
created the strongest suspicion that biscuits or sandwiches were the only
“specimens” they contained. The train soon sped onwards to Ross, picking
up at the several stations additions to the party. 1m this short distance
the railway crosses the Wye no less than four times, and always so directly
that at each time you seem to bid the river farewell. But no! Whether
you shoot by woods or past meadows, in cuttings or through tunnels, there
you find it again and again; and more than this; for sometimes on one
side and sometimes on the other, it gracefully approaches the line, as if for
the mere object of adding its own beauty to the scene. The Wye, says
Drayton—
To Ross her course directs ; and, right her name to show,
Oft windeth in her way, as back she meant to go.

Meander, who is said so intricate to be,
Hath not so many turns nor crankling nooks as she.

Nowhere, perhaps, are its wanderings better seen than from the beautiful
pleasure grounds of the Royal Hotel. Not that the Hereford party saw
the Wye there at this time, for as the train reached Ross, spots of rain

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left long streaks on the carriage windows, and small watery clouds hung
threateningly over the beautiful woods of the Chase. There was no time,
happily, for gloomy forebodings; the train had arrived, and the bustle of
getting the ladies into the carriages and walking off to the boats made every
one forget to be afraid. At Ross the honorary secretary, the Rev. G. H.
Cornewall, and many other gentlemen and ladies joined the party. The
boats were all in readiness, and as each received its passengers under the
immediate superintendence of the President, it started on its journey ; and
so went off the ‘‘Pyrene,” the ‘‘ Niobe,” the “Jenny Lind,” and the
‘“‘ Nightingale.” As each boat left, a captain for the day was appointed, and
his paper of instructions, in all due form and fun, given him, “‘to be acted
upon” below Wilton bridge. The President remained to complete the
instructions, but in a smaller boat he soon overtook the party.

The ruins of Wilton Castle, which form so pretty an object in the
view from Ross, were soon passed. Its solitary tower and grey walls are
now in the gardens of a private house, and may not be visited. Three cen-
turies ago the river flowed past them, but it is now, by a gradual change in its
course, nearly 200 yards distant, and apparently at a much lower level.
Immediately below the bridge the river is very shallow, and here it was
thought some of the heavily-laden boats might have got aground. There was
water sufficient, however, and making their way through wide beds of the
large water crow-foot, they passed safely over. This Ranunculus (R. Fluitans),
with its fine white blossoms, is rather rare. It is peculiar to rapid streams,
and is nowhere more plentiful than in the Wye; its flowers were very abun-
dant and pretty, and attracted universal attention, The weather had now
become everything that could be desired to enhance the natural beauty of the
river, a soft wind from the south, a clear atmosphere, and the absence of
the hot sunshine made the row dewn most agreeable—Goodrich Court and
Castle were soon reached. ‘‘May we land and see the ruins?” the President
was asked, as he passed one of the larger boats, and the request was sup-
ported by others, but he was inexorable, “‘certainly not” was the answer—
and it was right, for the ruins require and deserve a day to themselves, not
for the Woolhope club, but for a pic-nic party. The grand old castle stood
a memorable siege in 1646 under Sir Henry Lingen. From March 10th in
that year to July 31st it held out bravely against ‘‘ Col. Birch with a party of
horse and foot from Hereford, with Col. Kyrle’s body of horse and dragoons,
and Captain Rumsey’s firelocks from Monmouth.” By battering guns, and
by mining, a breach was at length effected, and the castle taken. A small
garrison was left in it, but the following year it was ordered by the Parlia-
ment ‘“‘that Gutheridge Castle be slighted.” Its fortifications were then
demolished, and it has never since been occupied.

Time, Time his withering touch hath laid
On battlement and tower ;

And where the banner was displayed
Now only waves—a flower,”

194

Se Goodrich Castle was passed, and the boats slipped on down the
beautiful river, now disturbing the sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucos), which
flew off wildly with its piping cry, and now the moorhen or the water vole,
which, however, bore the interruption much more philosophically, It was
pleasant to see so many kingfishers there ( Alcedo ispida) flying rapidly away
in a straight line, their brilliant blue feathers contrasting well with the masses
of coloured flowers on the banks. There was also observed a single water
ouzel (Cinclus aquaticus) with its white breast as it flew by in a straight line
to settle again on a rock at some distance. It had doubtless left its mountain
streams for a visit to the kingfishers on the greater river.

Speaking of fishers, it may be observed that in two or three places
below Lydbrook walls were built out into the river, in such a manner as to
render the escape of the poor salmon up the river a matter of great diffi-
culty when the nets which were hanging out to dry were in constant use.
It is to be hoped that the Wye Preservation Association will look a little
more closely into this matter. It is but a very short time since the existence
of these walls was actually denied.

The wild flowers on the banks were in great perfection, and they form one
of the attractions of the Wye. No one could fail to be struck with the abun-
dance of the tansy ( Tenacetum vulgare), with its dense heads of golden flowers,
contrasting so well with the large spiked clusters of the purple loose-strife
(Lythrum salicaria), and so well relieved by the dense white masses of the
common yarrow or milfoil (Achillea millefolium), or the still more pure white
heads of the sneeze-wort or goose-tongue (Achillea Ptarmica), which, although
by no means a common plant, is abundant on the Wye. In several places,
a large cluster of the soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) was beautifully in flower,
and its conspicuous pale rose-coloured blossoms could not fail to attract
attention. This is a very local plant, but it was observed to be growing freely
in four or five places. Then there was the great yellow loose-strife (Lysimachia
vulgaris), so clear and distinct in its colour, always an interesting plant, and
very rare in more northern counties. This plant owes its name to its sup-
posed power of destroying noxious insects, and even taming wild beasts—

Yellow Lysimachus. to give sweet rest,
To the faint shepherd, killing, where it comes,

All busy gnats, and every fly that hums.
—Collins.

And this idea seems to account for the Roman notion that ‘these flowers put
under the yokes of oxen kept them from quarrelling with each other.”
Another pretty plant also deserves especial notice, the flowering rush (Butomus
umbellatus), which appeared very plentiful in many places down the river.

Her rosy umbels rears the flowering rush,
While with reflected charms the waters blush.

It is very ornamental, and might be grown much more frequently than it is
in the ponds or small pieces of water in pleasure grounds. Mention must also
be made of the abundance of meadow-sweet, and the handsome reed-beds

195

that lift their heads so gracefully, whilst the beautiful forget-me-not and
the yellow-cress appeared wherever space could be found, to ornament the
banks. The beautiful sprays of the purple vetch, the noble blossoms of the
large white convolvulus (how this would be prized if it were only exotic), and
the lychnis, the comfrey, and numerous other plants which always delight
the eye of a botanist, or recall some old associations,

A flower is not a flower alone,
A thousand sanctities invest it,
Aud as they form a radiant zone,
Around its simple beauty thrown
Their magic tints become its own,
As if their spirit had possessed it.
—Douglas Allport.

On went the boats by the pretty village of Walford, between the Leys-hill and
the Coppet Wood-hill, under the Kyrne bridge, past Lydbrook, until the
fine rocks of Coldwell stood up boldly from the woody steeps, and were
commanded by Symond’s Yat at the end. At the foot of the slope the
several passengers landed, and began the ascent through the woods to the Yat.
The President and his companions had been the first to arrive, then came
two other boats, but where were the rest? After a long half-hour, one
appeared round the corner, and the other quickly followed it. Happily
they had not met with any casualty, but had stopped to see the church of
Welsh Bicknor. The ascent to the Yat was soon made, the whole party being
meanwhile subjected successively to the systematic begging of officious old
women insisting on rendering unnecessary services, and children offering
unripe apples, &c., &c., common to all ‘‘the pretty places which ye English
do frequent,” They had no sooner reached the summit than a flying cloud
passed over, anda sharp shower of rain sent everyone off to shelter under
rocks or under trees, as best they could. In afew minutes it had passed over,
the whistle-call sounded, and the party assembled, to listen to the following
address :—

LOR

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COAL: ITS GEOLOGICAL & ECONOMICAL HISTORY.

By the Rev. P. B. BRODIE, M.A., F.G.S., Vice-President of
the Warwickshire Naturalists’ Field Club.

After stating that the geology of the surrounding district had
been so fully and ably described by his friend Mr, Symonds, that
it was quite unnecessary for him to enter generally upon the subject,
he said he would take advantage of being in the immediate neighbourhood
of the interesting coal field in the Forest of Dean to confine his observations
to the geological history of coal. Mr. Brodie then gave a brief sketch of
the carboniferous series of rocks, which consist of alternations of lime-
stone, sandstone, shales, and iron stone, with subordinate bands of
coal. Under the coal itself, in most cases, there was a bed of clay,
called ‘‘fire clay,” because it was impervious to heat, Coal was based
generally on the mountain limestone, and deposited in limited areas,
but the Dudley coal field was an exception, and rested immediately
on the Silurian rocks. The Forest of Dean coal field was a very small one.
The Shropshire was larger, and the Dudley coal field larger still. The South
Wales coal field was very extensive, and the Northern the largest of all.
In Dean Forest, between the lowest coal seams underlying the millstone
grit, are about 800 feet of green sandstones full of the remains of plants,
and the regular coal overlies them. Sections may be seen at Dry-
brook and on the railway, near Sudley. The deepest coal mines
are those of Northumberland and Durham, some of which are 300
yards, or 900 feet below the surface. The thickest bed of coal is
the main coal in Staffordshire, that of Dudley, which was thirty feet in
thickness, but as a general rule the strata of coal are much thinner, not
more than from three to five feet. The Derbyshire coal measures yield
about thirty different beds of coal, varying from six inches to eleven feet in
thickness. The South Wales coal field was about 100- miles long and 25
miles broad. The entire thickness of the carboniferous series was about
15,000 feet, and if all the various beds of coal itself were placed together
they would amount to about 2,000 feet in thickness ; but of course all these
beds did not appear togetherin one locality, or if they did were not approach-
able. Some geologists think that all these coal fields were at one time
connected together ; others that they were separate and independent deposits,
partly lacustrine, fluviatile, or marine; that England was a series of islands
formed by sinking coral reefs of mountain limestone, and that coal was
deposited over them, and that they were afterwards separated and broken
up by volcanic action, causing what are called ‘‘faults” in all directions,
After the deposition of coal volcanic disturbances were taking place with

197

great intensity, and the igneous rocks then driven up through the strata
proved the force with which they acted; a fine example of which may be
observed in the coal field at Clee Hill, in Shropshire. These ‘ faults”
are very numerous, and the coal beds were downcast or upcast according
to the circumstances of each, These “faults,” in many cases, brought
the coal to the surface, otherwise we should never have been able
to get at it. The denudation in the valleys consequent also upon the
voleanic disturbances, by washing away the upper rocks, often brought
us nearer the coal measures. Sometimes, indeed, the coal itself was washed
away, as was the case probably in this county. A great part of Hereford-
shire may at one time have been covered by the carboniferous rocks and the
coal measures ; but the denudation caused by the great voleanie disturbances
which threw up the trap rocks of the Malvern hills washed them all away,
and left the still older rocks, the Old Red Sandstone, at the surface. There
are several varieties of coal. 1. The bituminous or caking coal, like the New-
castle, composed of bitumen, charcoal, and a little earthy matter. 2. The
anthracite or stone coal, like most of the Welsh coal, which is almost
plumbago itself, and emits no smoke. 3, The lignite. 4, The cannel; and
5. The culm or slaty coal. We must remember also that the diamond is
supposed to be crystallized carbon, or coal in its purest form. Amber and
jet are also forms of coal. The best coal was always the blackest, that is,
composed more purely of bitumen and carbon. Besides the coal of the true
carboniferous series, there was vudoubtedly coal in other formations, as in
lias, oolite, &c. ; but it was impure in quality and generally small in quantity ;
and there were also extensive deposits of tertiary coal in Germany, Prussia,
North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

With reference to the origin of coal it was composed, as they all knew,
of vegetable matter under a peculiar chemical condition, from the combined
action of heat, submersion, and of great and long continued pressure. The
heat was not necessarily tropical, but the warm, moist heat of a climate like
the Brazils. The plants were mostly of a succulent nature and of a peculiar
character. They were Monocotyledonous plants, or Endogens, and so much
changed and compressed that generally it was very difficult to get good, or
complete specimens, There were numerous tree ferns—Pecopteris, Odontopteris,
Neuropteris, &c.—the Lepidodendrons, trees partaking of the character of pines
and club mosses, the beautifully-marked Sigillaria, and their numerous roots,
(called Stigmaria), Calamites, Pines and Palms, &c. The trees now so numerous.
on the earth had then no existence, and those of the coal formations in them-
selves pointed out a peculiar atmosphere and a high temperature. The chief
constituent element of plants, as they knew, was carbon, which either pre-
viously existed, or was formed by vegetation from the simple elements of
the atmosphere, and the time it must have required to form such enormous
coal-fields was almost inconceivable. Much carbon must of course have been
evolved during the period. Heat, pressure, and submersion continued for

198

ages, and thus the associated clays were turned into shales, and the
plants converted into coal. Besides vegetable remains, the coal measures
contained numerous other fossils, sauroid fishes, with powerful jaws and
teeth, as large as crocodiles; and various examples of the shark tribe,
with some reptiles of a low class, Archegeoswurus, &c., mixed more
or less with marine and estuarine shells. Land shells were very
seldom found, which militates rather against the lake theory of the coal
formation. Dr. Dawson, of Montreal, from the fact of the occurrence
of such an abundance of stigmaria (roots of the sigillaria) in the
“under clay” which is found beneath all coal beds, contends that the
coal was accumulated by growth, in situ, and not drifted there, the clay
being formed by the transportation of the mud and sand by water, conditions
which may now be seen to prevail in the swampy deltas of great rivers.
The cannel coal and earthy bitumen, he states, are of the nature of the
fine vegetable mud which accumulates in the ponds and shallow lakes of
modern swamps. Fresh water shells are very rarely if ever found, but
Dr. Dawson had found a pupa, a land shell, and many small reptiles, in
the hollow trunk of a sigillaria, It was a very small shell, but it was a
very important fact. Insects had also been detected in the coal, but they
were exceedingly rare in the English series. A fossil spider had been met
with in Germany in a very perfect state, the round full body,
the legs, and palpi all beautifully preserved. Scorpions and various
other insects had also been found in the coal shales. A knowledge
of the different formations in connection with coal was of the utmost
importance, ordinary miners judge so commonly from appearances on the
surface that they were always liable to be deceived themselves as to the
probability of finding coal, if they did not sometimes wilfully deceive others,
as he believed they did. Near Wenlock, for example, a gentleman had been
persuaded to bore for coal into rocks below the coal formations, He cut
down the trees on his estate to pay the expenses, under the influence of the
Staffordshire miner who induced him to try for it, and who would occa-
sionally-bring up small pieces of coal in his pocket. It was of no use to tell
him that he was below the coal, and that it could never be found there. He
went on boring, and continues to do so to this day, for anything the
lecturer knew to the contrary.

The association of beds of ironstone with coal was a most remarkable
fact, and of the highest importance in a practical point of view, though it was
by no means clear from whence the iron was derived, possibly from chalybiate
waters or decomposed vegetation. ay

Besides the use of coal as a fuel, there was another great fact in con-
nection with it, and that was the production of mineral oils im enormous
quantities from the coal fields of North America, This discovery had proved
of the highest value and utility and had developed a trade of its own,

199

Mr. Brodie then discussed the probable duration of the coal supply ia
Great Britain. It would be worked out in time, as a matter of course,
but it would be a very long time. He thought the alarmists had
frightened them too much, and he would say at once, from the great
extent of coal even in the South Wales coal field alone, which had not
yet been touched, that there could be no doubt it would last for the
next five hundred years at least, and his own conviction was, that
it would last for a thousand years to come. There could be no fear
of our children or grand-children, or great grand-children, suffering
from the want of it. Nevertheless, that was no reason why it should be
wasted. By all means let the enormous waste that now takes place be checked.
If this were done the failure of supply was much too remote to concern us
much. In consideration of the falling rain he would not detain them by
entering into further details. Coal deserved to be esteemed as highly as any
mineral the earth contained. It had been elaborated by God’s providence in
ages past for our present use. It was impossible to calculate the ages it
had taken to give it stability, and no time, however great it might be, in his
opinion could be rightly said to interfere with Holy Scripture. We ought all
to be most thankful that the divine Creator had in his wisdom and goodness
stored up the ancient vegetation of the world in the form of coal for the use
of man and his own glory. (General applause).

Norr.—Several new genera of Amphibian Labyrinthodont Reptiles have been lately

discovered in the coal measures in Kilkenny, Ireland, and will shortly be described by
Professor Huxley and My. E. P. Wright.

Immediately the address was over—and it was much shortened by a
return of the shower—‘‘ by no means a dry lecture,” as a gentleman observed—
the President told them, that they had still an hour-and-a-half’s time to
wander through the walks and cross over the New Weir Ferry, which they
saw before them, to the carriages which were to meet them there. They must
not be at the ferry later than half-past 4 o’clock, for the dinner at Ross would
be punctual. He took this opportunity also of telling them, that if the
wishes of the committee were carried out a small bouquet would mark the
place of every lady at the table, and every lady would find her own place
indicated by the rose-coloured card she had given.up on entering the boat.

All parties now separated to wander at their leisure in search of ferns
or flowers, which some of them did with much enthusiasm, regardless of damp
leaves, and testing the knowledge of the botanists with regard to all the plants
they could find. One gentleman set off to look for the Royal fern (Osmunda
regalis), and it really was a question some few years since whether it did not
grow amongst the Coldwell rocks. One botanist found it there, and gladly
carried off specimens of the treasure (for this fern does not grow wild in
Herefordshire), and soon after this plant disappeared altogether. His friends
began to hunt for it there also, and two years after another gentleman met

200

with a fine specimen in a snug corner, which underwent the same process of
spoliation and robbery outright. This spread wider still the news of the
discovery, and when a third plant was found in a still more secluded place,
the Coldwell rocks began to be considered what the botanists call a “‘ habitat ”
for the Osmunda. It was of no use for others to hesitate, and say that ‘‘ the
Osmunda likes a wet, boggy situation,” for the answer was ready at once,
“‘Ves, but you often find bits of damp, boggy soil in rocky places,” and
besides, there was the undeniable evidence of the plants found. The true
explanation came out some time after, in the accidental complaint of the
owner of the property to one gentleman who had heard the botanical rumour.
He was telling him that he had taken the trouble several times to plant the
Osmunda regalis there, but it no sooner began to flourish than the plants
were carried off wholesale !

The only rare plants actually gathered were the deadly nightshade
(Atropa belladonna), a wanderer very possibly from the gardens of Tintern
Abbey in the olden time, the blue flea-bane (Zri-geron acris), the sulphur-
smelling Pepperwort (Lepidium ruderale) of which an old herbalist writes that
it will drive all fleas from a chamber, and they will not return ‘‘ by reason of
breaking their limbs in jumping out of ye windows.” The swine’s cress
(Senebiera coronopus), the hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and many
others of less interest, were also found.

The several parties appeared in due time at the ferry, had a pleasant
drive of about seven miles to Ross, and arrived there in ample time.

- The following gentlemen and ladies attended the meeting :--The Presi-
dent, Dr, Bull, with Miss Banbury and Master Bull; the Vice-Presidents,
the Rev. H. Cooper Key and Dr. Me Cullough ; the Honorary Secretary, the
Rev. Geo. H. Cornewall; the Rev. P. B. Brodie, vice-president of the
Warwickshire Field Club; Arthur Armitage, Esq., and Mrs. Armitage,
Dadnor; R. Hereford, Esq., Sufton, with Miss C. Hereford, the Rev. KR.
Hereford, and Mr. George Hereford ; K. Manly Power, Esq., Hill Court, with
two sons; James Rankin, Esq., Bryngwyn, Miss Bushetl and Miss Ritchie ;
J. Stratford Collins, Esq., and Mr. §. Collins, Wythale; N. Kyrle Collins,
Esq., and Mrs. Collins ; the Rev. W. D. V. Duncombe, and Mrs, Duncombe,
Mawfield ; John Lambe, Esq., Mrs. Lambe, Mrs. G. H. Hanbury, Miss Price,
and Miss Stokes, Hereford; H. H. Wood, Esq., and Miss Wood, Whitehouse ;
Dr. A. R. Smith, and Mrs. Smith, Hereford; the Rev. — Spittal, Mrs.
Spittal, and Miss Jackson, Ewyias Harold ; T. Nicholson, Esq., Mrs. Nicholson,
and Miss Leggatt, Hereford; R. H. P. Styles, Esq., and Miss Styles,
Hereford; Thomas Blashill, Esq., London; Edw. David, Esq., Fairwater;
H. G. Apperley, Esq., Thomas Cam, Esq., H. Cribb, Esq., Timothy Curley,
Esq., H. Scrivin, Esq., and F. Symonds, jun., Esq., Hereford; R. D. Har-
rison, Esq., and H. J. Jenkins, Esq., Holmer; the Rev. T. J. Eld, Worcester ;
the Rev. Arthur Gray, Orecop; the Rev. Michael Hopton, Hoarwithy; the
Rev. W. H. Purchas, Lydney; the Rev. — Robinson; and the Rev. ©. J.

201

Westrop, Wormbridge ; Messrs. Blashill, Hereford ; Watkin Old, Monmouth ;
Alfred Purchas and Henry Southall, Ross; and the treasurer and assistant
secretary, Mr. Arthur Thompson.

The gentlemen and ladies had scarcely had time to admire the view from
the coffee-room windows when the dinner was announced. The tables were
beautifully decorated, and, as had been arranged, a very elegant bouquet
marked the place of each lady. A very handsome dessert ornamented the
tables, and it is sufficient to say that the dinner itself was worthy of the
occasion,

The PRESIDENT rose immediately after dinner, and said that it was his
first pleasant duty, in the name of the Club, to thank those ladies who had
done them the honour to attend the present meeting. They had shown such
enthusiasm in the field that he began to think if there was not a gentlemen’s
field club there might perhaps be one for ladies, They were very glad to
welcome them as ‘‘fair graduates in science” for the day (laughter). He
must tell them, however, that the Woolhope Club did not always put on so
festive an appearance. They generally did rather more work in the field and
fared rather less well at the table. It was in honour of their presence that the
handsome dessert before them had been sent. The fine Queen pine, the figs,
and many other fruits, came from Whitfield, the Rev. Archer Clive; and
Mr. George Clive, of Perrystone, had most kindly sent them a basket of fine
grapes. Mr. Armitage had been most generous in sending for us grapes,
apricots, melons, and other fruit. Mr. Hereford never fails to do what he
can for the interest of the club, as the fruit he kindly brought with him
testifies to-day. And many other of our members had also most readily met
the wishes of the committee in this matter, and he was sure they would wish
him to give the thanks of the club to all those gentlemen (applause). He
would also take the opportunity to thank Mr. Alfred Purehas and Mr,
Henry Southall for the kind way in which they had done everything in their
power to help the committee in their arrangements (hear, hear), For the very
elegant bouquets, which had been arranged so tastefully as to surprise himself
very much and to gratify all the ladies present, they were indebted to Mrs.
Southall and Mrs. Purchas, and he hoped their thanks would be conveyed to
them. They had thus given a brilliant finish to all the other preparations,
It was too late in the year for them to see many of the rare plants of the
district they had visited that day, but Mr. Southall, at his request, had brought
specimens of them for their examination, and he would now kindly read
to them a paper on the subject.

_—

202

THE MORE RARE PLANTS OF THE DOWARD
DISTRICT.

BY MR. HENRY SOUTHALL.

Since many of the most interesting plants in the district the club has
visited to-day are now out of flower, I have been requested by our President
(Dr. Bull) to bring those which are most curious or rare in a dried state for
your inspection, and to give an account of the localities in which they grow.
I should scarcely have undertaken to do so, however, if I had known that
Mr. Purchas would have been here, since he is now preparing for publication
the flora of Herefordshire, and knows so well this district. I propose to give
the English names where I can, to make myself more intelligible to those who
are not botanists; and I am only sorry that astudy which has afforded me
so much pleasure should not be more generally popular. Few but those who
have taken it up can estimate the amount of additional interest it can give to
a country walk, ora leisure hour.

I must now ask you to accompany me to the Great Doward in the
latter end of January or beginning of February, and then, if the season is
not a severe one, we shall find in a little hollow under a tree, not far from the
river, and just at the base of the slope, a good-sized patch of the bear’s foot,
or green hellebore (Helleborus viridis), with its large green flowers and finger-
shaped leaves ; and not far from it, in the coppice above, an occasional plant or
two of the other British species, the setter wort (Helleborus fatidus), a
more shrubby and fcetid plant than the former. Both these plants belong to
the same genus as the Christmas rose (H. niger). They are extremely local,
and are notable for their medicinal virtues.

Climbing the rocks, we come to a little projecting ledge overlooking the
river from a considerable elevation, and here several rare plants cluster
together. The carex or sedge tribe is represented by three very rare species
—Carex clandestina, C. montana, and C. digitata, Here, too, later in the
season, the pretty dropwort (Spirea filipendula) raises its pink buds and
white blossoms; while enclosing this small space are the wild service tree
(Pyrus torminalis) and the white-beam (Pyrus aria), remarkable for its
leaves being so white and downy beneath.

Two or three varieties of the lime (Zilia) were also noticed by Mr,
Babington as growing in these woods. ‘The hairy violet (Viola hirta), the
horse-shoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), the lesser burnet (Poterium
sanguisorba), and many others are there; and on the other side of the
path, later in the summer, may be found the great white helleborine

203

(Cephalanthera grandiflora), an interesting plant, and not to be found
elsewhere in this county. Amongst the roots of the beech trees, but not
parasitical upon them, the yellow bird’s nest (Monotropa Hypopitys) grows.

Pursuing the path through the wood in a bog on the top of a tufaceous
rock may be found Carex Pendula with its gracefully drooping spikes, the
small valerian (Valeriana dioica), the great reed (Phragmites communis),
and further on the shepherd’s staff, or small teasel (Dipsacus pilosus).
Ascending again close to the deer park fence, you may meet with a stray
plant of the spurge laurel (Daphne lawreola), but it is so much sought for by
waggoners for their horses, that it is difficult to find. On a castellated rock
forming the summit of the Little Doward, where it overhangs Martin’s Pool,
growing on little ledges where there is scarcely any soil, and only about
two or three inches high, may be seen in February the rock Hutchinsia
(Hutchinsia petrea), with its small white flowers, This is considered a
very rare plant, though perhaps sometimes overlooked from its small size.
On the same rocks may also be found the hairy wall cress (Arabis hirsuta).
We have however not yet succeeded in finding the Arabis stricta which is
now nearly the only plant wanting to complete the list of those found on
St. Vincent’s rocks at Bristol. Poterium muricatum also grows there, and
lower down may be gathered plentifully the deadly nightshade (Atropa
Belladonna) with its lurid purple flowers and violet black berries. These
are highly poisonous, and often have proved fatal to children. The wild
lettuce (Lactuca virosa), the columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), three uncom-
mon grasses, viz., Hordeum sylvaticum, Melica nutans, and Bromus erectus,
are frequent, and on the other side of the river Brachypodium pinnatum.
On many of the projecting and unshaded points covering the dédris you will
notice beds of the Geranium sanguineum with its large brilliant crimson
petals, intermingled with the yellow rock rose (Helianthemum vulgare),
having often a very beautiful effect. In the woods across the river grows
the lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), and also the elecampane (Inula
Helenium), one of our finest British plants, with blossoms like sunflowers and
leaves nearly two feet long. The lady’s finger (Anthyllis vulneraria), the
madder (Rubia Peregrina), toothwort (Lathrea squamaria), here, parasitical on
the roots of the hazel; the lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor), Ranunculus
parviflorus, together with the bee, fly, butterfly, and bird’s nest orchis, all
which curious or rare plants are to be found near the top of Symonds Yat.
Cephalanthera ensifolia another orchid, and all the St. John’s worts
(Hypericum) except two, grow near. The fennel ( Feniculum vulgare) appears
to be naturalized in several places, and in an out-of-the-way spot, under the
Coldwell rocks, is one of the very few localities in England for the wood
hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum sylvaticum). Most of the common species of
ferns are abundant,, but the limestone polypody (Polypodiwm calcareum), some-
times called the Derbyshire fern, grows in great luxuriance and profusion,
The scaly hart’s tongue (Ceterach officinarum) grows there, but not so plenti-

_. ee

204

fully, and the adder’s tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum). The brittle fern
(Cistopteris fragilis) formerly frequent on the walls, is now nearly extinct,
The neighbourhood of Ross also furnishes the following amongst many more:
the yellow star of Bethlehem (Gagea lutea) ; Narcissuss biflorus, butter wort
(Pinguicula vulgaris) ; alkanet (Anchusa sempervirens) ; the blue pimpernel
(Anagallis cerulea); herb true love (Paris quadrifolia) ; the lesser winter
green (Pyrola minor) ; moukshood (Aconitum napellus), apparently wild;
henbane (Hyoscyamas niger) ; also Conium, Digitalis, and Colchicum, very
abundantly, so that we havea long list of highly poisonous plants. Three
rare plants have lately been found here, viz, Bunium bulbocastanum,
Potamogeton gramineuvs, and Sparganium minimum—neither of these was
before known to grow in this county, The woods near contain five species of
wood rush (Luzula Forsteri, Borreri, Pilosa, Campestris, and Sylvatica). The
arrow head, flowering rush, and the purple and yellow loose strife, grow on
the banks of the Wye and in its waters ; the American water weed (Anacharis
alsinastrum) is rapidly increasing. We have also the Deptford pink ( Dianthus
armeria), geranium pheum the three beautiful campanulas (Rapunculus,
Patula, and Latifolia), the mother wort (Leonurus cardiacea), held almost
sacred by the villagers, &c,, &c. I may also mention the Lolium temulentum,
supposed to be the only poisonous grass, and known in very early times as
“drunken darnel,” from the intoxicating effects it produced, is happily now
very scarce. The interesting question as to the geographical distribution of
plants, and how or why some are thus scattered in solitary groups about the
land, whilst others are almost universally abundant, I must leave to wiser
heads. I trust I have shown, at any rate, that we have in this beautiful
neighbourhood, a very fertile field for patient and diligent search,

Mr. Southall’s paper was illustrated by beautifully prepared specimens
of the several plants which were arranged upon the side of the roum. He had
also brought several duplicates for presentation to the botanical members 3
and what was still more thoughtful and considerate, he had brought a whole
basket full, some dozens, of the roots of the limestone polypody (Polypodium
calcareum) from the Coldwell rocks, each nicely packed up in damp paper
for carrying away—and carried away they soon were, every one of them,
with very great satisfaction.

The PRESIDENT then called on Mr. Brodie for his paper on the “ Insect
and Saurian beds of the lias formation.”

ag re Dor oe

205

A SKETCH OF THE LIAS GENERALLY IN ENGLAND,
AND OF THE INSECT AND SAURIAN BEDS,
ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER DIVISION.

By the Rev. P. B. BRODIE, M.A., F.G.S., Vice-President of the Warwick-
shire Naturalist’s Field Club.

There are many points of local and general interest in the history of
the Lias, both from its wide extent and its abundant and remarkable fossils,
Taken as a whole, there is no formation which presents a greater uniformity
of lithological character, so that certain zones in it can be thus as readily
distinguished by the practised eye as by their zoological contents, and this
especially holds good with regard to the lower portion, which it is proposed
more particularly to describe in this paper. Of course, as in every other
case, there are local exceptions to this rule, but they are probably less so
in the Lias than in any other deposit of equal thickness and importance,
A glance at the geological map will show you that its course may be traced
from the coast at Lyme in Dorset on the S.W. to Whitby in Yorkshire on
the N.E. In the midland counties it is much more expanded, bounded on
the west by the New Red Sandstone and on the east by the Oolites, both of
which great formations run parallel with it in its range. In Gloucestershire
and Somersetshire it sends off many spurs to the N.W., and probably from

the effects of extensive denudation from Bristol to Taunton, exhibits many
irregularities and: numerous outliers, some of which, as in Gloucestershire,
Warwickshire, North Staffordshire, and Cumberland, are of special interest,
and present some remarkable features, well deserving, especially in the two
last-named counties, of careful examination.

In order that you may better understand the history of the lower
division of the Lias, it will be necessary briefly to describe the entire forma-
tion, but I propose, as requested, to dwell more at length on the inferior
division so largely developed in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire,
and Somersetshire. This formation has been thus separated into three sub-
divisions, viz., the upper, middle, and lower Lias. Such divisions are useful
to a certain extent, but may ultimately have to be changed or modified
accordingyto future discoveries ; for though many of the organic remains are
peculiar not only to these divisions, but some even limited to certain zones, -
others are common to the whole; and even the Ammonites, about which so
much stress has been laid as marking special zones, may be very possibly found
to have a much wider range, and some species indeed which were supposed
to characterise particular beds have been since discovered both above and
below that zoological horizon, Whatever the ammonites may be, it is certain

206

that the Mollusks and the Gasteropods are not specially limited in their range,
many of ,"the former certainly recurring again upwards and downwards
throughout the entire formation. Further on it will be seen that the same
holds good even more remarkably with regard to the Fish and Saurians.
The upper Lias in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire consists for the most
part of beds of blue and dark shales, with a subordinate band of limestone
towards the lower part. In Yorkshire it presents a somewhat different
character, and becomes of considerable economic importance from the abun-
dance of sulphate of alumina with which the upper shales are charged, all of
which contain iron. The top shale is underlaid by a cement stone bed, and
the lower by a bed of jet 30 feet thick. The shales in Gloucestershire and
Somerset may contain alum, but I never observed any jet rock or cement
stones, and they are of no commercial value, and are only worked for the sake
of the marlstone below. The upper Lias is very irregular in its distribution,
and, as in Warwickshire, it is often reduced in bulk, and in some cases it is
entirely wanting. When it reaches its maximum development it attains a
thickness of 200 feet (to 230 feet in Dorset) and upwards. Fossils are
generally abundant; the clays and shales being full of Ammonites, leda,
rostellaria, and other marine shells, and remains of Fish and Saurians. The
chief depository of the fossils is, however, the subordinate limestone, which,
from the frequent occurrence of fish in Gloucestershire and Somersetshire,
has been termed the fish bed. A small species of leptolepis occurs in it not
unfrequently in both these counties, and, besides the larger pachycormus
and lepidotus associated with it, are some well-preserved Sepia, Crustacea, and
Insects, consisting chiefly of Neuroptera and Coleoptera. It was from this
stratum that I obtained an entire dragon fly, with wings expanded as if in
flight, the finest specimen in my collection, As a rule, however, the insect

~ relics are not so numerous as in the lower Lias, The limestone containing

them is nodular in piaces, and from one of these I obtained a large and entire
specimen of /epidotus. From similar nodules at Ilminster, in Somersetshire,
my friend, Mr, C. Moore, procured his fine series of fossil fish in a wonderful
state of preservation, and one or two perfect teleosauri. This fish bed is
known to occur in Somerset, Dorset, Gloucester, and Northampton, so that
it has an extensive range,

Immediately underlying the upper Lias shales is the Marlstone, the top
of the middle lias, a very hard stone of a blue and brown eolour, much used
for road material, walls, and building purposes, for which in some counties, as
at Banbury, in Oxfordshire, it is largely and profitably employed.

In this part of the series there is a valuable deposit of iron ore, formerly
worked, near Gloucester, and now worked in Oxfordshire, and more exten-
sively in the vale of Cleavland, in Yorkshire, In Gloucestershire, Lincoln-
shire, and Yorkshire, it occupies high ranges of hills, and here and there
forms outliers, often capped by a thin stratum of upper Lias. In Northamp-
tonshire, however, it occurs at a much lower level, the higher ground being

207

exclusively composed "of the great and inferior Oolite. It generally abounds
in fossils, the cephalopoda being especially numerous, with a great variety
of large pectens, pinna, and other marine shells, and in places several species
of star fish and Ophiwra have been met with, both in the ironstone and in
the dark clays and shales which underlie the marlstone. Some of these
inferior sandy beds abound in fossils. This portion of the Lias at Shipston, in
Warwickshire, contains in abundance a fine species of coral, montlivaltia
cuneata, the largest known in our Lias, except the isasirea Murchison.
Although not noticed, yet below this horizon it occurs in the infra Liassic
strata at Saint Cassian, in the Alps, and therefore must have a wide range.
In Gloucestershire the marlstone and associated beds attain a thickness of
116 feet. The underlying Ochraceous Lias,* rarely exposed, is full of
yellow ferruginous nodules, 4 feet, containing belemnztes elongatus, trochus
imbricatus, cardinia attenuata, spirifer punctatus and rostratus, arca Buckmani,
mytilus hippocampus, &c. Below this, and forming the top of the lower Lias,
in Gloucestershire and elsewhere, are masses of dark-coloured calcareo
argillaceous and finely laminated clays and shales, which may be divided into
separate beds, each of which is characterised by some peculiar fossils.
Laminated Lias.—This is the uppermost clay bed of the lower Lias
shale, about 10 feet thick. It contains ammonites Conybeari, Henleyt, perni
ventricosa, pentacrinites, ophioderma, Brodiei, arca truncata, gryphea cymbium,
&c. These are succeeded by thick clays, respectively termed the belemnite and
ammonite beds; the first 12 feet and the second 3 feet thick, abounding in
the genera named; ammonites elegans, Turnert, Smithii, and planicostatus,
and others, characterising the latter, As this stratum is of a yellow colour,
from the prevalence of iron, it can lithologically be easily distinguished from
the argillaceous stratum succeeding it, ten feet or more in thickness, named
the hippopodium bed, from a remarkable bivalve shell which abounds in it,
and also yields a variety of other testacea, viz., gryphaa incurva and obliquata,
terchratula numismalis, rhynchonella, and two small corals, a species of
montlivaltia, and thecocyathus rugosus, which are also frequently met with at
Fenny Compton and Honeybourne, in Warwickshire, in the same bed. Another
and inferior argillaceous band is characterised by cavdinia Listerit. These
sub-divisions were adopted by my friend, Professor Buckman, in his work on
the geology of Cheltenham, published in 1845, and may hold good to a certain
extent in other equivalent portions of the Lias in other counties; but, as I
said before, further discoveries may lead to a considerable modification of
these sub-divisions founded upon special fossils, which may, as I believe,
ultimately be found to have a much more extensive vertical range. Very few
fish occur in this part of the lower Lias in Gloucestershire and Warwickshire,

* IT have classed the ochraceous or yellow Lias with the marlstone, to which it
evidently more properly belongs. In Yorkshire the marlstone and ironstone series are
about 160 feet thick. The entire thickness of the whole of the Lias in Gloucestershire
is probably not much less than 1,000 feet. At Bridport, in Dorset, the middle Lias
amounts to a thickness of 250 feet, and the upper Lias 230 feet.

se

208
but at Lyme, in Dorsetshire, they abound, and range from the middle to the
lower inclusive, and the same may be said of the saurians, which are not
limited there to the insect and saurian beds, still lower in the series, though
they are for the most part in Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Leicester-
shire. In many places these clays are extensively used for brick making, for
though they contain concretions here and there, there are no bands of solid
limestone amongst them, Below them, however, thick and valuable beds of
limestone largely prevail, and are often quarried for lime, walls, and roads;
they make a very bad material for this latter purpose. The uppermost of
this more calcareous portion of the Lias has received the designation of
*“‘Lima beds,” from the abundance of a large lima, the 1. gigantea, which
has a very wide horizontal range, for in various parts of England, where I
have examined this division of the Lias, I have always met with specimens
of this fine shell. The two finest inland sections of this division with which
I am acquainted are at Frethern Cliff, in Gloucestershire, and Saltford, on
the Great Western Railway between Bath and Bristol, and on the same
line at Harbury, near Leamington, in Warwickshire, and at my friends’,
Messrs. Greaves and Kirshaw’s pits at Harbury and Stockton, a few miles
distant, where the limestones, as at Wilmcote, still lower in the series, are
used for making hydraulic cement. The railway cutting at Harbury presents
the following section, in descending order :—Six beds of limestone, the upper-
most white and rubbly, divided by clay containing lima gigantea and other
shells; black shale, 2 ft.; limestone, full of rhynchonella variabilis, 1 ft.; dark
shale, 2 ft.; blue limestone, fucoid bed; ten beds of limestone, divided by
shale seen in succession ; shale, 3 ft.; thick band of hard blue limestone, one of
the thickest in the section, not exceeding 2 ft.; irregular masses of limestone
in shale 4 ft.; five beds of limestone in regular layers, divided by a thick
stratum of dark shale. Unfortunately the rest of the section is covered up by
debris, so that the strata cannot be observed down to the white Lias, which
appears at the north-western end of the cutting and rises gradually in that
direction, and is quarried at many places in the neighbourhood. With the
exception of the uppermost layers of limestone, all the rest are, as usual, of
a blue colour, varying in thickness from a few inches to two feet. The entire
thickness which could be measured en masse is from 30 to 40 feet, but if
the shale now concealed could be added it would much exceed this. If the
Insect and Saurian beds are represented in this section, they are but very feebly
developed. It is not always easy to correlate distant sections, even in the
same zone, with each other, because some beds thin out and others come in,
but even where the relative thickness varies, the lithological character and
zoological contents of the “Lima beds” “generally throughout England are
very similar, and may thus be readily identified. At Saltford, according to my
friend Mr. Sanders, they attain a thickness of 54 feet, and at Lyme my friend
Dr. Wright states them to be 35 feet 4 inches. At the former place the
strata which intervene between them and the white Lias would seem to be

209

thicker than at Harbury, but in both cases the latter is seen passing into the
“*Rheetic beds,” which are more fully developed at Saltford than at Harbury.
Fossils are usually abundant in this part of the series, especially ammonites
of great size, a Bucklandi and Conybeari, nautilus striatus, a large pinna,
gryphea incurva and arcuata, ostrea irregularis, cardinia ovalis, modiola,
rhynchonella variabilis, waldheimia perforata, cidaris Edwnrdsii, extracrinus
briareus, lima gigantea, and antiquata. Fish and Saurian remains are very
rare in Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, but are met with occasionally
elsewhere. There is also one bed of limestone and shale charged with
masses of fucoids, which holds a similar position in both these counties. In
Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Somersetshire, a species of isastrea is
now and then met with, and this is undoubtedly the true position of this
coral ; but there is another in the Lias at Skye, in Scotland, which occupies
a different and probably lower position, which may, perhaps, belong to the
same species (isastrea Murchisoni). It occurs there in a regular bed, in
masses three feet thick. I have also discovered a small cladophyllia in the
vale of Gloucester. I allude particularly to the Corals, because until within
the last few years they were thought to be, with one or two rare exceptions,
almost entirely wanting in the British Lias, but now many genera and a still
larger number of species are known, and if certain forms mark particular
beds this class of Zoophytes holds nearly as important a place as the Am-
monites, except, of course, that the latter are much more abundant. Nor
must I omit to mention the presence of Insects, chiefly consisting of elytra
of beetles, which I discovered both in the shales and limestones of this series
in the vale of Gloucester, but with the exception of the upper Lias, the
calcareous lands which more immediately overlie the ‘‘ Rheetic beds,” are the
chief repository of the Annulosa. As they are comparatively rare in the
‘*Tima beds,” they were probably a few remains of beetles drifted far out
to sea, and deposited with the marine fauna of the period. With the excep-
tion of pieces of wood, fragments of Araucaria, and single fronds of ferns,
these are nearly all the evidences we have of the contemporary terrestrial
flora—a scanty record, indeed; but on which no one, of course, would infer
that there might not have been an abundance of animals and plants on some
far distant land, the cliffs of which were washed by the waves of the
Liassic sea.

The series of strata which succeed in descending order, those last-
mentioned, consist of courses of limestone and shale mostly of a grey and
blue colour, but of much finer texture than the above. Their icthyological
character is so distinct that they can readily be distinguished from the ‘‘ Lima
beds,” and it is worthy of note that they retain this peculiarity over a wide
area in various parts of the country where I have studied them. The lime-
stones are usually very finely laminated and less crystalline, and contain in
greater or less abundance a number of insect remains by which they may
be very well marked, and hence I have denominated them ‘‘Insect Lime-

pp a

210

stone,” though Dr. Wright has ignored this, and applied the term Saurian
beds to them. In the first place the former are more numerous than the
latter, and as yet, with the exception of the few referred to in the Lima zone,
have not been observed in our Lias between the lowest limestones and the

-upper Lias, and they hold a higher rank in the animal kingdom ; and though

more frequent in some layers and places than others, after breaking up a
few blocks of stone some small wings or elytra are almost sure to be found.
They are also of special interest and importance, as being almost the only
relics of creatures inhabiting the land, while the marine fauna is never
absolutely wanting. As Mr. Dawkins and Mr. Moore have discovered teeth
of mammalia in the Rheetic series of the Trias beds, it is fair perhaps to
conclude if we may venture to speculate so far, that the insect tribes were
not the only denizens of the land during the Liassic epoch, and some future
fortunate geologist may discover many other forms of contemporary animal
life. I have traced these insect limestones in Somersetshire, Gloucestershire,
Warwickshire, and Leicestershire, where they present the same mineralogical
characters, and contain similar fossils. In some places one or two layers of
limestone only are present, in others five or six or more, and they seem to
be best developed in the two latter counties. Insects occur in all, more rarely
perhaps in Leicestershire, where, as I had previously predicted, they have been
lately discovered. Similar beds, I believe, occur in Nottinghamshire, and my
friend Mr. Norwood has detected them with insect remains near Hotham,
in Yorkshire, so that they maintain their persistency both lithologically and
zoologically over a wide horizontal area, The following sections at Wilmcote
and Binton, in Warwickshire, will explain the nature of this division of the

lower lias :—
IN DESCENDING ORDER,

FT. IN. REMARKS,
. Yellow clay ............ 2
. Light-coloured limestone 0 Wilmcote Section.
. Darklaminatedlimestone 1 The term grey for the 7
. Light-coloured limestone 0 limestones (6 to 18 in-

. Dark, finely laminated
shales Bh ota ina etna
. Grey limestone.. ......
. Dark shale, like No.5 ..
. Grey limestone ........
. Dark shale......
10. Grey limestone.
11. Dark shale..
12. Grey limestone
w 13. Dark laminated clay .
314. Grey limestone, of irre-
da gular thickness ..
$15. Clay, like 13....
216. Grey limeston
17. Clay, like 13.
18. Grey limeston
19. Clay, like 13.......
20, Fragmentary shelly a
21. Dark hard strong clay ..

clusive) is not strictly
correct : they are some-
times grey and white
externally, but often
blue in the centre,
speckled with dark
spots, and mostof them
readily splitting along
the line of bedding.
Fish and saurians and
ammonites occur more
orless throughout. The
insect remain are con-
fined to the limestones,
and notably to the
lowest, where they are
most numerous.
Saurians especially abun-
dant in Nos. 21 to 30

~-—Lias-—,
COND OPWHH

Hr SOCORRO OOSO SCOFOCrFOFOFH
SoS SCATWNWNNOND DRORORORD WHOSO

22. Dark blue pene and inclusive.
CLBY..\. archeeteaioa oe care oie In these shales and lime-
23. Clay, Tike 13. aes Sotain<’s stones beyond Brocke-

ridge Common, near
Tewkesbury, some fine
fern fronds have been
obtained, and are now
in the Worcester Mu-
seum,

—Lower lias.

211

IN DESCENDING ORDER,

FT. IN. REMARKS,

24. Dark grey limestone .... 0

25. Hard crystal
26 cane limestone

ee |

28. Baa, dark slaty shale.. 1

mn
s
ries Hard, shelly limestone... 0

(30. Green, clunch clay...... 0
(Bottom of the Lias,)

4} Ostrea liassica and Mo-
diola minima,

1) Firestenes, in three

al bands.

3) Bottom of the quarry.

0 The strata below 27 were
ascertained by means
of a shaft.

1, ‘fGuinea bed,” so called
from its ringing sound

3 l when struck,

(22 ft, Sin. Lias.)

(31. Fine grainedgreenmarl.. 0 8 Estheria bed.
82. Black shale ......sccece 12 6
33, cape err micaceous
ain /g Meieatat nelanta fet oiata 10
34. Lamitiaten BialOten cc sie 0 6
PSbe. Ditton se. ci seceseee 1 6 “Upper Pullastra” bed,
a ‘avicula contorta,”
2 “Pullastra arenicola,”
EH and ‘*Cardium,”
SOG DALE ADAGE sicsanerisiaes 2) OG
Bat Dark BAY henteaccus Weise 06
8g 38. Laminated clay with sep-
a=} TALIA Shc. owe eeseeee 1 8 ‘£ Pecten Valoniensis.”
39. Clay with shells ...... a
40. Black, hard, laminated
clay 4 0
41. Pyritic stone with shells, 0 1 ‘Lower Pullastra” bed.
42. Dark clunch clay ...... 0 8
43. Soft brown clay ........
Motaliceeciscst= sista «-- 4810

Dip 2} degrees north of east.

OSBORN’S PIT,

FT
TEAGUE os eraitecistavine’s » SO if
2. Whitestone ........ Bac
{eh 8) 1 A i dia onal, mee
4. Liveries .... 0
5. Clay, with masses “called
mawns or dumplings.. 1
6. Bottom liveries............. 0
7. Clay, with paving rock often
wanting .. 1
8. SORES, sometimes ‘Wwant-

ing

9. Clay, with thin layer of
stones occasionally Sobbat 44 1
10. Thin paving rock, constant 0
11. Clay dotcic acy al)
12. Bottom limestone .....- pean 10)

13. Clay, with crystalline stony
BEAORS, ssatetels io: sh 3k iat craie ain a\ale 3
14, Coprolitic, pyritic Ted etbecgcO

15. Hard blue stone .........660
16. Brown Seyetaliine rock .
P7eRackerchaes teecien ceotes

2h, GMB: win nignicntiveda’s c's > 5
22. Bottom blue stone pears scale
QS ROIRY ces visisicpisielviceles e'sieeles

coocoorrF FOO

BINTON.
REMARKS,

IO RON F
A

be

8 No fossils.
33

2 Insects,
3

9
4} Abounding in insects.

10
2 Full of broken shells,

teeth, and bones of
Saurians, pyritic am-
monites, which do not
occur lower, Lima.

is

0 Otopteris acuminata and
obtusa.

wnNoe

Firestones, with Cardi-
nia and Corbulz,

2 No fossils,
3

oe

212
IN DESCENDING ORDER.
FT IN. REMARKS.
24, Very hardrock .......... 1 0 Guineas. A very remark-
able bed, here and
MOGAL Eas siete dae ceases 26 6 there like Forest mar-

ble. Masses of fossils
on the surface. Sau-
rians, fish scales, gress-
lya, avicula cygnipes,
cardinia, hemipedina
Tomesii, bryozoa, casts
of plants like reeds or
grasses, corals.

25. Yellow clay.

26. Clay, with white, stony no-

GUAR dash os ntapine «sn WAIN
27. Dark clay.

These sections were drawn up by my friends Messrs. Kirshaw and Tomes,
and quoted also by Dr. Wright in his memoir in the Palzontographical ;
but I have not strictly adhered to the remarks on the fossils by the latter,
but have made such alterations and additions as I considered necessary. I
need not quote here my own published sections on the same strata at Bidford
and Temple Grafton, S. W. and N. W. of Binton, because they tally for the
most part with the one at Wilmcote, and the latter has the advantage of giving
the entire thickness of the lower Lias, and proving the fact of its being
immediately succeeded by the Rheetic beds ; for although my lamented friend,
Hugh Strickland, long ago discovered the Bone bed near Binton, and I have
since found its representative still more to the north, the absolute sequence
of the beds in due order beneath the lowest stratum of lias was not clearly
made out, until a shaft was sunk for this special object. As a general rule,
these basement beds pass into the Rhcetic zone, and are well exhibited at
Wanclode cliff, Westbury, and Aust, on the Severn, in Gloucestershire. The
higher ground round Wilmcote and Binton is capped by the ‘‘ Lima beds,” so
that if an entire section was exposed we should have a tolerably complete
representation of the more calcareous portions of the lower Lias down to the
red marl. The district is more or less affected by small and often local faults,
and one curious change in contiguous strata is worthy of note in one of the
most westerly sections at Wilmcote, All the insect beds thin out and scarcely
amount to three layers, the top band being irregular and shattered ; a thick
mass of shale succeeds, undivided, as elsewhere, by limestones, and below are
three beds of limestone, viz., the firestone, with Ostrea liassica, but of a
very different character. The limestones are of much economical value, being
largely employed for flooring, paving, gravestones, and walls, and making
hydraulic cement at Messrs. Greaves and Kirshaw’s quarries, at Wilmcote.
They make good paving stones, many of the slabs raised being of large size,
but they do not weather well when used for gravestones. Some of them
might be profitably used for lithographic purposes, and with this view I sent
up some specimens to the Exhibition in 1851. With the exception of the
Insects and fragments of plants, the fossils are entirely marine, two species
of ammonites, a planorbis, and a Johnsoni being abundant and characteristic,
and occur both in the shales and the limestones, but not many other shells,

Masses of estheria.

213

A species of Astucus and an Eryon (E. Barrovensis) of great size are not unfre-
quently met with in the insect beds; the largest I have seen in my collection
measures 6 inches long and 23 broad, and is in a remarkably fine state of
preservation. They occur in the same zone at Barrow, in Leicestershire, and
in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Somerset, but not generally so large
as in Warwickshire. In Gloucestershire and Worcestershire fish are not
common, but more so in Warwickshire, and seem to be most frequent in
Leicestershire, where a much larger number of genera are known, Dapedius
is the most abundant, especially at Barrow, where fine specimens are found,
A remarkably perfect tetragonolepis from Wilmcote is in the Warwick museum,,
and the small fish, pholidophorus Stricklandi. The large Enaliosaurians are
well represented by some fine specimens of ichthyosaurus and Plesiosaurus —the
p. megacephalus in the Warwick museum being nearly entire, and measuring
14 feet or more in length. It is stated to have been found in No. 21 of the
Wilmcote section ; but, as before observed, the great sea monsters of that date
are not restricted to that bed, but prevail more or less in all, from Nos, 2
to 30. The remains of plants, though small and fragmentary, are of consider-
able interest in association with the insects, because together they afford the
only evidence of the inhabitants of of the land, There are traces of conferve
and musci, equisetacece (equisetum Brodiei, Buckmant, Liassium, Heerii, &c.),
and filices (otopteris obtusa and acuminata) pinacee (cupressus, thuytes, and
araucaria) heloragee (hippurites), seed vessels of umbellifere, and a small
net-veined leaf of ericacew, and though the four last named natural orders
are all dicotyledonous, the latter is of special interest on this account from
the jgreat rarity of dicotyledonous leaves in so old a formation as the Lias.
The plant remains were determined by my friend Professor Buckman* from
specimens in my cabinet, and I have many others since then, In the War-
wick museum there isa large mass of wood, with an attached branch, which
I found in one of the insect beds at Temple Grafton. Comparing this list
with the few recorded higher up, though meagre enough, it will give us a much
better insight into the nature of the extinct Liassic flora than any other part
of this series. Time will not allow me to dwell at any great length on the
insects, a detailed account of which, with accompanying plates, will be be
found in my work*+ on fossil insects, and since that was published, now 21
years ago, many important additions, as might be expected, have been made,
Twenty-four families and genera had then been determined from the Lias.
The Coleoptera and Neuroptera are the most numerous, Small beetles are not
unfrequently found entire, and a few of large size; single elytra are most
prevalent, several being occasionally noticed on one small slab, Among these
may be noted the buprestide, elateride, carabide, chrysomelide, telephoride,
harpalide, carabide, gyrinus, and laccophilus. Among the few orthoptera
are gryllus Bucklandi, legs of gryllide, and tegmina of blattide, and among

* Quarterly Journal Geological Society. 1850.
+ Copies may be obtained from the author, Rowington Vicarage, near Warwick.

. oe

214

the hemiptera and homoptera are cicada Murchisoni, large homopterous insect,
and one of the cimicide. Among the newroptera we have libellula Brodict
and wings of other species often of great size; orth»phiebia communis, a
common and characteristic species, and met with also in the purbecks, ashua
hrassina, chauliodes, wings frequent, ephemera wings not uncommon; among
the diptera, asilus iynotus, and some entire small dipterous insects. Many
of the libellulide, were evidently of gigantic proportions, but most of the
insects were of small size, and like the associated plants indicate a temperate
climate, and are more nearly allied to forms which now inhabit North America,
There are few extinct or unknown genera among them, so different from the
marine fauna associated with them. Aquatic or sub-aquatic forms prevailed
to a considerable extent. Some of the coleoptera were scylophagous or herbi-
vorous, others aquatic, some were omnivorous, and many predaceous, conse-
quently the land must have contained plants snitable to their food, and
tnsectivorous animals to devour them in their turn. Though the Saurians and
Mollusks indicate a warm climate, there is no proof of any ultra tropical heat,
and if we suppose the insects, which (excepting the gigantic libellulide and
larger chauliodes) belonged to temperate zones, to have inhabited the higher
regions of a tropical country, such as the Himalayas and the Andes, and to
have been carried by streams into the ocean at greater or less distances from
land, according to circumstances, the apparent anomaly is accounted for and
seems the most probable inference.* Considering the vast numbers of the
insect tribes of the present day, the number hitherto recognised in a fossil
state is comparatively small, but additions are constantly being made, and in
time we may have a closer approximation to the actual proportions of the
annalosa living at the period. With the scanty record which the Lias affords
of terrestrial life, the insecta thus described are by no means to be despised
and form a really important addition to the bistory of that formation.

A few words must be said in conclusion on certain limestones which in
Warwickshire and Somersetshire succeed the insect and saurian beds, Their
true position is undoubtedly beneath the latter, and they are known in both
these counties by the name of the White Lias. Some geologists consider
them to belong to the Rheetic series, others to be passage beds between the
Lias and the latter, while some still class them with the Lias. As they contain
some fossils which are purely Liassic, and others which are entirely Rheetic,
it seems most probable that they are intermediate between the two, and
should future investigations lead to the preponderance of Liassic forms over
the Rheetic they would then have to be definitely classed with the former,
or with the latter if the reverse. They occupy a considerable area in the
counties of Somerset and Warwick, where they are extensively used for
making lime, and being often close-grained and hard, make a useful material
for building. The colour of the limestones is mostly white, and occasionally

* Professor Heer found insect remains in the lower Lias of the Al 8. Lee
not able to state the exact position in which they occur, har pps

215

pink and grey, They are largely quarried near Rugby, where they contain a
great abundance of iron, and present a singular eroded and uneven surface. I
have never seen any true white Lias in Gloucestershire, though I am inclined
to agree with those geologists who consider that the landscape stone or
Cotham marble is its equivalevt; but I do not agree with Mr. Etheridge in
believing the insect bed with avicula decussata at Westbury, to be the repre-
sentative in paft, of the white Lias, As yet, no Saurians or ammonites are
known in it, and the shells which are exclusively marine are not numerous.
There are a considerable number of smail corals, amongst which a species of
monilivaltia is common both in Warwick and Somerset. Until quite lately
the Lias terminated with the Red Marls, but now all the strata intervening
between the white Lias and the latter will come within the Rhetic series of
the Trias. They will not therefore come within the province of this paper,
but I may just add that in the “landscape stone,” or estheria bed at Aust
Cliff, in Gloucestershire, some unusually well preserved remains of insects
have been discovered, but they seem to be local, for I never heard of their
occurrence in the same position elsewhere. Enough has, I trust, been said to
show the importance and interest which attaches to this great and extensive
formation, and if it contains less striking evidence of a terrestial fauna and
flora than the Stonesfield’s Slate, the Wealden, the Purbecks, or still later
Tertiary deposits, it affords us a varied and remarkable history of the
inhabitants of the sea during a most extensive epoch of the ancient world,
The singular flying reptile, the pterodactyle, now appeared for the first time,
and the great Hnaliosaurians were among the most formidable and preda-
cious monsters of the deep. Associated with them, in seas of varying depth,
were gigantic cephalopods and graceful pentacrinites and numerous tribes of
fish. Wherever the land was we know it was not untenanted, and though we
only have altogether, perhaps, a partial record of the past, it must ever, be
full of interest and instruction to the scientific inquirer,

The President then gave the thanks of the Club to Mr. Brodie for his
kindness in coming to give them the benefit of his researches—for the
interesting lecture on Coal he had given them in the field, and for the~
learned paper he had just read to them. The Club were much indebted to
him, and hoped it was not the last time they should welcome his presence

amongst them (applause).

———

.

Ys

INSTRUMENT FOR ASCERTAINING THE_EXACT
HEIGHT OF TREES AND OTHER OBJECTS.

BY MR. 8. WELLS, HOLME LACEY.

’ The PRESIDENT then said that he had now to bring before them Mr,
Wells’ ‘‘Instrument for ascertaining the exact height of trees and other
objects.” It was a great pleasure to him to have to exhibit anything so clever,
for he believed it to be as original as it was simple and accurate. He did so
nevertheless as a duty, for he should not have chosen himself to bring forward
a subject which requires so much mathematical knowledge to do it proper
justice. He hoped, however, they would not misunderstand him, nor imagine
for an instant that he was not quite up to practical trigonometry (a laugh)—
it would not do for the President of so scientific a club to admit that
(laughter)—and therefore if any of the learned mathematicians who were
listening to him should observe that he did not use the ordinary terms or
formule of the schools in his explanations, they must be good enough to
remember how necessary it was now-a-days to popularize these things (great
laughter),

They were aware that the Woolhope Club was desirous of drawing up an
account of the more remarkable trees of Herefordshire, and it was important
to note their exact height. Whilst making inquiries on this subject, he had
heard of Mr. Wells’ instrument, and, on examination, was so convinced of
its merits that he used every effort to induce Mr. Wells himself to exhibit it,
but be could not prevail upon him to do so, and was therefore compelled, with
his sanction, to bring it forward himself.

There were many ways of ascertaining the height of a tree, and before he
attempted to describe Mr. Wells’ instrument he would just glance at some of
the other methods of doing so.

The first he might call the guessing plan Every third person you met
believed himself capable of giving a close estimate of the height of any given
tree. ‘‘ Let some one stand at the foot of the tree and he would soon tell
you its height.” And there are people who can no doubt do this pretty
exactly, but he would venture to say that if any six people of the present
company attempted to do it, say with a tree of 60 feet high, the results
would vary from 45 to 75 feet; and since a variation of 30 feet in a tree of
60 was not quite accurate enough for the Woolhope Club (a laugh), he would
pass on to

The second plan, which was the actual measurement—that is, by sending
a man up the tree with a pole to reach to the top, and a rope attached to it to

217

reach the ground. This was certainly sufficiently exact, and there were trees
which could not be accurately measured in any other way: for instance, if
placed in the middle of other trees, or if they had a flat wide spreading top.
It was nevertheless a vulgar and unscientific plan, and had such self-evident
difficulties that he need not point them out.

The third plan was as pretty as it was simple and easy: the measurement
by the shadow. Where the highest point of the tree is prominent and the
ground is perfectly level (or if its rise or fall keeps exactly to the same
iaclination), this method is quite accurate. The plan is as follows: To
stick upright a stick, three feet high, just at the point where the shadow of
the top of the tree ends, then take the length of the shadow of the stick.
The stick’s shadow will represent a yard, and you have then simply to
measure by it the distance to the trunk of the tree. This plan though often
applicable is pretty sure not to be so with the particular tree you may wish
to measure,

The fourth method is with the mirror. Place a small looking-glass hori-
zontally on the ground between yourself and the tree at such a distance that
you can see the reflection of the top of the tree in the glass. Now, since the
angles of incidence and reflection of a ray of light are always the same, it
follows that the angle from the tree top to the mirror must be the same as the
angle from the mirror to the eye of the observer. Having measured the
distance from the base of the tree to the mirror (by way of illustration let
us suppose it 100 ft.), multiply this by the distarce of the eye of the observer
from the ground (say 5 ft.), and divide the product (500 ft.) by the distance
from the mirror to the heel of the observer (say 6 ft.), and the result will give
you the height of the tree (83 ft, 4 in. in this illustration), The mirror plan,
however, again requires that the ground should be perfectly level, and,
moreover, wants considerable practice even then to ensure its accuracy, for
the smallest error in the multiplying or dividing figure would make a very
great difference indeed in the result.

To the fi/th plan he must call their particular attention. Everybody now
who takes up any subject is expected to show some little originality, and in
giving the plans of other people, to have a better one of his own (a laugh).
Now this fifth plan was his own. He called it the sketcher’s plan. Any of
them accustomed to sketch would recognise the great use for keeping the
relative heighis of objects, of holding up the pencil immediately before the
eye and thus measuring them. Mark a measured space on the tree and
substitute a pocket scale for the pencil, and you have the means of getting
its exact height, Let us suppose that you come to a remarkable tree,
You measure first, say the circumference of the trunk, next you pin a card,
or back of a letter, on the bark of the bole, at exactly 6 feet from the ground,
and then retire to such a distance from the tree as will enable you by holding
the scale against your eye easily to embrace the whole tree within it—60 or
80 yards will generally be ample for this purpose—the space on the scale

q
:
}
‘

218

eccupicd by the measured 6 feet, as compared with the space occupied by the
whole tree gives the height. For instance, in the list oak tree he had
measured, the 6 feet exactly occupied 4-16ths, that is one quarter of an inch,
on the seale, and the whole tree occupied exactly 2} inches, just ten times
as much, which gave at once 60 feet as the height of the tree. They would
observe that by this simple plan it mattered not that the ground should be
level, so long as you could see the whole tree—an immense advantage over
most of the plans he mentioned already—and it signified not the more that
the tree should stand perfectly upright, for if the tree sloped you had only
to slupe the scale in the same degree to get the length of the tree, and on
this point it might be said to be superior fo the more scientific methods he was
about to mention, which only gave the height of the highest point from the
ground below it (hear, hear). He was afraid, however, that he could not say
much for the originality of this plan. It had doubtless occurred to one or
two other people (a laugh) and they would remember in Thucydides that the
height of the walls of Platzea was ascertained by the knowledge of the thick-
ness of a single brick, and counting the number of courses of bricks to the top.
It must be confessed also that this plan does require a very steady hand
and a very steady eye, and in fact that its accuracy must depend so much on
the observer him:eli, that he could only claim for it generally a close approxi-
mation to accuracy.

The remaining plans he would bring before them, all depend on the
angle of elevation of the top of the tree being carefully taken.

The sixth, or the Carpenter’s plan, was the most simple of these. He
takes his ‘‘mitre square,” and moves it nearer or further from the tree,
until whilst the square is held true, as shown by its plummet line, he can
look along the angle (the diagonal of the square, and therefore 45°), and just
see the top of the tree. In order to see this, he knows that he must of
necessity be placed at exactly the same distance from the tree, as the top of
the tree is from the ground, or in other words, since the base and perpendicular
sides of his mitre-square@are exactly equal, the same angle extended will
not be true unless both the same sides continue to be of equal length. He
has then only to measure the distance from the tree, and add to it the height
from the ground to his square to give the true height. This is a very ready
excellent plan, but it also requires that the ground should be level or nearly
so, and that neither bushes nor any other obstacle should exist at the exact
spot required for the observation (hear, hear).

The seventh plan is to take the angle of elevation by the Quadrant in
the ordinary way, and to measure the distance of the tree from the spot
where the angle is taken, to transfer it to paper, and work out its height
by a secondary calculation from the exact angle. He would not dwell upon
this, because it was rather too troublesome to ordinary observers; it was,
moreover, the exact method usually followed, therefore well known,

219

The eighth p’an is hy means of Capt. Skyring’s Clinometer. The little
card he exhibited, with its plummet line, scales, and means of calculation all
apparently complete. The angle of elevation is taken by louking along the
upper edge of the card, and the measured distance to the object is multiplied
by the four figures opposite the number of this angle in the table given.
This Clinometer for any real aceuracy would require not only a very steady
hand, but two observers, that whilst one takes the angle the other may watch
the plumb line, and mark it. The smallest unsteadiness of the hand would
completely upset its accuraey, a fact which, it is to be feared, proves it to be
little more than a mere playthiug. It is small, however, and is carried readily,
but the compound array of figures on the scale, added to the other difficulties,
is not reassuring.

There are, doubtless, other ‘‘ Clinometers” of varying kinds, but all of
them require this secondary calculation, which makes an observer not
naturally fond of figures anxious to measure the distance afterwards in
some other way, to be sure that he has calculated the result rightly (laughter).

He would go on, therefore, at once to the ninth method, and the only one
that is at once simple and mathematically accurate. It is the instrument
Mr. Wells has invented, and which he had then the pleasure to exhibit to
them. This instrument they could see consists of a geometrical square upon a
stand, with a pivot and plummet line from the top corner. It may be called
the quadrant squared. It will measure the exact height of any given object,
a tree, a steeple, or a monument, and this whether you can appreach the base
of it or not, and whether, moreover, you are level with the base of the
object, or above, or below it. It will give you the exact breadth of a river, or
if you please, the inclination of a hill. In short, it will do what any other
scientific instrument of a similar kind can do, and something considerably
more, Herein consists its merit and originality. It does all its work without
entailing the necessity of any secondary calculations whatever. It gives the
result at once in the form you wish it. If you want to know, for instance,
the exact height of any given object, in taking thegobservation, you had only
to measure the base, set the instrument to the top of the object, and the
point where the plummet line crosses the distance marks at once on the lower
border the exact height. ‘‘Ah! that is taking the angle of elevation in the
ordinary way,” they might say, and so it was, no doubt, but it did not note
the angle; instead of that, it gave you at once the exact measurement you
required. The Quadrant and all other instruments based upon it take the
angle of elevation, and having marked the angle, and ascertained the measure-
ment of the base, they leave you to transfer it to paper and calculate the result
in a more or less intiicate fashion. One of his instructions from Mr. Wells
was not to mention “‘ angles ;” you did not get them, and did not want them,
since his instrument made all the calculations for you, and saved you from
the fear of erroneous multiplication. ‘‘ Talk of observations, sir, and not
angles,” said Mr, Wells, ‘‘and it will prevent confusion,”

——————

220

Dr. Bull, who had illustrated the different plans as he came to them
with rough chalk sketches on the black board, now proceeded to show in
the same way the various methods of taking ‘‘observations” with Mr.
Wells’s instrument, and said that he himself had tested its exact accuracy in
some instances by actual measurement with the tape afterwards.

In conclusion, he said that as it would suit his own circumstances at
present, he would read to them the last paragraph of the letter he had
received from Mr. Wells when he wrete in the first instance to inquire
about the instrument. After showing how he was led on to invent it and
what it would do, Mr. Wells wrote, ‘‘ excuse my taxing your patience so
much ; but when I tell you that I have been riding this hobby for four or
five years, you will forgive me. My real opinion is that for simplicity,
accuracy, despateh, and general adaptation, the instrument has no superior.
This is puffing, certainly.” Now, he agreed with this paragraph, except as to
the last four words, for he did not think ‘‘truth” could be rightly called
“ puffing ” (applause). ‘ e

The President then said he would take that opportunity of making
one other remark, and that was upon the extraordinary absence of any
remarkable trees on the Ross side of the county. He had heard there was a
fine oak near Ross, a fine elm at Marcle, some fine yew trees here and there
in the churchyards, and many fine elms at the Hil] Court, but, as a matter of
course they could not exist, since, in spite of all the notices sent out by the
club, not a single answer had been received by Mr. Cornewall, the honorary
secretary (laughter). It really was very curious, because the Ross district was
the elm district of the county; but he hoped, if the inference he kad thus
drawn was not correct, that some gentleman or other would at least write
and tell the secretary what fine trees did exist in this district, and where they
were situated, that the club in its perambulations might take some oppor-
tunity of measuring and describing them.

The President then said that Mr. Alfred Purchas would now read to them
a@ paper on ‘‘the Lepidoptera of Herefordshire.” It was the first paper on
Entomology that had been brought before the club, and he trusted that it
would shortly be followed by others.

22k

LEPIDOPTERA OF HEREFORDSHIRE.

BY MR. ALFRED PURCHAS.

In the few years in which I have studied Entomology in this district I
have met with very fair success, and have reason to believe that Hereford-
shire, although not producing mapy of the very rare or local species, is
exceedingly rich in the more common Lepidoptera. In butterflies (Diwrni)
especially, the commoner species of which abound in our woods, lanes, and
banks, and help, by their gay and gladsome appearance, to render our county
so attractive to the tourist. We have the beautiful Peacock, Tortoiseshell,
Sulphur, Speckled-wood, Large Fritillary, and the delicate Orange-tip, and
Small-blue, abundant every year. The handsome Red Admiral, Comma, and
Painted-lady are also often abundant: the latter was remarkably so in the
summer of 1865, Of the more rare butterflies, the Wood-white is to be met
with in Penyard. The Holly-blue, Large Tortoiseshell, the Ringlet, and the
Pearl-bordered Fritillary are of frequent occurrence. The Grayling is also
to be met with in the northern parts of the county. Of the commonest species
it is needless to make any remark, With the Garden-whites most of us,
especially those who have town gardens, are only too familiar, and the
Meadow-browns are everywhere abundant. Of the whole 65 British species I
have as yet taken 30 in this county. The Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, of Grantsfield,
near Leominster, has added 9 to this number. The remaining 26 are either
very local, or so rarely occur in England, that I have never even hoped fora
better representative in my cabinet, than a foreign specimen. Of the cater-
pillars of the butterflies, very little is as yet known, save of the Garden-
whites, Tortoiseshell, and some few others,

The butterflies are the only division of the Lepidoptera that attract the
attention of ordinary observers, and consequently form the grand staple of all
rudimentary collections, from the schoolboys’ half-dozen Small-blues, Sulphurs,
and Garden-whites, upwards.

It is a common mistake to class all bright-coloured Lepidoptera as
butterflies, This is very far from correct, as we have hundreds of most
beautifully-coloured moths (Wocturni), presenting every variety of shade,
which, from their being mostly night-fliers, generally escape the observation
of all but the scientific hunters for them,

The first division of moths contains the large Hawk moths, the Burnett,
and Clear-wings. The Poplar-hawk, the Privet, and the Eyed-hawk appear
to be at times rather plentiful. The Lime-hawk also occurs sometimes. The
Death’s-head, too, our largest moth, in some seasons is quite common in the
caterpillar state. In 1865, owing to the very long summer, it was remarkably
abundant. Its handsome violet-spotted grub was frequently seen feeding

222

on the potatoe haulm, and strong as this is, it seemed almost too fragile to
support its bulky body. This insect is very rare in the perfect state. I have
not yet been able to rear any of the numerous caterpillars that have come
into my possession. The Humming-bird moth was also remarkably plentiful
last year (1865).

The ‘‘ Eyed hawk moth,” one of my finest specimens, was obtained from
some boys who had picked up the caterpillar under a weeping-willow growing
in Ross, and were carrying it about. On inquiring what they were going to
do with it, they answered ‘‘roast it.” ‘‘ Well,” I thought, ‘‘if entomologists
are said to be cruel (which is never necessary), we at all events do not inflict
such horrible torture as roasting on our victims, and if I rescue this poor
wretch from its impending fate, put it comfortably away in my breeding-
cage till it is ready to change, and when the moth comes out give it a few
minutes in a tin box, with the agreeable smell of bruised laurel leaves, which
causes speedy stupefaction, I shall almost deserve the thanks of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,” I soon prevailed on the boys to
give it up, for they fortunately saw their way to as much fun in spending a
penny or two, as in roasting a plump caterpillar, the flavour of which might
not have recommended itself to English palates.

One, at least, of the prettily spotted Burnets (Zygena filipendule) is
very common. The singular-looking Clearwings have only one repre:-entative
(Sesia Tipuliformis) that is at all common; the remainder are most of them
very rare.

The next group (Pseudo-bombyces) contains some of the most handsome
English moths: these, from their being mostly “spinners,” are often met
with in the cocoon.” They appear to be fairly represented in Herefordshire,
The most familiar example is the Tiger-moth: the Miller-grub, its cater-
pillar, is a remarkably lively specimen, running about everywhere and eating
everything—few garden plants seem to come amiss toit. In its perfect state,
it is; however, much more shy, never moving out until after dark. It is,
nevertheless, attracted by light, and may frequently be found buzzing round
lamps and windows at night. The Brown-tail is another familiar example;
the caterpillar feeds on hawthorn in June, and from its pretty appearance
(black, with white and blue spots and stripes), is a great favourite with
children; the moth is a very plain, quiet-looking, white insect. Another
example is the ‘‘Cinabar” moth, which is quite a day-flier, and from its
handsome appearance (very dark ground with crimson spots and stripes) is
frequently dignified by the name of butterfly. The caterpillar is black with
yellow transverse stripes, and feeding chiefly on groundsel, is often abundant
in gardens.

The ‘‘Puss moth” and the “Goat moth” are two of the largest and
most remarkable species in the group, both are frequently found here. The
next group (Noctuc) is generally characterised by dull coloured moths, seldom
showing themselves but to those who look specially for them. There are,

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however, one or two exceptions to this rule. The ‘‘Old Lady-moth” is very
fond of coming into a lighted room in an August evening. The ‘‘ Red Under-
wing” and the ‘‘ Yellow Underwing” may often be seen flying about in the
day time, but seldom unless disturbed in their resting-places, or to sun them-
selves in avery hot day. The species Plusia Gamma may be seen buzzing
round the flowers of the Scabious in the sunshine on a September morning.
The ‘“‘Hart and Dart” and some others are very abundant.

The greater number of the remaining species— some 300—are only to be
got by artificial means, viz., by putting a mixture of sugar, rum, and beer,
on trees at night, and looking for them with a lantern. If the evening be
damp and favourable great numbers may be taken in this way. Of this
group I have as yet taken only 62 species, many of the remainder are very
scarce.

The only remaining group that contains any large or showy moths is
that of the Geometre, so called from the singular formation of the caterpillar,
which in crawling loop up the middle of their bodies. The moths are shaped
much more like caterpillars than those of any other group. The ‘“‘ Large
Magpie” or ‘‘ Gooseberry Moth,” is one of the most common, generally
abounding in gardens. The beautiful ‘‘ Emerald” and the delicate ‘‘Swallow-
tail” are occasionally to be found. They are two of the most prominent
insects in the group, which presents an almost endless variety of delicate
markings.

In the next group (Zortrices), the moths are nearly all of them ‘‘leaf-
rollers.” They appear to be well represented in this cuunty, especially by
one individual, the Green Oak-moth, This is remarkable for the destruction
it causes in the caterpillar state. In the year 1862 this ‘creature completely
denuded the oak woods of foliage, making them, in the beginning of June,
look quite brown, instead of the verdant appearance they usually present at
that time. The caterpillars were so abundant that ina very short time they
ate up, or destroyed by rolling them up, all the oak leaves, and to prevent
starvation, took to the leaves of the nut, maple, and other trees. This had
the curious effect of compelling the other tree-feeding caterpillars to descend
and hunt over the ground for a substitute for their proper food. From this
cause, many species were thus’to be met with that cannot usually be obtained
without the trouble and difficulty of climbing for them. The division has
about 300 species.

I will not detain you by commenting at any length on the remaining
groups. We have a familiar example of one of the Crambites in the little
Grass-moths, which are so abundant after midsummer; and of another, the
Tinena, in the Clothes-moths, which need little description, as most house-
wives know its provoking habits only too well. I may, however, observe that
it is not the moth, but its caterpillar that commits such destruction: it
makes itself a woollen jacket, in which it lives and feeds, and in this disguise
often escapes destruction, being taken for nothing more than an empty cocoon,

=, gles 6) ei ee eee

224

It is much to be regretted that the study of this branch of natural history
is so much neglected, as, if Herefordshire were thoroughly well worked, there
is little doubt a large number may be added to the known species. The total
number of British Lepidoptera is so large, amounting to nearly 2,000, that
this class alone affords an almost boundless fleld for careful study.

It appears by a list which I have carefully compared with my own,
that Mr. Hutchinson and his family have met with great success in the
neighbourhood of Leominster, and have added many species which have
not before been found in the county.

During the time Mr. Purchas was reading his paper, his collection of
the Lepidoptera was passed round the room. It consisted of eight handsome
cases, in which the insects were scientifically and very beautifully arranged.
The collection is a very extensive one, and contained several species not found
in this county, some of which, indeed, are now scarcely to be met with in the
kingdom.

Here was the interesting ‘‘Swallow-tail” (Papilio machaon) with its
handsome black-bordered wings. It is only to be found naturally in the fens,
and the chrysalis, hanging tail uppermost from the bullrushes, is much
sought after for sale. These were ‘imported i in this state from Cambridge, and
thus in one sense may be said to be Herefordshire born. There was the
“Black-rimmed white” butterfly of the thorn (Pieris crateegi), a very pretty
representatlve of a most destructive caterpillar on the continent. It is
fortunately rare in England, and only appears at long intervals. This one
was caught by Mr. Purchas’s brother, near Chepstow, a few years since. There
was a specimen of the very rare ‘‘Bath white” (Pieris daplidice) with its
mottled underwings, This butterfly is called the ‘‘Bath white” from an
elegant piece of needlework executed at Bath, in imitation of a butterfly of
this kind taken near that city. The ‘Clouded yellow” (Colias Edusa), which
enn rather be called orange, so rich is the tint of colour, and the very

‘pale clouded yellow” (Colias hyale) were there also,

Next, and most striking perhaps of all, we must notice the fine specimen
of the ‘‘ Camberwell Beauty” (Vanessa Antiopa). Itisso called from having
been observed in great abundance amongst the willow beds at the village of
Camberwell. This is now one of our very rare butterflies, though about 20
years ago it appeared in such immense numbers throughout the kingdom
that the Aurelians of that day thence gave it the name of the “Grand
Surprise.” It now only appears in small numbers, periodically, after lapses
of five, or ten, or more years. The specimen in Mr. Purchas’ case was a
foreign one,

Not so the “Purple Emperor” (Apatura iris); this has long been
known as a Herefordshire butterfly, and ‘‘Brinsop copse” is generally
mentioned as a locality for it. It is considered a great acquisition in any
collection, not only for its own handsome appearance and colour, but also

225

because it is so difficult to catch. It frequents the tops of the highest trees
in the middle of woods, and enthusiasts are said to hunt for it with butterfly
nets on poles 40 feet long! Its caterpillar, too, which is pale green, is very
difficult to find. It has a wide range, however, and is not therefore probably
so rare in nature as it is in ordinary collections,

The ‘‘ Wood White ” (Leucophasia sinapis), by no means a common
butterfly, Mr. Purchas was lucky enough to capture one fine morning on
Penyard hill, near Ross. Then there was the ‘‘Scotch argus” (Hrebia
blandina) with eyes on its wings—(a representation, by the way, common to
many butterflies). It was not a Herefordshire specimen, of course. It is said
to occur sometimes in the northern counties of England, but its true home is
in Scotland. Here it is not very uncommon, and hundreds of them may
sometimes be seen flitting about in the sunshine on the thistles beneath the
columnar trap rocks in the Queen’s Park, called ‘‘Sampson’s Ribs.”

Close to this also was the ‘‘small ringlets” butterfly (Hrebia cassiope),
also rare and confined to the northern counties. Then there were many choice
varieties of Polyommatus (or many-eyed) tribe, the ‘‘Clifden blue” (Lyceena
Adonis) whose wings present a most lovely, shining, silvery azure blue, the
most splendid of all the British blues; the rare ‘‘ Mazarine blue” (L£. acis) ;
“‘the silver studded blue,” (Z. wgon) the “large blue” (Z. arion) very
fine and very rare, and several others. There was the ‘‘ Brown Hair-streak ”
(Zhecla Betula), and the still more rare “‘ Black Hair-streak” (Thecla Pruni) ;
many rare Fritillarys, Argynnis Lathonia, Adippe, Aglaja, and Selene;
several uncommon Skippers Hesperia Paniscus, comma, and linwa, &e., &e.
The completeness of the collection may be judged from the presence of these
varieties amongst the butterflies. The other classes of the Lepidoptera
presented also numerous rareties, which would delight the eyes of an Ento-
mologist. The list is too long to attempt now. We can only say, what we
feel sure is correct, that Mr. Purchas would be happy at any time to show
his collection to any lovers of the science if they would call at his residence
in Ross,

The time was now drawing to a close, and although Mr. Blashill
had prepared all the illustrations for his paper on “‘ Variations in the
water Ranunculi,” there was no time to read it, It was, therefore,
postponed for a future meeting. A paper on ‘‘ Herefordshire Yew Trees,”
by the Rev. Thomas Woodhouse, M.A., of Hay, was also postponed,
So finished a very pleasant meeting, and the committee must have felt, when
they got home, much as the farmer did when he innocently said, .as soon as
he had got in his own hay, ‘“‘ What a blessing for the country a good
day’s rain would be,”

The Woothope Raturalisis’ Sield Club,

MEETING AT BS hee
Avcust 24TH, 1866.

The fourth field meeting of the Woolhope Club for the present season
was appointed to be held at Builth, on Friday last, the 24th ult., and most
attractive programme showed that the energetic President of the Club (Dr.
Bull) was resolved that none of the meetings during his year of office should
be deficient in interest. Carlyle has well remarked that ‘“‘a man will see as
much as he brings power to see”; and it may also be observed, that a man
will get over as much ground as his legs give him power to do in sufficient
time. This is too often forgotten when the programme of an expedition is
made out, and thus it often happens that many beautiful parts of a projected
excursion have to be ‘‘omitted in the representation,” as players say. But
Dr. Bull had too much foresight to be upset in his plans by this miscalcu-
lation, and a rehearsal the day before soon pointed out what was impossible
to accomplish, and the route varied accordingly. Still, as it was all nearly
done by the President, in company with a botanical friend, we shall give our
readers the advantage that would have accrued to them and the Club had
they taken the entire route indicated. :

We have been favoured by the Rev. D. P. Davies and others with some
notes on the history of Builth, which we shall take advantage of in due course,
but in relating the transactions of a Naturalist’s Club, it may be well to give
early prominence to natural objects—the rocks, wood, and water—that equally
invite the pencil of the artist and the descriptive powers of the lovers of
nature.

The scenery surrounding Builth is very attractive and distinguished for
its richly diversified and picturesque character. The sportive Wye, here
still in its iafancy, has all the varied charms that a river possesses before it
entirely leaves the rocks that have encompassed its mountain home, and
according to the fulness of the stream is the rapidity with which it flows.
At times still and sedate, at others it rushes over or plays among rocks of all
sizes, forming numerous eddies and little cascades, or it spreads out widely
in sparkling gravelly shallows, ever amusive and exciting, and it receives

227
further beauty from the thick foliage that in many places adorns its banks,
Beyond the confines of the valley, huge mountains on either side give majesty
to the scenery.

Proceeding from the old bridge of Builth, with its six stone arches, to
which time has given rather a solemn character, and passing the railway
station, the mossy turf of the Carneddau range is soon reached. <A very steep
path winds upwards among rocks that are unmistakeably of igneous origin.
It is well to turn from it to some projecting rocks on the shoulder of the
mountain. Here, spread out before you, are the windings of the Wye
through the valley, the pretty town of Builth itself with its meadows and
pleasantly wooded hills,—opposite to you is the Garth—from this point an
isolated cone,—whilst stretching out beyond it is the range of the Epynt, and
mountains upon mountains that appear in every variety of light and shade,
All this is seen in varied form as the winding path is followed to the summit
of therange. From the western side beyond Blaengowen the hill projects
boldly forwards into the valley by the point called the Craigddu, from which
also an excellent view of the adjacent valleys and hills is obtained.

There might have been considerable doubt as to the weather, but the
dwarf thistle (Carduus acaulis) spread wide its calyx, and the botanists went
cheerfully forward. The thistle and science were right too, albeit in direct
opposition to local authority, for the weather turned out to be everything that
could be wished.

In the walk over the Carneddau some noteworthy plants were observed.
The pretty English stonecrop (Sedum Anglicum) was particularly abundant
on all the projecting rocks, though this plant generally prefers such as are
within reach of the seaside. The purple flowered orpine (Sedum telephium)
was also found—and in several places a small forest of fine grown seed stems
of the foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) was observed.

The bleak summit of the mountain is covered with the gray reindeer

lichen
; “‘ The wiry moss that whitens all the hill,”

as Crabbe designates it, and which must give the spot rather a dreary aspect
when the fogs of November emcompass it. Now it was all tempting to a
wanderer, and the sun, though among clouds, shot out between them here
and there, marking out with artistic effect the distant mountain ranges.

To botanists, however, the chief attraction was the bog, situated in a
hollow space at the top of the hill. This seems formerly to have been a lake
or large pool, but is now nearly choaked up with plants; rushes in plenty,
surrounded with tufts of the Sphagnum or bog moss; an abundance of the
rare and elegant marsh St. John’s wort (Hypericum elodes) ; the marsh Cinque-
foil (Comarum palustre), with its beautiful leaves and maroon coloured
flowers ; the bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) ; the not very common pedicu-
laris palustris ; the penny-wort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) hid itself as usual
beneath everything else; and the pretty cotton grass (HZriophorum angusti-

228

folium) with its white-robed head of seed waving in the wind, and tempting
you to gather it—if you dare—for no sooner do you get near it than down sinks
the treacherous Sphagnum, and the black water covers your boots with
threatening rapidity. Thanks to these masses of moss, however, for upon
them grew the pretty round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia.) This
interesting little plant derives its name from the fact of the long red hairs
which’grow from the upper surface and edges of its leaves, supporting, each
one of them, a drop of clear fluid, like dew. It is ever present in the hottest
and most sunny days, if, indeed, it is not more abundant then—

“*By the lone fountain’s secret bed,
Where human footsteps rarely tread,
Mid the wild meor, or silent glen,
The Sundew blooms unseen by men ;
Spreads there her leaf of rosy hue,

A chalice for the morning dew,

And ere the summer's sun can rise,
Drinks the pure waters of the skies.”

Two couples of wild ducks, starting suddenly up from the bog, put to flight all
poetic fancies and recalled attention to the setting sun. Guided by Mr. David
Griffith, whose attentions to the visiting naturalists call for marked com-
mendation, the descent was rapidly made over walls and hedges and ditches,
down charming meadows, and through one dense thicket to the Werntoe
dingle, where in the dark Wenlock shale, which the brook has exposed to
view, the Ampyx nudus is said to abound. It was too late, however, the
shades of evening were quickly deepening, and in its recesses on the present
occassion only a few fragments were discovered. In this progress it became
evident that some varieties of bramble were to be found about Builth, and
the President formed an acquaintance with Rubus Kehleri, too close to be
agreeable. Passing by the pool and grounds of Pencerrig, the march was
taken to Builth, and head quarters fixed at the Lion hotel.

Here it may be as well to pause and look round upon the town of Builth
itself, and note its curiosities and antiquities.

BUTuUTH.

This town, by the consent of all tourists, is beautifully situated, in one
of the most salubrius and picturesque vales in Gwalia. On the south it is
bounded by a spur of the Epynt, a hill made classic by its ‘‘ Bugeiliaid”
shepherds in the writings of the late Brutus of Llandovery. On the east
the pyramidical Garth and the pasture lands of Radnorshire appear. On the
north the famed Llanelwedd and Penmaenau rocks stand like faithful
sentinels to temper the northern blast, while the cultivated fields and
picturesque plantations of Llanelwedd Hall and Wellfield seem to rejoice in
their protection. Yonder, on the west, are knolly and undulated lands,
resting on the banks of the Irfon and Chwefry, stretching far off to the
Lianwrtyd, Abergwesyn, and Llanowen Hills, known by the name of
Maelienydd, one of the wildest and least known parts of Britain, and may be
- called ‘‘the great desert of Wales.” Giraldus calls them Ellenydd—in early

229

English ‘‘ Morugh” or moors—i.e., the heights of marshy places, which is the
meaning of Ellenydd, according to Leland. From these hills the Irfon takes
its rise, flowing rapidly through Llanwrtyd and Llangammarch as if in haste to
join the romantic Wye as she descends from the peaks of Plinlimon, and thus
combined they pass the pretty town of Builth as they meander down the vale.

The town is irregularly built, consisting of two main streets which,
meeting in an angle at the Swan ina, unite and afterwards extend for a con-
siderable distance along the road leading to Llandovery. The population of
Builth by the last census is only 1,100, but through the summer months the
renown of its saline wells brings many hundreds of visitors there.

The view from the handsome bridge of six arches, erected in 1770,
which spans the Wye, especially if the day be bright, is perfect of its kind.
The history of the place may be indicated by the following events. Its
Welsh name Buallt is said to be derived from Bu an ox, and allt a wooded
eminence, signifying an ox-cliff or oxen-holt. In ancient documents it is
styled Llanfair-yn-Muallt—this was evidently a great grazing county. Camden
and others claim for Builth great antiquity. The town in ancient days is said
to have extended from a brook on the east side of the Castle called Glyro,
from its contiguity to a centinel’s station, to another brook called Llogyn
falling into the Irfon on the west, and if so it wasa mile in length, In the
neighbourhood are several entrenchments in which Roman bricks with the
inscription ‘‘Leg. II” have been found. In recurring to the Chronicle of
Caradoc we find this place suffered considerably from the Danes in 893, who,
being pressed by Alfred, sailed to Wales, and after destroying the ‘country
round the coast advanced to Buallt, which they likewise demolished. The
present town appears to have arisen subsequently to the erection of a castle
by the Norman invaders of this part of the principality, under Bernard New-
march, brother to William the Conqueror, as some hold, in the year 1078.
Phillip De Breos, one of Bernard’s followers, attacked and conquered the
territories of Elystan Llodrydd on-the river Wye, established in them the Lord-
ship of Buillt, from which circumstance he is styled ‘‘ Lord of Buillt,” which
he obtained by conquest. He, no doubt, strengthened and enlarged the castle,
the foundations of which, including some very strong earthworks, exist at the
east end of the town, and make a conspicuous appearance. The keep stood on
the lofty moated mound in the centre, which is many yards (50) in cireum-
ference; the state apartments and offices were on the south-west side, to which
there was a branch from the inner moat. Sir Roger Mortimer held it for
the Crown in 1260, but it was taken by Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, who, as some
historians say, held it till his death, when the garrison betrayed him. There
is but a small portion of a wall now remaining. It is situated on the north
side, and to judge from this, the walls must have been of considerable
thickness. It is built, however, of the crumbling blue shale of the district,
and could never have successfully withstood an attack of artillery. When or
by whom the castle was destroyed is not known.

230

In 1282 this town and neighbourhood were the scene of the “Struggle
for Welsh Independence,” to which a period was Gnally put by the death of
the gallant Llewelyn, the last native sovereign of Wales. The story of
Llewelyn’s fall has been frequently told, but like other memorable events it
never palls on the mind :—‘‘ After the brilliant success which attended his
arms at Menai Straits, he was to hold a conference with some chieftain in this
district. Llewelyn for this purpose came to Aberedw, about four miles below
this town, where he had a castle or mansion, and there passed the night,
having posted a part of his army at Pen-y-coed a’r Irfon, two miles above.
During his stay he was alarmed by the approach of the enemy, who had
received intelligence of his movements and present situation ; and being nearly
surrounded by the forces of the Engtish, under the command of Sir Edmund
Mortimer and John Giffard (who had marehed from Herefordshire) he, as is
commonly stated, caused his horse’s shoes to be reversed in order to mislead
his pursuers by the impressions on the snow, which then covered the ground.
This stratagem, however, being treacherously discovered to the English by
Madoc Goch Min Mawr, the blacksmith whom Llewelyn had empleyed, a
pursuit was commenced. Llewelyn fled towards Buillt, crossing the bridge
over the Wye, which he caused to be demolished before his pursuers came

_ up, who were consequently compelled to return to a ford eight miles lower
down on the river, where they effected a passage at Cafan Twm Bach. Mean-
while Llewelyn had sought succour from the garrison at Buillt, which being
refused either from dread of the presence of an English force, or from
treachery, he lead his party westward up the Vale of the Irfon, and crossed
that river a little above Llanynis church by a bridge called Pont-y-coed, where
he stationed his men. The English coming up made an unsuccessful attempt
to obtain possession of the bridge; Elias Walwyn, a retainer of Rhys (Lord
of Buillt) offering to conduct Giffard by a ford to the very field where
Llewelyn waited. The attack was then purposely renewed with fresh fury ;
and while this was being carried on, Gifford crossed the river in silence, and
under cover of the intervening wood, charged down on the spot where
Llewelyn was conversing, unarmed, with his secretary. By what particular
hand the Prinee fell can only be conjectured. Adam Francton claimed the dis-
honour of this murderous act. A friar of a neighbouring monastery (whose
opportune presence in the Norman ranks can only be explained on the
supposition that the conspirators had been enjoined from the highest quarter
not to stop short of the death of their victim) administered to him the last
rites of religion, and received his expiring breath. His head was then cut off
and sent with all papers found on his person to Edward at Conway Abbey.
The head of the patriot hero was thence conveyed to London, was placed
(encircled in mockery with a silver crown) on the highest turret of the Tower.
Thus perished, December 22, 1282, in the 48th year of his age, in the words of
the learned Seldon, ‘‘as great and worthy a Prince as ever the third-part
of this island was ruled by.” The place where Llewelyn was slain is in the

231

parish of Llanganten, and has since been called Cwm Llewelyn, or Llewelyn’s
dingle. As faithful ‘chroniclers we are bound to state, that the friends and
adherents of the English Monarch, and the Lords Marchers in the hundred
of Builth, not satisfied with betraying their unfortunate countryman, endea-
voured to blast his memory by the imputation of cowardice, Because he was
not slain at the head of his troops, they spread the report that he was found
ingloriously lying at full length in a field of broom, and that on receiving his
death wound he cursed the treacherous plant for not concealing him more
effectually, and they say that since that time none will grow on the spot, It
seems most probable that he was killed by surprise when reconnoitring the
motions of the enemy on the other side of the river.

There is some probability from tradition that the great plague in the
early part of the fourteenth’century visited Builth severely, as it did so many
other towns and cities throughout the country, although it is nowhere men-
tioned as having done so, About a mile westward of the town runs a small
brook called Nant-yr-Arian, or ‘“‘the money brook,” and here it is said that
the country people brought the provisions to supply the town and left them,
and were paid for them by money dropped into the running water so as to
avoid the risk of infection by those who received it.

In the year 1691 the town was nearly destroyed by fire which broke out
on the 20th of December in that year; the loss sustained by the sufferers who
applied for relief under this calamity was estimated at £10,780, and by persons
of more independent property, who did not make application, about £2,000
more. Letters-patent were granted by the Crown, authorising the distressed.
inhabitants to gather alms from charitably disposed persons throughout the
kingdom, and under this authority a few hundred pounds were collected,
but the money was so misapplied that only one house was re-built from the
fund. In this instrument, which is illumined with the portraits of King
William and Mary, it is stated “‘that the fire raged for five hours, and that
from the boisterousness of the wind, it consumed the dwellings of 41 sub-
stantial families, with all their corn, furniture, effects, and merchandises, to
the great impoverishment of the adjacent country, and delay of trade, it being
a very considerable market town, and having no other market kept within
ten miles of it.”

We ought here to mention the mineral springs near Builth, which are
said now to attract many hundreds of visitors every summer, and in Pryse’s
account of the ‘‘Breconshire and Radnorshire Mineral Springs,” are stated
as ‘‘ combining the mineral properties of those at Llanwrtyd and Llandrindod.”
To this statement we do not pledge ourselves; but this may be said, that as
some of the Club paid a morning to the spa and pump-room, it was found on
inquiry that visitors are supplied ‘‘ with as much as they like to drink of
the saline, sulphur, and chalybeate waters for threepence each,” as the
attendant nymph declared, ‘‘ and drink as much as you like,”

232

The mineral wells of Builth, like the most valuable springs on the
Continent— and, indeed, almost everywhere else—arise near the point of
contact of the igneous with the stratified rocks, Here, as at Llandrindod and
Llanwrtyd, they issue on the western side,

The road to the springs is as uninteresting as well can be; through
narrow, dusty lanes, and between high hedges; but there is a way from
the common by the banks of the Wye and the Irfon, and round through the
woods, which is exceedingly pretty. It goes over a foot suspension bridge
across the river Irfon, which is very picturesque but rather a shaky affair
nevertheless, when any larkish person causes it to vibrate, as was done on

,. the present occasion, to the dismay of some frightened damsels coming over
the bridge. The grounds of the Wells might be made varied and beautiful.
In fact, everything relating to the Wells makes a stranger wonder what the
proprietors of these powerful waters are about that they should be so little

“alive to their own interest. A few hundred pounds laid out with judgment
and taste would do more than thousands in many other places, Builth itself
is alive and progressing with the times; but why should all the attraction of
its mineral springs be solely left to the virtues of the water ?

There are some strangely named places in the vicinity of Builth, one of
which, on the road to Hay, is called the ‘‘Devil’s Pitch,” though to mortal
eye there does not appear to be anything very demoniacal about it. It is
said to be connected with tales of olden sheep-stealing times, with which
Breconians of the last century were connected, to the peril of their necks,
and hereabouts some informer was ‘“‘ pitched,” it has been whispered, into

j the Wye, and, some thought, to the devil too, This is one of those local
stories that may or may not be true. However, in the present day, as the
Wenlock shale is here exposed by a cutting in the road, the ‘‘ Devil’s Pitch”

has received geological attention from a new trilobite, called Phacops Daviesit,
having been found here, with an abundance of Orthoceratites ; and at this
point Dr. Bull, with a band of ardent geologists, laboured for some time
before the club arrived, and not without success, to extract specimens from the
fractured rock,

The train from Hereford reached’ Builth about twenty minutes past
twelve, and, without any loss of time, the active President marshalled his
forces, which numbered about fifty gentlemen, and reminded them of the value
of time ina district of such great geological interest. He told them that it
was arranged that four quarries would be visited in succession that day, and
that since every succeeding one would advance in interest, they must not lose
time at the beginning. He hoped they would promptly obey orders, and,
instead of thinking him rude, would remember that he was only taking them
to better things. They would first visit the Cwm-Henllan Dingle, close to
Wellfield Lodge. The march then began; a brief pause being made at Gwen-
stone quarry, where the volcanic grit of the Carneddau rocks is worked for
building stone. A man had been sent forward with a pick to the Cwm-Henllan

233

dingle to get out some slabs of the Llandeilo flag ready for more careful
splitting and closer examination, and here a most lively scene soon presented.
itself. The narrow dingle was soon filled by enthusiastic geologists, hammering
away in such close proximity that it was a marvel that no accident happened,
A few specimens of the Ampyx nudus and Ogygia Buchii, together with one
or two of Diplograpsus pristis, with here and there a Lingula or a small
portion of Zrinucleus, were all that were found when the President’s whistle
sounded and the march for Pencerrig began.

On their emerging from the dingle some ladies on horseback joined
the party and added much to the picturesque effect of the group of naturalists.
The grounds of Pencerrig were soon reached, and a direct line was taken
across the park for the quarry at the pond-head. Here the upper Llandovery
rocks and the Llandeilo flag are developed in the quarry, while the Wenlock
shale appears in the bed of the Melton brook, which at this point runs from
the pond. Excellent specimens of the Pentamerus oblongus were also readily _
obtained from the upper Llandovery rock in the quarry under the guidance
of Mr. Griffiths, who knew exactly the proper place to look for them, and from
the shale in the brook specimens of Graptolites ludensis, and G. Murchisont
were obtained. The brook here dives down amongst dense foliage into the
deep gloom of a narrow, shaded dingle. A whisper was breathed that fresh-
water lobsters lived in it, and one gentleman bent on verifying the fact set
out to hunt, and quickly returned with a fine cray-fish or craw-fish (Astacus
fluviatilis), which he presented to the President. The time had now arrived
for the Address, and the party arranged themselves on the grass, and on the
banks, and in the pleasant shadow of the trees, and listened to the following
instructive address.

‘ 234

THE GEOLOGY OF THE DISTRICT.

By the Rev. W. S. SYMONDS, President of the Malvern Club,

On the present occasion our time is so limited, owing to the unpro-
pitious hour of the returning train, that I can do little more than give a very
hurried and imperfect sketch of the interesting geology of the Builth district,
You are probably aware that during the far distant gevlogical period, known
as the Lower Silurian epoch, there were active volcanoes, and two periods
of volcanic outburst in what is now North Wales. Volcanic action seems to
have commenced in the Cambrian period, and to have increased during that
of the deposition of the Lingula Flags, but the internal forces became more
intensified during the period when the strata known as the Llandeilo deposits
were accumulating in the Lower Silurian seas, The second period of volcanic
action occurred towards the close of the Caradoc or Bala period, and the noble
Snowdonian hills, which run from Moel Hebog by Carnedd Llewelyn to
Conway, are composed of strata of the Caradoc age, interstratified with sub-
marine lavas and volcanic ashes, all of which have long since been upheaved
into the noble hills the geologist loves to traverse, and which display along
their scarped and rugged rocks the histories he learns to read.

It was during the earlier period of this volcanic activity that the ancient
igneous rocks of Builth were erupted. The great Arenig mountains in
Merionethshire are made up of repeated streams of lava interstratified with
sedimentary strata of the Llandeilo age, containing fossils and volcanic ashes,
and these Arenig rocks are older than those of Snowdon, as proved by the
superposition of the Snowdon rocks and their organic remains, The Arenig
rocks belong to the Llandeilo period, which preceded the Curadoc period.

It was during the latter part of the Llandeilo period (upper Llandeilo),
and when volcanic action was also rife in North Wales, that the volcanic
forces burst forth through the upper Llandeilo strata in this region of
Builth.

Here you have repeated on a small scale the interesting geology of some
of the grandest hills in North Wales. Here you may see old lava streams
of the Llandeilo period, and the interstratified beds of voleanic ash which
were showered down from a neighbouring crater into the surrounding sea, and
which ash and pumice sunk gradually through the waves, and became inter-
bedded with strata, which contain the fossil remains of the mollusca and
crustaceans which inhabited the Llandeilo seas. I last month saw strata of
the Tertiary fresh water lakes of Auvergne, interbedded with stratified ashes
and peperino, and traversed by lava dykes, while the stratified deposits were
full of the cases of caddis worms, and fresh water shells that inhabited the

235

old lake. The rocks of the Carneddau Hills, that form so picturesque a
feature near Builth, are composed of igneous rocks both eruptive and stratified,
and these run to the north east to Llandrindod and Llandegley. In many
sections in the neighbourhood the old lava currents may be seen elevated
through the overlying sedimentary deposits, and throwing off the Llandeilo
strata, and interbedded with flagstones which contain the well-known Llan-
deilo trilobites. :

Perhaps the most instructive section is that typical section given by Sir
R. Murchison, in ‘‘Siluria,” viz., that on the N,W. slope of the Gelli Hill,
where felspar porphyries, like those of North Wales, may be seen inter-
stratified with Llandeilo flags, containing that typical trilobite the Ogygia
Buchii.

Another section, very instructive, is that on the Wye, above the cele-
brated salmon catch, called the Rocks. Here, the Llandeilo strata may be
seen broken through and altered by the volcanic masses and worn down in the
river bed. The fisherman can always tell when he is wading over the igneous,
or the stratified rocks, the latter being so much more slippery than the rough
lava beds,

Another feature the physical geologist will not fail to remark, is the
excavation of the softer Llandeilo shales, and the longitudinal valleys scored
out by denudation, the hard trap rocks standing out in hill ridges. This tells
its own history. The mineral waters of Builth, Llandrindod, and Llandegley,
owe their origin to the decomposition of iron pyrites at places where a lava
rock traverses and alters the Llandeilo strata. The waters of Moffat, in Scot-
land, known for their chalybeate properties, take their rise through a fissure
of Llandeilo strata charged with graptolites and altered by an ancient lava
dyke, precisely as occurs in this district. I have been asked if it was pos-
sible to point out the site of the ancient volcano from which the igneous
rocks of the Builth districts were poured forth. It must be remembered that
much of the old lava was evidently evolved through fissures into the bed of the
Llandeilo sea, for they were soon covered up by sedimentary silts and strata,
Still, the volcanic ash of some of the deposits tell of a voleano which must
have had its crater above the waves to have showered forth such light materials
into the air. We must, however, remember the total submergence, of this
country more than once since the period of Llandeilo volcanos, and that in all
probability we only now behold the basement rocks of those volcanic masses
which once existed along this line of ancient earthquake action and volcanic
eruption.

Long after the lava rocks of Carneddau had become as hardened and as
cold as they are now, volcanic action burst forth again, and molten masses
were poured through rocks of a much later date only a few miles from
hence. I allude to the well-known trap rocks of Stanner and Old Radnor,
which on the north of Builth traverse and alter rocks belonging to the
Upper Silurian epoch, the Woolhope or Lower Wenlock beds. I have no

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236

time to allude to the Palzontology of the rocks in® the neighbourhood of
Builth, further than to observe that the fossils of the lowest stratified
deposits of the district inform us that the oldest strata here belong to the
age of the Upper Llandeilo beds, of which the well known Trilobites Ogygia
Buchii and Asaphus tyrannus are characteristic fossils,

There is one point to which, however, in conclusion, I should like to ask
the attention of local geologists, The drifts and gravel deposits of this neigh-
bourhood are particularly worthy of attention. There are in the first place,
high upon the summit of the hilly platform, marine drifts, which were no
doubt deposited when the whole of this country, like the greater part of
Europe, was submerged beneath the waters of the glacial seas, There are
also ancient river drifts, which are the result of an ancient Wye which flowed
at a level far higher than the existing river, and which, fed by winter ice and
snow, which filled every vale and covered every hill, swept down under each
summer’s sun as a torrential and rock-bearing stream, There are atmospheric
drifts, by which I mean those local deposits which are the result not only of
the existing atmospheric influences of rain, and frosts, and snows, but the
deposits of the later part of the glacial epoch, which affected this country ages
after the emergence of the land from beneath the glacial seas, and when its
physical contour was much the same as at the present moment. The climatial
adaptations were, however, far colder, Glaciers swept down from the higher
hills through the hill valleys, and winter snows and ice filled each vale and
hollow. The result of this history was the movement of large masses of rocks
and drifts down the hill slopes, and the transportation of those masses for -
long distances along the hill faces and along the vales of the district to which
they belong.

One characteristic, however, marks such travelled masses, They are
always local, that is to say they never cross a valley or are transported over
a hill platform. They are generally angular masses, or only rubbed on one side.
These drifts are the results not of Marine agency, or of glaciers, as is gene-
rally understood of glacier transportation of rocks, but of perennial snow and
ice which once sheeted over the greater part of England all the autumn and

‘winter months, but has now, happily, disappeared under a more genial climate

and warmer temperature.

Much has been said and written lately about the evidence of the action
of the sea among these beautiful hills of Wales. Believe me, as an old student
of these phenomena, when I say that there is no greater mistake than to
attribute the principal drift phenomena you see in this country to the action
of thesea. The drifts of this district are, with very few exceptions, old river
and atmospheric drifts,

237
Hearty applause followed the conclusion of the lecture, and the route was
then taken for Harper’s Quarry, the Rev. W. Jones Thomas—who some years

ago called the attention of the late Professor Sedgwick to the splendid fossils
then beginning to be found at this quarry—leading the party. On reaching

the quarry, the eager geologists spread themselves over the rocks, and the’

sound of a couple of scores of hammers speedily astonished the echoes. Those
of the party who were not so eager in pursuit of the far-gone past, gratified
eye and mind with a survey of the very beautiful aspect of the country at
present. Looking N. and N.W., they admired a fine scene of hills, varied
in shape from the rounded knoll to the long Drygarn ridge, the lower hills
being rich with crops, while the loftier shone brown and purple in the bright
sunlight, and the rich valleys between, here and there golden with the
ripened corn, gave the scene a hnman interest. Southward and §8.E, rose
the huge Epynt hills, and over them some of the loftier summits of the Black
Mountain system madea fine background. For the botanists, this and other
promising spots proved to be blanks, the very short time allowed rendering it
impossible to examine any of the places visited. A remarkable example of
Carduus (plume thistle) which had apparently grown up between two slabs of
rock, and which had consequently extended itself laterally, forming a thin
sheet some five or six inches across, was the only plant noticed at Harper’s
quarry.

The party then made their way across the slope of the hill to Castell
Cymerda, an ancient British camp of small size, apparently a look-out, com-
manding a view of the Wye valley beneath, which is at that spot full of
legendary interest as well as of picturesque beauty. The valley here broadens
out considerably and is crossed at its broadest part by the line of the Central
Wales Railway, which here points the old moral of time’s changes in an
impressive manner. The point where the railway crosses the turnpike-road,
which here runs parallel with the Wye at no great distance from it, is known
as Llech-yrhid (‘‘the flat stone of Yrhid,” a prince of olden time who fell
here in battle with a North Walian invader), and in more recent yet now
almost equally dim times was the last resting-place of the unfortunate Llewelyn,
the last of ‘British chiefs, Here he is recorded to have eaten the breakfast
served to him on the morning of the day on which he perished. Close to
this spot redolent of hercic recollections, in which (as Burke puts it) ‘‘ the
obscurity is a great element of the sublime,” runs, as we have said, the railway
for which Wales is indebted to the enterprise of Mr. Savin, one of the practical
heroes of the present day ; and the genius loct was probably somewhat startled
the other day when the iron railway bridge was placed, by one well-planned
operation, aloft above the Wye, near the spot where Yrhid fell and Llewelyn
ate his last meal.

Passing by another quarry, the party descended to Gwernyfed, the
poetically named spot where the Wye, with difficulty making its way among
a group of alder-bearing islets, was said to be ‘“‘eaten up by the alders.”

238

The last assault of hammers was made at Gwernyfed, where Trinucleus Jim-
briatus are found, and a-few specimens were now secured, with portions of
Prinucleus concentricus, and Ogygia Buchii, and O. Portlockii. A visit was
next paid to the left bank of the Wye, where it flows through a narrow gorge

- among rough rocks water-washed, and of a most picturesque appearance,

Near this spot are some noted ‘‘salmon-catches,” spots at which the bed of
the river is crossed diagonally by ridges of rock, through which the waters
have worn tortuous passages. Here are holes of enormous depth, with shelving
edges perilous to unpractised feet, which have been excavated in the course
of ages by the eddying waters, aided, no doubt, by the fragments of stone
which they have brought down with them. Places so marked by nature have
of course acquired a fame from superstition, In one place there is a cavity
which bears the name of Rowland Gwynne’s chair. Gwynne seems to have
been a magician or wizard in past days, and possibly, for a consideration,
performed certain diabolical rites at this spot to curse those who called for
his services—for this was a heathenish practice which lingered down into
medizval times in the Principality; and the name here of the deep place in
front of the chair, called ‘‘ hell-hole,” countenances the supposition, Some of
the club had the temerity to sit in the magician’s vacant chair, with wrt
consequences time must unfold, and they must take the benefit of the deed,

Apart from the legendary lore attached to the spot, the ground is
favourable to the growth of some rare plants. The globe flower (Zrollius
£uropeus) grows here, and even now a rare Allium (A. schcenoprasum) was
plentiful, though out of flower. Solidago virgaurea, in its small Cambrian
form, but in perfection of golden hue; the sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica),
and a species of Hieracium, were also gathered here, and had time per-
mitted probably other plants of interest might have been found, for the spot is
most promising. From this gorge, which was left with reluctance, the party
hastened directly to Builth, for the dinner hour was close at hand, and mine
host of the Lion had a spread of substantial viands in readiness for them.

The following gentlemen and ladies took part in the proceedings of the
day :—The President, Dr. Bull; Geo. Bentham, Esq., F.R.S., President of
the Linnzan Society ; the Rev. W. S, Symonds, President of the Malvern
Field Club, and Master Reginald Symonds; Edwin Lees, Esq., F.L.S., Vice-
President of the Worcester and Malvern Clubs ; Professor Griffiths and Master
Ernest Griffiths, Bowdon, Manchester ; John Bosley, Esq., Mayor of Hereford ;
the Rev. W. Jones Thomas, of Llanthomas; James Rankin, Esq,, Bryngwyn ;
Captain Pateshall, Hereford; the Rev. Thomas Woodhouse, Hay ; Richard
Baxter, Esq., Mrs, Baxter, and family, Welfield House ; Howel Gwynne
Howell, Esq., Mrs. Howell, Miss Howell, and Thomas Howell, Esq., Llanel-
wedd Hall; the Rev, Samuel Clark and the Rev. Andrew Johnson, Bred-
wardine; the Kev. Samuel Alford, Glasbury ; the Rev. J. Edward Jones,
the Rev. R. H. Williams, Byford; the Rev. Thomas Phillips, Dewsall ;
Dr. Grindrod, the Rev. H. Houseman, and Messrs, King and East,

239

Malvern ; the Rev, T. Bird and Mr. W. Bird, Yarkhill; H. J. Jenkins, Esq.,
Holmer ; Captain Williams, Talgarth; Flavel Edmunds, Esq., H. C. Beddoe,
Esq., John Lambe, Esq., H. C. Hurry, Esq., J. B. Nunn, Esq., R. H. P.
Styles, Esq., J. B. Styles, Esq., F. Thomas, Esq., T. Curley, Esq., and E. J.
Husband, Esq., Hereford; J. E. Smith, Esq., Hay; James Vaughan, Esq.,
J. G. Llewellin, Esq. ; F. B. Harrison, Esq., W. Harrison, Esq., Louis Price,
Esq., and Thos. Joseph, Hsq., Builth; Mr. With, Hereford; Mr. Turner,
Pauntley; Mr. James Lloyd, Kington; Mr. T. Jones, Pencerrig; Rev. D. P.
Davies, Messrs. T. Powell, David Griffith, J. Jones, Prosser, and Evan Owen,
Builth ; and the Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, Mr. Arthur Thompson,
Hereford.

The dining hall was indeed well furnished with guests, It seemed already
full, when more and more arrived, until it was with considerable difficulty
that seats could be found anywhere. How the waiters managed to get about
wasa marvel, Happily the tables, too, were well supplied with viands, and
the time passed merrily. The first course of the dinner was no sooner over
than the signal rapping was heard from the presidential chair, and Dr. Bull
said that the time had arrived when it was neccessary for him to begin the
remaining business. They had some most interesting addresses to hear, and
he was very anxious that there should be time for them. He hoped they
would continue their dinners, and he would endeavour to make himself heard
to their accompaniment of knives and forks. The club was honoured that day
with the presence of the President of the Linnean Society, and he was sure it
was as great a source of gratification to the members generally as it was to
himself to welcome Mr. Bentham amongst them (applause). As amateurs of
botany they ought to feel specially indebted to him; for had he not, in his
standard work on British Botany, put a check to the minute division of species
that had begun to prevail so generally, by drawing broad lines of demarkation
in the several classes ? Where we are puzzled to know which is which of two
or three species, his Hand-book comes to our relief and tells us they are all
one (laughter). He believed that when leading men in science were kind
enough to attend such meetings as these, their influence for good, especially
in promoting the study of natural history, was much greater than appeared
upon the surface. He was also particularly pleased to see his friend Mr. Lees
there. No one has had greater experience in field meetings than Mr. Lees, and
to the soundness of the advice he gave at Talgarth, and he must add also, to
the brilliancy of his pen, the success of the club during the present year is in
great measure due (applause), It is fair now to speak of their success, for were
they not putting their armour off? and he was pleased that Mr. Lees should
be there to enjoy it, and to receive their acknowledgements. He was also
very glad to see at this meeting Professor Griffiths from Manchester. They
would remember the excellent field address which they had received so well
at the Mynydd Troed (applause). It was the first of this year, and Professor
Griffiths had so kindly taken the trouble to write it, that he was glad to show

see

240

him the gratitude which first favours always excite, and he trusted that it was
not the last time they should see him at the meetings of the club (applause).
He was very pleased to see at the meeting also the Mayor of Hereford
(great applause). Having invaded the Principality in such goodly numbers
to day, it might have been a source of satisfaction to the Cymri, if they had
thought of it, (laughter) to know that they had brought their chief magistrate
with them as an emblem of peace and justice, and above all of good fellowship
(great applause). There was another gentleman he had yet to name, and no
doubt they had all been wondering why he had not named him before, the
Rev. W. 8S. Symonds, the lecturer for the day (applause). The fact was he did
not quite like to consider Mr. Symonds as a stranger to the club. In the
early days of its formation he was its life and spirit, but when he established
his own club, at Malvern, and deserted the Woolhope Club, it was almost
annihilated. However, the Woolhope Club had survived it, and was glad now
to welcome him whenever he came to the meetings (applause). It was always
the aim of professional people, great singers or actors, if they could not be
placed first on the programme, to have their names put last of all, in great
capitals (laughter). Though he had named Mr. Symonds last, he hoped that
he would consider that he had done so in great capitals (much laughter), and
he would make them more prominent if he pleased, by giving them his own
university colour, the dark-blue (laughter). It did not much signify, however,
in what type Mr. Symonds’s name appeared in the programme of a field
meeting. If it was there at all, and if Mr. Symonds was in the van, as he was
to-day, the meeting was certain to be successful (applause). His enthusiasm
cannot fail to impart itself to others, while his great learning in geology, and
the happy knack he has of conveying information in clear and forcible language,
make his lectures at once attractive and full of instruction (applause). To
one and all of these gentlemen he begged to give the thanks of the club for
the honour they had done it by coming to the present meeting (applause).
He had now to come to this particular day. When Builth was chosen for this
visit, if any one member rejoiced more heartily than another, it was the
gentleman on his right hand, the Rev. W. Jones Thomas (applause). He did
all he could to persuade them to come, and they must have all felt to-day that
he had done all he could when they were here, to make the visit agreeable to
them. Indeed, with such a cordial reception, in a district so full of scientific
interest, surrounded by such beautiful scenery, and with such charming
weather, it would be strange indeed if they had not all enjoyed themselves
that day (applause). Mr. Jones Thomas had been so anxious that they should
see the district well that he had laid out too long a route for them. He
really wished the club could have walked over Carneddau to Craigddu, as Mr,
Lees and he himself had done yesterday evening. It was a beautiful walk,
and as to the bog on the top, if the botanists had once got there he should
never have got them away in any reasonable time (laughter), He was sure
they would wish him to present to Mr, Jones Thomas the hearty thanks of all

241

the members and visitors present (applause). Besides his own personal exer-
tions for their entertainment, he deserved their thanks also for recommending
to them such an excellent first lieutenant,— (laughter,)— such a capital
conductor as Mr. David Guiffith had proved himself to be (applause). Mr,
Griffith had spared no effort to oblige them, and had done so with a readiness
and enthusiasm which could not be surpassed, and indeed which could only
have sprung from a real love of science. He begged also to give to Mr. Griffith
the thanks of the club for the trouble he had taken (applause).

The President said he had only then to add that Mr. Griffith, Mr,
Powell, and Mr. Turner had provided selections of the best fossils of the
district, and would hand them round the tables in the course of the evening
for their inspection. Mr. James Lloyd, of Kington, has also brought a couple
of crossbills (Zowia curvirostra), or German parrot, as this bird is sometimes
called, which had lately been killed near Kington, to show them. These
birds were shot near Kington the first week in this month, and at the same
time a young bird was also killed, proving that they had bred in this county.

The specimens of fossils exhibited were so fine and rare as to demand
some more special notice. On each tray a very fine Ogugia Buchii was shown,
all of them being found at Harper’s quarry, on the Wellfield estate, where
this trilobite is very abundant, but it is also found at several. other places
in the neighbourhood—Gwernyfed, Cwmhenllan, Pencerrig, &. Those found
at Harper’s quarry, however, Professor Sedgewick says he could distinguish
from a box full of others. On one tray there were some fair specimens of
Ogygia Portlockii, and Agnostus M‘Coyii, from the Pencerrig quarry. One
Trinucleus fimbriatus, found at Gilwern-hill, near Llandrindod, was very
much admired, as was also one magnificent specimen of the Ogygia corndensis,
found by Mr. Turner on the same hill, This fossil is found in great abundance
at one particular spot, so much so, that every handful of stone drawn out
will hold a considerable number of specimens. On this same hill was found
one of the Zrinucleus conceniricus that was exhibited, the other being from
Cwm-henllan, as was also a very fine Trinucleus Lloydti, with the fringe and
spines very clearly marked. But speaking of spines, one Ampye nudus was
exhibited with a spine nearly two inches long.

From the Llandovery beds we observed one very good Pentamerus
oblongus, but these beds are but very indifferently developed in this district.
From the Wenlock shale were exhibited some very fine and rare specimens of
the Cardiola interrupta and Cardiola fibrosa, found on the banks of the Wye,
about a mile eastward from the town, in close contact with the beds con-
taining Phacops Daviesii. Of this latter fossil (Phacops Daviesii) the first
specimen examined by Mr. Salter was found some years ago by one of the
workmen employed in making some alteration on the turnpike road leading
to Hay, and given to Mr, Griffith Davies, after which gentleman the fossil
was named by Mr, Salter. From another part of the Wenlock shale, at a

—_—— oe

ea ee te

242

place called Cerwynddu, about half a mile west of the town, on the banks of
the Infon, some very rare specimens for this district have recently been
found by Mr. David Griffith. One very large fossil, which some gentlemen
supposed to be the end of an Orthoceratite flattened, and others a Discina,
was marked ‘‘unknown,” nor could it be defined. There was also one other
marked ‘‘ unknown,” which was much admired. The spot where these latter
fossils were found is one of the most picturesque spots in the district, well
worthy of an artist’s visit. About a mile and a half west of Builth, where the
Central Wales Railway runs, some most interesting fossils were found, which
give one some idea of the animals that formerly lived in that particular dis-
trict. Two Pterygoti only, a fair number of Ptilodyctia lanceolata, and an
immense number of Orthuceratites, have been found on this line. One of the
Pterygoti is named by Mr. Salter Pierygotus Jonesii, and the other as ‘‘a new
species,” Mr. David Griffith was fortunate enough to find both these speci-
mens. There was a specimen of Graptolites ‘udensis, the second ever found in
this district, from the Volcanic grit, on the tray, which Mr. John Jones, of
Builth, handed round for inspection. In the Llandilo flag, the best Calymene
duplicata was handed for inspection by Mr. Powell, as was also a very fine
Homalonotus Knightii, found near Erwd village in the Upper Ludlow, and
one specimen only of the Spongarium Edwardsti, a very rare fossil indeed.
There were numerous other different specimens exhibited, but space and time
prevents our being able to do justice to them,

243

HEREFORDSHIRE YEW TREES.
BY THE REV. THOS. WOODHOUSE, M.A.

Among the trees and plants which some botanists have been disposed to
strike out of our Native Flora occurs the Yew. I own I demur very strongly
to such an opinion. If there is one tree more than another which seems to me
distinctively and characteristically British, it is the Yew. Even the Oak
does not seem to me more decidedly our own.

By an introduced plant, I understand one introduced within historical
times, It does not follow that because a plant is rare in Britain, and common
on the Continent, it is therefore not a native. It may date from the times
before history began, when, under widely different circumstances of climate
and elevation, Britain was not the separate island it is now. We cannot
expect our own island to have a Flora and Fauna peculiarly its own: and it
seems to me unreasonable to assume that a plant is nob a native unless we
know the date of its introduction, or the person who brought it here.

If introduced at all, the Yew must, I think, have been introduced by the
Romans. The age of some trees, now standing, carries us back beyond the
Norman Conquest ; indeed, in one instance recorded by Evelyn, the tree must
have dated from a far more remote antiquity — almost from Roman times,
But the Romans are by no means likely to have introduced the Yew. They
regarded it with horror and aversion ; they associated with it images of gloom
and terror; they supposed its fruit to be poisonous; and its very shadow
to be fatal to those who lay beneath it, And it is hardly credible that they
should have planted in their gardens, as an ornament, a tree which filled them
with so much dread.

The Yew occurs in many places where one can hardly suppose it to
have been planted; where it must at least have been self-sown, if not
indigenous. Thus it is found growing out of rocky banks near the summit of
many of our steepest woods, especially where a harder stratum intervenes
between softer ones and projects below the general outline. The situations of
this kind in Herefordshire, where the Yew occurs, are so numerous and so
widely dispersed, that we must suppose our forefathers to have been much
more diligent planters than we have any other reason to think they were, if
we owe to them all these picturesque spots of evergreen foliage and gnarled
and knotted roots.

My own belief is that the Yew is strictly indigenous, and widely
dispersed through this county, though nowhere very abundant.

Our finest Yews are, without exception, to be found in old churchyards;

ee

ar

244

There they seem to be contemporaneous with some of the very oldest
ehurches, and planted to correspond with the plan of the building. I men-
tion this circumstance, because an eminent honorary member of ours a short
time since started the notion that, instead of the trees being planted to
correspond with the church, the church was placed to correspond with the
trees. Now I know at least two Norman churches which have four Yew trees
planted at nearly regular distances from the four corners of the building,
N.E., S.E., N.W., S.W. Such a coincidence surely cannot be accidental, and
it would be worderful indeed if four indigenous and self-sown trees placed
themselves with such precision as to guide the arthitect,

Let us suppose the church built, why should not the Yew trees be
planted for ornament? Our forefathers had no such prejudice against the
Yew as the Romans had; they had no variety of evergreens to choose from ;
they had, in fact, no other evergreen that could be called a tree: for the
Scotch fir never seems to have been indigenous in the South; the box,
the holly, and the juniper, were all too small to give shelter, though they
did aid, and were used to aid, in giving ornament. We are so accustomed to
pines and firs, cypresses and cedars, and arbor-vites, laurels and bays, and all
the other multitude of evergreens, which have added so immensely to the
resources of our country as well as to the beauty of our gardens, that we
are apt to forget that our forefathers had none of these ; that the best known
and most widely spread of them are younger than an oak ora yew of 300, or
even 200 years old.

The Yew was an ornament not only to the churchyard, but to the church

‘itself. Its foliage, together with that of the box, was as much appropriated

to Easter as holly and ivy were to Christmas: and in some old churches in
this county the custom still lingers on, or did till lately, of decking the
church at Easter with sprigs of yew and box. It is worth noting that both
those trees are then in flower, so that the appropriateness of the emblem to
the season is very striking.

It is said that boughs of Yew were formerly employed in the services of
the day on Palm Sunday, instead of real palms. If this were so, it is
another reason why the tree should be planted near the church,

It may be reasonably supposed that Yew trees were formerly much
more numerous in this county than they are at present, and that the reason
why the oldest yews are now found in churchyards is that that was the only
place where they were spared. Everywhere else yew trees fell before the wood-
man’s axe. The demand for yew wood for bows was so great, and lasted so
long, that we may be certain every corner of the country was ransacked for the

| precious material—for precious it was. English archers turned the scale in

many a well-fought field : and the Yew was the only wood of which their bows
were made. An extensive trade in yew soon sprang up, and was carried on

245

throughout the middle ages, until the introduction of fire-arms caused its
gradual extinction.

When more peaceful times came in the Yew was turned to another use.

Retired leisure,
That in trim gardens takes his pleasure,

began to plant yew hedges, such as Evelyn and Bacon delighted in, such as we
have still a noble example of in the gardens at Holm Lacy. Soon afterwards
sprang up the strange taste for what in those days was called the “ topiary
art,” ie, the art of clipping trees into all sorts of curious and unnatural
shapes. <The yew lent itself to this purpose admirably; it bears clipping
better than perhaps any other tree; it is not liable to lose branches, as the
laurel does, and there is no part of the year at which it looks really shabby.
The gardeners of the age of William III. and Anne revelled in the wonders
their shears produced: obelisks and pyramids, dragons and peacocks, and,
if we may trust the humourists of the day, even human figures and historic
scenes. The taste still lingers in our cottage gardens; and we may still
occasionally see a yew putting on the semblance of a column or a pyramid,
or scooped out into a little arbour, sacred to spiders and earwigs, or—triumph
of artistic skill!—shooting up into a peacock, with no legs, and with a head
which shows a strong inclination to spread out in rivalry of its tail

It remains that we should notice the size and situation of some of the
most remarkable trees in this district. The list will be but brief and imper-
fect ; but it contains some trees which would be remarkable anywhere, both
for size and beauty, and it shows how generally they are dispersed over the
whole district. I feel persuaded that further search would very considerably
extend the list. But search is necessary, for it is chiefly in the more remote
and secluded spots that the finest trees are found. The hand of the improver
has spared them most in such places, and allowed their native luxuriance to
have fair play. I proceed to notice a few of the largest of them.

It does not appear that we have any of those giants which are spoken
of in Kent and Sussex. The largest I know of in the county is at Peter-
church: this is 28 feet in girth, and 66 feet in the spread of its branches
from side to side. The trunk of this is partially hollow, and the ends of some
of the branches dying, but it is still a noble tree. And here I must be allowed
to mention that in measuring the girth of a yew tree it is impossible to fix
any definite height above the ground for doing so. We must measure a yew
tree where we can, and this for an obvious reason, The trunk of the yew,
unlike that of any other large tree, is frequently, indeed generally, so thickly
covered with small stiff twigs, that there is no chance of getting through them
down to the tree itself, anda spot must be found where this obstacle does
not occur.

The next largest Yew tree is not exactly in the county, though very
little outside the boundary. It stands in Bockleton Churchyard. Its girth

+
at

THE REMARKABLE TREES

OF

HEREFORDSHIRE.

THE WESTERN YEW TREES, LEINTHALL STARKES.
(Taxus baccata, fem.)

APRIL, 1867.

These fine old trees are much more lofty than the Church of Long Leinthall,
which they shelter. Tradition states that the bell was formerly hung on the
tree in the foreground, albeit the bell turret, which it completely hides in the
picture, is itself very ancient. The card (1ft. by Gin.) is placed at five feet
from the ground. The circumference of the trunk at this spot, where it is
clear and solid, is 17ft. At the ground level it is 16ft.

The largest tree is on the eastern side, and this, with a clear solid bole,
measures 20ft. 6in. at 5ft. from the ground.

(Ladmore, Photographer to the Woolhope Naturalists Field Club. )

es.

246

at 5 feet from the ground is 24 feet 6 inches, and at 3 feet from the ground
25 feet 5inches. On the E. side the branches spread 29 feet from the trunk,

- and on the W, 34 feet.

Next comes the old tree at Yazor, which lost one of its largest boughs
about five years ago, This is 22 feet in girth at 3 feet from the ground.

One of the four magnificent trees in the churchyard at Leinthall, between
Wigmore and Ludlow, measures 20 feet in girth, and the smallest 15. The
spot is well worth a visit. The church is very small and very old. It stands
in a secluded spot at a little distance from the village and from the road. Two
yew trees stand at the W. and two at the E. of the church, far surpassing the
bell turret in height, and all but hiding it from view. The huge spreading
branches rival those of the cedar in their graceful sweep, and are interlaced
with each other in the most curious and intricate manner.

Four trees, as fine as those at Leinthall, stand in the churchyard at
Cusop, near Hay, not above a mile from the station which we passed this
morning. They stand N.E., S.E., N.W., and S.W. of the church, but not
at the same precise distance from the church and from each other which the
trees at Leinthall do. The largest of the four is the one at the S.E. corner of
the church, and measures 21ft. 2in. in girth at 3ft. from the ground. Above
that the bole expands, and at 4ft. it measures 22ft. 10in. The trunk of this
tree is perfectly sound and solid, and free from the stiff bristling twigs
which disfigure those of so many trees, and make accurate measurements of
them all but impossible, That to the S.W. of the church, near the porch, is
perhaps even larger, and§decidedly more picturesque and luxuriant. It is a
sound and vigorous tree, measuring at 3ft. from the ground 20ft. Sin. in girth,
and at 4ft. considerably more. The branches spread in one direction 26ft.
outwards from the trunk. Assuming the calculation to be correct, which
assigns a century for every foot in diameter of the trunk of a yew tree, neither
of these trees can be less than 700 years old; and it is interesting to notice
that this carries us back to about the same date at which the {church appears
to have been built.

In fact, it is chiefly in the oldest and most secluded church-yards, such
as this, that the finest yew-trees are to be found. Perhaps, as they appear
to have been in this case, and in that of Leinthall, they were planted when
the church was built; perhaps it is only that the trees have been allowed to
remain, because the church itself has been little altered, and the neighbour-
hood has undergone but few changes, and so, both church and trees have
escaped by reason of their obscurity.

Ihave memoranda of about twenty other trees in a paper, which will
be laid before you. The details of so many measurements would be dry and
uninteresting: a visit to the trees themselves would hardly ever beso. Most
of them are picturesque objects in themselves ; many of them stand in the
midst of striking scenery or picturesque and curions buildings. The good taste ,

247
which led our forefathers to plant the trees seems in many instances to have

chosen the best positions for doing sv,

It only remains for me now to tender my best thanks to those friends who

ng these measurements

aini

have so kindly assisted me in obt:

eee nn

Girth.

See ee Oe ee ee a

Locality.

1. Cusop, churchyard, N.E. of ch,
2. Credenhill, roadside..........
3. Aston, churchyard ...
4, Credenhill, roadside...
5. Eardisley, churchyard........
6 Bredwardine, churchyard ....
7. Leinthall Earls, churchyard ..
8. Eaton Bishop, churchyard....
9, Credenhill, roadside......
10. Brinsop, churchyard ........
11. Leinthall Earls, churchyard..
12. Ditto ditto ie
13 Credenhill, roadside..........
14. Cusop, churchyard ... .
15. Breinton, churchyard .
16. Croft Castle grounds .
17. Burghill, churchyard ........
18. Leinthall Earls, churchyard. .

19. Cusop, churchyard

20 Ditto ditto

O1t HOE GY Bocece sss osen
22. Yazor, churchyard

23. Brockleton, churchyard......

24, Peterchurch, churchyard ....
25. Clifford, churchyard..........
26. Ditto ditto
27. Ditto ditto :
28. Weston-under-Penyard ..
29. Kingston Court, ditto....
30. Wharton Court, ditto......

10f.10in.....

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Spread of Branches. Date.

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19f.0in. to N. W.
10 4 wecccecceeee

15 2 rcocccereee

21 0 toN. ......

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Remarks.

The smallest of the four great trees.
Growing out of a hedgerow.

Hedgerow above the road.

Close to No. 2.

One out of several.

A tall, vigorous tree.

One of four great trees, sound and vigorous.
Hollow.

With Nos, 2 and 4.

Leaning—8. W. angle of church,

Upright & vigorous—N.H. angle of church.
With Nos. 2, 4, and 9.

A very fine stately tree—N.W. of chur
Past its prime, but healthy. :

An old stump, with short shoots.

Splendid tree; sound & upright; 8. of ch.

Sound, healthy tree—S.W. of church.
The finest of the four—S.E. of church.
Very hollow, and much shattered.

Partially hollow.
Partially hollow.

The paper was received with great applause.

THE REMARKABLE TREES

OF

HEREFORDSHIRE.

THE YEW TREE AT PETERCHURCH.
(Taxus baccata, fom. )
MARCH, 1867.

This ancient tree has withstood many a storm from the Black Mountains,
and has lost in the struggle most of its principal branches on the North and
East side. The circumference of the tree at 5ft., where the card of the
Club is placed, is 28ft., but nearer the ground, just above the seat fixed round
the stem, the circumference is 19ft. 6in. The stem is partially hollow, and
filled up with stones.

(Ladmore, Photographer to the Woolhope Naturalists Field Club. )

248

Mr. BENTHAM being called upon by the Chairman to address the
meeting, said that he had listened to the paper of Mr. Woodhouse with
much pleasure. He, however, could not subscribe to the proposition that
the Yew is indigenous. The seeds of that as well as of many other trees were
easily transported by the wind or by birds, and were thus plentifully sown ;
and when the seeds found suitable conditions of soil and moisture, as in Here-
fordshire, they germinated freely. Then, too, it must be remembered that
in early times the wood of the Yew was found to be useful for bows as well as
for various domestic purposes, so that it became profitable to plant and
cultivate it. Upon full considerations of the evidence that had been brought
forward on both sides, he had been induced to come toa conclusion different
from that which Mr. Woodhouse had arrived, viz., that upon the whole the
probabilities were against the Yew being indigenous. If, indeed, there were
any proof that the Yew was in the country during the Roman occupation, that
would have been, as stated by Mr. Woodhouse, a strong argument in favour
of his position; but he (Mr. Bentham) was not aware that there were any
facts, historical or other, warranting that supposition. We have no doubt
yew-trees which, from their appearance, date probably from Saxon times, but
there are no means of ascertaining the real age of our oldest trees. Even if
they were cut down, as the interior has generally been long since destroyed by
decay, the number of annual rings, the only unerring test of the age of trees,
cannot now be counted. Nothing is more fallacious than judging of the age of
trees by the diameter of their trunk, as is shown, for instance, by the error
into which even De Candolle has fallen in the immense age which he had
ascribed to the Bacbabs of tropical Africa, or by the mistakes of modern
lecturers on the gigantic Wellingtonia, to which an age of three to four
thousand years had been ascribed, whereas one of the largest, when cut down,
showed only 1,400 years in the whole, and showed also that the increase in
diameter had been very irregular—rapid in the first three or four centuries,
then much slower for three or four centuries more, then increasing again for
three or four centuries before it dwindled down to the slow growth of age
(applause).

Mr. E, Lees said that there was one remarkable point in the physiology
of the Yew which the writer of the paper they had just heard had not
attended to, though it was a most important circumstance to illustrate, and
that was its imperishability. By the laws of vegetable life as exemplified in
the yew-tree, there was no limit to its duration, and trees might be now in
existence so old as to be beyond historical data. He had before said, and he
still affirmed, that though the Yew had been brought into connection with the
rites of the Church as the emblem of immortality in the west, as the cypress
was in the east, yet in numerous places the Church had been brought to the
Yew, and not the Yew to the Church. The‘circumstance of yews being already
growing ona convenient and perhaps previously venerated spot had induced
the erection of a church by the first Christians, He could adduce numerous

249

instances where the Yew in the church-yard was evidently older than the
structure near which it stood, but he would now only adduce to a Hereford-
shire Club the yews in Cradley church-yard, near Malvern, because both of
these were hollow and of great size (the largest 26 feet in girth), and one of
them exhibited that conformation proving an extreme old age that could not
be ascertained by rings of annual growth. (Mr. Lees here exhibited drawings
in illustration of his remarks.) The Yew tree grew in the same manner as
other dicotyledonous trees, and a section taken of any undecayed bole would
show its age by the number of rings of annual growth visible, and thus by
taking the average bulk of a hundred years’ growth the age of various Yews had
been calculated. But the bole of a Yew was subject to decay, like those of
other trees, and in the course of centuries the long-deposited heart-wood
decayed and became lifeless, but still vegetative life slowly progressed, till at
last, as in one of the Oradley yews, there was precented the singular
appearance of the brown and dried mummy of the original tree, encased
within a subsequent deposition of alburnum or new wood, supplied from
above. In this case, then, the age of the tree could only be shown to be very
great, if not beyond computation. The process of the yew’s renewal seemed

to be this :—When the bole had become so decayed that the sap could scarcely -

circulate, from its decrepid state, the branches yet young and vigorous were
-enabled to pour the alburnum downwards, which by degrees descending year
after year, at length encompassed the entire bole, aud passed into the earth to
form fresh roots for the resuscitated bole. This process might proceed to an
unlimited extent, and the enduring yew be re-cased again and again, preserving
its identity, if in a somewhat altered form. The Yew has been preserved in
churchyards not because it was wanted for the bows of the archers of former
days, but for its use in the rites of the church, in proof of which Caxton’s
‘*Directions for keeping Feasts all the Year” might be referred to, in which
he says, ‘‘ We tak ewe instede of palme and olyve, and beren about in proces-
sion.” This was done particularly on Palm Sunday, and some country churches
are decorated with yew branches on that Sunday even now. The fact was
that, though the rural bowmen might take the boughs of English yew for
their bows, the trained archers of our Plantagenet monarchs, who were so
“dreadful with the bended yew,” and with it won the victories of Cressy and
Poictiers, preferred foreign yew for their bow staves, which was considered
much the best, and required to be well seasoned. There was a statute passed
in the 12th of Edward IV. which required that every merchant trader should
bring so many bow-staves for every ton of merchandize ‘‘imported from
Venice or other places from whence they had heretofore been procured.”
This statute was renewed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, from which it was
clear that the foreign supply was chiefly looked to for military service, and the
native Yew only supplied ordinary bows for deer killing, which could not lead
to any great destruction of the tree, as supposed by Mr. Woodhouse. Mr.
Lees, in conclusion, contended that the ecclesiastical Yews now enclosed and

|
|

_———

250

preserved in churchyards, and venerable from long antiquity, had in many
instances waved their mournful fehage as native trees long before the
churches that now stand near them were erected (applause).

Mr. FLAVELL EDMUNDS was next called upon by the Chairman, and
began by expressing the interest with which he had listened to the valuable
paper by the Rev. Mr. Woodhouse, to whom he felt that they were greatly
indebted. He thought, too, that he was only expressing the sentiments of
all present when he said that they had been much gratified by the presence
and the remarks of Mr. Bentham, to whom all botanists felt a debt of grati-
tude for his valuable works, As for his old friend Mr. Lees, of Worcester,
he had long been known and esteemed by them all for his excellent contribu-
tions to the study of the natural sciences generally. For his own part he
would say that, being no longer a young man, he felt so far released from the
law of modesty as to be at liberty to say that he ventured to differ from all
three of their friends (laughter). Those who knew his friend Lees and himself
would not be under any apprehension as to the results, as they two had been
accustomed to fight when they met, but as they always fought without
quarrelling there was not much harm done on either side (laughter and
applause). He ventured to say, too, that with all his sense of their debt as
botanists to Mr. Bentham he felt at liberty to question one opinion which
that gentleman had advanced. He understood Mr. Bentham to hold that the
Yew is not indigenous, and that its presence in Herefordshire and other
districts may be accounted for either by the usefulness of the tree, or by the
ease with which the sesds may be sown by the birds. Now he disputed this
proposition. If they took the philological argument, it was dead against Mr.
Bentham’s view. Nearly every tree which we know to have been introduced
to this country brought its name with it, which has been handed down to us,
more or less modified in its adoption into the English language, but still
perfectly recognisable. Thus the cerasus, the populus, the laurus, and the
buxus, survive as the cherry, the poplar, the laurel, and the box. The Yew,
however, retains its British name yw, equivalent to the Greek dei wv
and the Gothic aye, and meaning ever present or ever living (‘‘ hear, hear,”
from Mr. Lees and Prof, Griffiths). The Saxons, too, called the tree by
the name iw, a word which, like the German eibe (quasi ewig leben), also
means always living. This identity of idea suggests the hypothesis that both
the Celtic and the Teutonic races found the tree in Germany and Britain
when they came, and were struck with its persistent greenness, when alt
vegetation around it had put on the red-brown robe of autumn or stood bare
amid the frosts of winter. ‘The Latin and Greek names of the Yew, on the
other hand, belong to a totally different class of ideas. The Latin word taxus
is not only diverse in its form and derivation from the British and German
words, but it is one which has arisen not from the appearance of the tree
but from the domestic uses to which, when cut down, the wood was applied.
Dice were made from it; and the diminutive ¢awillus signified a pile driven

251

into the ground, for which the hardness of the wood, and its power of
resisting the action of the water, qualities which have been made available
by men in all ages, pointed out the yew-tree as specially adapted. The Greeks
being a more elegant-minded and less practical people than the Romans, gave
the Yew a name arising out of its use for purposes of adornment. The word
opitaé (from opdw, I adorn) is an allusion to the use of yew branches as
funereal decorations, The contrast is instructive in an ethnological point of
view, although he alluded to it merely as part of the argument that the
Yew is indigenous. Some words of four letters, and all of less than that
number, he had been accustomed to consider primitive words; and if that
view were correct, the word yw, being composed of only two letters, was not
likely to have been formed in any but very early times. So far from the
Romans having introduced the Yew, he suspected that they found the tree
here when they came, The argument from analogy supports this view. It is
not denied that the Irish yew is indigenous to our neighbour island, and Mr,
Edmunds said he knew no reason why the ether species should not be indi-
genous to this country, Then again, he argued that the proposition that
our yew-trees are the result of planting for use is not borne out by observation.
The Yew is abundant in places far from the dwellings of men, as well as in
their midst, but is chiefly to be found associated with their burial places.
Between bird-sown trees, of which the introduction is not proved, and those
which are indigenous, the speaker confessed himself unable to draw a distinc-
tion. He had found, however, the yew growing just outside the walls of
Roman cities, and on the slopes of Roman camps, where no doubt the dead
were buried—Magna Castra, the slopes of Credenhill, Acornbury, Dinedor,
&e., are examples—and the Greek name of the tree, as he had shown,
indicated the great antiquity of its connection with the rites of sepulture.
It was quite true, as their friend Lees had said, that an Act of Parliament
required merchants to import foreign yew-staves—four staves with every ton
of goods; but he disputed their friend’s inference that the English archer
gained his great victories with foreign yew-staves. The law as to importations
certainly showed that the home-grown supply of Yew was insufficient, but it
showed that home-grown yew was used. Then, too, it should be remem-
bered that an Act of Henry VIL. requiced churchwardens to plant yew-trees in
all the church-yards, the preamble reciting as reasons for the enactment the
insufficiency of the supply of wood for bows, and the consequent neglect of
archery. No doubt many of the existing yew-trees in church-yards are the
result of that Act, but in many cases the size of the tree renders that view
inadmissible. For his own part, he fully subscribed to the doctrine of Mr.
Lees that in most cases the church had come to the Yew and not the Yew
to the church. He put the case thus: The British word Zlan meant originally
—as shown in the words Ber-llan, corph-lan, &c.—an enclosure for any pur-
pose; but the practice of taking possession of heathen sacred enclosures for
Christian churches gradually restricted the meaning of the word until it came

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252
to mean a churchyard only. The yews were there on account of*the sacredness
of the spot to heathen ideas; the cross was set up there as a trophy of
conquest; and in due course a Christian church arose in the citadel thus
supposed to have been wrested from the demons of heathenism. The Yew
was believed to counteract the bite of the serpent, and both the serpent and
the yew it should be remembered bore important parts in the Druidical
system. By way of addition to the list of remarkable yews given in the

_ essay, he would just mention the fine grove of yews leading up to the

south door of Burghill church. From inquiries, he had found that these
latter trees are about 150 years old. They are about the thickness of a man’s
body; and he had found that fact useful in estimating the ages of other
trees. The great durability of the wood, when ‘‘converted,’*is shown by the
excellent state of preservation in which the yew beams dug up at Nineveh
by Mr. Layard were found, and in the equally remarkable state of the yew
timber forming part of the submerged lake dwellings of Moosseedorf, in the
Canton Berne. There are some important questions about the tree while
living which he had hoped to hear discussed. Virgil says, st fugiant examina
taxos ; and it would be interesting to know whether the bees still avoid the
yew flower, because it is admitted that that is the only part of the tree which
is not poisonous. Again, he should like to hear some member explain the
chemical reason for the poisonous operation of yew leaves upon animals, and
whether the poison affects all animals or only certain genera or species.
The Rev. Mr. Jonzs, as the representative of the Monmouthshire Yew
trees, expressed his concurrence with the views of the writer of the paper.
The discussion then dropped,’and the following paper was read,

253

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF A LOCAL DEPOSIT OF
PEAT WITH SHELL MARL AT HEREFORD.

BY T. CURLEY, ESQ., C.E.

In cutting a deep trench for the Widemarsh sewerage through the Stone-
bow meadow (a field of Mr. Bonnet’s), below the Barr’s Court station, at
Hereford, a section of a remarkable bed of peat was made, which on close
examination proved to be of a very interesting character. I told our energetic
President of the discovery, and he very kindly at once arranged to visit the
spot with the Rev. P. B. Brodie and Mr. Thompson. The three made a more
careful examination of the section, and obtained the svecimens which I now
show you. The surface soil was about a foot deep and consisted chiefly of
rubbish, earth, and stones, with a few recent bones mixed in it. Below this
was a stratum, three feet thick, of pure brick earth, of fine quality, without
stones or pebbles, and extending all across the field. Below the brick clay was
the peat bed, which was also continued across the whole meadow, and for a
distance of at least a hundred yards averaged full 3 feet in thickness, It
was of a light porous character, and contained many pieces of wood in a more
or less decayed condition. It seemed composed purely of decayed vegetable
matter, with scarcely any admixture of earth. The only animal remains found.
in it was the jaw bone of a small ruminating animal, which was found
within a few inches of the bottom. The marl below the peat presented a very
interesting character. Its upper layers contained well-marked impressions of
leaves, and indeed masses of the leaves themselves; and immediately beneath
them was an abundance of fresh water shells in layers, from the large Swan
Anodon, which was very abundant in some places, to the smaller varieties
of Limnea, so common in our ponds and rivers. This shell marl was seven
feet below the surface, and itselfi—with a depth of about two feet—rests upon
the Old Red Sandstone, as I have shown in my geological sections published.
in the map of the city.

We collected many varieties of shells, some of which Mr. Brodie kindly
took away with him to examine more minutely. From his information and
from my own inquiries, the following species were distinctly recognised :—
The swan anodon (Anadonta cygnea), the river mussel, or painter’s unio ( Unio
pictorum), the tentacled bithynia (Bithnia tentaculata), the marsh snail
(Paludina vivipara), the fish-pond valvata (Valvata piscinalis), the river
neritina (Nerita fluviatilis), the horny cyclas (Cyclas cornea), with several
varieties of the Planorbis, Limnea, and Helix, which now abound in our fresh
water ponds and lakes, The impressions of leaves were very distinct, as seen
by the specimens exhibited. Mr, Lees thinks them to be varieties of the

willow.

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254

The jaw-bone with its teeth—now presented for your inspection—created
some little discussion as to the animal to which it belonged, owing to its
intermediate size between the lesser and larger rodents, It seemed to belong
to the roe-deer, but there was much doubt on the point. My friend, Mr.
Symonds, very kindly sent it to the Royal College of Surgeons, and the authe-
titative decision there pronounced is, that it once belonged to a small goat,

The question as to the ege of the remains is one of manifest difficulty.
They ‘are found full seven feet below the present surface, and who shall
say how long the lake must have existed to form a stratum of peat three feet
thick? and still more difficult would it be to guess at the time required to
wash down from the hills the solid three feet of brick clay above the peat,

‘This deposit,” says the Rev. P. B. Brodie, “though it doubtless must
have taken a considerable time to accumulate, is comparatively of a very
recent date. It belongs to the post-Pliocene formations, of which we have
numerous examples in this country, and more especially in Scotland. The
shell marl is interesting as showing how many of our older tertiary fresh water
beds were formed. If it had been still more consolidated we should have had
an exact representation of certain lacustrine and fluviatile limestones, which,
though local, are zich in fossils, and afford a very interesting and instructive
history of the periods at which they were formed, They usually contain
terrestial remains of animals and plants, and therefore give a better clue to
the nature of the fauna and flora of the land, than we can obtain by the
marine deposits of the same tertiary epoch.” ;

A coloured section of the deposits was exhibited by Mr. Curley, with the
jaw-bone found, and specimens of _the shells and leaves,

NOTES ON A VISIT TO THE BONE CAVERNS OF THE
LESSE, IN BELGIUM.

By Sir W. GUISE, Bart., President of the Cotteswold Club, and the
Rev. W. 8. SYMONDS, President of the Malvern Club,

For several years there have been long discussions respecting the
antiquity of the human race, and the researches of M. Boucher de Perthes,
Mr, Prestwich, Sir C. Lyell, and many other geologists, palzeontologists, and
antiquarians of repute, are already so well known to the public, that it is
almost unnecessary for me to recapitulate the large amount of evidence which
has at last established the great antiquity of man as an accepted fact.

Ever since the announcement in 1859 and 1860 by our distinguished
countrymen the late Dr. Falconer, Mr. Prestwich, and Mr. John Evans, of the
detection of human implements associated with the bones of the great extinct
mammalia in ancient river drifts, and their appreciation and acceptation of
the discoveries of M. Boucher de Perthes, the President of the Cotteswold

* Club (Sir W. Guise) and myself have studied, in various localities, the drifts
and gravels of those ancient rivers which lung ages ago flowed in broad
streams along the existing vales of our Severn, Avon, Wye, Usk and other
rivers, We also visited many of the caves, which, in Somersetshire and
Wales, contain immense quantities of the bones of the extinct animals, and
here and there the implements of ancient men.

We have for some time been of opinion that many of the cavern deposits
would turn out to belong to the same epoch, geologically speaking, as do the
old valley gravels, and are, therefore, separated from the history of our
existing rivers and their alluvia, by the lapse of untold ages, We visited the
caves of Gower, which I had already seen, in company with Sir Charles
Lyell, and were convinced that Lieut,-Col. Wood, the ardent explorer of the
eave history of that beautiful peninsula, had himself detected flint implements
under circumstances which proved the existence of man during the life time
of the rhinoceros and other extinct mammalia, Again, the caves of Tenby
furnished us with corroborative proofs in the collection of the Rev. Mr, Smith, |
of Gumfreston, and the researches of the Rev. Mr. Winwood. We also
visited the celebrated Salisbury sections under the guidance of Dr, Blackmore
and Mr, Brown, and made ourselves acquainted with the physical geology of
the surrounding neighbourhood. On this expedition we were accompanied
by our friend Mr. Reginald Yorke, who had previously studied the drift
deposits of Amiens and Abbeville. We thoroughly examined the high level
drifts, and the low level drifts, and the remains of the extinct animals col-
lected by Dr, Blackmore ; we saw the places from which many perfect

256

implements were extracted by Mr. Brown and Dr. Blackmore with their
own hands; and we all agreed with Mr. John Evans, who first described
these drifts, with regard to the inevitable conclusions which raust be drawn
by any student of physical geology, as to the long distant period when
these human implements were rudely fashioned, and afterwards drifted into
their resting place, to become in future ages evidence and witnesses of the
existence”of God’s reasoning creature, MAN.

From Salisbury we also visited Hill Head, on the shores of Southampton
water, where other flint implements had been detected. Here Mr. Yorke
obtained a specimen, which he presented to the museum in Jermyn-street.
We also convinced ourselves that the deposits from which that flint weapon
was derived were transported when the physical and climatal conditions were
very different from the present, and when what is now the summit of a sea
cliff was the bed of a great river, or an estuary, over whieh flowed waters
charged with ice rafts, which melted-and deposited large, drifted, angular,
Blocks of Tertiary sandstone and quartzite in the gravel drift which contains
the implements, and which, doubtless, belongs to the same geological epoch
as the old river shingles of Salisbury, which were deposited under very
different circumstances to those under which the Salisbury streams now
deposit their alluvia, These old rivers rolled down their courses in times
when every vale was filled, and every hill and eminence was covered with
snow and ice during the winter months, and when the waters rolled rapidly
under every summer’s sun, carrying with them the eroded quartzite masses,
and the sharp, subangular, flints, And the inhabitants of the lands of those
times were the old men, and the mammoth, and the woolly rhinoceros, the
cave lion, the lemming, the marmot, and the Siberian hare.

‘It was not then without much previous preparation and study among
the peculiar class of geological phenomena we wished to investigate, that we
determined to proceed to Belgium, to examine the geological conditions under
which the fossil remains of human beings had been found by Dr. Edouard
Dupont, of Dinant, in caves, in the carboniferous limestone which rises
above the river Lesse, which flows into the Meuse near Dinant, in the south
of Belgium,

As my own notes are strictly confined to the geological phenomena we
observed, I will here quote from the daily journal kept by Sir Wm. Guise,
which he has kindly lent me, and in which descriptions and details of the
scenery,as well as of the geology, are noted :—

“In July we left Brussels for Namur, in company with our friend,
Mr. John Jones, formerly hon. sec. of the Cotteswold Club, From Namur
we proceeded to Dinant, accempanied by Mons. Dumont, engineer en chef of
the Province, to make the accquaintance of Dr. Dupont, who has superin-
tended the great cave excavations made under the auspices and with funds
supplied by the Belgian government. The river Lesse flows into the Meuse at
a distance of about 1} miles from Dinant, Up the valley of the Lesse our

257

course lay, a narrow vailey bounded by rocks of Carboniferous limestone,
frequently much contorted, while their jagged and angular outlines, tel} of
some other force than mere erosion by water having had to do with their
present abrupt configuration. The slopes are richly clothed with wood,
while the river winds through a green pastoral valley, never, probably, much
more than half a mile in width, and for the most part far less. We crossed
the Lesse three times at fords, which were sufficiently deep to admit the
water into the carriage. About 2} miles from Dinant the road passes under
fhe Castle of Walzin, which stands on the summit of a bold rock immediately
above the stream, and presents a most picturesque appearance, Thence to the
village of Challeux is about 2} miles of execrable roads. Here we descended
from our carriage and made our way to the river at this point, deep and
still. A shout of recognition was exchanged, and presently a narrow flat-
bottomed shallop was poled across to convey us te the opposite side of the
stream, where a long talus of broken earth and stones showed where operations
were being carried on, A course of steps cut in the hill side led up the slope,
at the top of which we found ourselves in front of a yawning cavern, and in
presence of a gentleman in the dress of an excavator, The latter was Dr.
Dupont, and the cave that of Naulette, in which was found the now famons
human jaw, associated with Rhinoceros tichorinus and other extinct mam-
malia, Dr. Dupont welcomed us with cordiality. Armed with lights, we
entered the cave, from which large quantities of material had been removed.
Dr. Dupont explained the chracteristics and relations of the so-called ** Lehm”
and ‘‘Loéss.” The latter he considers to be marine, and shows that the jaw
was found in the former, under at least seven feet of “‘Loéss” sands, The
position of this jaw has been disputed; but there were too many persons
present at the time of its discovery to admit of any doubts on the subject;
its exact position is determined without room for cavil, We were a queer
looking set as, with wolf-skins over our shoulders to shield our coats from
the wet and clay, we emerged again into the light of day,

From Naulette we preceeded to the “Trou du Frontal” and the “Trou
des Nutons.” By-the-way we halted at the little hamlet of Challeux, quite
a little republic of its own in this remote out of the way spot. It is most
pleasingly situated on the banks of the stream, embosomed among trees, and
having opposite, bold limestone cliffs—in which is a bone eave called the
cave of La Challeux —which in the number and variety of the remains it has
yielded, is surpassed by none in the valley. Unfortunately we did not
examine this cavern, being hurried on by our guides, and it was not until
afterwards that we were made aware of its importance. In less than a mile
the carriage again came to a halt, at the nearest approachable point to the
Trou du Frontal, and the Trou des Nutons. The way lay through a dense
woody jungle, in which all trace of a track was nearly obliterated. These
were the first opened, and the “Trou du Frontal” received its name from
the frontal or forehead bone of a human being, the first which was discovered

ie

258

in the course of these important excavations. Having read and translated
the original report of Dr. Dupont on these caves, I was especially careful in
their examination. The structure of the ‘*Trou des Nutons” is particularly
well shown. At base, a river gravel with rounded drift; next, the ‘‘Lehm,”
a fine granular deposit ; then the ‘‘ Loéss,” consisting of stratified sands and
clays, the latter of red colour, of so close and compact a structure, that they
break with a conchoidal fracture, and when cut or scraped with a knife
exhibit a shining surface. Over all these, and uneonformably to them, lies
heaped up against the side of the mountain a mass of angular debris, doubtless
a stibaerial drift accumulated by the slow action of atmospheric causes, and
telling eloquently of the vast lapse of time during which they have bit by
bit been gathering,

In returning, Symonds and some of the party scaled the limestone rocks
by a precipitous track leading on the summit to the ancient Roman fortress
of Hauteraiscenne, considered by M. Van Beneden to be one of the last
strongholds of that people before they were driven across the Rhine. Coins
of Gallienus have been found there, which seem to point to the date of its
final abandonment.

After dinner, Symonds and myself went by appointment to inspect the
museum of Dr. Dupont. This collection fills three rooms, and is itself such
an‘illustration of primeval man as cannot be paralleled elsewhere, while it
bears no less striking testimony to the energy and enthusiasm of the coHector,
who has himself personally assisted at the disentombing of every specimen.
The cave of Challeux, which we unfortunately failed to visit, appears to have
yielded the richest results, no less than 34,000 worked flints, the teeth of
as many“as 40 horses, the remains of bears Ursus spelceus, and aretus, horns of
reindeer, C. tarandus and ©, guettardi, in many cases showing the marks of
human handiwork; bones of badger, fox, goat, water-vole, land-vole, Xc.,
of the latter in vast quantities, all of which had been used for food. No
human bones were however, so far as I could learn, found in this cave. But,
without question, the most remarkable object in the collection is the human
jaw, from the ‘‘ Zrou de la Naulette.” This jaw appears to be more ape-like
than any yet attributed toman. Yet to man it is decided to belong. The
bone of the chin is entirely wanting, and the canines, which are absent, were
evidently very powerful, as shown by the size of the orifices for their inser-
tion; the jaw is remarkably small, and must have pertained to a race of
diminutive stature. Dr. Dupont entertains no doubt of the vast antiquity
of man upon the earth, He said ‘‘The man of the Mammoth is the man of
the Reindeer, and the Reindeer man is the man of the polished flint period.”
One fact mentioned by Dr. Dupont is exceedingly curious, namely, that the ’
horse appears to have abounded at the time of the early cave men with rudely
worked implements of silex, and was consumed by them for food, but that
this quadruped’s remains are wholly absent in the polished flint period, from
which he argues that the horse was reintroduced at a later period. Amongsd

259

the objects found in the cave of Challeux were pieces of fluorine spar, and
fossil shells, amongst them Cerithium gigantewm, imported from the country
of Champagne, distant some 40 or 50 miles. The flints, too, which were
used for working were brought from the same distance, showing evident
knowledge of a rude state of trade or barter.

It is to be noted that the fossil shells were pierced with small round
holes, evidently to suspend them as ornaments.”

Such are Sir William Guise’s remarks upon these most interesting
caverns and their contents. I would only add a few brief notes for the
information of those physical geologists who have studied the phenomena
of ancient river and cave deposits, and would be interested in our endeavours
to correlate those of Belgium with our own here in England.

The following is the succession of deposits as sketched for me in my
notes by Dr. Dupont :— :

EOI RR Aaa acaee com Scam oc cone cee

4 o00000000000000000000000000000
coo00000000D00D0DV0DV0DVDVOVDVAV0VOVO00V0V000000
Co0o00000000000000000000D0D0D0D00000

1. Angular debris. 2. Stalagmite. 3. ‘‘Loess,” or stratified sand and clay.
4. Pebble beds (cailloux roulés).

The points that struck me most particularly are as follows :—

First.—On ascending the ancient Roman encampment above the ‘* Trou
de Nutons” with M. Dumont, and Dr. Dupont, they pointed out to me the
position of the Drifts that overlie the great platform of carboniferous lime-
stone. These drifts contain erratic pebbles and boulders, and occupy a
similar position above the bone caves on the Lesse, as do those of the boulder
drifts of Gower above the caves on the sea coast, or those of St. Asaph, above
the river that runs below those caverns. The rolled pebbles at the base of
the cave deposits are like those on the upper limestone platform.

Secondly.—After the Belgian caverns had been hollowed out in the car-
boniferous limestone, and the carbonate of lime removed, probably by springs
acting upon longitudinal fissures, it is very evident that either engulfed
streams, or the action of waves, affected the interior of the caves precisely as
was observed by Sir C. Lyell and myself in the caves of Gower and St, Asaph.
Although encrusted with stalactitic matter there were numerous potholes and
marks of water action,

Thirdly.—Along the valley of the Lesse there have been undoubtedly physical
changes in the configuration of the district since the deposition of all the
stratified deposits within the caves. This is also what we know has occurred
in many instances among the subterrancan caverns which contain the bones
of the extinct mammalia and the flint instruments, of men in England,

260

Fourthly.—It is the opinion of Dr. Dupont, if we rightly comprehended
him, that the ‘‘ Zoess” which underlies the stalagmite of the caverns, and
consists of stiff clay and stratified sands, the same which contained the human
jaw and the bones of the Rhinoceros tichorinus, is of marine origin. Ido
not know what reasons Dr, Dupont has for holding this opinion, but we shall
soon be made acquainted with them, as that gentleman is about to publish a
work upon the physical geology, as well as the animal contents of these
Belgian caves.

This is an important point, for if the basement gravel and silts in the
caverns turn out to be marine, I see no way of escaping from the conclusion
that the valley of the Lesse was submerged beneath the waters that deposited
the pebble and drift beds on the summit of the limestone platform that rises
above the caverns, and consequently that these cavern drifts are pre-glacial.
We arrived at other conclusions upon which, however, Iam unwilling to lay
much stress, as’ our survey was necessarily short,

It appears from the statements I gathered from Dr. Dupont that on the
flanks of the Lesse valley, above the bone caverns, but below the platform
drifts, there are high level vatley gravels, which tell of an ancient river which
flowed at a higher level than the waters of the existing river, and which old
river is not unlikely to have washed down pebbles and drifts derived through
streams and lateral sources from the platform drifts on the high country
around, Again, the pebble beds which lie at the base of the deposits of the
“Trou des Nutons” and the “‘Trou de Naulette,” do not appear to me to
have a marine aspect, they have the arrangement of an old river shinglee My
impression is that this shingle was derived from the platform drifts on the
upper surface of the country, and was washed into the caverns by the agency
of the under-ground streams which opened out into the valley of the ancient
Lesse, This is supported by the evidence of the animal remains found in the
basement deposits, Remains of the beaver were found by Dr. Dupont, and
this testifies more of fresh water conditions than marine. Again, we believe
that the “ Zoess” or stratified clay and silt which contained the human jaw
and mammalian bones, is a fluviatile silt, the deposit of waters which once
swept into or through the caves before those relative changes of land and
water level were brought about, which caused the floodings by turbid waters
to cease, and the floor of the caves to become dry land, and the stalagmite to
gather above the human and animal relics with its encrusting seal,

Altogether we believe the history of the cavern deposits on the Lesse to
belong to that ancient river history which geologists now comprehend as the
period of the low level drifts of Prestwich, a period when, as we know in this
country, climatal adaptations and the animals of the period were very different
from the present. Since that period the great mammalia, which once inha-
bited Europe, have become extinct, and all our rivers, like the river Lesse,
flow in deeper hollows excavated in the hard strata which forms the bottom

261

of their valleys. We consider the drift phenomena of the caverns on the Lesse
to bear the same relation to the existing physical conditions of the country
as our old Severn and Avon, low level valley drifts, bear to the existing rivers,
their silted up lakes and alluvial plains, We see no reason for attributing
a more antique history to the human remains of the ‘Trou de Naulette,”
than to the numerous other examples given by Sir Charles Lyell in his “* Anti-
quity of Man,” where human bones, or human implements, have been found in
cavern deposits associated with the remains of the extinct animals.

The principal interest attached to the caves on the Lesse is owing to
the great numbers of human relics that have been found there; and I may
here observe that the particular cave in which the very remarkable jaw was
found lying close by the bones of the rhinoceros, is considered by Dr, Dupont
to have been a den of the hyzena, for here were found the coprolites or fossil
dung of that animal, and also a considerable number of gnawed bones of
elephant and other animals. The rhinoceros bone in question presents strong
marks of the hyzena’s canines.

With respect to that jaw I have no opinion to give. Since I visited
the caves with Sir William Guise, the Anthropological Society of London
have sent a deputation to Belgium, and I cannot do better than close this
paper with an extract from The Reader, giving an account of the jaw by gen-
tlemen who I do not doubt are comparative anatomists, and therefore write
with authority :—

°° A cast of the jaw found several weeks ago by Dr. Edward Dupont,
in the Trou de la Nauletie, is now in the Museum of the Anthropological
Society of London, Compared with the extremely ‘brachycephalic’ jaws
which have been discovered in the caves of Arcis-sur-Aube, and from various
prehistoric deposits in the south of France, this jaw represents the extreme
term of a series, the other end of which is exhibited by the lowest members
respectively of the Lapp and Australian races. By the quinque-raminate
mode of implantation of its third true molar, by the enormous size of the
canines, by the absence of any chin, by the absence of genial tubercles, by
the great symphysial beak-shaped degree of prognathism which it exhibits,
it affords characters which, though they may be present in different individuals
of the lower races of man, have never hitherto been found united in any single
specimen. During the last fortnight it is said that a canine and an incisor
tooth have beenfound in this cavern. The incisior presents markedly peculiar
characters, and the canine indicates its great projection above the jaw. The
occurrence of these remains with those of Elephas primigenius, Rhinoceros
tichorinus, and Hyena spelea, in stratified sand, subjacent to stalagmite, has
been thoroughly demonstrated. The cast has been submitted to some distin-
guished members of the Société d’Anthropologic de Paris, One great authority,
whose anatomical qualifications no one can dispute, held out for a fortnight
that the jaw must have belonged to an ape, but yielded to the arguments of

——

262

@ colleague, A thorough description of the jaw has been read before the
academy at Brussels by Dr. Edouard Dupont, with numerous illustrations of
this and other jaws. The memoir will be published on the Ist of August.
The opinion of the learned discoverer is in favour of the half-human half-
pithecoid character of the being to which it belonged. A report will shortly
be publicly read, accompanied by verified sections, in which the geological
points involved will be exhibited, and when the palzontological and anthropo-
logical bearings of the discovery will be exhaustively discussed.”

When Mr, Symonds finished there was barely ten minutes left to get to
the station, and just as the party arrived there, the train came in. So
ended one of the most pleasant and successful meetings ever held by the
Woolhope Club.

é (2)
LQ SS
CBIG):

263

The WHoolkope Baturalists’ SHield Club.

MEETING AT MALVERN,

SrepremBer 127TH, 1866.

An extra field meeting was held at Malvern on Wednesday, September
12th, on the invitation of the Malvern Club, to meet also the members of
the Cotteswold and Worcestershire Clubs ; in short, it was a grand gathering
of Naturalists, and oddly enough, nothing could be better adapted to make it
pass off well than the two or three hours rain which fell in the morning, for
it kept all the members together in the spacious winter promenade of Towns-
hend House, where they first met, in full enjoyment of all that pleasant free-
masonry of science, which is ever the charming characteristic of Field Clubs,

The Cotteswold Club was represented by the President, Sir W. V. Guise,
Bart. ; Dr. Wright, of Cheltenham; the Revs. T. Lee Warner, F. Smythe,

R. Hepworth, and F, Bayley ; Dr. Wilton, of Gloucester; and Messrs, Beach, ~

Moden, Nash, Pearce, and Playne.

The Malvern members present were the Rev. W. 8. Symonds, F.G.S.,
President ; Doctors Grindrod, Weir, and Williams; Professor Morris, London 3
the Revs. G. Munn, H. Housman, T. Smythe, and R. P. Hill, the honorary
secretary ; with Messrs. Ballard, Clark, Kent, Greaves, David Griffiths, and
Turner.

The Worcestershire Club was led by Edwin Lees, Esq., F.L.8., Vice-
President ; Doctors Fraser and Sherlock; Alderman Firkins ; Messrs. Burgess,
Chaplin, Ponting, Pow, Rennick, Wilson, and Walker; with Dr. Harvey B.
Holl, the honorary secretary ; and it is but right to add that the higher duties
connected with the Musical Festival then going on at Worcester, prevented
many other members of this club from attending.

The Woolhope Club was the last to arrive, but as usual this year its
members were in great force, The President, Dr. Bull; the Vice-presidents,
Dr. Mc Cullough and E. Y. Steele, Esq. ; Honorary Members, Henry Beckett,
Esq. (Vice-president of the Dudley Club) and R. M. Lingwood, Esq. ; J. E.
Lee, Esq., of Caerleon ; Colonel Colvin ; Humphrey Salwey, Esq., J.. Williams,
Fsq., and Messrs. Salwey and Nash from Ludlow; Richard Hereford, Esq.,
and Captain Mends, R.N.; Arthur Armitage, Thos, Blashill, J. Stratford
Collins, T. Curley, and T, T. Davies, Esquires; the Reverends T. H. Bird,
L. Burrows, 8. Clark, W. H. Phillott, C. Smith, W. P. S. Stanhope, H.
Tweed, T. West, and C. J. Westrop ; Messrs, Bayliss, Macintosh, and Arthur
Thompson, Treasurer,

264.

With such a gathering of the scientific men of the district it will readily
be believed that: the meeting was superior to the weather, and with Dr.
Grindrod’s unequalled collection of Silurian fossils, a detention of three hours
Was positive enjoyment. No one could fail to be struck with the remarkable
display of Trilobites, the perfection of the several specimens, or the graceful
elegance of their forms in the varied positions in which nature has seized and
preserved them for such countless ages. Dr. Grindrod has spared no pains to
get them together, aud it may well be said that he has also been regardless
of expense, for one little case, of the many there, the Doctor said had cost him
Gfty pounds, The following brief description of them has been kindly
supplied :—

A GLANCE AT DR. GRINDROD’S MUSEUM.

Contributed by the Rev. H. HOUSMAN, F.G.S.

The main purpose for which this matchless collection has been made is
to illustrate the geology of Malvern and its neighbourhood. The visitor should
bear this in mind, as it accounts on the one hand for the absence of those
gigantic fossils from the secondary and tertiary ages which are often the most
showy specimens on the walls of other museums, and on the other for the over-
whelming beauty and abundance of many almost local remains, which the
concentrated perseverance of Dr. Grindrod has here gathered together.
In fact, this collection should be regarded—at all events, in its present
state—as one exclusively of palceozoic fossils, offering to the spectator a peep
at the beings which inhabited mid-western England in the immeasurable
remoteness of the geologic past far back beyond the age when man first walked
this world, beyond the sge when the huge saurians of the secondary period
roamed through the subsiding seas—kings of the then creation—beyond the
period of the exhuberant flora of the carboniferous epoch, when the summits
of the Malvern hills, rising above the ocean, formed the easternmost extremity
of that island which at last came to be called Britain.

The Malverns are generally looked upon as the result of a vast volcanic
upthrow of syenite. This rock differs from granite, inasmuch as its component
parts are felspar, hornblende, and quartz, whereas true granite is composed of
felspar, quartz, and mica, But the late researches of Dr. Holl have given him
reason to suspect that this rock, hitherto regarded as syenite, and therefore
of true volcanic origin, is in fact an altered sedimentary deposit, older than
the Cambrian system, and of the same age as the Laurentian rocks of Canada,
and the north-west corner of Scotland. At present, however, not one single
organism has been discovered to attest the truth of this theory, which appears
to rest mainly on mineralogical similarity, a foundation far too uncertain te
support an hypothesis of so much geological interest.

265

The series in Dr. Grindrod’s museum, as partially exhibited on Wednes-
day, commence appropriately with a fine group of these most ancient rocks ;
for though themselves azoic, and as we believe pre-zoic, they form the most
natural introduction to the superjacent fossiliferous strata.

Immediately upon the syenite rests what is locally known as the Holly-
bush Sandstone. For a long time it was not even suspected that fossils
occurred in these exceedingly ancient beds. A few years ago, however,
evident traces of fucoids and annelids were noticed in the upper strata of the
deposits, and quite recently the careful searchings of Dr. Holl have been
rewarded with well preserved shells in the lower beds, some 500 feet below
the fucoids and annelids of the superior strata. Dr. Grindrod’s museum
exhibits excellent specimens of both divisions of this rock, The next section
of the collection comprises an unequalled series of the fossils of the Black
Shale—an equivalent of the Lower Lingula flags of Wales. These have been
mainly collected by the unremitting efforts of Mr. H. Turner, of Pauntley.
They consist almost exclusively of minute crustaceans, chiefly trilobites, some
of which, at present unnamed and almost unknown to science, exhibit the
most extraordinary forms, literally bristling over with delicate spines. In this
zone there also occurs a minute lingula, and one or two other tracheopods.

The Lower Silurian system as developed in the neighbourhood of Malvern
is remarkable for the entire absence of both the great Llandeilo and the
Caradoc formations. This portion of the museum is, however, finely illustrated
by a series of Llandeilo trilobites, collected, we believe, by Mr. David Griffith,
of Builth, and by an equally illustrative set of Caradoc species from the
typical rocks of Shropshire.

Fossils from the Llandovery or May Hill Sandstone are next displayed,
forming the connecting link or passage beds between the Lower and Upper
Silurians.

It is, however, from the Upper Silurian rocks that the finest and most
abundant specimens in this Museum are collected. Of these, the series of
Trilobites is especially remarkable. Glancing over them here collected together
is a very real glimpse at the inhabitants of the Palogoric seas, Amongst
others, we may particularly mention a group of that rare species Sphwrexochus
mirus, of whieh, until the forming of the Malvern Tunnel, only three speci-
mens were known. Equally fine, too, is a group of the delicate Encrinurus
punctatus—so delicate that an individual with its projecting eyes, side spines,
and back spine was till lately quite unheard of. Here, however,are more than
a dozen ina state of absolute perfection; sume coiled up as if taking a nap,
others apparently walking towards an enemy with spines erect, breathing, as
it were, both defence and defiance. Tribolites of all sizes are gathered here
from the mud of the primordial oceans, from the minute Cyphaspis, with its
long spines, to the gigantic Homalonotus, 6 or 7 inches in length. The most
jealous care in selecting only the finest specimens has resulted in magnificent
tablets of the choice Cheirwrus, Lichas, and Phacops longicaudatus, and its

266

variety Grindrodianus—named in honour of Dr. Grindrod; while groups of
that excessively rare and precious Tribolite, the lately-discovered Deiphon
and Staurocephalus, excite the wonder of the Palzontologist,

As the Silurian system draws to its close, these crustaceans began rapidly
to die out; of the few that appear in the Ludlow divisions of the formation,
admirable remains are to be seen in this collection, Even the Devonian
system has afforded a few specimens of Phacops, so named from the extreme
beauty of its lensed eyes,

More space than we can at present afford would be necessary to
enumerate at all adequately the other divisions of this fine Museum.
Admirable as is the display of Trilobites, that of the Lower Ludlow Star- fishes,
and Dudley limestone Crinoids are equally splendid. Indeed, we can imagine
few treats more enviable to the geologist than that of an opportunity of
studying at leisure this assemblage of Palmogoric fossils, and, surrounded by
them, to acquire an intimacy with the strange and wondrous forms which
dwelt upon the shores and beneath the waters of this globe whilst it was
passing through one of the first of those measureless epochs by which, as by
successive stages, it was being prepared for the habitation of man,

The collection is, indeed, well worthy of a visit, and was closely examined ;
by the naturalists present. If the rain had not kept them there, the hour of
service at the Abbey Church would have done so nevertheless 3 and before
the time for its conclusion, on the spur of the moment, Dr. Wright, of

- Cheltenham, well known as an eminent palzontologist, was specially requested

to make some observations explanatory of the collection of Silurian fossils
exhibited by Dr. Grindrod, and said that:

No one was more taken by surprise than himself at the request now
made, but if they would excuse any want of method his remarks might betray,
he would without further preface endeavour to give them his passing thoughts
on the fine collection of Silurian Radiata and Crustacea now spread out before
them. In fact they were now looking upon the spoils of an old Silurian
beach, and upon the remains of organisms whose history dated back to the
early chapters of the first volume of the great rock book, Had they ever
attempted to form an idea of the immensity of the time that separated that
era from ours ? Had they ever thought of that immense gulf which was
bridged over by the formation of all the rocks deposited between the Silurian
and modern times? If they had not, then the marvel of the collection now
laid out before them lost much of its interest, for thousands and hundreds of
thousands of years must have rolled away since the organisms now before
them had lived and moved and enjoyed existence. When we reflected upon
this fact, was it not astonishing to behold how conservative Nature was of
her works? How beautiful these Crinoids, and Star fishes, and Trilobites still
remained, after all that lapse of past time? Some might perchance doubt
the high antiquity of the earth, and think this statement the dream of an

267

enthusiast, but it was far otherwise, when they reflected for a moment that
the processes of nature were slow and onward, and that the last few thousand
years had failed to effect any very great or important changes on the earth’s
surface, that the ancestors of some of the same species of coral polypes now
living in tropical seas had formed reefs that were probably seventy thousand
years old, and if we remembered that this long period related only to existing
species, what must we think of the duration of those ages that had preceded
modern times?—that long vista of the past during which eighteen miles of
sedimentary rock had been slowly and steadily accumulating? and, be it noted,
it was at the very dawn of this far, far distant age when the creatures before
them sported their little day of existence in the Silurian seas.

It was interesting, therefore, in a natural history point of view to inquire
in what the past differed from the present. Let them look first at those beau-
tiful sea lilies, the Crinoids from the Wenlock limestone, see how nicely the
pelvic plates were jointed together like mosaic, and how finely the arms
branched off from the cup to form a net for catching prey, see how finely the
stem was jointed, consisting of hundreds of plates built upon each other, some
of these stems being rooted to submarine bodies, while others were tapering
and free; examples of both conditions were on the table, so abundant were
the remains of Crinoids in the Silurian and Carboniferous rocks, that many
thick beds of limestone were almost entirely composed of their broken up
skeletons. We had two or three species of existing Crinoids in the seas of

the Antilles, but they were entirely distinct from those that lived in the ;

Silurian and other subsequent ages, although the general plan of their con-
struction and many details of their organisation resembled their old ancestors,
These Crinoids therefore ought to be carefully examined, for there were some
choice specimens before them.

The next group of Radiates was the star-fishes, of which many specimens
were on the table from the Ludlow rocks at Leintwardine. It was long
thought that the Crinoids were the only representatives of the Echinodermata
in the Silurian seas, but the discovery of these fossils in rocks of the same
age in England and America had taught us to pause in our generalisations,
and examine nature more attentively. On oneof the slabs from the Wenlock
limestone, there was a pretty specimen of Lepidaster, with its columns and
plates around the margin of the arms. From the Lower Ludlow rocks there
were various specimens of Palcwocoma and Protaster in different stages of
growth, interesting to all zoologists, as showing how faithfully nature had
adhered to the type of organisation so characteristic of the Asteriade, and
proving that the present was connected with the past by a series of links which
united them in natural relation, Some fossil star fishes of the Lias beds so
closely resemble existing species of that family, that it required the most
careful diagnosis.to detect the differences by which they were separated.

Passing on to the next group of fossils before us, the oldest forms of the
articulate animals, we see a magnificent series of Trilobites, most of which

268

had been found in the Wenlock shales during the excavation of the Malvern
railway tunnel. The first thing that strikes us in looking at these fossils is
the marvellous perfection of their preservation. Not only is the external
crust of the skeleton preserved, but you see even the lateral and dorsal spines,
the caudal appendages, and sculpture on the plates, whilst the eyes, with
their hundreds of compound facets, are all embalmed in the rock. We see,
likewise, the young, middle age, and adult condition of many species well
represented before us. Let us not look at these specimens with a mere dilettanti
eye, but rather let us scan them with the inquiring glance of the student of
nature. In the first place, in these Spherexochus, Deipkon, Staurocephalus,
and Cheirurus, you see the highly ornamented condition of the dermal skeleton ;
2nd, in the compound eyes, so wonderfully preserved in this glass ease full of
gems, you have the proof that the atmosphere was as pervious to light, and
as finely adjusted to the mechanism of the eye of this ancient aquatic articulate
as is the air of the present time to the eyes of existing species; 3rdly, the
changes of form which these creatures exhibited shows that, like our modern
crustacea, they passed *through a metamorphosis, rolled themselves into balls,
and exhibited all the characters of the great class they represented in the
Silurian seas. This long-tailed Phacops, large Ogygia, gigantic Asaphus, smooth
Homalonotus, tuberculated Calymene, and inflated Illenus, prove that the
ancient genera in their variety and beauty could well vie with modern life, And
in passing rapidly in view, these ancient organisms, if he might be permitted
«to suggest the thought which rose in his mind at this moment when contem-
plating this grand display of the denizens of the old Silurian beach, it was this,
that the Almighty Author of all thiags had chiefly displayed to us in these
His works how unchangeable was His character, for in the details of their
structure, the laws of their being, and other phenomena by which present
organisms of the animal creation were characterised, were found by us alike in
these oldest members of the earth’s first denizens 5 So that if it was true that
hundreds of thousands of ages had rolled away since these creatures lived, the
same laws that governed their being, regulated their life, and assigned them
their place in creation were presiding over the countless beings of the present
time ; and were it possible to realise, in a material form, the words of seripture,
that the Author of our being was the same yesterday, to-day and for ever,
he would point to the Crinoids, the Star-fishes, and Trilobites of the Silurian
seas now before them, and say, There are the evidences which declare the
truth, and prove the reality of those all-comforting words,

Dr. Wright's eloquent address was listened to with marked attention, and
received great applause from every one present,

A march was now made by a portion of the party to the Priory Church,
where the Rev. G. Munn, Rector of Maddresfiéld, was in attendance by request,
to read a paper on the painted windows and architecture of the sacred edifice,
Some of the geologists were, however, so engrossed with Dr. Grindrod’s
museum that they did not hear the marching order, or could not tear them-
selves away, and thus lost this part of the programme,

269

NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE PRIORY CHURCH
AT MALVERN.
By the Rev. G. MUNN, Rector of Madresfield.

Mr. Munn being well acquainted with ecclesiastical architecture, and a
critic in painted glass, we should have printed his address in extenso, had he
not with extreme modesty desired this might not be done. We are therefore
indebted to a friend who has himself studied the curious windows of Great
Malvern Priory for the following observations, which embrace the chief
features descanted upon by the reverend gentleman, and so well brought out.
There was one point, too, suggested by Mr. Munn, which, as it is a reflection
upon the men of Herefordshire, we cannot pass by unnoticed, as will be seen
farther on, for when observations are publicly made, they are not to pass
unchallenged under the plea that they were not meanf to be reported.

Mr. Munn undertook to give the history of the Priory as given in its
painted windows, mutilated though many of them now are, and he commenced
with that clerestory window in the choir which contains the legendary history
of St. Werstan. Mr. Albert Way was the first person who drew attention to
the legend pictured in this window, which embodies the effort of an hermit
saint to establish Christian worship among the rocky solitudes of the Malvern
hills, These clerestory windows in the choir were put up in the fifteenth
century by Prior John Malverne, and, no doubt, at that time there was some
authentic record of the facts to which they refer among the muniments of the
monastery. It is remarkable, however, that Leland is the only author that
mentions St. Werstan, of whom he incidentally says, that when Deerhurst
Monastery was burned down by the Danes, Werstan fled to Malvern.

In the window alluded to the story of St. Werstan is shown in four
compartments. In the first a square plot of ground covered with flowers is
seen, having an angel vested in amice and alb at each of the four corner
stones, and in the centre is a large white key. Beneath and kneeling among
flower-covered slopes and terraces is an ecclesiastic kneeling, his hand lifted up
in prayer. Over his head isa scroll inscribed. Mr. Way was of opinion that
this represents a vision by which St, Werstan was induced to found an oratory
at Malvern; but Mr. Muna stated that it only represented ‘“‘the Catholic
faith,” that God’s angels were manifested in all acts of devotion, and especially
in dedications to sacred purposes they were supposed to be spiritually present.
“‘ With angels and archangels and all the company of Heaven,” the church
militant on earth are said to join in worship. The key may probably represent
the spiritual authority given to the hermit saint.

In the second storied pane, angels appear in the act of consecrating the
oratory reared by St. Werstan, who again is shown kneeling among flower-clad
cliffs, and above him are the golden-winged heavenly visitors, One blesses the

”

270

bell in the turret of the chapel, another elevates a processional cross, a third
bearing a thurifer, and a fourth asperges the church with holy water. Thus
the first Christian building among the Malvern hills was reared under heavenly
direction.

But this was not enough. The Catholic Church had always tried to
obtain the aid of the secular arm, and fortify itself with regal sanction. So in
the third compartment a small figure is seen kneeling before a tall regally
vested personage, above whose crowned head, encircled with a corona, is
inscribed ‘‘S, Edwardus rex ;” thus intimating Edward the Confessor, who
holds a charter in his right hand with a seal bearing the sign of the cross.
The hermit, it would scem, desired the sanction of the crown for his proceed-
ings, and so employed a friend at Court to obtain a charter and grant of land
from King Edward ; and though the monks were known to be fond of “‘ pious
frauds,” and could occasionally forge charters, it does appear that the Priory
of Malvern held certain lands which were said to have been originally bestowed
by Edward—quam Edwardus rex dedit. The supplicant for the charter is
represented of much smaller proportion than the sovereign, in accordance
with a conventional principle of design in old times, by which persons of
inferior station were often represented of diminutive size in comparison with
their more powerful neighbours. This usage has passed into a proverb, and persons
are said to ‘‘sing small” when their assertions are shown to be not sustainable.
Edward the Confessor reigned from 1042 to 1046, but probably Werstan’s
sanctity had obtained some note before his efforts were rewarded by the regal
grant and sanction.

The last subject of the series in this remarkable window as to St.
Werstan, appears to represent his martyrdom, and in the very oratory he had
built. Behind in the pictured glass are shown the steep sides of the Malvern
Hills, while at one of the windows of the oratory the saint puts forth his head
bleeding and bruised, whilst on either side stands a cruel murderer, prepared
with sword upraised to strike the unoffending recluse. These miscreants are
clad in gowns which are girt round their waists, and reach somewhat below
their knees; the scabbards of their swords are appended to their girdles, and
on their heads are close fitting leather coifs or caps.

Supposing the alleged martyrdom of St. Werstan to be an actual fact,
a question arises as to who were the miscreants who killed the pious missionary
hermit. Mr. Way suggested, generally, the wild heathen population around
as not pleased with St. Werstan’s ministrations ; but Mr. Munn has thrown
a stigma upon Herefordshire, by declaring it probable that “‘ these miscreants
came from the other side of the hills (Herefordshire), and that it was likely they
resented the intrusion of the hermit into these solitudes, thinking that he
might be the precursor of a more numerous following, and that this would
interfere with their right, or rather with their practice of free warren.”
Now, such a reflection is uncalled for and without the least foundation.
Herefordshire, in the days of Edward the Confessor, could scarcely be more

271
heathen in character than Worcestershire, and in absence of evidence, there
can be no necessity to bring a band of ‘‘miscreants from the other side of the
hills” to account for the martyrdom of St. Werstan, If the saint was murdered
at all it was at Malvern, and we must take exception to the gratuitous assump-
tion that a band of miscreants out of Herefordshire did the deed from hatred
to Christianity.

There was formerly a place on the side of the hill called ‘‘The Her-
mitage,” beneath which was a rude crypt containing a few stone coffins, and
this was probably the site of St. Werstan’s oratory, but the erection of new
buildings has destroyed all traces of it.

Besides the story of St. Werstan, the Malvern windows record the founda-
tion of the actual Priory Church by St, Aldwin in 1084; also the grant to
the same prior by William the,Conqueror ; the sanction of St. Wulstan, Bishop
of Worcester ; and the acts of donation by William, Earl of Gloucester, lord of
the forest of Malvern ; Bernard, Earl of Hereford ; and Osbern Poncius, bene-
factions which materially contributed to the establishment of this religious
house,

On the other painted windows, which represent Scripture subjects, it
is unnecessary to enlarge, particularly us the glass in both the great east and
west windows has been much disarranged, but the colours and artistic skill
shown in the work is in many instances admirable. In the window of the
north transept, which was put up in the reign of Henry VII., and which has
some portions of its imagery entire, are kneeling figures of Prince Arthur
and Sir Reginald Bray.

All that remains of the original Norman church are the round arches and
short columns of the nave, the rest of the building is of subsequent date, and
between the reigns of Henry VI. and Henry VII., some work or other was
always in progress. While the foundation of the priory is written in the
emblazoned glass, the glazed mural tiles show by the dates upon them how the
interior of the church was re-edified and beautified. The eastern parts were
finished first, and the various altars dedicated by Bishop Carpenter in 1460,
The tower in the latest style of Gothic was built apparently by the same
architect that designed the tower of Gloucester Cathedral, for both are very
similar. Of the Lady Chapel, nothing now remains except the bosses of the
vaulting discovered in the crypt. These are of an earlier date than any part
of the present building except the nave, and seem to tell a tale of constant
progressive work from the foundation to the time of Henry VII.

When Mr. Munn had concluded his paper, the company present slowly
perambulated the church, particularly observing the glazed tiles which have
been replaced on the walls, and which have benefactors’ coats of arms upon
them, as well as curious legends and devices, the instruments of the Passion,
the sacred piscis, &c, The tracery of the great east window is seen to be

272.
produced to the ground, and the centre mullion is divided, forming an ogee
arch, through which was the entrance to the Lady Chapel, which in the late
restoration has been re-opened. The windows of the transepts and side aisles,
in which are many curious subjects, were also examined in detail.
On leaving the Priory Church the aspect of the sky was so unfavourable, 7
mist and rain enveloping the landscape, that it was determined to postpone ;
the intended geological excursion up the hills and return to Dr. Grindrod’s.
Here accordingly all the naturalists reassembled, and the following paper
was read, -

ON THE GEOLOGICAL POSITION OF THE CRYSTALLINE

ROCKS OF THE MALVERN HILLS.

By HARVEY B. HOLL, M.D. F.G.8., &c.

The oldest rocks in the district are those which, with their granite beds
and their trap dykes, form the hills. They consist of various kinds of gneiss,
which is sometimes in thick massive veins, at others fine-grained and thinly
bedded ; and interstratified with these are other crystalline and semi-crystal-
line rocks, as hornblend schist, mica schist, felstone, syenite, and granite.
Some of the latter may perhaps be intrusive, but this is very doubtful, and for
the most part, like the syenite, it is a derivative rock.

These rocks were all of them in existence before the period of the
Hollybush Sandstone, as shown by their infra-position; for the sandstone
rests upon them unconformably, and is not penetrated or altered by the trap
dykes, and as the age of this sandstone is known to correspond with the
Lingula Flags of Wales, it serves as the point of departure in our attempt
to determine the geological position of the underlying rocks.

The relative position of the Hollybush Sandstone to the metamorphic
rocks, resting as it does upon their upturned edges, indicates that the
latter had undergone disturbance before the sandstones were deposited ; and
that the intrusion of the trap rocks was posterior to this uplifting is shown
by the manner in which the continuity of the bedding of the gneiss, and
especially the granite veins, has been interrupted by their outburst, and also by
the ,different appearance which the trap rocks present at their margins from
what they do in the interior of their mass, the more rapid cooling of their
circumferential portions having rendered them less highly crystalline at their
edges than they are in their interior ; and from this we may also infer that
the metamorphic action had long ceased, and that the gneissic rocks were no
longer at an elevated temperature at the time of their eruption.

From other evidence, derived partly from the manner in which the suc-
cessive beds of the superimposed Hollybush sandstone overlap the lower ones,
and creep as it were up the sides of the hills, and mantle into the hollows
between them; and from the pebbles of gneiss, &c., contained in their
lowermost beds, we learn that the crystalline rocks were elevated above
the sea level and subjected to denuding influences which formed them into
a mountain ridge before the sandstones were deposited. Now, as all these
events occurred previous to the period of the Hollybush sandstone, or

|
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y

a2

274

Malvern representative of the Lingula flags, it follows that a very long interval
must have elapsed between the respective epochs at which the two formations
were accumulated ; and as the Hollybush sandstone rests transgressively on
the gneissic rocks, while on the contrary there is perfect conformity between
the Lingula flags and the Cambrian rocks, we infer that whatever sediments
were deposited upon the gneissic rocks during this long interval, over the
area not now covered by newer formations, must have been stripped off
again by denudation before the sandstone was deposited. Hence we may
conclude that the Cambrian rocks are absent from beneath the Hollybush
sandstone, and that the crystalline rocks belong to a yet earlier epoch.

There are, however, reasons for supposing that at some former period
the gneissic rocks were covered by other sediments, which were again
removed from off them before the era of the Lingula Flags, except, perhaps,
certain rocks on the eastern slopes of the Herefordshire Beacon, which are less
highly altered than the crystalline rocks of the ridge, and are clearly of a later
date, and which, it is quite possible, may be a remnant of these missing
strata. Unlike the older gneissic rocks, they appear to owe their altered
condition to local causes, viz., to the intercalation of beds of lava and to trap
dykes ; and I formerly regarded them as part of the Lingula Flag series, but of
this there is no certain evidence, and it is equally possible that they may be
older ; but as the relative position of these rocks to the Hollybush sandstone is
not known, it is impossible to say whether they may belong to the Cambrian
system or to some more ancient one.

We have rocks supposed to be Cambrian on the South at May Hill; we
have them on the North-East at Charnwood Forest, resting directly on rocks
precisely similar to those of the Malverns ; we have them on the North-West
at Haughmond Hill and the Longmynds ; and we know that subsidence was
going on at the epoch of the Hollybush Sandstone, and had probably com-
menced long anterior to that date; and from this and other evidence I infer
that at the commencement of the Cambrian period there was in central
England a large area of land which culminated in a mountain ridge, which is
now the Malverns, and that as this tract subsided, fresh deposits succes-
sively crept forward towards the ridge, and progressively decreasing the area.
But I do not think that there is any evidence that the ridge became suffi-
ciently depressed for deposition to take place upon its flanks, until the
period of the Lingula Flags.

This paper gave rise to an interesting discussion. Professor Morris took
the same view with Dr. Holl, and considered that there was no evidence of
igneous action observable in the Malvern chain. They were in reality a gneissic
range of metamorphic structure synchronising with the Laurentian rocks of
Canada, not of truly igneous origin, though penetrated at various parts by
irruptive veins of syenite and dykes of trap, and went intoa long train of
argument on the subject, illustrating his remarks with diagrams,

The Rev. W. S. Symonds said that he had carefully considered the
matter, and he felt bound to say also that the old views of geologists as to
the Malvern range being syenite and therefore igneous were erroneous, and
he considered that though the hills had been uplifted at various times, yet
that they were formed from deposited strata of very ancient date that had
been metamorphosed. He thought, therefore, that the views of Dr. Holl
were substantially correct, though further proof was required of the exact
age of the metamorphosed rocks,

The proceedings wete next diversified by a little amusing coup de theatre
which filled up time while the party were still bound by the fickleness of the
weather. Mr. E. Lers produced a rude drinking cup made of burnt clay,
with zig zag ornaments upon it, that had been buried with the ashes of a
Silurian chieftain on the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon, and there
discovered by the Ordnance surveyors a few years ago. Mr, Lees now presented
the cup to be drank out of by the Presidents of the Clubs present, after its
disuse for above two thousand years, for it had been examined by learned
antiquarians in London who had pronounced if to be an ancient British cup,
and nothing exactly similar had been met with except ina few barrows in
Wiltshire. The cup was examined with much curiosity, and many members as
well as the presidents drank out of it (see plate).

Mr. W. Pontine, of Worcester, had also by request, brought some
Saxon relics that had been exhumed last year at Upton Snodsbury, near
Worcester, consisting of a singular amber necklace, sword, fibule, &c. Theso
were inspected with much interest, and it seemed curious for these ancient
objects, as far as man was concerned, to be brought in contact with nature’s
stores belonging to a period of incalcuable antiquity—the products of a sea
on which no vessel had ever sailed, and a shore untouched by any human
foot. x

Dr. GRINDROD, as a hospitable teetotaler, before the naturalists left
kindly proffered tea and coffee to his guests, which was partaken of with as
much relish as if all present had assembled at a Temperance banquet; and
at length, when the rain had subsided, the word of command was given
to storm the heights of the North Hill,

A new road has been recently formed for visitors, which now gives
comparatively easy access to the once formidable North Hill at Malvern, and
along this easy ascent the naturalists proceeded, and for a brief period
transient gleams lit up the extensive landscape, and the pure air was fragrant
and exciting. This gave spirit to the geologists, who brandished their hammers
and cracked jokes and rocks at the same time, and trapped specimens of
trap, with energy equal to the occasion, When the apex of the hill was
reached Mr. Symonds, the President of the Malvern Club, with his usual
energetic eloquence, discoursed for a short time on the aspect of the country
before them in the glacial period, and adverted to the fossil remains of

eh al

(EXACT SIZE.)

ANCIENT BRITISH DRINKING-CUP, exhumed from the summit
ot the Worcestershire Beacon, Malvern Hills, November, 1849; in the
possession of Epwin Lunes, Esq., F.L.S., FG.S., &e.

This Cup is formed of clay that has been baked, and evidently rudely made
by hand; and the markings and beadings impressed upon it are very deficient
in regularity and unequal in depth. Tt has several holes perforated in its
sides towards the top, by which it might have been strung up, or perhaps hung
vound the neck. This curious little vessel, which was found among caicined
bones, doubtless of some Silurian chieftain, is in height two and a half inches,
and the breadth at top three inches. The bottom is nearly three quarters of

an inch in thickness. There are relics of colour upon it, as if originally tinted
by some pink pigment.

Lr al al

276
mammoths, rhinoceroces, &c., belonging to that frigid time that had been
discovered in the drift at the base of the hills. As the rhimy vapours began
again to encompass the hill, and time was valuable, the address of Mr.

Symonds was necessarily shortened, and the party descended to the End Hill,
and thence into the road below.

There was but little opportunity for botanical examination, but some
quantity of Corydalis claviculata was gathered in flower, and the local fungus,
Cantharellus aurantiacus, prettily adorned the mossy slopes of the hills with
its orange-coloured hymenium. The rare moss, Zygodon Mougeotii, was also
collected by a zealous cryptogamist. On their return by the northern base
of the End Hill towards great Malvern the party paused at a most interesting
quarry, where an outburst of trap is presented to view, ful! of joints, and
presenting some similarity to basalt, both in its structure and constituents.
Dr. Holl, who ably descanted on the appearances at this spot, stated that the

* rock contained 22 per cent. of iron. Hereabouts much sulphate of barytes is

dispersed in the cracks of the rocks, and some large and fine chrystallised
specimens of this heavy spar was collected,

On rounding the hill, considerable interest was excited by the unex-
pected discovery of a good solid specimen of the now almost extinct “‘ article,”
a parish stocks, with a whipping-post hard by. To find such things at all is
curious in these days; but to find them at modern Malvern seems a
marvellous anachronism indeed. Some gentlemen forthwith got in the stocks,
to say they had done such a thing; but it was tame work without the jeers of
the parish boys, of which we have a lively recollection in ‘“‘ the good old times
gone by.”

At four o’clock, a party of nearly seventy gentlemen sat down, in the
new concert-room at Great Malvern, to a dinner, which was good as far as it
went. Never, surely, were the bones of a hauach of venison more thoroughly
anatomised at table! and as to “ waiting,” it may be said, in more senses
than one, that the guests took their share. Sir W. V. Guise, Bart., occupied
the chair, and the*Rev. W. S. Symonds and Edwin Lees, Esq., officiated as
vice-chairmen.

Sir W. Goutsr, the Chairman, almost before the cheese had been dis-
cussed, rose and stated that as it was necessary to economise time for those
gentlemen who had a long distance to return, and for whom the train
would not wait, he would at once proceed to business. He understood that
they had all, like the club he represented, discarded toasts and speeches
after dinner; but he would on the present occasion propose one only, and
though it might be thought that they were praising themselves, yet if they
had no one else to do that duty, he must do it for them (laughter). He would
therefore propose ‘‘ Health and prosperity to the associated clubs who had
met in Malvern that day” (cheers), In these clubs were many gentlemen
whose amount of knowledge and experience was considerable, and when they

277
communicated their observations it was beneficial not only to themselves, but
to the counties in which they lived, and ultimately to the world at large.
Their meetings spread abroad a love of natural history, and though perhaps
more work was done in small meetings than in large ones, the latter were not
without advantage. He had much pleasure in meeting the members of the
Malvern Field Club, as the country they had examined was a most delightful
one. He congratulated them on their success, and trusted they might meet
many more times, not only there, but in other parts of the country (applause).

Dr. Butt, of Hereford, who had been specially named by Sir William
Guise as the President of the Woolhope Club, which stands next in seniority
to the Cotteswold Club, replied to the toast. He regretted not having heard
Mr. Munn’s paper at the Priory from being detained at Hereford. He was
told that the murder of good St. Werstan had been gravely attributed to
four Herefordshire men, without a particle of authority for the statement.
He could not help suspecting a little concealed fun in it, but however that
might be, the Woolhope Club had shown that day that Herefordshire men
could come in much greater numbers in answer to the invitations of Mr.
Symonds, and to do honour to their chairman, Sir William Guise. No two
men had done more to encourage the Woolhope Club, and they must rejoice
in its success during the present year, for the Woolhope Club had held four
meetings with an average attendance of 54, They were perennial Presidents—
evergreens rather he should say—for were they not always ready to promote
natural science in winter asin summer. For himself he was merely an annual,
his reign would soon be over, but he would be succeeded by a more able man,
and he hoped they would come next year into Herefordshire to see how
spiritedly the Woolhope Club now carried on their meetings.

Extmes Y. STEELE, Esq., Vice-president of the Woolhope Club, then
made some observations on a very fine and perfect specimen of Cephalaspis
Asterolepis which he exhibited to the meeting. .

Mr. E. LEES was next called upon, and read the following paper,

.
{
q
4

ON THE PLANTS*OF THE MALVERN HILLS, AND
THEIR ORIGINAL DERIVATION.

By EDWIN LEES, F.LS., F.G.S., &c., Vice-President of the Malvern
and Worcestershire Naturalists’ Clubs.

Mr, LzxEs introduced his paper by remarking that, in contemplating the
emblazoned windows of the Priory Church that morning with his friends of
the various Clubs, while Mr. Munn described the painted glass, he could not
help thinking how men in general were influenced by the colouring of things,
and the medium through which objects were viewed. He would, therefore,
treat them with a moral reflection before proceeding to the details of science,
and he felt inclined to say that, as passion, whim, or prejudice often coloured
or discoloured whatever lay before the view, so even naturalists were
influenced by the theoretic views that at times tinged their descriptions and
gave them a peculiar hue. To all objects and pursuits a colour might be
given according to the fancy of the describer, and it therefore became neces-
sary to examine everything closely, and not trust to the mere colour of the
surface, or to a tint that, laid on deceptively, might not be of an enduring
nature. Bright colouring was, however, always attractive to the eye, and
thus it was that the flowery garb of Nature never failed to please the wanderer,
and the poet who wished to adorn his descriptions, scarcely ever omitted to
pluck some flowery wreath, or, like Milton, was incited to—

“Call the vales, and hither bid them cast
Their gems and flow’rets of a thousand hues.”

Mr, Lees then read the following remarks on the

FLORA OF THE MALVERN HILLS.

Everybody, whether actual botanists or not, admits the interest that
there is in the contemplation of plants, for with the revivification of vegeta-
tion in the Spring, the world of life and beauty awakens to delight the gazer
upon the face of Nature. As Wordsworth has well said—

Bright flowers! each coming year hath view'd
Their myriads—endlessly renew’d ;

Wherever strikes the sun’s glad ray,

Where’er the joyous waters stray ;

Wherever sportive zephyrs bend

Their course, or genial showers descend ;

they offer themselves to please and gladden the delighted eye.

The variety that Flora presents in different localities is a source of per+
petual interest to the wandering botanist ; and as in almost every place where
there are hills and streams some particular plants are found that rejoice in
such favoured spots, the botanist looks out for what he fondly denominates

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the rare plants of the district, and is tempted to roam from one habitat to
another for the peculiar species that are confined, from height and other
circumstances, within prescribed limits, These plants are catalogued, and
form what is technically called ‘THs Fiona” of a district or country. A
mere list of orders, genera, and species, such as are usually given in a Flora,
even when subdivided into districts, by no means presents to the mind or the
eye a notion of the prevailing vegetation anywhere. The statement that the
following plants, among others, grow on the Malvern Hills, viz. :—

Pinguicula vulgaris Sedum album
Anagallis tenella Potentilla verna
Chrysosplenium alternifolium Meenchia erecta
Narcissus pseudo-narcissus Corydalis claviculata
Montia fontana Gnaphalium sylvaticum

or an entire list of all the plants growing there, by no means gives an adequate
notion to the mind of the vegetation making up the aspect of the hills; and
so with other portions of country, the woods, the upland meadows, and the
banks of rivers. To do this, reference must be made to what Baron Humboldt
has called the ‘‘physiognomy of vegetation,” and then the different parts of
any region may be contrasted with each other. Even portions of the same
chain of hills may show differences of aspect, according to the plants clothing
the ground, and among the Malverns the appearance of the well-named
** Hollybush Hill,” ever robed in the dark verdancy of that spiny-leaved tree,
offers a remarkable contrast to the treeless North Hill, invested in summer
with a robe of glowing purple from the numerous foxgloves (Digitalis
purpurea) that then cover it. In early spring the verdant mosses and the
light green Euphorbia amygdaloides give beauty to the slopes, while later in
the year the exposed sides of the Malvern hills are refulgent in gold from the
extent of blossoming autumnal furze ( Ulex gallii). The common brake ( Pieris
aquilina), equally abundant about the bases of the hills in autumn, as that
season approaches combines the burnt sienna of its fading fronds with the
dark-green of the furze.

Then again, in different seasons particular plants, from meteorological or
unknown circumstances, swarm in an extraordinary way, and give a feature
to the landscape that may not occur again for years. Thus, at times, the
great brown withered-like parasite Orobanche major will appear among broom;
the bitter cuckoo-flower (Cardamine amara) be abundant on the side of little
rills; the golden Chrysosplenium in similar spots; the beautiful twining
wood vetch (Vicia sylvatica) profusely in woods; the purple saintfoin
(Onobrychis sativa), and the pyramidal orchis (O. pyramidalis) on limestone
rocks; or the Wnanthe phellandrium by pools, and the elegant rose-
elustered dropwort (Spiraea filipendula) filling upland meadows.

This variety in the aspect of vegetation contrasts with rocks as distin-
guishing countries, for as Humboldt has well observed, the granitic rock, the
basaltic column, and the limestone ridge, is the same in Iceland and Sweden
as in Mexico and Peru, but who could mistake the vegetation of those distant

a

280

countries? Even animals are seldom seen in sufficient numbers to give a character
to the landscape, and their restless perpetual motion removes them from
our view; but trees affect us by their magnitude and stability, flowers by the
beauty of their colours, and herbs by the freshness of their verdure,

At a meeting where learned, acute, and experienced naturalists long
inured to investigation are assembled together, I should like to take a
wider view than the mere enumeration of plants now growing upon these
rocks, or on the confines of the Malvern country. I should wish, if it was
possible, to connect past with present vegetation, and excite geological as well
as botanical interest. But it is impossible fully to do so here; and even to
go back only to those times that we all acknowledge, when a strait or channel
swept through the vale of Worcester, from the Mersey to the Devonshire
coast, thus isolating Wales—when of course numerous littoral plants must
have then lined the shore —it is only in the Longdon Marshes that the Scirpus
maritimus yet existing, gives us an indication of a former maritime Flora, and
perhaps the abundance of C@nanthe pimpinelloides near Forthampton and
Powick. I have, indeed, gathered the Sea Storks-bill (Hrodium maritimum)
here in years past, perhaps another trace of sea-shore vegetation, but that
is now gone by the intrusion of donkeys at the habitat where it grew.
To penetrate backward into the arcana of fossil vegetation is a difficult task,
and almost beyond the reach of botanical effort—in fact, so uncertain is
the diagnosis of fossilised plants that, except generally as to fucoids and ferns
in the secondary deposits, I much doubt whether many other plants there
ean be certainly identified; for the coal vegetation has given rise to very
discordant opinions as to what it consists of, and even roots have been con-
sidered as distinct plants. Yet if zoologists can trace life from its lowest
forms in ancient deposits to the grander consummation of mammalian animals
of later date, it might be supposed that vegetation had something like a
connecting chain to show, linking the past to the present. The tertiary beds
have, especially on the continent, indeed, presented beautifully preserved
leaves, from which the families to which they belonged have been educed ;
and this has led to the remarkable conclusion adopted by Dr. Seeman and
other able botanists, that the present flora of Australia very much resembles
what was the characteristic vegetation of Europe in tertiary times, and that it
is a remnant of that vegetation which was kept in existence by progressing
from Europe in the direction of Australia, The general forms of Australian
vegetation such as the Banksiz and the leather-leaved Eucalypti have more
affinity with the relics of tertiary vegetation than with the living forms now in
Europe or elsewhere. Admitting this, then, without necessarily following up
Dr. Seeman’s argument, that this vegetation, which includes so few edible fruits,
was insufficient to sustain human life if any then existed, or at any rate any
large population, then comes the question, from whence arose the present
vegetation around us, and is it derivable from any ancient source? I infer that
vegetation has been always migratory from certain centres of creation, and that

281

there are such centres seems probable from the abundance of forms on
particular lofty chains of mountains, The more extensive and lofty the moun-
tains the more numerous and varied the families of plants. Hence it is that
English botany is comparitively poorly developed, and all derivative. Let
any botanist take the entire range of these hills of igneous rock, as generally
considered, and from end to end he will find that the stigma of the poet,

The bare and herbless granite,

applies equally to these syenitic irruptions as to the granite itself, for not thirty
remarkable flowering plants will be found that can be esteemed truly native,
and all of these are derivable from the European continent. The Foxglove,
very abundant here, is generally a devoted luver of igneous hills; but
plentiful as the Gorse is now, studding the Malvern slopes, I have reason
to doubt its ancient allocation here, and would not pledge myself to its
existence in the time of Caractacus. An English botanist would peregrinate
twenty or thirty miles to be assured of finding only half a dozen rare plants ;
and yet, as I observed only a few weeks since, at Zermatt in Switzerland, when
ascending to 8,000 feet of elevation there, on a particular day, I gathered
more than 200 alpine plants all remarkable and worthy of note. Here then
are, if not centres of creation, favoured localities for plants now, and yet
we have no clue to trace them back as descendants of former vegetation, nor
would the Darwinian hypothesis avail us without an assumption irrecon-
eileable with observed facts. Yet these alpine rocks, redolent with numerous
forms of vegetative life, are confessed by geologists to have a later origin
than many rocks in this countiy that have no true endemic flowering plants
toshow. This is a difficulty which geologists have failed to explain, and it is
not easy to account for the phenomena displayed, Old rocks would seem to be
likely to nourish old world plants; but if the younger rocks attain a higher
elevation, then they have peculiar forms unknown to older though lower
rocks. Thus there is no flowering plant peculiar to the Malvern chain, though
it might have been considered probable there would be. My friend Mr.
Symonds, in one of his delightful books on old stones and “‘stones of the
valley,” which he knows so well how to throw and hit with too, has speculated
on Alpine Gentians beautifying these Malvern rocks when they were at 15,000
feet of elevation. But where was the Gentiana to be got from at that early
time, seeing that the Alps on which it now flourishes had not then been
elevated? Perhaps if the Malverns were again lifted up, the lovely Gentian
might show its intensely blue flowers there; but what was on its hoary brow
countless ages ago, I would not venture to say, nor has an alpine plant of that:
date survived upon the range in any part. If then, there are any plants of very
ancient date upon the Malvern Hills, they must belong to the Cryptogamous
division, and among this tribe it may be possible to go a long way back.
A lichen on a rock may be older than a yew-tree, and if not in its actual thallus.
as now visible, must yet in its family as lineally descended, and it may pro-
bably in few descents be many thousands of years old. Here, as one of our

pA > oS

282

observant poets has truly said, appear

The living stains which nature’s hand alone, ,
Protuse of life, pours forth upon the stone,
For ever growing, where the common eye

Can but the bare and rocky bed descry.

The lichens next to the fucoids must have been the earliest vegetation upon
land, and when they had commenced nothing would destroy them, and the
lichens must be our oldest aérial plants. Some of the rocks of this very North
hill are coated with a sooty perennial covering that bears the name of
Parmelia stygia, aud it clings so close te the rock as to be with difficulty
removable from the stone, and thus gives it a sable hue that extends slowly
but surely for centuries, yet even this cryptogamic vegetation is migratory,
and no one can tell from where it may have progressed. It may have existed
on these rocks for ten thousand years and yet be not original here, but
derived from some other point. The air is filled with minute sporules of
cryptogamic vegetation, and thus it is that a roof or wall in the course of a
few years becomes covered by a minute though conspicuous vegetation, that
owes its origin to the sporules that have been dispersed by the winds or brought
down in rain. A rock though of modern age when exposed to atmospheric
action (for the air is full of spores of Algs, Fungi, and Lichens), soon becomes
eovered with an escutcheon of pretence, though from what origin or source
derived it would be impossible to say. Walls and battlements in like manner
nourish ferns, and where after a time there is mould enough derived from the
decomposed rock, or from the ashes of dead cryptogams, flowering plants and
even shrubs and trees at last appear, till a ruin like Tintern Abbey or the
Coliseum at Rome becomes as thickly clothed with vegetation as a rock
itself of nature’s formation. Such features form pictorial scenes that attract
the eye of poetical observation, and this Lord Byron has remarked justly

and truly—

I stood within the Coliseum’s wall

Mid the last glories of eternal Rome ;

The trees that grew among the broken arches
Wav'd dark in the still midnight, and the stars
Shone through the rents of ruin.

Some cypresses upon the time-worn breach
Appear'd to skirt the horizon, yet they stood
Within a bow-shot. Where the Czsars dweit,

Now dwell the tuneless birds of night, ‘midst groves
That spring from ruin’d battlements,

‘And twine their roots with the imperial hearths.

More than 500 plants have been enumerated in the ‘‘Flora Coliszea,” as colonized
by nature on the ruins of the Coliseum at Rome. So on these rocks I have
noticed lichens to the number of 254, and my friend, Dr. Holl, who has paid
much attention to this tribe, has added many to the amount, while a few have
been from microscopic examination referred to the Fungi. Mosses too have
luxuriated in the recesses of these rocks, if not to the same numerical
amount of species, yet individually to a greater extent, forming a wide verdant
imundation; and some of the J angermanniz, especially J. Tamarisct, have’
spread sufficiently to give a remarkable local colouring to the rocks—giving

283

them in fact an artistic tinge which they would not otherwise have possessed,
However old, then, and from whatever source derived, Cryptogamic vegetation
especially, because ascending higher upon the mountains, conserves the
surface of rocks and prevents that destruction which would otherwise be
their lot. Here on the Malvern Hills, the Mosses, the Lichens, and the
Grasses have almost entirely furred up the rocks, and they cannot now
be lowered except by artificial means. In this way rocks become remarkably
tinted, and bear in Wales and Scotland the names of Black or White, from
the hues of the lichens upon them. Monte Rosa, among the Alps, has been so
named from its rocks being reddened by cryptogamic plants upon them, as I
noticed when in Switzerland during the present summer in the vicinity of the
chain of Monte Rosa. As high then as vegetation will grow, which is rather
more than 9,000 feet in Europe, so far will vegetation by an extended growth
cover rocks with a protective shield, and above this ice and perpetual snow
glazes the rocks with an enduring coat, that is only melted under exceptional
circumstances,

Denudation has in times past prevailed to an astonishing extent, but on
the retirement of the sea this has been stopped by the growth of vegetation ;
and in modern times only floods under peculiar circumstances, or earthquakes,
can make any perceptible difference in the aspect of a country or in any way
alter its grand features, Even in a volcanic district vegetation creeps on to the
verge of smouldering fires; and the old craters of Auvergne, in France, are
covered with grasses, and, as I have noticed, have now herds of cattle feeding
within them, and thus retain their concavities uninjured. So it was with the
old crater of Vesuvius previous to the eruption in Pliny’s time. Plants,
whether flowering or cryptogamic, must then have been migratory from a
very early period, and whether any now on the earth are, strictly speaking,
endemic, that is, living as natives on the spot where first placed, may, even in
the case of alpine ones, be questioned. Instructed by modern instances, we
see in the case of the Canadian water-weed (Anacharis alsinastrum) how a
plant may be insidiously introduced into a countiy and so spread as to appear
as a true native to present obervation. What is true of the Canadian weed in
the present day applies to the common stinging-nettle in former times, which,
when once introduced, spread in all directions, and could never be banished
or effectually destroyed. In South America at this moment leagues of country
are overgrown by European migrating thistles, that would appear to a stranger
as truly native as any other production he saw. And so in Australia, European
weeds have spread to such a degree as to cause an Act of the local Parliament
to be passed to attempt (though vainly) their eradication. In like manner
the old flora of St. Helena, and other oceanic islands, is dying away, while
modern interlopers fill up the ground, This may happen, and no doubt has
happened, over and over again.

We no more see on the earth its primitive vegetation, as originally placed,
than we see in the Alps and other mountainous ranges the original conforma-

es «

284

tion of the earth. Metamorphosis seems the rule in the changes that rocks
present from their earliest deposition ; but perpetual migration, founded
perhaps on meteorological conditions, regulates the distribution of plants, and
not a slow alteration from one species into another. What may be effected in
“countless ages” by a theory like Darwin’s, is but hypothetical after all,
whatever may be said in its favour; but the change in the vegetation of a
country by migration perpetually going on is within our own observation. If
those botanists are correct who infer the vegetation of Australia to be the
oldest now alive on the earth, from its similarity to the Tertiary Flora, that
appeared to be extinct, the argument as to alteration of species or family by
gradual change falls to the ground. If the Australian Flora is deemed a relic
of the Tertiary period, from its affinities to Tertiary vegetation, then vegeta-
tion of a different character is not so derived. If the Australian vegetation
has roved from other lands that could not now nourish it, then the present
European vegetation may have started into existence from other lands that
have now disappeared, and in the case of Alpine vegetation, arising on moun-
tains elevated at a late geological period, I conceive that there can be no other
conclusion, Thus all vegetation has been fugitive—always changing its position
as far as we can now penetrate into the misty and undeterminable ages of
the past.

I do not mean to say that such a view is without its difficulties, or that
there may not be certain secluded spots on the earth’s surface where original
endemic vegetation may yet abide. But we see the migrating principle
before us ever causing alteration from this principle alone, and it is more
reasonable to suppose that this has ever been the plan of Nature, than that
the variety we now see is the result of a slow change by which from a few
original forms unnumbered species or varieties have been derived. I acknow-
ledge that we must step back to a vista not easily descried. The Malvern
flora is all derivative. The flora of the British islands is derivative also, and
it can be traced ; and so the flora of all Europe may be derivative, though its
source may not now be as evident as the connection of the Australian vegetation
with that of the Tertiary period. If we look at the treasures concealed in the
carboniferous rocks, we there see abundance of ferns, some of them as similar
as possible to ferns of the present day, and none can doubt that ferns must
have revelled in the moister places of the earth from the carboniferous period
to the present day. Here, then, ferns have continued ferns, and if they could
be found farther back in the world’s herbarium, I do not believe they could
have been anything else.

Instead, therefore, of believing in the increase of forms of vegetable life
upon the earth from change of species perpetually progressing, I believe they
are growing less ; for whatever the horticultural creations of man they cannot
be made to last long, and many curious varieties after existing for a time,
instead of remaining permanent, are lost; showing that however vegetation

285

may “‘sport,” as it is called, it finally returns to the original type instead of
progressing onwards.

My own idea, then, is, however far back we may try to go in the history
of the earth, when elevated above the dominion of primeval seas, we shall
find a distributed vegetation of varied character, and that circumstances have
either restricted or multiplied this original vegetation, spreading it widely in
some cases over vast areas, like the little groundsel, the thistle, or the aspiring
pine; while in others, asin the case of some rare orchids or other plants only
once or twice found, or limited tv particular spots, there has been no extension
of the species from the original place where it first vegetated. Greater
variety formerly existed on the earth’s surface, both as to animals and plants,
than at present, and in the fact of numerous animals and plants having
become extinct, this is undeniable. Slowly but surely this will go on, because
nature in its wildness and man in his advance to civilisation and increase of
dominion are incompatible. Nature makes neither new animals nor new
plants now, though discoveries may yet be made of what were previously
obscure or unknown; but at length there will be fewer lands to conquer, the
ground unobserved becomes every year less, and in a few centuries hence, if
fresh islands and continents are not raised from the sea, there will be
scarcely any terra incognita at all from one pole to the other. The value,
then, of all past careful observation by scientific men becomes of increasing
interest, because it is certain that, with colonization in every part of the world,
the spread of culture, and the necessity of utilizing every spot of ground as
population increases, that numerous animals and plants will altogether dis-
appear from the earth’s surface; and though man’s ingenuity may never
cease to adorn the garden by his pressing the powers of Nature to the utmost
point to which they may be carried, yet Nature herself intruded upon and
displaced from her wild haunts, will in the publicity to which she must
become exposed, originate nothing fresh there ; and in botany especially the
catalogue of new plants must eventually be closed, unless (as Fries says) we are
compelled to make the species of a plant depend upon the presence or
absence of a single hair.

To the past, then, we must look for information on the earth’s history.
That will always have a treasury whose recesses invite exploration, when the
present scene, at last everywhere invaded by chimneys, smoke, and noisome
smells, has become flat, unprofitable, and, to the naturalist, all but exhausted.

Ere the paper was quite concluded, the inexorable train obliged the
Woolhopeans and Cotteswoldeans to migrate, like the plants mentioned, in
different directions, and though the Malvern and Worcester divisions pro-
longed the sederunt for some time longer, nothing further of any interest was
brought forward, and the proceedings were closed for the day, and for the
season as well, with most of the clubs.

286

- The Woolhops Haturalists’ Hield Club,

THE ANNUAL MEETING—Fesrvary 267TH, 1867.

The annual meeting of this flourishing and useful society was held at the
City Arms Hotel, in this city, on Tuesday, when Dr. Bull, the retiring
President, occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of members,
The President reported fully the proceedings of the Central Committee
throughout the year, and read a statement of the accounts, which showed
that, notwithstanding an increased outlay, the society had added a balance to
its reserve fund. He stated that the number of members had considerably
increased in the year. The report and statement of accounts were duly
adopted ; certain proposals with the view of enhancing the permanent value
of the Society’s Transactions, were agreed to; and four field meetings were
fixed, to be held at Colwall, Llandrindrod, Ludlow—so as to meet the British
Archzological Institute—and Woolhope.

Chandos Wren Hoskyns, Esq., of Harewood, was then unanimously
elected President for the ensuing year.

The PRESIDENT-ELECT, amid applause, expressed his inability to find
words which would adequately express his sense of the kindness shown him
by his fellow-members of the Woolhope Club in appointing him to the office
of president. He felt, in accepting the post, that it was a high honour, more
especially when he bore in mind the great ability and the conspicuous business
talent which had been displayed by Dr. Bull in his year of office (applause).
The management had been admirable in all respects, nothing having been
wanting to complete the success of the various meetings; and he felt that
this made the task of any one who followed Dr. Bull in office more difficult.
In regard to geology, he confessed that, although he had been a member of
the Warwickshire Field Club—one of the earliest after the Tyne-side,
which was the original of all these clubs—down to the time when he had
become a member of the Woolhope, he felt that the progress of the science
of late years had been so great as to leave him behind. He was glad, however,
to find from the transactions, that the geology of the district had been care-
fully studied and described : and he should be happy to render his services as
president towards the further cultivation of that and the other branches of
the natural history of the county (applause).

The following gentlemen were then elected vice-presidents for the year :—
The Rey. S. Clarke, the Rev. Thos. Woodhouse; H. Salwey, Esq. ; and T.
Curley, Esq. The honorary secretary, the Rev. George H. Cornewall,
the Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, Mr. Arthur Thompson, were
re-elected unanimously ; and, after the transaction of the remaining business,
the President called upon Mr, Blashill for his paper on the Water Ranunculi.

287
VARIETIES IN THE WATER RANUNCULL

By T. BLASHILL, Esq., of London,

Having several years since made a collection illustrative of that very
difficult group of plants included under the popular name of water crowfoot, I
am requested by our President to submit a few notes upon them to the club,
with the view of drawing attention to the present state of our knowledge of
these plants, which I believe all practical botanists consider to be rather
unsatisfactory.

The genus Ranunculus is one of those which range over a great variety
of soils and situations: there is, indeed, hardly any description of site for
which one or other of our British species is not adapted. First there are the
species of water crowfoot, which belong to ditches, pools, and rivers, and
allied to them is the ivy-leaved ranunculus (R. hederacecus), the plant of very
shallow water. 2. sceleratus grows in muddy places, lingua and flammula in
marshy places, jicaria and auricomus in moist shady places, acris and bulbosus
in meadows and pastures, repens in waste ground, hirsutus and arvensis in comm
fields, and parviflorus on dry banks. The steps between these several species
is never very wide, even if we omit to notice some intermediate foreign plants,
and several of our native species are subject to a considerable degree of varia-
tion when they stray out of their native and proper localities, I have
specimens of hirsutus which from growing upon mud have acquired very much
of the character of sceleratus, the plant of muddy places; acris is said to
change similarly under the like circumstances, and this plant also forms a
small alpine variety. Such facts as these should prepare us for a considerable
amount of variation in other species of the genus.

In order to present a clear view of the Water Ranunculi I have chosen
to adopt the arrangement, and use the illustrations of the last edition of
‘English Botany,” by Mr. John T. Boswell Syme, that being, I believe, the
best hitherto published. This arrangement is as follows :—

Species 1—R, circinatus, which has submerged leaves only: these spread
out into a rounded shape, in one plane, and give to the plant an appearance
very distinct from other species which grow in similar places.

Species 2—R, flutans, the plant of rivers, where its long stems and
thread-shaped leaves form a conspicuous object in such strong streams as
the Severn and the Wye.

Species 3—R. aquatilis, which is divided into four sub-species, thus (1) R.
peltatus, of which there are these three varieties, a vulgaris, B floribundus,
and y pseudo-fluitans. The last of these varieties grows in running water,
and differs from the more common forms of the plant by producing under
water long, tassel-like, collapsing leaves, and in general appearance it resembles
R. fluitans. Floating leaves are rarely produced. It grows abundantly in the
river Arrow at Pembridge. (2) R. heterophyilus has submerged leaves, whioh

——s ey eT

Aa

288

‘collapse into a pencil when taken out of the water.” Its floating leaves are
almost circular, inclined to be divided into five segments, and the margins aré
formed of straighter lines than in the last sub-species. (3) R. Drouetii isa
slender plant. It has seldom any floating leaves: its submerged leaves collapse
when drawn from the water. (4) RB. trichophyllus seldom produces floating
leaves, its submerged leaves are ‘“‘short, divaricate, comparatively rigid.”
There are other minute distinctions between these varieties founded on the
flowers and seeds.

Species 4is R. Baudotii, which grows chiefly in brackish water, and, so far

_ as I can judge, has the thickened fleshy form which one expects to see in the

plants of such a locality. One variety of it, B. confusus, grows also in fresh
water.

The remaining members of this group—tripartitus (one variety of which
has been found in England), Lenormandi, and hederaceus—are less closely
allied in appearance to the preceding species, but the bond of union between
them is closer than would be inferred from an inspection of our British
species only.

This being, perhaps, the most clear and intelligible arrangement for
showing the different forms, we may now look at the way in which they have
been dealt with by other eminent botanists. In the older books four varieties
of Ranunculus aquatilis are recognised. These seem to be—Ist, the common
form, which has floating and submerged leaves ; 2nd, that which has submerged
leaves only ; 3rd, FR. fluitans; 4th, R. circinatus. Mr. Babington, after having
in previous editions of his manual treated the forms of aquatilis as varieties
only, has in his last edition elevated them to the rank of distinct species, so
that the whole group now stands as follows :—

R. trichophyllus R. Baudotii R, circinatus
Drouetit floribundus fluitans
heterophyllus peltatus co@enosus
confusus tripartitus hederaceus

Now Mr. Bentham considers these twelve different forms to be but
varieties of one species, upon which he makes these remarks ;—‘‘ Many of the
forms it assumes are striking and have been distinguished as species, but the
characters, although to a certain degree permanent, appear at other times so
inconstant, and even to depend so much on the situation the plant grows in,
that we can only consider them as mere varieties.” In his last edition he
recognises hederaceus as a distinct species, though somewhat against his
private judgment, remarking that varieties occur in southern Europe which
ally it to aquatilis.

Here are three very different views put forth by botanists of the first
rank, and two of them at least must fail to convey an idea of the true relation
of the plants to each other. Are they several species or one species? or are
several of them to be considered as ‘‘sub-species”? The last term is applied
by Mr, Lyne to “‘ plants which have less strongly marked differences between

289

them than are found between generally received species, but which are, never-
theless, too constant in their characters to be considered as merely varieties.”
It is a very convenient term when used merely for grouping plants as to the
true relation of which there is a question, Judging, however, from local
experience chiefly, and therefore at great disadvantage, I venture to doubt
whether the term ‘‘sub-species”, as applied to the different forms of R&R.
aquatilis, conveys an exact notion of their relationship. For if the variations
which distinguish them are permanent under all conditions of the plant, and
appear to have always existed, they must be separate species, however small
the difference between them; and, on the other hand, if they are neither
original nor permanent forms, they must be merely varieties, however great
their diversity.

With the view of forming an opinion on this point in relation to the
various forms of the Ranunculus aquatilis of Linnceus, I searched the waters of
one locality. Within half a mile of Garnons, I found specimens of every form
of the plant which could possibly have grown there. There were the so-called
species and sub-species flwitans,peltatus, floribundus, heterophyllus, Drouetit
and trichophyllus. There was, I thought, a distinct character in the water of
the habitats of these different forms, but upon this point I should be glad of
further opportunity of examination, and also of the experience of other
observers. In that difference of character I thought I saw sufficient provo-
cation, so to speak, for all the variations in the forms of the plant, especially
in such a variable genus as we know this to be. My specimens of the ordinary
forms of aquatilis were from ditches of clear still water. Ina pool through
which a spring ran, grew the sub-species heterophyllus. R. Drouetii grew ina.
pool which was thick with whiteish mud from land drains. T'richophyllus
was in a large clear pool. In the strong currents of the Wye which drag and
keep the plant beneath the surface, and are subject to frequent changes of
level, there was of course R. fluitans, but even here I found one specimen with
a true floating leaf, caused, I have no doubt, by accidental protrusion of the
end of a single stem abovethe surface in very still water. The names of the
above forms are given to them by the best authorities to whom the plants have
been submitted, including Mr. Boswell Syme. I would not myself take any
responsibility about them, for in common with others whom I have consulted,
I have found the greatest difficulty in applying the distinctive characters
found in books to actual specimens—such distinctions as those founded on
the submerged leaves which either collapse or remain divaricate when taken
out of the water—the extent to which the extremity of the stem projects
above the surface (which seems to be a question of specific gravity.) The
occurrence or not of floating leaves (which probably depends upon similar
causes) all seems insufficient to found any reliable distinction upon, and I
believe they are found unreliable in practice. When the stems of aquatilis
turn down again into the water after flowering, the submerged leaves are again
produced above the floating leaves. When jluitans grows upon mud, from

a

290

which the water has retired, it produces leaves having short wedge-shaped
segments exactly as aquatilis does under similar conditions.

Nor do the more permanent and generally trustworthy characters which
are drawn from the seeds seem to be in this case of much greater value, for
after careful inquiry amongst thoroughly practised botanists, I have found
no one who could say from his own experience that it was possible to make
the book characters agree in the case of the more closely allied varieties—
and the authors are certainly at variance with each other. This being the
case, I suggest to the members of the Club who have the opportunity, that
they should carefully examine and note the variations of the plant in such
localities as these, viz. :—A strong river like the Wye, a brisk stream like the
Arrow, a rivulet of spring water, a pool in rich pasture land, a pool on peat
or gravel, and a piece of brackish water. Note also whether the water is
tainted by manure. It would be interesting to observe how the plants behave
when removed to different localities, and when the upper part of the stems of
these form, which do not usually produce floating leaves, are artificially
elevated above the surface.

I am strongly inclined to believe that the seeming constancy of character
in these plants only exists so long as the conditions under which they grow
remain constant, or at any rate that a few generations would suffice to change

. any one of them into another variety. I am not sufficiently acquainted with

the foreign varieties allied to hederaceus and forming links between it and
aquatilis, to give an opinion as to that species ; but as to the others the pro-
bability of their being really no more than forms of the same plant appears
great. In any case the subject will repay investigation ; and we hope to be
able to throw some further light not only upon these allied species, but upon
other varieties in plants about which great diversity of opinion now exists.

(The paper was illustrated by numerous specimens of the different
varieties, and many well-executed water-colour drawings.)

At the close of the paper, Mr. Epwin Lugs, F.L.S., Vice-President of
the Worcestershire Natural History Society, said he agreed generally with the
conclusions of the writer of the paper, and had considerable doubt as to the
so-called species into which Ranunculus aquatilis was divided. He felt this
the more strongly because he found botanists differ so much in their identifi-
cation of supposed species. In one instance the same specimen of a plant had
received ten different names from different botanists (laughter) ; and further,
he had known the same specimen receive different names from the same botanist
on its being several times submitted to him (laughter). The fact was that it
was exceedingly difficult to identify plants from the descriptions given by
many botanists, and this was specially the case in regard to these supposed
new species, He was strongly inclined to think that all the presumed species
or sub-species of R, aquatilis were really referable to the variety of position

291

occasioned by the still or running water, in which the plant grew, ahd that
this variation produced the many intermediate forms that were to be met with.
As an example of the power of the water ranunculi to accommodate themselves
to altered conditions of growth, he mentioned the case of a plant growing in
the Severn near Worcester: the level of the water being raised several feet
some years ago, the plant continued to live, but, being unable to reach the
surface, ceased to flower. Last year, however, the level of the water being
lowered, the inflorescence appeared (applause).

Mr. FLAVELL Epmunps could, from his own observation of the varied
forms of the water ranunculi, corroborate the opinion expressed by his friend
Mr. Lees. In many places within five miles of Hereford, intermediate forms
between the supposed new species or sub-species were to be found. Soon
after first finding R. ccenosus in a roadside pool at Longworth, he was passing
a pool in the Breinton lane when he thought he saw another specimen, but on
examination it turned out to possess submerged leaves in addition to the
floating leaves: the pool was deeper than that at Longworth, and the plant
accommodated itself to the conditions of its habitat. This drew his attention
to the variations in form, and he found so many others as to convince him
that all the variations between FR. hederuceus on the one hand and R. jfluitans
on the other were produced by variety of position. In a shallow pool, in a
rich soil, the plant produced only floating leaves; and the other forms were
explained by the greater depth of the water, the presence or the absence of a
stream, and its greater or lesser force, until the observer came to the
R. fluitans as found in the Wye at Eaton Bishop, five or six feet long, with a
thick hollow stem, long tassels of submerged leaves, and no floating leaves at
all. He exhibited a specimen of R. hederaceus, from a shallow runnel on the
summit of the Longmynd hill near Church Stretton, and contrasted it with
the specimen figured in one of Mr. Blashill’s drawings, as an example of the
effect of unfavourable conditions on the development of the plant.

The PRESIDENT-ELECT expressed his concurrence in the view that the
variations referred to were due to soil and position.

The CHAIRMAN presented the thanks of the meeting to Mr, Blashill for
his interesting paper.

292
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR 1866.

By E. J. ISBELL, Esq., and Mr. COOKE,

In consequence of my absence from Hereford during the first half of
the past year, I have been compelled to leave the compilation of the annual
Meteorological Table almost entirely in the hands of my friend, Mr. Cooke.
This table. now appears in the usual form. Had it not been for my departure
from Hereford several columns would have been added ; but some important
instruments, being my own, were carried away by me when I left this place,
and thus a series of interesting observations was, I am sorry to say, broken
through and not resumed until my return.

In the construction of the table, Mr. Cooke has made use of the standard
barometer belonging to the Woolhope Club. This instrument, which was once
in my charge,has stood ever since it left my hands in Mr. Bezant’s shop, and
it was agreed that Mr. Bezant’s brother should register the readings daily, and
that Mr. Cooke should correct them. Since the first day of August, however,
I have myself registered and corrected the barometer readings, using my own
standard, as it is very important to be certain that the instrument is read off
at the same hour every day.

According to our observations the average height of the barometer at
Hereford during the year 1866, was 29.683 inches, Tt must be remembered,
however, that we do not reduce our observations to sea-level because we wish
to furnish the local height of the mercurial column; and as Hereford is,
according to Mr. Curley, 158 feet above the sea, and the barometer cistern
about 170 feet, the difference in reading between this instrument and one
placed at sea-level would be equal to two-tenths of an inch,

The average height of the barometer in England at the sea-level is 29.95
inches (Barometer Manual); it appears therefore that the mean of all the
barometer readings registered during the year 1866 by Mr. Bezant and myself
is nearly the same as the average determined by the highest authorities, allow-
ance being made for the height of this city above the sea,

The thermometers used by Mr. Cooke in the construction of the table
are placed in the Blue School play-ground; the temperature therefore given
as that of Hereford is really that of the Blue School play-ground. As this
place is pretty large and well exposed to the north and east winds, the walls
being low, I think the situation a good one for instruments intended to show
the temperature at Hereford. The thermemeter-stand is, however, attached
to the walls of the building, an arrangement contrary to rule, but necessary in
the present case, and therefore in order to check the indications afforded by
these instruments I have placed a set of tested thermometers in my garden,
the readings of which are registered every morning and published weekly in the
Hereford Times.

293

According to the Blue School thermometers the mean temperature of
1866 was 49.°3. Mr. Glaisher has determined the average yearly temperature
at Greenwich to be 49.°2; the monthly averages being as follows—January
36.9; February 38.7; March 41.7; April 46.2; May 52.9; June 59.1; July
61.8; August 61.2; September 56.6; October 50.2; November 43.2 ;
December 398. These averages were deduced from observations taken at
Greenwich from 1814 to 1863.

I think we may conclude that the temperature of 1866 was an average
temperature.

The rainfall returns as they appear in the table are according to the
indications afforded by an eight-inch rain-guage also placed in the Blue School
play-grounds.

This rain-guage, the property of the Woolhope Club, is the workmanship
of Negretti and Zambra, and has been examined and repaired by them within
the last three er four years. The rim of the instrument stands six feet three
inches from the ground and is very fairly exposed. From some cause, however,
which I cannot explain, the daily measurements are always a little less than
mine, and I think there must be an error, though a very slight one, either in
the receiver or the glass measure. It will be seen by the table that nearly
twenty-six inches of rain fell at Hereford during the past year. This, at
least, was the quantity measured at the Blue School. At Stretton the Rev.
A. O. Key measured 27.57 inches, and at Tupsley Mr. Ballard measured 26,58
inches. I re-commenced rain measurements at Hereford on the 1st of August,
and by comparing my measurements with those taken at the Blue School I
am led to believe that the amount given by the latter is a little less than the
true quantity, and that at least twenty-seven inches of rain fell at and around
the city of Hereford during the year 1866. This amount is nearly the average
for Hereford as gathered from measurements made by the late Mr. Lawson
during a period of 15 years, The mean of his measurements is 27.145 inches.

Mr. Cook is very careful in keeping daily notes of the direction of the
wind, and that part of the table which is devoted to this subject has been
drawn up with strict attention to accuracy. We have no means at Hereford
of measuring the speed or force of the wind, but I hope some day to see a good
anemometer set up here, as observations of this kind are of great practical
importance.

Ozone observations ceased suddenly in June, 1866, in consequence of the
departure from this neighbourhood of a friend (Mr. Tringham) who had kindly
undertaken to manage the ozonometer at his residence at Hampton Park, Hign
Hill. This situation is an exceedingly good one for ozone observations. In
Hereford it is quite useless to expose ozone test-papers.

Since my return to Hereford I have availed myself of Mr. Davison’s
kindly offer to place an ozonometer in his nursery gardens. Mr. Davison has
attended to the change of papers with great regularity, and the result of our
joint work in this department of meteorology has been published weekly in

y

SS — ae

By

Oe eee ee

294

‘he Hereford Times. I am happy to add that we have now a prospect of
aost efficient aid in this branch of observation, the Rev, A. C. Key, of
Stretton, having turned his attention to the subject.

With respect to the weather generally during the year 1866, I am not
aware that there was anything observed at Hereford worthy of very particular
notice. Mr. Cooke has drawn attention, in some notes sent to me, to the
mildness of January and February, and states that a thunderstorm occurred
on February 4th. He notices ‘‘severe frosts” at the commencement of
March, and a storm of thunder and lightning on the 18th. May, according
to these notes, was a cold ungenial month, but a very dry one. In June two
heavy thunderstorms occurred, one on the 1st the other on the 4th. July was
dry and hot; the highest temperature in the shade being, according to the
table, 85.3. In some places, where the thermometer stands were fully exposed
to the sun’s rays, the mercury rose still higher. Some heavy rain occurred in
August: on the 8th more than half an inch fell in thirty minutes, September
was a very wet month.

There were 229 fine days during the year and 136 wet.

The great event of the year, interesting alike to the meteorologist and
astronomer, was the grand display of meteors on the night of November
13th-14th. The wind blew in strong squalls at intervals, and clouds, with
showers occasionally, caused a partial obstruction of the heavens ; but the sight
was exceedingly magnificent. From the constellation Leo, as a centre, bril-
liant rocket-shaped meteors shot out in every direction, and from 1 a.m, until
1.30 the heavens presented a most extraordinary spectacle. Instead, however,
of attempting to describe the scene, I shall conclude this paper with a few
remarks gathered from more experienced observers and abler writers, “At
1.12 a.m.,” says Mr. Symons, “they (i.e. the meteors) averaged quite 100 per
minute. At this time, the constellation Leo, whence almost all the meteors
radiated, was well out of the mist in the horizon, and was dotted with balls of
light, with tails so foreshortened that they seemed but elongations of the head,
while around, as from a fiery crown, meteors mostly more brilliant than Sirius
(which was shining in the west) darted north, south, and west, their bodies
mostly white, as the ball of lime in an oxy-hydrogen lamp, their tails always
brightest in the middle of the track, and generally invisible close to the head.
Several remained visible long enough for the telescope to be turned to them,
and careful remarks made on their apparent structure ; usually they were
much wider in the middle than elsewhere, and on two occasions were observed
to bend before they faded from sight ; it looked as if they were heavier in the
centre, or as if a gust of wind had swept across their track. Most of the trains
were tinged with green, but purple and other tints were by no means absent,
the resultant beauty, when (as was often the case) two or three differently
tinged trains were visible in close proximity, was extreme.” —Meteorological
Magazine for December. Mr, Symons estimates “‘the total number visible at

295

about 7,000 or 8,000.” ‘No person,” writes Mr. J. R. Hind, of the Twicken-
ham Observatory, ‘‘who carefully watched the display of last night could
have any doubt as to the accuracy of the astronomical theory relative to
these bodies, The radiant in Leo was most strikingly manifested ; while the
meteors in the opposite quarter of the sky traversed ares of many degrees, in
the vicinity of the diverging point they shone out for a few seconds without
appreciable motion, and might have been momentarily mistaken for stars by
any one to whom the configuration of the heavens in that direction was not
familiar.”

The ‘astronomical theory” referred to by Mr. Hind is so well given in
the following extract from the Times that I feel I cannot do better than copy
the language of that journal, and give the following passage without note or
comment :—‘“‘ Once in a generation, and thrice in a century—for in this matter
man und the material universe seem strangely in accord—this earth has to
encounter an immense cloud of stones revolving round the sun, in an orbit of
the same size as its own, but in a contrary direction. This cloud of stones is
believed to constitute a sort of ring, diffused over the whole orbit, like a great
highway of rolling or flying stones, though not in uniform density. However,
there is no escaping them, whatever they are, for the breadth of this highway
or stream is compared to the moon’s orbit, and it takes two or three successive
years, or, we should say, successive Novembers, for the earth to enter and
clear it. These stones enter our atmosphere with a velocity of forty miles a
second, and destroy themselves, as it were, by their own violence, for, when
once arrested by our grosser air, they are instantly melted and dissipated
in the air,”

Professor Grant, of the Royal Observatory, Glasgow, says that the average>

height of the meteors above the earth’s surface has been found to be about
seventy miles.

In conclusion, I am anxious to remind the members of the Woolhope Club
that their stock of meteorological instruments is not in a very satisfactory
condition. The barometer is, it is true, in first-rate order, and the same may
be said, I believe, of the electrometer and wind-guage (Lind’s); but the
rain-guage should be tested, and the thermometers are all partially useless.
It is quite true that many of the members possess good instruments ; but
these instruments, being private property, are liable at any moment to removal
at the will of the owners. It is right that a scientific society like the
Woolhope Club should, in a matter of this kind, be independent of individual
members, and possess instruments which might be made available in any
emergency, and render the breaking up of a series of observations by the
removal of a member a matter of impossibility.

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9981 YO WIAVL IVOINOIONONLAN

297
OZONE/AT HAY,

By J. EVANS SMITH, Esq.
From March 4th, 1865, to March 3rd, 1866.

With respect to this report and the tables I herewith lay before you, I
will briefly state that, having kept a record of Ozone at Hay for rather more
than a year with Dr. Clarke’s ozone cage, I thought it advisable to preserve
the results, by reducing them to order and depositing them in the archives of
our club, where they could be made use of whenever required.

The chief results that I have derived from these observations are the
following :—

That the Jeast amount of ozone occurs with easterly winds, especially
from the northern side, When a north-east wind prevails, there is often no
ozone for days together.

The greatest amount of ozone occurs with westerly winds, especially
from the south-west, and during a tempest or storm from the 8.W. the
highest numbers are invariably recorded. So regularly do the above phenomena
occur, that I generally know the direction of the wind by examining the state
of the ozone paper that has been exposed for twelve hours previously.

Unfortunately I did not keep a constant record of the direction of the
wind, but I can often supply the omission hy other means, except during the
months of July and August, January and February.

The winter and spring quarters show the greatest amount registered.
The autumn and summer show the least amount. Of the months January
shows the highest, September the lowest.

With respect to the prevalence of illness, I have not sufficient facts to
lead me to any useful conclusions, but it should be observed that the absence
of ozone may produce a greater prevalence of disease, and yet the chief part
may be brought under the notice of the medical man when the period of
minimum ozone has passed away, and the papers may show an increased
amount. Hence it is very difficult to ascertain correctly the effect of ozone on
its absence on health. In epidemics I have observed that on a change of wind
to N. or N.W., and an increased supply of ozone, the disease has diminished
in virulence, and if the state of the weather continues a long time the disease
dies out.

<=)

Ee ne

ad. 'sh

298

THE ANCIENT MAP IN THE CATHEDRAL LIBRARY,

Sir WinL1AM GuIsE called attention to the very interesting old Mappa
Mundi, in the Cathedral Library, and expressed a hope that something might
be done by the Club towards the photographing and publication of this most
interesting map. It was probably one of the most ancient in existence, and
was so curious and valuable in itself that its publication would be a great
service rendered to literature and science. Foreign scholars and foreign
governments would, he thought, be glad to possess copies of this valuable map.
If it was thought desirable that something should be done by the Club with
the view of publishing the map, he should be happy to subscribe £5 towards
the expense.

The PRESIDENT-ELECT remarked that he concurred in the wish just
expressed by Sir William Guise, and should be happy to add his name to the
subscription list. The map was a most interesting and valuable one, and this
was especially apparent to any one who had seen the ancient maps preserved
in the Vatican and other collections on the Continent. Now that photography
was available for the copying of such valuable documents, he certainly thought
it should be used in this case. This valuable map was worthy, however, of
being reproduced in a line engraving. Except one in the Vatican, he
believed it was the most ancient map in existence.

Mr. BLASHILL suggested that the Ordnance Department were constantly
making maps, and it would be much better if they could undertake the work.
He thought that if Sir Henry James were appealed to, and an offer made of a
subscription towards the cost, that the Department might be inclined to
undertake it.

Mr. Epmunps remarked that Mr. Bannister, formerly Attorney-General
of New South Wales, when on a visit to Hereford some years ago, had
published a description of the map, with an engraving of part of it.

The PRESIDENT thought that the publication of the map as suggested
would be very desirable, especially in the present year, as it would connect
the club with archeological pursuits appropriately in the year in which two
great Archzological Societies visit the district. In that view, he thought the
election of Mr. Hoskyns as President was particularly fortunate from his
eminence as an archeologist. The map, however, was under the control, not
of the club, but of the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral. He would suggest
thatthe subject be left to a committee, to consult with the Rev. F. T.
Havergal, the Cathedral Librarian, as to the practicability of carrying out
the object.

After some further conversation, this suggestion was adopted, and the
meeting adjourned,

—SO'1Ge-

299
THE DINNER

Took place at four o’clock, and was very well served by Mrs. Pritchard.
The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers and ornamental plants, most
kindly sent for the occasion by Mr. Cranston, of Kings-acre. The attendance
was much larger than usual, and included Dr. Bull, the retiring President,
in the chair; Chandos Wren Hoskyns, Esq., the President-elect ; the Mayor of
Hereford, J. F. Symonds, Esq. ; Sir William Guise, Bart., President of the
Cotswold Club; Rev. W. 8. Symonds, President of the Malvern Club ; E. Lees,
Esq., F.L.S., Vice-President of the Malvern and Worcester Clubs; Rev. H. O.
Key and ©. G. Martin, Esq., vice-Presidents; Rev. G. H. Cornewall, hon,
Secretary of the Woolhope Club; Arthur Armitage, Esq. ; Capt. Pateshall,
B. Haigh Allen, Esq., Rev. S. Clark, R. M. Lingwood, Esq., James Rankin,
Esq., the Rev. Thos. Woodhouse, Rev. W. H. Phillott, Rev. J. H. Jukes, Rev.
W. Stillingfleet, Rev. E. Du Buisson, Rev. R. Dixon, Rev. H. T. Mogridge,
Rev. J. E. Jones, J, E. Smith, Esq., Rev. C. J. Westropp, Rev. Thomas
Phillips, Rev. T. West, H. Jenkins, Esq., James Davies, Esq., Captain
Williams, Thomas Blashill, Esq., Flavell Edmunds, Esq., William Aston, Esq.,
C. Neate, Esq., T. Curley, Esq., N.S. Wynn, Esq., O. Shellard, Esq., R. D.
Harrison, Esq., A: Lomax, Esq., W. J. Bonnor, Esq., F. Thomas, Esq., Mr.
G. With, Mr. Arthur Thompson, Mr. H. Edmonds, &c.

On the removal of the cloth, the PRESIDENT commenced the proceedings
by a rapid survey of the operations of the club during the past year. One
of its first works, he said, had been to bring forward the subject of ‘‘ The more
Remarkable Trees in Herefordshire,” for which purpose the following circular
had been printed and distributed through the county :—

HEREFORDSHIRE TREES.

It is very desirable—for obvious reasons—that a record should be
obtained of the exact size and condition of the MoRE REMARKABLE TREES OF
HEREFORDSHIRE at the present time. The subject is within the proper field of
the Woolhope Club, and it is necessarily so extensive that it can only be done
satisfactorily, within a reasonable time, by the mutual co-operation of its
members,

The inquiry is intended to embrace, not only the indigenous trees, oak,
elm, yew, beech, ash, &c., but also the introduced trees, chestnut, walnut,
cedar, and the coniferze in general, &c. ; in short, whatever forest trees are
growing in the county that are now remarkable for their size and luxuriance,
or that promise hereafter to become so, especially if their exact age is known,
and they are in situations where there is every probability of their being
allowed to remain.

All members of the club, and all gentlemen who may be interested in
the subject, are requested to report on the trees in their several districts, in
order that when a sufficient number of facts and observations are obtained, a
trustworthy paper may be prepared from them for the Transactions of the club.

The report should contain, first, general observations on the trees which

known,

ing

f the several kinds; and

secondly, exact measurements and descriptions of all trees remarkable for

thei

istrict, the localities in which
ge size 0:

4 or approximate age be

300

ir exac

from the fact of the
Lest any should be deterred from making a general report, it is hoped at

least all w

4

ill send a list of all the large trees they are acquainted with, with

exact measurements of those in their immediate neighbourhood.

they grow to the greatest size, and the avera:
size, or

are most common and flourish best in the

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301

The result of the circular had been that they had received a
great deal of information, but for that information they were much more
indebted to their own members than to gentlemen to whom the circulars
had been sent. Their labour, however, had so far resulted in benefit
to the club, for it had brought forth an able paper on the Yew-trees of
Herefordshire, by Mr. Woodhouse. The Committee had resolved to illustrate
this paper with photographs of some of the principal yew trees of the county.
Indeed, they had engaged a photographer for the club. It was very desirable
that one man should do all that is required, for the sake of uniformity in size
and the same focal distance as faras might be. He would fix on the trunk
of each tree photographed a piece of cardboard, one foot long by six inches
deep, where the circumference was taken, so that by applying a scale carefully
to this spot the members could measure for themselves the exact diameter,
height, and spread of the tree. It was, in short, another application of the
Platcean brick, which had been useful to them on a previous occasion (hear,
hear). They hoped te be able, for some years to come, to present to the
members pictures of the most remarkable trees of all kinds in the county.
This would give great value to their Transactions, and prove a great satisfac-
tion to the members. It was a very expensive matter to produce 150
photographs of each tree, which was the number required for their Transac-
tious, but they had met with most liberal treatment at the hands of Mr.
Ladmore. They hoped, therefore, to be able to photograph a limited number
of trees every year, and the number must be small unless gentlemen wished
to have their trees photographed at their own expense. Major Peyton had
kindly offered to present the club photographs of the fine old oaks at Colwall
(great applause); and he (the President) hoped other gentlemen might be
induced to do the same, so that in course of time they might get together a
good collection of the more remarkable trees in the county (hear, hear). The
President then exhibited a specimen of the rare southern plant Xanthium
spinosum (Spiny Burweed or Burdock), and explained that since its discovery
at Hereford in 1865, it had again appeared in 1866 in a different locality. No
less than 45 plants had come up in the timber yard near the canal in this city.
They had appeared on the natural ground amongst the timber trunks, and it
was very difficult to explain how the seeds could get there (Dr. Bull then
exhibited dried specimens of the plant, which was most remarkable for its
long triple thorns projecting inall directions.) If they looked at the plant they
would understand the feelings of that worthy friend of his who had told him
that it was not an English plant, and he thought it devoutly to be wished
that it would never become English (laughter), The Editor of ‘‘ Sowerby’s
Plants” had not published an engraving of it, though he noticed its occurrence
at Hereford, because it was not likely from its delicacy to become naturalised.
The President had therefore resolved that an illustration of it should appear
in the Transactions of the club. A pretty lithograph of the Xanthium was
then handed round the room. It was very beautifully coloured, and the

_)

302

President said he was not allowed to name the ladies who had been so kind as
to do this work for him and the club, but he could safely tell them that if
they only knew who they were, they would value the picture much more highly
(applause), The President then exhibited a specimen of Erigeron Acris, the blue
fleabane, a plant new to the Hereford district, and which was found near the
cemetery wall. Another illustration for the Transactions was also exhibited, a
coloured lithograph of an ancient British drinking cup exhumed from the
summit. of the Worcestershire Beacon in 1849, and now in the possession of
Mr. Lees. He then passed on to notice that amongst the good deeds they had
done at the annual meeting held that morning, was to elect Mr. Chandos Wren
Hoskyns President for the next year, and the Rev. S. Clark, the Rev. Thos.
Woodhouse, Humphrey Salwey, Esq., and T. Curley, Hsq., Vice-Presidents
for the year. These appointments gave a sufficient guarantee for the continued
prosperity of the club. He next expressed the gratification he felt at being
supported by his friend the Mayor of Hereford, and remarked that there was
no one present who had more love of natural history in him than Mr. Symonds.
If any of them doubted this, he would advise them to accompany that gentle-
man in the cool weather of the last week in December or the first week in
January in an excursion up the brook Olchon, the river Dore, or Ruckhall
brook in search of trouts’ nests; but he warned them that if they did not put
the same enthusiasm into the work that Mr. Symonds did, they would be sure
to catch rheumatism if they did not get trouts’ eggs (laughter). He believed
Mr. Symonds had hatched and educated more young trout and salmon than any
member of the club, and had afterwards turned them into the different streams
of the county. He had some trouts’ eggs hatching just now and had kindly
sent up for some of the baby fish for exhibition to the members, They could
not drink the health of the Mayor, because it would be contrary to their
rules, but he was sure they would all give him their best thanks for his
attendance to-day as chief Magistrate of the city (hear, and applause).
They were also favoured with the attendance of several members of neigh-
bouring clubs—Sir Wm. Guise, the president of the Cotswold Club, whom
he might call the Nestor of field-clubs for this part of England; the Rev.
W. S. Symonds, the president of the Malvern Club, and whose enthusiasm they
all knew so well; and Mr. Edwin Lees, the representative of the Worcester-
shire Club, who throughout the year had rendered them such good service.
The only toast he could propose—and it was one which he gave with great
pleasure—was ‘‘Success to Naturalists’ Field-clubs in general, and to the
Woolhope Club in particular,” connected with the gentlemen whom he had
named (applause). In conclusion, the President stated the arrangements of
the evening for the reading of papers and for the discussion.

The Mayor gracefully responded to the kind sentiments expressed by the
President, and assured the meeting that it was only the want of time which
prevented his devoting more attention to the interesting pursuits in which the

club was engaged. [A glass, containing some trouts’ eggs and several little fish,

303

were exhibited in the course of the evening. Mr. Symonds had obtained them
from a little rivulet ou the property of Col. Scudamore, of Kentchurch. They
had hatched unusually early this year—that is in 72 days instead of from 90
to 100 days, as was more usual. This was probably due to the mild weather
that had succeeded January’s frost. ]

The PRESIDENT-ELECT, after briefly acknowledging the toast, then read
the following paper.

A NOTICE ON THE OCCURRENCE OF CROSSBILLS (toxia
cuRVIROSTRIS) BRHEDING IN HEREFORDSHIRE.

To the President of the Woolhope Club.

Dear Sir,—I have great pleasure in sending you the following part culars
respecting the Crossbills exhibited at Builth.

I have obtained four specimens during the month of August, which were
all shot within half a mile of Kington. The tirst was killed on the 3rd of
August, and is evidently a bird of the year, being of small size, with the bill
only slightly crossed, and having plumage of a greenish brown with only a
slight tinge of yellow on the lower part of the back.

The next I obtained was killed on the 18th of August, and is a female,
the whole of the body plumage being tinged with yellow. On the 22nd, I
for the first time saw the birds myself, and obtained two males, the body
plumage being orange red. There can, I think, be little or no doubt of their
haying bred in this neighbourhood during the past season, as from the fact of
one being a young bird, they could not have migrated from any great distance,

I may state that they were rather numerous, and I therefore hope they
may remain and breed here next spring, when I shall do my best to observe
their nesting habits and obtain eggs.

The trees they frequent are the Scotch fir and larch, but seem to prefer
the former. They are by no means shy birds, and on being shot at will fly
but a short distance. They fly from tree to tree with the body carried in a
vertical position, but I cannot say anything about their position in a more
extended flight.

304

I append an extract respecting the changes of plumage in the crossbill,
from the late lamented ‘‘Old Bushman’s” work, ‘‘Ten years in Sweden,” and
from his long experience and careful habits of observation, his remarks may
be relied upon.

He says, ‘‘ With regard to the changes of plumage in the crossbills, the
following statements are the results of several years observations.

“The first dress, which is changed at the first autumnal moult, is
greenish-brown in both sexes, longitudinally streaked with darker brown, in
fact very like the nest plumage. After the first autumnal moult, the body
plumage is much the same, but all the under parts are tinged in the young
males with yellow-orange. In the females much brighter yellow. In the
young males, the heads and rumps are orange; in the females only tinged with
yellow. ‘The striped feathers of the young are very apparent on both all
through the winter and following spring. They breed in this dress, which
I fancy lasts them for one whole year.

“ T never saw the slightest indication that the plumage of the male would
become red until the next moult, and I think this does not take place till the
following autumn, and that then it will not be deep red, but orange yellow-
red, for we find this colour in the birds breeding in this dress in February and
March, although I believe a change in plumage may take place in May. It is
clear that the bird does not become red at once, because these orange-red
breasts are not birds of the previous year, at least those which we find breeding
in March. I am of opinion that the full red dress is not assumed until the
third autumnal moult, and the males breed in two intermediate stages of

_plumage before it is resumed ; because we find in the same forest, and at the
same time, the males breeding in all these three stages of plumage. In the
summer, the red dress of the male crossbill seems to become darker.

“The nest is coarsely built of sticks, lined with moss and grass, and is
placed on the top of a small pine, very rarely on a fir, and never in the depth
of the forest, but always in a strong rise where the trees are small, and stand
wide apart.

“‘The eggs, three, much resemble those of the green linnet, but are larger.”

Hoping these particulars will be of service for publication in the Trans-
actions of your Club,

I beg to remain, yours faithfully,

JAMES W. LuoyD.

In a short discussion which followed, the Rev. G. H. CoRNEWALL said
that the fact of Crossbills visiting the county had been noticed before, but he
did not think any such proofs of their having bred here had ever been offered
before. The Rev. Mr. Crouch, of Pembridge, had three very fine specimens in
a glass case, which had been shot in his own garden in October. Mr. Crouch
would have sent them to this meeting but for the difficulty of carriage.

305

Mr, Lrxs doubted their being bred here. He stated that he had read
in an old history of birds called Crossbills that formerly visited Herefordshire,
in the autumn, in great numbers, and did much damage to the apples in the
orchards by cutting them up with their crooked bills.

Dr. Butt said that Mr. Lloyd had written to inform him that the
Crossbills had been seen again at Kington a fortnight ago, and thus it was
clear that they had been observed in the county at three different periods of
the year, in February, the beginning of August, and October. Mr. F. Symonds,
the Mayor’s son, had shot a couple near Hereford last autumn. These obser-
vations seemed to show that Crossbills were more common here than was
believed. He had seen lately a couple of those fine birds, the Hawfinches,
which had been shot at Thruxton. He thought there was an ample field for
ornithological observations, in the more wooded parts of the county, They
must all thank Mr. Lloyd for his paper, in which the fact of the Crossbills
breeding in the county was almost proved, and he hoped that next year he
would be able to tell them he had again seen the birds, that he had found
their nest and eggs, observed their habits, and let the young ones fly, for it .
was rather painful to hear of their being always shot. He was sure Mr. Lloyd
could not shoot them all (hear, hear). The club would be very glad to have
another paper from him on the subject at their autumn meeting.

THE CAVES IN THE GREAT DOWARD HILL.

By Sir WILLIAM GUISE, Bart., F.G.8., &c.

Before introducing this subject, Sir WILLIAM GUISE said he had great
pleasure, on the part of the Cotswold Club, in acknowledging the toast which
had been proposed by the President. The Cotswold Club, with one single
exception, was the senior club in this country ; and it was very satisfactory to
him as an old field-club man, to see the Woolhope Club in so excellent a
position (hear, hear) ;—under the presidency of Dr, Bull, indeed, its position
could not be other than satisfactory and efficient (hear, hear). Looking at
field clubs not only in their scientific and educational aspect, but in their social
aspect, as at that moment, he felt that they were calculated to do a great deal
of good. In the present day education seemed to be progressing, and he
believed that field clubs were powerful instruments for aiding on the spread
of education (hear, hear), With regard to the Doward caves, it was a question
which opened up such a vast field of inquiry, that if he were to go into it in

a Se eS ee

306

detail he should take up a much larger portion of their time than they were
prepared to surrender to him. He could therefore only briefly touch upon it,
They were all aware, from papers which had been published, how Mr.
Symonds and he had gone to Belgium—how by the reading of certain papers
before the Cotswold and Woolhope Clubs they had got themselves into a
scrape—how a London gentleman had written in a very argry and improper
manner, and how they had demolished their antagonist and set matters right
(hear and laughter). They were led to believe, from what they saw in Belgium,
that similar things might be found along the line of the Wye inthe carbon-
iferous limestone strata. Dr. Dupont was the first who had introduced any-
thing like a systematic investigation into the cave phenomena, and he had
found that these were traceable to three distinct deposits in these caves.
Investigations had been made at the caves of Torquay, and it struck Mr.
Symonds and himself that on examination of the fissures in the Wye valley
they might come upon analogous conditions. They had not done this, however,
but they had come upon a regular earthman, known by the name of “ Jim
the Slipper” (laughter), who had for 30 years lived, he might say, in a hole in
the ground with ‘‘his old woman,” as he called his wife, both arrayed in
loose and ragged costumes. They had to creep on their hands and knees to
get to his “‘ habitation,” and the quiet self-possession with which he handed
them to seats—blocks of stone—was something quite marvellous (hear and
laughter). They examined some 15 caves, but in none did they find anything
to lead them to believe that their conditions were analogous to those of the
caves in the Lesse valley. In one cave they found a quantity of bones, but
they were only the remnants of the exploits of deer and sheep-stealers. In
examining the caves of the Great Doward, however, they fell in with a civil
engineer who was surveying a line of railway from Ross to Monmouth, and
who told them that a large cave had been broken into in which there were
cart loads of bones, No attention at the time was paid to the discovery, and
it did not strike the men to make any researches among the bones, and it
was too late now to inquire about them. The investigation had not yet been
fully worked out; but as the carboniferous limestone rocks were perfectly full
of fissures, and as he was inclined to believe that they were analogous to those
in the Lesse valley, he thought that a more complete investigation might
lead to some important discoveries in the caves of the Wye Valley (hear, hear,
and applause).

The Rey. W.S. SymonDs, after paying a high compliment to the Wool-
hope Club for its management during the past year, which he had never seen
surpassed at the meetings of any club, read the following paper for the
President.

c = i) < SCS = — 2

=
807

HEREFORDSHIRE LEPIDOPTERA.
(Communicated by the PRESIDENT).

The following list of Herefordshire Lepidoptera has been kindly prepared
for the Club by the family of the Rev. Thos. Hutchinson, M.A., of Grantsfield,
near Leominster, for that district of the county ; and by Mr. Alfred Puvchas
for the Ross district. On forwarding the list lately to Mr. Hutchinson for
revision, it was returned with a letter, which seemed to me so interesting that
I have asked permission to read some passages from it to the Club:—

**You will perceive that we were not idle last season, and were rewarded
by taking no less than 48 new species in the county. Our captures were not
confined entirely to this immediate neighbourhood. Several species new to us
were taken on Dinmore-hill, a place we visited many times during the summer.
The somewhat local Lithosia Grisiola was taken at Lugwardine. There can
be no doubt that many new species will still reward patient research.

‘Of the 48 species mentioned above, 23 are Tortrices. We have only
lately attacked these. They are far more difficult than the Macro- Lepidoptera.

“The Tinee are stilla ‘closed book’ to us all, and yet their exceeding
beauty makes us long to understand them. The county is probably rich in
this most extensive group, which contains above 650 species in itself. In 1865
we had the good fortune to take an example of one of them, Cerostoma
Asperelia, of which only six British specimens had before been recorded.
These were all taken at Glan-Wootton, Dorset, above forty years ago, five by
the great entomologist, Mr. Dale, and one by his friend, Mr. Curtis, Mr.
Dale favoured us with all the particulars. The specimen we captured is now
honoured with a place in Mr. Doubleday’s collection.

“‘ Besides Imagos, last season, our eldest son Tom took a large number of
Larve. Two exceedingly rare ones, Dicranura Bicuspis and Acronycta Alni,
the latter was injured when found and died. ‘There is a faint hope that
D, Bicuspis will yet emerge, but this cocoon met with an untoward accident
and the pupa may have been injured. We have not ventured to mark either,
and yet we are as sure of them, as if we had the Imagos. Tom we hope will
become a really good naturalist. The ease with which he finds larve and
his power of knowing insects on the wing by the slightest peculiarity in their
mode of flying is very surprising. He is the great taker of our treasures, but
a few fall also to the other children, and all are equally fond of the study.”

The second letter, which gave me permission to read this one to you,
says in addition :—

“*Tt may be well to furnish you with one or two further particulars, lest
any entomologist present at the meeting should consider ‘ Mr. Hutchinson’s
family’ are given to name species too freely. Whenever we take a rare species,
or one not likely to occur here, we always place it in the hands of one of our
first entomologists, so as to be quite sure that we have named it correctly.
Should any one, therefore, express surprise that Hepialus velléda, Melanippe

=
J
7

308

Tristata, or Xanthia Gilvago, or Plusia Bractea, should be taken so far south,
you may say, please, that they were sent to the Rev. Joseph Greene for
confirmation, whose skill is beyond dispute. Only one example of each has been
taken here, but a second of Melanippe Tristata was taken at Stanner last June,
when you kindly invited Tom to jtin the Woolhope Club for the excursion
there.”

‘“* Fupithecia Consignata is so rare that when an account of its occurring
here was published in the ‘“‘ Entomologist,” many persons wrote to us
respecting it. You may state, please, that we have sent a living specimen to
both the Rev. J. Greene and to the Kev. Harper Crewe (in the hope that,
under their skilful management, eggs might be obtained, and the species
reared, but neither were successful), We take them at rest on apple-trees
between the 25th of April and the 2nd of May. All our names are verified by
Mr. Doubleday, or some other skilful person.”

‘© Agrostis cinerea came to light last summer.”

“The two rare larva mentioned before—the Dicranura Bicuspis and
Acronycta Alni—rest on our authority ; the latter is known to have occurred
at Worcester, and some years ago the late Rev. J. J. Miller found a larva of
it at Sapey Bridge, which he showed us.”

“Our D, Bicuspis was taken on alder, at Dinmore Hill, and in confine-
ment it fed also on birch. It was the most beautiful larva we ever had, rather
larger than D. bifida, with which we were able to compare it accurately, for
we had several feeding at the samé time. The dorsal stripe in Bicuspis was
bright violet, where Bifida was brown, and the lines which in the latter
species were yellow, in Bicuspis were quite golden. The extreme irritability
evinced by the larva at feeding time, also far exceeded that shown by the
other Dicranure.”

Dr. Butt then introduced the following list of insects, and said that it
was a great gratification to the club to have-so good a list for their Transactions,
and to know that they had such excellent practical entomologists in the county,

309

HEREFORDSHIRE LEPIDOPTERA,

IN THE LEOMINSTER AND ROSS DISTRICTS.

Omitting Tinez except Epigraphidee and Psychidee,

(The Arrangement and Nomenclature as adopted by Doubleday from Guinée. )

For Synonyms see H. Doubleday’s Synonymie List. 2nd Ed., 1859,

When not marked the species occurs in both Districts ; when only in one of them, Leominster

LEUCOPHASIA
Sinapis
PIERIS
+ Crategi
Brassicee
Rape

Napi
ANTHOCHARIS
Cardamines
GONEPTERYX
Rhamni
COLIAS
» Edusa
--» Helice
ARGYNNIS
Paphia

ae elise
.. Adippe

SMERINTHUS
Ocellatus
oe

ACHERONTIA
Atropos
SPHINX
.. Convolvuli
Ligustri
CH AH ROCAMPA
- Porcellus
Elpenor
MACROGLOSSA
Stellatarum
-- Bombyliformis
ESIA

— Tipuliformis

ZEUZERA

-.. Aiseuli

COSSUS
Ligniperda

HEPIALUS
Hectus

«- Lupulinus
Sylvinus

is thus marked ‘‘,.” ;

DIURNI.

Euphrosyne
«.. Selene
MELITAA
+. Artemis
VANESSA
C-Album
Urticze
Polychloros
lo

Atalanta
Cardui

SATYRUS
‘®ezeria
Megzera

— Semele

Janira
Tithonus
Hyperanthus

NOCTURNI.

+. Velleda
Hurouli
PROCRIS
.. Statices
ZYGANA
« Trifolii
-. Lonicerze
Filipendulz
OLA

.. Cucullatella
.«.. Cristulalis
NUDARIA
Mundana
LITHOSIA
Complanula
.. Griseola
— Rubricollis
EUCHELIA
Jacobeze
CHELONIA
Caja
ARCA
Fuliginosa
Mendica
Lubricipeda

Ross thus ‘“—

CHORTOBIUS
Pamphilus
THHCLA
Rubi
ee

Album
POLYOMMATUS

Argiolus
SYRICTHUS
Alveolus
THANAOS
Tages
HESPERIA
Sylvanus
Linea

Menthastri
LIPARIS
. Aurifiua
— Monacha
ORGYTA
Pudibunda
Antiqua
DEMAS
«. Coryli
TRICHIURA
Cratzegi
PCECILOC yAM PA
Populi
ERIOGAST ER
Lanestris
BOMBYX
Neustria
Rubi
~ Quercus
ODONESTIS
Potatoria
LASIOCAMPA
— Quercifolia
SATURNIA
« Carpini

fie eee

OURAPTERYX
Sambucata
EPIONE
. Apiciaria
— Advenaria
RUMIA
Crategata

_ VENILIA

Maculata
ANGERONA
— Prunaria
METROCAMPA
-.. Margaritata
ELLOPIA
... Fasciaria
EURYMENE
Dolobraria
PERICALLIA
Syringaria
SELENIA
Illunaria
«. Lunaria
... llustraria
ODONTOPERA
Bidentata
CROCALLIS

«. Pilosaria
AMPHYDASIS
Prodromaria
Betularia
HEMEROPHILA
Abruptaria
CLEORA
Lichenaria
BOARMIA
Repandata
- Rhomboidaria
TEPHROSIA
— Crepuscularia
«. Punctulata
GEOMETRA
Papilionaria
IODIS
Lactearia
HEMITHEA
..., Thymiaria
EPHYRA
— Omicronaria
+. Pendularia
HYRIA
— Auroraria
ASTHENA
Luteata
Candidata
EUPISTERIA
-. Heparata

PLATYPTERYX
.. Lacertula

9s

310
GEOMETRZ.

ACIDALIA
«. Scutulata
.. Bisetata
«. Immutata
.. Remutata
Imitaria
Aversata
Emarginata
TIMAN DRA
Amataria
CABERA
Pusaria
... Exanthemaria
HALIA
Wavaria
PANAGRA
Petraria

Euphorbiata
RAXAS
Grossulariata
LIGDIA
Adustata
LOMASPILIS
Marginata
HYBERNIA
Rupicapraria
.. Leucophearia
Progemmaria
Defoliaria
ANISOPTERYX
éscularia
CHEIMATOBIA
Brumata
OPORABIA
Dilutata
LARENTIA
Didymata
.. Multistrigaria
— Olivata
Pectinitaria
EMMELESIA

. Albulata
Decolorata

EUPITHECIA
«. Consignata
... Centaureata
... Succenturiata
«. Subfulvata
.. Castigata

«. Fraxinata
-. Indigata

«. Nanata

«.. Subnotata
«. Vulgata

+. Absyuthiata
«. Assimilata

DREPANULA.

. Falcula
«+ Hamua

... Dodoneata
... Abbreviata
.. Exiguata
«. Pumilata
+. Coronata
«. Rectangulata
LOBOPHORA
.. Sexalata
.. Hexapterata
.. Lobulata
THERA
+. Variata
YPSIPETES
.. Ruberata
«. Impluviata
... Elutata
MELANTHIA
. Rubiginata
«. Ocellata
MELANIPPE
. Hastata
.. Dristata
.. Unangulata
. Subtristata
.. Montanata
+. Galiata
«. Fluctuata
ANTICLEA
«. Badiata
... Derivata
ag
. Propugnata
Ferrugata
CAMPTOGRAMMA
Bilineata
SCOTOSIA
Dubitata
«. Undulata
CIDARIA
«. Psittacata
.. Miata
.. Corylata
.. Russata
Immanata
.. Suffumata
«. Silaceata
Prunata
+. Testata
Fulvata
Pyraliata
Dotata
EUBOLIA
.. Cervinaria
Mensuraria
+. Palumbaria
— Bipunctaria
ANAITIS
Plagiata
CHESIAS
... Spartiata
TANAGRA
«.. Cherophyllata

CILiIx
» Spinula

DICRANURA -

-. Furcula

« Bifida
Vinula

STAUROPUS

«- Fagi

PETASIA

+. Cassinea

THYATIRA
tek

CYMATOPHORA
«. Duplaris
«- Fluctuosa
— Diluta
+ Ocularis
+. Flavicornis

BRYOPHILA

Perla
ACRONYCTA
Psi

... Leporina

«. Megacephala
« Ligustri
Rumicis

LEUCANIA

+. Conigera
Lithargyria
Comma
Impura
Pallens

GORTYNA
+. Flavago

HYDRACIA
«. Nictitans
«. Micacea

AXYLIA
+. Putris

XYLOPHASIA
-. Rurea

Lithoxylea
+. Sublustris
Polyodon
Hepatica
HELIOPHOBUS
Popularis

— Hispida

CHARAAS
... Graminis

LUPERINA
.. Cespitis

MAMESTRA
+. Anceps
«. Furva

Brassicxe

APAMEA
«.. Basilinea
.. Gemina

Oculea

MIANA

Strigilis
.. Literosa
+. Arcuosa

GRAMMESIA

Trilinea

CARADRINA
-.. Morpheus
... Alsines
«. Blanda

Cubicularis

AGROTIS

.. Suffusa
Segetum

311

PYGZHRA
Bucephala
CLOSTERA
«. Curtula
PTILODONTIS
Palpina
NoTO BON TA
. Camelina

NOcTUA.
Exclamationis
-. Cinerea
— Cursoria
— Tritici
— Ravida
TRIPHZNA
Janthina
+. Interjecta
Orbona
Pronuba
sae [UA
. Augur
-. Plecta
«. C-Nigrum
«. Triangulum
. Brunnea
Festiva

Tel
TRACHEA
«. Piniperda
TENIOCAMPA
Gothica
.. Leucographa
+ Rubricosa
Instabilis
«. Opima
«.. Populeti
«» Stabilis
+ Gracilis
.. Miniosa

Sy
5
a
Ey)

ORTHOSIA
. Ypsilon
... Lota
.. Macilenta
ANCHOCELIS
» Rufina
Pistacina
.. Litura
CERASTIS
Vaccinii
Spadicea
SCOPELOSOMA
Satellitia
XANTHIA
— Citrago
.. Cerago
+. Silago
« Aurago
. Gilvago
.«.. Ferruginea
TETHEA
-. Subtusa
COSMIA
Trapezina
«. Pyralina
. Diffinis
Affinis
DIANTHACIA
Capsincola
+. Cucubali

PSEUDO-BOMBYCES,.

-

Dictzea

«. Dromedarius
Ziezae

+. Trepida

+. Chaonia

DILOBA
Ceeruleocephala

POLIA
Chi
EPUNDA
Viminalis
MISELIA
+. Oxyacanthe
AGRIOPIS
Aprilina
PH LOGOPHO RA
Meticulosa
EUPLEXIA
Lucipara
APLECTA
Nebulosa
HADENA
.. Adusta
. Protea
Dentina
Suasa
Oleracea
ase HEISE
. Thalassina
Genistze
X¥LOCAM PA
Lithoriza
CALOCAMPA

Rhizolitha
. Semibrunnea
«.. Petrificata
CUCULLIA
Verbasci
-.. Scrophularize
Umbratica
HELIOTHIS |
Armigera
HELIODES
Arbuti
BREPHOS
... Notha
ABROSTOLA
« Urtice
.. Triplasia
PLUSIA
Chrysitis
. Bractea
. Festuce
Tota
«. V-Aureum
Gamma
GONOPTERA
Libatrix
AMPHIPYRA
Pyramidea
... Tragopogonis
MANIA
Typica
Maura
CATOCALA
Nupta
pakke ete

ee vil
+» Glyphica

HYPENA
Proboscidalis
«. Rostralis

PYRALIS
Farinalis
AGLOSSA
Pinguinalis
PYRAUSTA
... Purpuralis
HERBULA
«. Cespitalis
CATACLYSTA
Lemnalis
PARAPONYX
— Stratiotalis
HYDROCAMPA
Nymphezalis

CRAMBUS
Falseilus

«. Pratellus

.. Pascuellus

«. Perlellus

— Warringtonellus

HALIAS
Prasinana
«.. Quercana
SARROTHRIPA
.. Revayana
TORTRIX
.. Pyrastrana
. Xylosteana
— Sorbiana
«. Rosana
«. Heparana
-. Ribeana
«. Unifasciana
Viridana
«. Ministrana
.. Adjunctana
DICHELIA
«. Grotiana
LEPTOGRAMMA
Literana
PERONEA
Favillaceang
+. Schalleriana
+. Variegana
-. Cristana
«. Hastiana
+. Umbrana
TERAS
+. Caudana
-. Contaminana
DICTYOPTERYX
... Loeflingiana
». Bergmanniana
-. Forskaleana
ARGYROTOZA
.. Conwayana
PTYCHOLOMA
.. Lecheana

312

DELTOIDES.

RIVULA
«. Sericealis

AVENTIZA.

AVENTIA
«. Flexula

PYRALIDES.

.. Pandalis
Verticalis
« Fuscalis
Urticalis
EBULEA
«.. Crocealis
PIONEA.
Forficalis
— Stramentalis
SCOPULA
.. Lutealis

CRAMBITES.

Selasellus
». Tristellus
Culmellas
«. Hortuellus
PHYCIS
«. Betuella

TORTRICES.

DITULA
... Semifasciana
PENTHINA
Betuletana

«. Ochroleucana
.. Cynosbana
ANTIVHESIA
.. Salicana
SPILONOTA

. Ocellana

— Acerriana

«. Dealbana

«. Roborana
PARDIA

.. Tripunctana
ASPIS

«.. Udmanniana
SERICORIS

-. Lacunana
ROXANA

-. Arcuana
CNEPHASIA

.-- Musculana
SCIA PHILA

.. Hybridana
BACTRA

«. Lanceolana
PHOXOPTERYX
... Lundana
GRAPHOLITA
+» Paykulliana
.. Nisana

+. Campoliliana
PHLZODES

«. Immundana
PEDISCA

«. Bilunana

.. Oppressana

bay air
- Barbalis
.. Tarsipennalis
«. Grisi

Olivalis
+. Prunalis
Ferrugalis
STENOPTERYX
... Hybridalis
SCOPARIA
.. Ambigualis
«.. Cembralis
«. Pyralalis
«. Mercurialis
«. Crategalis
«. Resinalis
+. Truncicolalis

RHODOPH ZA
... Advenella
MELIA
«. Sociella

.. Corticana
... Ophthalmicana
» Occultana
«. Solandriana
EPHIPPIPHORA
.. Bimaculana
. Scutulana
.. Brunnichiana
SEMASIA
+. Woeberana
Coccyx
.. Argyrana
CARPOCAPSA
.. Splendana
DICRORAMPHA
.. Saturnana
«. Plumbagana
PYRODES
.. Rheediana
CATOPTRIA
-. Ulicetana
Hypericana
XYLOPODA
». Fabriciana
... Pariana
EUPGCILIA
.. Maculosana
«. Ruficiliana
XANTHOSETIA
Zoegana
Hamwana
CHROSIS
.. Tesserana
ARGYROLEPIA
.. Baumanniana
TORTRICODES
. Hyemana

313
TINEA® (part of)

LEMNATOPHILA . EXAPATE DIURNEA
.. Phryganella +. Gelatella «. Fagella
«» Salicella EPIGRAPHIA

+» Steinkellneriella
PTEROPHORI,

PTEROPHORUS .. Bipunctidactylus «. Tetradactylus
«. Trigonodactylus «. Fuscodactylus «. Pentadactylus
«. Acanthodactylus «.. Pterodactylus ALUCITA
«. Punctidactylus +. Galactodactylus +» Polydactyla

«. Pheeodactylus

HEREFORDSHIRE TINEA,

OBTAINED IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF LEOMINSTER. ,
(Named from Stainton’s Manual.)
Tinea Tapetzella Prays Curtisellus Depressaria Applana
Incurvaria Pectinea Cerostoma Sequella y Albipunctella
Nemophora Swammer- a Vittella = Cheerophylli
dammella > Radiatella Gelechia Populella
a Pilella ay Asperella + Rhombella
Adela Fibulella oe Xylostella - Teeniolella
», Degeerella Phibalocera Quercana Harpella Geoffrella
» Viridella Depressaria Liturella Dasycera Sulphurella
Swammerdamia Apicella x Arenella Endrosis Fenestrella
Yponomeuta Padellus o Alstroemeriana Gracilaria Elongella
He Evonymellus A Ocellana Ornix Guttea

Dr. Butt then called upon the Rev. H, C. Key, who introduced the
following discussion,

314

THE RELATIVE VALUE OF THE TWO SPECIES OF
BRITISH OAKS,
Kyown As Quercus SESsImLirLorA AND Q. PEDUNCULATA.

' The Rev. H. C. Key, who spoke in so low a tone that his remarks were
very indistinctly heard, said, so far as we could understand him, that the
Q. sessilifora is found in much greater abundance in Lancashire and the North
than in the South of England, and that the great reasons for holding it to be
superior to the Q. pedunculata are—that it is more ornamental, that it is
of more rapid growth, that it produces the longest and straightest trees and
the greatest quantity of timber, and that its wood is the most durable. The
question was a very interesting one, and if it were true, as he had stated in
his paper, that the rate of growth of the Q. sessiliflora, relatively to the growth
of Q. pedunculata, is as 5 to 4, and the quantity of timber produced as 3 to 2,
then it became very important which of the two kinds should be selected for
general cultivation.

The PRESIDENT having enumerated the four points taken up by Mr. Key, _
so as to ensure their distinct consideration, and reminding the speakers that
only eight minutes could be allowed each, called upon

Mr. LzES, who said the question of the relative value of the two species
of oak—if they were two species—was not of so much importance now as in
the days when our ships were “‘hearts of oak,” but it was stil! of importance
in reference to building purposes. The question resolved itself into this—
whether there’were two species of British oak at all. Many botanists maintain
that there is only one, Q. robur, and that Q. sessiliflora is only a variety of
the original robur, If that were so, all the qualities for which British oak got
credit must be ascribed to Q. robur. There were comparatively but few
sessiliflora to be found, in proportion to Q. pedunculata, and he (Mr. L.)
disputed the notion of Mr. Key, that they had been cut down for their
excellence, as in former times the difference between then. was unnoted. Mr.
Lees here read the following paper on the subject :—

With regard to the supposed two kinds of British oaks, Selby, who may
be considered an impartial judge, thus refers to Quercus pedunculata and
Q. sessiliflora, considered by many botanists as two distinct species, included
by Linnzus under the name of Q. robur :—

“Our own impression, however, is that they are rather to be considered
varieties than species, and this supposition we think is strengthened by the
fact that intermediate forms, both in regard to the position of the fruit and
the form of the leaves, are frequently met with, and these are found to run
so much into each other, and sometimes to partake so equally of the characters
of both kinds, as to render it difficult to determine to which they show the

315

greatest affinity, thus connecting by gradual approaches the two supposed
species, however distinct each may appear when viewed in its typical form, or
where the variation is at its maximum. We may add that in the general
form, outline, and dimensions of the two trees, when arrived at maturity no
striking or marked difference is perceptible, and though the quality of the
sessile-flowering kind is said to be inferior in strength and durability to that
of the pedunculated, it is used indiscriminately with the latter by workmen
for all purposes to which oak timber is applicable, and even in ship-building
the one is used in common with the other.”—Selby, British Forest Trees,
&vo., pp. 241-2,

I might add to this that all the most remarkable old trees of the oak
that I have examined are certainly Q. pedunculata.

Selby further says, in regard to timber, that ‘‘ there are various opinions,
some having considered that of Q. sessiliflora inferior both in strength, tough-
ness, and durability to that of Q. pedunculata, while others estimate their
relative properties to be nearly upon a par; that the latter is the more correct
opinion of the two appears to be established from the comparative trials and
experiments that have ~been made, which show that in strength, elasticity,
and toughness, the wood of Q. sessiliflora is fully equal, if not superior, to
Q. pedunculata.

He finally concludes that ‘‘Our own opinion is that there is not any
such material difference between the qualities of the timber of the two trees
as has been asserted by some, but that inferior timber is occasionally produced
by each variety—the result, perhaps, of some original constitutional defect,
or arising from the nature of the soil, situation, or other local peculiarities
of the ground upon which the timber has been raised. Such at least is the
result of our own experience, as we have met with oak of the pedunculated
kind with timber possessing all the inferior qualities attributed to and
supposed to be possessed exclusively by Q. sessiliflora.”

Mr. Lees added that many remarkable and celebrated oaks which he had
examined were more than 800 years old, and that they all proved to be
Q. pedunculata. It seemed, therefore, extraordinary that all the sessile-
flowering oaks should have been cut down, because he didn’t think that in
former times, even as late as Henry the Eighth’s reign, the difference was
known. Selby and other authorities also said there was much difference of
opinion entertained as to the strength and durability of the two kinds. His
own opinion was that the difference in the durability of oak depended in a
great measure upon the soil and situation in which the trees grew (hear, hear).
[The President here intimated that time was up, and Mr, Lees resumed his seat. ]

Mr, Linewoop next rose and said there were many sessilifora about
the Mynde estate and at Pengethley and in the western parts of the couuty,
but not in equal proportion to the pedunculata ; they were always more
stunted in their growth, and he conld generally recognise them for this very
reason.

316
The Rev. G. H. CoRNEWALL thought that many of the finest oaks which
were to be found in the county were certainly sessiliflora. The roofs of
many of our oldest buildings, as at Chester and in Westminster Abbey, were

sessilifora. The sessiliflora might grow faster than the pedunculata, but he
would not go so far as to say that it grew taller.

Mr. THoMAs BLASHILL said: It is very well known that figures are
even more deceptive than facts, and, of all figures, those derived from
experiment are liable to be the most deceptive; for though the experiment
may be worth nothing at all, the figures come upon us with a force which no
other kind of evidence can have, This is very much the case with respect to
this old subject of controversy, which has been cropping up in one form or
another for something like two centuries—from Evelyn’s time at least—and
which Mr. Key has very usefully revived in such a shape that we can
discuss it. It is indeed of interest in a literary much more than in a practical
point of view, for practical experience has long since—I believe always—been
decidedly in favour of Quercus pedunculata. There is this feature in what
has been written: hardly anyone goes the length of stating that he knows
of his own knowledge anything about his subject, but when one considers
the difficulty of arriving at any experimental knowledge of this matter, this
is not so very extraordinary ; and it is not surprising that botanical and other
writers should be content to copy what has been previously written without
any testing of the statements, and often without acknowledging the source
from which they have copied, so that one is led to take that for a new and
confirmatory epinion which is only the repetition of an old one. Nearly a
hundred years since the Hon. Daines Barrington was labouring to prove
that much of the old timber which had long been considered to be chestnut
was really a variety of oak, and this narrowed the question to its present
form of the comparative value of the two varieties. Mr. Key has well shown
the random manner in which writers have treated this subject, and I am only
going one step further than he goes if I suggest that we put aside the authors
he has quoted, as well as those whom he has neglected, for they contradict
each other, and also themselves, in a manner that is rather confusing, as to
the idea that all examples of timber older than the middle of the sixteenth
century are of sessilifora oak, including that found in the Ivish bogs and in
the piles of old London bridge. I can only say that if there is the least truth
in the test furnished by the medullary rays, very nearly all our old timber
must be pedunculata. If not so, why should such curiosity be excited by a
reputed case of the use of chestnut or sessiliflora oak? When some alterations
were being made in the roof of Westminster Hall, about 20 years since, the
carpenters were all alive about the wood, and bets were won on the question
whether it was oak or chestnut. Going further back, Daines Barrington
says he heard a wager laid as to some reputed chestnut timber found in an
old house in Chancery-lane, which proves its rarity. I have specimens from
many churches full of the cross-grain, which is so feebly developed in sessiliflora

317

oak, And although, since I have heard Mr. Key’s paper read, I have
examined all the old oak that I met with, both in this country and in
France, I have not seen by chance anything that looked like a piece of
sessiliflora. A piece of ene of the piles of old London Bridge is preserved in
the library at Guildhall; it is as black as ink, and of the texture of horn ;
it is full of the medullary rays; and upon examining a piece of Irish bog-oak,
I find them equally plentiful in it, [Specimens of old oak from various
churches in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Essex, and Norfolk, of the 14th
and 15th century, are exhibited to illustrate these remarks,] The fact is, that
the great durability of oak used in olden times is the result of careful selection,
felling, seasoning, and converting, and not of any peculiarity in the species—
for it would be difficult to find a piece of oak originally sound and kept well
exposed to the air that had seriously decayed. Damp isa greater enemy than
wet, and if timber is kept under close-boarded floors, or ceiled over in not
over weather-tight church roofs, it will go, whatever may be its species. A
piece of an oak rood screen, here, of the 15th century, is now as sound as at
first, and much harder than new oak, and it is 400 years old. Since I heard
that this subject was coming on for discussion, I have asked a few friends,
who are good observers, what they knew about the question. Singularly, the
first evidence I had of sessiliflora oak was from the Eastern Counties, where
Mr. Key believes it to be now extinct. Mr. R. M. Phipson, F.S.A. (of
Norwich), writes me thus:—

“What I am aware of is this: There are two sorts of oak grown in East Anglia.
One a broad-leaved one, which is very plain and straight in the grain, and is called
by workmen ‘bastard oak,’ The other isa much harder and better wood, with very
jagged leaves, and very full of ‘ figure,’ often quite as much so as the best wainscot, and
is known as ‘old English oak’ by mechanics. Both were certainly used in our old
church roofs, but the latter (that is pedwnculata) by far the most extensively—probably
as 5 to 1.”
A member of the Severn Valley Club, (the Rev. W. Purton,) writes thus :—

“T have asked two carpenters here about the varieties of oak timber. They
recognise ‘common’ and ‘bastard’ oak, the latter having very little flower, ang
resembling chestnut in the grain. This is worth 6d. a foot for 1-inch boards, while
the common oak fetches 1s. Of course they know nothing of the botanical differences
between the two treés, and seem to think that the bastard oak is only the common oak
of inferior quality growing in hedgerows, &c. They admit, however, that all the oak in
Bewdley forest is of the ‘bastard’ kind, and I know that it is almost entirely
sessiliflora.”

It is to me utterly beyond belief that at any time the preference for sessilifora
oak—even had it ever existed—could have reduced its quantity as we now see
it, for gnarled and coarse trees—quite useless as timber—would be still equal
to the increase of their species. I believe further that such an entire change
in opinion amongst workmen could not have taken place without leaving
some record or tradition at least to mark it. What is the great advantage of
oak over all other timber in respect of its strength apart from durability?
It is not its great resistance to compression or tension in the direction of
its fibres, but in its great power of resisting strains, which cross the line of its
fibres. The old Gothic roofs were constructed in dependence upou the pro-

perty of the wood (although, singularly, the sessilifora roof of Westminster

fea ee er

318

Hall is quite an exceptional case), which depends more upon the arched con-
struction of its ribs than upon their resistance to cross-strain. Roof principals
were usually framed in triangular form, held together by pins, and it is only
necessary to look at the way in which the medullary plates lie in respect of
the line of strain to see if they cannot, even if they are as weak as is supposed,
be of material disadvantage, while, if they are tolerably strong, they will be
of great advantage to the wood. This latter seems to be the French view,
for the cross-grain is known as the maille, i.e., ‘‘ the stitch,” from the idea
that it holds and gives solidity to the other grain. When we are asked to
conclude that it weakens the wood by separating it into sections and pro-
moting cracking, thus facilitating its splitting into laths and park palings, we
should remember that many woods in which it is hardly visible split much
more readily than oak. The fracture, natural or artificial, does not indeed
take place always at the cross-grain, although it is in its general direction,
but it seems almost as if the cross-grain is harder in some respects, and by
refusing to permit the line of fracture to traverse, it gives a sort of guidance
to it. The natural cracks are really the result of greater shrinkage of outer
rings over the inner rings, and they depend much upon the soil on which the
tree has grown and its more or less seasoning, for if not cut in one of the ways
which are known as “‘ quartering,” it may be expected to crack and twist. As
regards the question of which is the ornamental and which the timber tree,
I think we should reverse the position assigned in the paper to these species,
for although straight-grown oak is valuable when otherwise of good quality,
yet teak may be substituted for it, while there is no substitute for the
curved oak, technically known as ‘‘compass” oak, which is used in ship-

' building and in Gothic roofs. The timber buyer looks out for strong curved

“hedge-row timber, especially if grown upon a clay soil, Oak grown in planta-
tions, and such as is grown in Northamptonshire, Bucks, and Essex, all of
which produce clean timber, of quick growth, is often called bastard oak, and is
not valued for navy purposes. You must not mention the New Forest—the
home of the “‘Durmast,” or sessiliflora oak,—to a purchaser of ship timber.
Surrey and Sussex especially, and parts of Hampshire and Kent are celebrated
for good slow-growing wood, twisted and full of ‘‘flower.” I value these
practical opinions much more than any set of experiments I have seen in books,
for it would be easy to get all the different results as to strength out of trees
of the same species, grewn on different soils, or even from different parts of
the same log of timber.

The PRESIDENT then rose and said that no one could fail to observe the
great difference between the two species in their marked characters when
growing luxuriantly. From the fineness of its growth, the elegance of its
branches, and the size and brighter green colour of its leaves, he thought
there could be no question that the sessiliflora was the more ornamental
tree. But if they visited situations in this county where oak trees grow in
their greatest perfection—if they went over the ridge of Holm Lacy, or the

319

hills of Stoke Edith and St. Devereux Park,—they would find the two species
so closely connected by intermediate varieties, that it was impossible to say
which was which, and which was not (laughter). For instance, at Holm Lacy
there was every variety between that noble representative of sessiliflora, ‘‘ the
Monarch,” and that interesting old ‘‘Trysting-tree,” which was the largest of
the pedunculata there, Nevertheless, when the forms of each kind were
distinct, their different mode of growth could be recognised at sight, and
greatly to the advantage of sessilifora, he thought, as an ornamental tree.
Pedunculata by no means always grew in the pollard form—the tallest and
most perfect trunk at Holm Lacey was a pedunculata, and many others took
the same growth. This depended more on the way the young trees were
grown.

With reference to the rapidity of growth, his inquiries had led him to
believe that pedunculata was the faster grower of the two. He then read
passages from a letter he had received from Mr, Wells, of Holm Lacy, to prove
this :—

“T am glad to see by the Hereford Times that my favourite oak has found an
advocate in Mr. Key. Still, among so many conflicting statements brought forward, it
is difficult to arrive at the truth. All the facts which I have proved for myself goes to
show that Q. Sessiliflora is the slowest grower. In 1855 I sowed the two species—acorns
gathered by myself—and at one year old I remarked that Q. Pedunculata was on an
average 7 inches high; Q. Sessiliflora 4 inches high. At two years old Q. Pedunculata
24 inches, Q. Sessiliflora 10 inches, and this year the result is the same—seeds selected
by myself and sown side by side. So much for the two species in their youth. Again in
1861 I selected two fine specimens, one of each sort, and have measured them yearly at
the same height from the ground, the exact spot marked with gimlet holes in the bark,
in which I put nails to guide the tape in making my yearly measurements.

Q. Pedunculata was in 1861—15ft. 1}in, Q. Sessiliflora was in 1861—12ft. 10in.
A: », 1865—15ft. 64in. # 5, 1865—13ft. lin.

“Thus Pedunculata has grown 5 inches in circumference and Sessiliflora 3 inches.
Again the result is against my pet, still there is a sturdiness about the seedlings of

Sessiliflora which is very marked, and the roots are proportionally larger than Pedun-_

culata, and when aged it is a much finer park tree, acquiring a deeper tint in Autumn,
I consider the timber hard and brittle,

“Please observe that had I gathered the acorns indiscriminately and sown them
mixed, Sessiliflora would have gone to the wall; and if any were not used, and many
seedlings are constantly thrown away, it would have been the smaller ones. Again,
Sessiliflora is not so fruitful: is not this one reason why the one sort is so scarce?

“S, WELLS.”
Mr. Fraser, the forester at Stoke Edith, also writes :—

“‘T have read Mr. Key’s paper, and must say that it is contrary to anything
that I have seen, or heard, or read on the subject; he says, indeed, that practical
men are mostly in favour of Pedwnculata, which is true. One of the carpenters a short
time ago was working a tree he had cut down in the park ; the wood was of dark colour
and coarse grain, He observed that it was not fit for post, or rail, or fence of any sort,
as it would not last. I found it to be the Sessilifiora. The robur (as Sir J. Smith calls it)
grows with long slender shoots, is finer in the grain and much tougher, and_ will last
much longer out of doors; so say the carpenters, and I think with truth. But there
are a great many varieties of oaks. I went to Devereux Pool and find the large one
there, a Hybrid, rather inclining to Sessiliflora, but not without a peduncle, but one of
them, measured in a field near Park farm, is decidedly Sessiliflora, having no stalk at all.
I have examined a number of the largest oaks in the park and find that no two of
them are exactly alike, but the tallest and finest of them are Pedunculata. The soil and
situation has more to do with the size and growth of the oak than the variety, for I
think they are only such after all, and I see Babington is of the same opinion. I sowed
a quantity of acorns some years ago, and found great varieties among them, although
all were from the same tree. .

“G, FRASER,”

320

There was no doubt, the President added, that in the trade, timber
dealers did not inquire which oak it was, but put their value upon it according
to the grain, and not according to the kind; and in the market pedunculata
was certainly everywhere the most valuable. Carpenters preferred Riga and
sesstliflora oak, because it works easier, and they argued that, if taken care of,
it would wear as well as pedunculata. They could give no reason why the
latter commanded a much better price, but a general belief existed as to its
much greater durability.

R. D. Harrison, Esq., said that sessilifora was common in the north
of England, where oaks were famous for their large size; but as to durability
of oak, he contended that did not depend so much upon the kind as upon the
quality of the soil where it grew, and adduced local instances in proof of this.

The Rev. H. Key doubted whether one of Mr. Blashill’s specimens was
pedunculata, as he alleged.

Mr. BLASHILL contended that it was, and said that none of our Govern-
ment timber buyers would think of buying sessiliflora.

The Rev. H. C. Key, in a brief reply, stated that he could not agree
with many of the observations made by the several speakers, Against the
authorities they bad quoted, he was content to have Dr. Lindley, Sir Wm.
Hooker, and the others named in his paper, to the effect that sessiliflora is as
superior in the quality of its timber as it is in the beauty of its growth. None
of them had met the fact that sessiliflora produced a far greater quantity of
timber, from growing with a longer trunk, and rarely taking the pollard form
which distinguishes pedunculata. And notwithstanding the scarcity of sessili-
flora in the county, which probably does not amount to more than four per
cent. of the oak trees, if anyone asks which are the finest specimens of oak in
this county, he would be told that there are two which stand pre-eminent,
viz., the great oak at Tibberton (probably the finest oak in all England), and
“‘the Monarch” at Holm Lacey. These two trees are quercus sessiliflora.

The PRESIDENT, in closing the discussion, repeated his opinion as to the
greater beauty of sessiliflora, and added that if they consulted a timber
merchant, he would say that oak grown in a particular district was always
excellent, but that he would not value oak grown in another district that
experience had told him was unfitted to produce it, The timber merchant
therefore formed his estimate of value according to its quality, and knew
nothing of the difference between sessiliflora and pedunculata. Looking at
all the statements which had been put forward he thought they must admit
that when well grown the sessiliflora was the more ornamental tree, but that
they could not go further. Everything beyond that depended upon the
quality of the wood itself, its rate of growth, and the soil on which it grew.

321

[For the Retiring Address of the President, see back page 146.]

The time for the departure of the evening trains having arrived, the
proceedings terminated.

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WOOLHOPE NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

OF PICEA S. F:0:R!) THE °cYotwiae
1867.

PRESIDENT :

CHANDOS WREN HOSKYNS, Esg., Harewood, Ross.

VICE-PRESIDENTS :

The Rev. Samurn Crarx, M.A.—for the Colwall Meeting.
The Rev. Taos. Woopnousp, M.A. ,, Llandrindod ,,
Houmpurey SAtwey, Esq. ............ 4, Ludlow A

TrmotHy Curzey, Esq., C.E., F.G.S. ,, Woolhope _,,

:
:

FIELD MEETINGS APPOINTED.

1867.

Colwall for the Herefordshire

Turspay, May 28th............ B
eacon,

Fray, June 28th............. Llandrindod.

(Day to be fixed by Central
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Turspay, Aucust 27th ...... Hereford for Woolhope.

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