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Naturalist Field Club Excursions.
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on the palates and digestion of their enterprising but adventurous members, are well known not ouly in England, but throughout Europe. They have lately added to these the description of varieties of apples and pears, and will doubtless attain the same success in this branch of study as has attended their efforts in others,

A subject which might with much advantage be taken up by any club, and which is within the reach of any one of ordinary observation, is that which goes by the name of Teratology, or a record of abnormal growths in plants und animals. The appearance of such unusual forms has been made much use of by our great physiolagists to solve some of the most interesting problems in the science of development and generation. When intelligently correlated with other facts, they often supply links new lost, and explain the use of organs and the connection between the successive races of creatures which have from time to time existed in the world. To read these phenomena rightly, to put together the disjointed members of the puzzle, is indeed within the power of but few, asit is perhaps one of the highest functions of which the human mind iseapable; bat the more humble task of recording them is one which anybody might undertake, and would seem to be a very appropriate and feasible object for the members of clubs to propose to themselves; in doing so they might hope to materially promote the cause for which they exist, since there can be no doubt that jarze members of facts of this kind, which if known to a Darwin or a Husley would be made of the greatest use, are lost to science from the want of observation and of record. Asa guide to this branch of research, a volume on Teratology, by Dr. Masters, published by the Ray Society, has been highly recommended.



Meteorology of the Midlands.

The Weather of July, 1878.


By. W. Jerome Harrison, F.G.S.



The rainfall of July presents several interesting features. It is generally below the average, and greatly so in the few places which escaped the severe thunderstorm of the 24th. The return from Cromford of one rainy day only in July was so extraordinary that I wrote specially to Mr. Tissington, who replies, "I beg to say that my return for July is quite correct. I heard of rain falling within a few miles of here, but unfortunately it did not reach us." The dry period, which commenced on June 18th, lasted till the 24th of July. Up to the 17th of the latter month the weather was warm, but the sky cloudy, with a prevalence of north-westerly winds. From the 17th to the 22nd the heat was intense, the thermometer rising daily to above 80°. On the 23rd the temperature fell suddenly, and the next day a succession of thunderstorms visited almost every point in the Midlands, producing the maximum and only important rainfall of the month: in the neighbourhood of Coventry, nearly 2½ inches fell in as many hours. At Coston Rectory, the lightning in this storm was noted as being very vivid, and of a remarkable rosy hue. Afterwards fine weather, but with a lower temperature, prevailed to the end of the month.