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Northampton Natural History Society.—The June excursion to Rothweil, Rushton, and Lamport proved a very enjoyable one. The party first visited the gardens and grounds of Rushton House, in which is situated the Triangular Lodge where the conspirators met to concoct the Gunpowder Plot. The wilderness used to be the habitat of the fly orchis, but this was searched for in vain. Rothwell Church and Market House were then visited, the miserere seats in the former being very curious. After a pleasant drive through the Harrington Valley and Orten to Foxnall, near which occurs the almost sole piece of bogland left in Northants, the botanical section eagerly searched over this ground, which yielded among other plants, Pinguicala vulgaris, Eriophorum angustifollum, Carex pulicaris,* C. stetlulata,* C. flava,* C. fulva,* Carduus pratensis, Pedicularis palustris, Pimpinella magna, Gymnadenia conopæa, Orchis latifolia, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Molinia cærulea,* Triodia decumbens,* Valeriana dioica, and a very rare plant, Blysmus compressus.* In the hedgerows, nearer Mosely Wood, Rosa tomcutosa, R. micrantha, and R. Doniana occur, Rejoining the photographic section at Foxhall the party proceeded to Lamport, noticing on the way Festuca myurus. At Lamport the grounds of Sir Charles Isham afforded some pleasant rambles, the rockeries being covered with some interesting Alpine plants. The rectory pond is said by Rev. J. M. Berkeley to yield Acoras calamas. [Plants marked thus * are not included in "Topographical Botany."]

Oswestry and Welshpool Naturalists' Field Club And Archaeological Society.—Fourth Excursion, August 12th.—The Club met at Lydham Heath Station, and proceeded to Linley Hall, the residence of Jasper More, Esq., which is approached by a fine double avenue of oaks, a mile long. At the top of the avenue is the site of a Roman villa. The park is very beautiful, and there is another fine avenue of beeches two miles in length; the old archery practice ground of the Norman soldiers, culled The Butts, was also visited. It consists of two large mounds, eighty yards apart. The party then went an to the Stiperstones. the second highest hill in Shropshire, 1.759ft. high. Some of the party visited a quarry on the Shelve Hill, and found specimens of Dictyonema sociale, and a species of Graptolite, and also of Bellerophon. Amongst the plants found were Campanula patula, Artemisia absinthium, and Vaccinium vitis-idæn.

Severn Valley Naturalists Field Club.—On August 6th, forty-live members and friends visited Ellesmere. The Great Western train landed them at Whittington Station, whence, inspecting en route the picturesque ruins of Whittington Castle, they drove to Ellesmere, Mere they walked to the Bowling Green on the site of the old Castle mound, and thence along the side of Ellesmere, then to Oteley Park, where, by kind permission of the owner, S. K. Mainwaring, Esq., they were able to enjoy a walk through the lovely gardens and grounds. After luncheon under the trees in the park, the walk was resumed by Newton Mere and Kettle Mere to Colemere, Blackmere being also seen on the way to Whitemere. This part of the day's proceedings was interfered with by heavy thunder rain, which, however, ceased when Whitemere was reached, and a fine drive was enjoyed to Rednal Station. The explorations of the botanists were cut short by the weather, but the Rev. W. A. Leighton directed attention to a singular phenomenon which occurs in Ellesmere at this season, and was then taking place. It is locally called the "breaking up of the water," which resembles the turbid state of boiling wort. "The innumerable minute bodies in motion cause this appearance, are (said Mr. Leighton) compose each of a central agglomeration of spherical cellules, from each of which cylindrical filaments radiate in every direction. These filaments are broader near the central globule, and are attenuated gradually towards their apices, and are divided into short uniform cells, separated by distinct septa or joints, the cells being filled with chlorophyll of a glaucous or verdigris green colour. The mode in which this minute plant reproduces itself has not been observed, but it is not improbable that some sort of conjugation takes place as in the conjugate confervæ, where the chlorophyll of two adjacent cells is united into a third or new cell, which forma the winter spores, These winter spores are doubtless the central spherical tells above mentioned, which sink to the bottom of the lake and remain there dormant till August, when they rise to the surface, and germin-