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or body of a tree." Dr. Stukeley (1713) was also quoted as describing the tree enclosed within a wall, and "almost cut away by travellers," and as having by its side a "thriving young plant from one of its acorns." The Rev. W. A. Leighton} said he remembered when a boy his aunt, who lived at Brewood, showing him a bit of touchwood, which had formed part of the original tree, and he lad no doubt whatever the tree they were looking at was the sapling mentioned by Dr. Stukeley. Mr. De Bunsen said be had heard of old people who remembered two trees enclosed, and it had been suggested that the wrong one had bean shown to relic-hunters so as to preserve the original tree. party drove back to Shifnal through Weston Park, by permission of Lord Bradford, instead of along the ordinary road.
Tamworth Natural History, Geological, and Antiquarian Society.—July Sth.—Monthly Meeting.—Mr. E. D. Hamel exhibited the Microphone and described the several novel inventions recently brought before the public by Prof. Bell, Eddison, and others, A number of experiments were made with the Microphones, and a most successful evening brought to a close by the usual vote of thanks. On the 19th July an excursion was made to Rugby and Bilton, in which a goodly number of members accompanied the President. The party visited the Schools, by kind permission of Dr. Jex-Blake,) and afterwards inspected the valuable Archæological collection belonging to Mr. H. Bloxham, Esq. Conveyances then took the members to Bilton, and both the Church and Hall there afforded much interest. The party reached home again at nine o'clock p.m. after spending a very enjoyable afternoon. August 12th.—General Meeting.—A friendly competition had been entered into between two lady members of the Society as to which could produce the greatest variety of wild flowers growing on the banks of the Rivers Tame and Anker. Eighty-one specimens, carefully labelled, were shown as collected on the Anker, and thirty-three from the Tame. The President afterwards read a paper entitled "Primitive Man," in which he dwelt en the evidence afforded in the Stone and Bronze ages, as showing the existence of man at that time.
Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club.—July 18th was what is courteously designated "The Ladies' Day," and, as is customary, a goodly attendance of ladies recognised the courtesy. The Forest of Dean was the scene fixed for the occasion. Much of the once forest is now bare of trees, but that portion which the Society visited on this occasion is still occupied by worthy arboreal representatives of an vaviler state. The Botanists were on this occasion fully to the front, and many interesting finds were secured for their vasculmas. Among the most noticeable we may mention Amagallis tenella, Sentellaria minor, Pedicularis syleatica, Ifydroentyle vulgaris, Hypericum elodes, H. humifusum, and H. pulchhrum, but the great find was Campanula hederacea. A large beech tree, which at five feet from the ground gave a girth of 16ft., attracted deserved attention. Others gave 12ft 4in and 14ft. 2in, One, just fallen, gave a girth of lft. 6in.; and as the saw had cut its way smoothly through, its age was ascertained, with tolerable accuracy, by counting the annular rings, (123 in number.) which were a little shaky in the centre and at the margin—for which, making due allowances, twenty were added to the plainly visible ones—to be no less than 143 years. The largest beech in the forest measured, at five feet from the ground, l7ft. 4in, in circumference, and its height was estimated at from 90ft. to 100ft. The "High Beeches" are still loftier, and two of them are very grand; but the most imposing only gave a circumference of 16ft. The holly trees about the "Speech House" (an inn so called) are noticeable, some of them being very aged. A few funguses were obtained. Dinner was served in the Verderer’s Room at the "Speech House," after which the veteran, Mr. E. Lees, F.L.S., gave utterance to valuable though modestly called "Cursory Notes on the Forest of Dean and some of the Objects Within it," the appreciation of which was, on the motion of Dr. Bull, evidenced by unanimous vote of thanks for present and past favours to the Club. The company having adjourned to the beautiful terrace on the western front of the inn, Capt. Mayne Reid gave a most pleasing account of the "Chinampaus or Floating Gardens of Mexico," which was acknowledged by a convivial vote of thanks. This Field Day was a pleasant and memorable one.