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Review—Geology etc., of West Yorkshire.
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says (p. 212) it "is almost more than any other equal area not possessing the advantage of a long varied coast-line could produce, and the causes are not far to seek. The possession of a tidal river-board giving it some maritime plants, its extent and diversity of surface ranging from near sea level to 2,400 feet, from fen and warren to elevated peat-bogs and Alpine rocks, and the wide variation in its climate consequent, upon these, are all factors in the sum of its flora." The various influences affecting the distribution of plants are described in an interesting manner, and a comparison is made with the flora of neighbouring counties. together with lists, &c., of plants of Atlantic and Germanic types. for the manner in which the botany of the district has been worked out we must refer our readers to the work itself, adding that the lists of plants are so carefully reported under the several localities as to give most satisfactory evidence of the pains taken to make this information as complete as possible.

In the preface the authors say that "The Climatology, the 'Flora' proper, and their connections are reserved for a second volume," which we understand will be published next month, thus completing a record of investigation and research most creditable to the authors, and one which cannot fail to be extremely useful.

W. Madeley.


Correction.—Report of the Burton-upon-Trent Natural History and Archæological Society.—In the notice of this publication (ante p. 305) a mistake is made by attributing the authorship of the paper on "The History of Burton Abbey" to the Rev. C. F. Thornewill. The paper was written by Mr. Robert Thornewill.



Meteorology of the Midlands.

The Weather of October, 1878.


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


Most of our observers agree in describing the weather as fairly fine and dry up to the 20th, but wet and stormy after that date to the end of the month. Whilst the rainfall was about the average, temperature was decidedly higher. The pressure of air, as indicated by the barometer, was very variable, a fact due to the rapid succession of depressions and anticyclones passing ever our Islands from the south-west to the north-east.

Thunderstorms are reported from Stroud on the 9th, Buxton on 28th and 30th, Weston-under-Lyziard on the 29th, Leicestershire 25th, Brampton St. Thomas on 28th, Spondon 28th to 30th,

Snow fell very generally on the 29th and 30th, it melted very soon; at Uppingham it was four inches in depth. Hail-storms were also frequent on the last three days of the month.

There was little or no frost till the very end of October, and, as a consequence of the mildness of the weather, many migratory birds delayed their departure, while flowers continued to bloom freely. Swallows appeared again at Stroud on the 16th; three were seen at Tamworth on the 15th. At Worksop these birds were seen as late as the 26th. The fieldfare arrived at Tamworth on the 16th; redwings and woodcocks were seen near Bishop's Castle on the same day, Ab Waltham bees were in full work on ivy and chrysanthemum till 22nd, and at Shifnal the red admiral and tortoiseshell butterflies were out till the 19th. when also a large dragon fly was seen hawking for flies, as in the height of summer. Primroses were gathered near Melton Mowbray on the 19th.