Club, is only represented by some five or six very imperfect fragments, among which the grand Bumastus Barriensis, which is certainly to be had in the great quarries that abound there, is conspicuous by its entire absence. I venture to suggest that an effort should be made not only to obtain from collectors, or by original research, the characteristic fossils of that local and very interesting stratum, but those of the whole Woolhope district, which is one that has become classic in Geological literature.

In the succeeding strata of the Wenlock shale the collection includes a few fair Brachiopods, as well as some fragments of the well known Trilobite, Phacops longicaudatus, and there are a few corals from the Wenlock limestone.

In the Lower Ludlow the labours of Messrs. Lightbody and Crouch have supplied the Museum with some fair examples of Star-fish from Church Hill. There are a few good specimens of Lamellibranchs and Brachiopods, a moderate display of Gasteropods, while there is a superabundance of Cephalopods, limited, however, to a few species. Altogether the very abundant and varied fauna of the Lower Ludlow epoch is but imperfectly represented.

The characteristic Pentamerus Knightii of the Aymestry Limestone is plentiful, but many other forms belonging to that stratum are absent.

The Upper Ludlow is pretty well represented; and, lastly, there are a tolerably good number of specimens from the beds which constitute the transition With these our task of arrangement to the over-lying Old Red Sandstone:

terminated.

A large case full of specimens of fishes belonging to the family Cephalaspidæ remains yet to be classified and named. Many of these are extremely good, but it might be desirable to exchange many of them with other Museums, where their acquisition would be highly appreciated; and thus, some of the blanks that still The Committees of the Ludlow, exist in this collection might be filled up. Shrewsbury, and other Natural History Societies would probably be found willing to co-operate in this, making their own collections as complete and representative as possible.

In conclusion, the Hereford Museum may be congratulated on possessing, if not a perfect series of examples of Palæozoic fossils, at any rate, one which affords a fair idea of the succession of animal life in the remote and highly interesting epoch to which they belong.

Stokesay, Craven Arms,

19th March, 1892.

J. D. LA TOUCHE.

RETIRING ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT,

REV. SIR GEORGE H. CORNEWALL, BART.

IT has always been held to be the duty of the President of this Club, on completing his year of office, to give some account of the work which has been done during the period in which he has occupied that responsible position. It was very gratifying to me, being one of the oldest members of the Woolhope Club, and having occupied the post of Honorary Secretary for many years in times gone by, to be chosen to guide during the past year the fortunes of a Society which has done much in its day to foster that agreeable intercourse of thought which those in this neighbourhood, making a study of natural science, have always been glad to impart the one to the other in our Field Meetings. It is much to live in a county abounding in beautiful scenery. The contemplation of that scenery derives additional pleasure from the study of the rich fauna and flora which our county contains, as well as the exploration of the various phenomena presented to us in the geological structure of rocks of this locality. To those of us who have not leisure to search deeply into the treasures which natural history contains, it is a pleasure to listen to accounts of the successful researches of others, and a distinct gain as regards our intellectual advancement and the elevating influences thereby brought to bear upon us. But I may claim for this Club, not only the advantages which our social gatherings, as I have endeavoured to indicate, may possess; but I may point to the work done by this Club, as a very important contribution to the record of facts relating to natural science, which it is desirable that those interested in the county of Hereford should possess. We have numberless papers on the geological phenomena about us, and these should be placed in the forefront of our achievements, for it is from the remarkable exhibition of stratified rocks at Woolhope that the Club takes its name; we have now, thanks to our excellent friends, Messrs. Purchas and Ley, a published Flora of Herefordshire; the county divided into districts so that the plants found in each district may be fitly tabulated and compared. We have interesting accounts of the various mansions of Herefordshire, and the remarkable trees in their parks and grounds; for these we are very much indebted to the indefatigable labours of a much honoured member, the late Dr. Bull; we have done a very important work as regards fungi; entomology has not been neglected, Dr. T. A. Chapman has, in this branch, given valuable help. Nor is it possible for me to pass over the important position given to this Club as a means of advancing science in Herefordshire by the munificence of one who has established in our city a museum of Natural History, which year by year becomes more complete and interesting, and which well deserves a visit from every member of the Club on account of the valuable work which has recently been carried through in arranging and classifying the various specimens exhibited therein; also the noble Woolhope Club Room will always be associated with his name, and if under the same roof is placed an excellent library for the use of all students, we may hope that the effect of gaining knowledge from the perusal of its literature

will be that the readers will be encouraged to mount up higher, and find in the museum means of satisfying still further their thirst for useful knowledge by the study of natural history.

I am aware that there is a certain danger in engaging in a retrospect of past labours, such as I have attempted. I have doubtless omitted many names well worthy of mention, who have done us good service in the past. It was not my intention to give with any completeness a record of the work done by the Woolhope Club; but, as a very old member, it is permitted me, I think, to point out to those who have lately joined us that while much has been done much remains to be done, and that their labours, if simplified by what has been already published, may still be exercised over a wide field, and that much useful information may still be gathered on all subjects which come within their own field of observation.

I must now glance rapidly at the successful results of the various Field Meetings which have taken place during the past year. If these "successful results " are to be measured by the attendance of members, the interest taken in the various excursions, the valuable papers we have listened to (excluding, if you please, my own contributions), then, I think, the record of the year is one of which we need not be ashamed. The weather was against us; that must be allowed, but that so many were encouraged to brave the elements, particularly the terrible downpour which greeted us at Moccas, is a proof of a gratifying zeal on the part of our members.

The First Meeting was arranged in order to explore the interesting plants of Haugh Wood; at the same time furnishing a walk abounding in as striking views as may be found in any part of our beautiful county. The season being a late one, we were botanically unsuccessful, but I do not think that those who were present will soon forget the varied beauties of that delightful walk, or the prospect when we reached Backbury Hill and gazed on the wide valley of the Wye on the one hand, and, on the other, on the interesting geological formation of the hills surrounding Woolhope, where the Rev. J. D. La Touche explained to us with his usual ability, the progress of the various changes which resulted in the remarkable configuration of that locality from which the Club derives its name. Passing down to Stoke Edith, we took carriage to Lugwardine, stopping on the way to examine the volcanic rock exhibited in a quarry at Bartestree; at Lugwardine Sir H. Croft very kindly afforded us welcome refreshment after the fatigues of the day. The weather, stormy in the morning, held up during the day, but could not be pronounced genial.

The second Meeting of the Club was held on June 30th, at Aberedw, in Radnorshire, a spot well known to those who pass by rail along the valley of the Upper Wye, for, before reaching Aberedw Station, after passing beneath the striking rock masses which rise steeply above the north bank of the Wye, a glimpse-all too slight and transient--is gained of a deep gorge through which the Edw passes; there is the cliff, partly concealed by wood, and the crawling stream below, beautiful in itself, and exciting, as regards the possible finny treasures it may contain, the hopes of the enthusiastic angler. The weather was more

promising than that at any other meeting of the Club, but it was hardly what may be called a bright summer day. The members, on alighting at the station, were conducted by the Vicar to view the remains of the Castle, almost obliterated by the construction of the railway, and thence to the ancient Church, remarkable for its large porch, very peculiar screen, and the communion plate; the fine yew trees in the churchyard must also be noticed. Still descending, after leaving the Church, we reach, almost at the level of the stream, a fishing cottage belonging to Captain Mynors, who kindly permitted us to make use of it for luncheon. The principal room commands two reaches of the river, and the eye, gazing first on the one and then on the other, can hardly decide which most truly realizes the ideal of a Welsh mountain stream. It was with this prospect before us that we assembled to listen to the able and exhaustive paper on the flora of the neighbourhood, furnished by the Rev. A. Ley, a valuable addition to the literature of the Club. It may have disappointed those who expected to reach a district rich in floral treasures, for the careful observer was not content with enumerating the plants peculiar to the locality, but also the strange absence of many a familiar favourite which might well have been thought to occur in abundance in such a favoured region. After thanking Mr. Ley for his paper, we prepared to cross the river and pursue a mountain track which in some 2 miles would lead us to Bwchllyn Pool. On the way, we visited Llewellyn's Cave, in which that Prince is supposed to have taken refuge shortly before he was captured and put to death, notwithstanding the ingenious expedient of the reversed horse-shoes, which can never be omitted in any history of this brave but unfortunate chieftain. Near the cave was gathered in abundance the rare plant Meconopsis cambrica, as Mr. Ley had already pointed out in his paper. The length of the walk to Bwchllyn Pool prevented any protracted examination of its banks in search of Ranunculus lingua, the Bogbean, and other interesting plants, but it was not without charm to pass through a tract of country but little known to many members of the Club, and one which, if not possessing striking picturesque features, has yet a character all its own. The party were guided past Llandeilo-graban Church, to which we were permitted to pay a hasty visit, and thence by a rapid descent to Erwood Station, where we again took train for Hereford. The less active members of the party were content to follow the course of the Wye from Aberedw to Erwood, and were thus afforded an opportunity of traversing that portion beloved by the salmon fisher, where he is most certain of some reward for his piscatory labours; where also the scenery of the Upper Wye rivals the beauties of that portion, which, better known, has long attracted the attention of the travelling public.

The third Excursion made by the Club was to the Abbey of Llanthony. The party, on arriving at Llanvihangel Station, were conveyed in brakes up the picturesque valley of the Honddhu; a goodly company, the ladies having taken full advantage of the opportunity afforded to them once in the year of joining in the excursions of the Club. This noble Augustinian Abbey, with its interesting examples of Transition Norman, particularly as exhibited in the west front, the basin in which it is situated being surrounded by the various ranges generally known as the Black Mountains, cannot but have given pleasure to those who were

unacquainted with its beauties; it was indeed a spot to dream in of the past glories of ancient times; but here, it must be confessed, the cold showers that swept by, and the wind moaning among the broken arches of the nave, hindered that leisurely survey of this remarkable monument of ancient piety which we had hoped to enjoy. Luncheon was partaken of within the ruin, and without waste of time, for it was a day for a brisk walk, and not for mere lounging, the President gave very shortly particulars as to the history of the Abbey, particularly emphasizing the strange fact that a building of such large proportions, such beauty, and costliness was only for a few years able to fulfil the purposes of its founders, when, owing to the rude treatment of their Welsh neighbours, they were forced to erect another Llanthony near Gloucester, and thus the present building was suffered to fall into decay. A paper was then read by Rev. J. O. Bevan, vicar of Vowchurch, on "Certain Useful Objects of Scientific Investigation," in which members were encouraged to pursue systematically some of those various subjects of study with which the Club is identified. It is a contribution to our records which deserves careful study. He also urged the desirability of framing an Archæological map for Herefordshire, on which I will not further enter, as no doubt we shall to-day receive a report of the labours of the Committee. Having completed the tour of the Abbey and the monastic building, a considerable number expressed a wish not to return in the carriages to Llanvihangel, but, breasting the mountain, to descend into the Monnow Valley at Pandy. The labour was well repaid; the view from the top of the mountain was magnificent, and while it was no doubt fatiguing to the ladies who took part in it, particularly towards the close, when passing Trewyn, and declining General Gillespie's hospitable invitation, the party, almost at a run, reached the Station but a few minutes before the departure of the train, yet I feel sure that by many the walk will not be soon forgotten, both the grand swelling moorland, which walls in the south side of our favoured county, and the rich valleys of Wye and Monnow spread beneath, broken by the various ranges of hills surrounding the city, which we know so well.

The fourth Field Meeting took place at Moccas, when the President had the satisfaction of welcoming the Club, not for the first time. They began by inspecting the gardens, in which the botanists were pleased to express their pleasure at the collection of herbaceous plants, on which the President must confess that he has devoted much time and from which he has derived much satisfaction; thence to the Church, of which he may be content to speak warmly as being one of the oldest and most interesting in the county. He read a short paper on its history, and after luncheon had been partaken of by a very large number of friends (who, considering the weather, had shown great boldness in facing it) the President read a paper on Travertine, the stone of which the Church is built, and he was able to show to the Club in an adjoining wood the same stone in process of formation. To examine the stone in this wood and to search for certain species of bramble therein to be found, the Club proceeded without undue delay, following the course of the Wye, up to Bredwardine, where a halt was called to examine the Church. Its peculiar features were explained by the