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OBITUARY, 1895.

THE Club regrets the loss by death of two estimable and learned Honorary Members--the Rev. W. Houghton, M.A., F.L.S., and Mr. H. T. Wharton, M.A., F.Z.S.

The Rev. W. Houghton was author of "Country Walks of a Naturalist," "Seaside Walks of a Naturalist," "Gleanings from the Natural History of the Ancients," etc. In 1875 he dedicated to Dr. Bull and the Members of the Woolhope Club his handbook for entomologists, entitled "Sketches of British Insects." His truthfully illustrated work on British Freshwater Fishes " is a standard work upon the subject.

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Mr. Wharton, known as "Sappho Wharton," died on August 22nd, at his residence in South Hampstead. He brought out his first edition of "Sappho " in 1885. The third edition has recently been published. The Academy of September 7th writes:-"The author spared no pains to make the volume worthy of its subject. Merely as a specimen of bookmaking it has few rivals." His eye and ear were well trained in observation as a botanist and an ornithologist. He was one of the joint compilers of the official list of British Birds published in 1883 by the British Ornithological Union, especially supervising and elucidating the Latin nomenclature. He also contributed a chapter on the local flora to a work entitled "Hampstead Hill.”

Both the deceased Honorary Members have contributed papers to the Transactions of the Woolhope Club.

Of Ordinary Members we have lost by death, amongst others, two valued Members. Mr. J. Griffith Morris, who died December 17th. He was President of the Club in 1877, the year in which the publication of "The Herefordshire Pomona," by Dr. Bull, originated. He materially assisted Dr. Bull in his collection of specimens of fruit for illustration in this valuable work. His house was always hospitably open to mycological visitors at the annual Fungus Forays, which he supported by his attendance and study.

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Rev. Canon H. W. Phillott died on December 4th. He was President in 1878. He contributed papers on The Cedar Tree," "Roman Camps," and facts connected with the local history of Weobley and Wormesley. His "Diocesan History of Hereford " is a valuable and useful work,

Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club.

1896.

EXCESSIVELY HIGH BAROMETRIC PRESSURE.

MR. H. SOUTHALL writes that the reading, 30.774 inches, of the standard barometer at his residence, The Graig, Ross, on January 9th, when corrected and reduced to sea-level, makes 30.965. His previous extraordinary record was 30.973 in 1882.

This high barometric pressure did not escape the observation of Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., who, writing from 62, Camden Square, London, in the Times of January 9th, remarks that at 9 p.m. the reduced pressure had attained 30 934 inches, and publishes the following, only three instances during more than a century, of the pressure in London exceeding 30.9 inches.

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Doubtless more startling figures will be recorded at other places, e.g., the Hebrides. A telegram forwarded by Mr. Reginald Bushell, of Hinderton Lodge, ten miles north-west of Chester, was to the following effect:- "Barometer reading by Hick's verified standard, corrected and reduced, at 10.20 this morning, 31 013 inches."

EARLY LEAFING OF THE OAK TREE.

Mr. Thomas Hutchinson recorded the fact of an oak tree in full leaf on April 12th, as seen from the railway line in a field between Moreton and Dinmore Stations. This is a remarkably early date for the leafing of the oak tree. For "leafing of the oak and ash" see Transactions, 1889, pages 341 to 345.

Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club.

ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 21ST, 1896.

THE Annual Meeting was held in the Woolhope Club Room on Tuesday, April 21st. The following were present:-Rev. M. G. Watkins, the retiring President; and H. Cecil Moore, the President elect; Revs. J. Barker, C. Binstead, C. Burrough, A. J. Capel, W. S. Clarke, E. R. Firmstone, E. J. Holloway, W. H. Lambert, and H. C. Sturges; Dr. T. A. Chapman; Messrs. H. C. Beddoe, J. Carless, R. Clarke, J. Davies, T. Hutchinson, F. R. Kempson, W. Pilley, O. Shellard, H. G. Sugden, and James Pilley, Assistant Secretary.

The financial statement presented by Mr. Beddoe showed a balance in hand of £80 16s. 8d. The income for 1895 was £112, compared with £121 in the previous year.

The dates and places of the field meetings for the year were fixed as follows::

May 19th, Tuesday-Bircher Common, Croft Ambrey Camp, Aymestrey, and Mortimer's Cross.

June 23rd, Tuesday-The Elan Valley, near Rhayader, for the Birmingham Water Supply from Wales.

July 30th, Thursday, Ladies' Day-Downton and the Valley of the Teme, Ludlow.

August 28th, Friday-Droitwich.

Mr. Moore, President elect, exhibited trays containing collections of Roman Coins, found in the County, and presented through the Woolhope Club to the Hereford Museum, as follows:

A collection of 84 coins out of the large hoard of nearly 18,000 found in two earthenware vases about fifty yards on the north of Bishopswood Church, about one mile east of Kerne Bridge railway station. A collection of 71 coins and a few other relics found during a series of years at Kenchester, the site of the Roman encampment Magna, presented by Mr. Charles Hardwick, of the Old Weir, Kenchester. Thirdly, a collection of 43 coins from the same place, presented by Mr. Richard M. Whiting, of Credenhill.

Mr. Moore had prepared a tabulated chronological list of all the Roman coins for publication in the Transactions.

After the proposal and election of Members, the retiring President gave his Address.

THE ADDRESS OF

THE

RETIRING

PRESIDENT,

REV. M. G. WATKINS, DELIVERED APRIL 21ST, 1896.

AN ideal President of the Woolhope Club ought to lay before the members, not indeed the achievements of science during the year-that is expected from the President of the British Association-but the new information which has during his year of office been acquired concerning the district, its archæology, its flora, and its animal life. This custom shows the steps up which, it may be hoped, our Society annually mounts. It enables us to take stock of our knowledge, and although the gains which we yearly count may in themselves seem minute, by comparing them with what was known of the natural history of Herefordshire and the districts adjacent when the Club was formed, or even with the knowledge of twenty years ago, ample justification may be shown for the existence, nay, the success, of the Woolhope Club. It will be my effort very shortly to remind you of what the Club has done last year, and to make a few suggestions concerning what might be usefully attempted in the future. I can only pretend indeed to touch these subjects lightly, but it would be unpardonable, after the honour that has been laid upon me, were I wholly to omit this part of a President's duty.

First, to treat of the places visited. Many members must have acquired a distinct accession of knowledge from their visit during May to the buried Roman town of Viroconium or Wroxeter. The smallness of the so-called town was noticeable, but it must be borne in mind that little of the true area of the town has been excavated. Its size was very large, three miles in extent, much larger than the walls of Chester or Caerleon. The rooms are certainly small. The system of flues and heaps of bones left by the Romans must have struck all. Mr. Phillips, an honorary member, most kindly pointed out the position of the town, which is bisected in one direction by the Watling Street and in another by the Bell Brook, and was built in close proximity to the Severn. The numerous villæ, or country houses of the Roman officials, which have been found in Lincolnshire generally lie by the side of some great Roman Road. It is unfortunate that further excavations are not carried on. They would probably add largely to the fine collection of domestic Roman articles in the Shrewsbury Museum-glass and pottery, ornaments, coins, and the like. The place was in direct communication with Isca (Caerleon) where the Second Legion was posted. Its history is largely conjectural. The Romans left the Britons to themselves in 426 A.D., and soon after it is probable that the town was destroyed by the Picts in the deluge of barbarism from the North; or, as some say, by the Saxons in the year 584 (Newell's History of the Welsh Church, p. 20). Part of the old wall has remained standing since the Roman occupation, and has always appealed to the wonder of those who saw it. Atcham Church and the Blanche Parry window were found very interesting. The Rev. J. La Touche contributed an excellent lecture on the Ice Age, illustrating Mr. Fortey's carefully prepared model of the

parallel roads of Glen Roy. Nor must Mr. Cordeaux's kind paper on the large numbers of the little Auk which were driven on our shores in the Arctic winters of 1894-95, be forgotten.

The second Meeting was held at Wapley Camp, the Rodd (a picturesque brick building dating from 1629), and Presteign. Mr. Southall contributed a few verbal remarks on the previous winter, with its excessive and long-continued cold. I forbear to speak of this meeting, as I was unable to attend it.

On July 23rd, the Ladies' Day led the Club to investigate not only the antiquities but still more the beauties of the Forest of Dean, especially the views from the Buckstone and the Speech House. Much gratitude is deservedly due to Mr. Philip Baylis, the Deputy Surveyor of the Forest, to the Head Forester, and to the three Crown woodmen, who did their best to guide visitors to the most interesting portions of the Forest, and to show and explain its beauties. Mr. Kempson took extreme pains to describe Staunton Church. The Buckstone (formerly a 'Logan," or rocking stone), the fine spruces and hollies near the Speech House, the Roman Road, some remarkably astonishing features met with in forestry, as exhibited by Mr. Philip Baylis, and other curious sights, delighted a large assemblage of members and their friends.

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With the 30th of August the journeys of the Club ended for the year. On that day a most interesting district was inspected, containing plenty of food for the lover of antiquity, as well as for the devotee of modern engineering art. By Chepstow to Caerwent (Venta Silurum), past the old manor house of Crick, a beautiful corner of England, the Club made its way. At Caerwent remains of the Roman occupation were seen, old walls, coins, and the like. Thence by Caldicot Castle and Church, time only allowing too brief a stay at the former, members proceeded to the site of Harold's Palace, near Portskewett Church. As in every old church curious features were here found. An easy drive brought the Club to Sudbrook, the pumping works connected with the Channel tunnel, where the gigantic pumps are capable of discharging 66 million gallons of water a day. Mr. Hosken, the manager, was particularly kind and helpful here to the Club, which owes him a deep debt of gratitude for his lucid explanation and readiness to show every part of the works that contained anything likely to interest members.

Taking these four excursions together, and mentally running over the amount of their teachings on the Roman occupation, on architecture, both baronial and ecclesiastical, and on the history of the districts explored, and bearing in mind the admirable papers contributed on archæological subjects by Mr. Davies, a recent President, by the indefatigable Mr. Moore, our President elect, and by others, men will, I hope, regard the work done in 1895 as a good record, and will deem that the Woolhope Club deserves well of Herefordshire for its usefulness. Nothing need be said of the many pleasant meetings of friends, and the collision of mind with mind involved in these excursions; which enable us all to rejoice also in the many pleasant prospects and beautiful corners of our county.

And now to touch upon a few subjects which have more or less come before the Club, and are cognate to its end and aim. Members may be con

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