tion than those near the centre. In approaching the centre they retained their actual velocity, and .consequently increased in angular velocity, and, in escaping at the central orifice, produced a vortex in the direction of the earth's rotation, affording another experimental proof that such rotation existed.

FIFTH ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, 14th December, 1857.

The REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., V.P., in the Chair. ROBERT TOPHAM STEELE, Esq. was elected an Ordinary Member.

The resignation of Mr. C. Millward was accepted.

The death of Mr. S. T. Winstanley was communicated. Mr. A. HIGGINSON submitted portions of the skeleton of a shark, and explained its anatomy.

Mr. T. C. ARCHER exhibited a series of English lichens, prepared by Dr. W. L. Lindsay, together with fabrics dyed by them.

Mr. WHITEHEAD exhibited portions of the wooden keel of a vessel extensively destroyed by the teredo navalis, also specimens of the worm.

The paper of the evening was then read "ON THE SMELTING AND ASSAYING OF TIN ORES, &c.," by NEWTON SAMUELSON, Esq., F.C.S.

SIXTH ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, 11th January, 1858.

The REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., V.P., in the Chair.

CHARLES BOTTERILL, Esq., was elected an Ordinary Member.

A paper was read "ON THE PRESERVATION OF FRESH MEATS, &C., IN METALLIC CASES," by CHRISTOPHER BELL, Esq.

The author entered into the details of the various processes in use, the particulars of which he had ascertained, and illustrated the same by specimens of home and foreign product. In presence of the members, many cases were opened, some of which had been sealed for ten and fourteen years. Mr. Goldner's stood this severe test, as well as those prepared by the Messrs. McCall and Co., his successors in the business. Not one of the canisters opened was unsound, but the home was better than the foreign. The process of preservation was the coagulation of the albumen and expulsion of oxygen, effected by simple means effectually applied. The following paper was then read:

NOTES ON SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL STATIONS FOR BOTANIZING

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF LIVERPOOL.

BY THE REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., SEN. V.P.

THE vicinity of Liverpool has for many years been diligently examined by botanists in search of phanerogamic plants, and their labours have been rewarded by the discovery of a series probably as extensive as any collected in Britain within a district of similar extent,

The following Table, shewing the number of species of flowering plants in some of the local Floras of Britain, is extracted from "Remarks on the Geographical Distribution of British Plants," by Hewett Cottrell Watson.

This Table was published in 1835, at which time the author considered 1400 species to be the extreme limit of the British Flora. Some of the Floras were issued at a much earlier date, as that of Bedford, by Dr. Abbot, in 1798. The "Flora Edinensis," published in 1834, contains 750 species.

The following Floras are more recent: Yorkshire.......

.... 956 ...... dated......... 1854

My attention has been chiefly given to the Cryptogamia, but in the course of various excursions in the vicinity of Liverpool during four seasons, I have met with more than 600 species of flowering plants.

That so many plants are found in a district somewhat unpromising in its first appearance, may be accounted for by the fact that, within a circuit of ten or twelve miles round Liverpool, a botanist may make at least five or six excursions to localities each one differing widely from the rest in its floral character.

Woods and Woodlands.-First in order we may notice

the woodlands of the Wirral, amongst which Gilbrook once stood pre-eminent, but its timbered honours are now reduced to a few thinly scattered trees. Noble banks of wood, however, remain at Bromborough and Eastham, rich in Labiata. The borders of the stream from Patrick Wood upwards afford Musci and Hepatica rarely to be obtained elsewhere; and the winding valley is sheltered all the way by steep and lofty banks, where may be found sunny nooks in which Spring wakes the flowers and the birds weeks before Winter has ceased to reign on the northern shores of the Mersey. Turning westward, large plantations of fir crown the Stourton promontory, quite to its extremity at Bidston, Boleti abound in these, and near Flaybrick the plantations afford many interesting species of Cladonia.

Very similar to these, botanically, are the fir plantations skirting Simon's Wood, Rainford, Windle, Sutton, and Bold Mosses. In the latter only I have seen in profusion the lovely cyclamen-shaped flowers of the Cranberry.

The woodland walks in the Lancashire portion of our district are very unlike those on the opposite side of the river; the surface of the ground is flat, and even in summer there is a formal cheerless character about the woods. This is especially the case at Ince Blundell, where the woods are enclosed by large moats, in which lie buried the leaves of many seasons. Fine avenues of beech do indeed redeem the character of the place for beauty, and though few flowers of much botanical interest are to be found, the remark of Fries on the peculiar productiveness of beech woods in Agarics, may be verified there any time in Autumn.

The wood called the "Old Roughs" at Kirby, Acornfield Wood, and the woods at Croxteth, are all admirable localities for Fungi. Broad-leaved Heleborine and Ramsons

very scarce.

flourish at Croxteth, but Wood Crowfoot has become Hale and Speke woods are celebrated in the Flora as containing several botanical rarities, and though some of them have been lately sought for in vain, I do not therefore doubt that a further search. might be successful.

It is no slight amount of investigation that is required to ascertain all the species, even of flowering plants, that belong to any given locality; much more when the cryptogamia are included. In confirmation of this, I may mention a little unlikely-looking wood, called Hangsdale's Wood, at Rainhill. This wood being near my house, can be examined by me much oftener than distant localities: it has produced a surprising list of Fungi, and of flowering plants, Woodruff, Cow-wheat, Sanicle, and Saw-wort, besides some good carices and grasses.

The remarks which I made upon the formal and uninteresting character of our neighbouring woods, do not apply to Knowsley Park, where there is some fine forest scenery. A large portion of the domain is left as much as possible in its natural condition: in some spots the oaks are of great age and size; and when the mellow tints of autumn are reflected from the Bracken, and gleams of the retiring sun fall upon the grey and knotted trunks of the venerable trees, under which are browsing herds of red and fallow deer, the scene is one for any lover of nature to rejoice in, but for a Gilpin only to describe. The species of flowering plants in the park are not very numerous; but it is the only locality that I know of for Various-leaved Pond-weed and the Lesser Skullcap.

Before leaving this part of the subject, I may notice a remarkable contrast between the woods of the Wirral and those on this side of the Mersey, in respect of Lichens, and Mosses that grow upon trees. In Cheshire,