WATFORD NATTJEAL HISTORY SOCIETY. XXXIX 



spot the objects collected, and as each, microscopist studies as a 

 rule a particular class of objects — a special department of the 

 animal or vegetable kingdom — it is not an easy matter for the 

 Secretary of a Society to ascertain afterwards what has been 

 found. This is the case with this afternoon's meeting, which 

 took place in conjunction with the Quekett Microscopical Club. 



The members of the two Societies met at Bricket Wood Station, 

 and formed at once two or three detached parties. One section 

 searched the wood in quest of plants ; another, with buttei-fly nets 

 and collecting boxes, made acquaintance with its insect-inhabi- 

 tants ; while a third — and by far the largest party — started off for 

 the common, to collect, for after-study with the miscroscope, the 

 minute organisms with which its stagnant pools are peopled. 



After some time spent in collecting these various objects, the 

 members of the two societies again united, and took a south- 

 easterly course across the low meadows through which flow the 

 rivers Ver and Colne, to the Nether Wyld Farm, where they were 

 hospitably entertained at tea by Mr. and Mrs. AVaghom, and Mr. 

 C. F. Hollingsworth, after which they returned by diJferent routes 

 to the Bricket Wood Station. 



Ordinary Meeting, 8th June, 1876. 



John Evans, Esq., F.R.S., etc., President,' in the Chair. 



The Rev. F. W. Goadby, M.A., St. Albans Road, Watford, 

 was elected a Member of the Society. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. " Meteorological Observations taken at Oaklands, Hempstead 

 Eoad, from 1871 to 1875." By Edward Harrison.* 



2. " On the Advantage of observing Phenological Phenomena," 

 By Lieut. Richard B. Croft, R.N., F.L.S., F.R.M.S. 



The Author urged upon the members the advantage, to themselves and to the 

 Society, of observing periodical natural phenomena, pointing out that the position 

 and even the existence of the Society depended upon the work done by it in the 

 cause of Science, and that there could be but few members who could not do some 

 work for the Society by noting at least one or two occm-rences in each month and 

 forwarding their notes to the Secretary. In fact, he said, we all do notice these 

 occurrences, though we may not record them. Who does not listen for the first 

 note of the nightingale ? Who does not look out for the first swallow ? Who 

 can help saying, once a year at least, " There's the cuckoo ! " And it is the 

 same with flowers — the cowslip, the sweet violet, the blackthorn, and many others. 

 It is impossible for the most unobservant person not to notice these on their first 

 flowering, and if noticed, why not noted ? 



In concluding his remarks, the Author suggested that children should be 

 trained to observe the blossoming of wild flowers, and to look out for the arrival 

 of birds, etc., which observations might be recorded by their parents and sent to 

 the Society. 



3. "The Hertfordshire Bourne." By the President {Vide 

 p. 137). 



* A copy of Mr. Harrison's observations is deposited in the Society's Library. 



