PEOCEEDINGS OF THE 



dining-room, where a sumptuous cold luncheon was most hospitably 

 provided. The table was elegantly decorated with wild flowers, 

 amongst which the bee, the ^y, the bird's-nest, and the butterfly 

 orcliis, the white helloborine, and a beautiful little vetch {Lathyrus 

 Nissolia), were specially noticeable. At the conclusion of the 

 repast a few words of hearty thanks were expressed, on behalf of 

 the Society, by the President, Dr. Brett, and were acknowledged 

 in a most cordial manner by the host. 



Eight carriages were then placed at the disposal of the company, 

 and a drive was taken in the direction of Lilley Hoo, a distance of 

 about five miles. In the course of the drive some remarkable box 

 trees in the Hermitage Road, believed to be of a very great age, 

 attracted general attention; and the " Icknield Way," an old 

 Roman road, was observed with much interest. In the neighbour- 

 hood of Lilley Hoo the geological structure of the district is readily 

 seen, and the Chalk here presents a splendid escai-pment, extending 

 several miles across the country. At the foot of this escarpment 

 the Chalk Maid was seen to present an almost level plain, and just 

 beyond it coprolite works indicated the position of the outcrop of 

 the underlying Chloritic Marl, beyond which again dense woods 

 showed the line of the Gault Clay, while in the extreme distance 

 the lowest formation here seen — the Lower Greensand, or !Xeo- 

 comian — bounded the horizon, its comparative hardness, by better 

 withstanding denudation, causing it to rise above the level of the 

 Gault and to shut out from view more distant formations. 



At Pegsden Barns a "combe" or "dyke" in the Chalk again 

 afforded Dr. Evans the text for a very interesting address ; and 

 a small torrent afterwards visited, which issues from the base of a 

 picturesque ravine in the grounds of Captain Young, and rejoices 

 in the soubriquet of "Roaring Meg," illustrated in a striking 

 manner the correctness of his views regarding the formation of the 

 adjacent dyke. Some banks profusely abounding with choice 

 orchids, amongst which Orchis iistulata, Orchis pyramidal is, 

 Gymnadenia conopsea, and Ophrys apifera, were conspicuous, were 

 next visited. Two "barrows " or " tumuli," of Saxon or Roman 

 origin, were noticed at a short distance from the road, but time 

 forbade the possibility of a nearer inspection. 



After driving through sundry meadows and skirting a wood 

 which from its carpet of flowers and delightful shade tempted 

 a closer acquaintance, the party alighted at High Down, the 

 residence of Mr. Joseph Pollard, a member of the Society. Mr. 

 Pollard was unavoidably away from home, but the members and 

 their friends were welcomed by Mrs. Pollard in a most kind and 

 hospitable manner. The house, an excellent specinu'u of archi- 

 tecture of the reign of James the First, was carefully inspected 

 by those interested in the architecture of that period, and after 

 partaking of tea, a most agreeable surprise after the exertion and 

 heat of the day, the members again resorted to their several con- 

 veyances, and arrived at the Hitchin railway station in time for the 

 5-30 p.m. train to London and Watford. 



