Journal of Proceedings. xlvii 



known. He had often seen them lying dead on paths with no signs of 

 injury. 



The Secretary said he had also frequently noticed dead Shrews, 

 generally, he believed, in the autumn. He suggested that sharp night 

 frosts may be answerable for the death of these much maligned little 

 creatures. He could confirm Mr. Robarts' remarks with respect to the 

 Epping Forest Deer ; they presented race characters in colour as well 

 as in the absence of decided palmation of the antlers, thus being 

 curiously without one mark of the species ; they were probably much 

 more ancient than our semi-domestic Fallow-deer. It was not 

 generally known that Red-deer existed in a wild state in Hainault and 

 Epping Forests until a comparatively late period. He had a map in 

 his possession with manuscript notes by Mr. John Cary, the celebrated 

 map engraver. In one note Mr. Cary stated that on October 20th, 

 1827, he had assisted at the hunt of a Red Stag, which was finally 

 taken at Plaistow, adding, " Red Deer to be so near the Metropolis in 

 their wild state I consider as a singular circumstance." This event 

 took place, of course, long before the disgraceful and lamentable 

 destruction of Hainault Forest. 



Mr. English read a paper on the preservation of flowering plants 

 so as to retain much of their form and colour. This process is an 

 improvement on that proposed by the author in a communication to the 

 Club on April 24th last. (See Transactions, Vol. I., p. 71.) Mr. English 

 exhibited a large box filled with beautifully preserved specimens, com- 

 prising more than fifty species. Some of the plants presented a most 

 life-like appearance ; and as the forms and scientific characters are often 

 well retained, the process bids fair to be of very considerable value, 

 especially for the production of museum specimens and for educational 

 purposes. Mr. Saward also exhibited specimens of the same nature. 

 Thanks were returned to Mr. English for his communication. 



The President called attention to the Field Meeting to take place on 

 October 2nd, for the study of the Cryptogams of the Forest, under the 

 leadership of Dr. Cooke, Mr. Worthington Smith, and Mr. English, 

 and mentioned that it would probably be the last field meeting of the 

 season. • 



At the Conversazione, Mr. C. Thomas, F.G.S., exhibited under the 

 microscope the following living objects : — Chara translucois, for the 

 purpose of showing that beautiful and wonderful phenomenon the 

 circulatory movements of fluid protoplasm within the cells of the plant 

 commonly called Cyclosis. Also amongst the Rotatoria, the charming 

 Floscular'ui ornata, Mclstes crystallinus, and Linmias cerotophylli, all from 

 the neighbourhood of Epping Forest. 



