Journal of Proceedings. Ivii 



Also, extract from a letter from Mr. Christy, taking exception to the 

 explanation proposed by Mr. Cole at the last meeting to account for the 

 death of Shrews, viz., that they were killed by exposure to sharp 

 autumnal frosts. Mr. Christy stated that he had as often found dead 

 Shrews in the spring and summer as in the autumn. He suggested 

 that many of them die through fighting, as they often bear old and new 

 wounds. Some die from other causes, however, as they often present a 

 compound dislocation of the backbone. Mr. Christy suggested that the 

 members should make a careful examination and record of all Shrews 

 found dead, so that some data might be accumulated to aid in solving 

 the question ; a desirable result were it only to disprove the belief 

 (common in Essex) that they die from inability to cross a path ! 



Mrs. Yeates exhibited a sample of some masses of a curious stony 

 substance found in quantities in digging the foundations for Mr. 

 Barnes's house, Oak Hall. They seemed very like the well-known 

 septaria from the London clay. 



Wednesday, Nov. iotii, iSSo. 



Science Lecture. 



The first of the projected series of Winter Science Lectures, in con- 

 nection with the Club, was given by J. E. Harting, Esq., F.L.S.,F.Z.S. 

 (Editor of Zoologist). The President occupied the chair, and in intro- 

 ducing the lecturer said : — ^There is an oft-quoted proverb, which tells 

 us that "Wisdom cried aloud in the streets, and no man regarded 

 her." In opening the present session of lectures in connection with 

 our Club, I can only express a hope that the streets of Buckhurst Hill 

 will not be the scene of this intellectual degeneration. The work which 

 can be done by a Field Club is, as I pointed out in my Inaugural 

 Address, of two kinds: original research, and the promotion of science 

 in our own district. We thus appeal to two widely different classes : 

 to the special scientific worker on the one hand, and to the general 

 public on the other. In lectures such as we commence with this 

 evening, we have a common meeting-ground for both these classes. 

 Being fortunately situated close to the great focus of scientific activity 

 in this country — the metropolis — we can secure the co-operation, and, 

 I am happy to say, have been promised the assistance, of some of the 

 most eminent among our scientific workers. We thus commence our 

 labours as missionaries of science under good auspices,'and we appeal 

 to the outside public to show that these labours are appreciated. The 

 President then called upon Mr. Harting, who delivered a lecture on 

 "Forest Animals" (Transactions, Vol. I., p. 74). At the conclusion of 

 the lecture, Mr. Meldola suggested that Mr. Harting would be happy 

 to answer any question on matters connected with the lecture. 



