SKSsroN 1895-96. xxix 



Mr. S. H. Spencer, jun., exhibited two cases of moths, beinj^ 

 specimens collected by him which were referred to in the Report 

 of Mr. Gibbs. 



Living- specimens of Selix arlusforum, a snail found in abundance 

 in Folly Lane, St. Albans, by Mr, 11. T. Andrews, of Hertford, 

 -were exhibited on his behalf by Mr. A. E. Gibbs. 



Okdinakt Meeting, 21st April, 1896, at Watford. 



John Hopkinson, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., etc.. Honorary Secretary, 

 in the Chair. 



The Eight Honourable the Earl of Verulam, Sopwell, St. Albans, 

 ■was proposed for membership of the Society. 



The following papers were read : — 



1 . " Eeport on Phonological Phenomena observed in Hertfordshire 

 during the year 1895." By Edward Mawley, Pres. E. Met. Soc., 

 F.E.H.S. (Transactions, Vol. IX, p. 97.) 



2. " List of Mosses collected in the jSTcighbourhood of Hertford." 

 By Hugh Darton. (Communicated, with an Introduction, by 

 James Saunders.) {Transactions, Vol. IX, p. 104.) 



3. " On some Overlooked Eecords of Hertfordshire Plants." By 

 B. Daydon Jackson, Sec. L.S. {Transactions, Vol. IX, p. 121.) 



4. "Xotes of the Observation of Swallows." By A. Sainsbury 

 Verey, M.B.O.II. {Transactions, Vol. IX, p. 126.) 



The following letter from Mr. AKred F. Buxton, of Easneye, 

 Ware, to the senior Secretary, was read : — 



" Is the mechanism known by which a diving-duck keeps under 

 ■water, apart from his swdmming powers ? I have fi'equently 

 observed that wild ducks and dabchicks, two or three seconds 

 before making the plunge, seem to sink in the water a quarter or 

 half an inch without any other apparent motion. It also appears 

 to me, but this is difficult of observation and therefore uncertain, 

 that in coming up to the surface they do not use feet, tail, or wings, 

 but merely float upwards. I should be very glad to know about 

 these two points." 



The following papers were taken as read : — 



1. "Meteorological Obsei-vations taken at The Grange, St. Albans, 

 during the year 1895." By John Hopkinson, F.L.S., F.G.S. , 

 F.E.Met. Soc. {Transactions, Vol. IX, p. 85.) 



2. " Climatological Observations taken in Hertfordshire in the 

 year 1895." By John Hopkinson. {Transactions, Vol. IX, p. 93.) 



3. " Eeport on the Eainfall in Hertfordshire in the year 1895."- 

 By John Hopkinson. {Transactions, Vol. IX, p. 109.) 



