XXVI PEOCEEDIN'GS OP THE 



members, first conducted them round Hs grounds. Two very fine 

 tulip trees {Liriodendron) on the lawn attracted much attention, 

 affording a more evident illustration of resupinate vernation than 

 is frequently to be met with ; and in a shady part of the grounds 

 Lathrcea squamaria was found growing in most unusual profusion. 



After partaking of refreshments which Mr. Howard very kindly 

 provided, the members left for Wheathampstead, a considerable 

 number going direct to the railway station, and the rest visiting 

 the church, which is dedicated to St. Helen. The Eev. Canon 

 Davys, the Rector, here met the party, now much reduced in 

 numbers, and gave an interesting account of historical events 

 connected with his church, as evidenced by its monuments and 

 brasses. The Rectory grounds were then visited, and a very fine 

 collection of ferns, including several of our rarer British species, 

 growing luxuriantly in positions as nearly as possible like their 

 original habitats, and also rock-plants seldom seen away from their 

 mountain-homes, were inspected with much pleasure. 



Other places of interest in the neighbourhood of Wheathampstead 

 were to have been visited, but most of the party now hurried to 

 the station to take a train ; others re-joined their conveyances ; and 

 only the writer and another member carried out the programme by 

 inspecting the Devil's Dyke and the Moat between Wheathamp- 

 stead and Coleman's Green, walking from there by No Man's Land 

 Common to St. Albans. 



Field Meeting, 15th Jttne, 1882. 

 HERTFORD HEATH AND HODDESDON. 



The members met at the church on Hertford Heath under the 

 leadership of Mr. R. T. Andrews.* Pry or' s Wood was first visited, 

 and here Mr. Whitley pointed out where pottery, coins, etc., had 

 been found in digging for gravel, and he stated that the portion of 

 the Roman road running north from the Townshend Arms was 

 called the Jews' Lane, but it was not known for what reason. 



The party then walked along the Ermine Street, a Roman 

 military way, and Mr. Wliitley stated that from information in old 

 deeds, and from the fact that from this part of the Heath, which is 

 called Beacon Heath, the ancient city of Verulam could easily have 

 been seen, he believed that here was one of the four beacons which 

 the Romans are known to have had in the county of Hertford. In 

 Box Wood were found Orchis mncidata, Listera ovata, and Hahenaria 

 chlorantha ; and on arriving at Goose Green the members inspected 

 at the public-hoi;se on the Green a stem of maple which had grown 

 completely through a hollow fiint, the landlord stating that he 

 had obtained it from a hedge near Epping Green, Bayford. 



Mr. Warner now led the members through the woods to a 

 picturesque nook known as the " Pollards," and then by the 



* I am indebted to Mr. Andrews for the report from whicli this is condensed. — Ed. 



