XXX PEOCEEDIKGS OF THE 



nearly stripped of their leaves by small caterpillars — presumably 

 the larvffi of the winter-moth. Several other trees were also seen 

 to have suffered considerably, but the oak to much the greatest 

 extent. 



From these woods the fields were crossed to the woods under 

 which is the Watford tunnel, and here a number of wild flowers 

 were collected, but no species of any rarity was found. The wood 

 was traversed to the point where it nearly adjoins the Langley 

 Road, and, after a short walk along the main road, the members 

 arrived at Nascott House, where they were hospitably entertained 

 by Mr. and Miss Rooper in the beautiful gi'ounds which surround 

 their residence. 



Field Meetijtg, 15th July, 1882. 

 EOTSTOX. 



The elevated tract of country on the extreme north of Hertford- 

 shire, which forms the watershed of the two main river-basins of 

 the Thames and Ouse, presents very different natural features from 

 those which pertain to the greater part of the county. Hertford- 

 shire as a whole is richly wooded, gently undulating, with highly- 

 cultivated farms freely interspersed with beautiful parks ; but on 

 this, its northern boundary, the Chalk rises to the surface, free 

 from the glacial and other superficial deposits with which it is 

 mostly covered in other parts of the county, and forms extensive 

 downs chiefly devoted to sheep-pasturage. Beyond, to the north- 

 east, is the level tract of country so characteristic of Cambridgeshire 

 and the Fens. 



On this northern boundary and near its eastern end, where the 

 Ermine Street crosses the Icknield Way, Royston is situated, that 

 half of the town which lies to the south of the Icknield Way being 

 in Hertfordshire, and the northern half being in Cambridgeshire. 

 The neighbourhood of Royston is interesting alike to the natu- 

 ralist, the geologist, and the archa3ologist, and were it not some- 

 what difficult of access from the greater part of Hertfordshire, 

 it would probably have been visited by the Society long before the 

 present occasion. 



Unfortunately the weather on the morning of this day was not 

 propitious. At the time the members had to leave Watford, St. 

 Albans, and Hitchin, from which places, with Royston, the Society 

 was almost exclusively represented, rain was falling heavily, and 

 consequently scarcely twenty members and their frends arrived at 

 Royston station by the mid-day train. Here they were met by 

 Mr. H. George Fordham, F.G.S., the director of the meeting, and 

 other members from Royston. 



The rain had now ceased, and, as there was only a single shower 

 in the course of the afternoon, the arrangements which had been 

 made were carried out successfully. 



The first place of interest visited was the remaining portion of a 



