Ixvi PEOCEEDINGS, 



broiight the members to Berkliamsted station, where they separated 

 for their respective destinations. 



The following ornithological notes are contributed by Mr. Alan 

 F. Grossman : — 



"I think nearly the only thing worth mentioning from the 

 ornithological point of view is about the dabchick. I saw three 

 nests of this bird, but did not ascertain the number of eggs in any 

 case. They were all on the Gade at Water End. I watched the 

 hen bird (?) leave each nest, and only in one case were any of the 

 eggs uncovered. In all the other nests the birds covered the eggs 

 with dead leaves or weeds before leaving, using the beak to do so. 

 I might mention that the bird also uncovers the eggs with her beak, 

 laying each piece of weed or leaf on the edge of the nest to have 

 it at hand to use again. I did not, however, see the bird uncover 

 the eggs on this occasion, but a fortnight ago I watched one doing 

 so at the same place. 



"The garden- warbler seemed not uncommon about Potton End, 

 although I am led to believe that in some parts of the county it is 

 comparatively scarce. The nightingale seemed very nearly to have 

 finished singing, showing that in most cases young birds had been 

 hatched. I only heard one all the afternoon. Mr. Brown told me 

 that he thought he heard the nightjar once during the afternoon," 



The meeting was under the direction of Mr. Hopkinson. 



EiELD Meeting, 15th June, 1895. 

 LUTON HOO. 



A considerable number of members assembled at the 'New Mill 

 End Lodge of Luton Hoo Park, where they were met by Mr. 

 James Saunders, of Luton, the Director of the meeting. Several 

 others, who arrived later, only joined the main party at the close 

 of the meeting. 



The chief feature of Luton Hoo Park is the lake, which is an 

 artificially -widened portion of the lliver Lea, a mile and a quarter 

 in length and a tenth of a mile in width at the widest part. The 

 lodge at which the park was entered is at the lower end of the 

 lake, and just below it the embanking of the lake has caused 

 a waterfall to be formed. This was first inspected, and then the 

 members walked by the side of the lake in the direction of Luton, 

 crossed the foot-bridge at its upper end, and returned on the 

 right-hand bank as far as the island. This is a wild spot, over- 

 grown with verdure, where Nature is left to do as she likes, the 

 trees being allowed to grow, and fall, and rot without interference, 

 so that it was quite a paradise for the naturalists, the most 

 enthusiastic of whom spent a considerable time on the island. 



Through the kindness of His Excellency, Monsieur de Falbe, 

 the pleasure-grounds, gardens, and conservatories were then 

 \dsited by those who did not consider the island to be a greater 

 attraction. 



