SESSION 1894-95. Ixvii 



Before leavinp; tlie park, tea was partaken of by most of the 

 party at the Xew Mill End Lodge. 



Mr. Saunders reports that he found on the island or in the 

 "woods around the lake the Mycetozoa Lycogala epidendron, Stcmo- 

 nitis fusca, var, eonjluens (an unusually large growth of a rare 

 form), and Trichia varia. He also reports the finding of the 

 following flowering plants: — Ervum hirnutum, Samhucus ehdas, 

 Jlippuris vulgaris, Symphytum tuberosum, and Carex leporina. 

 And in the lake he found the following fresh-water MoUusca: — 

 Sphcerium corneum, Anodonta cygnea, Planorhis carinatus, P. corneus, 

 Limncea peregra, L. auricularis, and L stagnalis. 



The finding of Helix pomatia led to a discussion as to the 

 probability of Luton Hoo having been a Koman station ; but 

 although the apple -snail is found near many ancient encampments, 

 it is most probably a truly indigenous species which the Eomans 

 no doubt used as an article of food, having been accustomed to 

 partake of the representative species, H. lucorum, in Italy. 



In addition to the plants recorded by Mr. Saunders, the 

 following are the more interesting species which were noticed : — 

 £uonymus europceus (spindle-tree), Trifolium striatum, Hippuris 

 vulgaris (in the water), Scroplmlaria aquatica, S. nodosa. Iris 

 pseudacorus, I. foetidissima (the former in flower, the latter not yet 

 in bud), Polygonatum multifiorum (Solomon's seal), and the Carices 

 C.riparia, C. aeutiformis, C.hirta, and C.glauca. 



Moor-hens with their young were seen on the lake, and the 

 sedge-warbler was heard, evidently being present in considerable 

 numbers. 



Field Meeting, 22nd .June, 1895. 

 DUNSTABLE AND TOTTERNHOE. 



This meeting was organized by the Geologists' Association of 

 London, and was under the direction of Mr. William Hill, F.Gr.S., 

 of Hitchin, a member of the Geologists' Association as well as of 

 the Hertfordshire jS^atural History Society. The place of meeting 

 was the London and North- Western station at Dunstable, whence 

 the members of the two Societies, numbering about forty, and 

 each Society being equally represented, walked over the Downs to 

 Totternhoe, visiting on the way the extensive quarries of Messrs. 

 Forder & Co. in the Grey Chalk, which forms the upper portion of 

 the Lower Chalk, its position being between the Tottenihoe Stone 

 and the Melbourne Rock, the base of which was seen at the top of 

 one of the quarries. The chalk here is quarried to be burnt into 

 lime. 



Maiden Bower, which seems most probably to have been an old 

 British camp, was then visited, and its chief features of interest 

 were pointed out by Mr. Woi^thington Smith. It forms a level 

 plain, about nine acres in area, nearly circular, and enclosed by 

 a vallum, the banks of which were stated by Britton and Brayley 

 at the beginning of the present century (' Beauties of England and 



