WATFORD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETT. XVll 



have also been read. These treat almost entirely of the Botany 

 and Zoology of the county, subjects to which, as will be seen from 

 the above list, a considerable amount of attention has been paid 

 during the year. 



It may be here pointed out that, if we exclude the short notes 

 from our consideration, in 1875 — the first year of the Society's 

 existence — geology and botany were almost the only subjects upon 

 which papers were read; in 1876, geology and meteorology, there 

 not being a single botanical or zoological paper; and in 1877, 

 meteorology, botany, and zoology, no geological paper having been 

 communicated. Taking therefore the three years together, each of 

 the sciences for the advancement and study of which the Society 

 was founded has received a fair amount of attention. Little has 

 however been done with the microscope — Mr. Chafer's paper on 

 "Microscopic Fungi," and a lecture by Mr. Cottam on "Micro- 

 scopical Mounting," being the only communications during the 

 three years on any subject for the elucidation of which the micro- 

 scope is necessary. 



An attempt was made in the spring to hold a series of extra 

 informal meetings for the examination of microscopic objects, but 

 so few microscopes were brought, and the attendance of members 

 was so small, that the experiment can; /be said to have been 

 successful. The microscopic object caoiiiet, also, purchased in 

 1876, does not yet contain a single object. Several have been 

 promised, and if a small collection of slides could be got together it 

 would doubtless encourage members to add to this nucleus any 

 duplicates they may have, and some perhaps to mount objects, or 

 to purchase them, specially for the Society. 



The meteorological and phonological reports for 1876 have been 

 presented, and will soon be in the hands of the members. A form 

 for entering the returns of the rainfall has been prepared, and is 

 sent to about 25 observers in the county ; and another for the 

 registration of periodical natural phenomena is now in the press, 

 and copies will be sent to any members who will assist in the 

 work. 



Although the year was an unusually wet one, the rainfall 

 having exceeded that of the two previous years, in both of which 

 it was considerably above the average, the weather only prevented 

 one of the projected Field Meetings from being carried out. This, 

 the last of the season, was intended to have been held at Elstree 

 Eeservoir on the Hth of July, in conjunction with the Quekett 

 Microscopical Club. At the Field Meetings which took place the 

 following localities were visited : — 



May 5. — Stanmore Common. 



26. — Oxhey* Woods and Pinner. 



June 16. — Hitchin. 



30.— Cassiobury Park. 



For hospitality kindly afforded at the Field Meetings the Society 

 is indebted to five of its members— ]\Ir. William Verini, Mr. 

 William A. Tooke, Mr. William Ransom, Mr. Joseph Pollard, and 



VOL. II. — PT. III. C 



