59 



Thanet Sand formation, which is a very nan-ow strip, adjoining the 

 northern portion of the Chalk formation, and extending from 

 Leatherhead to the eastern boundary of the county, and stated that 

 the list of plants occurring on that formation was very imperfect at 

 the time of the publication of the Surrey Flora, and that although it 

 was highly probable that these and many other plants occurred there, 

 from the fact of their being found on the Lower Green Sand, and other 

 sand formations of the county, yet without proof of it they were 

 necessarily omitted. 



The President stated that three specimens of the Stag Beetle, 

 {Lucanus cervus) were dug out of the ground in the Holmesdale Road, 

 Reigate, on the 24th of December last, proving that this species does 

 sometimes live throughout the winter in a dormant state. He also 

 stated that a few days since he had observed a Black Swan flying 

 across the valley. 



The President presented to the Club, on behalf of Mr. Sore, of the 

 Railway Hotel, an interesting specimen of a species of Puhjporus, 

 which had been found at Spinney Abbey, Lincolnshire, attached to an 

 ancient tree, which had been dug out of boggy soil, fourteen feet from 

 the surface of the ground. The specimen was coloured black, but was 

 exceedingly well preserved, and must be of great antiquity, seeing the 

 depth of the bog from which it was obtained. In connection with 

 this Polyporus the President exhibited specimens of the wood of the 

 Oak, Scotch Fir, and Yew, which had been dug out of a deep bog in 

 Queen's County, Ireland, some few years since. He stated that the 

 specimens had been sent to him soon after they were taken from the 

 bog, and he then had them squared into blocks of the same size. The 

 Oak, which had been stained by the bog a grey-black colour, had much 

 contracted and warped by the process of drying, while the Scotch Fir 

 and Yew, which retained much of their original colours, had dried very 

 equally, and the shape of the blocks remained unchanged, and the 

 wood appeared peifectly sound and good, notwithstanding the very 

 great age of the specimens. 



The President brought for exhibition a healthy well-grown plant of 

 Drosera dichotoma from the bogs of New South Wales with its 

 leaves covered with long glandular hairs, producing glittering viscid 



