Holmesdale Natural History Club. 53 



Club. Several are very suggestive, and aSord material which may profitably 

 be worked ujj by anj- members of the Club who may be disposed to pursue 

 the subjects further. Mr. Bidwell's paper was admirablj' illustrated by his 

 beautiful and unique collection of young birds in the down, comprising up- 

 wards of forty different species. Interesting discussions ensued on the 

 reading of this and many of the other papers. 



HxMbitiom, Records, dkc. Mr. Sydney Webfe exhibited specimens of 

 Nonagria sparganii bred by himself, being the first instance recorded in 

 this country. He also exhibited a Camberwell Beauty (Vanessa Antiopa) 

 caught in the neighbouxhood in 1877. 



Mr. J. B. Crosfleld recorded having found Sparassis crispa, a somewhat 

 rare fungus, on the Addington Hills, near Croydon, in September, 1879. 



Mr. A. Bennett exhibited specimens of Scirpus parvulus, a species of rush 

 which had been found in 1878 by Dr. Crespigny at Mortlake, and thus 

 forms an addition to the Surrey Flora. 



Mr. J. B. Crosfield recorded the following rare birds which had lately been 

 brought to Mr. Keeves, of Holmesdale Eoad: — A Great Gray Shrike shot near 

 Godstone, about February, 1880; a Hoopoe killed at Tandridge, August 16th^ 

 1879 ; and a Bittern killed between Godstone and Edenbridge, during the 

 winter of 1879-80. 



Meteorology . Notes on the Meteorology of the year 1879 were furnished 

 by Mr. Tyndall, and showed some remarkable facts regarding the weather 

 of that year, particularly as to the low temperature and excessive rainfall. 



Sumvter Excursions. The following out-door meetings were arranged 

 for, five occupying the afternoon only, and five the whole day : — 



Buck- 



Owing to the wet weather the excursion to Leith Hill did not take place ; 

 that to Dry Hill was also omitted from other causes. 



May 8. Toys Hill. Amongst the plants met with on this excursion may 

 be noted Veronica montana, Cardamine amara, and Kibes nigra. 



June 23. Dover. This excursion formed an agreeable exception to the 

 usual custom of the Club of confining its excursions to our own district. It 

 was undertaken at the invitation of Mr. Sydney Webb, the late President 

 of the Club, who has recently been residing at Dover. To him the best 

 thanks of the Club are due for the trouble he took on the occasion in con- 

 ducting the members to the localities best worth visiting, and introducing 

 them to many species botanical and entomological not to be met with in the 

 neighbourhood of Eeigate, and also for the hospitality with which he enter- 

 tained the partJ^ Among the plants found may be mentioned the follow- 

 ing: — Euphorbia Cyparissias (supposed by Professor Babington to be 



