Proceedings. 13 



observations for the year 1880. One of the most striking 

 features was the almost entire absence of very hot weather 

 during the year, the only two days on which the thermometer 

 marked as much as 80° being May 26th and September 4th. 

 Outdoor Meetings. — During the summer ten excursions 

 have taken place, five of them occupying the whole day, and 

 five the afternoon only. All the excursions that were planned 

 were carried out, and the attendance of members at most of 

 them was better than usual. The followiag is a list : 



Afternoon. 

 April 30. Betchworth Park 



and Brockham. 

 May 28. Eeigate HiU. 

 June 25. Box Hill. 

 July 23. Eeigate Heath and 



Eice Bridge. 

 Aug. 27. Nutfield Marsh. 



Whole day. 

 May 14. Edenbridge. 

 June 11. Penshurst. 

 July 9. St. Leonard's Forest. 

 Aug. 10. Gomshall, walking 



thence by the hills to 



Dorking. 

 Sept. 17. Ashdown Forest. 



April 30th. — In Betchworth Park the Wood Wren and 

 Eedstart were observed singing; the latter is not at all a 

 common bird in our district. A young Brown Owl, apparently 

 about three weeks old, was found at the foot of a tree, but 

 the nest to which it belonged could not be discovered; it 

 struck vigorously with its claws when touched, throwing 

 itself partly on its back, as the habit of Owls is when fighting. 



May 28. Eeigate Hill.— In the beech-wood several good 

 specimens of the Bird's-nest Orchis {Listera nidus-avis) were 

 found in flower ; one of these was dug up, and the thick 

 matted root, from which the plant derives its name, was well 

 seen. Epipactis grandiflora was found in unusual abundance 

 under the beeches, but only a few specimens were actually in 

 flower at this date. Veronica montana, too, was found in 

 some abundance, and also two specimens of Habenaria 

 bifolia. 



June 11. Penshurst. — Amongst the birds seen or heard 

 in the park at Penshurst Place were the Green Woodpecker, 

 Wild Duck, Coot, &c. A pair of Barn Owls also flew from 

 the inside of the celebrated " Sidney Oak." The Nightingale 



