16 Proceedings. 



westward along the top of the hills, for the first part of the 

 way through woods, and subsequently through more open 

 country. Newlands Corner was passed, and soon after the 

 party crossed the intervening valley to St. Martha's Hill, an 

 outlying elevation belonging to the Lower Greensand series. 

 The surface-sand is very soft and loose, and one wonders how 

 it is that this small hill has been left standing alone and has 

 escaped the general denudation. Probably this may be 

 accounted for by the fact that it contains such a large 

 quantity of ironstone, which has better resisted the denuding 

 agencies that have had such effect on other parts of the series. 

 On this hill were found Teesdalia nudicnulis, Corydalis clavicu- 

 lata, Ornitlwpus ■perpusillus, and various other minute plants. 

 The trees in many places during the walk were observed to 

 be much devastated by caterpillars, especially the Elms and 

 Oaks. Some of the latter were already almost stripped of 

 their leaves even before they had attained their full develop- 

 ment. It is not often that the Nightingale's song can still be 

 heard so late as June 9th, but at least three were heard 

 singing in the course of the walk — another illustration of the 

 general backwardness of the season. 



June 27th. — An afternoon excui-sion to Tunbridge, to meet 

 the members of the Tunbridge Wells Natural History and 

 Antiquarian Society. About twenty of these were present, 

 and six representatives of the Holmesdale Natural History 

 Club. Most of the party embarked in boats, intending to 

 proceed down the Medway, but the river was so high and 

 rapid after the recent continuous and heavy rains that it was 

 judged better, after going a short distance, to turn and go up 

 stream instead. The weather was threatening for more rain, 

 and it soon commenced and came down with steady con- 

 tinuance. As no signs of abatement appeared, a return was 

 made, after a mile or two had been covered, to Tunbridge, 

 where tea was provided at a hotel, instead of on the river- 

 bank, as had been intended. The Comfrey [Symjjhytum offici- 

 nale), a plant not occurring very commonly near Eeigate, was 

 found by the river-side ; and a number of Demoiselle Dragon- 

 flies were observed, 



