Proceedings. 17 



July 7th. — The excui-sion planned was to Caterliam, 

 Barrow Green Woods, and Oxted. A constant succession of 

 rainy days, and a threatening-looking morning, even after the 

 rain ceased about nine o'clock, so far dissuaded members 

 from attempting the proposed excursion that when a single 

 member arrived at the appointed rendezvous at Caterham 

 Station he found himself the sole representative of the Club. 

 After reaching Oxted, so much of the day remained that he 

 continued his walk to East Grinstead, the road for several 

 miles crossing the almost level valley of the Weald Clay 

 before reaching the Hastings Sand in the neighbourhood of 

 East Grinstead, where a higher elevation is again attained. 

 The birds seen or heard during the day included a Girl 

 Bunting, which was singing in a tree close to the Firestone 

 Quarry at Godstone ; a Grasshopper Warbler, whose insect- 

 like song was heard in a wood by the road-side ; a Lesser 

 Spotted Woodpecker ; and a Snipe, which was flying high in 

 the air over a large piece of water and marshy ground 

 adjoining, not far from East Grinstead, from time to time 

 emitting the sound variously described as "drumming" or 

 "bleating," which is now generally believed to be produced 

 by the quill-feathers of the wing. The plague of caterpillars 

 previously referred to was observed to have devastated trees 

 of many different kinds, though the Oaks appeared to have 

 been the chief sufferers. 



July 28th. — An afternoon walk was arranged along the 

 hills from Eeigate to Betch worth. Only five members met, 

 the weather being again extremely unpropitious, and rain fell 

 at times heavily during a good deal of the walk. Near the 

 top of Eeigate Hill a single plant of a species of Salvia was 

 pointed out by the conductor, Mr. A. J. Crosfield, but the 

 flower was already over. The Yellow Ground Pine (Ajnija 

 Chamapitys) was found in abundance growing along the brow 

 of the hill : the name is equally appropriate whether bestowed 

 on account of its Pine -like leaves or resinous smell. The 

 delicate little Geranium coltimbinum was also met with. 

 Hij(jro2)horus conicus was found plentifully: those with the 

 pileus yellow or orange were more numerous than the scarlet 

 ones, contrary to usual experience. The question was raised 



