24 Dr. Carpenter on Recent Observations made in the 



reception, and Mr. Blaauw for his kind escorts, for without him 

 we could have done nothing, our guide the keeper, and assistants 

 speaking only an unknown tongue — that is Dutch patois, which 

 Mr. Blaauw rendered into exceedingly good English. 



I would add, in conclusion, that any ornithological friend 

 wishing to follow in my footsteps had better do so the the second 

 week in next May, as after next season I much fear Naarden 

 Mere will be drained, and the spoonbills driven from this their 

 last breeding- station in Northern Europe. 



49. — Eecent Observations made in the New Eoad at Purley : 

 Arch^iological and Ethnological. 



By Alfred Carpenter, M.D., F.E.M.S., &c. 

 (Read 11th February, 1885.) 



It is always advisable to place on record the ancient history 

 of our own land, when it can be obtained from the memorials of 

 the past. These memorials are occasionally disinterred, and 

 facts, the knowledge of which has in past times often been lost, 

 are again exposed to view. Such a fact has been brought to 

 light on the hill which lies parallel with the Brighton Koad, as 

 it runs by Purley Oaks towards Smitham Bottom. 



There is an open expanse of chalk down between Haling 

 Grove and Eussell Hill. This down has only a few inches of 

 Eocene formation and vegetable mould upon it above the chalk ; 

 there is no soil for forest trees, and scarcely enough for brush- 

 wood. When Eussell Hill Schools were built near Beggars 

 Bush, several skeletons were disturbed, which showed that the 

 hill had been a burial-place, and from the character of the 

 interments I conclude that it was probably a battle-field. 

 Similar evidence has been afforded in different parts of the 

 down. Some graves were found a few years ago, when the 

 Bramley Hill Eoad was extended ; and I am informed that when 

 the Whitecliffe Eoad was made at Purley, several similar graves 

 were disturbed. These two roads have now been connected by a 

 road which runs southward and to the west of Haling Grove, 

 terminating on the side of the down to the west, considerably 

 above the level of Purley Church. At the north end of the White- 

 cliffe Eoad the down has been lowered, so as to allow of a satisfac- 

 tory gradient. There is a cutting through the chalk in places some 

 fourteen or fifteen feet deep. In forming this cutting the surface 

 mould has been removed from the chalk, and in the removal of 

 this upper crust of soil several graves have been disturbed. It 

 is to these I beg to draw attention. I have the history of nearly 



