clxviii Proceedings. 



Tlie excursions for the year, like many other things in 1891, 

 suffered severely from the weather, the first one, on Whit- 

 Monday, being perhaps the greatest sufferer in this respect. 



Whit-Monday, 18f/i May, 1891. — This excursion was arranged 

 by Mr. E. B. Sturge to leave Croydon per rail about 10 o'clock for 

 Cowden in Kent, thence walk to the village, where there are 

 several old half-timbered houses and an old church, the tower of 

 which was much damaged by lightning a few years since ; then 

 cross the " Kent Water" into Sussex at Holtye Common ; near 

 this, the Furnace Pond, is a large sheet of water with a mill. 

 Continuing the walk to Hammerwood Church and on to East 

 Grinstead, about eight miles in all. The morning being ex- 

 tremely wet and stormy, only two members, Messrs. Goodman 

 and Sturge, turned up, but they carried out the programme, 

 returning by rail to Croydon. 



The visit toKew Gardens, on June 20th, under the direction of 

 Mr. Mennell, was of much interest, the Alpine and herbaceous 

 rock garden being examined with much pleasure. Visits were 

 also paid to the most interesting of the houses, and an ex- 

 ceedingly pleasant and instructive afternoon was enjoyed by the 

 party. 



Ljhtham Excursion. — On July 11th an excursion took place to 

 Ightham, under the direction of Mr. Bayard. A small party 

 met at Beckenham Station and proceeded to Borough Green 

 Station. On arriving there the party walked to Ightham, where 

 they spent some time inspecting and photographing a very old 

 house, which was said to have been the palace of the last Roman 

 Catholic bishop in England. Thence the party went via Oldbury, 

 past the Roman camp and Ightham Common to Ightham Mote 

 House, a very celebrated " moated grange." This being under 

 repair, the interior could not be seen. Thence the party returned 

 to Ightham and Borough Green. The weather was magnificent. 

 Some orchids were found on Ightham Common, and an adder 

 was captured after considerable trouble. 



The August Bank Holiday excursion is I'eferred to in the 

 Report of the Geological Sub-Committee. 



On Sept. 5th a visit was made to the Zoological Society's 

 Gardens, under the direction of Mr. Crowley. A considerable 

 number of members were present, and nn exceedingly pleasant 

 afternoon was spent. Through the influence of Mr. Crowley, 

 many little points of interest were shown which would not other- 

 wise have been. A pelican race was one of these, as also was a 

 private view of the toucans aud hornbills, when their curious 

 manner of catching food thrown to them avus shown. A 

 friendly visit to the anthropoid apes was also made, where the 

 celebrated "George,'' which shortly afterwards unfortunately 

 died, was inspected by the party. The weather was remarkably 



