Proceedings. 



XXV 



head were found a few interesting chalk plants, as the honnd's- 

 toDgue {Cynoglossum officinale), the black mullein {Verbascum 

 nigrum), and Phyteuma orbiculare, After tea at Leatherhead the 

 party returned by train to West Croydon. 



On Saturday, July 22nd, a half-day excursion was made under 

 the guidance of Mr. Bayard to Wotton and Abinger. The 

 attendance was small. Leaving Gomshall Station, the route 

 lay along a sandy ridge, formed by the outcrop of the Folkestone 

 beds of the lower greensand, and occupied by woods and ' ' roughs 

 or furze-covered commons, to Deerleap Wood. On the way a 

 granite cross was passed, marking the spot where Bishop Wilber- 

 force was killed by a fall from his horse on July 19th, 1873. In 

 the open pastures mushrooms were found, it being somewhat 

 unusual to find them so early in the season. The champignon, 

 Marasmius oreades, was also very abundant, forming large rings, 

 one of which measured 23 ft. in diameter, and had a large furze 

 bush growing in the centre of the circle. Numerous birds were 

 observed. In Deerleap Wood is a barrow not very perfect, con- 

 sisting of a mound about 6 ft. high, surrounded by a circular 

 trench, the mound and trench being separated by a shelf on ap- 

 parently the natural level of the ground. The extreme diameter 

 across the barrow between the outside edges of the trench is 

 fifty yards. Passing Wotton Hall, the home of John Evelyn, 

 and still of his descendants, and the rock-hewn mausoleum of the 

 family, the party proceeded down the valley of the Tillingbourne 

 to Abinger Mill. The mill-pond and other pieces of water in the 

 course of the stream afforded a series of picturesque views for the 

 camera. The wild balsam, Impatiens n oU- mcrtanger e, grew abun- 

 dantly on the edge of the mill-pond and down the course of the 

 stream, and the French willow herb, Epilobium angustifoUum, 

 with its vivid rose-coloured flowers, formed great masses in the 

 woods. Other plants seen were the lady fern, Scirpus sylvaticus, 

 Verbascum nigrum, and Anchusa arvensis. 



The Bank Holiday excursion on August 7th was made to 

 Cowden and Holtye Common. In the unavoidable absence of 

 Mr. Sturge through an accident, Mr. Murton Hohnes acted as 

 guide, and gives me the following account of the day's pro- 

 ceedings :— The party, numbering seventeen, arrived at Cowden 

 about 11.30. Mr. Holmes himself, who had come by an earUer 

 train, had in the meantime been exploring some fields near the 

 station. Here blackberries were very fine and plentiful, and 

 several specimens of Erythrcea centaurium with white flowers 

 were found, also the orpine, Sedum Telephium, just coming into 

 bloom. Insects were also tolerably abundant, more especially 

 the large heath butterfly {Hipparchia tithonus), which was in 

 good condition. Two or three specimens of the dingy skipper 

 {Hesperia tages) and some " small coppers" were also taken. 



