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Several specimens were found of the diminutive sundew drosera 
rotundifolia, which is said to have carnivorous propensities, and 
to be able to assimilate the small insects which unwarily stray 
among the red viscid hairs which covers its fronds. The season 
for flowering, however, was not yet come, and although the moors. 
were gay with “ Ladies’ smocks,” marsh marigold, celandine and 
common spring weeds, none were rare enough to tempt the 
members to further explorations, so a retreat was made to the 
nearest hotel, the Warry Arms, for necessary restoration, and 
then, after a two and half mile walk, the village of Meare was 
reached with its remarkable objects of antiquarian interest. 
Meare is situated upon a rising ground, in the undrained days 
of the peat bog, an island about two miles long by one half in 
width, whither the mitred Abbots of the Monastery of Glaston- 
bury were wont to be rowed. The spot where the Abbot's boats 
were moored is now called Poolreed. The Abbot’s house, now a 
farm house, was courteously opened to the members of the Club, 
who were allowed to ascend to the great hall on the first-floor 60 
feet long by 22 wide, with windows of decorated tracery, anda fine 
stone fireplace and open timber roof. The house was built about 
1350 by the Abbot Adam de Sodbury, whose statue, or that of 
one of his successors, now elegantly surmounts the gable of 
the two-storied entrance porch. About 200 yards eastwards 
of the house there stood entire, until fire seized its timbers a few 
years ago, a most interesting and unique building, erected in the 
reign of Edward III. as a residence for the Abbot’s fisherman. 
The fish ponds on the north of the island, which supplied the 
Abbey with the necessary provisions, once covered 500 acres, 
now drained, and a luxurious sward. The walls of the fish-house 
still stand, but the interior is gutted, and is not kept clean and 
fit for visitors. The church of Meare, which stands about 300 
yards from the latter, contains some decorated windows in the 
chancel, the eastern window being of peculiarly fine tracery. The 
nave is Perpendicular, rebuilt by Abbot Selwood in the 16th 
