538 The Fifty-Fifth General Meeting. 



MR. C. PENRUDDOCKE in the chair. The Chairman moved a 

 hearty vote of thanks to Lord and Lady Radnor for their kindness 

 in throwing open Longford Castle to the Society and in entertaining 

 the Members as they had done that afternoon. THE REV. R. E- 

 THOMAS, of Salisbury, then read a paper on "THE MOLLUSCA 

 OF WILTS," illustrating his remarks by a large collection of land 

 and freshwater shells found in the county. THE REV. GEOFFREY 

 HILL then gave an interesting historical disquisition in which 

 he proposed to prove that the invasion of Cerdic and his Saxons 

 was not by the way of the Itchen Valley — as has generally been 

 assumed — but by way of Christchurch and the valley of the Salis- 

 bury Avon. The proceedings of the evening closed with a few words 

 by THE REV. E. H. GODDARD on the places and buildings to be 

 visited in the next day's excursion. 



FRIDAY, JULY 17th. 



The programme for this day's excursion had not any special 

 attraction such as the visit to Longford Castle on the previous 

 day had held out, and as usual at the Society's Meetings the num- 

 bers taking part in it were considerably less than those present on 

 the first day: thirty-three, however, were present at lunch at 

 Porton. The weather at first showed little improvement, and the 

 start from the County Hotel at 9.15 was made in rain. This, 

 liowever, proved only a shower, and by the time OLDSARUM was 

 reached the sun shone out and the round of the ramparts was 

 made in ideal weather, and was greatly enjoyed by all present. 

 The distances were bright and clear, and the great earthworks 

 covered with Down flowers looked their best. THE REV. E. H. 

 GODDARD, on the site of the central castle, gave a few details of 

 the history of the place, whilst the various points of interest to 

 be seen from the ramparts were described by MR. T. H. BAKER 

 and MR. HAMMOND. Allusions v/ere made by some of the 

 Members present to the report that the Society of Antiquaries was 

 disposed to institute excavations on the spot if leave could be 

 obtained from the Dean and Chapter. Some discussion took place 

 and it was generally agreed that it was most desirable that such 



