
25 
PAXTON SOCIETY. 
Marked progress has been made in all directions during the past year. 
The Membership has been considerably increased, as well as the list of 
Donors to the Prize Fund. The Entries for the Annual Exhibition of 
Fruits and Chrysanthemums exceeded those of any previous year; and the 
Exhibits were of a higher standard, and perhaps more representative in 
character than those of previous Exhibitions. Information continues to be 
received from Country districts that increased attention is being given by 
Cottagers and others to the cultivation of Hardy Fruits—Apples and Pears 
in particular—this being chiefly due to the encouragement given, and the 
information disseminated by this Society since its formation about twelve 
years ago. 
The following Papers were read during the Winter Session in the 
Grosvenor Museum :-— 
19Ol. 
Jan. 5—Social Gathering of Members. 
»» 19—‘Manures—Organic and Inorganic, Special and General—and 
their effects upon Crops,” by Mr. WM. NEILD, F.R,H.S. 
Feb. g—‘‘The Cultivation of the Vine in houses constructed for 
Plant Culture,” by .. irs “We Mr. JNO. JACKSON. 
»» 16— The Commercial aspect of Apple and Pear Culture,” by 
Mr. G. P. MILN. 
Mar. 2—‘‘Curiosities of Plant Life’’ (Illustrated by 100 Lantern Slides), by 
Mr. J. D. SIDDALL. 
5, 16—The Food and Habits of some useful British Birds” (with 
Lantern Illustrations), by .. Mr. R. NEwstTEApD, F.E,S. 
N. F. BARNES, President. 
G. P. MILN, Hon. Secretary. 

NOTES BY Dr. W. HENRY DOBIE. 

Chelidon urbica.—An example of a colony of Martins building on the 
face of a rock may be seen at Llandudno, on the east side of the Great 
Orme’s Head, and the nests being constructed of reddish clay shew rather 
conspicuously against the grey lime-stone. Most of them are about 25 feet 
above the sea, underneath a broad projection of rock, which makes them 
quite inaccessible from above. 
Phalacrocorax graculus.—A specimen of the Shag was brought in alive 
in a starved condition, but not wounded, to Mr. C. R. T. Congreve, at 
Burton Hall, on February 5th of the present year, having no doubt been 
blown in by a recent storm. It proved to be a female in mature plumage, and 
is the first record for Cheshire. 
Mergulus aile.—On November 27th, 1900, a specimen of the Little Auk 
was brought to Hutchinson’s from Tattenhall, where it had been procured 
by Mr. Bennett of that place. 
Podicipes griseigena.—I am sorry to have to throw doubt upon the identity 
of a supposed specimen of the Red-necked Grebe in a case of stuffed birds 
belonging to Mr. Lewis Jones, of Hilbre Island, where it was shot (see 
Coward and Oldham’s “ Birds of Cheshire”), On a visit there last October 
it appeared to me from its size and markings to be a small immature specimen 
of the Great Crested Grebe ( Podicipes cristatus), and this was confirmed by a 
aye from Mr. Howard Saunders to whom I sent a sketch of the head and 
neck. 
