27 
Watural history Section. 
Committee (for the Section and the Field meetings), Mrs. P. L. 
Forbes, Mrs. Park, S. P. Alcock, H. Pace, Hugh Findon, F.L.S. 
(Hon. Secretary). 
The work of the Section is, on the whole, very satisfactory, 
though no member has at present come forward to arrange the 
Beach Collection of Mosses; neither have any specimens been 
placed in the Society’s entomological cabinet. This last, however, 
is partly owing to the bad season for all branches of Natural History 
collecting. 
Various members have made exhibits for the first time during 
the year, and the discussion of the papers has been more general. 
The attendances has been greater. 
The Elementary Class of Zoology began in December, and 
the attendance was very gratifying. 
Seven meetings were held in 1909 at Stanfield House as 
follows :— 
Friday, January 15th. Mr. P. E. Vizard, Vice-President, in 
the chair. 
Miss Homfray exhibited Natural Balls formed from the fibres 
of Posidonia caulina by wind and waves on the coast of the Riviera. 
Mrs. Park exhibited the same from the fibres of Posidonia 
australis from the Australian coast. 
Miss A. Martelli exhibited Fire-Sticks still used by the natives 
of North Australia. 
Miss Garlick exhibited Prayer Beads, the seeds of Alrus pre- 
catorius, Order Leguminace, from India. 
Mr. Herbert Goodchild, M.B.O.U., read a paper on ‘ Dis- 
appearing British Birds.” The paper first dealt with the 
probable character of primeval Britain as forest land interspersed 
with heaths and marshes in the south, and to the north and west 
uplands, moors, and mountains. The appearance of Hampstead 
and the Brent valley five thousand years ago was drawn in detail. 
_. The birds likely to be seen and heard throughout this tract were 
_ the buzzard, raven, hobby, kite, honey buzzard, and others, and 
Were now on the verge of extinction. Lantern slides of most 
_ of the birds mentioned were shown. 
A discussion followed in which Mr. Palmer was able to show 
_ that in Ireland one case at least was known where landowners 
_were doing all they could to protect the birds that visited their 
- estates to breed. 
