358 
historical investigations have received attention : Roman antiquities 
and prehistoric remains are treated of : Mr. Castellain continues 
his valuable summary of the first appearances of birds and flowers 
in the year. It is, perhaps, a subject of regret that with the 
exception of this last-named paper there is no contribution to 
Natural History, and as in the Club’s title ‘“ Natural History ” 
comes before “ Antiquarian,” it is to be hoped that some effort 
will be made to rectify this omission by Members who are qualified 
to render assistance. No doubt there is much to be done in this 
direction by a Society such as ours, and what is done in the 
district ought to be published so as to be available for future 
reference. 
Forest of Dean, May 26th, 1903.—Considering the very fine 
weather the small number of Members which turned up for this 
Excursion was somewhat disappointing, only nine forming the 
party. Leaving the Midland Station at 10 a.m., with only trifling 
waits at Mangotsfield and Berkeley Road Stations, Speech House 
Road was reached at 12.11, anda carriage being provided for 
those who preferred not to walk, the party soon arrived at “ Ye 
Speche House Hotel,” as the proprietor styles his house. There 
was not much time for admiring the scenery in detail, for luncheon 
was soon announced and duly appreciated. The party were 
afterwards conducted by the courteous hostess over the house, its 
notable features being pointed out, amongst others, a whipping 
post, which now forms a support to the roof of one of the servants’ 
bedrooms. ‘There is nothing to denote its former use, but it was 
said that formerly the servants would not sleep in the room, 
alleging that they heard the screams of former victims. The old 
carved mahogany bedsteads are very fine, and some interest was 
excited by a basketful of parts of old shoes, which with other 
rubbish, were found under the floor when the Court Room was 
repaired some years ago. Some of these shoes, by their size and 
shape, had evidently been worn by fair maidens in days gone by, 
and reminded one of Sir Edwin Arnold’s pretty verses on a pair 
