144 



Attacus JtespcrHs, Demarara, Saniia cecropia, Lin., N. America, and 

 A;ilJa tan, Europe. 



Mr. R. Adkin read a paper entitled " Some Pupal Habitations" 

 (see page 59), and exhibited a large number of specimens in illus- 

 tration. 



Mr, Sich read the following account of a Field Meeting held in 

 the early part of the 17th century, taken from the " Flora of 

 Middlesex " by H. Trimen and W. T. Dyer, published in London 

 in 1869. 



The authors say, " It is to Thomas Johnson, however, that we 

 are especially indebted for advancing the local botany of our 

 countrj' at this period." His first printed book was entitled " Iter 

 Plantarnm Investigationis ergo susceptum a decern sociis in 

 Agram Cantianum Anno Dom. 1629, Julii 13," a pleasantly written 

 account of one of the herborising excursions which for some years 

 the company had been in the habit of making. 



This is the first printed account of a botanical excursion in 

 England. 



An Appendix of three pages to this little book is of special 

 interest : — 



"Ericetum Hamstedianum seu Plantarum ibi crescentum obser- 

 vatio habita Anno eodem ] Augusti," 



This is an account of a similar excursion to Hampstead Heath 

 ■on August 1st, 1629. The party consisted of Johnson and nine 

 others. They left London early in the morning and proceeded to 

 Kentish Town, then a country place enough, whence they walked 

 to Highgate, where they were caught in a heavy shower ; but 

 nothing daunted, made their way into the wood (probably Bishop's 

 and Ken ^Yoods) and then on the heath. They returned to London 

 by way of Hampstead Village and Kentish Town. Three lists of 

 plants observed are given, the names used being those of Lobel, 

 Dodoens, and Gerarde, and the very common species being omitted. 

 There is also a short list of some others which Johnson had seen 

 on the same ground on May 1st of the same year. The whole 

 number of flowering piants observed was 72. 



This reads almost like an account of one of our own excursions, 

 though it took place nearly 286 years ago. 



