XXXIX. 



the last 50 years the chalk cliffs at this point of the coast have considerably worn 

 away by the action of the weather upon them, but Old Harry Kock still stands 

 with his wife, like giants in the base. Old Harry still stands high and dry at low 

 water, and may be got at from the shore, but not so easily as 50 years ago ; the 

 channel, however, is not materially widened, the cliff opposite these rocks being, 

 like the rocks themselves, nearly unaltered, and very hard, they have resisted 

 both the wind and the sea. The denudation of these cliffs has occurred some 

 distance from the point, and, probably, in the course of years another large piece 

 of the cliff will be detached from the main land and form a rock of considerable 

 size. I have not been able to ascertain the exact amount of surface that has sunk 

 into the sea. The process of falling away of the cliff has been constant and 



gradual The wearing away of the cliff has not, I 



think, been caused by the action of the sea but by springs. " 



The party returned from the Sandbanks to Poole by steamer, where they were 

 entertained at tea by Dr. Turner. This brought the meeting to a close, and 

 with it the summer work of the Society. The detailed account of some of the 

 most interesting antiquities of the town of Poole will be found in Dr. Turner's 

 paper at p. 79 in the present volume. 



A paper on ' ' The Natural History of Poole Harbour " by Mr. W. Penney was 

 then read by Mr. J. S. Udal. 



After noticing the physical features of the district surrounding the Poole 

 estuary, Mr. Penney gave some detailed notes on the occurrence of mammals and 

 birds derived during his acquaintagce with the locality during 37 years. In the 

 course of his remarks he stated that the Badger was still to be found amongst 

 the sandy hills of Lytchett. The Black Rat survived in some of the oil stores and 

 granaries of the town of Poole. The Seal, by no means plentiful, occasionally 

 visited the harbour. Some vertebrae and ribs of the whale had been dredged up 

 in the Wareham Channel. A specimen of the Osprey was caught in a rabbit trap 

 on September 14th, 1880, by Richard Stokes at the entrance to Poole Harbour. 

 This was the fourth Osprey which had come into the hands of this veteran 

 gunner during his 60 years' acquaintance with the place. Specimens of the 

 marsh Harrier and the rough-legged Buzzard had been shot in the neighbourhood 

 by Mr. J. Kemp, and presented to the Poole Museum by the Rev. A. Kemp. 

 The golden Eagle had been occasionally seen during a hard winter. Richard 

 Stokes, above mentioned, once saw one swoop down and carry off a wounded 

 goose after the discharge of a punt gun. The mountain Finch made its appearance \ 

 towards the end of the autumn at Lytchett and Kinson. The hooded Crow had I 

 been shot at Lytchett. The Wryneck was a constant summer visitant at ' 

 Broadstone and Kinson heath, appearing about the second week in April, The 

 black Grouse, once frequent on the heath, was now, he believed, extinct. The 

 common Thick-knee was shot at the sandbanks in December, 1873, by the late 

 Mr. G. Sutherland. The Heron built on Branksea Island and the Island of Arne. 

 Two specimens of the White Spoonbill were shot in 1866. The Grey Phalarope was 

 an occasional visitor. Of the Bean Goose, five were shot in November, 1876. The 



It 



