XVI. . 



The Ninth Vol. of " Proceedings" of the Club was issued to monitors 

 early in the month of Septemler. It is found nearly impossible to press 

 the work of printing forward sufficiently fast to ensure the volume being 

 ready by the first meeting of the year, held usually in the month of May. 



It may l>e well to take the present opportunity of recording various 

 matters of interest which have occurred within the county during the 

 year 1888, of either Natural History or Antiquarian character. Amongst 

 these may be mentioned the discovery, in the month of January, of a 

 magnificent specimen of Histionotus angularis Eg., from the Middle 

 Purlecks of Herston, near Swanage, more remarkable for its combi- 

 nation of character, than any other fossil fish. This was purchased 

 by the President of the Society, J. C. Mansel-Pleydell, Esq., and 

 by his generosity placed in the County Museum at Dorchester. 

 The description of this almost unique specimen will probably l>e 

 laid before the Society during the ensuing year by the President, 

 and printed in Vol. XI. of the "Proceedings." During the month 

 of September the discovery a Roman well was made in the parish 

 of Winterborne Kingston, on the property of Mr. Mansel-Pleydell, 

 and various objects of great antiquarian interest, fragments of pottery, 

 coins, bones, &c., were found lying at the bottom. It is hoped that a 

 full account of this discovery will appear during 1889. A Roman 

 Tesselated Pavement was also laid bare during the year 1888 on the 

 property of the Rev. N. Bond, of Creech Grange, near Wareham. 



THE FIRST MEETING for the year 1888 was held at Dorchester on 

 Wednesday, June 6th, in the County Museum. The day was fine and 

 there was a good attendance. According to custom the business of the 

 Club occupied most of the morning. The Treasurer, the Rev. O. P. 

 Cambridge, presented his annual financial statement, which was a 

 satisfactory one, showing receipts during the year, together with the 

 lialance in hand at the commencement of 1888, of 130 os. 3d., and 

 payments of 102 10s. 3d., leaving a balance of 27 los. This favourable 

 position in the finances of the Field Club was largely due to the 

 generosity of the President, who had borne the whole cost of the 

 publication of " The Birds of Dorset," a copy of which lie had presented 

 to each menitor of the Club. The Club last year numbered 187 ordinary 

 subscribing memlters ; this year they were 198, so that they were still 

 steadily increasing in numbers. On the motion of Sir Talliot Baker, 

 seconded by Mr. Filliter, the reiwrt was adopted. The Balance-sheet 

 will be found printed in full on p. xxxiv. 



