49 



Report of the Field Meeting held at Clandon on 

 July 15th, 1905. 



By W. J. Kaye, F.E.S. 



On July 15 th, in perfect weather, fresh ground was broken for one of 

 the Society's excursions. The scene of operations lay to the south of 

 the Clandon Downs. Early in the morning quite a number of those 

 who had intimated they would be present had already journeyed down, 

 some direct to Clandon Station, and others to Horsley, who wended 

 their way along the top of the range to meet the main party later. It 

 might here be said of the latter route that there are few walks in Surrey 

 to equal this, either botanically or entomologically, while the view, at 

 one time to the north, at another to the south, gives a feeling of rest and 

 satisfaction known only to those who have experienced it. Unfortu- 

 nately, the units of a field meeting do not form a homogeneous body, 

 and this latter route is not to be recommended, owing to its length, 

 except to individuals endowed with the requisite energy. The actual 

 course taken by the majority of the members and their friends — in 

 other words, the official route — was, upon alighting from the train at 

 Clandon Station, to walk up to and through the picturesque little 

 village of West Clandon till the main Leatherhead and Guildford 

 road was reached. Bearing a little to the right then for about thirty 

 yards, one comes to a stile which marks the commencement of a 

 footpath up to the Downs. The path leads at first through two or 

 three fields and then emerges on the long-grass-covered Downs. 

 Looking back, one can then see right across the Valleys of the Wey 

 and the Mole, and to the west lies the high ground on which Alder- 

 shot stands, with the Fox Hills and Chobham Ridges a little to the 

 north. Continuing up higher, one reaches the road that leads down 

 the other side to Albury. Almost unexpectedly one finds one has 

 reached the highest point, known far and wide as Newlands Corner. 

 From here the extensive panorama laid to view has become famous. 

 The beauty lies perhaps not so much in the great extent as in the 

 great variety in the scene displayed. Immediately on one's right the 

 eye catches sight of the quaint little St. Martha's Church, built on the 

 top of the hill by the side of the Pilgrim's Way. Further to the south 

 one sees the bold outline of Hindhead, while round to the eastward is 

 the highest point in the county, Leith Hill, standing 965 feet high. The 

 ground all along the ridge of the Downs is excellent for collecting, and 

 up till the present time has not been invaded by the tripper, and one 

 may any day in the week, be it a Saturday or even a Sunday, find one- 

 self in sole possession of the ground. Here, at the right season and in 

 favourable weather, one may see the fine Argynnids — Argy?inis aglaia, 

 and Argvnnis adippe, not to mention numbers of such common species 



4 



