When Folkestone Flower Show hoped that they would see "the Natural HistorY 

 Society's traditional exhibit again this year," they were doubtless thinking of our long 

 standing responsibility for the wild flower exhibit at the Public Library, for our connection 

 with the Flower Show is of very recent date. The Society's stand arouses great interest 

 both with towns folk and visitors, and it has enabled several visiting botanists to see living 

 specimens of uncommon local plants for the first time. Owing to the nature of the 

 exhibits, setting up the stand entails a good deal of intensive hard work at top speed in 

 a very short time for collectors, transport, stagers and stewards. The Society is most 

 grateful for the willing help and time given during several hectic days, and in particular 

 to Mr. P. Coveney, for making two attractive coloured posters for our stand at last season's 

 show. 



The list of members will be revised periodically and published in the Transactions. 



The Secretary. 



NEGATIVE EVIDENCE 



E. Scott, d.s.o., m.d., f.r.e.s. 



The field naturalist is mainly concerned with the absorbing study of ecology, the 

 multiple factors that made the pattern of our flora and fauna. This applies to beast, 

 bird, reptiles, insect and plant. It will be appreciated that the ecology of a district is 

 comprehensive and for most of us our study will be restricted to one or two groups. In 

 my own case, I bring to it a better competence in the recognition of lepidoptera and rather 

 less as regards trees, plants and grasses. If we propose to study a small area such as a 

 stretch of downland or a wood what principles shall we adopt to guide us in our search ? 

 There are mainly three. Firstly, positive observation, secondly negative observation 

 and thirdly experiment, fortuitous or designed. I propose to discuss each of these briefly. 



Direct observation is the method of choice. In its application we make a careful 

 survey and record the flora or fauna that we meet with. This is absorbing and completely 

 essential. It entails hard work, close observation and knowledge, hard won in the past 

 and supplemented by home work at the end of the day. Identifications must be worked 

 out meticulously, particularly since the publication of the new "Flora." On the whole 

 however, it is a restful exercise as little active thought is required. It forms the basis of 

 local and county lists and can provide thrills in the discovery of rarities and the establish- 

 ment of new records. We must continue over a series of seasons so as to cover the yearly 

 climatic variations, the rotation of crops, the coppicing of woods and other environmental 

 sequences. It is best done by a team of collaborators. The coppicing of woods is usually 

 done every nine years and gives an amazing stimulus to the growth of herbaceous plants 

 exposed to the light for a few years until regrowth closes the canopy over them once more. 

 This is the time to see foxglove, mulleon, primrose and others in their greatest profusion 

 and beauty. It is within the experience of us all. 



Negative observation is the title of this article and is essential, if we are to view an 

 area in its true perspective. It consists in a separate recording of the absence of locally 

 common plants and animals, by way of illustration. We list the grey squirrel ; the green 

 woodpecker; the nightingale; the nightjar; the fritillaries ; white admiral; hairstreaks; 

 plants such as bugle, primrose, honeysuckle, rosebang, wood sage and foxglove, the male 



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