seen at The Warren, Folkestone, during the fortnight ended November 

 12th, was photographed by the Honorary Secretary of this Section. 



The first Swallows of the year arrived at Hythe on March 27th 

 and six were seen over Station Road, Hythe, on November 25th. A 

 House Martin was seen feeding young in a nest in High Street, Hythe, 

 on October 16th. 



Two great movements due to weather occurred during the year, 

 the first on February 22nd and the second on October 22nd. Tens of 

 thousands of birds were involved on each occasion. 



W. S. Nevin, m.b.o.u. 



BOTANICAL NOTES, 1955 



O ECURRENT cold spells with falls of snow kept the vegetation 

 backward in the early part of the year. The few pleasant sunny 

 intervals were of too short duration to have much effect and growth was 

 more or less static until the end of March. 



However, the weather was beautifully sunny for the Congress of 

 South Eastern Union of Scientific Societies and in spite of the late 

 spring, we were able to collect some interesting plants for the Exhibition. 

 Perhaps the most noticeable of these was Dr. Scott's large bowl of 

 variations of the Sweet Violet Viola odorata showing a remarkable range 

 of colours — violet, pale mauve, white, pink and buff. An unusual 

 plant was a wild Hedgehog Holly found at Acrise. The Common 

 Butterbur Petasites hybridus is a rarity in these parts, being found only 

 in the Ashford district. From the same district. Dr. Scott brought 

 the Setterwort Helleborus foetidus and a rare Cruciferous plant, Thlaspi 

 alliaceum. The Great Water Horse Tail Equisetum telmateia though 

 not uncommon, aroused a good deal of interest on account of its hygro- 

 scopic pollen. 



There were a number of variations in primroses, specimens being 

 found with frilled sepals, numerous umbels on elongated stems, like 

 Polyanthuses, and several with coloured flowers, mainly pink shades. 



Orchids were late and not very numerous except for a few species. 



During the dry spells the grass remained green and some unusual 

 plants were found. These included the Large Wintergreen Pyrola 

 rotundifelia, Geranium versicolor. Treacle Mustard, Erysimum cheiran- 

 thoides and Weasel Snout Antirrhinum orontium of which there are very 

 few records for Kent. 



Sloes were very scarce owing to late frosts and cold winds preventing 

 fertilization by bees. 



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