37 



iUport of Rummer Excursions, 1917. 



Blue There were no General Excursions, but on 



Lake. Saturday, July 14th, a combined excursion of 



the Geological, Botanical, Entomological, and 

 Photographical Sections, in which about 50 members took part, 

 was made to the Blue Lake. 



Assembling at Corfe, two parties were formed, one going 

 direct to the Lake under the guidance of Mr. R. Y. Banks, the 

 other walking along the Downs, a short description of the Geology 

 of the landscape being given by Mr. W. Munn Rankin, of the 

 Geographical features by Mr. Geo. Grace, and of the insect wealth 

 of the district around Corfe due to the great variety of vegetation, 

 by Dr. Penrose, Mr. C. B. Green pointing out plants of Botanical 

 interest. Both parties met at the Blue Lake, which they were 

 allowed to visit by the kindness of Mr. Arnold Pike, on whose 

 property it is situated. 



The greatest depth of the Lake is about 25 feet, where the 

 colour is most intense, while in the shallowest places the colour 

 almost disappears : the colour may be due to the light being re- 

 flected backwards and forwards among the minute particles of clay 

 held in supension until the red rays are absorbed. 



The particular clay for which the district is celebrated is the 

 so-called blue clay, which is really white, but with a streak of blue 

 in it, hence its name. This clay is incorporated in every kind of 

 earthenware, its peculiar plastic nature rendering it necessary to 

 the successful working of many other clays. 



The remains of a Roman pottery at Norden makes it certain 

 that the Romans worked the clay during their occupation of 

 Britain, as also did the Phoenicians, who are believed to have 

 commenced the workings at the same time as they discovered the 

 tin deposits in Cornwall. 



Geographical Section. 



The Bourne An excursion in the Upper Bourne Valley to 



Valley. Talbot was made by the Geographical Section 



on Saturday, August 18th, under the guidance 

 of Mr. Claude Lyon and Mr. W. J. Woodhouse, the object being 

 to see the sources of the little river which has given its name to 

 the " Garden City " of Bournemouth. 



The route taken was from Prince of Wales' Road, through 

 the Upper Gardens. Halting on the way, Mr. Woodhouse gave 

 an interesting account of the valley, the river's course, and the 

 'changes that time and the hand of man had effected. The party 



