SEL BORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
1 19 
three of them by nuthatches, which had plastered the sides of the holes with 
mud. I have just received a letter to say that tits have ousted the nuthatches 
from two of the boxes — a great tit being the tyrant in one case and a blue tit in 
the other. Tits evidently live by their wits, and in these two instances have 
certainly outwitted a much more powerful bird. 
Market IVestcn, Thelford, May 6 , 1899. Edmund Titos. Daubeny. 
Toad Casting its Skin. — I see in your .Vpril number that M. S. V. asks 
it is a fact that toads shed and eat their skins. I beg to tell what I observed 
myself early in June last year. I saw a large toad sitting on a flower bed, moving 
about in a most excited manner. I could not think what he was doing ; so going 
close, I saw him in the act of casting his skin— he had evidently finished skinning 
his back, as it appeared shining and new looking. He scraped the skin off one 
of his fore legs with the other and his mouth, and then rolling it up in a long 
roll he swallowed it, and then did the same to the other leg. Me .sat there 
evidently wishing me to admire his new suit. 
Hinxivorth Rectory, Baldock. M. Pinfold. 
Abnormal Blue-bells. — Last year I found in a strip of wood in the 
parish of Teston, a blue-bell with the flowers far apart, some of the little stalks 
of the flower being an inch long. I have now found a specimen (close to the 
same spot) with prolonged bracts, which I enclose. 
.\rthur H. Courthope. 
Claremont, Wateringhury, Kent, April 24, 1899. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Council and Committee Meetings. — The next meetings of the Council 
will be held on Tue.sdays, June 6, June 20, and July 4, at 5 - 30 - 
FIELD CLUB RAMBLES. 
Jtate 10. — Take 2.13 train from Fenchurch Street to North Weald (or 2.8 
from Liverpool Street, in which case change at Snaresbrook). Walk through 
Ongar Park Wood to Theydon. Tea at “Foresters’ Arms,” Baldwin’s Hill, at 
6. Return through Epping Forest to Chingford. Guide, Mr. C. Nicholson. 
June 17.— Merstham to Caterham vid Chaldon (curious old frescoes in church). 
Trains leave Charing Cross 2.5, Cannon Street 2.17, London Bridge (S.E.R.) 2.15, 
East Croydon 2.39. Take return tickets to Purley and pay excess on arrival at 
Merstham. Guide, Mr. A. B. Wilkinson. 
June 24. — No ramble arranged. 
July I. — Meet at Weybridge Station. Train leaves Waterloo (main line) 
2.29 ; Surbiton, 2.52. Does not stop at Clapham Junction. Dr. L. Beale, 
F.R.S., has kindly consented to conduct the party through his gardens at Canes- 
wood, Weybridge Heath. Thence through woods and by riverside path to New 
Haw Lock, where tea will be provided about 6 o’clock at the White Hart or 
cottage adjoining. Return by banks of Wey to Addlestone or Weybridge. 
Guide, Dr. Willson. 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES. 
Bath. — The first excursion of the season took place on Saturday, April 8, 
conducted by Mr. Bartelt, to the beautiful old manor of Queen Charlton. Here 
a kind reception awaited the members, Mrs. Haines having invited them to 
tea, which they took in a fine old panelled dining-room. Tradition says that 
four queens have visited the house — Catherine Parr, Elizabeth, Anne of Denmark, 
and Charlotte, wife of George III. The bed-room in which they slept is shown, 
and the head and foot of the old carved bedstead adorns the entrance hall. 
