220 
NATURE NOTES 
70 per cent, of copper to 30 per cent, of zinc — was used by the Romans for coin, 
Sir John d’Abernon’s brass was the oldest known piece of brass-work in England, 
I hough there are some monumental brasses earlier than 1277 in Germany. These 
brasses are cut from and engraved in sheet brass or latten, which was imported 
from Flanders. Though an Act of Henry VUI.’s prohibiting its exportation 
implies that brass was then made in England, the earliest sheet-brass factory was 
established at Ewell — only five or six miles from Stoke — by a German in 1649. 
Of some 4,000 brasses in English churches, the majority are in the eastern and 
south-eastern counties, the latter being once a great metal-working centre owing 
to the iron mines of the Weald. The boldest engraving is English work done 
with a lozenge-shaped burin, the later Flemish work being much shallower in its 
cutting and done in rectangular plates with a chisel-shaped tool. Some reference 
was also made to the infilling of the shields on brasses with enamels, as at 
Carshalton, and to the occasional gilding or silver-plating of the brass. The fine 
early Jacobean monuments of the Vincents commanded some attention, as did 
also the heraldic glass in the chantry screen, and the thirteenth-century oak chest 
was also much admired. A short stroll brought the party to the Plough Inn, 
where tea was prepared, and darkness was approaching when Cobham Station, 
five minutes distant, was reached. 
FORTHCOMING RAMBLE. 
Arrangements have been made for Selbornians to join the Essex Field Club 
in their annual Fungus Foray ; as, however, the date is not yet fixed, members 
wishing to take part mu.'t send a stamped addressed envelope, at once, to Mrs. 
Percy Myles, 7, Lincoln Street, S.W. Tea and expenses, 2s. 6d. each. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
J. M. Roper. — Dicramun sfurium, an uncommon species, kindly identified 
by Mr. Gepp, of the Natural History Museum. 
Ignoramus. — Johns’ “ Flowers of the Field,” edited by G. S. Boulger 
(S.P.C.K., published at 7s. 6d.), or “ Our Country’s Flow'ers,” by W. J. Gordon 
(Day and Son, published at 6s.), would probably suit you. 
A. S. Adams. — Though in the July number, the “ announcement ” to which 
you refer occurs in the report of the Annual Meeting on May 27, so that the 
paper mentioned was that in the June number. 
A. H. Duvall. — “Cuckoo-spit,” as it is called, is produced by PhiUaius 
sptunarius, otherwise Aphrophora spumaria, one of the Cercopidie, a family of 
Homoptera. A short popular account of the insect appears in “ Insect Lives,” 
by Edward Simpson (Religious Tract Society). 
Mrs. Needham. — Allium paniailatum. 
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
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