220 
XATURE NOTES. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY’S NOTICES. 
Notice of Special G-eneral Meeting. — In accordance with a resolution 
proposed by Mrs. Percy Myles, and seconded by the Rev. H. E. Bull at the 
Council Meeting of October l, notice is hereby given, that a special general meet- 
ing will be held on November 5, at 6.30 at the Society’s Rooms, 20, Hanover 
Square, \V. , to consider the adoption of a rule allowing of the admission of 
juvenile natural history societies to membership. 
Council and Committee Meetings.— The next meetings of the Council 
will be held on November 5, and December 3, at 5.30 ; of the Magazine and 
Leaflet Committee on November 20 and December 18, at 5.30; of the Finance 
Committee on November 20 and December 18, at 6.30. 
Report of the Field Club for the Season ending September, 1895. 
Reoti at the ineeting of the Field Club at Winchmore Hill, September 28. 
Condensed account. 
Mr. Thistelton Dyer said in his Presidential address at Ipswich a few weeks 
ago, when the British Association met in that city, that “ the modern student of 
botany put his elders to blush by his minute knowledge of some small points in 
vegetable histology. But he could tell them little of the contents of our country 
hedgerows, and if they put an unfamiliar plant in his hands, he was pretty much 
at a loss how to set about recognising its affinities.” These words at once form a 
raison dette for the existence of the Field Club. The area covered by the 
excursions of the Field Club round London must, owing to circumstances easily 
understood, be circumscribed, and probably many Field Clubs in other parts of 
the country can show far greater records of work done. But the old botanists 
had thought it worth while to mention that turnips grew at Hackney, and that 
peas were originally known as Fulham peas because they grew at Fulham, and 
therefore if we can find such an ordinary plant as the ivy- leaved toad-flax growing 
on a wall some six miles from Charing Cross, it is worth noting. 
Twenty-three rambles have been arranged during the season, only three of 
which had to be postponed on account of the weather. The number of people 
attending them has varied greatly, partly owing to the weather, partly to the 
locality. The meetings at Theydon Bois, Waltham Cross and Winchmore Hill 
attracted the greatest number of members. The area visited has been on an 
average within sixteen miles round London, but the distances were very variable. 
Ware, Virginia Water, Effingham and Boxhill, being the most distant from, and 
Richmond and Tottenham the nearest to, London. 
On June 15, Waltham Abbey was explored, and a most interesting historical 
and literary account of the Abbey and neighbourhood read. Whitchurch and 
Edgware where Handel lived were visited on May 25. Some fine frescoes on the 
wall of Chaldon Church were inspected on July 13. At this ramble. Professor 
Boulger, who kindly guided the party from Merstham to Coulsdon, gave a paper 
on Paris quadrifolia — Herb Paris. Epipactis latifolia var. media, Listera ovata, 
Lactuca muralis. Campanula Trachelium, Silene cucubalus, Fumaria officinalis 
and others were found. At Oxshott, both Drosera longifolia and D. rotundifolia 
were found, also Cuscuta parasitic on heather, Eriophorum angustifolium, Scutel- 
laria minor, Hypericum elodes and others. Some fine dragon flies (local ones) 
were seen. Sympetrum Scoticum, Enallagma Cyathigerum, Pyrrhosoma Tenellum, 
-Eschna grandis and .E. cyanea, and the clouded yellow butterfly (Colias Edusa). 
At Wisley were found the Drosera, Ruscus aculeatus, Limosella aquatica, Littorella 
lacustris, Asplenium Ruta-muraria, &c. Here were found the dragon-flies Lestes 
Sponsa, and /Eschna grandis, and the convolvulus moth. Sphinx convolvuli. In 
one of the rambles, Whitton Park was visited, and the fine exotic trees and shrubs 
that were planted there upwards of oae hundred years ago were inspected. 
In conclusion, Mr. Gladstone’s postcard to the editor of the Footpath on the 
subject of Natural History was quoted, and the hope expressed that the Field 
Club of the Selborne Society had been able to contribute a little to a wider 
knowledge, at any rate, of some branches of Natural History. 
E. J. Temple, Hon. Sec. Field Club. 
Edward A. M.\rtin, Hon. Sec. Magazine and Leaflet Committee. 
