SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
139 
hedge-sparrow's eggs in it, and to our delight and surprise we saw a cuckoo’s egg 
lying in the nest also. The bird had evidently been silting some time, for a few 
days afterwards, on a Saturday, the one hedge-sparrow’s egg hatched out and the 
cuckoo’s also. The other little blue egg was addled. On the following day the 
cuckoo turned out the poor little rightful owner of the nest. Two days after- 
wards, sad to say, a cat found the nest and devoured the cuckoo. I have never 
heard of a cuckoo laying in a nest so near a house that was inhabited. 
The Nedoty, Llautheny Skirrid, 1 ’arnell Jones. 
near Abergavenny. 
Cuckoo’s Egfj in Unfinished Nest. — Have any of your readers in their 
natural history walks abro.id ever come across this rather curious find, namely, 
a cuckoo’s egg laid, or rather put, into a nest not nearly finished, without any of 
the usual soft lining. The nest appeared to be a hedge-sparrow’s, but it was so 
little built that it was almost impossible to tell. Thinking that the owner of the 
nest would not be able to finish its furnishing with the cuckoo’s egg in, I took 
both the egg and the nest and have it still. I should be very glad to hear if any 
of your readers have known a similar case. 
Essendon, Hatfield, Herts. A. Kai itWEi.i. Hamford. 
Jnne 6, 1902. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Council Meeting’. — The usual monthly meeting of the Council will be held 
at 20, Hanover Square, W., on Wednesday, July 9, at 5.30 p.m. 
New Members. — Dr. S. II. Appleford, Iloddesdon ; T. J. Barrett, Esq., 
Hampstead ; Mrs. Hickman, Kensington ; II. W. Woodman, Esq., Hampstead ; 
C. M. Hailes, Esq., Hampstead; Wilfied M. Webb, Esq., Hanwell ; .\lex. 
Milne, Esq., Hastings; A. S. Godfree, Esq., Hastings; LI. G. Robinson, Esq., 
Hastings; Henry O. Minty, Esq., Beckenham; Richard May, Esq., Dulwich; 
Messrs. Hutchinson and Co. ; Mrs. W. E. Price, Chepstow ; II. T. George, Esq., 
Haslemere ; Sir John T. Goldney, Corsham ; Ed. Cahen, Esq., Kensington ; 
J. C. Purssey, Esq., Mark Lane; Mrs. Hodgson, Carlisle; Miss E. Carter, 
Barnes. 
Donations and Subscriptions.— The Council beg to acknowledge the 
following subscriptions over 5s. : — Mrs. W. E. Price, los. ; Sir John T. Goldney, 
2IS. 
FIELD CLUB RAMBLES. 
Saturday, May 24, 1 902. — The Selbornians met at Chigwell Lane Station 
about 3 o’clock. Turning into the field, a short distance from the station, a 
pleasant footpath was taken across the fields in the direction of Abridge. A further 
stretch of road and field path brought the party out at Theydon Garnon Church, 
when the Rev. Thos. Lloyd pointed out some noteworthy features, both of the 
church and the old half-timbered house in the churchyard. Tea was partaken of 
at the Bull Inn at Theydon village, and the party returned to tow'n from the station 
close by. 
An interesting account of the church was also read by Mr. Austin, under 
whose guidance the ramble was taken. 
June 7. — The ramble to Burnham Beeches is one always anticipated with 
pleasure, and though members had already this year visited this picturesque spot 
through the eyes of the Editor of Nature Notes, they were naturally anxious to 
see for themselves what had been in progress there. Once more rain lessened the 
attendance ; yet ten members, in spite of the unfavourable outlook, took part in 
the excursion. Mr. Matthew Hunt acted as guide. Among the wildings noticed 
were Crepis virens which grew strongly in a badly cultivated field ; Hieradum 
niosella found on drier soil ; and by the side of the road Vida lathy roides,iSL\i by 
Johns (latest edition) not to be common ; while a fine henbane growing by the 
