MEETING OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 
233 
the drive was continued to Stibbington Hall, where Captain and 
Mrs. Yipan most kindly and hospitably received the party, and 
here a very pleasant hour was spent in the inspection of the Indian 
and Burmese objects of Art, and in strolling through the lovely grounds, 
the orchid houses, and the aquaria. After thanking the hosts for their 
kindness, the drive was continued to the most westerly point reached— 
Bedford Purlieus—a wild, windy region where many rare plants still 
grow, and where the fly orchis and blue columbine grow freely. After 
lunch a return was made through Wansford to Sutton Marsh, where 
the botanists discovered a large quantity of — mud. Peterborough was 
reached about half-past five, and here the Fenland party were joined 
at tea in the rooms of Mr. J. House, by whom the whole of the catering 
for the meeting was carried out in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. 
Fenland Excursion—Crowland Abbey. 
Leader, Mr. E. J. Lilley. 
The Fenland party took a north-easterly route, and the first point 
visited was the Decoy, where wild birds are captured during the winter 
in Borough Fen. The mode of working the Decoy was clearly explained 
by Mr. T. B. Williams and his sons. Thence the party proceeded by 
the bank to Crowland, and went direct to the Abbey, where the Rev. 
T. H. Le Boeuf addressed the company in the belfry on the history and 
architecture of the Abbey. He afterwards accompanied the party 
round the venerable pile, and explained the chief features of interest, 
commencing with the original Norman door-way, which has but of late 
been opened up to view inside the porch ; from thence he proceeded to 
describe the figures on the west front and round the nave and south 
aisle, after which the fine old Norman or Saxon arches of the great 
central tower were noticed, and the company completed their visit by 
inspecting the fine old plate belonging to the communion service of the 
church, and the parish registers, which go back to early in the 16th 
century. One of the first entries refers to the death of Oliver Cromwell. 
From the dissolution of the monasteries for a period of 120 years the 
registers are missing. About 75 years ago the Rev. James Blundell 
obtained nearly 100 years of the old registers from some person in 
Cambridgeshire. Should any antiquarian know where the series could 
now be completed he would confer a great favour on all students of 
our old records by publishing the information. After lunch at the 
George Hotel, a vote of thanks was given to the rev. gentleman for the 
very able address he had given on the Abbey. The Society then ad¬ 
journed to the remarkable triangular bridge, the history and pecu¬ 
liarities of its architecture and situation being pointed out by Mr. A. 
S. Canham. The party next inspected, at Mr. Canham’s residence, 
a rare collection of old engravings of the most interesting objects in the 
neighbourhood, and a very complete collection of the flint implements 
used by pre-liistoric man, gathered from a tumulus which was taken 
down three years ago, when the wash bank was heightened. The party, 
after heartily thanking Mr. Canham for the pleasure and interest he 
had afforded, took their carriages, which were awaiting them, and pro¬ 
ceeded on their way to Thorney, noting as they went the contact of the 
three counties, Lincoln, Cambridge, and Northampton at Noman’s 
Land, and Turketell’s Cross, standing near to Pepper Lake, in which 
it lay for many years prior to about 1825, when it was taken out and 
re-erected. After examining Thorney Abbey a rapid return was made 
to Peterborough, which was reached in good time for tea and the 6.30 
train, by which most of the visitors departed, bearing with them very 
pleasant remembrances of this well-planned, well-managed, and very 
