HERTFORD SHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
XXX111 
4. “ Hertfordshire Plant-Records, 1886-89.” By John Hopkin- 
son, F.L.S., etc. ( Transactions , Yol. YI, p. 74.) 
Mr. Henry Lewis made some remarks on the hybernation of 
swallows. Mr. Sexton had, he said, informed him that at Apsley 
Mills a swallow was seen on several occasions during the winter 
months; also that it inhabited the dark loft over the mill, and 
lived through the winter to join its fellows in the spring. Mr. 
Sexton saw the swallow himself, and several workmen could cor¬ 
roborate his statement. The drawback, however, to this statement 
was that this happened from ten to fifteen years ago. But it might 
perhaps throw a little light on the hybernation of the swallow. 
It was the only observation he had ever known of swallows 
being induced to remain and join their companions in the spring. 
Swallows had been noticed in every one of the winter months. 
The 1 Field ’ lately contained a notice of their having been seen 
in January and February of this year. 
Field Meeting, 10th May, 1890. 
REDBOURN' AND HARPENDEN. 
Leaving St. Albans at 2.26, the party travelled by rail to Redboum. 
After a pleasant walk across the Common, where the fine avenue of 
elm trees was admired, Foster’s Farm was visited, and Mr. George 
Farr kindly accompanied the members in their inspection of the 
ancient earthwork known as Arbury Banks. 
Mr. A. E. Gibbs, F.L.S., who acted as director of the meeting, 
pointed out that very little was known about the encampment. It 
was oval in shape, enclosing some 20 acres, being about 460 yards 
long by 416 broad. In places there was a double fosse, and on 
the side nearest the railway there had probably been an entrance. 
Some questions were asked as to its age, and Mr. Gibbs stated that 
it was probably of British origin. Last year the Society visited 
Totternhoe and saw a Roman earthwork there. That, like most 
Roman camps, was quadrangular in shape, while this was oval, 
which seemed to point to its being of pre-Roman date. 
After a short walk on the earthwork, the party returned to 
Redbourn, whence an enjoyable walk was taken by way of 
Rothamsted Park to Harpenden. The early foliage of the trees 
aud the freshness of the herbage gave the country a very beautiful 
appearance. 
At Harpenden the members of the Society and their friends were 
hospitably entertained at tea by Hr. McLean at The Hall, and 
inspected the old house and gardens. 
Field Meeting, 31st May, 1890. 
ROTHAMSTED, HARPENDEN. 
Although only a small number of the members took part in this 
meeting, which was arranged to enable them to visit the laboratory 
and experimental grounds of Sir J. B. Lawes, at Rothamsted, Har- 
