xlvi 
PROCEEDINGS OE THE 
district, tlie neighbourhood of Hoddesdon, he saw signs of the 
water diminishing, for the level of the water in wells was sinking 
markedly. All along the New River, shafts were being sunk, and 
drawing water which could ill he spared. There was only one way 
in which they could hope to protect their water-supply, and that 
was by applying to the County Council to oppose the Bills before 
Parliament. 
Letters were read from Dr. Brett, the Honourable A. H. Holland- 
Hibbert, Mr. F. W. Silvester, and Mr. H. J. Toulmin, recognising 
the importance of the subject, and Dr. Morison and Mr. Urban 
Smith urged the desirability of petitioning the County Council in 
the matter. 
The resolution suggested by Mr. Hopkinson was then formally 
proposed by him, seconded by Dr. Morison, and carried unanimously. 
Maps and diagrams were exhibited in illustration of the paper. 
2. “On a Meteorite observed in Switzerland.” By H. George 
Fordham, F.G S. ( Transactions , Yol. YI, p. 193.) 
A letter was read from Dr. Brett stating that a brilliant meteor 
had been seen by his dispenser and his gardener at about half-past 
nine on Sunday night, the 14th inst., and Mrs. Arnold said that 
she had seen it at Redbourn Bury, and that it gave a bluish light. 
3. “Notes on Tineina and other Lepidoptera observed in the 
neighbourhood of Sandridge, Herts.” By A. F. Griffith, M.A. 
(. Transactions , Yol. YI, p. 97.) 
Ordinary Meeting, 26th January, 1891, at "Watford. 
John Hopkinson, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., etc., Yice-President, in 
the Chair. 
Mr. G. Upton Robins, F.S.A., Delaport, Wheathampstead, was 
proposed for membership of the Society. 
A lecture was delivered, of which the following is an abstract:— 
“ Amongst Wild Beasts.” By Arthur Stradling, C.M.Z.S. 
Mr. Stradling said that it had been his privilege to see some¬ 
thing of wild beasts in the course of his wanderings over “this 
little planet of ours,” but in his lecture he should take his audience 
no further than the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park. 
Zoology was one of the oldest scientific studies. The Zoological 
Society of London dated its existence from 1826. The question 
might be asked: “Why did certain members secede from the 
Linnean Society and form this new Society, when the former 
already included everything biological in its work?” This brought 
him to the fact that the main idea of the new Society was to 
acclimatize and domesticate mammals, birds, and reptiles which 
up to that time had never been successfully reared in England. 
This idea was soon found impracticable, and it was the greatest 
wonder that the Society did not there and then collapse. Acclima¬ 
tization was never carried to a successful issue, and perhaps it was 
