Iviii 
PROCEEDINGS OE THE 
2. “ Notes on Birds observed in Hertfordshire during the year 
1890, and the early part of 1891.” By George Hooper, F.Z.S. 
( Transactions, Yol. YI, p. 123.) 
Mr. Stradling asked Mr. Hooper if be could give any explanation 
of the unusual prevalence of albinism, not only during last winter, 
but throughout the year. Many more cases were recorded in 
France than ever before, notably that of the swallow. Mr. Hooper 
had alluded to the reprehensible practice of the bittern in swallow¬ 
ing snakes. From observations he had made he thought that 
almost every bird would swallow a snake of suitable size ; every 
insectivorous bird seemed to look upon a snake as a delicacy very 
much to be desired. Last year he heard of a pheasant which 
when killed was found to have eaten 440 of the very destructive 
larvae of the daddy-longlegs, a large quantity of wire-worms, and a 
young viper. Peacocks had a great predilection for vipers. A 
gentleman who purchased an island that was infested with snakes, 
turned down a number of pea-fowl which exterminated all the 
vipers on the island. 
Mr. Hooper said that he could not give any explanation with 
regard to the albinism, which had no doubt been very prevalent. 
The following papers were taken as read :— 
1. “Meteorological Observations taken at The Grange, St. 
Albans, during the year 1890.” By the President. ( Transactions , 
Yol. YI, p. 169.) 
2. “ Heport on Phenological Phenomena observed in Hertford¬ 
shire during the years 1889 and 1890. By the President. 
(Transactions, Yol. YI, p. 114.) 
Ordinary Meeting, 23rd March, 1891, at St. Albans. 
John Hopelnson, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., etc., President, in the 
Chair. 
Mr. Hichard Gibbs, The Hollies, St. Albans; Mr. Henry Lubbock, 
Hewberries, Hadlett; and Mr. T. Foster Woodman, St. Peter’s 
Street, St. Albans, were proposed for membership of the Society. 
The following lecture was delivered :— 
“ The Application of Photography to Meteorology.” By Arthur 
W. Clayden, M.A., F.G.S., F.C.S., F.B.Met.Soc. (Transactions, 
Yol. YI, p. 162.) 
The President said that they were fortunate in having with 
them the Chairman of the British Association Committee on 
Meteorological Photography, Mr. G. J. Symons, F.H.S., who was 
well known as the organiser of the most numerous body of observers 
in any department of science—observers of rainfall. 
Mr. Symons said that Mr. Clayden had been talking about his 
slides as if everybody had been taking similar photographs, whereas 
four-fifths of them were new and illustrated phenomena which no 
