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HEETFOEDSHIRE NATUEAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.
XXV
DoiTATIOKS TO THE LiBEAEY IN 1879.
Title.
BvTT, Key. J. ^[. Introduction to English Botany. 8vo.
London, 1825
Cluttekbuck, Key. J. C. A Letter on ... . supplying
the Metropolis with Water from the Valley of the
River Colne. Svo. Watford, 1841
Cornwall, Eoyal, Polytechnic Society. Annual Ee-
ports for 1875-77. 8vo. Falmouth, 1876-78 .
Davy', Dr John. Physiological Researches. Svo. London,
1863 . . ■
Elliot, Sir Walter. Exti-acts from the Opening Ad-
dress of the President of the Botanical Society of
Edinburgh, 1870. {Trans. Bot. Soc. 1871.) .
Galton, Francis. Meteorographia, or Methods of Map-
ping the Weather. Folio. London, 1863
Geikie, James. The Great Ice Age and its Relation to
the Antiquity of Man. Svo. Loudon, 1874 .
Geographical Magazine. Vol. v, Nos. 7-12. 4to.
London, 1878
Hayden, Prof. F. V. Sun Pictures of Rocky Mountain
Scenery. 4to. New York, 1870 ....
JzvoNS, Prof. W. S. On the Movement of Microscopic
Particles suspended in Liquids. {Quart. Joiirn. Science,
1878.) , • .. •
LiNNEAN Society. Journal. Botany, Vol. xvii, Nos.
98-100 (1878). Zoology, Vol. xiv, Nos. 75-77
(1878-79). 8vo. London
M.A.RRIOTT, W. Sur le Psychrometre. {Assoc. Fran^aise
pour V avancement dts ^Sciences, 1877.)
Martin, Prof. T. Thirty-eight Plates with Explanations ;
intended to illustrate Linnteus' System of Vegetables.
Svo. London, 1799 ......
Mello, Rev. J. M. Handbook to the Geology of Derby-
shire. Svo. London and Derby, n.d.
New Athen.eum Club, London. List of Members,
August, 1879. Svo. London . . . . .
Ormerod, Eleanor A. The Prevention of Insect Injury
by the use of Phenol Preparations. {Trans. Entomo-
logical Society, 1878.) ......
. Notes of Observations of Injurious Insects ;
Report, 187S. Svo. London, 1879
Page, Dr. David. Introductory Text-book of Geology.
Svo. Edinburgh and London, 1869
Phipson, Dr. T. L. Phosphorescence, or, the Emission
of Light by Minerals, Plants, and Animals. 2nd
edition. Svo. London, 1879 . . . . .
Preston, Rev. T. A. Wiltshire Rainfall, 1S78. Svo.
Marlborough, 1879 ......
Ray Society. Reports on the Progress of Zoology and
Botany, 1841, 1842. Svo. London, 1845
. Reports and Papers on Botany. lb. 1846
. Reports on Zoology for 1843, 1844. lb. 1847
Solly, Prof. E. Rural Chemistry. 3rd edition. 12mo.
London, ISoO .......
vol. I.
-PART IV.
Donor.
Mr. J. Hopkinson.
Dr. A. T. Brett.
Mr. J. Ho2)kinson.
The Author.
Miss E. A. Ormerod.
Mr. W. Whitaher.
Mr. R. B. Croft.
The Author.
Dr. A. T. Brett.
Mr. R. B. Croft.
The Author.
Dr. A. T. Brett.
Mr. J. L. Loblcij.
The Author.
>>
Mr. J. ITopkinson.
>>
The Editor.
Dr. A. T. Brett.
Mr. J. Hopkinson.
c
XXVI PEOCEEDINGS OF THE
Title.
Symons, G. J. British Rainfall, 1878. 8vo. London,
1879
. Monthly Meteorological Magazine. Vol. xiv.
8vo. London, 1879 ......
Whitaker, W. The Geologj' of the N.W. Part of Essex
and the N.E. Part of Herts, etc. 8vo. London, 1878
Donor.
The Editor.
The Author.
Received ijt Exchange, 1879.
Barrow Naturalists' Field Club. Proceedings. Vol. iii. Svo. Barrow, 1879.
Bath Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club. Proceedings.
Vol. iv. No. 2. 8vo. Bath, 1879.
Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society. Proceedings.
Session, 1877-78. 8vo. Belfast, 1878.
Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. Proceedings. New Series. Vol. i,
part 4. 8vo. Belfast, 1878.
Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. History. Vol. iii, No. 3. 8vo. Alnwick,
1879.
Bristol Naturalists' Society'. Proceedings. New Series. Vol. ii, parts 2-3.
Svo. Bristol, 1878-79.
Cardiff Naturalists' Society. Transactions. Vols, vi-viii. Svo. Cardiff,
1875-77.
Chester Society of Natural Science. Proceedings. Nos. 1-2. Svo.
Chester, 1874-78.
. Annual Report for 1878-79. Svo. Chester, 1879.
CoNCHOLOGY, JouRNAL OF. Vol. i, Nos. 5-17, Vol. ii, Nos. 1-9. Svo. Leeds.
Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club. The Meteorology of
Croydon. By George Corden. Svo. Croydon, 1879.
Eastbourne Natural History Society. Papers. Session 1878-79. 4to.
Eastbourne, 1879.
Edinburgh Botanical Society. Transactions and Proceedings. Vol. xiii,
part 2. Svo. Edinburgh, 1878.
. Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh : Report of the Regius Keeper
for the Year 1878. Svo. Edinburgh, [1879].
Edinburgh Geological Society. Transactions. Vol. iii, part 2. Svo.
Edinburgh, 1879.
Edinbukgh, Royal Phy'sical Society of. Proceediugs. Sessions 1876-78.
Svo. Edinburgh, 1878.
Entomological Society. Proceedings for 1878. Svo. London, 1879.
Geological Society. Abstracts of the Proceedings. Session 1878-79. Svo.
London, 1878-79.
. Addresses delivered at the Anniversary Meetings, 16th February,
1S77, and 15th February, 1878. By Prof. P. Martin Duncan, President.
Svo. Loudon, 1877-78.
Address delivered at the Anniversary Meeting, 21st February, 1879.
By Henry Clifton Sorby, President. lb. 1879.
Geologists' Association. Proceedings. Vol. v, Nos. 7-8, Vol. vi, Nos. 1-3.
Svo. London, 1879.
. Annual Report for 187S. lb. 1S79.
Glasgow, Philosophical Society of. Proceedings. Vol. xi, No. 2. Svo.
Glasgow, 1879.
Ireland, Royal Geological Society of. Journal. Vol. iv, parts 3-4, Vol.
V, parts 1-2. Svo. Dublin, 1876-79.
Irish, Royal, Academy. Proceedings. Polite Literature and Antiquities.
Series II, Vol. i, No. 13. Science. Series II, Vol. iii, No. 3. Svo.
DubUn, 1879.
HERTFORDSnrRE NATT7RAL HISTOEY SOCIETY. XXVU
Liverpool Geological Society. Proceedings. Vol. iii, part iv, Vol. iv,
part i. 8vo. Liverpool, 1878-79.
Liverpool, Literary and ruiLosopiiiCAL Society of. Proceedings. Vol.
xxxii. 8vo. Liverpool, 1878.
Manchester Field Naturalists' and AiiCH.TiOLOGiSTs' Society. Pro-
ceedings, 1878. Svo. Manchester, 1879.
M.^nchester Geological Society. Transactions. Vol. xv, parts 1-9. Svo.
Manchester, 1878-79.
Manchester Scientific Students' Association. Annual Report for 1877-78.
Svo. Salford, [1878-79].
Marlborough College IS atural History Society. Report for the Year
1878. Svo. Marlborough, 1879.
Meteorological Society. Quarterly Journal. New Series. Vol. iv, No.
28, Vol. V, Nos. 29-31. Svo. London, 1878-79.
Microscopical, Royal, Society. Jomnal. Vol. ii. Svo. London, 1879.
Midland Naturalist. Vol. ii. Svo. London and Birmingham, 1879.
N.\TURALisT. Vol. iv, Nos. 42-48, Vol. V, Nos. 49-53. Svo. Iluddersfield, 1879.
Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society. Transactions. Vol. ii, part
5. Svo. Norwich, 1879.
Rugby School Natural History Society. Report for 1878. Svo. Rugby,
1879.
Science Gossip. Vol. xv. Svo. London, 1879.
Scottish Naturalist. Vol. iv, Nos. 25-28, 33-36. Svo. Edinburgh and
London, 1877-79.
Smithsoni.an Institution. Annual Report for 1877. Svo. Washington
(U.S.A.), 1878.
United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Tekeitories.
Bulletin. Vol. iv, Nos. 3, 4. Vol. v. No. 1. Svo. Washington, 1878-79.
. List of the Publications. 3rd Edition. JA. 1879.
West London Scientific Association and Field Club. Annual Report for
1878-79. Svo. Loudon, 1879.
Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. Magazine.
Vol. xviii. No. 53. Svo. Devizes, 1879.
Yorkshire Geological and Polytechnic Society. Proceedings. New
Series. Vols, v-vi, Vol. vii, parti. Svo. Leeds, 1871-79.
Oedinaey Meeting, 24th Febrijary, 1880, at Hertford.
J. Gvrcs Jeffreys, Esq., LL.D., F.R.S., etc., President, in the Chair.
Mrs. Ackworth, the Hooke, Northaw, Barnet ; Mr. Gr. Norman
Brauiid, London and Coimty Bank, Ware ; Mr. H. 0. T. Butcher,
High Street, AVare ; Mrs. Carvosso, The Warren, Bayford, Hertford ;
Mr. Joseph Chuck, High Street, Ware ; Mr. Eobert H. Harrison,
HighfieWs, Great Amwell ; the Rev. C. W. Harvey, M.A., F.M.S.,
Throcking llectory, Buntingford ; the Rev. F. Lipscomb, M.A.,
Frogmore Vicarage, St. Albans ; Miss Ludlow, Christ's Hospital,
Hertford ; Mr. George Pavy, Ware ; Mr. Alfred Ransom, Benslow,
Hitehin; Mr. Charles Edward Shelly, B.A., M.B., M.R.C.S.,
Hertford ; and Mr. Horace James Smith-Bosanquet, Broxbourne
Buiy, Hoddesdon, w^ere proposed as Members of the Society.
The following paper was read : —
"Notes on Sponges, Recent and Fossil." By Henry Gilbertson.
{Transact io?ts, Vol. I, p. 97.)
SXVni PK0CEFDIX6S OF THE
The President said that he would supplement Mr. GUbertson's remarks by
producing a specimen of the siliceous spouge which he had procured during his
deep-sea explorations, at a depth of about a mile and a quarter. This sponge
was never found in shallow water, but occuiTed in enormous numbers in deep
water, each individual having its root planted, as it were, in the muddy bed of
the sea. No horny sponge was found at any great depth. The latest attempt at
an explanation of the formation of flint was, he said, that by Dr. Wallich in his
paper recently read befoi'e the Geological Society. But the subject was still
a debatable one, for they did not, as yet, know sufficient about the formation of
flint and how certain sponges were converted into flint.
A large number of flints, many of which showed a close re-
semblance to sponges, and dried specimens of Spongilla fluviatilis
and S. laciistris, besides several varieties of the sponges of com-
merce, were exhibited by Mr. Gilbertson, in illustration of his
paper.
Oedinaey Meetij^g, 16th ITaech, 1880, at Watford.
John Evans, Esq., D.C.L., LL.D., F.E.S., etc., Vice-President, in the Chair.
Mrs. Aokworth, The Hooke, Northaw, Barnet ; Mrs. Bishop,
The Piatt, Watford ; Mr. G. JS'orman Braund, London and County
Bank, Ware; Mr. H. 0. F. Butcher, High Street, Ware; Mrs.
Carvosso, The Warren, Bayford, Hertford; Mr. Joseph Chuck,
High Street, Ware ; Miss Eliza Church, London Boad, St. Albans ;
Mr. Bobert H. Harrison, Highfields, Great Amwell ; the Kev. C.
W. Harvey, M.A., F.M.S., Throcking Rectory, Buntingford ; Mr.
Henry Lewis, St. Peter's Street, St. Albans ; the Bev. F. Lips-
comb, M.A., Frogmore Vicarage, St. Albans ; Miss Ludlow, Christ's
Hospital, Hertford; Mr. C. T. Part, The Pre, St. Albans; Mr.
George Pavy, Ware ; Mr. Alfred Ransom, Benslow, Hitchin ; Mr.
Charles E. Shelly, B.A., M.B. (Cantab). M.R.C.S., Hertford; the
Rev. Henry Smith, M.A., Christ's Church, St. Albans; Mr. Horace
James Smith- Bosanquet, Broxbourne Bury, Hoddesdon ; Mr. S.
Monkton White, Thorne House, St. Albans ; and Mr. E. S. Wiles,
London Road, St. Albans, were elected Members of the Society.
Mr. Charles E. Geake, Hansteads, Bricket Wood, St. Albans,
was proposed as a Member.
Letters were read from Professor Babington and Dr. Sclater
thanking the Society for their election as Honorary Members.
The following paper was read : —
" The Post-Tertiary Deposits of Hertfordshire." By J. Yincent
Elsden, B.Sc. (Lond.), F.C.S. {Transactions, Vol. I, p. 103.)
Dr. Brett, referring to Mr. Elsden' s statement that the oldest flint implements
were found in the river-gravels, said that he had seen flint implements which were
stated to have come from beds of Miocene age, though he believed that this was a
disputed point. He should like to know whether the Post-tertiary deposits were
increasng or decreasing in thickness. The ground -level at Watford had risen
seven fieet above the uatiu-al soil, and in London fifteen feet. He believed that
worms and moles, by decomposing vegetable material, increased the thickness of
the superficial soil.
Mr. Littleboy remarked that the extent to which roads were cut up during the
great stoim of the 3rd of August showed how it was possible by the action of
nERTFORDSnrRE NATTTRAL HISTORT SOCIETY, XXIX
water to produce great results in a very short time. "With regard to Mr. Elsden's
remark as to the well-wooded appearance of our county being due to Ww jjost-
glacial deposits, he had seen beeches gro^ving almost on the bare chalk, and the
beeches of Hertfordshire were unsurpassed.
Mr. J. Ilopkinson said that there was one point bearing upon Dr. Brett's
question as to the supposed increase in the thickness of the superficial soil wliich
might perhaps be overlooked, and that was that the surface of the earth, where
not perfectly horizontal, was constantly, thougli perhaps imperceptibly, on the
move. Frost and rain and other agencies disturbed the surface-soil, and the
tendency of every movement must, by the force of gravitation, be towards the
lower level. One result of this movement was that whenever a bank or wall ran
across sloping ground in any other direction than that of the slope, the ground
■would be seen to be raised on the higher side above the general level, the bank
forming a barrier which interfered with the downward movement though it did
not entirely stop it.
Mr. John Evans said that he would make a few observations on Mr. Elsden's
very interesting paper. One of the principal merits of the paper was this, that it
brought before them in a succinct form the opinions enunciated by various geolo-
gists— Professor Hughes, Mr. Penning, Mr. 8. V. Wood, and others — as to the
superficial deposits, not only of this county, but generally of the east of England.
Their discussion had run off on one or two points in connexion with some of
these, but he would just say a few words with regard to the more immediate
subject of the paper, the drifts of our county. Altliough he regarded the paper
as a very interesting contribution to our knowledge, he felt that in order to give a
thoroughly comprehensive account of all the drifts of this district an author must
be acquainted, not only with the eastern part of the county, but also with the
western. What might hold good concerning the neighbom-hood of Hertford and
that side of the county would not always hold good of the neighboiu-hood of
Watft)rd and this side of this county ; for on the eastern side of the coimty we
had all those marine glacial deposits of wliich the first part of the paper treated,
and on the western side, in this neighbourhood, although to some extent those
deposits may have existed at some time, at present the traces of them were im-
perfect, and" we had not the middle and lower glacial gravels in position.
But in addition to this there was another important superficial deposit over the
greater part of the Chalk of this district, which though of the nature of drift,
was not, strictly speaking, a drift deposit by running water, salt or fresh. All
over certain districts of the chalk would be found a red clay, containing angular
flints, and they were e\'idently flints which had originally been in position in the
chalk, and from some reason or other the chalk had disappeared, leaving a red
clay. If we analysed the chalk, we should find a certain portion of clay
present. It was merely the insoluble part of the chalk -clay that was left in
position, the chalk having been dissolved out by the aid of carbonic acid filtering
into it. A great deal of the dissolution must have taken place in pre-glacial
times, for before the last glacial submergence this country was dry land, and this
deposit was being produced in the same manner as at the present day.
There was still another class of deposits over a considerable portion of the
western portion of the county, — the London Clay and the beds below, which
extended very considerably further to the north-west than they now do. We
had proof of this in the small Tertiary outliers at Tyler's Hill and elsewhere,
showing that the London Clay beds which now terminated at Bushey must
originally have extended to Ashridge and nearly to Chesham ; for we had little
islands left from the denudation from the great Tertiary deposits of the London
Clay and the beds beneath. What we had left of the Tertiary beds was not
so much of the nature of di-ift as of slightly disturbed Tertiaries, and they were
deposited during the early part of the Tertiary period. Above the Tertiaries
we had the Lower Glacial beds, which had been deposited over an eroded
surface, showing that even before the glacial times there had been a considerable
denudation, which had taken place in some manner or other before the glacial
beds were deposited. Then we had the Middle Glacial deposits coming in, of
which we might find traces even in the western part of the county, for in the
gravels on the outer slopes of some of our dry valleys — Whippendale Bottom and
XXX PfiOCEEDINGS OF THE
elsewhere — we should find that a very considerable portion of the pebbles were
not flints derived from the chalk, but pebbles of older rocks which came with
ice-borne deposits from the Midland Counties or even further. This showed that
we had at one time a geater extent of g-lacial deposits than can now be traced.
Before the glacial period closed, it would appear probable that we had aU over
the Chalk and some portion of the London Clay a regular ice-cap, which ground
up the chalk and clay into the chalky boulder-clay we now hnd, and earned
otf the flints, dragging them one against another, producing the scratched flints
so characteristic of the boulder-clay deposits.
It was not improbable that some of the outlines of the valleys were carved out
and subsequently enlarged by the action of rivers and other subaerial forces.
The author of the paper spoke of valleys being cut through the boulder-clay, and
inasmuch as we had no evidence of submergence, it appeared very probable that
denudation had taken place by the action of rain and rivers operating through a
long period of time and removing the surface of the ground.
The question as to whether in former times we had a larger amount of rainfall
was one of considerable interest, and it did appear probable that at some geological
period there might be a larger rainfall than there was now ; but in all river-
valleys there had been another force at work which we did not thoroughly ap-
preciate at the present time — rivers were more subject to floods, for the reason
that in former times they were not "domesticated." Now we looked after the
banks of rivers and removed obstructions, but in former times fallen trees and
accumulations of ice stopped up rivers and produced floods, the operation of which
would be greater in a few days than in many years if the river had a free and
unimpeded course. That was a well-known fact pointed out by Sir Charles
Lyell and others long ago, but it was well to bear it in mind.
There was a great difficulty, as was pointed out, in distinguishing the river-
gravels from the older deposits from which the constituent parts have been
derived, as in the case of a river rimning through a country where there are
deposits of marine gravels, the drift consists of the same ingredients, but
arranged in a different manner, and contains land animals instead of marine shells.
That made him doubt whether some of the brick-earths which contained remains
of the reindeer and mammoth did not belong to the Post-glacial instead of the
Pre-glacial period ; but it was shown that the mammoth did exist in Pre-glacial
times and had been foimd in the Middle Glacial period. Mr. Prestwich found
the tooth of one near Bricket "Wood.
With regard to the question of the timber depending on the soil, he thought
that the author of the paper appreciated the possibility of the fine growth of beech
on a chalky soil. There was one thing about the dependence of the tiiuber on the
soil. It would generally be found that where the beds of London Clay were seen
overlpng the Chalk, the district was distinguished by the luxuriant gi-owth of
trees, and from that it could be predicted where such an outlier was to be found.
As to the sanitary influence of the drifts, he was a little doubtful how far they
were advantageous to health, and how far the air of Hertfordshire could be re-
garded as being so very valuable that a house there was worth so many years'
purchase ; for he was afraid that in some of the valleys the consumption death-
rate was almost greater than in other parts of England, especially where, regardless
of all ideas of sanitary science, the houses were built within a foot or a foot and a
half of the ordinary water-level. He believed that there was more done in
promoting the increase of consumption by injudicious building on improper sites
than by any other means. But there was another idea, the possibility of obtain-
ing water from shallow wells. Shallow wells, where there were only one or two
people living in the neighbourhood, were not bad sources of supply ; but where
there was a village on a Tertiary outlier or the boulder-clay — where there were
some gravels, and houses congregated around the supply of water, and no attempt
was made at a proper system of drainage, he could not think that the results were
so much to the credit of the drift deposits as the author of the paper seemed to
think.
With regard to Dr. Brett's question as to the date of the earliest appearance of
man. Dr. Brett was qiute right in sapng that it was a matter for discussion.
Some geologists had admitted that man might have existed in I're-glacial times,
HEETFORDSniEE NATTJEAL HISTORY SOCIETY. XXXI
hut very few autiqunrios had aoeoptod the idea ; and there was an a priori
improbahilitv of the Hint iniplemeuts alhidcd to bein^ actually the work of man,
as tht'Y had heou found in marine deposits, associated with the remains of a kind
of dugonjj and marine slu'lls.
As to the increase of post-tertiary soil, he thought it would he found that the
heapiusj up of the soil only takes place on the sites of human hal)itations. It was
partly from the remains of old buildings getting covered with sand and dust blown
over them, rubbish being shot near, and various artificial means, that the rising
of the ground took place. No doubt worms had an effect in giving the appearance
of an increase of soil. For instance, when a layer of chalk was put on a meadow,
in the course of years it would be found some inches under the surface, being let
down by the action of worms. The only other way was the accumulation of
carbonic matter in the form of humus, but they would not get great accumulations
of that kind, imless after a long series of years, as in the great prairies. There
humus was found to the depth of two or three feet, but not to the depth of fifteen
feet. He was sorry that the author was not present to reply himself to the
questions to which his paper had given rise.
ORDLffARY Meeting, 23ed Maech, 1880, at Heeteoed.
J. GwYN Jeffreys, Esq., LL.D., F.E.S., etc., President, in the Chair.
Mr. "\V. Lewis Horley, High Street, Hoddesclon ; Mr. Thomas
Hunt, High Street, Ware ; and Miss Julia Stokes, Cecil House,
Hertford, were proposed as Members of the Society.
The following letter was read : —
^&
EoYAL Microscopical Society,
King's College, London,
Ibth March, 1880.
Dear Sirs, — I have the honour to inform you that your Society having been
duly nominated under the bye-law relating to Ex-ofiicio Fellows, and the same
having been approved by a general meeting held on the 10th inst., yoiir President
for the time being is now entitled to the privileges of an Ex-officio Fellow of this
Society. — I am, dear Sirs, yours truly,
Walter "W. Eeetes,
Assist. Sec. Royal Microscopical Society.
To the Secretaries of the Hertfordshire Natural History Societij.
The thanks of the Society were accorded to the Eoyal Micro-
scopical Society.
The following paper was read : —
" Observations on Rotifers, with special reference to those found
in the Neighbourhood of Hertford. By F. W. Phillips. (^Trans-
actions, Yol. I, p. 113.)
Ordinary Meeting, 20th April, 1880, at Watford.
John E. Littleboy', Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair.
Mr. Charles E. Gcake, Hansteads, Bricket Wood, St. Albans ;
Mr. W. Lewis Horley, High Street, Hoddcsdon ; Mr. Thomas Hunt,
High Street. Ware ; and Miss Julia Stokes, Cecil House, Hertford,
were elected Members of the Society.
XXXU PEOCEEDINGS OF THE
Mr. Brackenbuiy Comyns Berkeley, Collett Hall, Ware ; and
the Rev. J. S. ifoster Chamberlain, M.A., Great Hormead Vicarage,
Bunting-ford, were proposed as Members.
The following communications were read : —
1. "Meteorological Observations taken at "Wansford House,
Watford, during the Year 1879." By John Hopkiuson, F.L.S.,
P. M.S., etc., Hon. Sec. {Transactions, Yol. I, p. 121.)
2. "Report on the Rainfall in Hertfordshire in 1879." By
John Hopkinson. [Transactions, Vol. I, p. 127.)
3. " Report on Phonological Observations in Hertfordshire in
1879." By John Hopkinson. {Transactions, Vol. I, p. 133.)
4. A Letter from Mr. J. Vincent Elsden to the Secretary, in
reply to remarks made in the discussion on his paper on the " Post-
Tertiary Deposits of Hertfordshire."
Mr. Elsden said that his idea that bare chalk would have been comparatively
treeless appeared to be questioned, but he could not help thinking that this was
characteristic of a chalk country. As instances he might cite the Chalk of
Dorset, or the immense difference in the aspect of North and South Wiltshire,
though perhaps no district would so well illustrate this as the treeless chalk
prairies of North-eastern America, which he thought represented the natural
condition of bare chalk ; although beech trees would grow on a very thin soil
over the chalk.
With respect to the omission of a special mention of the " clay-with-flints"
he felt that the length of the paper would only allow a general mention of
" soils of disintegration" under the head of subaerial deposits.
As to floods having been more common in former times, he thought it was a
question whether the extensive felling of forests for cultivation, and the great
extent of deep draining, etc., did not in themselves tend to increase our lial3ility
to floods in the present day.
5. " Section of Stanmore Brewery New "Well and Boring." By
George Tidcombe, Jun. {Transactions, Vol. I, p. 143.)
6. "Notes on a Cutting in Hamper Mill Lane, "VVatford." By
Alfred T. Brett, M.D.
The section, beginning at the east, near Bushey Station, showed a series of
beds in the following succession : — 1, red loam ; 2, mixed loam and sand, variable ;
3, sand ; 4, sand impregnated with iron, and perhaps also with manganese ;
5, mixed loam and sand, variable ; 6, sand ; 7, sand with small oval black
pebbles; 8, red loam; 9, clay; 10, sand; 11, red loam; 12, gravel; 13, red
loam ; 14, clay.
The very variable character of the Woolwich and Reading beds, to which these
deposits should be referred, was pointed out, no two sections in the neighbour-
hood showing the same succession of sti'ata.
A coloured section of the cutting in Hamper Mill Lane, drawn by Mr.
Lovejoy on the scale of four feet to an inch, was exhibited.
7. " Note on the Origin of Beech Bottom, near St. Albans." By
A. E. Gibbs.
Mr. Gibbs enquired if anj'thing were known as to the origin of the curious
narrow valley called Beech Bottom. If naturally formed it seemed too deep and
regular to be attributed to the action of running water ; but if of artificial
formation, for what purpose could such a huge excavation have been made ?
The pojnilar idea was, he believed, that it had been dug during one of the battles
of St. Albans, in the Wars of the Roses, for the purpose of defence.
HERTFORDSniRE NATUKAI, niSTORY SOCIETY. XXXlll
8. " Xotcs on somo Plants not proviously rocordcd as p;rowinp; in
certain districts near St. Albans." By A. E. Gibbs. (^Transactions,
Vol. I, p. 143.)
9. " Xote on Woodcocks carrying? their Young." By George
Eooper, F.Z.S. {Transactions, Vol. I, p. 144.)
10. " Notes on the Fluke in Sheep." By Alfred T. Brett, M.D.
(Transactions, Vol. I, p. 139.)
ORDDfART Meetin-g, 27th April, 1880, AT Hertford.
This meeting was held in conjunction with the Hertford Literary
and Scientific Institution, and was devoted to microscopical study
and the exhibition and examination of objects of interest lent by
members of the two Societies and their friends.
Field Meetixg, 15th May, 1880.
RADLETT.
Here and there, over a considerable portion of Hertfordshire,
there occur blocks of stone of a peculiar kind, totally different
from any of the strata in their immediate neighbourhood. This
stone, masses of which, of veiy various shapes and sizes, are thus
widely scattered, has long been known as the Hertfordshire con-
glomerate or "plum-pudding stone." It consists of rounded flint-
pebbles in a siliceous matrix which is generally as hard as the
pebbles which it encloses, and frequently even harder. Except in
being consolidated, it resembles a pebble-bed which occurs in the
lower portion of the Woolwich and Reading Series below the
mottled clays to which these beds owe their former name of the
" plastic-clay formation."
To the north of London this series forms the base of the " London
Tertiary Basin," reposing immediately on the Chalk and extending
across the southern part of Hertfordshire in a south-westerly and
north-easterly direction. Just on its edge Radlett is situated, and
here its pebble-bed is seen to be consolidated, or formed into a con-
glomerate similar to that of which pieces are found scattered far
and wide to the north and west. Here therefore it appears that
we have the Hertfordshire conglomerate in situ, and it was the
object of this meeting to examine it at a spot where it was known
to be exposed.
The members assembled at Bricket Wood Station and strolled
across the fields, crossing the Colne at its confluence with tlie Ver,
visiting a chalk-pit, noticing a large "swallow-hole," ascending
the hill by the Hill Farm, and descending on the Eadlett side, the
highest ground atfoiding an extensive view of the surrounding
country. After crossing the then dry bed of a tributaiy of the
Colne, the source of which when flowing is the Elstree Beservoir,
VOL. I. part VIII. D
XXXIV PROCEEDINGS OF THE
Aldenham Lodge was reached, and here Mr. C. T. Part joined the
members and pointed out the most interesting objects in his garden
and greenhouses, and the extensive gravel-pits in his grounds.
The adjoining park, jS^e wherries, was then entered, and beyond the
house, in the centre of a fiekl, a small opening not easily found,
exposed to view the section of the Hertfordshire conglomerate
befoi^e referred to.
After a careful examination of the section had been made by the
members, and a few pieces of the rock had been collected, the
writer of this report gave a brief account of the geology of the
neighbourhood, chiefly as leading to a knowledge of the position
of the conglomerate as a member of the Woolwich and Reading
Series, and the relation this series bears to the older Chalk and
newer gravels which had just been seen. Noticing then more
fully the chief points of interest with regard to the conglomerate
itself, he said that it was composed of flint-pebbles originally de-
rived from the flint-beds in the Upper Chalk and rounded by attri-
tion probably on some sea-shore, for the Woolwich and Reading
beds in this neighbourhood were rather of marine than of fluviatile
or estuaiine origin, and wherever a pebble-bed was found dry land
must have existed at no great distance, the heavier matter or larger
pebbles remaining near the land, and the softer or more finely
divided material being carried out farther from the shore. The
presence of the pebble-bed was not exceptional, for it occurred
elsewhere in the same position in the Reading beds, as near Watford
for instance, but its consolidation into a conglomerate was so, for
probably it only occiirred in this position here and at one or two
other places in the immediate neighbourhood, as at Radlett Church,
near to which it had recently been found in digging the foundations
for new school-rooms. It was iilso noteworthy that the cementing
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RAINFALL IN HEETFOIID SHIRE IN 1880.
225
Bisfrihufion of liainfall ihroHghout the Conntij. — Tabic III. gives
the menu monthly ami annual fall iu each of tho.se four main river-
basius in which we have observers, showing the relation these
vahies boar to the moan of 1870-79. Iti each of these main districts
the fall was ahove the mean, the difference being greatest iu the
Colne district, and least in the Lea district. AVe may perhaps, iu
a great measure, attribute this relative difference to the large
amount of rain gauged at Moor Park on the one hand, and the
comparatively small amount gauged at Datchworth on the other ;
this latter being the only instance in which the fall was below the
mean of its district for the year.
The four main river-districts being divided into eleven minor
districts, I here give the mean fall in each of these districts.
( Lower Colne
34-94
Colne
M'er
31-56
( Gade
34-88
f Lower Lea
31-12
1 Upper Lea
29-04
T ^rt
J Mimraiu
^ Beane
27-33
ijea
30-06
Eib
,Ash
27-79
28-85
Ivel
Hiz
29-46
Cam
Ehee
26-18
We thus as usual can trace the greatest fall to the S.W. borders of
the county and the smallest fall to the I^.E. borders.
We have next to consider the greatest falls of rain in 24 hours.
And first of all we may take the absolute maximum fall in each
month wdth the station recording it.
Jan. 16th Kensworth -42
Feb. 17th Cowroa-t 1-02
Mar. 31st Berkharapstead -64
Apl. loth Knebworth -69
May 27th Kensworth -42
June 25th Moor Park 104
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
14th Berkhampstead 2-2 0
6th Nash Mills
14th Nash Mills ....
6th Moor Park
15th Gt. Gaddesden
22nd Brocket Hall
•46
2-17
1-58
•78
1-03
The fall at Southgate on Aug. 6th was identical with that at jS'ash
Uills.
To the above table I may append an analysis of the wettest day
in each month, which is as follows : —
January — 13th at one station ; 15th at 2 ; 16th at 19 ; 17th at 3.
February— lQi\). at 1 ; 10th at 19 ; 17th at 1 ; 18th at 2 ; 19th at 1 ; 20th
at 1.
March— ^vi at 3 ; 30th at 1 ; 31st at 21.
April-\si at 1 ; 8th at 1 ; 14th at 20 ; 15th at 3.
j[/ffy_27th at 3 ; 28th at 1 ; 29th at 1 ; 30th at 1 ; 31st at 19.
Jnne—Uth. at 3 ; loth at 4 ; 18th at 1 ; 23rd at 2 ; 24th at 6 ; 25th at 7 ;
30th at 2.
/«/y— 3rd at 1 ; 11th at 2 ; 14th at 8; 15th at 3; 21st at 1 ; 2oth at 1 ;
26th at 8; 28th at 1.
Auffust— 1st at 1 ; 2nd at 3 ; 6th at 7 ; 7th at 10 ; 8th at 1 ; 14th at 1 ;
29th at 1.
VOL. I.
-PART VI.
15
July
14tb and 26th
Au2;ust
6th and 7th
September
11th and 14th
October
6th
Xovember
15th
December
22nd
226 EEV. C. W. HAEYEY — EEPORT OX THE
September— nth. at 9 ; 12th at 2 ; 13th at 1 ; 14th at 9 ; 15th at 3 ; 16th
at 1.
October— 5th at 1 ; 6th at 20 ; 7th at 3 ; 26th at 1.
mvember—\ ith at 1 ; 15th at 20 ; 16th at 2 ; 18th at 1 ; 25th at 1.
December— I9th at 1 ; 22nd at 14 ; 23rd at 1 ; 27th at 1 ; 29th at 7 ; 30th
at 1.
From this analysis we may conclude that generally speaking the
wettest day in each month was as follows : —
January 16th
February 16th
March 31st
April 14th
May 31st
June 24th and 25th
On the days of maximum fall in each month the following falls
of an inch or more are recorded at other stations.
Jul)/ 14^— Great Gaddesden, 1-99; Throcking, TOO ; Hadham, 1-78.
September 14i/i— Watford House, 1-85; Wausford House, 1-89; Oaklands,
1-77; Moor Park, 2-12; Gorhambury, 1'35 ; Eothamsted, 1-85; Keusworth,
1-93; Berkhampstead, 1-95; Stevenage, 1-60.
October 6