To nn ee pea ’ nism tht 2 caren pwr stodon 4 1 Magi SA HB al Mee He A 3 Sola firten Gee ee ae eho’ Ppa oe fel bitte r eT int ae Ps vom Ha anid Ae : cP fle pon ehic et omnes See a heat ae tts Sia BM Nea ahpe Bas psutton Rett than! eS Te Njat att piace — 3A Fai eR RS lion pando ghee Ms, an ler i TRANSACTIONS GUERNSEY SOCIETY OF NATURAL SULENGE LOCAL RESEARCH. VOLUME III. 1895-1899. ———eeeeeeeeeeeeeEeeeeeEeeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEE———E—E—E————eEEEE Gaerviisep : BICHARD’S PRINTING & PUBLISHING COMPANY, LTD., BORDAGE STREET. md 1h oh a Ly © Be at oy od frit P PAA RUPE} me. | rie. ies P ‘+n 4 anv OMAN) Pia ith 2h hy neva, f er rine IN Deh xX Abia nigrocornis, a large Sawfly Agrotis crassa, moth new to Britain Alderney, bees of .. Me is flowering plants of a insects of a spiders of Ancient building called ‘‘ ‘Le Colombier ” ore Ancient names of local Bays, Creeks and Rocks Annelids, marine bristle-bearing oy) Araneidea of Alderney i of Guernsey, new records Archeological notes : ae Report, annual Ascidians and commensal Annelids Bays, rocks and creeks, local names of.. Birds of Guernsey, notes on as a Bones, fossil, found at 1’ Ancresse and Vazon Bay Botanical Report, annual. . Brambles and Wild Roses of the Channel Islands Butterfly, tailed blue (Lampides Boetica) in Guernsey Caves near Les Thielles, measurements. . ,, Of Guernsey hitherto undescribed 2 Celt found in Queen’s Road 26 5 ye Chelifer Latreillei (pseudo-scorpion) 6 Clays, evidences derived from .. Coins, Roman and old English, found . Coleoptera of Guernsey, new records Commensalism among marine worms Council of the Society .. Crickets, Cockroaches and Earwigs of Guernsey Cup- markings che s a Datura stramonium, Thorn apple December, list of wild flowers gathered i in Dialect, notes on the insular : Sy: Dianthecia luteago, var. Lowei, a new moth .. Diptera of Guernsey, list of 3 OL Jersey, list of .. le ae 56 Dolmen on the beach at Herm .. a0 ae Dolmens of Brittany : as ote Dolphin, Risso’s, occurrence of . as ae Early history of Guernsey Ss or Earwig, rare (Forficula forcipata) ele Entomological notes e Report, annual ie 252, 388 66 Oy) 13 JU 36 14, 90, 142, 249, 354 oe ol 306, 409 13, 88. . 875 SIG BE a AEE 28, 224 = 50 8 17, 93, 252, 358 Soe iL. 69, 188, 241, 345 113, 145 95 63 300 lea 9L, 143, 250, 356 VV. | INDEX. Flies, two winged, list of Guernsey species Flints in clays, deductions from.. Flowering plants of Alderney 2 is Guernsey, new records a small islets Foe eae Folklore Report, annual .. ss Forficularia forcipata, occurrence of Fossil bones in Guernsey .. Fungi of Guernsey.. Galls and alternating generations Galls (Cynipide) of Guernsey, list of Geological Report, annual ; Geology of the Channel Islands . of Guernsey, noteson .. Glaciation, evidences of Guernsey in prehistoric times Hemiptera, rare species in Jersey new Guernsey records Herm, Dolmen on the beach at . History of Guernsey in early times : Hymenoptera unrecorded for the island Insects of Alderney », of Guernsey, total number recorded Insular Dialect, the patois of Guernsey Jethou, additions to recorded flora Lampides beetica (Tailed blue Butterfly) occurrence in ries Lepidoptera, new records.. 5¢ ; (Micro) of Guemsey Lihou Island, account of . ae ae flora of 3 geology of . insects of .. Lists of Guernsey species : Coleoptera Cynipidee Diptera Flowering plants Fungi Hemiptera .. Hymenoptera Lepidoptera .. oe Micro- -lepidoptera ae oc Mollusca, land and fresh water .. Orthoptera ae Tenthredinide Lucanus cervus, Stag Beetle, in Guernsey Luffia lapidella, anew moth ... ahs Mammalia of Guernsey, additional Marine Worms and commensalism 54, 127, 145, 252, 38 iz sig ROD 361 "15, 143, 250 50 "93, 151, 256 ee 8, 9, 65, 72, 135, 244 197: ae ois 74 ue 17, 85, 145, 252, 309 . 138 ee ee 960 175, 252, 388 Léo MLE O52 .. 183, 228 17, 98, 252, 358 Pree ee 54, 127, 145, 252, 358 a 15, 143, 250 1. 197 208 17, 93, 145, 252 17, 145 ‘1, 144, 252 267, 358 INDEX. Vv. Members of the Society .. 2, 70, 134, 242, 346 Meteorology, local . ic 39, Ot, 52, 121, "123, 170, 193, 264, 285, 382, 413 Micro-lepidoptera of Guernsey, list of . 50 267, 358 Mollusca of Guernsey, additional et oe of he a Abig uit Moth new to Britain (Agrotis crassa) .. ae ot. Dart Nis » (Dianthecia luteago, var. ’ Lowei) ap Be -. 250 Myriapod new to Britain (Scutigera) .. 56 bc 23 a seueilil Names of local rocks, bays and creeks .. Ms 36 Ae sve .. 298 Oakgalls (Cynipide) of pe : 06 50 92 Officers of the Society .. ae ue 6.0 1, 69, 133, 241, 345 Orthoptera of Guernsey, list of . se Su oe 44 113, 145 Patois of Guernsey, notes on the a0 ie : . 183, 228 Peat beds on the coast .. de ae at 18, 82, 85, 145, 157 Plants (wild) flowering in December .. ie oie 40 Polynoe (Annelids), their mode of life .. s aie 56 56 .. 3d Pottery, ancient, found in the island .. ore a0 ae ae 19, 76 Prehistoric man in Guernsey ae Ke Bs ae te so Jb Presidential Address : 56 ate a -. 20, 80, 154, 258 Proverbs and Popular Sayings, local .. = as re “0 .. 228 Rainfall of the year a Bef 36 AY .. AT, 123, 193, 285, 413 Rat, Black, occurrence of eat 50 aS 6% 348 Reports : Annual General 26 50 50 a 9, css 139, 248, 353 Bs Treasurer’s ie 26 ae als he 66 10, 80, 141, 249 as Archeological .. ne ie oh 50 ae a bee uel ys Botanical 36 se oe Bi 56 14, 90, 142, 249, 354 te Entomological .. a a se As 16, 91, 148, 250, 356 a Folklore ae ae or a we 93, 151, 256 Geological no chs a ily, 85, 145, 252, 309 Rhincolophus plumipes, a non- -British mite 60 ae 6 Ring of polished diorite found in peat beds .. of «. 08 > Ig Ripersia europea, a new Coccid, in naa : 66 ike of Tey, 144 Risso’s Dolphin, occurrence of .. te 6, 347 Rocks of Guernsey (Geological Report)... als 22, 87, 88, 148, 254, 309 ,, report on structure of some local se : ee 88 Rubi and Rose of the Channel Islands... As sie oe ne sie | 291 Sark, floraof ae 40 O6 91, 101, 166, 250, 262, 355 », geological notes on . 5.6 ee 56 ° oi 150, 255 PIMSECLS OF «% ae Ais 50 ie 50 ae 7, 92 Sawflies of Guernsey, list of os oe he 50 50 bo) lipkeys 358 Scutigera, a non-British myriapod are o6 oe oe oe 77 Scytodes thoracica, a rare spider 60 oc 46 oie Sth ae136 September, 1895, the hottest in 50 a 56 50 ar oF .. oO2 Shells of Guernsey, additional .. hi Se Sb 66 oye eel Sleeping disease in tomatoes .. are oe ec ae ve onl Slugs of Guernsey, list of.. fe “ia Se 56 ae pe eda Spatangus purpureus, Heart Urchin .. oie a 50 Me .. od4 Spiders of Alderney, list of oo 2 ve aie ae oe APY bs) », nhew records for Guernsey | ae as i oe ae See ye Spindle-whorl (stone) found at Cobo .. ae 56 56 ae elo Sponges and commensal Annelids sie “fe ey 50 36 ie on Strachia cognata, a non-British Hemipteron .. 5e oe ae .. 138 Vi. INDEX. Submergence, geological evidences of .. Sunshine in Guernsey Superficial Deposits of the Channel Islands - (Geological Report) Temperature in September, 1895 Tenthredinide of Guernsey, list of Tomato sleeping disease .. Wild Flowers in December, with list of species Witchcraft in Guernsey, ancient story of Wood (hazel) from 1’ Ancresse peat deposits oe 29, 228 39, 121, 170, 264, 382 216 11, 85, 145, 253, 309 .. 52 118, 358 3 os} rYor NATURAL SCIENCE “ OPA AL AMS MA AA APB A AOL A AL AM AEM A fh 4] anit Thies ou Guernsey: NTED BY THOMAS MAUGER BICHARD, | | BORDAGE STREET. ye GUERNSEY SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE LOCAL RESEARCH. REPORT AND TRANSACTIONS 1S 35: 3 Guernsey : | PRINTED BY THOMAS MAUGER BICHARD, me 260C—C—~—__- BORAGE STREET. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1896. PATRON: Str EDGAR MACCULLOCH, F.S.A. PRESIDENT: Mr. A. COLLENETTE. VicE-PRESIDENTS: Mr. JOHN WHITEHEAD, F.R.G.S., F.S.A. Mr. THOMAS GUILLE. Mr. BK. DD. MARQUAND. HON. TREASURER: FIONN. SECRETARY: Mr. W. A. LUFF. Mr. WILLIAM SHARP. | ComMITTEE: Miss M. DAWBER. Mr. G. T. DERRICK. Mr. J. J. CAREY. Mr. J. S. HOCART. Me. C. G. DE LA MARE. = Mz. T. C. ROYLE. =) LIST OF MEMBERS. '=- as SS: Dr.. Aikman, M.D., C.M., L.R.C.S., Queen’s Road. Mr. H. Allen, 55, Hauteville. Colonel Bell, C.B., Swissville. Miss M. Best, Ruettes Brayes. Mr. T. M. Bichard, Canichers. Dr. R. 8. Boley, M.D., St. Martin’s. Mrs. Boley, St. Martin’s. Miss S. Brock, The Hermitage. Rev. W. Brock, St. Peter-in-the-Wood. Miss A. Brown, Brock House. Mr. J. Le M. Bougourd, Gipps Land. Mr. Cecil Carey, Hauteville. Mr. F.. Carey, Grange. Mr. W. Carey, Grange Hill. Capt. Carteret Carey, Castle Carey. Mr. J. J. Carey, F.R.G.S., Claire Mare. Miss B. Carré, 2, Cameron Place. Mr. HK. A. Carré, 2, Cameron Place. Mr. W. C. Carré, Valnord. Miss A. M. Chant, 14, Saumarez Street. i\ Mr. G. E. Kinnersley, L.R.C.P., Lisle Terrace. Lacy, Dr., The Cottage, Sunny Hill, Ascot, Berks. Mr. Sausmarez Le Cocq, Sausmarez Street. Captain Le Cocq, St. George. Mr. T. Le Pelley, Beaucamp, Castel. Rey. J. L. Le Pelley. Mr. B. H. G. Le Febvre, Blanchelande St. Martin’s. Rey. G. E. Lee, M.A., F.8.A., Union Street. Mr. G. Le Masurier, Victoria Road. Rev. F. E. Lowe, M.A., F.E.S., St. Stephen’s Vicarage. Mr. W. A. Luff, 7, Mount Row. Sir E. MacCulloch, F.S.A., Le Pollet. Dr. M. MacCulloch, M.D., F.G.S., Les Touillets. Gen. F. B. Mainguy, Les Rocquettes. Dr. Dobrée Chepmell, 6, Brook Terrace, Mr. HE. D. Marquand, Fermain House. M Hanover Square. Dr. Cockburn, La Porte, St. Jacques. Mr. A. Collenette, F.C.S., Hauteville. Mrs. A. Collenette, Hauteville. Mr. §. J. Collens, Union Street. Colonel Collings, Katon Place. Miss M. B. Collings, Clifton. Miss R. Cole, Canichers. Mr. M. A. B. Corbin, Saumarez Street. Mr. H. Cumber, Rocquettes. Lord De Sausmarez, Sausmarez Park, Castel. r. H. D. Mauger, George Road. Dr. Merrall, St. Sampson's. Mr. A. Mourant, Rozel Terrace. Mr. D. Mollet, Hauteville. Mr. B. Nesfield, St. Saviour’s. Mr. J. B. Nickolls, Grange. Mr. Overman, St. Peter’s. Major C. H. Ozanne, St. James’ Square, London. Mr. J. 8. Ozanne. Mr. J. S. Paint, Arcade. Miss E. R. Paint, King’s Road. Mr. T. W. M. De Guérin, Mont Durand. Mr. T. W. Palmer, Mill Street. Miss C. M. De Guérin, Mont Durand. Mr. G. Derrick, Valnord Road. Mr. C. De La Mare, Mount Durand. Miss M. Dawber, Ruettes Brayes. Mr. P. S. Domaille, Seonie Villa. Mr. T. Domaille, St. Martin’s. Miss M. Domaille, La Colomberie. Dr. Dunlop, Jersey. Colonel C. Durand, Grange. Mr. Espinasson, Hauteville. Miss D. Fox, Ladies’ College. Mrs. J. Gardner, House. Miss F. A. Gilbert, Ladies’ College. Mr. F. Guerin, High Street. Miss Guille, Union Street. Mr. T. Guille, Montauban. General Harvey, Queen’s Road. Lieut.-Col. Harvey, Queen’s Road. Mrs. Hervey, Belvidere. Mr. A. Hewitt, Brock Road. Mr. J. S. Hocart, Les Mielles, Vale. Mr. S. G. Hugo, Allez Street. Rev. d’E. Tennyson Jesse, M.A., Rohais. Mr. J. W. Jones, Arcade. Rey. W. C. Penney, M.A., Elizabeth College. Mr. J. L. Pitts, F.S.A. (Normandy), Canichers. Mr. A. C. Quick, Church Square. Mr. a i Li. Roberts, M.1.C.E., Swazi- and. Mr. Z. Robert, Mauxmarquis. Mr. H. Rogers, Scott’s Hotel. Mr. T. C. Royle, Arcade. Mr. W. Sharp, 2, Ross Place. Old Government Mr. R. L. Spencer, Esplanade. Major-Gen. Standen, Beaulieu, George Road. Col. A. Simon, Caches, St. Saviour’s. Mr. W. Stranger, jun., St. Sampson’s. Mr. J. Swinburne, F.R.P.S., 25, Sau- marez Street. Brigade-Surgeon Thornhill, A.B., M.D., T.C.D., Grange. Miss Turner, Ladies’ College. Mr. H. Tourtel, Market Square. Rev. R. H. Tourtel, D.D., Torteval. Mr. 2, 4 Wnivehead E.R.G.S., Roya Ole. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. o ao Monthly Meeting held January 21st, 1895, Mr. A. Collenette, President, in the chair. Mr. J. S. Hocart exhibited various bones found by him in a peat deposit at !Ancresse. Mr. Bunyard, of Maidstone, presented to the Society a collection of flint implements, chippings and cores found in Kent. r. EK. D. Marquand read a most interesting paper on * Wild Flowers in December.” ‘This paper will be found printed on a subsequent page of this number. [No meeting was held in February. | Monthly Meeting held March 13th, 1895, Mr. A. Collenette, President, in the chair. Dr. Dunlop (Jersey) and Mr. H. Rogers were unani- mously elected members of the Society. Mr. J. 8. Hocart exhibited more bones and fragments of wood found in the peat deposit at lAncresse. Mrs. Keeling, through Mr. Collenette, exhibited small Astec idols found by her at the earth pyramid of Cholulu, in Mexico, also a fungus parasitic on a cicada found in the same region. Mr. W. A. Luff exhibited three specimens, one male and two females, of Agrostis crassa, captured by Mr. Hodges in August, 1893, near Bordeaux Harbour. This insect (an example of which was found by Mr. Luff in 1874) has never been taken in Britain, but is common in France, Austria and Germany. A large number of microscopic objects, palates of mol- Tusca, plant sections, and minute forms of animal life, were exhibited by means of the oxyhydrogen light, Mr. Marquand describing many of the objects, Co MEETINGS. Monthly Meeting held April 11th, 1895, Mr. A. Collenette, President, in the chair. Mr. Luff exhibited a micro-photo of the rare mite, Rhincolophus plumipes, found by him at St. Ouen’s Bay, Jersey, in August, 1894. This mite, on the authority of Dr. C. F. George, has been found hitherto only in Algeria, Switzerland and Corfu, but never in Britain. : Mr. Royle and Mr. Luff read extracts relating to_the extraordinary conduct of the moth Pronuba yuccacella in fertilising the flowers of the yucca. This was followed by an animated discussion. —_—— Monthly Meeting held May 13th, 1895, Mr. A. Collenette, — President, in the chair. Mr. W. A. Luff exhibited a specimen of the Hemipteron, : Salda saltatoria, new to the Guernsey list, also a new beetle, Bryaxis impressus. Mr. Bougourd exhibited specimens of gneiss from a quarry near Santos. Mr. Bougourd also furnished a number | of popular sayings in the Guernsey dialect. Miss Dawber reported hearing the Cuckoo on April 13th ;- Mr. Swinburne the appearance of the Grey-headed Crow, and Mr. Collenette the stranding of a Dolphin ( Risso’s Dolphin ) in Vazon Bay. Mr. Puttock exhibited the fins of this latter. Mr. Collenette exhibited a Whelk (Buccinum undatum) of unusual size, taken in the harbour. ei. - The appearance of the Long-tailed Field Mouse and the Water Vole was also noted ; the latter was found in the stream at Grande Mare. This latter is new to the Guernsey list of. mammals. | The Secretary of the Geological Section read a report of the work done at the recent out-door meetings. Monthly Meeting held June 13th, 1895, Mr. A. Collenette, President, in the chair. Mr. J. Swinburne, F.R.P.S. Edin., was unanimously. elected a member of the Society. Mr. Z. Robert exhibited specimens of gneiss from Rio Janeiro, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. ck. Mr. Luff exhibited a cast of the Great Seal of England, 1651, the engraving of which was done by a Mr. Thomas Simon, who, if not himself a Guernseyman (as is often stated) at least married a Guernseywoman, Mr. Luff also exhibited MEETINGS. - ria the following insects. new to the. Guernsey list :—(a) Mona- locornis filicis, taken on Whit Monday on the cliffs at Pleinmont. (8B) Gnathoconus albo-marginatus, taken on Whit Tuesday at Saints’ Bay; rare in England, being found only on the south coast and Isle of Wight. _ The President read the following note on the “Sleeping Disease in Tomatoes” :— : NOTE ON THE FUNGUS PRODUCING THE “SLEEPING DISEASE IN TOMATOES.”’ BY A. COLLENETTE, F.C.S. _ The tomatoes in Guernsey have for the last three years been attacked by a disease called locally the “sleeping disease.” Desiring to understand it, and, if possible, cure it, I inves- tigated the matter during last year, with the result that I became convinced that a fungus found present in all the plants examined was the cause of the disease. At the request of the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society of England I described the disease and its development in a paper read before that Society last March. Professor Henslow then wrote me and asked for specimens, which I forwarded, and in. which he found the fungus and forwarded them on to Mr. 8. Massee, of Kew. More specimens have been sent on to Kew, and Mr. Massee now informs me that the fungus is undoubt- edly the cause of the disease, which he assures me has become general in England. Mr. Massee has studied the fungus and now writes as follows :— The fungus is a polymorphic one and has five resting spores that spend their resting stage in the soil. The commonest phase belongs to the form-genus Fusarium.” The disease will be kept under observation in the hope of discovering other useful details, among others, the possibility of getting the disease through the medium of the seed as well as through the soil.’”’* Mr. Collenette also drew attention to the fact that the _ work of the Society had been referred to frequently in the - « Annals of British Geology for 1893.” The Secretary of the Botanical Section reported on the work done during the recent outdoor meetings, and also read the list of plants added to the flora of Jethou on the visit to that Island in 1894. The bones recently found in the peat deposit at Ancresse were exhibited, and a comparison made with the bones and teeth of known animals. * During the month of October Mr. Massee communicated the fact that he had grown-the disease by means of the infected seed, Local observations have also given the same results, oy 8: ~ MEETINGS, - ae tad Meeting held July 10th, 1395, Mr. A, Collenette, President, in the chair. The following ladies and gentlemen were unanimously elected members of the Society :—Mrs. Hervey, Belvidere, Miss Brown, Miss Chant, Rev. Walter Brock, Mr. B, Nesfield, Mr. Overman, Mr. R. H. L. Roberts, M.I.C.E. 7 Three coins—two Roman and one English—found near the large Cromlech, l Ancresse, in 1888, by Miss Smith, were exhibited and presented to the Society. Miss Boley also exhibited a silver half-groat of Elizabeth, probable date 1580, found by her on Lihou Island, about six or eight inches below the surface, during the excursion of June 25th. The Secretaries of the various sections gave a detailed econ of the work done during the excursions of the past month, [ No indoor meeting was held during August. | Monthly Meeting held September 11th, 1895, Mr. A, Collenette, President, in the chatr. Mr. Royle reported on the work of the Botanical Section and exhibited fine specimens of Datura Stramonium (‘Thorn Apple), locally known as Pommier du Diable. Mr. Luff reported the capture of a large Saw Fly ( Ala nigrocornis ), extremely rare in Britain, and a large Dipteron (Asilus crabroniformis). He also stated that butterflies scarce last year are very plentiful this. Mr. De La Mare detailed the geological work done during the excursions of the past month. The Secretary stated that the “ Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia, 1895,” had been received. Mr. Collenette gave an account of the exploration of well-shaped excavations found at lAncresse, and recently explored by members of the Society. ‘Their exact use was undetermined. Pieces of pottery found in one of them were also exhibited. The President also referred to Dr. H. Woodward’s report on the bones found in the peat at PAn- cresse ; these were mainly those belonging to Bos longifrons and Cervus elaphus. He also read extracts from Professor Prestwich’s recent work on Geology, in which he refers to the geological work of the Society, which in some measure goes to confirm the Professor’s theories, | MEETINGS. 9 _ Monthly Meeting held October 9th, 1895, Mr, A, Collenette, President, in the chair. Dr. Lacy was unanimously elected a member of the Society. The President read a report giving various details con- cerning the summer excursions, which terminated on Septem- ber 24th. Mr. Collenette also read a few most interesting facts about the abnormal heat of last September. These will be found ona later page of this number. Specimens of the rock at Les Tielles and at Dom Hue, which present a remarkable similarity, were exhibited. Monthly Meeting held November 20th, 1895, Mr. A. Collenette, President, in the chair. This meeting, postponed from November 13th, was so badly attended that no business was done beyond the reading of a letter from Dr. H. Woodward, stating that the small jaws found in the peat at ? Ancresse, and which he could not deter- mine while in Guernsey, proved to be those of a dog or fox in the milk tooth stage. Professor G. Henslow, to whom specimens of wood found in the same deposit had been sent for identification, stated in a note to the President that he had “examined the wood sent and could find nothing but hazel.” | A detailed list of the bones, &c., found in this deposit appears elsewhere in this number. Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Society, held December, 1895, Mr. A. Collenette, President, in the chair, Dr. Corbin was unanimously elected a member of the Society. : | Mr. W, A. Luff read a paper on “The Diptera of Guernsey,’ with lists of species, and Mr. A. Collenette contributed short papers on (a) “The Sunshine of 1895 in Guernsey,” and (6) “The Rainfall of 1895 in Guernsey.” These three papers are printed in the following pages. The Hon. Secretary then read the Annual Report of the Council as follows :— The Council, in presenting the 13th Annual Report, notes with pleasure the continued prosperity of the Society. The year just closed has been remarkable for the amount of field work done, rather than for the number of original papers 10 MEETINGS. read. Ten indoor meetings have been held, and the average attendance for the year has been fairly good. Twenty-two excursions were arranged, but the weather interfered with the carrying out of two of them. The most largely attended one was that to the adjacent islet of Jihou. Much useful work has been done at these gatherings, and the Reports of the Sectional Secretaries on the result of the researches afforded, with the discussion thereon, abun- dant material for the monthly indoor meetings. Finan- cially, also, these excursions proved a success, a balance of £4 7s. being handed over to the Treasurer. Slowly but surely the Natural History of the island, or rather the baili- wick, is being worked up, and the results of the vestigations recorded in the Society’s Transactions. And here the Council cannot but record its regret at the great loss the Society has” sustained by the removal from the island of its late President, Mr. E. D. Marquand, to whom, perhaps, more than any one else, the Society owes its present flourishing condition. Coming to the island at a time when interest in the Society’s work was at a very low ebb, when, in fact, it existed in little more than in name, Mr. Marquand, by his example and encouragement, infused new life into it. To his industry and. research, as well as to the depth and breadth of his scientific knowledge, his many original papers printed in the Transac- tions of this Society bear ample witness. It is much to be desired that Mr. Marquand’s zeal for everything connected. with Natural Science may stimulate many members to follow in his steps. And in this connection it will not be out of place to remind members, especially those of ample leisure, what the late President urged in his farewell address a year ago, viz., that the whole field of Marine Zoology, as far as the Society is concerned, is practically untouched. “ During the year we have had an increase of 12 members, and at last the Society numbers over 100. It is pleasing also’ to remark that the finances of the Society are in a flourishing state, there being a balance in hand of over £7.” W. SHarp, Hon. Sec. -. The Hon. Treasurer (Mr. W. A. Luff) then read a state- ment of the receipts and expenditure of the past year, which shows a balance in hand of £7 15s. 54d. MEETINGS. 11 _ + REPORT OF THE ARCHZOLOGICAL SECTION. _ It is said all things come to an end, but really in Guernsey there is always something cropping up to make things look like new. I think I have spoken about a stone to some of the members of this Society. It may not be of any importance, still it would be worth a visit the next time we are near the old Waterworks at St. Saviour’s. The stone is on the right, hand side of the gate entering the farm called “ Terre Nergio,” belonging to Colonel Simon, of Les Caches. The people occupying the farm know nothing whatever of its history. In the rough drawing accompanying this paper, observe the square mark which is cut down into the stone about three- quarters of an inch. The two lines forming the angle (42 degrees) are just visible. There is a small hollow cut down in the stone above the lower line like unto a cup mark. Our last visit to the Isle le dom Hue gave me little information beyond what we already knew, and in my. opinion it is not worth another visit. _ ‘There is a curious old trough in the farm house called. “ Les Fontaines,” situated close to the Catel Church, on the opposite or west side of the road. At the time I took this. sketch, 1858, the farm belonged to our Guernsey poet, Mr. Lenfestey. The house was said to have been a convent, the. nuns having a right of way to the church by a bridge over the road. The day I visited the house was on a Saturday.- The trough was then used for holding buttermilk. No one seems to know when or how it came there, except that it belonged to the church and was supposed to have been used. for baptisms. The drawing shows what is sculptured on the front or face of the trough. It is not an unusual thing to see mermaids illustrated in various ways, viz., aS supporters to coats of arms, crests on houses, tombstones, on capitals of pillars in churches, &c., &c., but where did the sculptor who. cut these mermaids get his design? If it was an original. idea his brain must have had the same thought as his brother artist, a native of India. Look at the sketch before you of a mermaid cut on a stone I saw among the ruins of the old Fort of Richore in the Madras Presidency. This I saw about the year 1876. See how closely they resemble each other. Unfortunately, the Indian mermaid has lost her left. arm, which I almost feel sure held the ring, or quoit, like the Guernsey mermaid. The trough in question is about 4 feet long, 24 feet high, and 2 feet broad, and I think is cut in granite. Look at the coloured drawing done before me by a_ 12 MEETINGS, native artist in the Nagpore City Bazaar. This mermaid is represented worshipping the seven-headed Naga or Serpent, Another sketch represents a capital of a column in the Christian Church, near Brixham, Devon. The sketch in my book shows a double-tailed mermaid cut on a lozenge shaped stone on a house in the old Jewish quarter in the town of Newcastle-on-Tyne. The existence of mermaids is thoroughly believed in in Ireland and Scotland to this present hour. Now please follow me across the road to the Catel Church to look at the fresco on the northern ceiling. I fancy many of you have seen it, so that I need not say much on the subject, except that since I took this sketch in 1858, I find on a recent visit two other frescoes have been brought to light ; they are on the right or east of the old one. What they represent I cannot say as the church was very dark, These were found in restoring the church, and have been very well taken care of by having a frame in cement put round them. The only other fresco in the island is in the old chapel of St. Appoline, or rather there was one, for damp and ill- usage (for at one time this chapel was used as a barn) has almost obliterated what was once a life-sized picture, if one can judge from the heads just visible. No process could restore the colours. I should recommend that what is seen be outlined in pencil; this can do no harm and will retain what remains of a beautiful fresco. The inside of the chapel is almost hermetically sealed, so that damp has full sway. An opening should be made at the east end of the room so as to let a current of air through the building. Months before the 25th June, 1894, the day the excursion party went to Lihou, I had remarked two of the upright stones on the south side in the interior of the Creux des Fées were leaning in very badly. I think I remarked this fact to. some of the party on that day. Anyhow, when I visited it again about ten days ago, I saw a serious difference in the position of one of these uprights. A smaller stone had fallen on to this stone and wedged itself between two uprights, and so becoming the instrument of destruction. Earth had also fallen in from the back. I called a man who lived close by to come and see it. “Oh, yes, Mr. Carey, there is a great change. I used to sit here (pointing out a place) and smoke my pipe. Now I cannot; it is dangerous.” I have men- tioned this to several of the Jurats and others who have influence in matters of the States, and urged the necessity of putting all the Druids’ altars and other antiquarian remains MBETINGS. 13 in the island under proper supervision. Some of these altars are, I believe, private property. They should be, if possible, bought up and given in charge of some of the nearest neighbours. This ought to have been done years ago and thus have saved many a grand old land mark, viz., a Druids’ altar at St. Andrew’s, one near the Bailiff’s Cross, another at Richmond, another at the back of Paysans, on the St. Peter’s road to L’Erée, the Rocking Stone at the Vale, and many etceteras. I found pebbles on the same hill as the Creux des Fées, about 350 feet to the south. The level of this find is 52:00. This makes this beach the same as the Rouvet, the Chapelle of the Vale, &c., &c. This information I have passed on to our President. On the 17th September I found a cave between Les Tielles and the Watch House on Mont Herault. On the 4th December I again visited the cave in company with Mr. Nesfield. It proved to be larger than I at first thought ; it measured 60 feet long by 18 feet high and 20 feet wide at the entrance ; it then tapers to the end giving about 6 feet high and 4 feet wide. The floor is above high water mark. A slip has occurred blocking in the mouth of the cave and just allowing a person to creep in. All this part of the coast is worth a day’s visit being quite a paradise for geologists. There is a cave a little farther on, just over the natural arch in the cliff, many of you may have seen. This cave is larger than the one above mentioned, and was the resort of a man for a week when he was being hunted for by the Custom House officers in the good old smuggling days. This cave is quite inaccessible now as a landslip has cut off the difficult path to it. “Les Confleurs,’ not far from the cave, is well worth a visit. _ Mr. Nesfield acoompanied me to see the old building called “ Colombier,” situated about a quarter of a mile to the south of St. Peter’s Church in the Wood. One would suppose from the name that it was once a dove-cot, but one can hardly suppose that the owner wanted walls 2 feet 10 inches in thickness, a doorway 3 feet 3 inches, and a circum- ference of 58 feet to be used for holding pigeons. At present it is only from 12 to 14 feet in height. The whole ruin is thickly covered with ivy, the stem of great thickness. The only information we could get from the owner of the property was that his father received five francs for putting the stones and rubbish inside the building, when the roof fell in, about eighty years ago, What the building was like he never heard, iA MEETINGS. but it was simply called “Colombier.” Some seem to think it was a place of refuge, but a circular tower, 19 feet inside, could not have held many people for any length of time. Others suggest it being a land mark. It could only be seen from L’Erée Fort and Lihou Island, looking up the Valley from Rocquaine, a very small radius of sight. There is one thing strange about it, viz., that the owner cannot remove the ruin, so from this fact Government might have a right to the building and ground on which it stands. If so, surely there must be some official papers in the States Office. J. JAMES CAREY. REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL SECTION. _ . In Field Botany the year has been somewhat uneventful, only four new species having been added to the list, one of these, Aguilegia vulgaris, being probably a garden escape ; the other three are, however, of some interest. Primula veris has long been known to occur here, but owing to its scarcity and the secluded spots it favours it has not, until now, been shown to the Society and placed on the list. Anthriscus sylvestris is one of the few very common English plants which are conspicuous by their absence here. It has been recorded three times only for the Channel Islands. Datura stramonium is interesting as belonging to the group of medicinal and mostly poisonous plants, of which