REPORTS OF MEETINGS 77
By a farm at Bell Common a single Swallow (the only one of the day) was
seen.
Tea was taken at the Bell Inn and after the meal Mr. Bernard Ward was
elected chairman and a short meeting was held during which several mem-
bers gave accounts of the observations of the day. Mr. Bernard Ward con-
veyed to the members the good wishes of Mr. Boss who was in hospital. He
was glad to say that he was recovering and he promised to convey the
members' wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr. Ross.
Mr. Bernard Ward then stated that he had recorded thirty-three species
of plants in flower or in bud. It was very pleasing to have found plants of
the true Viola canina, a species not at all frequent in the neighbourhood.
Mrs. Harris gave an account of the birds. The summer visitors seen were
Tree-Pipit, Swallow, House-Martin, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow-Warbler,
and the Cuckoo had been heard. No Blackcaps, Garden-Warblers or Night-
ingales had been seen or heard.
Mr. Dyce said that the butterflies seen were Small White, Small Tortoise-
shell and Peacock, the last being the only species seen in any numbers.
Visit to Shooter's Hill, Kent (997th Meeting)
SUNDAY, 27 MAY, 1956
A party of twelve met at Falconwood Station at 11.30 a.m., on this fine
sunny day and were conducted over ground which was new to all except Mr.
F. R. Mulliss who had kindly offered to lead the party. Shooter's Hill is so
often a conspicuous feature of the distant view from the Epping Forest area
that we were all keen to investigate the terrain in detail.
After crossing Rochester Way the woodlands were at once entered and
patches of the conspicuous grass Milium effusum, were seen in full flower. It
was pleasant to find in such a populous area that bluebells were still able
to flourish and throughout the whole walk we were much impressed by the
unspoilt appearance of the woods and the absence both of obvious damage
and of litter. The London County Council is to be congratulated on the
acquisition of this fine area and on the way in which it is preserved. On a
pond a well-grown brood of Moorhen was watched but we were told that the
Mallard which also bred here were usually unsuccessful in rearing their
broods.
Again crossing Rochester Way we now began to ascend the southern slopes
and the fine meadows of Oxleas were traversed. At the top of these
meadows was found a refreshment house and we were a little amused to find
it "Closed for lunch." Members were however not at all inconvenienced by
this for packed lunches were carried and a very pleasant hour was spent
picknicking in a sheltered spot with fine views of the North Downs. The
local people had evidently gone further afield or were lunching at home for we
had the full enjoyment of all this fine area almost to ourselves for the earlier
hours of the walk.
The most noticeable bird notes in the woods were the calls of hundreds of
young Starlings but also there was abundant song of Blackbird, Song-Thrush,
Wren, Robin and Chaffinch and the songs of Great-Tit, Blackcap, Willow-
Warbler and Chiffchaff were also heard.
The area near the top of Shooter's Hill is mainly occupied either by well
grown oak woodland or by garden and parkland which was formerly a private
estate. After a pleasant walk through the woods the Severndroog Tower
was reached. This is a brick monument, which bears an inscription stating