Journal of Proceedings. xlvii
known. He had often seen them lying dead on paths with no signs of
injury.
The Secretary said he had also frequently noticed dead Shrews,
generally, he believed, in the autumn. He suggested that sharp night
frosts may be answerable for the death of these much maligned little
creatures. He could confirm Mr. Robarts' remarks with respect to the
Epping Forest Deer ; they presented race characters in colour as well
as in the absence of decided palmation of the antlers, thus being
curiously without one mark of the species; they were probably much
more ancient than our semi-domestic Fallow-deer. It was not
generally known that Red-deer existed in a wild state in Hainault and
Epping Forests until a comparatively late period. He had a map in
his possession with manuscript notes by Mr. John Cary, the celebrated
map engraver. In one note Mr. Cary stated that on October 20th,
1827, he had assisted at the hunt of a Red Stag, which was finally
taken at Plaistow, adding, "Red Deer to be so near the Metropolis in
their wild state I consider as a singular circumstance." This event
took place, of course, long before the disgraceful and lamentable
destruction of Hainault Forest.
Mr. English read a paper on the preservation of flowering plants
so as to retain much of their form and colour. This process is an
improvement on that proposed by the author in a communication to the
Club on April 24th last. (See Transactions, Vol. I., p. 71.) Mr. English
exhibited a large box filled with beautifully preserved specimens, com-
prising more than fifty species. Some of the plants presented a most
life-like appearance; and as the forms and scientific characters are often
well retained, the process bids fair to be of very considerable value,
especially for the production of museum specimens and for educational
purposes. Mr. Saward also exhibited specimens of the same nature.
Thanks were returned to Mr. English for his communication.
The President called attention to the Field Meeting to take place on
October 2nd, for the study of the Cryptogams of the Forest, under the
leadership of Dr. Cooke, Mr. Worthington Smith, and Mr. English,
and mentioned that it would probably be the last field meeting of the
season.
At the Conversazione, Mr. C. Thomas, F.G.S., exhibited under the
microscope the following living objects:—Chara translucens, for the
purpose of showing that beautiful and wonderful phenomenon the
circulatory movements of fluid protoplasm within the cells of the plant
commonly called Cyclosis. Also amongst the Rotatoria, the charming
Floscularia ornata, AEcistes crystallinus, and Liaenias cerotophylli, all from
the neighbourhood of Epping Forest.