Journal of Proceedings. lxxv
on the farm of Mr. R. J. Benton, at Aveley, near Purfleet. John Peters,
foreman to Mr. Benton, noticed the bird in a hedge, and, with the aid of
a stick, succeeded in securing it. Peters afterwards found a wasps' nest
in the hedge a few feet from the spot. The bird was kept a captive for
three or four weeks, and fed chiefly on bread moistened with milk, but it
pined away and died, in consequence it would seem of a lack of proper
nourishment, as evidenced by the emptiness of the crop when examined.
Mr. Benton had kindly presented the specimen to the Club, and it was
then in Mr. English's hands for preservation. The specimen appeared
to be a young female. Another Honey Buzzard was seen on Mr. Benton's
farm on the same day, and has been several times noticed since. On one
occasion it was being mobbed by wood-pigeons. On the 25th October it
appeared in company with some carrion crows.
The Secretary read some extracts from a letter received by him from Sir
Thos. Powell Buxton, in which the writer asked whether the Club could
use its influence in preventing the slaughter of all birds by keepers. No
shooting is now allowed by the Conservators in Epping Forest, and on
his own land Sir Powell had allowed no killing of raptorial birds for
years past. It will be very interesting to observe the effect of this pro-
hibition after some time, and it would add greatly to the value of the
experiment if the same rule could be enforced throughout the valleys of
the Boding Paver and Cobbin Brook.
The consideration of Sir Fowell Buxton's proposal was deferred until a
future meeting of the Society. Votes of thanks were passed to Sir Fowell
Buxton, to Mr. Christy, and to Mr. White, for their communications.
The meeting then resolved itself into the usual Conversazione, at which,
in addition to Mr. Pitch's collection of galls and gall-wasps, Mr. E. M.
Holmes exhibited and presented to the Club some typical specimens of
British Mosses ; Mr. Travis a rabbit's head, showing abnormal growth of
the incisor teeth ; and he presented to the Club the curious nest of a Nut-
hatch, described in the 'Transactions,' i. 09. Mr. English exhibited and
presented a Kestrel from Epping Forest, and some specimens of the
Wood Cud-weed (Gnaphalium sylvaticum) from Monk Wood; Mr. W
White a collection of chalk fossils from the "Globe" quarries, at Little
Thurrock, Essex, and some coal-period fossils; and Mr. Oxley and Mr.
Letchford exhibited under the microscope various forms of Infusoria,
including Lymnias ceratophyllii and Stephanoceros Eichornii and others.
The objects found during the excavation of Ambresbury Banks were
exhibited, together with the large plans prepared for General Pitt-Rivera's
lecture on the Camp before the British Association at York.