xxvi
Journal of Proceedings.
it opened before long, when competent scientific assistance could be obtained.
It has every appearance of being the work of man, and is circular in form,
about 60 feet in diameter. A piece of ancient pottery was picked up
by one of the party at the base of the mound, and several "flakes" were
found near. The great source of attraction to the visitors from Essex
were the circular depressions in the soil of the park, which are supposed
to be choked-up "Dene-holes," allied to those of Kent and Essex.
There are about twenty-five of them, and two near the house which Mr.
Buxton showed us are certainly very like the depressions in Hangman's
Wood, Grays. In the wood nearer Amwell was one which had partly fallen
in during the winter, exposing a shaft about 10 ft. deep, out of which
a Kingfisher flew as the party reached the spot. No scientific explora-
tion has yet been made of these pits, but Mr. T. V. Holmes carefully
examined them and the geological features of the ground, and has
given the results of his observations in his paper, "Miscellaneous
Notes on Deneholes, 1883," printed in this volume of our ' Transac-
tions.' While rambling through the park several plants were noticed.
The Centaury (Erythraea centaurium) was very common, and amongst
the tall bracken in the woodlands was the pretty wood-pimpernel
(Lysimachia nemorum). Here in a clearing several clumps of the rare
and beautiful Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoides) have been discovered,
one of which was carefully protected by wire netting from the rabbits
which swarm to an incredible degree in the park, an admirable example
to landowners in the preservation of nature's monuments. Many
examples of the Fetid Wood-Witch, a very large, handsome, but
abominably-smelling fungus (Phallus impudicus) were scented out in the
thickets.
The party were most hospitably entertained at tea by Mr. and Mrs.
Fowell Buxton, at the close of which Lieutenant Croft proposed a
cordial vote of thanks on behalf of the Hertfordshire Society to their
kind host and hostess. Professor Boulger seconded the proposal, and
Mr. Buxton, in responding, spoke of the very great pleasure felt by
Mrs. Buxton and himself in receiving the Members of the two Societies,
which were doing work of great value and interest.
A hearty vote of thanks was also passed to Mr. Alfred Fowell
Buxton for his excellent services as conductor during the afternoon.
The evening was occupied in strolling about the garden and park,
and in examining Mr. Buxton's fine geological collection, and then the
party walked to St. Margaret's Station and so home by rail way, talking
of the incidents of a most interesting meeting.
Saturday, July 14th, 1883. Field Meeting.
An informal Field Meeting was held at Box Hill, Surrey, at the
invitation of the Richmond Athenaeum. A violent storm broke over
London during the morning, and the unmistakable fore-shadowings