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PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF TUB 3|amjps&tre Jftelb Club AND &rcljaeologtcal &ouetp

(ESTABLISHED 1885) for the Study of the Natural History and AntiqnhUi of the County

Vol. XIX, Part 3 (Supplement) NATURAL HISTORY, 1936.

EDITED BY W. H. DOWDBSWELL.

WINCHESTER: WARREN & SON, LTD., TUB WYKEKAM PRESS 1957 RED HOUSE MUSEUM * Christchurch * LIBRARY

V / NATURAL HISTORY, 1956. HE following report of Natural History activities in the Field Club during 1956, while showing a welcome Texpansion in some directions also indicates a marked decline in others. Several members have sent in notes on mammals but these are so sporadic and scattered that I feel it would be mis­ leading to publish them as one account. There is still a great need for studies to be undertaken such as those summarised by Mr. Oliver Hook in the 1955 Report. By contrast with the mammals,,the amount of information received on Hampshire birds has been greater than ever and this year's section on ornithology is the most extensive yet published. The Ornithological Section has continued to meet on alternate months in College Science School for informal dis­ cussion of a great variety of bird topics. The amount of material now received by Mr. Cohen for the Annual Report is so large that It has been decided to form an Editorial Committee, each member being responsible for a particular area of the county. Regular contributors and members of the Ornithological Section' have already been informed of these changes Anyone else who may be interested can obtain full paJticulais from me. Entomological records during the year do not call for much comment except that there is a conspicuous lack of contributois from the northern part of the county. Once again, we have to thank Mr. Collin for a notable contribution to our knowledge of the Diptera of the . The botanists appear to have suffered an eclipse arid the only record, I have received has been from Mrs. P. M. Baker of the rare Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria) and Dyer's Greenweed (Genista tinctoria) growing in a field at Highbridge not fai from the River Itchen. Townsend (Flora of Hampshire) records Dianthus armeria from a number of isolated localities but, as far as I know, there are no previous reports from this area. I have no doubt that Botanical and Entomological Sections of the Field Club would well repay the effort needed to form them just as the Ornithological Section has done. Enthusiastic members are badly needed in both these .fields of Natural History. It only remains for me to thank once more all those who have kindly contributed both towards our various reports, and to the running of our Field Expeditions which have been, as always, one of the most enjoyable features of the Hampshire Field Club. W. H. DOWDESWELL. 310 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB 1. Birds in Hampshire, 1956.

EDITORIAL NOTES. This year half the report has been written by Mr. P. L. Day and I am extremely grateful for his. invaluable help. The work has become too laborious for one person and as. many readers will know, a committee of five has been .elected by. the Ornithological Section to edit the report in future ; each will compile a report on his area and these accounts wUl form the mateiial for the final report which will be written by one or two of them. Their names and areas are : Myself (W. Hants), K. H. Palmer (New Forest), G. H. Rees (E. Hants), J. H. Tavemer (N. Hants), and J. Stafford (Wight). I again acknowledge my indebtedness to the many observers who sent, in notes, every one of which has been considered in .compiling the report. The number in 1956 was larger than in 1955 but not so much larger as would appear from the alphabetical list because this year, in accordance with a recommendation of the Conference of Editors of Local Reports held in Oxford on Septem­ ber 29th, I have given, the names of in