16 REV. MR BAIRD'S ADDRESS. 



ral interesting discoveries by our indefatigable member, Dr Johnston. 

 The first of these is the addition of a rare fish to those previously de- 

 scribed by him, as occurring in Berwick Bay, the Syngnathus cequoreus 

 of Montagu. The second is a new Zoophyte, a species of the genus 

 Plumularia, which its discoverer, with a propriety that will be felt by 

 every member of the Club, has named the Plumularia Catharina. The 

 third is the Conferva coccinea of Dillwyn, many specimens of which had 

 been procured in Berwick Bay during the past winter, and which, in the 

 words of its discoverer, " forms a beautiful addition to the list of our 

 marine algse." These communications were succeeded by a list of the 

 Cirrhipedes of Berwickshire, also by Dr Johnston ; and an interesting 

 account by Mr Embleton of the Trigla Icevis, or smooth gurnard-fish, 

 which was cast ashore at Newton, after a severe storm, from the south- 

 east. The account of this fish was principally interesting, from the cir- 

 cumstance that, hitherto, it has been chiefly observed on the coasts of 

 Devonshire and Cornwall, and that, in all probability, a further exami- 

 nation will prove this species and the Hirundo to be the same. At the 

 same meeting, Dr Johnston mentioned that he had lately received from 

 the Rev. Mr Campbell a specimen of the pochard duck (Anas ferina 

 Lin.) shot near Coldingham Loch ; while the pleasure of the meeting 

 was still farther increased by the presence of Captain Alexander, 42d 

 Royal Highlanders, a traveller of some celebrity. 



The first summer meeting of the Club, which took place at Colding- 

 ham on the 19th of May, was distinguished by a heavy rain, which, 

 with occasional intermissions, lasted the whole day, and lessened very 

 much the comfort, as well as hindered very materially the success, of 

 the expedition. Yet some plants of considerable rarity, several birds, 

 and many insects and worms, were observed and collected ; while by 

 those who then for the first time beheld the splendid scenery of " the 

 Head," the excursion, I am sure, with all its drawbacks, will be long re- 

 membered with delight. The loch, so pleasing in its general character, 

 and so remarkable for its situation ; the wide spread moors so finely 

 undulating, and so elegantly carpeted with their thousand different wild- 

 flowers ; the magnificent precipices which form the mountain promon- 

 tory of St Abb's, with their thousand times ten thousand feathered visi- 

 tants ; and far beneath, and wide around as eye can stretch, the dread ex- 

 panse of ocean, these, altogether, form a scene than which a richer in 

 natural phenomena, or one more striking for its grandeur and sublimity, 

 is scarcely to be met with in our island, and sure I am that, round these 

 shores, a plentiful harvest yet awaits our exertions. The plant of per- 

 haps the greatest interest which this excursion afforded, was the Pote- 

 rium Sanguisorba, a plant new to the Berwick Flora, although in many 

 situations by no means uncommon. For this addition to the botany of 

 Berwickshire we are indebted to Mr Mitchell. The most important 

 communications read at this meeting were, 1 . A notice by Mr Embleton 



