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Address to the Members of tin- Hrnrickahire Naturalists' Club, delivered 

 at the Anniversary Meeting, held at Mil/field, 1 8th September \ 839. 

 By the Rev. T. KNIGHT, Vicar of Ford, President. 



GENTLEMEN, 



I believe the rules of this Club, and the example of those who have 

 before been honoured with the office which I now unworthily fill, leads you 

 to expect from me, before resigning this chair, some account of the trans- 

 actions of the Society during the last twelvemonth ; and this I have 

 much pleasure in proceeding to do, more especially as I shall have to 

 speak of the labours of others, not of my own. 



The last Anniversary was held at Ford I9th September 1838, when 

 the following Members attended : Dr Clarke, President ; Dr Johnston, 

 Dr F. Douglas, Rev. T. Knight, Rev. John Baird, Mr Embleton, and 

 Mr Darling. Messrs Blackden and Knight jun. were present as visitors. 



The day was clear and cloudless, and the party, after breakfasting at 

 the Rectory, sallied forth in high spirits to enjoy, from the hill above the 

 village, the extensive prospect, rendered peculiarly interesting by the 

 solemn towers of Ford Castle immediately below them, and the more 

 distant view of Flodden Field, that spot so famed in History, and so 

 memorable once the scene of deadly strife, and stained with the best 

 and bravest blood of two hostile nations, now covered with peaceful 

 flocks and golden corn-fields. The ruder times of our forefathers, thank 

 Heaven ! have passed away ; and now parties, from the two countries, 

 ran meet for other purposes than that of bloodshed to contemplate and 

 admire together the works of the Great Creator and Father of them all. 



The first point to which attention was particularly directed was a 

 sandstone quarry, situated in Ford Hill, where numerous specimens of 

 Lepidodendron were observed, some in situ, lying in a nearly horizontal 

 position, but with a slight inclination to the south east. The Lepido- 

 dendron was surrounded by a ferruginous crust, which had partly mould- 

 ered away. The walk of the members thence was across Ford Common! 

 in the direction of Wooden d copse. Gcntiana campestris was observed 

 abundantly on the Common, some specimens of which were gathered in 

 flower, which did not exceed half an inch in length. At the top of the 

 Hill, previous to entering upon the natural wood at Woodend, there is 

 a peat -bog, where the usual denizens of such spots were observed, but 

 none of such rarity as to require a record here. 



Woodend consists of about 1 50 acres of natural wood, situated on a 

 declivity facing the north. The wood is mossy and full of springs. Here 

 was a large field for the observer of nature to explore. Plants, insects, 

 &r. were numerous. The following among others were observed : 

 Betonica ofneinalis, Bromus asper, Myosotis caespitosa, Rubus fruticosus, 



B. N. c. NO. vn. o 



