246 DR DOUGLAS'S ADDRESS. 



hibitcd his collection of British Sponges, and gave a short explanation 

 of the views of Grant, relating to their physiology and functions, and of 

 whose correctness and accuracy in observation he has fully satisfied him. 

 self. 



The Spring Meeting of the Club was held at Ayton on the 5th of 

 May, and was attended by the following members : The President, the 

 Secretary, P. J. Selby, Esq., Rev. A. Baird, Dr Clarke, Rev. G. Cun- 

 ningham, and the Rev. J. Turnbull. The Rev. Mr Tough of Ayton 

 honoured the Club with his company at dinner. 



After breakfast, the party took the usual walk, strolling first through 

 the grounds in front of Ayton House, and following the course of the 

 river Eye, until they reached Mill-Bank paper-works, which they were 

 permitted to examine. From this they traced up a certain length of 

 the ravine through which the Aleburn winds its tortuous way. During 

 this walk, nothing new, either to the Fauna or Flora of the district, oc- 

 curred, and nothing very rare. A few fruit-bearing mosses were pick- 

 ed up, a few insects captured, and one or two shells, uncommon in the 

 district, as Bulimus obscurus and Helix pygmcea, taken. The walk was, 

 however, very agreeable ; for, as the day was fine, the glow of spring- 

 flowers, the rich verdure of the trees, and of the springing grass, the 

 songs of the birds, and the murmuring of the waters of the stream, 

 as it trotted over its gravelly bed, and its deep stillness as it lingered at 

 the foot of precipitous whin- clad rocks, that rose abrupt from the water, 

 came with a healing power on every heart, filling it with a pure feel- 

 ing which welled forth in peace, and gaiety, and good will to all men. 

 Chaucer has aptly painted the scene we walked in, but has apparently 

 been as much at a loss as ourselves to describe the feelings it calls forth, 

 just because of their fulness and blended natures* 



" Who sawe evir so feyr or so glad a day, 



And how sote this seson is entring into May 7 



The thrustelis and the thrushis in this glad mornyng, 



The ruddok and the goldfynch, 



His amerous notis, lo! how he twynith small ! 



Lo ! how the trees grenyth that nakid wer, and nothing 



Bare this month afore'Jbut their sommer clothing ! 



Lo ! how Nature makith for them everichone ! 



And as many as ther be he forgettith none ! 



Lo ! how the seson of the yere and Averell showris 



Doith the bushis burgyn out blossoms and flowris ! 



Lo ! the prymerosis how fresh they ben to sene ! 



And many othir flowris among the grassis grene. 



Lo ! how they spryng and sprede, and of divers hue ! 



Beholdith, and seith both rede, white and blue ! 



That lusty bin and comfortabill for mann'ys sight ! 



For I sey for myself it makith my hert to light 1" 



