DR DOUGLAS'S ADDRESS. 247 



This walk gave us also zest and appetite to enjoy the very good din- 

 ner that awaited our return to the Tillage ; and, after a talk more 

 pleasant than wise, we separated in the pleasing hope of meeting again 

 together at Wooler on the 16th of June, to talk of the beauties of Nature, 

 and draw, from new and equally agreeable strolls, the best of all argu- 

 ments of the use of Natural History. At Wooler, accordingly, in 

 June, the Club met, and the number of members who were present 

 proved that the place of rendezvous was well chosen. Dr Douglas, 

 president, Dr Johnston, secretary, Rev. J. Baird, P. J. Selby, Esq., 

 Dr Clarke, Rev. T. Knight, Fred. Collingwood, Esq., Mr Melrose, Mr 

 M'Beath, and the Rev. J. D. Clarke, attended, and were joined by the 

 Rev. H. Grey, and H. Knight, Esq., as visitors. 



The morning- walk was towards Wooler Common, which was traversed 

 in different directions ; when the members crossed the moors so as to 

 come down upon Cold-gate Burn. The course of this sweet trouting 

 stream was followed until its entrance into the Wooler water, which the 

 members walked upwards towards Langleyford, loitering away the hours 

 in the fine valley between that place and Middleton. The Club then 

 returned by the usual road to Wooler. During the walk, nothing new 

 for observation was met with. A gentle rain fell during the whole 

 time ; but any inconvenience to which it put the members was uncom- 

 plained of, for they were too sensible of its need to the crops of corn, 

 and too grateful for its certain benefits, to heed a wetting. Many rather 

 rare plants, which were previously known to be denizens of the district, 

 were again noticed, such as Listera cordata, Genista anglica, Myosotis 

 c&spitosa, &c. and specimens of several mosses, in a remarkably fine con- 

 dition, were picked, One of these, Bartramia fontana, attracted general 

 admiration, from the beautiful softness of its green foliage, and the 

 elegance of the round apple-like capsule which surmounted the stem. 

 The insects observed, owing to the unfavourable nature of the day, were 

 remarkably few. The Ring-ouzel was observed in its breeding ground, 

 on the sides of the hills rising from the Cold-gate Burn. 



After dinner, Mr Collingwood exhibited a piece of animal fat or 

 adipocere found in a peat^bog near Old Yeavering, about three feet 

 under the surface. The mass, when found, was 9 inches long, 6 broad, 

 and 6 deep, with an irregular surface. 



On the 28th of July, the Club met at Bank House, when, notwith- 

 standing the fineness of the weather, there was a very scanty attend- 

 ance ; the only members present being Dr Douglas, president ; Dr 

 Johnston, secretary ; and Mr Melrose. After a comfortable break- 



