THE LOCAL FIELD-CLUBS OF GKEAT BRITAIN. 17 



intend their publication. He will, therefore, be glad to receive from the 

 secretaries of such societies, all information of interest upon the subject, 

 together with copies of proceedings or papers, especially those bearing 

 upon local botany. In connection with this, he hopes to give each month 

 an account of the formation, progress, and work of some one society 

 in detail ; and-to this end the co-operation of local naturalists is in- 

 vited. The particulars on which information is most desired are — date 

 of formation, number of members, details of management, publications, 

 mode of working, number of meetings in the year.] 



This was the first local field-club established in the kingdom. We 

 are mainly indebted for the following particulars to the kindness of 

 the active Secretary, George Tate, Esq., F.G.S., of Alnwick. 



The first meeting was held Sept. 22, 1831, when nine gentlemen 

 were present, and three short rules, defining the objects of the Club, its 

 times of meeting, and mode of election of members, were agreed upon. 

 Mr. Hardy, in his ' Anniversary Address,' 1868, traces the connection 

 of the Club with the Plinian Society, of Edinburgh, which was esta- 

 blished in 1823 ; stating that it was through the exertions of the prin- 

 cipal members of the latter Society that the Berwickshire Club was 

 established, and that it was formed on the same plan as the older 

 institution : so that the Club may be regarded as the branch of a society 

 established so far back as 1823. 



Of the original members two only remain — Dr. W. Baird, F.R.S., 

 of the British Museum, and Mr. E. C. Embleton, of Beadnal. 



At the close of the first year there were eighteen members, among 

 whom were the late Prideaux J. Selby, of Twizel, and Sir William 

 Jardine, Bart., of Jardine Hall ; and when Dr. Johnston, the founder, 

 died, on July 30, 1855, there were eighty-five members. Since that 

 time the numbers have increased ; and there are now in the Club 233 

 ordinary, 5 honorary (all ladies), and 3 corresponding members. The 

 only officers are a President, who is elected yearly, and two Secretaries. 



The area of the Club's investigations extends over Northumberland 

 north of the Coquet, over Berwickshire, and over as much of Rox- 

 burghshire as is conveniently accessible. The members are scattered 

 over this area, but the principal part of them are in Northumberland. 

 The meetings are held on the last Thursday of the months of May, 

 June, July, August, and September — two usually being held in 

 Northumberland, two in Berwickshire, and one in Roxburghshire. In 

 VOL. VIII. [mauch 1, 1870.] c 



