PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 7 



On a short botanizing excursion, in company with Mr. Thorn- 

 hill and Mr. D. Oliver, jun., Stachys amhigua was found near 

 Lamesley. Mr. Oliver, who has this year discovered, in Ireland, 

 a plant new to the Flora of the British Isles, the Naias fiexilis, 

 Rostk., has also detected, on the Town Moor of Newcastle, Juncus 

 diffusus, Hoppe, a plant not hitherto known to grow in Northum- 

 berland. 



In the month of August last, Mr. Joseph A. Marshall collected, 

 in flower, near Scotswood, fine examples of Utriculm-ia vulgaris. 

 I subsequently visited the station, and found the plant in profusion. 

 In the same month, Miss Clayton, of Chesters, very obligingly sent, 

 for my inspection, a large example of Bovista gigantea, which was 

 subsequently shown to some of our members. This fungus measured, 

 in circumference 3 feet 3i^ inch j in depth 7i^ inch; and weighed 

 51b. avoirdupois. 



But it is not in this district only, that our Botanists have exerted 

 themselves; during the past year, some, in the north of Northum- 

 berland, have not been idle. The following species, given on the 

 authority of my friend Mr. George Tate, F.G.S., have recently been 

 found, and, for the most part, in the neighbourhood of Alnwick : — 

 Ranunculus hirsutus, Hippurus vulgaris, Crepis succisoefolia, 

 Serratula tinctorial Melampyrum pratense, h. montanum, Johnst., 

 Calamintha acinos, Neottia Nidus-avis, Juncus maritimus, Blysmus 

 rufus, Scirpus maritimus, Carex muricata, Sesleria ccerulea. The 

 particular habitats of these species will be named in the Floral 

 list to be published in our Transactions." 



Mr. Bold has kindly furnished me with the following note on 

 the Entomology of the past summer: — "On looking over my 

 journal, for 1850, I find that, from ill health, and an unfavourable 

 season, I have very little to note. Owing to the cold and snow, 

 in April and May, I did not collect, and it was not till the 2nd 

 of June, that I saw any white butterflies ; even so late as July 

 11th, I find a note to the effect, that the few flies, in the windows, 

 appear to be half torpid with cold." Mr. Bold then enumerates 

 the beetles taken at the Staward Peel meeting, which have already 

 been given under that head, after which he proceeds — "In the latter 

 part of June, and in the beginning of September, I got specimens 



