180 president's address. 



First, Mr. J. W. Kirkby read to the Geological Society, on 

 January 21st last, a notice of the occurrence of a Malacostracous 

 Crustacean, and of a new Chiton in the Magnesian Limestone of 

 Durham. 



And, second, Mr. Westwood read to the Linnean Society, on 

 February 3rd last, a description of a new species of Fulex, which 

 he named Imperator. It was found in a bedstead, at Gateshead. 



As to this last discovery, I think, I shall be right, if I ex- 

 press, on behalf of our members who reside here, a unanimous 

 wish that these " Emperor-Fleas" may never be detected in any 

 of the beds, at Newcastle; and that these Mali Pulices — never 

 there, "avertant Somnos!" 



It now becomes my pleasant duty to present to you the 

 record of the Field Meetings of the last year, which I have drawn 

 up from the accurate memoranda sent to me by our able 

 Secretary, Mr. Storey ; and, in doing so, I am extremely sorry 

 to state that I have never yet been able to be present at any one 

 of these scientific and delightful excursions, owing to my nume- 

 rous avocations and duties. Living, as I do, during a part of 

 the summer months, when these meetings take place, in the 

 extreme southern portion of our united counties, I could never 

 attend any of them, without sacrificing nearly two entire days, for 

 which I have really not had sufficient leisure. A great part of 

 the north and west of Northumberland, as well as of the west of 

 Durham, is personally unvisited by me ; and I can, therefore, 

 only express my anxious wish that time may permit me to see 

 its beauties — natural and scientific — at a future season, in com- 

 pany with our friendly and intelligent members. 



The First Field Meeting, of the year, was held at Riding Mill, 

 on the 6th of June, when these ten members were present — Dr. 

 Embleton ; Messrs Kobert Vint, John Thompson, John Storey, 

 W. Green, jun., George Wailes, Edward Mather, George Arm- 

 strong, John Walsh, and George Luckley. 



The weather, throughout the day, being delightful, the 

 Excursionists, particularly those of the Botanical Section, were 

 enabled to take a long and pleasant ramble from the head- 

 quarters at Riding Mill. They noticed nearly 100 species of 



