196 president's address. 



to the Nine Nicks of Thirlwall and Walltown crags. A part of 

 the great basaltic dyke here rises to a considerable elevation, and 

 is broken up into detached masses by wild ravines, from whence 

 the name of the Nine Nicks. The Roman Wall runs along the 

 edge of the crags, pertinaciously adhering to the highest points, 

 and following all the irregularities of the ground with unbroken 

 resolution. Where the rugged nature of the surface does not 

 admit of a fosse, an inner line of work at a considerable distance, 

 and on lower ground, is discernible. Small wayside stations, or 

 guardhouses, may be traced at intervals, and the two important 

 posts of Caervoran and j3Esica were visited. The masonry is 

 generally in excellent preservation, and the dressed face of the 

 wall perfect. Some rare plants and insects rewarded our scramble. 

 From the highest points a magnificent mountain panorama was 

 obtained — Crossfell and Alston Moor on the south; westward, 

 Skiddaw, in Westmoreland, and Cry ff ell, in Kircudbright, could 

 be seen; Cheviot, and many intermediate ranges to the north; 

 while to the east, the long range of crags shut up the view. The 

 Solway Frith was distinctly visible running far up the country, 

 and the Scottish mountains beyond it. We followed the rocky 

 stream down to Haltwhistle, where twenty-three members sat 

 down to dinner, and seven new candidates were elected. Among 

 the plants collected during the day, were Lysimachia vulgaris 

 (new to the district), Saxifraga dizoides, Galium horeale, Vaccinium 

 uliginosmn, Geranium columhinum, Teesdalia nudicaulis, Allium 

 schoenopj^asum, Epilohium angustifolium, Hypericum humifusumj 

 wild cranberry ; parsley, oak, and beech ferns. 



Our Fourth Meeting, the most onerous expedition yet under- 

 taken by the Society — that to the Cheviot Hills — was held on the 

 16th August, and continued three days. From the Belford 

 Station the party walked to Wooler, and on the following 

 morning, after inspecting the objects of interest in the locality, 

 set out in carriages for Langleeford. By the way a fine prospect 

 of the fatal field of Flodden, and the ground occupied by the 

 armies previous to the battle, was obtained. The road, after 

 crossing a range of high land, descends into the valley, covered 

 with heather now in full bloom, and clad at intervals with 



