958 



As it is the intention of the Club to promote the investigation of 

 the natural history of the district as much as possible, they intend to 

 sell their publications separately, as well as together, in order to ac- 

 commodate those pursuing different departments of the science. 

 Whilst, however, they will further as much as they can the investiga- 

 tion of the nature both of the crust of the earth itself, as well as of 

 the various living beings which it produces, they will prevent, as far 

 as their power may extend, the extirpation of any species or race, 

 being aware that such an event cancels a chapter as it were in the 

 natural history of the district. The Club now numbers between 

 eighty and ninety members, and is still increasing, and when the na- 

 ture of its objects is understood, we can have little doubt of its future 

 prosperity. In conclusion, we may be permitted to imagine how effi- 

 ciently the natural productions of other districts might be investi- 

 gated by similar institutions. The Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 

 has long been in existence, and much information respecting the na- 

 tural history of the banks of the Tweed and its neighbourhood has 

 been obtained by its labours ; and if the example were followed and 

 carried out in other districts throughout the kingdom, we should thus 

 have a better means of forming one good account of the natural his- 

 tory of the country than could otherwise be well come at. 



Third and Fourth Field Meetings. — The third meeting of the year 

 took place in a range of country extending from Haydon Bridge to 

 Walltown and Haltwhistle ; a district highly interesting to the geo- 

 logist and botanist, and also to the antiquary, from its possessing the 

 most extensive lemains of the Roman wall now in existence. The 

 face of the country is very much broken by irregular hills of lime- 

 stone or sandstone ; and at Walltown, and from thence towards the 

 north, the edge of the great Whin Sill shows itself, after having been 

 thrown down by the great Stublick Dyke. In the hollows are nu- 

 merous bogs or mosses, and here and there a small lake. As might 

 be expected, many of the plants peculiar to such districts ai'e found 

 here in abundance, amongst them some of our rarer British species. 

 Several scarce species of Carex occur, especially Carex irrigua, which 

 was first noticed as a British plant in this district by Mr. John 

 Thompson, then of Crowhall Mill, and who has added many species 

 observed in the neighbourhood alluded to, to the Northumberland 

 Flora. Amongst them may be enumerated Hieracium prenanthoides, 

 and Crepis succisaefolia. The day was remarkably fine, and the 

 party, after a pleasant wander, reached Haltwhistle just in time for a 

 hasty dinner, and to get home by the last train from Carlisle. The 



