COMMITTEE’S ADDRESS. 161 
number of the members traversed its dark and gloomy depths, 
the rest like Sir John Falstaff, ‘““babbled o’ green fields,” and 
decided to complete the exploration of the dene. The beautiful 
fronds of the oak and beech-ferns, rewarded their search, and 
many species of the smaller land snails were collected, among 
which were Helix alliaria, lucida, nitidula, radiata, fusca, fulva, 
Azeca tridens, Clausilia nigricans, Vitrina pellucida, &e. In 
this group of animals, the dene appears to be peculiarly rich. 
Insects were remarkably scarce, a single specimen of the common 
white butterfly, represented the Lepidoptera, and among the 
Coleoptera, although our local carab, Pterostichus parumpunctatus 
was more than usually abundant, there was a general dearth, the 
only specimens thought worthy of capture being Lestera bicolor, 
and Lathrimeum atrocephalum, two of the smaller Staphylinide. 
Near the foot of the dene, the subterranean explorers joined 
the others, and all went together to visit the extensive Steel 
Works of the Messrs. Spencer, who threw them entirely open to 
the party, and explained the many interesting and beautiful 
operations conducted in them. Steam hammers of tremendous 
power, by Nasmyth, Morrison, and others, were seen at work 
on embryo Armstrong guns; these, and the skill and rapidity of 
the file cutters, attracted especial notice. 
The dinner hour being near at hand, a hurried inspection of the 
church of St. Michael at Newburn, was all that could be accom- 
plished. 
From the church-yard, one of the finest views of the Tyne 
valley is obtained, a view which few rivers can equal. The richly 
wooded banks, and glistening spire of Ryton, the castled knoll of 
Prudhoe, the Saxon towers of Ovingham and Bywell, and the 
dark Fells behind them all, form a picture an artist would gladly 
paint. After dinner, eighteen new members were elected, and 
the following papers were read, viz:— 
I.— Short notices of interesting facts connected with the 
Marine Zoology of our Coast,” by Mr. Richard Howse. 
IJ.—“ Additions to our local Coleopterous Fauna,” by Mr. 
Thomas J. Bold. 
The meeting broke up, after according to Mr. J. Ramsay, and 
