168 COMMITTEE’S ADDRESS. 
ground could be seen, and every now and then the whirr of the 
grouse, and the wild cry of the curlew, were heard resenting this 
unwelcome invasion. The next halt was called by the side of a small 
streamlet which issued out of the hillside, and not till allwere again | 
collected, was the march resumed down the hill and into the valley 
of the North Tyne, which is still clothed with patches of wood, 
the remnants doubtless of ancient and much yaster forests of oak, 
alder, and birch, the prevailing trees in all the sub-alpine 
vallies of Northumberland. Here, as in most cases, they are 
gnarled and twisted into strange and grotesque forms. In many 
of the trees the larva, pupa and imago of the Longicorn coleopteron 
(Rhagium inquisitor) were found. 
Passing through the woods, and across the New Border Counties 
Railway, which will soon take us up to, and over the Scottish Bor- 
der, to districts well worthy of the explorations of the Club, 
the Tyne was crossed by a foot bridge, and the party found 
themselves in the grounds of Hesleyside. An hour was spent 
by some, in the beautiful gardens, others wandered up a wild path 
through the woods behind the house, which skirts a tiny streamlet 
overhung with rock and canopies of fern, and visited the kennels, 
whose noisy occupants were much admired. A few of these were 
taken out by the keeper, and flushed some black game for the 
amusement of the visitors. 
Returned to the house they found dinner awaiting them, and 
sat down, one hundred and one in number, to tables literally 
groaning with good things. None can doubt that at Hesleyside, 
at any rate, hospitality reigns as supreme as in the olden times, 
it beamed forth in the smile of Mr. Charlton when informed of 
the number of his guests, and was eloquent in his reply-of “ the 
more the merrier.” 
_ Our late worthy President in fitting terms thanked their host on 
behalf of the party, and proposed his health, which was drunk 
with all the honours. Mr. HE. C. Robson proposed the “ Ladies 
of the House,” to both of which Mr. ‘Charlton responded, and 
then all retired to the terrace before the house, where Dr. Charl- 
ton read a paper on the ‘“‘ Ornithology of the North Tyne,” which 
has since appeared in our “‘ Transactions.” Dr. Dodd followed 
