288 pussident's address. 



keeping up the old custom of the borders, to which we are suffi- 

 ciently near to make participation in their habits natural if not 

 right. Moreover, this expedition was not for the purpose of 

 thieving, but v/as a friendly one, being held on the invitation 

 of Mr. Wood, of Eichmond, who kindly volunteered to make 

 all the necessary arrangements and to act as our guide. 



We went by the 8 a.m. train, and by special favour were set 

 down close to Easby Abbey, amidst the beautiful scenery of 

 which we lingered for some time. The ruins are very exten- 

 sive, and indicate what we know to be the fact, that there was 

 a very large monastic establishment here. Following the course 

 of the river we proceeded to Eichmond to Mr. Wood's house, 

 and he being on a visit to Scarbrough his servants were, by his 

 orders, prepared to receive us, and wines, &c., v/ere in readi- 

 ness for those who wished for them. Yie were deprived of Mr. 

 Wood's promised guidance as he did not arrive during the day, 

 and we were sorry to learn afterwards that his absence was 

 occasioned by an attack of illness ; fortiinately Dr. Tristram, 

 who was of our party, was well acquainted with his Geological 

 Museum, which is the great attraction of his residence, and 

 kindly pointed out the most interesting of its contents on the 

 spot, and at my request gave a short verbal account of it after 

 dinner. He has also kindly supplied me with the following 

 note on it : — 



"Mr. Wood's Museum is important on account of its careful 

 arrangement, and for the perfection of the fossils it contains. 

 It is strictly Palceontological, and all the specimens, without ex- 

 ception, are British, and are in admirably planned wall and centre 

 cases vviuh large sheets of plate glass. The tablets form mul- 

 tiples of each other, thus enabling more economy of room and 

 more success in arrangement. The plans were drawn by the 

 savants of the British Museum, but all made in Eichmond. Every 

 tablet and loose specimen is properly labelled, and as the chiefs 

 of nearly each department have, at some time since its forma- 

 tion, been Mr. Wood's guests, the arrangement is so good that 

 it is quite a type series, particularly rich in Brachiopoda, all 

 named under the faultless eye of Mr. Davidson. The Silurian 



