286 president's address. 



the previous evening, but the greater portion having left New- 

 castle by the early morning train, breakfasted at Morpeth, and 

 thence came forward by conveyances. The afternoon of this day 

 was occupied with the ascent of Simonside, whence the air being 

 clear, very extensive views of the surrounding country were 

 obtained. Selby's Cove and the Eoman Camp at Great Tosson 

 were visited on the way back. Dinner was provided at the 

 Queen's Head, Eothbury, at six o'clock, after which two new 

 members were elected. The morning of the following day was 

 devoted to an inspection of Sir W. G. Armstrong's beautiful 

 grounds at Cragside. In the hot-houses the superb exotic shrubs 

 and ferns were greatly admired, and the arrangements of hy- 

 draulic machinery for airing and sunning the fruit trees excited 

 much interest. After dinner the beautifully situated Priory of 

 Brinkburn was visited, on the return route to Morpeth. The 

 only Natural History observation recorded is that of Celcena 

 Haworthii on the wing, by our Secretary, Mr. D. P. Morison. 



The Sixth and concluding Field Meeting of the Season was 

 held at Marsden on the 30th of September. Three years having 

 elapsed since the last meeting at this favourite place, the repast 

 in the cave, which is after all the feature of the meeting, had 

 regained something of the charm of novelty which by repeated 

 yearly gatherings had threatened to wear off. The attendance 

 was good (about ninety, including a large number of ladies, sit- 

 ting down to tea), the weather exquisitely fine and sunny, and 

 though the results, as regards Natural History investigation were 

 probably nil, one cannot but feel that a gathering of this kind, 

 more social than scientific, does much to promote the success of 

 the Club, by bringing together many who perhaps seldom see 

 each other, for friendly chat ; and by enabling those who, from 

 pressure of other engagements, are mostly prevented joining the 

 more distant excursions, to keep up their connection with, and 

 let us hope their interest in, the Society. The route taken on 

 this occasion was from the Cleadon Lane Station, visiting by the 

 way Mr. Abbes's wildly picturesque grounds at Cleadon, and 

 the more prim and decorous, but pretty and well-kept station of 



