brilliant in the sunshine, the Castle crowning its grim basaltic 

 cliff stood out black and clear, the mid distance presenting a varied 

 aspect of rock, and stony beach, and grassy slope. There are few 

 such landscapes even on our Northumbrian coast. The Castle 

 ruin seemed to beckon on the party in spite of their collecting 

 instincts, else more time might have been spent with advantage 

 in exploring the botanical treasures of the coarse herbage of the 

 links. Of the Castle much might, but little need, be said. It 

 is told of alike in legend and in history : stories of rebellion and 

 of battle, of beleaguered fortress and fugitive queen, seem its 

 natural attributes — poets have sung of it and still may — though 

 now, in its solitude, it seems given up to the painter who revels 

 in its material beauty, and to the antiquarian who traces in its 

 walls the wierd story of a past age. The field within the Castle 

 wall, with its delicate pink and white carpet of thrift and daisies, 

 was irresistible, and enthralled by Sir Guy the Seeker, or by 

 the outspread picture of sea and land, the halt might have been 

 indefinitely prolonged but for the work which remained to be 

 done. On setting out again the route lay through the little 

 fishing village of Craster : the party then divided, a few members 

 striking through the Howick woods, the rest keeping to the shore 

 and lanes, meeting again at Longhoughton. A beautiful willow 

 tree in Longhoughton Church-yard was an object of attention 

 whilst dinner was preparing at the village inn. The bole, eleven 

 feet ten inches in circumference, is possibly not so large as other 

 willows which might be found in the county, but it is seldom 

 one meets with a tree in all respects so beautiful. 



Amongst the plants found during the day I have notes of the 

 following, none of them however particularly rare : — Geranium 

 sanguineum, Cynoglossum officinale, Hyoscyamus niger, Plantago 

 maritima, Lister a ovata, Iris pseudacorus, Astragalus hypoglottis, 

 Orchis mascula, Thymus serpyllum, and Asplenium marinum. 



After dinner Mr. G. C. Atkinson introduced the subject of the 

 " Remarkable Trees of the Northern Counties," in a brief paper ; 

 of this, more will be said shortly. Nine new members were 

 elected before the party set out on their return journey. 



