President's address. D 



Thompson exhibited eight eggs of the "Woodcock (Scolopax rus- 

 ticola), and two eggs of the Night- jar (Caprimulgus europceus), 

 taken near Riding Mill. A letter and circular from Sir Walter 

 Elliot, on behalf of a snb-committee of the British Association, 

 appointed to consider the question of the better organization of 

 local scientific societies, were read, and the President was re- 

 quested to attend a meeting, which it was proposed should be 

 held at Brighton in August, for the discussion of the subject. A 

 cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Clark, for his kindness in guiding 

 the party during the day was passed, and ten new members were 

 elected. The company left for Newcastle by train at 7*23 in the 

 evening. 



Fourth Field Meeting. — Owing to unforeseen difficulties, it 

 was found impossible to arrange an excursion to Fallowlees and 

 Chartners Loughs, as set down for the Fourth Field Meeting. 

 These little lakes are somewhat inaccessible under the most fa- 

 vourable circumstances, and the awkward running of the trains 

 precluded any chance of the proposed round being included com- 

 fortably in one day. After much deliberation it was determined 

 to take the neighbouring district of Bolam instead of that origi- 

 nally intended, and the meeting on the 5th August was called 

 accordingly. I was unable to be present, and am indebted to 

 Mr. E. C. Robson and the Secretaries for a report of the day's 

 proceedings. 



Leaving Newcastle by the morning train the excursionists 

 reached Middleton via Morpeth and the Wansbeck Yalley line, 

 about half past ten o'clock. Thence they walked to Shaftoc 

 Crags, a wild and picturesque range of rocks, and so to Bolam. 

 The chief part of the day was spent in the woods surrounding 

 the Castle which, with the neighbouring lake, afforded ample 

 occupation to the naturalists of the party, and not less to those 

 whose delight lay merely in the beautiful aspects of nature. 

 The following plants, amongst others, were collected by Mr. 

 Cobb and Mr. E. C. Robson: Ranunculus hederaceus, R. fai//~ 

 mula, R. lingua, Hypericum pulchrum, Veronica scutellata, Erica 

 cinerea, JE. tetralix, Montia fontana, Peplis portula, Callitrichc 



