lO tEESiDENTlAl ADDEtiSS, 



The Fourth Field Meeting was held at Bedburn on the 4th 

 of August. The party was joined at Bishop Auckland by the 

 President, Mr. Joseph Duff, and a few members of the Bishop 

 Auckland ^Naturalists' Field Club, and after breakfast proceeded by 

 way of Etherley, Toft Hill, and Hamsterley towards the Bedburn, 

 a tributary of the "Wear, which was reached about noon, when the 

 party scattered to botanize up the valley. Numerous interesting- 

 ferns and other plants were gathered, the principal novelty being 

 the Broom Eape {Orolanche major), not hitherto noticed in this 

 part of Durham. The Oak and Beech Ferns were very abundant. 

 The outcrop of the Whindyke, known as the Beechburn or Hett 

 "Whindyke, was pointed out by the President of the Bishop Auck- 

 land Field Club. The most remarkable feature of the Bedburn 

 is the depth to which its bed has been cut through very solid 

 sandstone, of the Millstone Grit series, in many parts of its course. 

 The valley terraces formed out of large accumulations of gravel 

 on the south side of the stream were numerous and well marked. 



After leaving the valley by way of Cradlebank, the party, by 

 invitation of Mr. Windas, of Witton-le-Wear, visited his magni- 

 ficent collection of ferns, than which there are few local collec- 

 tions more deserving of notice, and which was a rich treat to the 

 visitors. After dinner at Bishop Auckland Mr. Soutter gave a 

 list of the more interesting plants observed during the day's ex- 

 cursion, and a vote of thanks was heartily accorded to the Pre- 

 sident and members of the Bishop Auckland Naturalists' Club. 



The Fifth Meeting of the year was held at Blanchland and 

 Benfieldside on the 5th of September. About fifty ladies and 

 gentlemen mustered at Benfieldside Station and were driven 

 thence to Blanchland, passing through Edmond Byers to the 

 upper valley of the Derwent. Having arrived at the secluded 

 and ancient village of Blanchland, the Eev. G. M. Gurley, the 

 Vicar, received them and conducted them over the curious and 

 venerable Parish Church, and the Rev. "W. Featherstonhaugh 

 gave an interesting account of the early history of the place, 

 which was settled by Praemonstratensian Canons from Melrose 

 in A.D, 1165. It was diificult to say whether any part of the 



