166 president's address. 



It is to be hoped that our members when they visit the habitat 

 of this pure-air-loving plant will content themselves with one 

 specimen only, and remember the greater pleasure they felt in 

 visiting its native place, and seeing it growing in perfection, 

 than in watching it dwindle and die in their own hot-air room 

 or conservatory. "We missed the locality for the Chives, said to 

 have been introduced by the Eomans, but as this plant is found 

 on many basaltic rocks far distant from Eoman Stations it is 

 probably indigenous. The Golden Kod and the Hawkweeds were 

 in splendid flower, but the rain prevented us examining them 

 closely, and cooled all botanical ardour. After finishing with 

 Wall Town Crags, and in diminished number, some of our friends 

 having retiirned to Greenhead, we abandoned the idea of going 

 three miles as the crow flies to Gilsland, over a rough piece of 

 moorland in wet weather, for a dinner ; and keeping the line of 

 the wall we followed it undeviatingly to near ^sica. The pelt- 

 ing showers compelled us often to take shelter on the north side 

 of the wall, which was in some places six feet high, and afforded 

 ample protection, and here 



" We pored by the hour 

 O'er the ferns and the flowers, 

 And the shigs that came crawling out 

 After the showers." 



In reality, very fine and large Slugs, which we did not cap - 

 ture, and numerous specimens of Clausilia dubia, of which we 

 brought away a few, were very abundant, coming out of the 

 joints of the old Eoman Wall on the north side ; and Cystopteris 

 fragilis was in great profusion all around. The weather becom- 

 ing hopelessly worse, a rush was made down hill towards Halt- 

 whistle, where, at the Sun Temperance Hotel, we dried our 

 raiment, obtained a good and cheering cup of tea, took an early 

 train, and reached Newcastle at seven o'clock, after twelve hours 

 of great enjoyment. 



Twenty -five members attended the Fifth Field Meetikg, held 

 at Hesleden Dene and the Black Hall Rocks. The day was re- 

 markably fine, and this picturesque and rock-bound part of the 



