FIKLD MKKTINGS FOR 1914 



171 



small parties settled down to probe the soft ooze by the margin 

 of the bay ; out on tlie water a number of gulls were resting, and 

 every now and again a group of shell duck would rise and 

 tile out to sea with their clean-cut plumage flashing in 

 the sun. 



By special permission, the party were enabled to spend the 

 third day in the neighbourhood of Craggyhall and Swinhoe, 

 a country presenting a most delightful variety of field, wood, 

 lake and crag. The Lake with its sun-lit waters and encircling 

 woods was the centre of attraction, and here the hours sped 

 pleasantly along. On the waters' surface the white lilies lay 

 open to the sun ; by the margin the rosy flower-spikes of the 

 amphibious persicaria stood bravely amid its floating leaves, 

 the ruddy flowered marsh cinquefoil flourished on the banks, 

 and a profusion of other plants bloomed and fruited in all 

 directions. The crags were ablaze with the purple bell heather 

 or fine-leaved heath, enlivened with the brilliant yellow 

 flowers of the rock-rose. Ripened gorse-pods crackled in the 

 sun, and butterflies, tiny heaths and blues, flitted here and 

 there. Over a moory spot close by an anxious curlew 

 hovered and piped to its young, and a little search revealed 

 the long-legged youngsters striding away to security. 



At the close of day, in the cool rooms of the " Blue Bell 



Inn," Belford, where the party were excellently catered for, 



notes were compared, specimens identified, and the three 



days' list drawn up, which in addition to the commoner finds, 



included : — 



Plants. 



Watercress 



Acrid Buttercup 



Goatweed 



Greater Celandine 



Meadow Vetchling 



Tufted Vetcli 



Bush Vetch 



Woundwort 



Bugloss 



Mallow 



.Sow Thistle 



Smooth Heath Bedstraw 



Stonecrop 



Field Madder 



Nipplewort 



Yarrow 



]{yebright 



Wild Sage 



Scorpion Grass 



Comfrey 



Sea Milkwort 



.Seaside Plantain 



