128 teesiden't's address. 



out so successfully. It is only those who are a little behind the 

 scenes who can fully appreciate the exertions and pains, too often 

 thankless, of our secretaries in arranging the details of a two 

 days' expedition. The weather was all that could be desired, 

 when, at daybreak on Monday, most of our party left Newcastle 

 and journeyed on from Alnwick to Wooler by that most beau- 

 tiful line of railway so admirably adapted, by its windings and 

 leisurely progress, to give the tourist a glimpse of the charms of 

 North Northumberland. We all appreciated the quaint old hos- 

 telry where our quarters had been secured, and after breakfast 

 drove or walked to Langlee Pord, where, in various detachments, 

 we started to make the ascent of Cheviot. 1 can only report the 

 progress of one party of which I was a member. The others 

 took different routes, but did not reach the top of old Cheviot 

 itself, though they had pure mountain rambles. One party went 

 to the Scottish border, but did not see the Peregrine Falcon, 

 which happily still exists there. "We determined to face the 

 east ascent of Cheviot, but near the top found ourselves enve- 

 loped in a thick mist, which shut out all view, and the only 

 proof we could offer of our having reached the summit was the 

 abundance of the Cloud-berry, Rubus chamoemorus, we gathered 

 in fruit and the Alpine Club Moss. "We were not fortunate 

 enough to reach the N.W. end of the mountain. The habitat 

 of the rare Cornus was concealed in the dense mist. "We soon 

 descended from the clouds, obtaining, occasionally, an extensive 

 view over the lower hills of the Cheviot range. The wanderers 

 of the various parties all found their way back to "Wooler for 

 dinner, after which some had to leave for Newcastle, while others 

 remained to visit Flodden Field and Branxton Moor on the fol- 

 lowing morning, which, still favoured by fine weather, was suc- 

 cessfully accomplished. 



Enjoyable as was this trip, I cannot but feel that the primary 

 object of our Club — the observations of the Natural products of 

 the district visited — is not kept sufficiently in mind by many of 

 our members. The Club has in days past contributed much to 

 our knowledge of the natural history of the Northern Counties. 

 May it never degenerate into a mere pic-nic club. 



