president's address. 297 



of the Coal-measure strata. Proceeding along the bank of the 

 river and crossing the Low Bridge a visit was paid to the Drop- 

 ping "Wells and Mother Shipton's Cave. The appearance of the 

 Dropping Wells is quite spoilt by the incongruous assemblage of 

 all sorts of things hung up, in front, to be turned into petrifac- 

 tions. Hats and gloves, cocks and hens, shoes and stockings, and 

 rubbish of all sorts and sizes are suspended in front to catch the 

 dripping water. To us, the chief interest of the Dropping Well 

 is its geological position, as it occupies exactly the same horizon 

 as the Magnesian limestone rocks on the coast of Durham at 

 Frenchman's Bay, and it is worthy of remark that at French- 

 man's Bay there is a petrifying spring which unites into a 

 conglomerate all the objects washed up on the coast near it ; 

 but this spring is not so powerful as the Dropping Wells and 

 has not perhaps been so well cultivated, and is not so con- 

 veniently situated for passing observers. Our walk was pleas- 

 antly extended along the banks of the river as far as the site 

 of Knaresborough Priory. We were not, however, attracted 

 to spend our time in St. Eobert's Chapel and Cave, but preferred 

 to enjoy the river scenery and rock sections, returning to the 

 town for refreshment before train time. Several interesting 

 plants were observed, including an abundance of specimens of 

 Orchis ustulata, a species formerly common on our Durham 

 coast, though now rare in that district.* 



On Thursday, the 21st of July, a very small contingent of mem- 

 bers met for the Thied Field Day at Hedgeley Station. On the 

 invitation of Captain John Carr-Ellison the party proceeded to 

 Hedgeley, where they were most kindly received, and after see- 

 ing various objects of interest about the place, walked through 

 the grounds and fields to the Roman (or British?) Camp and 

 Crawley Peel Tower, — a relic of the old turbulent times, whose 

 practice was that 



They may take ■who have the power 



And they may keep who can. 



The walls of this stronghold are in parts nine feet thick, and 



* Not extinct, however, — I have, since the above was written, gathered it near Black- 

 hall Eocks, 



