REPORT OF FIELD MEETINGS. 7 1 



to cut off the base of the island from view until only the 

 highest points could be seen above the reflecting layer. On 

 Holy Island a belated luncheon was taken, and the party 

 subsequently crossed to the mainland in a coble, the tide 

 being up and crossing on foot therefore impossible. Then, 

 in the early evening, a further walk was taken, through the 

 low-lying fields to Goswick station. Here the return train 

 was caught, and brought the party back to Newcastle at 

 8 p.m. Most of the birds which breed on or near the coast 

 were seen during the course of the day ; a pair of Stonechats 

 near Seahouses, the hundreds of clamorous Redshanks in the 

 Goswick meadows, and nests of the Ringed Plover and Reed 

 Bunting aroused particular interest. 



The Second Meeting was fixed for July 9th at Barnard 

 Castle. Mr. Ernest Lingford had kindly consented to act as 

 guide, and was prepared to lead the party through Barnard 

 Castle Woods to Cotherstone, Fairy Cupboards and Osmund 

 Glen ; but as the party proved to consist of a single member, 

 it is understood that the programme was not strictly followed. 

 The weather was perfect, and an extremely pleasant day was 

 spent. 



The Third Meeting. — Delightful weather favoured those 

 members of the Natural History Society and their friends who 

 left Newcastle on August 21st for the excursion to Howick 

 and Dunstanborough. On leaving the train at Little Mill, 

 the party, increased by the addition of some members from 

 Embleton, walked through the pleasant shady lanes towards 

 Howick Hall, where they were delighted to receive an intima- 

 tion that Earl Grey had thrown the hall and grounds open for 

 their inspection. The noble earl, a vice-president of the 

 Natural History Society, honoured the Society by himself 

 conducting the party through the reception rooms of the 

 stately mansion, and thence through the pleasure and flower 

 gardens. The visitors, in view of the close proximity of the 

 gardens to the bleak north-east coast, marvelled at the 

 luxuriance of vegetation and the wealth of flowers so late in 



