EEPOET OF FIELD MEETINGS. 269 



of a large grass field. My sister followed it and found a 

 runlet of water, on the edges of which were long grass and 

 weeds. Presently she saw some little brown birds swimming 

 about in the water at the bottom of the ditch. On becoming 

 alarmed, they hastened to the muddy bank overhung by 

 weeds, and were there met by their mother, who took them 

 under her protection. My sister made signs for me to come, 

 and then called me, and though I had to walk about 150 or 

 200 yards, I arrived where she was standing, and saw the old 

 duck with its head stretched forward and its wings expanded 

 over its young ones. I watched it from within four or five 

 yards for two or three minutes, and then we both walked on 

 a few yards to be out of sight, and having waited about a 

 minute, we returned and found that the bird had not moved. 

 We then left it in peace. 



"We afterwards saw four Redshanks together, so I have no 

 doubt that the young birds had already flown. We also saw 

 several pairs of Common Sandpipers and the young of one 

 pair ; but though my sister saw the young, and picked up two 

 from under the sandy bank where they were hiding, yet after- 

 wards, when they were running with the old ones over a 

 ploughed field, and she took her eyes momentarily from them, 

 they squatted, and she was unable to find them again. 



" Among other birds seen by us were a Kingfisher, Water 

 Ousels, Curlews, Grouse, Wheatears (very common), and a 

 Spotted Woodpecker. 



"The only butterflies, except whites, were Little Heaths, 

 which were very plentiful on the hills. 



" I forgot to mention a Brown Owl which I saw in the trees 



in the hotel garden in the evening, and which had its nest in 



one of the trees. 



Yours sincerely, 



C. H. E. Adamson." 



The Third Meeting of the season was held on the 21st of 

 July at Ratcheugh Crag, a well known portion of the basaltic 

 dyke lying to the west of Longhoughton Station. Taking 



