276 EEPOBT OF FIELD MEETINGS. 



side Naturalists' Field Club especially to verify some of the 

 stations of these species, but we have no collected account of 

 these, nor are they complete. Great changes have taken place 

 in the character of the two counties within the last forty years, 

 and the time has arrived for some authoritative revision of the 

 flora to be undertaken. So far as I am aware no reliable 

 record exists of some of these species having been seen for 

 many years, and we may be including in our floras several 

 species which no longer exist. This may flatter our vanity, 

 but it is hardly creditable to our scientific accuracy. 

 Fortunately some of our rarer species are so abundant that 

 extinction need not be feared, such as Primula farinosa and 

 Potentilla fruticosa ; those who have seen the abundance of 

 these in Upper Teesdale in recent years have had all fears set 

 at rest. The lovely Gentiana verna is also fairly plentiful, 

 and what is greatly in its favour, it is very difficult to find 

 except when in bloom. But a few enthusiastic collectors in 

 the flowering season would soon make sad havoc with this 

 lovely native. Bartsia alpiria is also fairly common in the 

 same district. But Arenaria uHginosa I have sought for in 

 vain in all my visits to that locality, and it would be interest- 

 ing to know if it has been gathered within recent years, or if 

 this is one of the species that should be dropped from our 

 local flora — and, if so, from the British flora, as this is the one 

 station given for it in the British Isles. Two or three other 

 species I have sought for in vain in their reputed habitats, 

 such as Polygonahctn verticillatum in the North Tyne district, 

 Polygonahini officinale in the Kyloe Crags, and Linrnza 

 borealis near Scots Gap Station. Then there is Cypripedium 

 Calceolus, once fairly plentiful in Castle Eden Dene, but not 

 gathered by anyone whom I have personally met, but which 

 may yet be found to survive in some secluded nook in that 

 rather extensive dene. Melampyrum sylvaticum is still found 

 in the little island in the Tees above Winch Bridge; Scilla 

 verna on the basalt at Cullernose ; Statice Limoniv7n on St. 

 Cuthbert's Rock at the south of Holy Island ; and Sisymbrium 

 Irio near the old walls close to the pier at Berwick-on-Tweed. 



