PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 403 



On returning the members left the conveyances at the eastern 

 entrance to Cragside, and walked through the grounds back 

 to Eothbury. The Azaleas, Ehododendrons, and many other 

 flowering shrubs were in full bloom, and afforded a feast of 

 colour such as is not often to be seen. 



The members returned home at 4.35, having spent a very 

 pleasant day. 



A portion of the party had come to Eothbury from the West, 

 having walked on the Tuesday from Woodburn to Elsdon, where 

 the Church and Eectory (converted from aD old Peel) were in- 

 spected, as well as the Mote Hills near. The route then lay 

 past Bilsmoor Park, down the Grasslees Burn, till the Coquet 

 was reached opposite Hepple. They then proceeded to Holy- 

 stone, and saw the operation of clearing and cleaning the Lady's 

 "Well, where Paulinus is said to have baptised 3000 heathen. 

 The "Well" is about forty feet in diameter and three feet deep, 

 of which the constantly-springing water only fills about one to 

 two feet, as the outlet is arranged. The spring cleaning is 

 necessitated by the quantity of dead leaves falling from the sur- 

 rounding trees, the water itself being fresh and pure, and rising 

 through a gravel bed. Harbottle was then reached, and the 

 hospitality of the " Cherry Tree" was very welcome. 



Next day was spent in visiting the tarns near, where were 

 noticed many nests of the Black-headed and other Gulls, a few 

 still having eggs in them. Some of the waterfowl, with their 

 little broods, swimming about afforded a pretty and interesting 

 sight. In the Coquet were seen a number of Sandpipers, locally 

 known as " Pick-a-deedees." 



On the Thursday, this portion of the party walked from Har- 

 bottle to Eothbury in time to join the others on their arrival 

 from Newcastle. 



The Third Field Meeting was fixed to be held at Long- 

 houghton, on Wednesday, July 18th, but owing to the very wet 

 and inclement weather it was postponed until September 12th. 

 Thus what had been decided upon as the fourth was actually 

 the third meeting, and was held at Whittingham, on Monday, 



