158 REPORT OF FIELD MEETINGS 



most charming view of the valley of the Irthing. Going a 

 short distance onward, on a now level road, we came to a foot- 

 path on the right by which we reached Coombe Crags. 

 Standing on the top of the most prominent jutting crag the 

 visitors enjoyed a grand panorama of landscapes. It was in 

 the old quarries of these freestone rocks that the Roman 

 masons obtained building materials for the erection of the 

 Wall and its camps situated in the locality. 



The Twablade Orchis, Spotted Orchis, Butterfly Orchis, 

 Agrimony, and a great profusion of commoner flowers were in 

 bloom in this vicinity, and Bullfinches were several times seen 

 in the banky woods near the Crags. A few Golden Plovers 

 and numerous Green Plovers, as well as Curlews, were noticed 

 in the fields and fell lands in going to and from Coombe Crags, 

 and Starlings and Rooks were in evidence everywhere. 



Geologically it may be said that we spent the whole day on 

 the Carboniferous Limestone formation of rocks, crossing, in 

 one or two places on the north side of the river, limestone 

 bands during our walk to Coombe Crags. 



After partaking of refreshments at Lanercost, the party re- 

 turned to Naworth Station and entrained for Newcastle. 



Fourth Field Meeting at Castle Eden Dene on the 

 13TH July 



I have here to explain to you that the place originally 

 selected for this meeting was Bradbury (as stated on the card 

 of announcements) near Ferryhill, for the purpose of seeing 

 some ballast plants belonging to the Leguminous Family, and 

 growing on a disused railway embankment by the side of the 

 main line from Newcastle to the South, but as there had 

 been large gatherings at the previous meetings, consisting of 

 members of various tastes for nature study, and as there 

 appeared to me to be considerable risk in leading a large 

 party along this embankment close to which express trains 

 were passing every few minutes, I very reluctantly resolved. 



