KEPOKT ON FIELD MEETINGS 467 



REPORT ON THE FIELD MEETINGS OF THE NATURAL 

 HISTORY SOCIETY FOR 1907 



Read March 19TH, 190S, by Mr. J. Alaric Richardson, 

 Chairman of the Field Meetings Com.mittee for 1907. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — In presenting my report on our 

 Field Meetings during the summer of 1907 I am glad to be 

 able to say that this branch of the Society's work still 

 flourishes. The meetings have been fairly well attended, and 

 some of our members have done much good work. 



As regards weather, the general impression left by the 

 summer of 1907 is one- of disappointment. June, July, and 

 August seemed to be continuously wet, with but little sunshine ; 

 September did something to retrieve the year's reputation, but 

 October was a depressing month of cold and wet, and the 

 harvest generally very late. Fortunately our Field Meetings 

 fell for the most part on the finer days, though the expectation 

 of bad weather may have prevented some from joining us. 

 Those who did brave the elements were for the most part 

 rewarded with beautiful days. 



The First Field Meeting was held on May nth. It was 

 a half day's excursion to Gibside, and was well attended, 

 more than forty members and their friends gathering at 

 Swalwell station. Here we were taken in charge by our last 

 president, Mr. Richard Adamson. The day was brilliantly 

 fine, and beautiful views were obtained. Vegetation was well 

 advanced, and most of the smaller migratory birds were to be 

 seen and heard. The route followed led us first to Hollinside 

 farm and the ruins of Hollinside Castle, and after these had 

 been inspected, a short walk brought us into Gibside Park. 

 Once within its splendid woods it was difficult to imagine that 

 one was within a short walk of a large manufacturing town. 



Here the party split up into groups, each following their 

 own favourite course of study. Birds, among which the 



