178 MR. C. E. ROBSON'S REPORT OF 



were apparently more successful. High Ford Bridge, which 

 we soon crossed, gave a view of the solid dam ; beyond this 

 was the fall down which the river came in a silvery sheet. 

 The pipe which leads the water from the Pont to supply the 

 wants of North Shields, somewhat marred the landscape. 

 From this point the highway winds between rich meadow 

 land, a road which under favourable climatic conditions is 

 sylvan in its beauty at this time of year. Even to-day the 

 white blossom is on the sloe and the burnish on the hollies. 

 Further on, the sloping pasture which leads to Spital Hill — 

 the old hospital of St. Leonards — and on which the sun was 

 now shining, was seen to be decked by the celandine, the 

 dog-violet, the primrose and cowslip ; while the Adder's 

 Heugh, on our left, was ablaze with the golden gorse. Here- 

 abouts is the meeting of the waters • the Font, rising near the 

 foot of Tosson, joins company with the Wansbeck from the 

 region. of the Wanny Crags, and flows over the drift gravels 

 and rocky beds of the millstone grit. 



At Mitford Bridge the wagtails were feeding on the shallow 

 bottom of the stream. The elm in this more sheltered spot 

 had burst its brown scales and was throwing forth its leaves, 

 and the bronze spear points of the beech were thrusting out to 

 the sunshine. From the edge of the woods all around came 

 the song poured forth so joyously from the throat of blackbird 

 and thrush, which while similar, are quite distinctive ; the one 

 a musical rhapsody, complete, full and clear; the other a 

 prelude, rhythmic and insistent : — 



At the bent spray's edge 

 That's the wise thrush : he sings each song twice over 

 Lest you should think he never could recapture 

 The first fine careless rapture ! 



Our path now lay uphill, bearing towards the left, where a 

 splendid ash tree, not yet outwardly responsive to the touch 

 of spring, was growing in the dyke with a girth measurement 

 of 12 feet near its base. By the kind permission of the Rector, 

 the Rev. R. C. Macleod, who acted as cicerone, the fine 

 Norman church of Mitford was inspected. Under the same 



