2 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



connected with our excursions during the past year; and then, 

 ■with your permission, say a few words on other matters, which 

 I think may interest our members. 



Commencing with our first excursion in May, the following 

 one in June, and those in August and September, I must plead 

 guilty to the charge of being absent; and I am exceedingly 

 indebted to our Honorary Secretaries, who have very kindly 

 done me the favour to send records of the proceedings, which 

 will speak for themselves. 



"The First Field Meeting was held on Monday, the 29th 

 of May. In consequence of the very wet day most of the 

 members, who assembled at the Central Station, decided not to 

 venture into the country, especially as one of the Secretaries 

 had been informed by telegram from Hexham that the weather 

 was as bad or worse farther west. A few members and friends 

 were not to be deterred by the rain, and visited Staward, and 

 found not only the weather but the wretched shelter and refresh- 

 ments offered them at Staward of the most ungenial, exorbitant, 

 and worthless kind. A more favourable meeting was held here 

 later in the year." 



* ' Our Second Field Meeting was held on Thursday, June 

 the 14th, at Bellingham, as no arrangement could possibly be 

 made for holding the meeting at Kielder, or further up the 

 North Tyne. The party left Newcastle a few minutes after 

 eleven, and soon began to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the 

 banks of the river. After partaking of a comfortable luncheon 

 at the Eailway Inn at Bellingham, three new members were 

 elected; and our Honorary Secretary, Mr. Thomas Thompson, 

 exhibited a clutch of six eggs of the Hawfinch, which had been 

 taken a short time previously in the neighbourhood of Winlaton. 

 It is only of late that the Hawfinch has been known to nest in 

 the Tyne district, and it is to be hoped that the nesting pro- 

 pensities of many Tynesiders will not drive the bird entirely 

 from the neighbourhood to some more secure retreat, if such can 



