420 president's addkess. 



find conveyances, and finally, several members were left behind, 

 who solaced themselves with a walk to Langley Castle, return- 

 ing home early, the others proceeded — some quickly — up-hill 

 to Housesteads, and the rest by the more circuitous route by 

 Bardou Mill to the Cliffs above Crag Lough ; eventually all met 

 at the Old Camp, and after refreshment at the farm house, in 

 the shape of a welcome cup of tea, the time having been spent 

 most en joy ably in the delicious mountain air, a move was made 

 homeward, and Haydon Bridge was reached in time to partake 

 of a small dinner before the departure of the last train to New- 

 castle. During the stay of the train at Hexham, a fl.ock of from 

 20 to 30 wild geese was observed flying in angular fashion, at 

 a great height overhead, rapidly towards the north-east, a rather 

 unusual sight so early in the autumn. 



The Fourth Field Meeting was held at Beal for Holy Island 

 on Monday, the 31st August. The morning was anything but 

 propitious. Amidst a steady downpour of rain, but seven mem- 

 bers mustered to join your President at the Central Station. 

 By the time Beal had been reached the atmosphere had cleared, 

 and the remainder of the day was all that could be desired for 

 an excursion. The tide was out, and the little party was left 

 to proceed in two very primitive conveyances across the oozing 

 sands to Holy Island. Here they found themselves absorbed and 

 lost in the crowed of a vast party, brought by special train from 

 all parts of the County of Durham, to visit and commemorate 

 the home of St. Cuthbert, oi'ganized by the Church Defence 

 Association, and led by Dr. Eastwood, of Darlington, and your 

 late energetic and enthusiastic President, Hev. A. Watts. Lost 

 in the crowd, the Tynesider became perhaps more archaeological 

 and historical than zoological, as, under the kindly guidance of 

 Sir William Crossman, the generous and appreciative owner of 

 the greater part of the Island, they examined the remains of the 

 ancient Priory and its noble Church, and noted the reverential 

 cai'e with which Sir W. Chapman has cleared out the ruins and 

 is preserving them from further decay. Mr. Watts, standing on 

 the base of a column of the church, delivered an interesting 



