426 peesidekt's address. 



seem to have beea formed in a bed of soft marl by the infiltra- 

 tion from above of drops of water strongly charged with car- 

 bonate of lime which assumed a spherical form and gradually 

 displaced the marl of the original deposit. In some instances 

 shells have been found in the centres .of larger spheres, but such 

 organisms have not been found in the smaller balls of the 

 botryoidal bed, for these balls are generally solid or rarely with 

 an irregular hollow centre as if some mineral had formed the 

 nucleus which has since been filtered out. It would require 

 the space of a monograph to detail the unique and unusual 

 appearances that can be observed in the coast sections of this 

 remarkable piece of rock scenery extending with varied appear- 

 ances all along the coast from Roker and Whitburn to the Trow 

 rocks near the Tyne. After examining the Roker cliffs the party 

 Avalked to Whitburn, where refreshments were obtained, and 

 thence on to Marsden, alas ! not the Marsden in days of yore 

 when Peter and Mrs. Allan annually entertained a large pai'ty of 

 the Club to their usual tea of ham and eggs, and girdle cakes. Few 

 botanical observations could be made at so late a season of the 

 year, and on arriving at Marsden, which has now been converted 

 into a pit-village, and where much of the beauty and loveliness 

 of the coast has been destroyed, the members left by the first 

 train on the way to their respective homes. 



The following gentlemen were elected members of the Club 

 during the year 1896-97 : — 



Richard Adamso:* AVinlaton. 



Thomas Belt Bigg Market, Newcastle. 



Ernest Blair Thorney Terrace, South Shields. 



George Slater Halt whistle, Carlisle. 



D. Woolacott 156, Roker Avenue, Sunderland. 



The following places were fixed for Field Meetings for 1897 : 



June 15th Prestwick Carr and Neighbourhood. 



July 7th Scots Gap and Rothley Lakes. 



July 24th-27th ... Dumfries and the Solway Fisheries. 



AtjeusT 20th Haltwhistle and Roman Station JEsica. 



Sei'tember 15th Warkworth and Amble. 



