I go president's address. 



passing through the farmyard we found a good sized speci- 

 men of the Male Fern growing out of a stable wall about six 

 feet from the ground. It must have depended entirely upon 

 the atmosphere, any leak there might be in the spout, and 

 such particles of dust as might be carried to its roots. 



After borrowing the keys and making an inspection of the 

 altars, the inscribed stones, and fragments of pottery which 

 have been discovered at Birdoswald or in its vicinity, we pro- 

 ceeded to the top of the bold cliffs which guard the station on 

 the south, and at the foot of which the Irthing flows and here 

 receives the waters of the Midgeholm bog. The Nine Nicks 

 of Thirlwell stood boldly out in the distance, and the great 

 beauty of the entire surroundings of the place are not likely to 

 be readily forgotten. Swallows were numerous, and looking 

 as though they were gathering together for their return 

 journey. A Mallard flew round us, but we ascertained on 

 enquiry it had been hatched by a domestic duck belonging to 

 the farm. 



The western side of the station is its weakest. On the edge 

 of the northern slope approaching the station some artificial 

 lines of defence are visible, and it has been suggested these 

 were the remains of a Saxon or Danish Fortress. Birdoswald, 

 the Amboglanna of the Romans, is the twelfth station on the 

 line, and a little over three miles from Carvoran. It is the 

 largest station on the line, having an area of five acres and a 

 half. There are two gates in both its eastern and western 

 ramparts. The walls of the station are in a moderate state of 

 preservation. The southern rampart shows eight courses of 

 facing-stones. The walls are five feet thick. Traces remain 

 of the moat which surrounded the walls. On the east side of 

 the station the appearances indicate the existence of dwellings. 

 Probably this station was built before the Wall. The north 

 gateway has been destroyed, and all there is left of the most 

 northerly of the west gates is a heap of ruins. The other 

 gateway on this side is in very good condition. Marks of 

 wheel ruts are to be seen, and the pivot holes remain. The 

 south gateway is double, and is a very good specimen of 



