194 president's address. 



Maidenhair Spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes. 

 Polypody, Polypodium vulgare. 



We had been obliged to give up all thought of botanising 

 in Gilsland in consequence of the great quantity of rain which 

 had fallen. We therefore proceeded leisurely back by con- 

 veyance. Tindle-Fell, with a top of inky blackness, was 

 prominent all the way, but the full blooming small whin gave 

 a beauty to the fields adjoining the highway. 



The two sections of the party dined together at the Station 

 Hotel, and the return train was taken for Newcastle at 

 7.13 p.m. 



The Sixth and last Field Meeting was held at North 

 Shields and Cullercoats on the afternoon of the loth of 

 October. About thirty members and their friends gathered 

 together. A visit was paid to the Fish Quay, and through 

 the courtesy of Mr. Irvin some of the members inspected the 

 trawlers which were about proceeding to sea again. Professor 

 Meek, with his usual kindness, had made arrangements for 

 having preserved for the inspection of the members the various 

 things brought up in the trawl nets with the fish. The boats 

 had experienced very bad weather, and what had been kept 

 was very much less than it otherwise would have been. 

 Specimens were obtained of mollusca, Crustacea, and sea 

 anemones. These were in excellent condition, but there was 

 nothing amongst them but what is quite commonly found off" 

 the coast. 



The party proceeded to the Marine Laboratory, and in- 

 spected the living specimens in the tanks. A lobster which 

 had recently cast its shell was exceedingly interesting. 

 The shell with no break perceptible in it to a casual 

 observer can now be seen. Professor Meek and Mr. 

 Gibson, who was assisting him, gave very full particulars of 

 the preserved specimens, principally those obtained on the 

 recent dredging expedition of the " Stanley." The Crustacea 

 are now being carefully gone over by Professor Meek, who 

 has kindly promised for the Hancock Museum such duplicates 



