president's address. 243 



Near the Pool was found the Butterfly Orchis, but the 

 Lady's SHpper, found in the Dene on the Club's visit in 1852, 

 was not seen, though searched for. The only butterfly we 

 observed was the Common White. A nest of the Willow 

 Wren, containing six eggs, was found in the ground, but 

 received more kindly consideration than the unfortunate 

 Sparrow Hawks. The air was odoriferous with sweetbriars, 

 and the flowering currant by its contrast added beauty to the 

 paths. Here and there huge blocks of limestone detached 

 from time to time from the cliffs lay at both sides of us ; and 

 nearing Deneholme one part of the cliff' in its full grandeur 

 claimed our admiration and wonderment. The pink soil of 

 the top covering had streaked the yellow and white Hmestone 

 below it as though it had been the work of a painter's brush ; 

 and the background of firs and larches in different shades 

 of green formed fitting frames for so beautiful a scene. 

 Harts-tongue was fairly plentiful, and the flowers of the 

 Cowslip reached a height of at least 15 inches. 



The huge railway bridge or viaduct, 145 feet high, con- 

 necting Hart with Seaham Harbour, now presented itself, 

 and though no doubt great as an engineering feat, it certainly 

 does not add beauty to the landscape. 



After obtaining refreshments at the Temperance Inn, some 

 of the party proceeded to explore Hardwicke Dene, which, 

 though smaller, and of a similar Hmestone formation is, I 

 think, more rugged and wilder than Castle Eden Dene. We 

 ascended by a very steep path to the top of the Dene, much 

 the same height as the railway bridge, and after proceeding 

 some distance along the path we discovered a number of 

 plants of the Birds' Nest Orchis over the roots of the yew. 

 After continuing up the greater part of the Dene, we descended 

 the very steep, and in places almost perpendicular banks until 

 we reached the bed of the stream, at this time almost dry. 

 Hart's-tongues were numerous, and the Hard Prickly Shield 

 Fern was growing in considerable numbers, their roots 

 sustaining themselves in the soft limestone entirely free from 

 other soil. From about four feet up the bank a Blackbird 



