402 Anniversary Address. 



on tlie Sculptured Stones of Scotland — one of the most re- 

 markable and magnificent works on Scottish Archaeology ; 

 he explained the peculiarity of the so-called Scottish symbols 

 found incised on rude standing stones, some of which are 

 associated with interments of the bronze age ; and others are 

 in relief combined with crosses having interlaced and scroll 

 work such as belongs to the sixth and seventh centuries of 

 the Christian era. Dr. Stuart ascribes them to the Pictish 

 people of Alba, who used them mainly on their tombs as 

 marks of personal distinction ; such as family descent, tribal 

 rank, or official dignity. The volume too contains learned 

 and able disquisitions on stone circles, and standing stones ; 

 several of which are on the Border land. 



The following nominations for membership <vere made : — 

 Major Francis Holland, Alnwick ; Mr. John Atkinson Wilson, 

 Alnwick ; Mr. James Heatley, Alnwick ; E,ev. Matthew Hep- 

 pie, Warkworth ; Mr. Charles James Fenwick, West Bolton, 

 Alnwick ; Mr. C. H. Cadogan, Brinkburn Priory. 



Let me now call your attention to what has been done of 

 late to illustrate the Natural History or Archseology of the 

 district, independently of our society ', and also notice the 

 labours of some of our members in other fields than our 

 own. For want of such an annual summary, the existence of 

 papers in which we are interested may escape many of us. 

 The Tyneside Naturalists have recently issued a '^ New Flora 

 of Northumberland and Durham, by J. G. Baker, F.L.S., and 

 G. R. Tate, M.D.," to which I have to direct special atten- 

 tion, both as being in itself an excellent work, and as furnish- 

 ing us with a manual of the Botany of that part of Northum- 

 berland which our Club claims as its work-field, viz., as far 

 as the Coquet. Mr. Baker has given some valuable notices 

 of the distribution of species throughout the area comprising 

 the flora; and some picturesque and apparently faithful 

 delineations of the physical features of the two counties. Our 

 own Secretary, Mr. Tate, has added a geological sketch, and 

 a map of the rock formations of the district, of great interest 

 to us all. The work ought to rank with our own Proceedings, 

 and with Dr. Johnston's Flora. Our indefatigable Secretary 



