Report, of Meetings for 1879, by James Hardy. 89 



on becomes redder and coarser in its grit, and the pudding-stone, 

 tbough. not so coarse, again occurs. At tbe boundary line, wbere 

 the Howick Hall property is entered, is a ' dyke ' of trap, stretch- 

 ing out into the sea for a hundred yards or so. Another sand- 

 stone point intervenes, followed by very dark limestone. On the 

 Sugar Sands there are numerous boulders of limestone and 

 basalt scattered about. After crossing a small burn that enters 

 the sea here the limestone again crops up, this time in great 

 abundance, and full of shells in a very good state of preserva- 

 tion. There are also layers of fire-clay between the limestone. 

 There was a tiny spring of mineral water issuing from the super- 

 incumbent clay. The sandstone is again the surface rock after 

 this, and judging by the way the clay is falling down on the 

 cliffs, the recent storm had severely affected it." 



During this journey Thalictrum minus and the scarlet-flowered 

 Pimpernel had been picked up. Geranium sanguineum, Astraga- 

 lus Hypoglottis, and Scahiosa columbaria, which all grow on the 

 links, had been passed over ; and the rare Helminthia EcMoides, 

 which occurs on the sea-banks at Howick Burn Mouth, was not 

 seen. Leaving the coast, the united company were conducted 

 by Mr Albert Grey to the remains, in a pasture field, of a circular 

 camp 60 yards in diameter. It had occupied the summit of a 

 gravel mound, which slopes abruptly to the wooded dean. 

 JEchium vulgare grew here. 



The dean was again traversed. Before the Hall was reached, 

 Listera ovata was observed near the walk. Pulmonaria officinalis 

 also grew there, but had been planted. Convallaria majalis, 

 Smilacina hifolia, Lilium Martagon, Saxifraga Geum, and S. 

 umbrosa have also been planted out in the Howick woods. 

 Passing over an ornamental bridge, the church was reached, 

 which is of a florid Norman style. Two inscriptions in bronze 

 state, that the church was built at the expense of Sir Henry 

 Grey, Bart., in 1746, and was restored by the present Earl Grey 

 in 1849. The most interesting section of the church is the 

 chancel, which contains the monument to Charles, the second 

 Earl Grey, K.G., and Mary Elizabeth, his Countess. The style 

 is florid Gothic. The company then walked along in front of the 

 Hall, viewing the fine flower gardens, and the richly-foliaged 

 trees indigenous and exotic. The Myrtle here stands the winter 

 out of doors with a slight protection. Behind the mansion stand 



