50 Report of Meetings for 1885. By J as. Hardy. 



flying rather heedlessly. Their parents had early dismissed 

 their progeny ; probably like those of the AVhinchats they had 

 been the earliest spring migrants of their kind and might be 

 preparing for a second brood. 



HAUGHTON CASTLE, SIMONBURN CHURCH, AND CHIPCHASE CASTLE, 

 NORTH TYNE. 



It having been arranged that the Architectural and Archaeo- 

 logical Society of Durham and Northumberland, and the 

 Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, should hold a joint meeting to 

 visit two of the castles for which the North Tyne is famous — 

 Haughton and Chipchase ; Simonburn Church being included, 

 as lying on the route and having a special interest of itself. 

 This was successfully accomplished on Thursday, 30th July, the 

 appointed places for muster being Hexham and Chollerford. 

 The company was a large one, the members of the local society 

 having come out in great force, both ladies and gentlemen ; but 

 fortunately there were a sufficiency of known faces to encourage 

 the feeling that the visitors from the north were not entire 

 strangers. The occurrences of the day passed most harmoniously 

 amidst most instructive and friendly intercourse. It could not 

 be called a working day — all these crowded assemblages and 

 distant excursions are adverse to minute and personal investiga- 

 tions. The design of such meetings is to obtain the results of 

 previous work, which are rendered more impressive and memor- 

 able by being detailed in presence of the objects that are wished 

 to be studied, and where the statements can be tested by inspec- 

 tion on the spot. On this occasion our guides and lecturers — Mr 

 C. C. Hodges, Hexham ; Rev. Gr. Eome Hall, Birtley Vicarage ; 

 and the Rev. Canon Rogers, Simonburn, proficients in their 

 several departments — had appreciative audiences ; moreover their 

 preparations and forethought had so smoothed the way that 

 although there might be some little disappointments and discom- 

 forts, these were passed over with good humour and forbearance. 

 Some were crowded out from obtaining seats in the conveyances, 

 but they made provisions of their own, and participated in the 

 day's events ; and Mr Clayton had kindly opened his grounds at 

 Chesters for those who preferred a quiet visit to that classic 

 retreat, to the excitement of a drive. They all assembled to- 

 gether in the evening to enjoy the social meal, and talk over the 

 day's agreeable entertainment. 



