Report of Meetings for 1885. By Jas. Hardy. G3 



SUPPLEMENT. 



On my way to and from the meeting I spent two evenings and 

 part of two days at Dnnston Hill. The woods here, as I well 

 remember some of those at Eavensworth and Gibside used to be, 

 are liable to be overrun with a persistent crop of brambles, 

 which require constant efforts to clear them out. These are 

 frequented in this district by a small local leaping beetle, Bato- 

 phila JRubi, Fab. The fine Agelastica halensis used to frequent 

 the Galium Mollugo and G. verum on the road-sides near Dunston ; 

 and Psylliodcs affims was found on the bitter-sweet night-shade 

 (Solatium Dulcamara). The bitter-sweet grows within the policy 

 here. Mr Edmund Carr shewed me the trees photographed for 

 the Tyneside Naturalists' Club ; two noble beeches with fine 

 boles, and widely expanded branches crowded with foliage ; a 

 spacious wych elm, and a sycamore. A very fine old cherry 

 tree, figured in Selby's "Forest Trees" once formed part of an 

 old orchard ; its companion is gone, having been blown down. 

 There were some good yews at some distance from the front of 

 the house, which screen it from the public road. Some of these 

 had the foliage browned, said to be occasioned by the snow 

 having been blown off them during frosty weather in winter. A 

 patch of spruce firs withered in a similar manner was noticed on 

 Tyne-side near Wylam ; possibly the effects of a frost rind. 



Mr Carr had a pair of young Stock-doves to shew, which had 

 been taken from a nest within the grounds. He had heard a 

 peculiar call of doves among the trees, and described it to Lord 

 Eavensworth, who said it would be from Stock-doves, as he had 

 several pairs at Eavensworth, and while they were conversing, a 

 pair flew past. This year two birds were observed about the 

 stump of a blown-down tree, and a ladder having been fetched, 

 two young birds were secured, which the gardener had under 

 his charge to nurture. The young birds were very black, and 

 were still dusky coloured when I saw them. The old birds bred 

 a second time. In previous years, pigeons addicted to breeding 

 in rabbit holes had been heard of there ; without attracting 

 further inquiry. 



Mr Carr likewise shewed me a very perfect Eed deer head 

 with antlers, which had been dredged from the Tyne, off the 

 village of Dunston in 1875. It was a stag-royal, but had not 

 the cup of the still larger examples found in excavating the new 

 harbour at Eyemouth, of which I hope afterwards to give the 



