REPORTS OF MEETIIsGS FOR 1911 237 



Reports of the Meetings of the Berwickshire Naturalists* 

 Club for 1911. 



Plessey and Blagdon. 



The first meeting of tlie year was held at Plessey on 

 "Wednesday, 7th Jnne, when there were present: — Rev. James F, 

 Leishman, M.A., President ; Rev. J. J. M. L. Aiken, B.D., 

 Secretary ; Mrs Anderson and Misses Anderson, The Thirlings ; 

 Rev. E. Arkless, Earsdon ; Mr John Cairns, Alnwick ; Mr 

 Thomas Darling, Berwick; Rev. James Fairbrother, Wark worth; 

 Mr. J. C. Hodgson, Alnwick ; Mrs Leishman, Linton Manse ; 

 Mr Benjamin Morton, Sunderland ; Rev. W. R. F. Ryan, 

 Alnwick ; Mr A. P. Scott, Amble ; Mr T. B. Short, Berwick ; 

 Mr Jas. A. Somervail, Hoselaw ; Mr Edward Thew, Ebchester ; 

 and Mr Edward Willoby, Berwick. The excursion partook 

 largely of a botanical nature, the picturesque surroundings of 

 Hartford Dean affording large scope for scientific examination. 



The members assembled at Plessey Railway Station (11 "35 a.m.), 

 and following a path through the fields reached Plessey Mill 

 on the river Blyth, where a crossing was obtained by stepping- 

 stones, some of which had done duty at one time in the process 

 of milling. The Mill in former times is believed to have 

 belonged to the convent of St. Bartholomew in 

 Blyth Newcastle. Both banks of the river were well 



Water. wooded, a luxuriant display of Red Campion 



(Lychnis dioica) and Herb Mercury ( Mercurialis 

 perennis) forming the characteristic featui-e of the undergrowth. 

 A public path on the left bank enabled easy progress to be 

 made, though ample time was allowed to search the area lying 

 wider of the track. The party was under the guidance of 

 Mr John Short, forester. Signs of the drought, which rendered 



