4 ^KESIDENT's ADDKES-S. 



accommodation being scarcely equal to the strain brought upon 

 it. After breakfast the party proceeded to the harbour, but the 

 fresh breeze and the sight of the white crested wayes made many 

 waver and finally determine to walk along the coast to Bam- 

 borough Castle, instead of running the risk of suffering from the 

 sea trip. About thirty, including several ladies, in no way 

 daunted, embarked in the boats, and after a voyage, though 

 unattended with danger, yet certainly too rough to be pleasant, 

 the Staples Island was reached, and the breeding places of its 

 vaiious feathered inhabitants were inspected. The Pinnacles 

 were seen to the greatest advantage, around their bases waves 

 were surging, in their cracks and fis.sures elegant Kittiwakes 

 were resting, and crowded on their summits were Guillemots, 

 with their variously coloured eggs. Nests of the Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull were abundant on the flat rocks and among the 

 herbage. Several Puffins were taken fi'om tlieir nests in the 

 llabbit buiTows, and two nests of the Hock Pipit were also found. 

 From the Staples Island the boats crossed to the Brownsman, 

 where several nests of the Eider Duck and Arctic Tern were 

 seen. The breeze beginning to fiTshen and the state of the tide 

 not being favourable, it was decided, after some discussion, to 

 return to North Sunderland without attempting to land on any 

 of the other islands, and, after a very quick run before the 

 wind, this was accomplished, with no worse disaster than tlie 

 loss of hats by several. 



In the interval the worthy hostess of tlie ^^^lite Swan Iim, 

 Mrs. Kobson, had prepared a hay loft as a temporaiy dining 

 room, where a substantial meal was verj' heartily enjoyed. The 

 llcv. 11. F. AVheeler, M.A., Vicar of Cullercoats, Vice-President, 

 kindly acted as chairman. After dinner Mt. Wheldon, of Lon- 

 don, gave a very interesting account of the erection of the Long- 

 stone Lighthouse, in the year 1829, in which work he had been 

 engaged. After a hearty vote of tlianks to the Kev. Charles 

 Thoq), M.A., for his kindness in allowing the members to visit 

 the islands, and the election of tliirteen new members the meet- 

 ing was concluded, and the members walked or were conveyed 

 to Chathill Station, where, through the kindness of the officials 



1 



1 



