252 pkesident's address. 



A special Field Meeting was held for three days, namely, the 

 18th, 19th, and 20tli of July, at "WTiittingham and neighbour- 

 hood. Fifteen members availed themselves of this opportunity 

 of examining the physical featares, geological phenomena, and 

 botany, of a considerable portion of the eastern and southern 

 flanks of the porphyritic hills which form so marked a character 

 of this part of ^Northumberland. 



They left Newcastle by the 8.30 a.m. train for Alnwick, where 

 they were provided with conveyances. 



The weather was remarkably fine, but much too hot to allow 

 them to caiTy out to a desired completion the details of their 

 somewhat ambitious progi-amme. 



On the first day, after a most pleasant drive from Alnwick 

 through Eglingham to New Bewick, they left their carriages at 

 Rosedene and walked through the shady wood along the preci- 

 pitous bank of Roddam Dene, examining in passing the enormous 

 section of conglomerate (one hundred feet or more in thickness) 

 which forms the peculiar and interesting feature of that locality ; 

 at the top of the Dene where the bum enters it and where a road 

 crosses, the conglomerate appears capped with bedded, red col- 

 oured, sandstone, beautifully undulated, and in many layers, 

 with strongly defined ripple marks. 



Leaving Roddam Dene, near Calder, under the guidance of 

 their fellow member, Mr. W. Topley, they followed a moorland 

 track round the base of Duumore to Greave's Ash and Linhope 

 Bum, abandoning the attempt to climb the steep side of Hedge- 

 hope, though apparently so near and inviting. After an exami- 

 nation of the remains of the ancient Biitish town and forts at 

 Greaves Ash, at this time much covered with grass and tall 

 bracken, and following the ancient road winding round the hill 

 side to the west and north, they reached Linhope Burn, rousing 

 up by the way a fine old Fox. One division of the party went 

 up to the romantic Linn and complacently cooled their heated 

 frames in the brilliant pool, another resorted to a neighbouring 

 farm house for cbiuk which "cheers but not inebnates," and 

 were soon rejoined by the bathers who participated heartily in 

 their potations. 



