254 president's address. 



On their walk up the Coquet they found the nest of a Water Hen, 

 GalUnula chJoropus, with six eggs, built in a clump of rushes by 

 the mai'gin of a pool, and a Wild Duck, with one small Duckling. 

 The Dipper, Cinclus aqiutticus, was common, and the Ring Ouzel, 

 Tardus torquatus, the Curlew, Numenms Arquata, Snipe, Grouse, 

 Partridge, and numerous Wood Pigeons. Tlie Heron was bold 

 and conspicuous at Eslington. Squin'cls were seen in the woods, 

 and abundance of Rabbits. Among plants were found the Maiden 

 Pink, Dianthua deltoides, the Golden Rod, Solidago Virgaurea, 

 the Alpine Epilobium, and the little Sedum rillosum. Tliere is a 

 list of several of the rarer Coquetdale plants by Professor Oliver, 

 of Kew Gardens, to be seen in Vol. III., p. 68, of Trans. Tynes. 

 Naturalists' Field Club, to which members are referred for fur- 

 ther information. 



After a refi'cshing tea at Alwinton, and a pleasant drive back 

 through the green lanes traversed in the morning, the party re- 

 turned to a late dinner at " The Castle" in the cool of the even- 

 ing, a repast much needed and tliankfully enjoyed after their 

 exertions in tlie heat of a long day. 



The third day's excursion began by a short visit to Eslington, 

 where, by the kind permission of the Earl of Ravensworth, the 

 party were shown the principal rooms of the mansion with their 

 chefs d'oeuvres of paintings, and wandered through the gardens 

 and grounds so much loved by the late Earl, whose classic taste 

 was everywhere conspicuous — a visit this to the Club of much 

 pleasure. 



Calhily Castle, formerly the scat of the Claverings, the owners 

 also of Axwi'll Park, now tlie i)roporty of Major Rrowne, was 

 the next briglit spot visited, leave having been politely granted 

 by Major Browne, through Mr. Tate, his agent. Here, as at 

 Eslington, the woods, the park, the lake, the gaixlens, were much 

 admired, the gardens being in their perfect summer splendour 

 with the roses in full bloom. 



From Calhily tliey drove round by Lorbottle to the west side 

 of Thrunton ('rags, where, leaving their carriages to return to 

 Whittingliam, they scaled tlie heights. Reneath them lay the 

 whole ricli vale of Whittingham to the north and west, and on the 



