262 



the reverend caterer. This well is perhaps the ongiual Uulfes- 

 well or Wolfs-well. Mr. Hind then accompanied the party up 

 the Dene and pointed out its peculiarities. It is a dene of pic- 

 turesque and varied beauty, and the Water Company have not al- 

 together drained off its water. Mr. Hind pointed out a very fine 

 old Laich tree, one hundred and three feet high, and having a 

 cii'cumference of nine feet three inches at five feet from the 

 ground. It is a tree worthy of being photographed as one of the 

 Eemarkable Trees of Northumberland.* Some of the party 

 pushed on to the "Waterworks, others strolled about the Dene ; 

 all assembling at last at the well-known Boat House, near Prud- 

 hoe Station. In the school-room near at hand they relished the 

 Tea bountifully supplied by Mr. Johnson. 



The principal features of the excursion were summaiised by 

 the President, and as there were no papers to be read or new 

 members to be elected, the whole party left by the last train for 

 home, after hearty votes of thanks had been passed to Mr. Laws 

 and Mr, Hind. 



At this time of the year the woods are silent, the season of in- 

 cubation being over, and very few birds were seen. 



The Heed Mace or Bulrush, Ti/pha latifolia^ was seen flourish- 

 ing in the quondam moat of Prudlioe Castle. 



In Whittle Dene, in addition to the more common Ferns, the 

 Oak and Beech Ferns were found. The Maiden's Hair was not 

 found, as fonnerly, on the bridge at Long Lonkin's Hole, and the 

 field to the east of tlie bridge, in which grew the Adder's Tongue 

 and tlie Moonwort had been ploughed up. The former habitat of 

 the Lily of the Valley, ConvaUaria mojalis, knew it no more, and 

 the Primula farinosa in a boggy field above the wooded part of 

 the Dene was out of flower. 



This year the Grouse on the "Wcardale, Teesdale, and Swale- 

 dale moors were numerous and strong; no disease was found 

 among them. 



The 81XTH and last Field Meeting was held on Friday, Sept. 



•It li noticed In Vol. v., p. I»fi. N.itniMl llisi..r\ Iraiisi. Ilull^ NnrthmnKprl^uicI Dur- 

 ham, and Newcastlft-upon-Tynr 



