264 president's address. 



Arms," where, at 3"30, they found an excellent and ample re- 

 past well served, and enjoyed with sharpened appetite. 



The majority of the party left for the early train, those who 

 remained di^'ided into two groups ; one walked along the coast 

 to Alnmouth, and caught the last train at Bilton ; the other took 

 the road down the right bank of Coquet to Amble and the mouth 

 of the river, and, returning, drove back from Wai'kwoi-th to the 

 station and joined the former group. They arrived in Newcastle 

 much pleased with the fine day's excursion. 



At tliis late period of the season few notable plants were ob- 

 served, and the migrating birds had, for the most part, early de- 

 parted. There were, however, seen a Swallow or two lingering 

 about their summer haunts, ''where the air is delicate;" the 

 Redbreast and the Hedge SpaiTow were seen by the waysides, 

 and Rooks, Pewits, Curlews, and a few Sandpipers were observed 

 by the river side and the sea banks. 



The Rev. J. W. Dunn verj- obligingly sent to the President 

 duiing dinner a perfect specimen of the Death's Head Hawk 

 Moth, Acheronfia Atropos, which was passed round and admired, 

 and the next day deposited in the Museum of the Natural His- 

 tory Society. 



No papers were read and no new members elected at this visit. 



''Then came the Autumne, all in )'ellow clad, 

 As though he ioycd iu his plentious store, 

 Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad 

 That he had banisht hunger, whicli to-fure 

 Had by the belly oft him pinclied sore ; 

 Upon his head a wreath, that was enrold 

 With eai's of corn of eveiy sort, he bore ; 

 And in his hand a pickle he did hold, 

 To reape the ripened fruits the which the eai'th had yold." 



The district had been blessed with an early and an abundant 

 harvest, so abundant and so good was the hay that some fiumers 

 were reported to have regi'etted that tliere was " ne bad hay for 

 the kie." The mown fields were rich in aftermath, the turnips 

 were doing well, and we had fine mild weather up to the end of 

 the first week of November. Then came cold winds and frost, 



