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Abstract

THIS is, we believe, the oldest field-club in existence, and has all along been one of the most efficient and most prosperous so far as numbers and funds are concerned. Its publications, moreover, are already numerous, and contain much valuable material for the natural history, archæology, and antiquities of Berwickshire. There must be already a vast amount of material shut up in the transactions of the now numerous local societies, of the greatest value in reference to the natural history of this country and to students of biology generally, but almost inaccessible except to the members of the various societies. It is a pity that some means could not be devised for bringing the most important contributions to local natural history, in its widest sense, together in some systematised form, so that they could be readily referred to and made available to students at large. Sir Walter Elliot reters to this point in his able address on Provincial Scientific Societies, and it is to be hoped that the Committee appointed by the British Association will give it their consideration. Prefixed to the Proceedings before us is the President's, the Rev. F. R. Simpson's, address, which is wholly occupied with an interesting account of the various meetings of the club during the summer of 1872. For this society is purely a field club, meeting only during the summer months, to explore some of the rich vales of Berwickshire or stretch their limbs over some of the bonny Cheviot fells, gathering rich stores of varied knowledge, and finding a glorious appetite for the substantial dinner which usually winds up the meetings. One of the longest and most interesting papers is by one of the secretaries, Mr. James Hardy, “On Langleyford Vale and the Cheviots,” being a sort of survey of the district between Wooler and the base of Cheviot, and containing a wonderful amount of information on the geology, botany, zoology, and especially the prehistoric antiquities of the district. Mr. Hardy also contributes some valuable entomological lists to this part of the Proceedings, and various antiquarian papers; while Mr. Robert Hislop has a list of the rarer Coleoptera occurring chiefly in the parish of Nenthorn. Sir Walter Elliot contributes a list of the diurnal birds of prey hitherto found within the club's limits. There are many other valuable papers including a memoir of the late Dr. William Baird, F.R.S., one of the founders of this old society, appended to which is a list of his many writings. There arc two very well executed plates of flint implements and a sculptured stone, and a fine portrait of the Club's late Secretary, Mr. George Tate.