ae 1 te AAP Is ee Serre) ae AD, Ry ae setae sel) vet “ ving ce ia ia ae : ; rad aN ISK wo ee é ! iM | | Uiutey ee ay”! NP fi 8 4 Auty! phe a Fhe ee hi ey hayes en ; He Hy : : ot if ‘ Bre 2.) ¥ 4 q ee ke =p ie ; 1 i pay, ut oat, " 7 7 _f* ten = Ce i ' ali ; ‘ i oT oe : i i ; ot te jwe i ‘i 1 ~-& s € ie oe 7 ; . ap . “? > * . X ; ’ 4 ‘ ri bs : eG > 7 : fe A ube state ‘ . * . 3 ‘ 4 . ' - - .-¥ embers. rij ¢ 3 d to. ear oe. so-s3s2s- # JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY ae me is ; " ¢ : re ‘ | Natweal History § A ntiquariay Society, f i ea | : 4 sa 4 rae k f “ Al | SESSIONS 1988-84, 1884-85, 1885-86. 2INTED AT THE COURIER AND HERALD OFFICES, DUMFRIES. He 1887. 2S = SAP sSsawesos 2 SS S502 = SBS =s 5 PS-e5-45-254 me oe S-]5-25-€5-€5-€5-2 ee tp No. 4. THE TRANSACTIONS iis AND JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS %) OF THE DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY Axatural History § Antiquarian Society, % SESSIONS 1883-84, 1884-85, 1885-86. ‘ THE winds And rolling waves, the sun’s unwearied course, The elements and seasons : all declare For what th’ eternal Maker has ordain’d The pow’rs of man: we feel within ourselves His energy divine: He tells the heart He meant, He made us to behold and love What He beholds and loves, the general orb Of life and being ;-to be great like Him, Beneficent and active. Thus the men Whom nature’s works can charm with God himself Hold converse ; grow familiar, day by day, With His conceptions ; act upon His plan ; And form to His the relish of their souls.” —Akenside. “Tf any man maintaineth that learning takes up too much time that might otherwise be better employed, I answer that no man can be so straitened and oppressed with business and an active course of life but may have many vacant turns of leisure. . . . Wherefore, let no man fear lest learning should expulse business ; nay, rather it will keep and defend the mind against idleness and pleasure, which otherwise, at unawares, may enter, to the prejudice both of business and learning.” —Bacon. OFFICE- BEARERS AND COMMITTEE. President. T. B. GRIERSON, M.D., Thornhill. Vice=Presidents. J. GIBSON H. STARKE, Esq. F. R. COLES, Esq. J. BARBOUR, Esq. G. H. BOWDEN, Esq., Major. Secretary. J. WILSON, 3 Norfolk Terrace, Dumfries. Assistant Secretary. R. BARBOUR, St. Christopher’s, Dumfries, Treasurer, JAMES LENNOX, Edenbank, Dumfries. Committee. A. BRUCE. R. MURRAY. J. DAVIDSON. J. NEILSON. _J. W. DODS. J. RUTHERFORD. A. INNES. T. SHORTRIDGE. W. M‘DOWALL, T, WATSON. PRINCIPAL CONTENTS: SESSION 1883-84. Annual Reports ; The Sociological value of Hp eeiblegy De Shar “—p Ornithological Notes—W. Hastings , v: The Founder of Lincluden Abbey and his Basie M‘Dowall Zymotic Diseases : their Cause and Cure—J. Wilson... Destruction of Beasts and Birds of Prey—W. J. Maxwell Notes on Lincluden Abbey—/. Barbour ‘ A Geological Sketch of Annandale—G@. Johnstone Dimensions of Old Bridge of Dumfries—J. Barbour SESSION 1884-85. Annual Reports F Druidical Circle at Poa —Dr Gilehr ast Notes on Local Ornithology—W. Hastings Recent Additions to Flora, &c.— F. R. Coles ‘ ~ Notes on the Flora of Upper Nithsdale, &e.—Dr Davidson . First Blossoming of Plants in Tynron, 1884—J. Shaw Notes on some Trichoptera from Kirkcudbrightshire—J. J, King ... The Town’s Common Mills and their History—J. Barbour ... Broads and Fens of East Anglia—A. Bennett ... Influence of Trees on Climate and Rainfall—P. Gray... The Rocks of Moffat District and their Fossil Remains—J. Dairon Memoir of the Rev. Mr Gatt—J. Gibson H. Starke A Leaflet from the Book of Nature—F. R. Coles Arctic Shell-beds of the Clyde—R. W. Macfadzean ... Lovely Polly Stewart—J. Barbour SESSION 1885-86. Annual Reports : A List of Kirkcudbright Mollusks—F. R. noneat A Day on Ben Lawers—J. M‘Andrew ... The Botany of Sanquhar District—Dr Daa A List of the Birds of Tynron Parish—7’, Brown Page. 103 108 113 Principal Contents. Notes on Local Ornithology, 1885—W. Hastings The Ruthwell Cross—G@. F. Black Galloway Place Names—J. M po ee er od, Poi ae | meee spnigust Hon. aa byt gee itl Janae an aS , an ; ree yx jofuoraitbae ida Ohana “ie Z ; e, vid dh dae Jee Wal), ee = — i a : Sante sae! ee We ae oe") = Hf # . e - : 2 wary hin? > =) P? : — . (i >. ne > aA ) ‘ » a) as ak ew os ‘ — : - 7 ¢ ai ° - - ~ ‘ i nd - Ny i @ gs Te at * PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY NATURAL HISTORY AND ANTIQUARIAN St OuQadi Bot, Bee et OO Ne ey See. 5th October, 1883. ANNUAL MEETING. Dr J. Griucurist, President, in the Chair. Twenty-five members present. Donations.—-The Secretary laid on the table Nos. 6, 7, and 8 of the Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences and Part 7 of the Transactions of the Essex Field Club. Mr M‘Andrew, V.P., presented 500 specimens of Mosses, Hepatics, and Lichens ; Mr M‘Dowall intimated that he had received from Mr Dinwiddie, of New York, two small objects of Egyptian antiquity for the Society. Exhibits—Mr Wilson, V.P., exhibited 30 specimens of the rarer plants found by him during the past season. One of these was the American pond-weed, Hlodia canadensis, which is now very abundant in the Nith, and spreading rapidly. He also exhibited a piece of porphyry bored by Pholas dactylus and several shells of this mollusk, and briefly described the different theories respecting the way in which the holes were made. SECRETARY'S Report. The Secretary (Mr J. Rutherford) submitted the following Report for the past Session:—The number of members on the roll at last annual meeting was 137. During the year 72 names were added, but owing to death and other causes 2 Transactions. 12 names have been removed, leaving at present 197 names on the roll. During the session we have had the usual seven monthly winter meetings and five summer field meetings ; and it is with pleasure that I bring before you the fact that the attendance at all the monthly meetings has been much larger than in any previous year, giving evidence of the increased interest taken in natural history and antiquarian subjects. The average attendance at our winter meetings was 34, and at our summer field meetings 26, as against 22 and 21 the previous year. At the ordinary winter monthly meetings 14 papers were read, many of which were of a very high class character. The January winter meeting requires special notice, for it was held as a conversazione in the Greyfriars’ smaller hall, and you will all remember it with delight as being one of the sunnier spots in connection with our year’s work. A large collection of objects of natural history and antiquarian interest was sent in for exhibi- tion by members and friends. The meeting was opened by Provost Lennox, and several addresses were delivered during the evening. The public were admitted by ticket, and the number of those that attended was so large that the hall was crowded; and many unable to obtain admission went away. On the 30th March a special meeting of the Society was held for the purpose of con- sidering the proposed alterations and repairs on the “Old Bridge,” as they would have materially modernised and altered the ancient character of that structure. A petition approved of by the meet- ing was laid before the Town Council, with the satisfactory result that the Council changed their first plan, and, in the repairs executed, maintained the old lines of the bridge. During the winter months we also had an intermediate course of lectures. The subjects chosen related to natural science and antiquities, and were treated in a popular way, and drew large audiences. I am of opinion that those lectures and the con- versazione were the means of considerably increasing the popu- larity of the Society during the session. The Summer Field Meetings were all well attended ; and, considering the amount of ground to be gone over at each meeting, a fair amount of work was done. TI think our methods on these occasions might be.improved. It is well known, that if curiosity or enquiry is excited, knowledge is the result. At all our Field Meetings (with one or two exceptions) _our botanists gather plants, and stow them carefully away in Transactions. 3 their vasculums, shutting the lids with the gentlest tenderness, and on they go again with their eyes constantly fixed on the ground, and, unless interrogated by some one as to their latest find, it is, like the scapegoat of old, “never heard of any more.” It is the same with our geologists and entomologists, and the result is that nobody gets any information but themselves. The next matter I have to notice is the recent Conference and Exhibition of the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, which was held in Dumfries. Though not strictly the work of this Society, yet it was so closely connected with it that it deserves to be noticed here. The committee and office-bearers of this Society were, for the time being, appointed the local committee of the Cryptogamic Society, and had to undertake all the correspondence and work required for the Conference and Exhibition. These took place in Greyfriars’ Halls, and were pronounced by the members of the Cryptogamic Society to be most successful in every respect. There was a small deficiency of 33s after all expenses were paid, and this was defrayed by the guarantee fund. During the last session a large number of donations have been received, and deposited, according to agreement, in the Observa- tory Museum. In closing this brief report of our year’s work, allow me sincerely to express the hope that we may continue to prosper during this session as we have done during the last ; and that as we gradually become more and more acquainted with the beauties and perfee- tions of Nature, our minds may be lifted up in adoration to Him that made the world, with the fulness thereof. The Treasurer, Mr W. Adamson, submitted his financial state- ment for the session, showing the Income and Expenditure to be as follows :— INcCoME. EXPENDITURE, By Arrears - - £1 0 0O| To Balance due from last os 140 Subscriptions at 2/6 7 40° 0 Session - 25° 7 9 43 a4 5/ 1015 0| ,, Secretary’s Expenses Gaebily3 “A * Interleaved Copies of Sp ete zope ot Cinen lass, &e.6 17 6 Flora and Transac- » Rent of Halls - 2 'O"0 tions sold” - - 119 O|} ;, Sundries - - - 0 8.0 », Treasurer’s Expenses 0 7 74 / ;, Balance on hand 7 3 104 £31 4 0 £31 4 0 “* Audited and found correct.—(Signed) J. W. Kerr.” The meeting then proceeded to the election of Office-Bearers and Committee of Management, with the following results :— 4 Transactions. President, Dr J. Gilchrist ; Vice-Presidents, Sheriff Hope, Messrs J. G. Starke, J. Wilson, and J. M‘Andrew ; Secretary, Mr J. Rutherford ; Assistant Secretary, Mr 8. A. Chrystie; Treasurer, Mr J. Lennox, instead of Mr Adamson resigned. On the motion of Mr Wilson, it was agreed to increase the number of the Committee from eight to ten (five to form a quorum), and the following were unanimously elected: — Messrs W. Lennon, J. Neilson, T. Watson, J. M‘Meekan, W. Adamson, J. Maxwell, J. Barbour, J. Davidson, R. Chrystie, and 8. M. Brown; Auditor, Mr G. H. Robb. On the motion of Mr R. Chrystie, it was agreed that the Transactions for the past three years be printed, and the Com- mittee were instructed to appoint a sub-committee to prepare the same for the press. The subjects of a Conversazione, Intermediate Lectures, and a proposal to hold short Field Meetings during the summer were next discussed, but these were remitted to the Committee to be dealt with as they thought best, and who were to report at the next meeting their decisions. The Secretary read a letter received from the Rev, W. Graham of Trinity Church, Edinburgh, suggesting that the Society might respectfully memorialize Mr Robert Jardine, M.P., and Capt. J. Hope-Johnstone to explore the ruins and fosse of Bruce’s Castle at Lochmaben, in the interests of antiquarian and_ historical investigation. On the motion of Mr Watson, this was also remitted to the Committee for consideration. 2nd November, 1883. Mr J. Grsson Starke, V.-P., in the Chair. Thirty members present. New Members.—Mr J. 8. Montgomery and Mrs Montgomery, Rosemount Cottage ; Messrs J. Hannay, Church Crescent ; J. W. Dods, St. Mary’s Place; and J. Clark, The Schoolhouse, Lochmaben. Donations.—The Secretary laid on the table a specimen of diseased parr, preserved in spirit, showing patches of the fungus (saprolegnia ferox), the gift of Mr Bruce of Slogarie; a Catalogue of the Armour, &c., in the Royal Museum of Antiquities, Brus- sels, presented by Mr Starke; a silver coin of the reign of Transactions. 5 Charles I., found at Greystone, by Mr W. Rae, Queen’s Place ; a Land-rail (crex pratensis) by Mr J. T. Scott. Exhibits—The mummified remains of a cat and rat—the cat having its teeth firmly fixed in the neck of the rat—found in that posture after the fire at the London Stock Exchange, were exhibited by Mr Graham. Miss Burnet exhibited a number of Indian curiosities, including a brass tray, ear-rings, a necklet and necklace made of coral, two serpents’ skins, the nest of the tailor bird, and a humming bird. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. The Sociological Value of Entomology. By D. Suarp, M.B. Dr Sharpe read an interesting paper on the above subject, in which he stated that the estimated number of insects on the globe was nearly 2,000,000 different species, and that it would take the work of a life-time to investigate the life history, the distribution on the face of the earth, and the relation to others of a single species. He pointed out the great importance of entomology in being able to discriminate friends from foes, as well as the benefits to be derived by it from an educational and recreative point of view. Referring to the wonderful variety in the size and structure of insects, he exhibited a beetle (Ptiliwm excavatum ), forty of which would be required to make a heap the size of an ordinary toilet pin’s head ; and yet it consisted of an external skeleton, com- posed of 150 or 200 articulated pieces corresponding to bones, and within the skeleton there was a vast number of muscles, a complicated nervous system, and complex circulatory, respiratory, &c., apparatus, analogous to the internal organs in the larger animals. Il. The Museums of Brussels. By Mr J. Gipson Starke, V.-P. In this paper, Mr Starke described the principal museums of Brussels, and enumerated the natural history and antiquarian specimens interesting to the members who might visit that city. 7th December, 1883. Dr Gitcurist, President, in the Chair. Thirty-seven members present. New Members.—Messrs A. Innes, Inland Revenue; W. Baird, 6 Transactions. Loreburn Street School; T. Laing, Noblehill; J. Thomson, Midtown, Carlaverock; R. Paterson, High Street; and W. Smith, Terregles Street. Donations.—The Transactions of the Linnean Society, from W. D. Robinson Douglas, Esq., in parts—on Zoology from Feb., 1874, to Oct., 1883 ; and on Botany, from Feb., 1877, to Sept., 1885. The Transactions of the Glasgow Natural History Society for 1881-82. Two old volumes from Mr Riddick—one on “The Heart’s Ease,” by Dr S. Patrick, printed 1682; the other on “ Dying Thoughts,” by Rev. W. Crawford, 1744. The Chair- man presented about 100 specimens of minerals and rocks of the district. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Ornithological Notes. By Mr W. Hastinas. Amongst a great variety of birds that have been forwarded to me from various parts of the country for preservation during this year, I have very little to note of any species that can be called rare, although some of them are by no means common. In the month of September I received a fine specimen of the female black- tailed godwit (Limosa Agocephala L.), the second one that I have had killed in the district. It is a small light-bodied bird, not larger than the golden plover (charadrius pluvialis), with very long, slender legs, adapting it for wading in the shallow pools Oo) upon the banks of rivers left there by the ebbing tide. About the same time I received a curious specimen of the ring ouzel (turdus torquatus) or mountain blackbird, with a pure white head and neck, which gave it a very unusual appearance. I have had the common blackbird marked in much the same way, but never the mountain one. It frequents the rocky glens throughout the country, and I have seen the peregrine falcon (falco peregrinus Gm. )and it having their nests both upon the same rock. In the same month I received a fine specimen of the male shoveller (spatula clypeata L.) Ihave had the duck many times, but never the drake. It was shot in Wigtownshire. The great black-backed gull (larus marinus) seems to be more plentiful this winter than usual. I have had a good many specimens lately ; it is a large and fine species. In the month of October I received a box containing among other things four specimens of the small crested cormorant or shag (phalacrocorax cristatus P.), a species that is not met with in this district, but is known to Transactions. f 7 breed upon Ailsa Craig. It is a most successful fisher. The short-eared owl (asio accipitrinus P. ) seems to be very plentiful this winter. I had more of them than I ever recollect of having in one season before. I also received lately a very curious speci- men of the grey hen assuming the plumage of the cock; she is considerably larger than the common grey hen, and has a curious mottled appearance— black and grey all over. About the begin- ning of last month I received a good specimen of the red-breasted merganser (mergus serrator L.), and in winter plumage; it subsists upon fish, and has the bill teethed like a saw for the purpose of holding its slippery prey. It is not uncommon about the outer Hebrides, and also in the Orkney Islands. These are a few specimens that I have thought worth taking notice of—some for their rarity in the district, and others for their appearance in greater numbers than usual. I may also mention that squirrels are now very plentiful throughout the country. II. Notes on Lineluden Abbey, No.1. By Mr James Barsour. For this important communication, see proceedings of 7th March, 1884, as it is combined with No. 2, which was then read, for the purpose of giving a more concise and complete description of this noble edifice, and of the ruins recently unearthed by the excavations conducted by Captain Maxwell. 4th January, 1884. Dr Gixcurist, President, in the Chair. Twenty-seven members present. New Members.—Mr J. M. Aitken, Ravenshill; Mrs Baird, Mrs M‘Kenzie, and Mrs M‘Gowan were elected ordinary members ; and Messrs G. F. Black and R. Henderson corre- sponding members. Exhibits—Mr W. Adamson exhibited specimens of Coralline limestone and trap rocks from Winnipeg and Niagara. Mr Henderson exhibited numerous specimens of grasses and flower- ing plants from Manitoba, and the skins of several wild animals, including the badger, goffer, squirrel, and skunk. He stated that the specimens of wheat and oats on the table were each grown from a single grain, and that it was not unusual for the 8 Transactions. wheat to have forty heads, and the oats as many as thirty, on the one plant CoMMUNICATIONS. L. First Blossoming of Wild Flowers im Tynron during the Summer Months of 1882 and 1883. By Mr James SHAW. This paper was read by Mr Wilson. The writer stated that the area included in his observations was at an elevation of from 300 to 1400 feet above sea level. The soil of the district is thin, well adapted for sheep pasture, and the geological formation 1s Silurian and conglomerate. There are no fields of wheat, barley, or rye; but oats, turnips, ryegrass, and potatoes are grown. Mr Shaw’s list of plants recorded the dates when first noticed during the two seasons, from which it appeared that the year 1883 was much later than 1882. The month of February, 1883, was exceedingly mild, and induced the Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara ) to blossom. March, however, was cold and backward, with cutting frosty winds, so that in the beginning of April plants of Tussilago might be seen surrounded by the withered petals of the first crop. In his concluding remarks, Mr Shaw says “ that the marsh marigold, the stitch-wort, and the common broom are thus found a week behind in 1883, the spring plue-bell (scal/a nutans ) and the marsh violet (V. Palustris) are noticed a fortnight later in 1883. The early orchis plants (0. mascula) were in blossom in April, 1882, but not noticed until the third week of May, 1883. Geum rivale is equally behind. Some of the flowers noticed in blossom in the first week of June, 1882, are not noticed until the third week of June, 1883. Generally speaking, the vanguard of any given species came to the front a fortnight later in 1883.” II. Notes on the National Collection of Antiquities in the Museum at Edinburgh. By Mr G. F. Brack. In this communication, which was read by the Secretary, the writer briefly described the foreign section of the museum, and promised to contribute a paper on the Scottish Antiquities at a future meeting. TIL. Notes on the Natural History of Southport. By Dr J. Gincurist, President. In the course of this paper, Dr Gilchrist mentioned that Transactions. 9 Southport is noted for the rapidity of its growth, and also for the peculiarity of its site. It is built in the centre of a sandy district, about three miles in diameter, which is ter- minated on the western side by the sea. The rocks of the district are Triassic, being extensions of the Cumberland and Westmor- land hills. The flora is rich and varied, and, with regard to many species, unique, owing to the influence of the sandy soil and the sea. As an illustration to the paper, he exhibited numerous specimens of the plants and a few pieces of the rocks collected there during a recent visit. 18th January, 1884. Dr Gixcnrist, President, in the Chair. Forty members present. A Special Meeting of the Society was held this evening in the Greyfriars’ smaller hall for the purpose of giving the members an opportunity of exhibiting and describing objects of interest which they possessed. Dr Gilchrist exhibited several specimens of minerals from the Leadhills and other localities. Mr Wilson exhibited about 100 specimens of mosses, and recommended the _ botanical members to take up that branch of study, as the speci- mens were to be found at all seasons. Mr Lennon exhibited two cases of Lepidoptera. Mrs Murray sent a piece of the counter- pane which covered the bed on which Queen Mary slept at Terregles House. Mr James Lennox shewed two fine specimens of bronze spear heads. The Secretary (Mr Rutherford) exhibited a bronze ball, which had been found in Torthorwald Parish, 3 ft. 3 in. beneath the surface. The ball was submitted to Mr Dudgeon of Cargen, who sent it to the National Museum, Edinburgh, where it was analysed, and found to be composed as follows :— Copper, 62°9; tin, 13-7; zinc, 12-2; lead, 8-8; iron, 0°6; sili- cious matter, 1:4. A note accompanied these results, stating “that none of the authorities in these matters can make out what it has been intended for ; no similar bit of bronze has been seen before.” Other objects of interest were exhibited by Mrs M‘Kenzie, Miss Burnet, and Mr 8. A. Chrystie. wo 10 Transactions. Ist February, 1884. Dr Gitcurist, President, in the Chair. Thirty members present. The Secretary intimated that the Society was about to lose one of its energetic members—Mr J. M‘Meekan—who would in a few days leave this country for Tasmania, and moved that Mr M‘Meekan’s name be transferred from the Roll of Ordinary to that of the Corresponding Members. The Chairman seconded the motion, and remarked that Mr M‘Meekan was one of the few young men who had taken an active interest in the Society for several years. He had done what all young men ought to do —he had never missed an opportunity of gaining knowledge and information, and he would find now that there was nothing to him so important. The motion was unanimously agreed to. Donations and Exhibits. —-The Secretary laid on the table Vol. II., Part III., of the Proceedings of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, and Vol. II., Part III., of the Transactions of the Glasgow Archeological Society, as donations from these Societies. Dr Gilchrist exhibited a small chicken that had been born blind, and remarked that this malformation was of rare occurrence in ornithology. He also exhibited a piece of slate from Keswick, containing vestiges of the original stratification. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. The Founder of Lincluden Abbey and his Relatives. By Mr W. M‘Dowatt. (Abstract). In this paper Mr M‘Dowall stated that Galloway at the Lincluden era was not only Celtic in its population, insti- tutions, and language; it was besides, all but independent of the Scottish Crown. It was in the neighbourhood of Northallerton, amid conditions of battle and slaughter, that we get our first reliable glimpse of Ulgric and Dovenald, the founders of the family to whom we owe the erection not only of Lincluden Abbey, but also of many other edifices, chiefly ecclesi- astical, in our own locality. The name Owen Galous appears in the early part of the eleventh century annals as a ruler over some Celtic tribes ; and, says Mr M‘Kenzie, in his valuable History of Galloway— There is a considerable probability that this chief was descended from Dunwallon—the British form of the Irish _ -" _=—--> + ~~ Tronsactions. ll Dovenald, Donal, or Dowall; and the epithet Galous may be considered as establishing a kind of connection with Galloway.” The two chiefs already named are supposed to have been descend- ants of Galous; and it was they who fought and fell in the Battle of the Standard, while leading the Galloway contingent of the Scottish army. They were succeeded in the lordship of the province by Fergus, who is best remembered as the pious founder of the Monasteries of Tongland, Whithorn, and Soulseat, the Priory of St. Mary’s Isle, and the Abbey of Dundrennan. He died at Holyrood Abbey in 1161, first, however, appointing his two sons, Uchtred and Gilbert, his successors. His chief resi- dence was the Castle of Loch Fergus, built on a rocky islet that rose out of a lake near Kirkcudbright, long since drained away. Uchtred, walking in the footsteps of his peace-loving and pious father, dedicated a considerable amount of his worldly substance to the Church. Hence in due season arose the fair Abbey with which his name is associated, and “the grey ruins of which still held to keep his memory green.” Gilbert, a man of quite another stamp, wishing to acquire the entire lordship of the province, murdered his brother Uchtred in 1174, at Loch Fergus Castle, under circumstances of the most revolting cruelty. Mr M‘Dowall described at some length the connection of the royal house of Bruce with Uchtred, shewing that the Bruce of Bannock- burn was a lineal descendant of the Lords of Galloway, he being the great-grandson of Gilbert, the fratricide. After noticing Alan Lord of Galloway, his daughter Devorgilla, and many more of Uchtred’s relatives, including our present Queen, Mr M‘Dowall stated that the connection of the Bruce family was renewed with Uchtred and Lincluden when the great-granddaughter of the hero king, the Princess Margaret, widow of Archibald Douglas Lord of Galloway, died, and was buried in the Abbey, the gorgeous tomb which received the dust of the illustrious lady still, though sadly marred, revealing striking traces of its original beauty. There the remains of the Princess were laid, an inscription on the walls above setting forth her name and titles ; and a full length stone efligy laid over the sepulchre, portraying the lineaments of her who slept below. Quite recently during the work of excavation carried on at the Abbey, the figure of the Princess, in a mutilated condition, was discovered, after it had been lost for nearly a century. This was a rare prize ; and the writer was not without the hope of seeing the figure restored, and placed anew in its 12 Transactions. original position. Should Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria ever come to this part of the country, as it was lately expected she would do, she might, he thought, be asked, with perfect propriety, to visit the house built by a far-away forbear in a remote age, and in which lies interred the dust of one of her royal progenitors. With the exception of the Abbeys of Holyrood, Melrose, and Dunfermline, there is no monastic house in Scotland that Mr M‘Dowall knew of with which there is intertwined so many dis- tinguished family ties as Lincluden. A rare piece of architec- ture, it is also full of historic suggestiveness, and to its ruined mural crown a bright poetical halo has been given by the genius of Burns. All the more grateful should we be, therefore, that the decay of Uchtred’s Abbey has been arrested, and many of its long-hidden features brought to light by the present liberal repre- sentative of a renowned Nithsdale and Galloway family—Captain Maxwell of Terregles. The Chairman, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr M‘Dowall, said the paper just read was really so very important in itself that it ought not to be confined to the ordinary publications of the Society ; and he suggested to the excursion committee that they should arrange during the summer months for a visit to Lincluden Abbey, and that Mr M‘Dowall and Mr Barbour should be asked to accompany the excursion, and give them the benefit of their knowledge regarding the history and architecture of the venerable pile. Il. Zymotic Diseases, ther Cause and Cure. By Mr J. Witson, V.P. (Abstract). After noticing the various diseases which belong to the zymotic class, Mr Wilson said that until a few years ago it was the general opinion that they were caused and propagated by decaying organic matter, which was everywhere present, and especially in the fall of the year. Now it was established beyond question that such was not the case, but that these diseases were due to microscopic organisms having obtained an entrance into the system, and there produced the disturbances which characterised the different diseases. He next traced the history of the “Germ Theory,” from Schwann’s discovery of the yeast ferment in 1836 to the present time, and briefly referred to the investigations of Pasteur, Tyndall, Lyster, Budd, Miquel, Cohn, and Koch, which led to its adoption. £ Transactions. 13 These microscopic germs were arranged in a class by themselves under the name Schizomycetes, or splitting fungi, and were placed between the algze on the one side and moulds on the other. They were divided into four principal groups, viz.—micrococet, bacteria, bacilli, and vibrios and spiral microbes ; but this like all other classification, was only a matter of convenience, for in appear- ance they closely resemble each other, and the dangerous ones— pathogenic—can scarcely be distinguished from the septic or perfectly harmless ones. Having described several of the germs and exhibited microscopic drawings of a number of them, he referred to the multifarious modes by which infection can be spread—by direct contagion, by infectious matter from diseased persons escaping from sewers, &c., being introduced into water, foods, or articles used for culinary purposes, and by the inhilation of vitiated air. He believed that before the disease was propa- gated there must be certain conditions favourable to the growth and development of the germ. For example, if seed were sown on a macadamised road it would not grow for want of sufficient nourishment ; but if in a cultivated field, it would have all the conditions favourable to its growth. In the case then of the germs of disease, they must have the suitable midws or else perish. There are other conditions governing the spread of disease, such as predisposition through weakness or other causes. Although the germs of the different diseases have some things in common, they do not always attack the system in the same manner, for each disease has its own characteristic. The germ of diphtheria (micrococcus diphtheriticus) attacked the throat, while those of cholera and typhoid fever attacked the alimentary canal. In reference to their cure, the well-known axiom, “prevention is better than cure,” was all that he would then offer, but as to how “to prevent” the disease he said—Ist. Limit the sphere of action by complete isolation of the diseased ; 2nd. Fresh air, and plenty of it; 3d. Thorough disinfection. Having described a number of experiments made with disinfectants, he recommended chloride of lime as the cheapest and one of the best, but it had a disagreeable odour, and was detrimental to colours, &e. Solu- tions of permanganate of potassium were good, and could be easily used, also carbolic acid, and the various powders contain- ing it, and sulphur and sulphurous fumes. One of the best was a solution of mercuric chloride, but this was a deadly poison, and he did not recommend it for that reason. In conclusion, Mr 14 Transactions. Wilson referred to the prevalence of fever in Dumfries during the past autumn and the preceding one, and asked if the cause of this was not traceable to a want of due regard to the sanitary laws? In his opinion he believed it was, and for that state of affairs he held the Local Authority responsible, for that body neglected to put in force the powers conferred upon them by Acts of Parliament. The open sewers and middens throughout the burgh might be compared to nursery gardens, in which the germs of disease were “forced,” and from which they were disseminated far and wide, carrying with them disease and death into many bright and happy homes. Until the authorities remedied these unsightly and dangerous nuisances, every case of fever in their midst would be a stain on the fair escutcheon of their royal and loyal burgh. Tth March, 1884. Dr Gincurist, President, in the Chair. Thirty-two members present. New Members.—W. H. Maxwell, Esq. of Munches, was elected a Life Member; and Messrs D. Carnegie, Castlebank ; and E. M‘Gowan, English Street, were elected Ordinary Members. Donations.—Mr Wilson presented, on behalf of Mr Carnegie, six old copper coins found by the donor in his garden in the neighbourhood of Montrose. Exhibits —The Chairman exhibited, on behalf of Miss Gillies, a fine section of a stalagmite, a case of copper ores, a nugget of native copper, and a piece of the brain coral. Mr Hogg exhibited a box of shells from Aden, a “potato stone,” a fine old flint pistol, an ancient tobacco-box found in the Highlands, and a piece of black limestone from Niagara. COMMUNICATIONS. I. The Destruction of Beasts and Birds of Prey. By Mr W. J. Maxwe t, Terregles Banks. The subject of which I am to speak is not of scientific interest alone, and it is not as a scientific question that I intend to deal with it. I leave that to some member of this Society more deeply versed in natural history than I am; I wish, rather, to draw attention to the practical or Transactions. 15 utilitarian view of the question, in the hope that something may be done before it is too late to check the indiscriminate destruc- tion of the native beasts and birds of prey. One of those predatory animals, the fox (canis vulpes), I may pass over. There is no fear of foxes being exterminated in this district for some time to come, either by fair or foul means. The badger (meles taxus) and polecat (mustela putorius) may, I suppose, be considered extinct hereabouts, althongh I can recollect when the latter animal was quite common ; and, indeed, I remember, when a boy, seeing a nest of young ones dug out of a hole in our own garden. The same fate which has befallen the polecat seems likely soon to overtake the stoat (M. ermine), a more useful animal, in my opinion, and one deserving of more consideration than he has hitherto met with. I look upon the stoat as our best protector from the legions of rats which now threaten, not only to eat us out of house and home, but even to pull down the very houses in which we live. The country simply swarms with rats. Every ditch and burn is infested by them, and therefore, though there is an endless number of different ways of killing or driving them away from houses, all those various expedients, however ingenious, are in vain except as means of obtaining temporary relief. As soon as one batch of rats is killed off or expelled, a fresh lot are ready to take up the quarters they have vacated. The only effectual check upon the rat is the stoat, who hunts him down with deadly pertinacity in his favourite haunt— the ditch or running stream. Although the rat can swim like a fish, and can thus escape from a dog or cat, he has a poor chance of saving his life when pursued by a family of stoats. As I have seen myself in the days when stoats were plentiful, they hunt the rat as a pack of foxhounds hunt the fox, and can boast of a much larger percentage of kills. The stoat is undeniably an enemy to game, and is therefore very naturally an object of hatred to the gamekeeper. It would be unreasonable, I think, to blame the keeper for waging war against an animal which he looks upon as a dangerous enemy to the game which it is his duty to protect. Admitting, however, that the stoat is a poacher, and destructive to game, is there not good reason for believing that the rat is as bad? Would not a few stoats be a lesser evil than legions of rats infesting every brook and every hedgerow, and doubtless robbing many a partridge or pheasant’s nest ? When we consider the large number of rats that-two or three stoats would kill in 16 Transactions. the course of the year, it certainly seems as if it would pay best to leave the stoat alone. Undoubtedly, the rat is capable of atrocities which the stoat would never think of. For example, at a farm steading not far from here, I heard of their killing and devouring two young pigs; and this was not all. They after- wards killed a calf. At this rate, it is not unlikely that before long they will kill a cow, and they may not stop there. They have frequently been known to attack man. If the stoat is to be saved from extermination there is no time to be lost, as he is already becoming a very scarce animal, and probably the next four or five years will see the last of him in this district. The common weasel (mustela vulgaris) is still frequently to be seen, but I doubt if he is such a formidable enemy to the rat as the stoat. He is a very useful little animal, however, and should be protected by law. The hedgehog (erinaceus Huropeus) is also sadly in want of some such protection. He is fast being exter- minated, and will probably soon be extinct, although only a few years ago so common that one could scarcely take a walk in the fields on a summer evening without seeing several, usefully employed hunting for slugs in the dewy grass. As slugs form the chief food of the hedgehog, it is obvious that he must do an immense amount of good in that way, probably far more than we realise. Now that the blackheaded gulls (larus ridibundus L. ) have become so scarce hereabouts, I don’t know of any other check to the increase of slugs, and everyone who has anything to do with gardening knows what damage slugs can do. Why do not those who have walled gardens keep a few tame hedgehogs ? TI don’t know whether slugs are more numerous now than they used to be, but certainly they are now a very serious pest, and will increase when there is no check upon them. Two years ago T saw a field of newly brairded oats so covered with small grey or white slugs that there must have been on an average at least thirty or forty to the square yard, and they very nearly destroyed the crop altogether. This state of things may not be due to the destruction of hedgehogs, but I am at a loss to imagine any more likely cause. Among birds of prey, undoubtedly the owl is most deserving of protection, and it is protected to a certain extent by law ; that is to say, itis included in the schedule appended to the Wild Birds’ Protection Act of 1880, and therefore any person killing owls between Ist March and Ist August is liable toa penalty of £1 per bird. This Act is not very strictly enforced, Transactions. 17 however ; and probably it is a good deal more in favour of the owl, that at well regulated covert-shootings owls are not shot when they make their appearance, as they often do on such occasions. Although, I don’t think the owl is getting much scarcer in this neighbourhood, it is far from being treated as such a useful bird de- serves. Where pole-traps are allowed there must always be a large number of owls killed. The kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), also a harmless bird, living chiefly on mice, cockchafers, &c., falls a victim to this hateful invention, The only other hawks we know of in this district, are the sparrow-hawk ( Accipiter nisus ), the buzzard (Buteo vulgaris), and the merlin (Falco salon). They are all looked upon as deadly enemies to game, and I am not prepared to say that they do not kill game. To say that game forms any considerable portion of their food, I think, is nonsense. There is nothing in the fact of a bird being in the game list to make it more attractive to the hawk ; as game must form a very small item in his style of living. Admitting that these hawks are enemies to game, there is still something to be said in their favour in the interests of sport. Anyone who has read the reports in the newspapers regarding the opening day of the grouse-shooting, must have observed that the grouse are always not only extremely scarce, but extremely wild and difficult to approach. Why is this the case? It is because in most cases the only enemy the grouse have to fear is man, and they find that the best way to baffle him is to rest on bare, exposed places, where they command a good view of the surrounding country, and can withdraw, chuckling at his discomfiturée, long before he gets within shot. The grouse do not adopt these tactics where hawks abound. There they know no shelter except under the brown heather, where even the keen eye of the enemy overhead fails to detect their cowering forms. Some time ago I saw a letter in The Field, from the owner of a grouse moor in the Hebrides, stating that in conse- quence of his not allowing birds of prey to be killed on his moor, he was enabled to shoot over days the whole season, and thus have good sport without resorting to the driving system. There is, therefore, something to be said even for the sparrow-hawk, the buzzard, the peregrine falcon, and the merlin, from the sports- man’s standpoint; while, as for the other animals to which I have referred, the balance of evidence is in favour of their pre- servation. In these days of associations for all purposes under the sun, I think it is high time there was an association for the 3 18 Transactions. protection of wild animals useful to man. It will soon be too late. II. Notes on Lincluden Abbey. By Mr James Barpour. (The following includes communication read on 7th December, 1883) :— The ancient Religious House of Lincluden stands in a seques- tered nook at the confluence of the river Cluden with the Nith. The ruin, in outline and colour, forms in composition with the landscape a pleasing and beautiful picture ; and on close exami- nation it exhibits architectural details rich, elegant, and of a boldness unusual, arranged and combined with harmony and taste, and admirably executed. The plan of the Church comprises a Nave, with North and South Aisles ; a South Transept or Transeptal Chapel, a Choir, and a North Sacristy. The buildings are wholly roofless, and much of the masonry has been broken down and carried away. Of what still exists, the walls of the Chancel and Transept are nearly entire; most of the south wall of the South Aisle and a small piece of its west wall remain; the foundation of the west wall of the Nave exists, and traces of the north wall of the North Aisle and of some walls outside the north-west corner of the Church. The walls of the Sacristy are nearly entire, and considerable portions of the masonry of the “ Provost’s Lodging” continue standing. The Architecture mainly is late Decorated, but fragments of other types also are found, each characteristic of the different periods when the buildings were erected. The specimens of the earlier styles were long covered by debris, and their existence has only now been brought to light through the clearing of the ruins recently undertaken by Captain Maxwell of Terregles. There are early English details, and also one or two stones bearing the peculiarities of the Norman style. These early remains are characteristic of the age when the first Foundation was granted for an Abbey at this place, and naturally they and the Abbey to which they belonged will fall to be considered first. THE ABBEY. The Abbey was founded by Uchtred, son of Fergus, Lord of Galloway, a little prior to the year 1165; and of the fabric of the Abbey Church, all knowledge of the design of which was Transactions. 19 lost, the following description, gathered from the now uncovered remains, will present for the first time a sketch of some of its features :— Of these early remains there is, im situ, at the north-east angle of the Nave, and attached to the wall of the Chancel, the base and part of the shafting of a respond or half pier, upon a pedestal. The respond measures three feet and half an inch across, from north to south. Part of the plinth of the eastmost pier of the North Arcade also remains in sitw. Several pieces of cylindrical piers have been found, which give a diameter corres- ponding to the measurement across the respond mentioned ; and a fragment of a base moulding corresponding to that of the respond also exists. There remains a large number of arch stones, which went to form the Arcade arches connecting the piers. The arches have been pointed, and of two plain chamfered orders, with a string or hood moulding over them. There are three stones, parts of arch rings, of very distinctive character. Two are moulded with a roll on the angle, a fillet and hollow on the soffit, and the zig-zag ornament on the face ; and on the other is worked an angle roll, and the zig-zag ornament on both the soffit and the face—the most character- istic ornament of the Norman style. The stones almost certainly formed part of the doorway of the Church, a feature which in Scotland retained something of the Norman type after the style had otherwise become obsolete. Numerous fragments of windows remain—pieces of mullions, tracery, and arch-shaped tops. One piece of tracery is grooved for the reception of cusping after the manner of the earlier windows of New Abbey; and the arch-shaped tops are also cuspated apparently into trefoil forms. These fragments are early English, and of a somewhat more advanced type than was prevalent at the period of the foundation. In addition to the architectural fragments described, some of the foundations and traces of walls remaining appear also from the character of the masonry to belong to the earlier building, The walling of the later work of the Church is faced with finely hewn and closely jointed ashlar, while that of the earlier work is faced with rubble, roughly dressed, and with wide joints. Of this latter description are the remains of the west wall of the Nave and all the north side of the Church. The steps of the west doorway, which remain in situ, and the foundation of a stair at 20 Transactions. the west end of the North Aisle, which led to the Dormitory, also belong to this period. Putting together the fragments described, and following out the design to the extent indicated by them, there is presented an outline of a considerable portion of the Church. It was entered by a western doorway, with a semi-circular arched top, of at least two orders, moulded and enriched with the zig-zag orna- ment. From the threshold the Church was approached by a descent of two steps. Within was presented a Nave, measuring 56 feet from east to west, and 20 feet from north to south; a North Aisle, 13 feet in width, including the Arcade ; a Chancel of equal width with the Nave, which, in accordance with the arrangement prevailing at the period, would likely be much shorter than the existing one; and there would probably also be a South Aisle, but of this no remains exist. The Nave was separated from the Aisles by Arcades of four bays, the piers of which were cylindrical, with moulded bases, resting on square plinths, splayed on the top. The eastern responds were shafted, with moulded bases, and recessed and chamfered plinths, raised on pedestals, which received the ends of the steps leading to the high altar; and the arches which joined the piers were pointed, and of two chamfered orders, with a string or hood moulding over them. Some of the windows of the Abbey were single lights, cuspated at the top, and some were divided into two or more lights by mullions, their tops being filled in with plain and rather heavy euspated tracery. The Dormitory extended northwards from the west end of the Church, and was reached by a stair within the North Aisle; its south wall was in line with the North Arcade or nearly so, and its east wall was so situated as to shorten the North Aisle a little as compared with the Nave. The Church was a small one, and not ornate; it was charac- terised by the simplicity and chasteness peculiar to the types of Gothic architecture prevalent at the period of its foundation— the period when the greatest number and the grandest of the ecclesiastical buildings in Scotland were erected. THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH. At the time of the erection of the Abbey, and from the com- mencement of the great church building era, about the middle of eee. eS Transactions. 21 the eleventh century until the breaking out of the war of inde- pendence, the architecture of England and Scotland was in agreement. The Norman style, in which the earliest churches of the era were built, gradually underwent transition, culminating in Early English, and that again reaching maturity began to undergo change towards the Decorated style, when the progres- sive development was suddenly checked in Scotland by the breaking out of the war, and for a long time church building there continued in abeyance. Meanwhile, in England, the Decorated style of architecture became matured, and it, in its turn, was superseded by another, the Perpendicular style. When, about the end of the fourteenth century, Scotland had in some measure recovered from the effects of the war, church building revived. This revival period presented two great changes compared with the earlier epoch. Formerly the Religious Foundations, not Parochial, were chiefly Cathedral or Conventual ; now they are Collegiate. The other great change relates to the architectural character of the fabric. The thread of the development reached at the commencement of the war is not taken up, nor is the expanded English type adopted. There is generally found in the churches of the period a mixture of styles, some of the earlier Home forms being introduced along with advanced Decorated, exhibiting peculiarities supposed to indicate French influence. Our own district furnishes, in Sweetheart Abbey, founded in 1275, one of the latest foundations in Scotland of the earlier epoch ; and here, at Lincluden, is one of the earliest of the new order and the revival period. Archibald, third Earl of Douglas and Lord of Galloway, in the reign of Robert IIL, abolished the old Conventual establishment at Lincluden, and superseded it by a Collegiate foundation. Although the re-building of the Church receives no historical mention, and is not necessarily implied by the change effected in the order of the Foundation, the remains sufficiently indicate that the greater part of it was about this time re-erected. The architecture exhibited by the remains of the Abbey and that of the remains of the College, appearing side by side, one charac- terised by simplicity and massiveness, and the other by profusion of richness, points to the intervening of centuries between their epochs ; and as the former is distinctive of the time of the early foundation, so is the latter of the epoch of the new foundation. 22 Transactions. The heraldry on the walls of the Church also sutliciently attests the connection with it of the Douglas family. The new building, although it would probably be the design of its founder ultimately to extend it so as to embrace the re-build- ing of the whole Church, had stopped short of completion, and a part of the older erection, the remains of which have been described, continued to exist until the time when the establish- ment was finally dismantled. The remains of the Collegiate Church embrace the Chancel, the South Transept or Transeptal Chapel, the South Aisle, and the Sacristy ; and two vaulted chambers north of the Sacristy also belonged to this period. This Church, like that of the Abbey which preceded it on the same site, is of small extent, but it stands out unsurpassed by any of its class for the boldness, richness, elegance, and purity of its architecture. Externally the noticeable features of the building are—the far projecting buttresses, rising to the height of the side walls un- broken by any intake ; the large double base table, extending round the bottom of the walls ; the cornice, decorated with richly carved foliage, on the top of the south wall of the Chancel ; the well-proportioned pointed windows, enclosed in peculiar and very bold mouldings, hooded, and originally divided by many mullions and rich geometrical tracery, inclining to leaf and flame forms, of which little now remains. The buttresses are of uniform design, and placed at right angles to the walls, except at the Transept, where they project diagon- ally from the corners. The windows exhibit uniformity in some of their parts, and in others much variety. The lights in all cases stand in the centre of the wall, the jamb mouldings are continued on the arches, and their internal and external orders are respectively alike, as are also those of the mullions and tracery, except in the case of the east window of the Side Chapel, where they are dissimilar. The principal mouldings of the Chancel windows and of those of the Aisle are similar, but whereas the mullions and tracery in the Aisle have hollow chamfers only, those in the Chancel have edge rolls in addition, with bases and caps to the mullions. The two windows of the Side Chapel differ from all the others as regards their mouldings, and also from one another. The tracery of the two westimost windows in the south wall of the Chancel corre- Transactions. 23 spond respectively in design to that of the two small windows opposite in the north wall, otherwise the arrangement of the tracery has in no two windows been alike. Internally a much more correct idea of the Church can be formed now than was possible before the carrying out of the recent excavations. Entering at the west end, the plinth or lowest stone of the west respond or half pier of the Arcade is found remaining attached to the foundation of the west wall. The east respond, attached to the west wall of the Chancel, remains entire ; and in the floor, which is of pavement, are three blanks where three pillars, no part of which now remains, have stood. The Arcade has been of four bays, its pillars shafted and placed diagonally, the capital of the east respond being moulded only, while that of the west respond, which has now been recovered, is richly floriated ; its arches have been segmental, as indicated by a small portion of the eastmost one remaining, and it has extended across the front of the southern projection, which is therefore not properly a Transept, but a side Chapel. The side Chapel and the Aisle have been vaulted over at a uniform height, with groined and ribbed vaulting, and there has been an apartment over the Chapel, probably a Domus Inclosi, lighted by a small double window in the top of the gable, and approached by a newel stair within a projection at the angle formed by the Chapel and the Chancel. Upon the walls of the Aisle and side Chapel remain part of the moulded ribs of the vaulting, supported on shafts with flori- ated caps and sculptured corbels. A little of the vaulting itself also remains, and it has been constructed of rag-work, that is, small flat bedded stones, in this case half an inch to three inches in thickness, and entirely unhewn, set in thick beds of mortar. An etching by Storer, published in 1805, represents a portion of the vaulting or vaulting ribs as continuing at that time to span the Chapel. The Chapel is provided with a Piscina in the south wall, where the priest emptied the water in which he washed his hands; on its east wall is a carved image bracket ; and there is evident provision for an altar in the circumstance that the sill of the east window, before which it would stand, is at a higher level than that of the south one. Separating the Nave from the Chancel is the Rood Screen, in this instance of stone, and over it the Rood Loft and the Chancel 24 Transactions. Arch. Under the Rood Loft, on either side of the screen, are corbellings, on the west side of sculptured figures, and on the east of very large leaf work. The Chancel Arch is a segmental pointed one, and the imposts are shafted, with floriated capitals similar to that which had belonged to the west respond of the Arcade. Entering the Chancel the eastern window is seen to occupy nearly the whole width of the wall and extend upwards to the vaulting. Below the window are corbels which supported the slab of the High Altar, and on its sill is a small carved image bracket. In the south wall are a triple Sedilia or seat for the officiating priest and his attendants, and a Piscina; and in the north wall the tomb of Margaret, Countess of Douglas, all of very beautiful design and workmanship, and in their parts bear- ing considerable resemblance to one another. The Chancel was roofed by groined and ribbed vaulting in three divisions, the vaulting shafts and parts of the ribs being still upon the walls. The design has been a very beautiful one, and bore considerable resemblance to that of a later church— Holy Trinity, Edinburgh—of the roof of which Mr T. 8. Muir remarks—‘“ A more expressive and chastely designed roof than that over the Choir and Apse is seldom anywhere to be met with, The finely moulded groin-ribs gradually breaking apart from the clustered stems and ramifying along the edges of the various cells, the heavy longitudinal rib with its bold mouldings, and the numerous and variously sculptured bosses, with their jutting bud- like forms and symbolic leafage, produce an extremely rich, graceful, and satisfactory effect.” Over the vaulting of the Chancel, as in the case of the side Chapel, there has been an apartment to which access was got by the newel stair before mentioned, and the apartment was roofed by plainstone vaulting with large chamfered transverse ribs. Of the upper vaulting only a little at each side above the springing remains, but it was complete when Grose visited the ruins in 1789, and an etching by Storer in 1805 represents one of the ribs as then in position. The Sacristy is a north one, and access to it is by a rich door- way in the wall of the Chancel. There is a descent of three steps to the room, and it has been roofed, in two divisions, by seg- mental groined vaulting of rag work, with plain chamfered ribs, springing direct from the walls without shaft or corbel, es. fe ae | Br bes l Remains 7, A bbery and ( burch at Limeliden. =z TA Dhaba Wok mmm af Ue Seativny o> fequatanng of 15 mmr le! Gaatiny Werke rc y Lave, Sovth Arete ae comes Transactions. 25 Arches.—The Arches are of various forms : that of the eastern window is obtuse pointed ; that of the south window of the side Chapel is segmental pointed ; and those of the remaining windows ~ are equilateral pointed. The doorway of the Chancel is arched square-headed, the corners only being rounded, a form common in France and unknown in England. The Chancel arch is seg- mental pointed, and the arches of the Arcade have also been of that form. The top of the Tomb is obtuse pointed, almost. half round ; the tops of the Sedilia are equilateral pointed ; and that of the Piscina is ogee pointed. Mouldings.—The hollow chamfer is common. On the jambs of the Chancel and Aisle windows it is very large and a full quarter circle in depth; mostly it is not much sunk. The filleted roll appears to be the predominating moulding. The plain roll is common, and rounded and feathered rolls also occur. The mouldings are strictly geometrical, their orders are few in number, and lie mostly in the wall and sollit planes, and the composition is simple, bold, and effective. Bases.—The bases of the window shaftings are composed of an elliptical-torus astragal following the plan of the shaft, a bell- shaped ogee moulding, octagonal on plan, on a high octagonal plinth ; and in the case of filleted shafts, the fillets are continued on the bases and plinths. The pier base is composed of an ogee astragal following the plan of the shaftings, a bell-shaped ogee moulding, polygonal on plan, and a low plinth square on plan, with the points cut off, placed diamond ways. Capitals.—The capitals of the window shaftings have undercut neck mouldings following the plan of the shaft, richly floriated bells, and torus-moulded abaci, octagonal on plan; and in the case of filleted shafts, the fillets appear on the bells above the -earving and stop against the abaci. The capital of the pier is composed of a neck moulding and bell, following the plan of the shaft, and an abacus of two filleted rolls divided by a deep hollow, similar on plan to the plinth of the base. The capitals of the imposts of the Chancel Arch have mouldings similar to that of the pier, and the bells are floriated. Ornamentation.—The building is rich in floriated einbellish- ments. The tabling of the south wall of the Chancel, the corbel- ling on the east side of the Rood Loft, and the capitals of imposts and shafts, as has been already indicated, are so enriched, as are also the Sacristy doorway, the Tomb, the Piscina, and the Sedilia. 4 26 Transactions. Ornamental foliage surrounds many of the shields, and many of the bosses of the roof have also borne this description of decora- tion. Two groups of oak leaves and acorns on the front of the Piscina are closely after nature, otherwise the floriated work is less natural, and many of the leaves are marked by the peculiar well known conventional arrow-head points, the barbs of which are turned round in the form of a volute. The floriations of the capitals of the vaulting shafts are peculiarly free and graceful, and generally all the decorative work is well disposed, sculptured with great boldness, and its effect is rich and pleasing. SCULPTURE, Medieval sculpture at this period had obtained its highest development, and in gracefulness of design and beauty of execu- tion it rivalled the works of ancient Greece and Rome. On this small building there is more sculpture, and the work is of greater merit than is apparent at first sight. The figures are so broken and abrased that they have the appearance of rudeness. Many have almost ceased to retain any resemblance to sculpture, and it is only after a careful study of them that some appreciation of their original excellence is gained. The effigy of Margaret, Countess of Douglas, which lay upon the Tomb, has been recovered. It is broken into two pieces, and so disfigured, that it is with difficulty the details can be followed. The head of the recumbent figure, which appears to have been crowned, rests on two cushions, the hair hangs down in long ringlets, one on either side, and the hands are crossed upon the breast. The lower of the two cushions is oblong, and lies cross- ways, and the upper one is square, and lies upon the other diagonally, and both are tasseled. Upon the lower part of the dress is a small portion of ornamental detail, the cushions exhibit corded seams, and on one of them is represented minute and beautiful braiding, the whole leading to the conclusion that the figure, instead of being, as it seems on a casual inspection, rude, has been executed in all its parts with the utmost minuteness and care; and without doubt it has been a work of art fitted to cover the remains of a princess and adorn this beautiful Church, The trunk of another small female figure, much broken, has been found, which also indicates great care and minuteness of Transactions. 27 execution, and it probably occupied one of the two image brackets before mentioned. The sculptured figures upon the west side of the Rood Screen are arranged in rows one over another. The middle row consists of about 18 figures, winged, their hands crossed over their breasts ; the upper row represents heads, filling in the triangular spaces between the wings of the figures below them ; and the lower row, which is much mutilated, has consisted of 25 to 30 figures, the southmost one holding a scroll, which has been inscribed. The lower sculptures were probably intended to represent the Birth of Our Lord and scenes in His life; and those above the adoration of the Heavenly Host. Fragments of sculptured slabs have been recovered, evidently pieces of the breast work or parapet of the Rood Loft. The work is 2 feet 9 inches in height ; on the face of it is arcading with ogee tops, and in every panel a sculptured figure in low relief. St. Paul is represented resting on a sword; St. John holding in his left hand a cup and pointing over it with his right ; a figure holding in the left hand a book and something like a scroll in the right, there is no nimbus, but the face bears a striking resemblance to the usual representations of Our Lord ; also another complete figure and a fragment. Over the arcading is some small incised Old English lettering, probably intended to be descriptive of the subjects. The length of the Rood Loft would admit of eighteen such figures, which, added to the three rows of sculpture before described, brings up the picture of this feature of the building to one of great splendour. The westmost remaining vaulting shaft of the Aisle is sup- ported by a figure; at the angle formed by the walls of the Aisle and side Chapel the vault ribs spring from a pair of figures ; and the image bracket in the side Chapel is supported by a figure, winged, and holding a scroll uninscribed. Within the Chancel there are six figures supporting vaulting shafts, all winged ; two of them are represented playing upon musical instruments, and two hold uninscribed scrolls. Many of the bosses of the roof have borne sculptures—the Agnus Dei and other symbolic subjects. The attitude of these sculptured figures on the walls can yet be observed, and through all the mutilation and almost oblitera: tion of detail something of their power is still visible. The way in which they appear to spring from the walls, and support 28 Transactions. themselves and the superincumbent shafts with ease, indicate vigorous conception and masterly execution. HERALDRY. The heraldry is in better preservation than the sculpture, and therefore it has the appearance of being the predominant decora- tive adjunct of the building. The charges are beautifully and delicately cut, and the disposition of the shields, along with scrolls and carved foliage, gives variety and relief to forms that otherwise might appear somewhat stiff. There is no heraldry upon the walls of the Aisle, or side Chapel. This kind of decoration is confined to the Chancel and the Countess of Douglas’ Tomb, and all the charges appear to have reference to the founder’s family and connections. On the front of the sarcophagus of the Tomb is arcading of: nine panels, in each a shield, and, beginning at the dexter side, the blazonings are respectively :—A saltire and chief, for the Lordship of Annandale ; a lion rampant for that of Galloway ; three mullets, the arms of Murray ; a man’s heart, three mullets in chief, for Douglas ; a field uncharged, a field nebuly, a field uncharged, a fess chequy, for Stewart ; and paly. Over the Tomb, forming a corbel for the support of a vaulting- shaft, is a shield bearing a lion rampant, within a border fleury ; and on the south wall, forming a corbel for the opposite vaulting- shaft, is another shield bearing three fleurs-de-lis, the arms of France, crowned, and with dogs as supporters. The tympanum of the Sacristy doorway is enriched with two shields, the dexter one bearing three mullets, and the sinister one a man’s heart, on a chief three mullets, impaling a lion rampant, crowned. These probably represent the arms of the founder and his wife, although, according to the heralds, the wife’s arms should occupy the sinister shield and not, as here, the dexter one. There are other fourteen shields in the interior of the Chancel. On the north wall, beginning at the west, the first, second, third, and fourth shields are without charges, and attached to them are uninscribed scrolls ; the fifth is a shield couchie, bearing three urchins—the arms of Herries. Sir Robert Herries of Terregles married Margaret, daughter of Archibald Douglas, the founder of the College. The sixth shield on the north wall is uncut. Transactions. 29 On the east wall are two shields, the charges of the south one are obliterated; the north one bears three mullets impaling the first within a border fleury, probably for Murray and Douglas. There is on Bothwell Church, of which Archibald Douglas the Grim was founder, a shield bearing similar charges, but in the reverse order. The remaining six shields are on the south wall, and, proceed- ing westwards, the emblazonments are—A man’s heart, on a chief three mullets, impaling a lion rampant ; on a field ermine a man’s heart, on a chief three mullets ; quarterly, first and fourth, a man’s heart, crowned, on a chief three mullets ; second and third, a lion rampant, crowned ; within a border, quarterly, first and fourth a man’s heart, on a chief three mullets; second and third a bend between six cross crosslets fitched, said to be the arms of the hero of Otterburn; on a bend, three mascles, and in the sinister canton a buckle. Round the shield is a scroll, inscribed Loyal Dei . . . Halyburton . . . and under it appears the initials J. H. The sixth shield bears a lion rampant. On the Chancel walls outside are seven shields, three on the south wall, bearing respectively a bend engrailed, three urchins, a saltire between four mullets ; two on the east wall, one within a wreath of beautifully cut holly leaves, bearing a saltire, the other bearing a fess chequy debruised by a bend engrailed ; and two on the north wall, both uncut. TOMBS. The Tomb of Margaret, Countess of Douglas, has been so often and well illustrated and described that it is unnecessary here to notice its design ; but in reference to its date, the constructive arrangement of the masonry appears to favour the conclusion that the tomb formed part of the original design, and was carried up along with the wall of the Chancel. An interesting tombstone has been recovered from the debris. It is of red sandstone, measuring 8 feet by 4 feet, and lies in the south-west corner of the side Chapel, marking the grave of Alex- ander Cairns, the second Provost of Lincluden, who ‘was also Chancellor to Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas. An inscribed border extends round the four sides, and in the centre is a repre- sentation of a tree, surmounted by a shield bearing a fess, and an inscribed scroil, all incised. The stone is broken into three pieces, and the inscribed border is mostly obliterated. What 30 Transactions. remains is in Old English character, and reads—“ /ic jacet Magister Alewander de Carnys . . .” Not being able to read the legend upon the scroll, I sent a rubbing of it to Dr Frazer, and his reading of it is—‘‘ Qui me calcatis pedibus prece subveni- atis.” (You who tread on me with your feet help me with your prayers.) Carnys probably died in 1422, when John Cameron became Provost of Lincluden. A stone, which forms part of the pavement of the Aisle, and lies immediately west of the corner of the side Chapel, covers a grave. It has been inscribed in Old English character, but no part of the inscription can now be read. There are two tombstones in the side Chapel besides that of Cairns, and one in the Nave, of after Reformation date. Those in the side Chapel have borders respectively inscribed—“ Heir - lyis ‘ane * honest * man + Alexander - Cooper: Mason + 1°5°8-8;” and “ * * + lyis + Robert : Cowper: Mearsone - Bwrgis - of - Drowmfris - 161*.” That in the Nave is also inscribed round the border, and on its face is a sinking as if for the reception of a brass ; but being much broken, the inscription cannot be read. Under the east end of the Chancel is an oblong vault, roofed by a plain cylindrical arch, to which access is got by a number of steps descending from the floor of the Chancel. The vault does not appear to have been built along with the Church. Its walls are not under but within those of the Chancel ; the charac- ter of the masonry is different from that of the Church ; the space in the floor of the Chancel occupied by the stair is so large as not to be adapted for being closed by the usual slab, and there is evidence that the vault has been secured by means of an upright door at the foot of the stair, the stair itself being probably left open. The vault was used by the Maxwell’s as a place of sepul- ture, and was probably erected by them after the Reformation for that purpose. John, 8th Lord Maxwell, who was slain at the battle of Dryfesands, as stated in the ‘“ Book of Carlaverock,” was buried in Lincluden, 30th December, 1593 ; and, according to the same authority, ‘Dame Elizabeth Douglas died in 1637, and her son Robert, Ist Earl of Nithsdale, gave her a sumptuous funeral, and afterwards transported her remains to the College Kirk of Lincluden, to be interred in a vault beside those of her first husbaud, John, Earl of Morton.” Transactions. 31 GLAZING AND FURNITURE. Fragments of the glass and lead work of the windows have been found. The pieces are small, the glass is corroded, but enough remains to shew that the windows were of a variety of colours, and such as would be in keeping with, and enhance the effect of the rich architecture and sculptured decorations of the Church. It is a fortunate circumstance that a small part of the stalls of this Church has been preserved. In the “ Queer,” attached to the Parish Church of Terregles, erected in 1583 by John, Lord Herries, for a place of sepulture for himself and his family, is the piece of furniture referred to, long known as the “ Provost’s Chair of Lincluden.” Any one acquainted with church furniture will not hesitate to pronounce this work to be part of the stalls of a pre-Reformation Church ; its architectonic style is in keep- ing with the Church of Lincluden ; and the common connection of the Terregles family with Lincluden and with the Mortuary Chapel at Terregles would account for the removal of the stalls to their present position in the Chapel. Two of the stalls are nearly complete, except that the back boards and canopies are wanting ; and there are parts of a third stall. The work is of oak. The seat boards turn up in the usual way, and have the usual carved miserere, allowed by the Church as a sort of rest for relief to the infirm during the long services that were required to be performed in a standing posture. The points of the elbows are carved, and the back framing rises in a series of buttresses and pinnacles, richly decorated with carved crockets and finials. Carved pieces of the canopies also remain, A unique circumstance came to light a few years ago respect- ing these remains. Captain Maxwell had undertaken the re- storation of the Mortuary Chapel, within which, against one of the walls, they stood. The stalls being turned round, on some of the remaining boards forming the back, were discovered traces of paintings, two in number, in tempera. The more complete one is upon two boards ; a third board, upon which a small part of it had extended, is wanting. This painting represents a female figure in a standing posture, the left arm crossed upon the right one. The features of the face are obliter- ated ; the face itself is oval, the hair is yellow and long, hanging down upon the shoulders. On the head is a crown with alter- 32 Transactions. nate fleurs-de-lis and short points. The inner garment is of a reddish brown colour, and the outer mantle, which is represented depending from the shoulders and arms in graceful folds, has a yellow border ornamented with lines and roundlets—probably the mantle itself has been blue—and the inner lining is white, repre- senting a fur. The cloak is shown secured about the neck by a yellow band, and a ring through which the band passes. * Of the second painting only a small portion remains. The head, and the hair, which is yellow, can be made out, but the face is obliterated. The cloak has been of a reddish brown colour with a yellow border. The left hand holds a cup, and the right one is represented pointing over it. There is little doubt that the female figure represents St. Mary, to whom the Church was dedicated ; and the other figure is a representation of St. John the Evangelist, as appears by the symbols. It will be observed that the symbols of St. John on this painting and on the sculptured stone slab, formerly referred to as part of the Rood Loft, are similar. THE PROVOST’S LODGING. The portion of the ruin known as the Provost’s Lodging extends northwards from the Sacristy. The basement consists of five vaulted cellars. The first floor appears to have contained a square apartment at the north end, and the remainder of the floor formed probably the Great Hall. The second floor contained a north room, and the space over the hall would be divided into several rooms. The north part of the building only was carried up a third floor, forming a square tower with crow-stepped gables. The entrance door opened upon the octagonal staircase, and the stair gave access to the several floors. One of the cellars was entered from the staircase, and the other four by outside doors in the west wall. The windows of the rooms have been principally in the east wall, and would overlook the well formed gardens, the scarped mound attached to the place, the meeting of the waters, and an extensive tract of country beyond. The octagonal Tower, most of the walls of the square Tower, and the greater part of the west wall extending between the square Tower and the Church existed in 1805. Now only the lower parts of the walls of the octagonal Tower, the Cellars, and the square Tower, to about half its height, with a piece of one corner of it of greater height, remain. The two cellars adjoining the ‘ : , Transactions. 33 Sacristy appear to have been erected at the same time as the Church, the hewing being similar to that of the Church ; the vaulting also being of rag work. The workmanship exhibited in the other portions of this part of the ruins is different and inferior, and quantities of slates and other material, which have belonged to some former building, are found embedded in the walls; the mouldings also are dissimilar to and of later date than those of the Church. Grose states that William Stewart, who was Provost about 1530, either rebuilt or greatly repaired the Lodging. Stewart’s arms, which have been recovered, appeared upon the octagonal Tower, and a carved corbel, which was also upon the Tower, has been found bearing the initials of his name, Wea DEMOLITION. A few words will suffice in reference to the demolition of the fabric. The after Reformation tombstones are proof, I think, that the building had, as early as 1588, become open and waste, and a place of common burial. When Penant visited the ruin in 1772 the upper vaulting of the Chancel was standing; it had nearly disappeared in 1805, and now no part remains except the springings; and a small part of the vaulting spanned the Side Chapel in 1805, which has long since fallen. With these exceptions, the Church is now in much the same condition as it was in 1772; even the Tomb appears to have been then broken and abrased as it is now. Considerable changes have, however, taken place on the Provost's Lodging since 1772. The west wall, a great part of the square Tower, and the octagonal Tower have fallen, the latter in 1851, as described in Mr M‘Dowall’s “ History of Dumfries.” It is worth notice, regarding the influences at work, in con- nection with the dilapidation of the College, that the Heraldry, the insignia of the ruling class, remains uninjured, while the figure-sculpture, which at the Reformation was regarded as tending to idolatry, is ruthlessly mutilated. This Collegiate Church—a little Cathedral in which the sump- tuous service of the Cathedral, but on a smaller scale, was wont to be celebrated—has been, as its remains testify, complete in its structural parts, and in its accessories also; and the tout ensemble is one of remarkable magnificence. The architecture exhibited is pure, no reverting to Early English, and nothing dis- 5 34 Transactions. tinctive of the Perpendicular appears. The form of the Chancel door, the design of the window tracery and some of the mouldings, and the shield bearing the Arms of France, suggest French influ- ence; but the architecture of Scotland at the period being indigenous, the forms were probably derived from several sources; their combination is exceedingly satisfactory. Standing in the Nave, and looking eastwards, on the left hand would appear the more ancient Arcade and Aisle, the remains of the Abbey Church of Uchtred; on the right the less ancient Arcade, Aisle, and Side Chapel ; and in front the Rood Screen and Loft, and the Chancel Arch, the former adorned throughout its length with a wonderful array of pictorial sculpture repre- senting the birth of Our Lord and incidents in His life, and the Adoration of the Heavenly Host; also single figures of Our Lord, St. Paul, St. John, and many others. Through the opening ~ under the Chancel Arch would be seen the beautiful groined vaulting of the Chancel roof, its ribs springing from shafts, with floriated capitals, resting on bold sculptured figures, and its multitudinous points of convergence united by bosses, moulded and embellished with leaf work and symbolic sculptured forms— one the Agnus Dei. Within the Chancel the High Altar, with its carved bracket and statue would meet the view; the Piscina, Sedilia, Tomb, and Priest’s Door, allextremely rich in mouldingsand sculpture or floriated ornamentation ; the numerous Shields, with their heraldic devices and floriated surroundings ; and the Oak Stalls, with beautifully carved ends, miserere, pinnacling, and canopies, and pictorial paintings of St. Mary and St. John, nearly life size. And in all places would be seen the beautiful traceried windows, filled with painted glass, serving to suffuse the Church, and combine and soften its parts with brilliant and varying hues of light. Transactions. an 4th April, 1884. Dr Gucnrist, President, in the Chair. Forty members present. New Members.—Messrs R. Barbour, St. Christopher's, Dum- fries ; J. Craig, Solicitor, Dumfries; J. Patterson, The School House, St. Mungo, were elected Ordinary Members; Mr R. Turner, Glasgow, an Honorary Member. Exhibits——Mr F. Armstrong exhibited, on behalf of Mrs Hutton, a large silver coin of the Mexican Empire of Maximilian. Dr Gilchrist exhibited fine specimens of the lily encrinite, obtained by Mr Macfadzean at Matlock. Mr J. J. Clark exhibited two _ large cases of European shells, and several species of star fishes and sea urchins. Dr Grierson, Thornhill, brought for exhibition a number of natural history specimens, which he had _ recently received from South America. One of these was a monkey—name of species unknown —-a little larger than the common one, having a very small round head, covered with light brown hair, and the body, legs, and arms densely coated with dark brown, almost black. He had shown it to Professor Traill, Aberdeen, who had failed to classify it. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Orchardton Tower. By Mr J. MatrHewson. A short paper on this subject was read by Mr Barbour, in the absence of the author. Various measurements were given, and details of the structure ; but as Mr Matthewson purposes describ- ing it more fully at a future meeting, these particulars need not be given here. II. Surnames. By Mr T. Brown, M.A. After examining the modes of naming adopted by our Scan- dinavian ancestors, into whose nomenclature the wolf and the bear enter largely, as types of ferocity and sagacity, he referred to the patronymics of ancient Greece and Rome, of the Hebrews, and of the European nations of the present time ; and showed how the personal characteristics contributed largely to swell the list of surnames. 36 Transactions. III. A Geological Sketch of Annandale. By Mr Grorce JoHNSsTONE. The Chairman read this communication, in which the author made particular reference to the northern portion of the district referred to in the title, and illustrated his remarks by a chart showing the different rock formations. The district is, said the writer, about twenty miles in length, and about eight in breadth and is surrounded on three sides—N., E., and W.—by hills of Silurian origin. Within this area the Silurian rocks appear frequently at the surface—i.e., along the banks of the Annan and its tributaries. The dip of the rock is generally about 80 deg., while at one place in the River Milk it is almost perpendicular. The Old Red Sandstone is found in the Burnswark group of hills, extending about five miles in length and about three-quarters of a mile in breadth. This rock is remarkable for the great quantities of white pebbles which it contains, and is similar in appearance to the Old Red Sandstone found on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Burnswark itself is of volcanic origin. All the hills possess the peculiar rounded appearance of the glacial action, and the smaller elevations in the valleys show, where sections have been made, the unmistakable evidence of the boulder clay. Summer Programme.—This being the last meeting of the Session, the following programme of the Field Meetings was sub- mitted by the Secretary and adopted :—May—To Wood Castle, Spedlins Tower, Corncockle Quarry, and Raehills Glen. June— To Calkerbush, Southwick, and Douglas Hall. July — To Moniaive by Dunscore, returning by Barjarg lime-stone quarries. August—Neighbourhood of Moffat. September—Dornock, Kel- head, returning by Lochmaben. It was reported that the follow_ ing members would, in connection with the excursions, prepare information for the members, or describe the places, &c., visited, viz.:—Dr Gilchrist, in Geology; Mr Wilson, Botany ; Mr Barbour and Mr J. Lennox, Archeology; Mr Maxwell, Fungi; Mr Lennon, Entomology; Mr Davidson, Mineralogy; and Mr Chrystie, Ornithology. Transactions. By 21st June, 1884. Dr Gitcurisr presiding. Fifty members present. A Special Meeting of the Society was held on this date at Two p.M., in Lincluden Abbey, to afford the members an opportunity of seeing the different parts of the ruin which had been uncovered by the recent excavations carried on by Captain Maxwell. Messrs Barbour and M‘Dowall were present, and pointed out the different points of interest in the building, and gave a short account of its history. (For detailed description see the Proceed- ings for 1st February, 1884, and 7th March, 1884.) In the earlier part of this month (June) extensive alterations having been made on Mr Muirhead’s property at the foot of Friars’ Vennel, the Committee visited the site on the 7th and 12th, with the view of examining some objects of antiquity laid bare by the excavations, and, if considered desirable, to carry the explorations further at the Society’s expense. Mr Barbour was requested to watch the operations, and to collect sufficient data, if possible, to finally settle the disputed question concerning the number of arches which the Old Bridge originally had, and to report at a future meeting. The following communication on the subject was read at this meeting :— The Dimensions of the Old Bridge of Dumfries. By Mr J. Barsour. Following out the wishes of the Committee of this Society, I beg to make a short statement in reference to certain masonry found in the course of excavations at Mr Muirhead’s property, Bridge Street. The old buildings on the south side of the narrow street, which extends between Bridge Street and Brewery Street, at a point exactly opposite the Old Bridge, were demolished to make way for improvements when in the course of excavating the foundations, the masonry referred to was brought to light. The Committee of the Society resolved upon an investiga. tion, and with permission of the proprietor of the building site, and of the Town Council, they continued the excavations to the extent considered necessary. The work, when cleared, was carefully examined, and I have, as desired, taken measurements of it and prepared drawings, which I exhibit. 38 Transactions. The masonry consists of a wall starting from the east side of Bridge Street, and extending eastwards 10 feet 5 inches, thence in a direction south-east 6 feet 3 inches, and again eastwards 40 feet 4 inches, terminating in a line with the Brewery Street end of the buildings lying on the north side of the narrow street before mentioned. The depth at which the wall is founded varies, being upwards of 10 feet below the surface at Bridge Street, and 4 feet below the surface of the water in the river at the bridge, 4 feet below the surface at Brewery Street, and 6 feet midway between these points. The top line of the wall is also irregular, and the work varies in height from 9 feet or more at Bridge Street to about 4 feet at its centre, and 23 feet at Brewery Street ; and it measures about 3 feet in thickness. The masonry is solid and strong. It is composed of the red sandstone of the district, well cemented together with lime mortar in which is a inixture of shells, and it is faced on one side, the south one, with hewn ashlar, in regular courses about 11 inches in height. The westmost part of the wall is in a line with the south side of the Old Bridge. At a point 27$ feet east of Bridge Street the wall is pierced by the remains of a culvert 4 feet 3 inches wide, the floor of which is 9 inches below the surface of the water in the river opposite. The opening continues northwards beyond the thick- ness of the wall, under the narrow street; its sides are of ashlar, similar to the facing of the wall, and rest on flat projecting foundation-stones, the edges of which are splayed and hewn like a base course; and its top appears to have been closed by arching. The west end of the masonry is terminated by the remains of a large arch. Only the south end of the arch could be inspected, and it showed a projecting springing course, 12 inches in height, splayed on the top, and thirteen thin arch-courses, their thickness being about 6 inches. The arch ring is about 18 inches deep, and its angle is chamfered ; it is of good and tasteful workmanship, and in excellent preservation. _ Thave now described the masonry, and I may be permitted to express the opinion that it has formed the east abutment of the Old Bridge built by Lady Devorgilla in the 13th century, which is known to have been originally of much greater magnitude than the six arches which still span the river. In order that tie full original dimensions of the Bridge may be Transactions. 39 understood, I beg to submit the following measurements :—The existing Bridge consists of six arches, and beginning at the Max- welltown side the dimensions are—lst arch, 32 feet 4 inches wide ; 1st pier, 15 feet 2 inches wide; 2d arch, 27 feet wide; 2d pier, 14 feet 6inches wide; 3d arch, 28 feet 2inches wide; 3d pier, 15 feet 2inches wide ; 4th arch, 27 feet 9 inches wide ; 4th pier, 15 feet 2 inches wide ; 5th arch, 27 feet 7 inches wide; 5th pier, 15 feet 1 inch wide ; 6th arch, 35 feet 5 inches wide. Total between the abut- ments, 253 feet 4 inches. The distance between the face of the east abutment now found and the west side of the sixth pier, which now forms the east abutment, measures 113 feet 2 inches, and deducting the width of three piers, 68 feet remains, which would give three arches of 22 feet 8 inches span each. It follows that the old water channel of the Nith in the 13th century measured 366 feet 6 inches across, between the abut- ments of the bridge; that the bridge, including its abutments, extended to at least 457 feet, and it was a 9-arched structure. The remains also show that provision had been made in the east abutment for a mill lade in connection with the old Sandbed Mill, which was bounded on the north by the bridge, and was not above the bridge, for the culvert is at too high a level to have been the tail race. On the motion of Dr Gilchrist, a vote of thanks was heartily awarded to Mr Barbour and also to Messrs M‘Dowall and Starke for the trouble which they had taken in connection with the Bridge and the Abbey. Diop 1oo 4-o 5, 3d October, 1884. ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual Meeting was held in the Freemasons’ Hall, High Street, on the above date, when 22 members were present, and the President, Dr Gilchrist, occupied the chair. New Members.—Mr M. G. Wallace, Terreglestown, was elected an ordinary member; Mr W. K. Robertson, of Edin- burgh, and Dr Grant Bey, of Cairo, corresponding members. Donations.—The Secretary announced the following donations: —Vol. II., Part ITI., of the Transactions of the Glasgow Archeeo- ological Society, from that Society ; the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. III. Parts I. and II., and the Six- teenth and Seventeenth Annual Reports of the Trustees of the Peabody Museum, from the Smithsonian Institution ; Postold Sogur, Kong Christiern den Forstes 1448-1458, Krystallographisk —Chemistrie, Classification der Flachen, Veextlivet i Norge Etudes sur les mouvements de L’atmosphére and Myntifundet fra greslid i Thydalen, from the University of Christiana. Exhibits—Mr Rutherford exhibited a bronze celt found at South Cowshaw, Tinwald. MrJ. Wilson exhibited 40 specimens of the rarer plants found by him during the summer months, among which were—Teesdalia nudicaulis, from Locharbriggs ; Valeriana dioica, from Ferniecleugh ; Lpipactus latifolia, from Carnsalloch, Kirkmahoe ; Genista anglica, from Craigend, New Abbey ; and Andromeda polifolia, from the Lochar Moss. Dr Grant exhibited and described a number of Egyptian antiquities, including rings, bracelets, bandages of mummies, pieces of papyrus with hieroglyphic writing, and several sacred beetles of the Egyptians—Scarabeide. On the motion of the Chairman, the thanks of the Society were awarded to the donors and exhibitors. The Secretary laid on the table ‘The Official Year Book of the Learned Societies, 1884,” which he had been instructed to purchase. Transactions. 41 SECRETARY'S REPORT. The Secretary (Mr J. Rutherford) submitted the following report :—This being our annual meeting, it will now be my duty to lay before you a resumé of our proceedings during the last twelve months. Eight years have now nearly passed since the present Society was instituted, and it is very gratifying to find that the interest taken in the work—not only by its members, but by the general public—still continues. Scarcely a week passes without my being told by some one outside the Society that they “read with much interest the reports of our Society’s meetings which appear from time to time in our local news- papers.” TI have little hesitation in saying that these excellent reports have been in a great degree instrumental in increasing our popularity, prosperity, and usefulness. At the beginning of the Session we had a membership of 197. During the Session 27 new members have been added; 20 from various causes have ceased to be members ; 4 gentlemen have taken advantage of the new rule which was introduced during the Session constituting life members; and the roll now stands—-Life members, 4 ; honorary and corresponding members, 15; ordinary members, 185—making a total of 204, being an increase of 7 during the Session. We have had the usual seven monthly Winter Meetings and five Summer Field Meetings. The average attendance at the Winter Meetings was 31°5, as against 34 in the preceding year ; the average attendance at the Field Meetings was 20:4, as against 26 in the previous year. Although these figures show a slight decrease in the attendance at our meetings during the past Session, yet when we consider that we have had three Special Meetings, all well attended, we have no reason to doubt that the interest hitherto manifested in the work of the Society has in any way fallen off. I regret to tell you that during the last Session we have lost from our locality our most distinguished coleopterist, of world- wide reputation, who has removed to Southampton. I refer to Dr Sharp, whose pleasing disposition and kindly manner endeared him to all who had the honour and pleasure of his acquaintance. At our monthly Winter Meetings fourteen papers were read, being the same number as the preceding year, and some of which were of a high-class nature. During the Session we have had six Committee Meetings, with an average attendance of 8:6. A 42 Transactions. Sub-Committee was appointed to prepare the Society’s proceed- ings of the past three years for publication, and get the same printed. This has been done, and by next meeting they will be ready for distribution. The following specimens have been deposited in the Observatory Museum :—5th October, 1883—Collection of Mounted Chare ; Ammonite and other Fossils; December 26th—Silver Coin of Charles I.; Catalogue of Antiquities in Brussels Museum ; Parmeliz ; Par in spirit with salmon disease; List of Foreign Correspondents to Smithsonian Institution ; Two old Books, dated 1682 and 1744; April 9th, 1884—Six Copper Coins, and one large Silver Mexican Coin. There still remains in the hands of the Assistant Secretary and other members the other books which have been presented during the year ; in the hands of the Secretary, the large Collection of Lichens and Mosses presented by Mr M‘Andrew ; and in the hands of the President, the Geological Collection which was presented by himself, and for which there was no room in the Museum at the time. In closing this necessarily brief and imperfect report of our year’s work, again allow me to express the hope that the same interest will continue to be manifested in the work of the Society as hitherto. There is no doubt whatever, that as we continue to pursue the study of nature, we will find that she gradually reveals herself in proportion to our application, and the result will not only be the acquirement of a certain amount of information, but there will be a great subduing of self, and an elevation of Him who created all things and pronounced them “‘ very good.” The Treasurer (Mr James Lennox) submitted the following account of the funds of the Society :— INCOME. EXPENDITURE. Balance from Session 1882-83 £7 3 104) Secretary’s Outlay ... no 9 4 4LifeMembers’Subscriptions 8 8 O | Treasurer’s do. ... = 00 Ope 145 Ordinary Members’ do, 18 2 6 | R. Johnstone for Printing 3 1 0 18 New Members’ do. 410 0 | Rent of Halls ar moe OO Transactions Sold ... .. © 1 O | Subseriptions in arrear and not paid ... ie eevpsi Cs" ign Balance due Society ... 2512 3% £38 5 44 £38 5 43 “* Audited and found correct.”—(Signed) G. H. Ross, These reports having been cordially adopted, the Secretary and Treasurer were awarded votes of thanks for their honorary services. The Election of Office-Bearers for the ensuing Session was next Transactions. 43 proceeded with, when Dr Gilchrist was re-elected President, and, on the recommendation of the Committee, the number of Vice- Presidents was increased to five, and the following were elected, viz.:—Sheriff Hope, Messrs J. Gibson Starke, J. M‘Andrew, J. Barbour, and W. M‘Dowall. Mr Rutherford having expressed his wish to resign the Secre- taryship, proposed Mr J. Wilson to be his successor, which was unanimously agreed to. On the motion of Mr Neilson, a hearty vote of thanks was again awarded to Mr Rutherford for his valued services during the past two years. Mr R. Barbour was elected Assistant Secretary in the place of Mr S. Chrystie, resigned. Mr J. Lennox was re-elected Treasurer; and the following gentlemen members of Committee :—Messrs J. Ruther- ford, John Maxwell, J. Neilson, T. Watson, R. Chrystie, G. H. Robb, W. Adamson, J. Davidson, A. Innes, and J. C. M‘Lean. Auditor—Mr W. Bailey. The ordinary business of the meeting having been concluded, Dr Grant gave an interesting address on ‘“ Egypt: its Language, its People, and its Antiquities,” in which he lucidly traced the history of that country from the 18th Dynasty (1600 B.c.) to the Turkish Conquest in a.p. 1517, and the different races which peopled it during that period. On the motion of the Chairman, Dr Grant was awarded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. 7th November, 1884. Dr Gixcurist, President, in the Chair. Thirty-five members present. Donations.—The Secretary laid on the table the 13th Annual Report of the South London Microscopical and Natural History Society, from Mr P. Gray; thirteen pamphlets from Mr G. F. Black on the Spinning Gear of former times, a Cist with an Urn from Park Hill, the Earldom of Caithness, Stone Implements - from Shetland, Sculptured Stones from Monifieth, the Caves near Dysart, a collection of Flint Implements found at Fourdoun, remains of the Red Deer, Bronze Weapons found at Killin, and others. Exhibits ——The Chairman exhibited a patent electric apparatus used for lighting lamps, &c., and Mr Rutherford described the 44 Transactions. mechanism and the principle on which it was constructed. Mr Rutherford exhibited two photographs of the supposed cup- markings on the two largest stones in the Holywood circle. Mr M. J. Stewart, M.P., sent for exhibition a dozen specimens of the natural grasses grown on his farm at Southwick. Two specimens of the common clover measured thirty-eight inches in length, and the common meadow grass over four feet, while the tall fescue grass—J’, elatior—extended to the length of six and a half feet. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Notes on the Druidical Circle at Holywood. By J. Giicurist, M.D., President. Having been in the vicinity of Inverness for a few days during summer, I had an excellent opportunity of examining those so- called cup-markings, which are specially well-known in that district. Recently I revisited the Holywood circle along with three gentlemen, two from Inverness — Dr Aitken, medical superintendent, and Mr Ross, architect — both familiar with these interesting relics of a people unknown, dwellers in a pre- historic age. Dr Grant-Bey, from Cairo, was also with us. The object of the visit was, if possible, to determine whether the so- called cup-markings on the Holywood stones were natural or artificial, They are found on two of the eleven stones still standing—viz., the one next the entrance gate from the west, and the fifth from the gate looking east. A careful examination of all the stones was made, but especially of the two latter, when it was concluded that the markings in both were natural. With this judgment I am disposed to agree as regards the fifth from the gate; but I am more dubious with regard to the first, and would rather leave it to be settled by one having authority. I believe Dr Dickson, late of Dumfries, and one of the founders of this Society, was the first to notice these markings, and read a paper on them a few years ago. They were visited by the late Professor Simpson, and quite recently by the Rev. Mr Lukis, the latter in the interest of the London Antiquarian Society. I may add that I re-examined the stones geologically. They are all silurian—that is, the rock which constitutes the hilly ridge on each side of the Nith valley—except one ; that one is a so- called porphyry. Again, of the whole number, including the porphyry, four are boulders—that is, masses which have been Transactions. 45 brought from a distance, rounded and polished by water and ice. These might have been obtained at or near the spot where they stand, but the seven others have been detached from the living rock by some ancient quarrying process. The nearest point where such rock could be obtained is the hills in the vicinity of Irongray Church. An increasing interest attaches to these curious cup-markings, as it is now ascertained that they are not confined to the north of Scotland, nor even to Britain, but are to be found all over the world. Their object and use is yet unascertained. II. Notes on the Ancient Bronze Implements and Weapons in the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh. By Mr G. F. Brack. In this paper the writer gave a detailed description of a few typical forms of ancient bronze implements, &c., and the only local specimen referred to was a bronze knife-dagger, found near Glenluce by the Rev. G. Wilson. This specimen, Mr Black says, measures 3 inches by 1} at the butt. The point is broken, and the tang is a good deal wasted, but still bears the mark of the heft. The blade is two-edged, and slightly bevelled at the edges. It is the only one not actually found in connection with an interment; but as fragments of urns were found in the sand near it, there can be no doubt that it was connected with a burial. III. Notes on Local Ornithology. By Mr W. Hastings. As far as my observation has gone, this last season has not been very productive of much that can properly be called rare in the bird line, although I have had a number of curiosities in their way. In the month of December I had a fine specimen of a young barn owl—Aluco Flammeus—brought me. It was covered with beautiful white down, a very unusual time for the barn owl to have its nest ; and at the time I received it, it would not be above three weeks old. In the beginning of May this year, I received a nice specimen of a white crow, and a few days later I got a specimen of a blue one, both curious. I have before had specimens of the white, but never of the blue; of course, they were both young birds. About the beginning of last month I received a specimen of the snow-bunting—Plectrophanes Nivalis (Z.)—which was much earlier than I had ever seen them before. 46 Transactions. They do not usually leave their breeding ground in the far north until they are compelled to do so by stress of weather. I lately received a specimen of the shoveller duck—Spatula Clypeata— which is by no means common in this district. The male bird of the shoveller is very beautiful. I have thought it strange that all the specimens I have had killed in the district have been females. About a month ago, I had a barndoor fowl brought me which had every appearance of a good-sized domestic cock in full plumage, with large spurs—as large, indeed, as is commonly seen upon a large game cock. The lady that brought it assured me that it was a hen, and a good layer of eggs until it assumed the male dress, when it stopped laying. I have seen many instances of the hen taking the plumage of the cock, both among pheasants and black game ; but never before one that came so completely up to the mark as this one. Last week, I had a fine specimen sent me of a pure white partridge. I have before had specimens of the partridge of a dun colour, but never one anything like so white as this one. At the same time I received a fine specimen of the grey or silver plover—Squatarola helvetica—which seems to be scarce in this district, as it is the second one I have ever had in all my time. It is much about the same size as the golden plover, but differs in having a very small hind toe, which in the golden is altogether awanting. In the spring it assumes quite a different dress from what it has in winter, but it is a very hand- some bird in whatever dress it may appear. This morning I had a fine male blackbird brought me, with a pure white head and neck. I have had specimens mottled all over, black and white, also with white head and tail—all the rest black. Last month I had a good specimen sent me of the marten cat, the only one I have ever had from this district. It is somewhat longer and more slender than the pole cat, and has not the offensive smell of the latter. The pole cat is now extinct in this quarter, the trapping of rabbits, upon which it naturally preys, having been the means of killing it out, as it got into traps that were not intended for it. The marten cat is not uncommon in the pine forests of the north, but this is the only one I have ever had in the flesh. There seems to be no end of hawks, owls, and squirrels, which are coming in more plentiful than ever. Transactions. 47 IV. Remarks on the recent Additions to the Flora of Dumfries- shire and Galloway. By Mr F. R. Cots. (Abstract) This paper dealt with such records of new stations and of new species as were strictly additional to those given in the “ Flora” compiled by Mr M‘Andrew in 1882. Approximately, 120 new stations for plants of such uncommon occurrence as—Ligusticum scoticum, Valeriana dioica, Galium cruciatum, Campanula latifolia, Pyrola minor and P. secunda, Scrophularia Balbisii, Orobanche major, Lycopus ELuropeus, Utricularia intermedia and U. minor, Epipactis latifolia, Listera cordata, Typha latifolia, and Cladiwm mariscus were recorded. The following list comprises all the authentic new species :— Under Ranunculus aquatilis, which, in the Stewartry, at anyrate, is a frequent inhabitant of slow streams, ponds, lochs, and marshes, we have R. peltatus var. truncatus and var. floribundus; R. diversifolius var. Godronii, R. Drouetti, R. trichophyllus, and the variety of R. peltatus known as fissifolvus. With the addition of Cochlearia anglica near Creetown ; C. danica at Colvend; the vars. littoralis and alpina in Borgue and Shinnel Burn districts respectively, the entire group of the Scurvy grasses is represented. Among Violacee, the substitution of the V. sylvatica (Fries.) as the correct name of the plant recorded as canina, and generally so-called, led to the establishment of its sub-species, /lavicornis (Forst.) and Riviniana, which, though a real gain of two new plants, set us a-hunting for the true Linnean V. canina. Mr Coles was fortunate enough to find a few specimens of this much rarer species on the banks of the Dee below Threave. Polygala depressa is frequent on the coast of Kirkcudbright. Of Caryophyllaceous plants, there were only two to notice— Cerastium semidecandrum, found by Rev. J. Fraser in Colvend, and the rare annual form pentandrum of C. triviale, found by Mr Coles at Ravenshall. A very interesting discovery was made on an excursion by Messrs M‘Andrew and Coles among the Carsphairn hills, where, in a mossy old ditch, some 1800 or 1900 feet high, specimens of the var. integrifolia of Saaifraga stellaris were collected, a form hitherto known only on Ben Wyvis. Of the genus Callitriche, we now had C. platycarpa (Kiitz.), stagnalis (Scop.), hamulata (Kiitz.), and autwmnals, LZ. in Kirk- 48 Transactions. cudbrightshire. Epilobiwm obscwrum (Schrib.), Filago germanica, Centaurea nigra var. radians are all additional. Of Hieracia, H. corymbosum and H. tridentatum are observed in plenty in the Kenmure district by Mr M‘Andrew ; and a form supposed by Prof. Babington to be H. vulgatum was collected by Messrs M‘Andrew and Coles on lofty rocks in the Carsphairn hills in July of this year. Many other species in this difficult genus should be found in Dumfriesshire. A curiously dwarf and broad-leaved Centaury, noticed by Messrs Robert Watson and Coles on the Borness shore, proves to be the var. B. capitata of EB. centawrium ; it is deceptively like the Z. latifolia. Linaria minor, near Lochmaben Station (F. W. Grierson) ; Veronica montana, L., in great abundance in St. Mary’s Isle (R. Watson) ; forms of Mentha officinalis (under M. piperita) ; and what may prove a transitional form between M. hirsuta and M. pubescens were noted this season by Mr Coles, who had also Rumex conglomeratus, and the following Pondweeds to report from his own district :—P. mucronatus, Schrad., in Carlingwark Loch ; P. Zizii, M. et K., in the Tarff, where also P. lucens var. acuminatus and P. prelongus luxuriate; P. pusillus var. tenurs- sima, in great quantities in a mill dam in Kelton. With P. pectinatus and P. lucens, collected by Gray many years ago, our total of Pondweeds reaches to 15. A notable discovery by Mr Coles was made in regard to Alliwm carinatum, [., which much-discussed species he found in August this year growing vigorously, and with every appearance of its being native, on the shrub-entangled shingle of what is known as the shore of “the Lake” below Kirkcudbright. After care- ful scrutiny, in conjunction with Mr Robert Watson, Rector of the Kirkcudbright Academy, of the locality, and a detailed cor- respondence with Mr Ar. Bennett, F.L.S., Croydon, weight of opinion seemed to lie on the side of the Alliwm being very probably indigenous in this place (and equally so in the vicinity of Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, where Mr Watson had known the plant to exist for three years.) This was found to have been planted by Dr Grierson. Juncus obtusiflorus, Ehrh., of which the only record was so far back as 1837-44, is found by M‘Andrew in a new habitat in Colvend, who also confirms the station for Carex aquatilis var. Watsoni, Syme. Transactions. 49 Plants, interesting as the sole representatives of their genus in Britain, or on account of some special local reason, have been now discovered as follows :— Subularia aquatica (F. R. Coles), in shallow reaches of the Dee below Threave ; Teesdalia nudicaulus, in the Holm Glen by M‘Andrew and at Locharbriggs by Wilson; Alsine verna, mentioned in the Flora as lost since 1864, was re- discovered in Colvend on an excursion of the Society in 1882 ; Orobanche rubra (M‘Andrew), in Colvend; Centunculus minimus (Coles), in Kelton ; Malaxis paludosa (M‘Andrew), in Colvend ; and the rare and beautiful grass, Calamagrostis lanceolata, was found undoubtedly native by M‘Andrew this year (1884) for the first time for Scotland; “its most northern station known for certain,” says Mr Bennett, “being Cheviotland in N. Northum- berland.” The Characee—not included in the Flora at all—prove to be fairly numerous. In two seasons Mr Coles had found the follow- ing species :—Chara fragilis, Desv., near, if not quite, the typical plant, rarely, in clear pools of the Glengapp water, Tongland ; the variety barbata is the commonest form, being frequent in small streams and sheep drains on the moors in the middle of Kirkeudbright ; var. brachy-phylla, as yet noticed in only one locality, close to the sea on Muckle Ross cliffs ; var. capillacea, local, but very luxuriant in a mill dam in Kelton; the var. deli- catula is credited by Messrs Groves to Mr M‘Andrew—locality unknown. Chara polyacantha—This strange and very uncommon plant Mr Coles found in fair quantity in a turbid peaty loch on Culdoch Moor, Kirkcudbright. Nitella opaca, with one or two sub- species, is fairly common in ponds and ditches, while a very beautiful and characteristic form of JV. translucens grows in Meiklewood Loch, Tongland. Among Filices, Mr Coles records several new stations for Hymenophyllum Wilsont; Mr Wilson for Cystopteris fragilis ; Mr M‘Andrew finds Lastrea spinulosa in the Glenkens woods, and a very striking variety of the common bracken, having the points of each pinna attenuated and then forked, sometimes quin- quefidly ; grows in Compstone Wood (Coles, October, 1884), - Kirkcudbright. Looking at the Flora as a whole, it was pleasant to note so few actual errors, but still there were some plants admitted whose identity, habitat, and distribution were all somewhat lost in 7 50 Transactions. uncertainty. It might be as well in a second edition to omit such; meanwhile there was no doubt that the sentence of excision should be passed upon the following :— Viola Hirta, Elatine Hevandra, Trigonella ornithopodioides, Melampyrum sylvaticum, Lysimachia nummalaria, Tofieldia palustris, Juncus Balticus, J. castaneus, and Elymus arenarias : while for such species as Alchimella Alpina, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Arctostaphylos uva-Ursi, Paris quadrifolia (at Dundrennan), and Allwwm scorodoprasum, later authentic records are much required. Much work still lay in the genera Rubus, Rosa, Hieraciwm, Mentha, Salix, and Chara; and the desideratum of keen observers, especially in the hillier parts of Dumfriesshire, was still felt. In conclusion, the writer urged all those interested in Botany to verify all reports of species, and to forward specimens, with particulars, at once to Mr M‘Andrew, whose responsibility it was their duty to hghten as much as possible. 5th December, 1884. Mr J. Gipson STARKE, Vice-President, in the Chair. Thirty members present. New Members.—Mrs Barbour, St, Christopher's ; Mr W. T. Craig, solicitor, Dumfries. Donations. —The Secretary laid on the table Vol. I., Part EY; of the Proceedings of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science ; Vol. III. of the Transactions of the Essex Field Club, as dona- tions from the respective Societies ; also a Roman Copper Coin found at Liverpool, and presented by Mr Henderson of that city. Exhibits.—Dr Gilchrist exhibited sixteen specimens of Nor- wegian Minerals, and Mr J. Shaw a fine specimen of Opal from the Giant’s Causeway. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Ancient Modes of Sepulture. By Mr J. Grsson SrarkE, Vice-President. II. Notes on the Flora of Upper Nithsdale, and additions to the Flora of Dumfriesshire. By A. Davrpson, M.B. When at Thornhill in the summer of 1883 Mr James Fingland and I, in collecting botanical specimens for our herbarium, made oe Transactions. 51 a systematic exploration of the district in our neighbourhood. ‘This year, though my migration to Sanquhar severed the partnership so mutually beneficial, Mr Fingland has continued and extended his exploration of the district, so as to include the parts surrounding Dumfries ; while I have in my leisure hours prospected the Sanquhar and Kirkconnel parishes ; and the combined work has resulted in the discovery of about 200 new localities for these plants already recognised denizens of the county, and 46 new species or varieties. The main field of investigation may roughly be said to include the whole valley of the Nith from Dalswinton to Kirkconnel. Time will not allow my treating this subject in the complete manner it ought to be done, so I will confine myself to the positive aspect of the question ; and, taking the local Flora as my guide, I will first of all enumerate some of the new localities for the rarer species, with short references to those plants common elsewhere perhaps, but rare in Nithsdale ; and in the second place, consider those new to Dumfriesshire. Naturally the Ranuneuli is first of all to be considered. Ranunculus Flammudla, sub-species reptans, recorded as growing at Lochmaben, has been mistaken for var. pseudo-reptans, a very much more common plant ; though the only other locality where I have found perfect specimens is near Garrich, Thornhill. 2. hirsutus was found at Ruthwell by Mr Fingland. I show here a specimen of the yellow lily from the Black Loch, Sanquhar, ‘and I think there is no doubt it is Nwphar intermedia, not NV. pumila Sm. The Celandine, Chelidonium majus, as an escape, is well established in a few places at Thornhill and Carronbridge. For Corydalis claviculata, one new locality, Cleuchhouse Linn, Keir, has been added ; and Ruthwell locality has been confirmed by J. Fingland. Arabis thaliana, Barbarea vulgaris, and Car- damine amara may be considered fairly common, the latter particularly so. On the rocks in the Dalveen Pass we found Arabis hirsuta in a good few places. In Loch Mailing, Auld- girth, and Lochmaben the marsh rocket, Vasturtiwm palustre, is not unfrequent. The common scurvy grass, Cochlearia officinalis, rare as an inland plant, grows in fair abundance in Camplecleugh; Water of AY, and Euchan. Of the Caryophyllee, three only require to be noticed—Lychnis vespertina, which is not uncommon in the Thornhill district, and the variety, puberula of Silene inflata, found in a wood near Thornhill and near Cample. In a field near Sanquhar, I this season gathered the only specimens of 52 Transactions. Githago segetum I have yet seen. The variety Aiviniana of the wood violet is very common, but Viola canina has not been found. The wood stitchwort Stellaria nemorum, generally a somewhat rare plant, grows plentifully in the woods from Auldgirth to Drumlanrig ; and the rare Sagina nodosa favours only the Pass of Dalveen. Geranium sylvaticum, though generally twice as rare as G, pratense, is in all Nithsdale very common; while G@. pratense is comparatively rare. The shining crane’s-bill, G. lucidum, given in the Flora as an escape, grows in Clauchrie Glen and Cample, on rocky, not easily accessible, spots, and may be considered undoubtedly indigenous; in some other places it is, however, not so. The pretty Genista tinctoria we found in two localities only, Scaur Water and Campleslacks, and the Genista anglica only at the New Loch, Thornhill. Ulex Gallui, Mr Fingland observed this season near the Brow Well, Dumfries. Vicia Orobus, recorded in the Flora Scotica as growing near Sanquhar, has been found abundant in Euchan Glen; and in the valley of the Crawick, on the opposite side of the Nith, a large patch of the beautifully pencilled vetch V. sylvatica was found. For Rubus Chamemorus, R., saxatilis, and Saxifraga hypnoides many new localities could be given. The pretty starry Saxifrage, Saxifraga stellaris, grows in bright profusion on the Caple at Queensberry ; in a few places in Clauchrie Glen S. granulata was discovered. Chrysosplenium alternifolium and Sedum villosum are both more common than might be supposed. Among the epilobes £. angustifolium as an escape grows in abundance near Sanquhar, and in a few places on the hills of Dalveen and Cample. JZ. hirsutum is, however, rare, being only found in two places near Thornhill. Friars’ Carse marks the northern limit of a good few plants, such as Lythrum Salicaria, Cicuta virosa, Lysimachia vulgaris, Scutellaria galericulata, and Solanum duleamara. For Helosciadium inundatum and Gnanthe crocata a good few new habitats have been allotted, the latter being in many parts some- what common, while Zthusa Cynapiwm and Daucus Carota can only claim two localities each north of Auldgirth. The common hemlock Mr Fingland found this year at Carlaverock and Loch- maben, but was in neither place abundant. In the Drumlanrig and Sanquhar woods the Vibwrnwm Opulus is frequently to be Transactions. 53 met with, and in two places the rare Sambucus Hbulus finds a quiet retreat. On the banks of the Nith Galiwm cruciatum and G. boreale are frequently met with, the latter in great abundance. In Euchan Glen the melancholy plume thistle, C. heterophyllus, is very common ; while in Crawick, its only other station, it is rather scarce. Bidens cernua favours only the common loch, Thornhill. The yellow Leopard’s bane, Doronicum Parda- lianches, grows in abundance at Nith Linns, and also, although less so, at Morton Mill. Crepis paludosa has been found in Nith Linns and Camplecleugh, the specimen from the latter place being wnicephalous, a variety Mr A. Bennett has not hitherto met with. Campanula latifolia, Pyrola minor, and Symphytum tuber- osum is fairly well distributed ; the latter, I think, is probably indigenous in the Nith below Holmhill. Symphytwm officinale is somewhat common and general. At Sanquhar Castle a few plants of Anchusa sempervirens still flourish. Mr Fingland has reported the presence of Hrythrea littoralis near the Brow Well as probably a new species for Dumfries. The wood betony, Stachys Betonica, though abundant on Euchan and the Nith as far as Elliock Bridge, has not been discovered elsewhere. Galeopsis versicolor is not uncommon in Moniaive, Sanquhar, and Thornhill parishes. Lamiwm amplexicaule has only been found in one locality, near Sanquhar. On the railway embankment near Birscar a few plants of Verbascwm Thapsus were seen, and on the broom all around Auldgirth and Glenmidge the Orobanche major may be considered common. Polygonatum multiflorum no longer grows at Tibbers Castle, but a few specimens still maintain their ground in the wood near Thornhill. Whether the Sparganiwm, simply found in a few places near Thornhill, is new to Dumfries cannot be decided by reference to the local Flora. At Ronaldstoun and Glenmidge, -Auldgirth, and a few other places, Potamogeton rufescens is not uncommon. Scirpus sylvaticus is very common in many places on the Nith and 8. acicularis was found this season at the Townfoot Loch by Mr Fingland. The local Flora is, I find, no true record of the Dumfriesshire Carices. Carex dioca, muricata, curta, hirta, remota, levigata, and sylvatica may all be considered common. For C. paniculata two new habitats are recorded. C. vesicaria has been found in only one place, at Kirkbog, Thornhill. Loch Urr is a new habitat for C. pauciflore. C. teretiuscula, given as 54 Transactions. occurring at Thornhill, has evidently been mistaken for muricata, which differs somewhat from the usual type standing somewhat intermediate between mwricata and psewdo-divulsa. A few lines will dispense with the grasses.. Miliwm effuswm I found this season in Crawick Glen; and in two new localities, Nith Linns and on the banks of the Nith above Elliock Bridge, I have gathered Poa nemoralis. Festuca Myuwrus is pretty common, and must have by mistake been noted in the Flora as rare, For the wall rue and black maiden-hair ferns a few new habitats have been noticed. Of the hart’s tongue a scattered remnant is still to be found on Cample, Nith, Aird’s Linn, and in Dalveen Pass. The brittle bladder fern may be found in almost all the sub-alpine glens, and in Carron Water is most abundant. Ophioglossum vulgatum, the adder’s tongue fern, has been found near Moniaive. The green spleenwort is almost extirpated from Euchan Glen, and will probably soon be extinct. Of the club mosses Lycopodium clavatum, alpinum, and Selago are represented. The critical genera I have wittingly passed over, as I wish to refer more particularly to these species apparently so little studied. The Batrachian ranuncult have been examined by Mr Fingland, and the following we are enabled to record :—Ranun- culus peltatus, var. truncatus and floribundus; R. diversifolius, var. Godroniw; R. Baudotii, var. confusus, all new to Dumfries- shire. My investigation of the roses has led to some important additions. Hosa spinosissima, rare as an inland plant, I found at Elliock Bridge on the Nith. A glandular variety of &. tomentosa is very common at Sanquhar. The following are all new additions:—fosa molissima varieties, mollis and cerulea ; and &. canina, six varieties, viz.—Lutetiana, dumalis, Reuteri, subcristata, Borrert, and arvatica. I may here record my in- debtedness to Mr Arthur Bennett, without whose kind and unstinted assistance I would have been unable to define these varieties. I am also much indebted for his help with many other species. Three new Callitriche have also been added, viz.— hamulata, platycarpa, and stagnalis. Next come the willows. Of Salex pentandra a few plants have been found on the Nith near Sanquhar, and in Ellioch, Drumlanrig and Kirkconnel woods; and strange to say all were male specimens. It would be interesting to observe if the Gallo- Transactions. 55 way plants, or those found in other parts of the country, present this peculiarity. S. Caprea, cinerea, aurita, and purpurea are common. The following are additions :—S. phylicifolia, var. Davalliana and tenwior; S. nigricans ; S. triandra and Salia cinerea, var. aquatica. Two new carices—C. pendula and C. aquatilis, var. Watsoni—fall to be added. I gathered four different brambles, and after vainly endeavour- ing to decipher them I sent them to Professor Babington, who found some difficulty in naming them, as the specimens sent were not very carefully prepared. The names accorded them he did did not wish to be considered perfectly correct ; nevertheless I think it better to give them. They are—Rubus Koehleri, plicatus ramosus, and carpinifolius. So far, although close attention has been paid to the Hieracia (Hawkweeds), I have been unable to discover any other than the two commonest—ZH. vulgatum, var. nemorosum, and H. mwrorwm —and I am somewhat surprised that this part of the shire can show no other varieties in an order where varieties are so numerous. NVetella Opaca and N. translucens are the only repre- sentatives of the Characez found in the district. It now remains to briefly notice the few remaining plants not hitherto, or only doubtfully, recorded as natives of Dumfriesshire. First on the list comes Thalictrum majus, var. flecuoswm, found in a few places on the Nith above Drumlanrig. Dianthus Armeria, hitherto unknown in the south west of Scotland, I discovered near Auldgirth, in a locality that almost excludes any chance of it being an escape. Potentilla procumbens is not uncommonly met with at and south of Auldgirth; while P. reptans has not been met with. In Cleuchhouse Linn, Keir, and on the Nith near Sanquhar, a few specimens of Gewm intermedium have been found. Hypericwm hirsutum, previously only reported from Kirkcudbright, appears in many places on the Nith. Ornithopus perpusillus and Malva moschata also claim to be con- sidered natives. The varieties, palustre of Taraxacum officinale, Leontodon hirtus, and Leontodon autwmnalis (var. pratensis), fall to be added to the list of composite. Galiwm Mollugo I gathered near Sanquhar; and on the Nith near Thornhill specimens of Dipsacus sylvestris and Polygonum Bistortu were found. Poly- — gonum amphibium and Peplis portula may also be noted as probable additions. The only new potamogeton is P. pusillus, var. tenuissimus, which Mr Fingland found growing adundantly 56 Transactions. in Townfoot Loch, Thornhill. Three new grasses — Avena Jlavescens, Festuca pratensis (variety loliacea), and Glyceria Aquatica—close the list of flowering plants. Last and rarest of all I have to record is Equisetwm pratense, abundant in Crawick Glen and on the Nith near Elliock. TIT. A Visit to the Grant's Causeway. By Mr J. Suaw. IV. Dates of First Blossoming of Plants in Tynron. By Mr J. Suaw. In submitting a list of plants first noticed in blossom in months of April, May, June, and July, Mr Shaw remarked that April, 1884, showed flowers about a week earlier than April, 1883. Cold winds in March, 1883, blighted an early blossom, and threw vegetation back. In May, 1884, the number of flowering plants observed was 70, This was a no greater number than that observed in May, 1883. May, 1884, got a better start, but did not keep up in the race. With some difficulty it waved a hawthorn blossom at us before parting, which was so far beyond what its sister of 1883 had done. June is undoubt- edly the flower lovers’ favourite month. The drought and barren winds of last June filled the farmers’ minds with gloomy fears. Vegetation halted. Our list presents 87 as against 113 of the preceding June. The Fox-glove was not seen with us this year in June at all. Many of the Orchis species lagged a week or fourteen days behind. Just as in 1883 plants that are wont to appear by the middle or end of May were crushed forward into June, so in 1884 many June blossoms were held over to July. The wayside roses, which appeared in 1883 in the middle of June, began to unfold this year a week later. In July the number of plants in both years in blossom was about 100. Vegetation quickened rapidly with the fine weather of this month. Still, by comparison, blossoms were behind their time. The heather, which began to bloom with the opening days of the month in 1883, was only observed for the first time about the middle of July, 1884, to the distress of those bee-keepers who wished to profit by its flowers. Still, by the end of the month, July, 1884, had well-nigh got abreast of July, 1883. The blue bells waved in the same week in both ; and some of the late flowering grapes, and several hawkweeds, are registered as appearing with only a few days difference in each, be | or Transactions. ; 2nd January, 1885. Dr Giucuaist, President, in the Chair. 28 members present. Donation.—The Transactions of the Berwickshire Natural History Club were laid on the table as a donation from that Society. Exhibits —Mr Starke, V.P., exhibited a copper-plate engraving of the Old Bridge of Dumfries. Mr Rutherford exhibited two cases of Caddis-flies, lent by Mr R. Service to illustrate Mr King’s paper. CoMMUNICATIONS. TI. Notes on some Trichoptera from the Stewartry. By Mr J. J. Kriya (Corresponding Member). On March 6th, 1880, a paper entitled “ Notes on a Collection of Trichoptera from the Stewartry,” by Mr F. G. Binnie, was read before your Society. At various times since then Mr Service has forwarded to me some small collections of caddis-flies, among which I find 17 species that have not been recorded from the Stewartry ; indeed, one species is new to the Fauna of Britain. These, along with the species recorded by Mr Binnie, bring up the number to 47 species in all, which is somewhat less than one- third of the species recorded from Britain. No doubt if a little more attention were paid to this much-neglected and interesting group of insects, the number might be very much increased, as I notice the absence of many common species, such as Limnophilus centralis, L. vittatus, Micopterna lateralis, &c., that must occur in the Stewartry. I might here ask the entomologists of the Society to collect any caddis-flies that they may come across during the incoming summer ; by so doing they will materially assist Mr Morton and myself in a list of the caddis-flies of Scotland which we are about to publish in the Scottish Naturalist. Caddis-flies require no further attention in preparing them than do the Lepidoptera. In the following list the species new to the Stewartry are indi- cated by an asterisk. The arrangement followed is that of Mr ~ M‘Lachlan in his “ Revised List of British Trichoptera,” published in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 1882 :— _ Phryganeide.—*Phryganea grandis, L. Phryganea varia, F., common—Maxwelltown Loch, &c. 8 D8 Transactions. Limnophilide. — Colpotaulius incisus, Curt. — Dalscairth. Glyphotelius pellucidus, Retz.—Dalscairth, Portland. Limno- philus marmoratus, Curt.—common—Portland. | Limnophilus rhombicus, L.—Maxwelltown Loch. *Limnophilus flavicornis, F.—Maxwelltown Loch. Limnophilus xanthodes, M‘L.—Max- welltown Loch (some of the varieties of this species are very handsome). Limnophilus lunatus, Curt.—common. *Limnophilus aftinis, Curt. *Limnophilus extricatus, M‘L.—very common at Dalscairth and Maxwelltown Loch. Limnophilus luridus, Curt. —Dalseairth. *Limnophilus sparsus, Curt.—Portland. *Limno- philus fuscicornis, Ramb. (one specimen was taken of this some- what scarce species). Anabolia nervosa, Curt.—Dalseairth. Stenophylax stellatus, Curt. —very common—Maxwelltown Loch and Dalseairth. *Micropterna sequax, M‘L. (a few specimens of this species were obtained). *Mesophlax impunctatus, M‘L. (this interesting addition to the British Fauna was taken within the Stewartry ; for details see « Entomologists’ Monthly Maga- zine,” XX. pp. 19-20, indicated as M. aspersus, var.) Halesus radiatus, Curt.—common. *Halesus digitatus, Schrank. Sericostomatide.—Silo palipes, F,—Dalscairth. Lepidostoma hirtum, F.—Maxwelltown Loch. Leptoceride.—* Leptocerus aterrimus, Steph. ; common—Max- welltown Loch and Dalscairth. *Leptocerus cinereus, Curt.— Maxwelltown Loch and Mabie. *Leptocerus commutatus, M‘L. —Dalscairth (a very good character by which the female of the species may be separated from that of albifrons is the snow-white space towards the tip of the antenns, which is very conspicuous ; this white space is entirely awanting in the antenne of L. albifrons). Hydropsychide. —*Hydropsyche pellucidula, Curt.—Dalscairth. *Philopotamus montanus, Donov.—Mabie. *Plectrocnemia con- spersa, Curt. Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Pict.—Drungans. *Tinodes Weeneri, L.—Dalscairth. Rhyacophitide.—Glossosoma Boltoni, Curt.—Mabie. *Glosso- soma vernale, Pict.—Dalscairth. IT. Notes on the Town’s Common Mills and their History. By James Barbour, Vice-President. The Mills belonging to the town of Dumfries, situated on the Maxwelltown side of the river, a little below the Old Bridge, are ee Transactions. 59 sombre and unpicturesque buildings, but their principal accessory, the mill-dam, adds much to the beauty of the river. It forms a broad waterfall, and gives depth and a lake-like appearance to a reach of the river, which bends round the north-west por- tion of the town, and extends as far as Lincluden, reflecting at once on its smooth surface the ruins of that ancient Church and Devorgilla’s venerable bridge. These Mills occupy the site of older buildings of the same kind, which were erected there in the year 1705, when Matthew Frew, according to the terms of the contract between the parties, undertook ‘‘ to construct and build ane good and sufficient com- _plete and well-going water-miln, for grinding of malt, meal, and flour, or anie grain whatsomever, with dams, wearis, sluices, watergangs, taledams, and hail othir pertinents.” The Caul is specified to extend “from that part of the rock on the Galloway or Troqueer side, opposite to Baillie Fingusse’s barn, in the Whitesandbeds, up to the Dumfries side of the Nith opposite to the entry or passage to the Water of Nith at the foot of ye Freesvennell, or opposite ye back of the house pertaining to James Boyd, merchant ;” and it is designed to be constructed of wood: “ Which Caal or Dam is to be made of staicks of red oak, fixed into the rock through the Water of Nyth, at two foot distance one from another, or thairby, and holes to be digged into the rock fit for beating down and fixing each stake, or stoup thairin ; and which staickes are to be supported by stoupis of oak fastened into ane oaken soale, throw the Water of Nith, at the back of the said staiks or stoups; and the said staiks or stoups are to be lyned with good full firrdales, close plain-seamed on the upper syde and nailed to ye said stoupes.” The water-gang is to be 160 feet in length. The Mill is to be built upon “that rock opposite to the entry into Provost Irving’s yeard at the head of the Cunningham’s lands pertaining to the Toun of Dumfries.” The Tail-dam is to be “1200 foot in length or thairby, down from the said miln to that rock in the rack opposite the heid of ye Willies.” Frew binds himself to begin the work the 8th of April, 1705; to end the same at Martinmas next to come, under penalty of 1000 merks Scots; and to uphold the Mill, Dam, &c., seven years. The total contract price is 3000 merks Scots, payable by periodical instalments of 360 merks each. The contractor comes in the Town’s will for any further pay- ment, over and above the stipulated price of 5000 merks. He 60 Transactions. is to have liberty to dig and win stones for the said work out of the Town’s quarries not already opened. His needful travelling expenses during seven years’ upholding to be satisfied by the Town. Some of the entries in the Town’s accounts further indicate the quality of the buildings, and also serve to illustrate the current rate of wages at the time :— Novr. 1706. Payd for 18 burdings of whins (for Caul) at 8d ye burden £0 12 0 Alexr. Glen for 8 draughts of stones for the Call ae aN) John Anderson for 7 draughts _... 3 ; cco al SB EO John Neilson for 7 draughts me Bee oe oem eterh O Gawaine Carlile for 7 draughts ont ee Zo id, 38R0 Novr. 20. Arther Grahme for 34 days at the New Se My ceavied Ewert’s order, at 7s per day ... 1 4 6 William Car 4 days at the New Dam __... ana cg Leds John Duf 3 days : iy ile John Neilson and J ohn Anderson for 2 cairts from Car- laverock with wood for a wheel ak st “40 To Bailey Ewart, ke paid for timber for a w heel <0; OO To Bailey Corbet given Wm. Mean in earnest when they agreed for bigging ofakill .. bi ots acy O14046 Nov. 27. For 5 Threeves & 4 of Thak to ye Mill, be Bailey Barkles order 3 nee 016 0 To a Theaker for putin on the Thak of ditto... adn Ol aE CO Feby. 25, 1707. Hew Roddick and John Turnor for casting and leading ye turffs and rigging the New Miln, per Coun: order 12 0 0 March 1. Thomas Macjore for whins brought to ye Town’s Caul by him, &c. su bh fos at Sot we HERS 10) All Scots money. Altogether the picture presented of this Mill, with its walls built of rough stones, which had been dug out of the site of the existing Kilns, and its thatched roof ridged with turf, exhibit Frew’s “model” as an unambitious one ; and the Caul made of wood must have served its purpose very imperfectly if we are to judge by the quantities of whins and stones with which it had to be supplemented. The progress of the work undertaken by Frew was interrupted by a law plea. Shortly after its commencement, the proprietors of the upper fishings opposed the construction of the Caul, by presenting a bill of suspension in the Court of Session. The case was ultimately decided in the Town’s favour, and the mill was completed in 1707, when it was let to a tenant, along with another water-mill belonging to the Town, situated in the Mill- hole. : Transactions. 61 In the year 1780 Frew’s mill was destroyed by fire, and the existing buildings were erected on the same site the year follow- ing, under the direction of an eminent engineer, John Smeaton, designer of Eddystone Lighthouse and many other great works, whose life forms one of the most interesting and instructive of the biographies contained in “ Smiles’ Lives of Engineers.” Smeaton was born at Ansthrope, near Leeds, in the year 1724, and he died in 1792. He had been consulted by the Magistrates of Dumfries on other matters beside the Mills. ‘One of the earliest subjects on which Mr Smeaton was consulted,” says Mr Smiles, “was the opening up of river navigation. In 1760 he reported to the Magistrates of Dumfries as to the improvement of the Nith, but his advice—to form a navigable canal rather than deepen and straighten the river at a much greater cost— was not carried out for want of funds.” The drawings for the mills furnished by Smeaton are among the Town’s papers. Before the erection of Frew’s Mill, the Town possessed, on the Dumfries side of the river, a water-mill, situated in the Millhole; another water-mill, called the “ Sandbed Mill of Dumfries ;” and a horse-mill, the site of which is now occupied by part of the west side of the Brewery, at the head of Brewery Street. We have no record regarding the erection of any of the three mills on the Dumfries side of the river, but there is evidence of the existence of buildings of this description in the Town at an early period. There is mention of “ Adam the Miller” about the middle of the 12th century, when Richard, son of Robert, was arraigned for his murder in the Castle of Dumfries ; and in 1307, the Castle being in the hands of the English, command is sent, on behalf of the King, to James de Dalileghe at Skymber- ~nesse to provide wheat and barley, and have it ground at Dumfries. Later we have reference to a mill-dam, in such terms as to indicate its locality. In a Charter, by the King, dated Dumfries, 10th October, 1510, confirming the Charter which William Cunninghame, Burgess of Dumfries, had previously granted to the Parish Church of Dumfries (St. Michael’s) of certain houses and lands within the Burgh of Dumfries, mention is made of— “8/ from the tenement of Shir Finlaii Makgilhauch, Chaplain ; 4/ from the Orchard of the said Chaplain, hard by the mill-dam ; 12/ from the tenement of the late John Steill, situated between the mildam and the Clerkhill.” 62 Transactions. Both the water-mills on the Dumfries side were such as would now be considered extremely primitive. They were small build- ings, their roofs—in common probably with the greater part of the town at the time—covered with thatch; and as early as 1661 the walls of the Sandbed Mill had become insecure. The Town’s Minute Book, under date 10th November of that year, bears :—- * Councell ordains the public Treasurer publicklie to cause theik the Towne Milns with strae, and to cause under-prop the wall of the Sandbed-mylne until the Spring.” A little further information may be gleaned, as to the character of the old mills, from statements made, and evidence taken, in the dispute, already referred to, between the Fishery proprietors and the Magistrates. The former represent that the Sandbed Mill, in lieu of which the projected one was being built—“ Is of so little use to the Town that she had not been, these eighteen or twenty years, agoing ;” and that—‘‘ The Town did not require a new milne, they having both a horse-milne and a water-milne besides.” On the other hand, the Town Council say that— ‘“ Where they were building ane Damm or wall through the water of Nith to serve in ane milne which is also building, for grinding of malt to the inhabitants of the burgh, who are thirled thereto, through that part of the water of Nith belonging to the Town of Dumfries in Property and Superiority, above a stone- cast below a milne and wall and Damm which the Town had upon the same water, which still was sanded and broke with speats and torrents of the water,” and further that they “had not the use of any Horse Milne, nor has had this long time, and for their Water Milne she had [gone] about three months of the winter season or thereby, and they have not any going milne at present.” The Witnesses deponed that—‘‘The Town of Dum- fries had a milne dam dyke quite through the water of Nith to the Galloway side from the Sandbeds Milne, about 5 feet high above the ground, made up of stain and creills, without lime, but sometimes stopped with fog, and the water was never equal with the said dyke in the summer time except in a great speat.” The Sandbed Mill disappeared long ago, but its situation is described in the Town’s Titles as at the east end of, and hard upon, the Bridge of Dumfries, and as extending to Homer Maxwell’s house, which stood below the Bridge. Last year extensive remains of the east abutment of the Old Bridge were discovered underground, between Bridge Street and Transactions. 63 Brewery Street, and it was found to be pierced by a culvert, evidently part of the lade or “watergang,” for leading water to the Mill. The structural connection thus found, linking together the Mill and the Old Bridge, suggests the theory that the two struc- tures were built together by a common founder, and that, in accordance with ancient custom, the Mill was attached to the Monastery as well as the revenues of the Bridge ; and the theory derives further support from the terms of the Town’s Titles to the Mills. A Minute of Council, of date 25th Feby., 1656, bears :-— “Qrdains to be put in their Town’s box William, Lord Hereis, and Sir William Maxwellis Seisin in the Sandbed Mylne with the Laird of Gribtoun thereanent regestrat in the Bukes of Counsell to the burgh. Item, Robert M‘Briar, his Disposition to Thomas M‘Briar and his Spouse to the Burgh of the Mylnehole Mylne.” The extract shows that the Millhole Mill was acquired by the Town from Thomas M‘Briar ; and with reference to the Sandbed Mill and the Town’s rights generally, the Magistrates, in the dispute with the fishery proprietors about the erection of the Caul, produced their Titles, of which the following is an outline :— «“ Ane Chartour made and granted be King James the Sixth in favors of the Provost, Baillies, Toun Councell, and Community of the Town of Dumfries, and their successors, of All and hail the ferms profits, &c., and others of the hail lands, tennen- dries, houses, biggings, orchyeards, yeards, crofts, and others, fishings which pertained to the brethren of the said burgh commonly called Greyfriers. Together with the half of the customes imposed on the said burgh and others incumbent and deu and payable to the said brethren. Also, All and hail the lands, tenements, houses, biggings, annuities, fruits, profits, emoluments, given and mortified to the said brethren, pertaining or which should pertain to them within the paroch Church of the said burgh, as the said Charter, of the date the 4th day of January, 1591 years bears. “ Ane Instrument of Seasine of John Maxwell of Gribtone, bearing him to be infeft in ane malt milne, situate on the river bank at the east end of the Bridge of Dumfries, with houses, milne, waters, water-gates, with sequels, astricted multures, and their pertinents, lying within the territory of the said burgh of 64 Transactions. Dumfries, as the said Seasine of the 26th day of October, 1629 years bears. * Ane Disposition made and granted be John Maxwell of tribtoun, heritable proprietor of the Malt Milne and others therein specified, and Jean Richardson, his spouse, to and in favors the Provost, Baillies, Councill, and Community of the burgh of Dumfries, &c., All and hail the malt milne per- taining heritably to the said John Maxwell, bigged and con- structed upon the Sandbeds at the east end of the bridge of Dumfries, with the milne houses, waters, water-gangs, damms, with the thirled and astricted multures, sucken sequels, and hail pertinents thereof whatsomever, &c., as the said Disposition, of the date the 25th day of October, 1630 years bears.” There is another Deed among the Town’s papers, which, so far as I am aware, has not been before referred to, and it supplies the link which directly connects the Mill and the Church. It is in Latin, and is endorsed in an old hand on the back—“ William, Lord Hereis, instrument of Seasing the Sandbed Mill of Dumfries,” and dated 10th November, 1589. From this document we learn that Lord Herries acquired the Mill from the Rey. Thomas Maxwell, who was the last Vicar of Dumfries. The following is a full outline of the text :—‘‘ Herbert Raining, one of the Bailies of the Burgh of Dumfries, as representing the Superiors of the burgh-lands—the Provost, Bailies, Council, &c., of Dumfries—grants Seisin to the Reverend Maister Thomas Maxwell, Vicar of Dumfries, and his heirs and assignees, All and whole the under written portion of the said foreshore, or river bank, which forms an integral portion of the common lands of the Burgh of Dumfries. The date of the Charter granted Maister Thomas being at Dumfries, 20th March, 1588, granting him Seisin of a portion of those burgh-lands, commonly known and described as the Over Sandbed, upon the water shore or bank of the river Nith there adjoining, &c., and hard upon the stone bridge of the same river, &c., extending longitudinally as far as the contiguous gable wall of the house, which has been built upon the same river-shore, or bank, and which is the pro- perty of Maister Homer Maxwell [Here the pertinents are described in terms similar to those before quoted from Sir John Maxwell’s Disposition] in feu and heritage, the said Thomas to pay merks, usual money of Scotland, by equal portions, at two terms of the year, at the Feast of Pentecost and Martin- mas, in name of feu-farme, Transactions. 65 “ And the said Maister Thomas Maxwell, Vicar of Dumfries, for certain causes, &c., resigned all his rights into the hands of Herbert Raining, as the deputed representative of the Superiors —the Provost, &c., of the Burgh of Dumfries—in favour of and for a new Seisin to be granted to a noble and potent lord, William, Lord Hereis, and Dame Cathrine Kar, his Spouse, &c. In presence of Roger . . . Burgess of the said Burgh ; Hugh Maxwell, son of John Maxwell in Logane ; William Maxwell, brother of the said John; Herbert Hunter, servitor to the said Lord ; John Maxwell and David M‘Math, servitors to the said burgh, Witnesses, dc. “ Herbert Cunynghame, of the diocese of Glasgow, Notary Public, and Writer and Notary in the Burgh of Dumfries. “‘Signed and confirmed by James Rig, also Notary Public.” There is no Writ showing in what way the Vicar himself became possessed of a property of this peculiar description, but little doubt can be entertained that it would be as part of the income of the Vicarage, to which he had been presented by James VI., lst July, 1579. It appears then that the Sandbed Mill adjoined the east end of the Old Bridge, and was connected structurally with it in such a way as to show that the two buildings had been erected contemporaneously and together ; that the Town derived their rights in the Mill from the King’s Charter granting them the possessions of the Brethren of the Greyfriars (as they did the Bridge dues), and a Disposition in their favour by John Maxwell of Gribton, to whom the property descended heritably from his grandfather, William, Lord Herries, who again acquired it from the last holder of the Vicarage of Dumfries. The Church, the Bridge, and the Mill are thus linked together as parts of a common design. The great benefactress of the district in the 13th century, Lady Devorgilla, founded the Greyfriars’ Monastery in the Town. She connected her province of Galloway with the Town of Dumfries by a stone Bridge of imposing dimensions, granting its revenues for the support of the Monastery. And it now appears probable that she also erected the Sandbed Mill at the end of the Bridge, its revenues, like the Bridge dues, being piously devoted to the Church. No description of building is more frequently mentioned in medieval documents than mills. ‘ Perhaps,” says Mr Cosmo Innes, “one of the oldest adjuncts to a barony—one of the most 66 Transactions. grievous oppressions of the peasantry. It is often amplified by the addition ewm nulturis et sequelis, specifying that the multure dues of the baron’s mill and the sacken, as we call the population thirled to the mill. These rights are the subject of very fre- quent transactions. The neighbours fought not only with the miller, who was the universal enemy, but with each other as to their rowme and order of service. One curious point of the service of the sucken was the bringing home of the mill-stones. Con- sidering that there were few or no roads, the simplest arrange- ment was to thrust a beam or young tree through the hole of the mill-stone, and then for the whole multitude to wheel it along upong its edge—an operation of some difficulty and danger in a rough district.” The doings in connection with the mills in this town, in times not far distant, fairly well illustrate the above passage. The burgh lands, as well as the kirk lands, were thirled to the mills, and the Town Council were careful that the possessors of these lands should not evade the thirlage. On the 11th August, 1652, the Council appointed a committee to see “The hail growin’ cornes of the Towne and Kirkland this present croppe, And make Inventorie thairoff and give in to the Toun Counsell both of ye quantity of the lands and of the possessoris thairof.” The inhabitants of the town also were required to have their malt ground at the common mills, and not only so, but they must not purchase ground malt which had been ground at any other mill. The following are examples of the Council’s dealings in this matter :—“ 24th January, 1645. The Provost, Bailys, and Council, Considering that Edward Newall has taken malt bye the Toun’s Milns be his own confessione, Ordains him to pay five merks and double multure to the Taxmen.” 3d December, 1646—“ It is ordained that whosoever resets or receaves grund malt whilk are not grund at the Towns Milns Sall pey the double multure to the Tacksmen farmers and Tacksmen, And pey Ten punds unlaw Conforme to the former acts thereanent.” 11th April, 1687—‘ The Councell Discharges the hail Inhabitants of the Burgh of bringing in or brewing of grund-malt from the country, to the prejudice of the Touns Milns under the pain of being ffined in the value of the malt and loseing their Priveledge of Burges-ship.” The Council at another time, agree with the Tacksman of the Mills, to allow “TIkx discoverer of resetting or bringers in of ground malt ane Transactions. 67 dollar for ilk loade that shall be discovered, off the fore-end of the fine.” Under the most favourable circumstances, restrictions such as these would be likely to lead to inconvenience, but in this instance the rigorous enforcement of them was severely felt, owing to the inadequacy of the Mills to overtake the work required of them. Spates and droughts are often recurring causes of difficulty, but oftener still the condition of the Mills themselves, the pleasant and refreshing sound of falling water as it slides from the revolving water wheel, being often mingled with discordant groaning and jolting noise of ill-fitting and broken machinery. On the 21st January, 1656, “Robert Stewart Tacksman of Mylnes, protestit that he wald give over the Tack at this instant term of Candlemas in respect they were not keipit. The Council protested that they were leading stanes to the Mill Dam and Caal, and were willing to do all diligence for keeping the said Milns in good order.” ‘The incapacity of the Town’s Mills appear at this time to have reached an acute stage, and the Council found it neces- sary to supplement them, and for this purpose they secured from Maxwell of Broomholm a lease of Stakeford Mill, situated on the Troqueer side of the river. The acquisition of this Mill was immediately followed by an Act of Council, ordaining that all malt brought into the burgh must be ground at the “ Touns twa Common Milns and Staikford Miln.” All the three mills, however, are occasionally in want of water, or otherwise unable to work, causing the inhabitants much inconvenience, who are nevertheless still ‘‘ordaint to bring their malt to be grindit at the Common Milns,” under the penalty of a fine, in addition to their ordinary multure, “except the said inhabitants first bring their said malt to remain at the Touns Milns, and let it remain there for the space of 48 hours, after which space they are to be frie to carrie their malt to other milns.” In order to meet the difficulty so often experienced, the want of water in connection with their water mills, and to put them- selves into a position in which they can maintain in full all their privileges, the Council now proceed to erect a horse mill on the Upper Sandbed of Dumfries, some distance northward of the Over Sandbed Water Mill, and in 1687 Thomas Irving and George Carlyle secured a lease, to endure three years, of the Town’s Mills, including the horse-mill. The new tenants, shortly before the term at which they are to take possession of the subjects, 68 Transactions. seem to think they may as well endeavour to better their bargain. They petition the Council, and complain of the unsatisfactory condition the mills are in, the disadvantages of a horse mill, and that the multures have not been fixed—pointing out the necessity of doing something “ for the removal of clamour,” and they ask the Council to give them the Dock grass instead of the Kingholm. As the petition helps out the picture of the Mills, the text is given here as it appears in the Minute Book :— “1st Novr., 1687.—The said day the Councill having con- sidered the Petition given be Thomas Irving and George Carlyle, Tacksmen of the Milns of Dumfreis, making mention, That, whereas your petitioners being Tacksmen of the Milns of the Burgh of Dumfris for three years after Martinmass, at which time we are to enter, and it being at present notourly known that the Horse-miln wants ane wheel and other Timber work necessary to her, and also sufficient Stable, with a Loft, at the end of the said Miln, for keeping the miln horses and fodder, and that the water wall and dams of the Milnhole-miln are altogether Insufficient, and will goe away with the very first glush of water, if it be not speedily help’d, and seeing as yet there are no true measures condescended upon what multure each Boll of the malt pays, May it therefore please your Wisdoms either to take some speedy course for the reparation of the said Milns, and building of the said Stable and Loft, and put them in an sufficient case as Tacksmen can enter to them, Together with measures for lifting and receiving the multure of ilk Boll of malt for the removing of clamour for the time to come, always considering the vast differ- ence and expenses betwixt grinding with horses and water, and servants for attending, and allow the Dock grass in lieu of the Kingholm, in respect of the vast difference, or else to frie us of our Tack, which we are willing to deliver up.” Their ‘“Wisdoms” remitted this pawky petition to a committee, who reported in favour of a course with which we are familiar in our own day— «They thought it proper, in consideration of the great expenses the Toun hes been at in building the horse-milne, and the con- tinual expenses the Tacksmen will be at in mentaining the horses, That the Tacksmen be allowed to take half a peck of ilk ten pecks of matt, and if the load consists of more pecks, that they cause measure the same, and that in lieu of both the multure and miller’s dues, and leaves the rest of the articles to the Toun’s consideration.” Transactions. 69 Thus in consideration of the great expenses of the town and the great expenses of the tacksmen, some additional payment is required from the sucken inhabitants, bringing up the multures and miller’s dues to 5 per cent. of the malt taken to the mills. These old common mills of the burgh—small buildings, which with their straw-clad roofs and attendant water-wheels, turning with self-satisfied sleepy motion—must have been picturesque objects, joining rural and civic life, the scenes of multifarious and varied strifes, probably also of much pleasant gossip. They are one of the most frequent subjects of minute appearing in the town’s minute books. The several succeeding Town Councils, who so unweariedly and zealously guarded the privileges attached to the mills, were composed of men, many of them of rank, edu- cation, and wealth, who to their civic interests often joined extensive landed estates in the country. Homer Maxwell of Speddoch, at one time Provost of Dumfries, curiously enough owned and occupied a house in the burgh which adjoined the Over Sandbed Mill. It was the custom to let the town mills by roup, over a long period for one year only, and ultimately for three years ; and new tacksmen appear in possession nearly every new let. The tacksmen must have been farmers of the revenues rather than practical millers. Probably they might know as little about the Mills as the commendators did about Church matters spiritual, unconnected with the real revenues of the lands and worldly profits of the See. The miller, however, seems to have had a busy time of it. After a flood, the “water-gangs ” required to be cleared of the sand with which they had been filled during the spate ; in droughts, the dam-dykes needed to be stopped with fog ; and at all times his eye must be abroad on the sucken to see that he is not defrauded of any of his dues. But the miller’s greatest troubles lie within the mill. Malt is often brought there and left an indefinite time, and, in the words of the Council’s minute, “albeit it should be lost,” the miller is blamed. If it be not lost, he is still charged with having dimin- ished its quantity, or of having substituted malt of inferior quality for that of better quality, which had been brought to his mill ; and, indeed, to cheat the miller by all fair means and the most ingenious artifices seems to have been the constant aim of all, from the time of Adam, the first miller of Dumfries, down- wards. The working millers, if we are to judge by one example, were not free of the propensity commonly attributed to the trade. 70 Transactions. Thomas Dewar, miller, was taken red-handed stealing malt from the mill. It does not appear that he was in employment there at the time he committed the theft, and possibly his conduct in present circumstances contrasted with his behaviour when employed in the mills like that of Chaucer’s miller— ‘* For ther before he stal but curteysly, But now he is a thief outrageously.” His punishment was severe and characteristic of the treatment of such cases at the period :—‘ 12th June, 1663—The Counsell Ordains that Thomas Dewar be convoyit oute of ye Towne be the hand of the Hangman, and nevir to return therin, and a bank [drum] to be bait at his heele that non resett him heirefter in their house, under ye paine of ten merkis toties quoties, and Skurging of him out of the toun, Being taken red hand steiling malt out of the sek standing in ye Mylne.” 6th February, 1885. Dr Gitcurist, President, in the Chair. Thirty-two members present. Deceased Members.—After the reading of the minutes of last meeting, which were adopted, the Chairman moved “That this Society record in its minutes the loss which it has sustained by the death of Dr Frank W. Grierson, and that the Secretary be instructed to convey the sympathy of all present to his bereaved parents.” In doing so the President said—‘‘ Most of you must be aware of the loss we have sustained in the early death, in a far distant land, of an earnest and valued member of the Society, Dr F. W. Grierson. His time, talents, acquirements, and collections were ever at its service when an opportunity pre- sented itself. The simplicity of his tastes, the amiability of his disposition, the versatility of his talents, the unselfishness of his character, the purity and goodness of his whole nature, were a combination of graces and virtues rarely to be found in the same individual. Though his college curriculum was passed in quietude and without ostentation, he graduated with honours. To his usual medical studies he added a knowledge of several collateral subjects, by which his mind was broadened and matured. With character, talents, and acquisitions such as we Transactions. 71 have noted, he could not have failed to be an honour to himself, an ornament to his profession, and an advantage to society. While his untimely death must cause a pang of regret to every member of the Society who knew him at all, it has produced in those who knew him better, feelings of a deeper and more per- manent character. Though dead he yet speaketh. To us he saith, ‘Time is short, life is uncertain. Be up and doing; work while it is day ; the night cometh.’” On the motion of Mr M‘Dowall, vice-president, it was also agreed to record the loss sustained by the death of the Rev. J. B. Johnstone, who had rendered valuable assistance in the archzolo- gical department. Donations.—The Secretary laid on the table pieces of ancient Egyptian papyrus and parchment, with hieroglyphics and Coptic writing thereon, as a donation from Dr Grant Bey; eleven pamphlets on different subjects from Mr G. F. Black; a collec- tion of plants from Mr Arthur Bennett, F.L.S., for distribution among the members. The Secretary also laid on the table Vols. I. and IT. of “ Bain’s Calendar of Documents,’ which he had been instructed to purchase for the Library. Exhibits —The Chairman exhibited specimens of variegated sandstone found in the Nith, and an old engraving of the Reformers ; also an old MS. book, dated 1815, and an old artistic pen-case on behalf of Miss M‘Cracken. Mr W. G. Gibson exhibited a Caffre’s skull, and pointed out some distinguishing characteristics ; also an old oak chair that belonged to the box- master of the shoemakers in connection with the Seven Trades of Dumfries. Dr D, Lennox exhibited and described a number of curiosities brought from the Soudan, including a Remington rifle, an Arab spear, knife, camel sticks, armlets, and several photographs of the natives, and of the Mahdi. The Chairman intimated that the Committee had held several meetings recently to consider the advisability of recommending the Society to occupy the Presbytery House, as a suitable place for holding their meetings, and for storing their books and speci- mens. The Secretary read the conditions on which the Presby- tery of Dumfries would agree to the proposal. After a short discussion this was adjourned until next meeting. “J bo Transactions. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. The Broads and Fens of East Anglia. By Mr A. Beyyert, F.L.S., Corresponding Member. This paper was illustrated by numerous charts and specimens of almost all the plants mentioned therein, and was read by Mr M‘Andrew, Vice-President. In it Mr Bennett describes supposed excursions through this unique portion of English scenery. First, through the “ Broads” of Norfolk—those extensive but shallow lagoons of water caused by the small dip of the rivers in that county ; secondly, through the Fen district, in the neighbourhood of Ely. Starting from Yarmouth, and taking the train to Potter Heigham, the Broads are entered and botanized by boat. In these Broads such plants are to be found as Lathyrus palus- tris, Rumex palustris, Lastrea cristatum, Lastrea Thelypteris, Chara Stelligera (its second British station), Chara tomentosa (its first English station), abundance of Charas and Potamogetons, and other marsh and water plants; Vaias marina (its only British station, discovered in 1883), Liparis Loeselu, Carex paradoxa, Cladiwm Mariscus, Siwm latifoliwm, Senecio palus- tris, Peucedanum palustre, and abundance of reeds, Z'ypha, Scirpus, &e. Leaving the Broads, Mr Bennett began the second part of his supposed tour, on this occasion through the Fen district from Ely. Here the drainage has been more com- plete than in the Broad country. The following plants are to be gathered in Wicken Fen, and in the Fen district generally: —Teucrium Scordiwm, Calamagrostis lanceolata, Nitella tenwis- sima, Epipactis palustris, Viola stagnina, Potamogeton lanceo- latus (in the ditch by Burwell Drove—its second British station), Selinum carvifolium (near Chippenham on the moor, 1882). The Lincolnshire Fens, being now wholly drained, are not included in the tour. Appended to Mr Bennett’s paper was a note on Carex Salina, Wahl. var. Kattegatensis Fries, lately found on Wick Water in Caithness-shire. Il. The Influence of Trees on Climate and Raiwmfall. By Mr P. Gray, Corresponding Member. (Abstract). The author began by stating that forests, smaller aggregations of growing timber, even single trees, induced the deposition of moisture from the atmosphere, checked undue evaporation, and Se ee Transactions. 73 equalised the flow of rivers and lesser streams. The destruction of forests in hot countries turned fertile lands into deserts ; in more temperate regions was the occasion of desolating floods. It had been declared by a recent writer that indiscriminate forest clearing was the sin that had cost the human race its earthly paradise, and that war, pestilence, storms, fanaticism, and intem- perance, together with all other mistakes and misfortunes, had not caused half as much permanent damage as this fatal crime against mother earth. The evil was of long standing, and its consequences might be traced throughout all history. Never- theless it was still proceeding, and, until recently, without check. The North American Continent, on its first discovery almost one continuous woodland from sea to sea, had been nearly, and often wantonly, denuded of trees, so that timber was becoming alarm- ingly scarce in the United States. The Central Asian table-land, that officina gentiwm, the original home of our Aryan race, was now almost a desert, mainly from this cause. As a proof of this, the state of the Khanate of Bokhara was adduced, a region which, by the foolish destruction of its woods, had been in quite recent times shorn of fertility. It had been well wooded and watered, and was regarded by the Central Asiatics as a sort of terrestrial paradise. But the mania of forest clearing and the fury of civil war had wasted the country of its woods, and now immense tracts, once well-peopled and cultivated, were disappearing under the stealthy and unceasing advance of the sands of the surround- ing deserts. The Russian possessions in the Caucasus were menaced by a similar fate from the same cause. Our recent acquisition, Cyprus, was once fertile to a proverb, but the waste- ful cutting down of its forests had been followed by drought and sterility. If the higher lands of that island were, however, re- clothed with timber, there was no doubt that its plains would again become well-watered and fertile. It was thus that Egypt was losing its proverbial character of a rainless country. Even single trees induced precipitation. The inhabitants of one of the most arid of the Canaries were at one time supplied with water by a solitary tree, growing at the head of a deep valley, which daily strained a large quantity of water from the humid mist conveyed inland by the sea breeze. But this tree of life was now gone, and the mists, though they still remained, passed away without yielding their accustomed supply. This phenomenon might sometimes be observed in our own country on 10 74 Transactions. misty summer nights. Trees also, it was obvious, checked eva- poration from the soil, which had been ascertained to be about fourteen times less in woods than when the ground was bare. With regard to springs, it was matter of frequent experience that the destruction of wood dried these up in many cases. The general effect of woodland was to make the climate of the district more humid ; the planting, early in the century, of the hills on the west side of the vale of Dumfries had made sheep-feeding unprofitable in that quarter, although trees in the course of their growth dried wet land. The evil wrought by forest destruction in temperate climates was manifested in devastating floods. When the ground was bare of trees, the rain collected in torrents and rushed off towards the sea, swelling the rivers to a great height suddenly, The south of France was exceedingly liable to destructive outbreaks of the streams that rise on the northern flanks of the Pyrenees, the lofty summits of which intercepted and condensed the warm vapours brought by south-western gales from the Atlantic. Various steps had been taken, especially of late years, to arrest the destruction of forests in France, Italy, Germany, and the United States. Only in this country had nothing been done to that end. In one direction, however, there had been gratifying progress—the planting of trees along the streets of the Metropolis and other large towns ; and there seemed no reason why the good example should not be followed in smaller towns. The subject of the economical value of plantations was well worthy of investigation. When, in the early years of this century, the planting of forest trees was strongly advocated by the Highland Society, Dr Hamilton, at its instigation, wrote a treatise of forestry for the use of landholders and tenants, in which he maintained that if two million acres of the waste land of Scotland were planted with larch and other forest trees, their value in a century would equal the amount of the National Debt, besides improving the remainder of the land to the extent of ten millions sterling per annum. Trees, the author observed in con- clusion, unlike all other crops, increased nearly all the year round, and depended less than any on the character of the season; and there were many additional reasons for the practice of arbori- culture, all tending to enforce the exhortation of the moribund laird of Dumbiedykes—“ Aye be stickin’ in a tree, Jock ; it'll be 99) growin’ when ye’re sleepin’. bas | 1 Transactions. 6th March, 1885. Dr Gitcurtst, President, in the Chair. Forty members present. Donations.—The Chairman presented, on behalf of Dr Grant, Bey of Cairo, a number of fragments of Egyptian pottery, pieces of alabaster, nummulitic limestone, fossil-wood, sandstone, Roman cement, ancient glass, and flint instruments. Mr W. G. Scott presented a fine specimen of the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus Glacialis), which had been shot in the preceding winter at Carse- thorn. The Secretary laid on the table the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1880-81, and the Smithsonian Institution Report for 1882, as donations from the Smithsonian Institution ; also nine parts of the Linnean Society’s Transac- tions, as a donation from Mr Robinson-Douglas. Exhibits—Mr Scott exhibited specimens of stigmaria, the coralline limestone, cannel coal, bitumen, and galena from the Leadhills ; also a small stone ring found at Troquhain, New- Galloway. Miss Reid exhibited several specimens of the rocks taken from the excavations in the sinking of the Mersey Tunnel. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Early Notices of the use of Tobacco in Britain. By Rector Curnnock. Il. The Rocks of the Moffat District and their Fossil Remains. By Mr James Dairoy, F.G.S. I have thought it advisable to make this communication as useful as possible, so that it may be available as a kind of guide to the different localities around Moffat, leading to the best known situations in these parts, and as near as possible to where the working student may find the different genera and species of the Graptolitic family in the greatest profusion, and also in the best state of preservation. The finely rounded character of the hills of Upper Annandale, many of them exceeding 2000 feet in height, and covered with verdure to their summit, may not possess the rugged grandeur of the northern or western High- lands, still they have a beauty of their own, and in many parts make up some of the finest pastoral scenery in Soctland. Under- neath their grassy covering we find the prevailing rock to be a Silurian grit or Grauwacke, of a grey or greenish colour, and 76 Transactions. varying in some parts to a purplish tint. It is very hard and durable, and makes an excellent building material, being much used in the locality. There are associated with the Grau- wackes a thin flaggy grit, and black Graptolitic shales, so often found in the scores and burns, which are formed in the hill sides by denudation. Fragments of these black shales may be found among the gravel in the bed of the Annan, six or seven miles distant from the parent rock at Hartfell, and I have frequently picked up some very good specimens brought down in this way. There is also a red sandstone rock, said to be of the Permian Age, which is found largely at the base of the hills, and in some parts has been denuded and carried a considerable distance into the valleys, where it is in many places mixed with small pieces of the Silurian grit, giving an idea that the hills had been covered with this red sandstone at an early epoch, before it was washed down to the base of the hills and there preserved. One of the best exposures of it is to be found in sections along the burn from Hartfell, a short distance off the main road going up to the well, and in other parts such as at Beldcraig, Wellburn, and Frenchland burn. I have no doubt it is the equivalent of the Corncockle moor stone, but by no means equal to it, as it does not seem to be fit for any economic purpose whatever. There are few trap dykes or outbursts of igneous rocks observable in the locality, except at Coatshill Quarry, which is wrought for road metal, &c. There is also another exposure of the same dyke now in the railway cutting between Moffat and Beattock, which was visited by this Society last summer (August 4th, 1884). We may safely state that there are none of the other rock formations which appear to have received such a crushing and contorting as these old Silurian rocks; and it is remarkable that there are so few faults to be found in the district of any magnitude. We find the black Graptolitic shales in bands, tilted up at different angles from their original bed, in many parts inverted, while very frequently they are of a folding character, existing in bands of various heights, from three to five or six feet in thick- ness, with a parting of a white kind of pipe clay, of from two inches to six inches in thickness, which gets exceedingly hard when in a dry situation. The black Graptolitic shales seem to be composed of a dark mud, slowly and quietly laid down in a deep sea bottom, swarming with Graptolites and Crustacea, with Transactions. Te a few Brachiopoda, rarely with Serpulites, and small Orthocera- tites. It often happens that we find occasionally in these upper shales a number of small faults in the cleavage joints, so that when we split up the slab and find a part of a Graptolite or a number of them on the surface of the slab, the other por- tions of the specimens will be on another plane, either above or below on the cleavage joint, but they may be rather difficult to find in most cases. It will be seen from the specimens on the table that the lower shales are very much harder than the upper ones, and are gener- ally not so much contorted or folded. Slabs of a much larger size can be obtained, and these split much more freely in any thickness of layer down to 1-16th of an inch than the upper. They are generally quite free from the aluminous matter, so abundant in the upper shales. Curious as it may appear they give off a very pleasant odour when closely confined—as in a Cabinet drawer—for any length of time. Whether this may be due to the great quantity of organic matter they contain or not, I am not quite prepared to say. The finest section of the lower shales to be found near Moffat is at Hartfell, on the north side of the burn, opposite the Spa, or on the left side looking up the Corrie ; this section is nearly a quarter of a mile long, and about 40 feet below the upper crag. There is another parallel with it, and then a talus of debris at the bottom. From the bed of the burn to the top is fully 300 feet. The principal fossils of these shales are the branching forms, and belong to the following Genera, viz.:—Pleurograptus, Diplograp- tus, Dicranograptus, Dicellograptus, Climacograptus, Glossograp- tus, Thamnograptus, Retiolites, and portions of Hurypterus. One bed of these shales does not split up but falls into small tabular pieces under the hammer, caused no doubt by metamorphism, the action of hot vapours, and various other causes, On leaving Moffat for Dobbs’ Linn, a distance of eleven miles, we go along the Selkirk road for about a mile, when we come to the Frenchland Tower on the left; near that ruin runs the Frenchland Burn, which passes under the road. We may go up either side of the burn, and after passing the ruin we come (at 200 or 300 yards’ distance) upon an exposure of the black shales with Graptolites. The shale is very hard and tough ; itis on the left hand side of the burn going up. There are also other spots here, but they are rather limited in extent. The next place we come to on the road is Carmichen Scaurs, 78 Transactions. about five miles from Moflat, on the right hand side of the valley going up. The Graptolitic shales found there are not rich in fossils ; neither are they in good preservation, scarcely repaying the fatiguing climb over the hills. However, I believe there are some good specimens to be got at Selcoth Burn, which runs down from Carmichen Scaurs, and falls into the Moffat Water. In addition to the most of the Birkhill fossils which are got here, some excellent sections are to be seen which would make the gorge well worth a visit. On the left side of the hills, a little past Polmoody farm, there are three deep scaurs, in which all the upper Birkhill fossils are got in a fine state of preservation. I have obtained some in relief from one of these scaurs. J. lobiferus is abundant in the middle one ; also many other species, all belonging to the upper beds, a few of which are now arranged before you on the table. The next place we come to on the way is the Grey Mare’s Tail. The rocks on this picturesque spot are all of Silurian grit. About a mile further on we arrive at Birk- hill Cottage, where we stand on an anticlinal axis, or water- shed, Selkirkshire being on one side and Dumfriesshire on the other —the Moffat water running the one way and _ the Yarrow the reverse. These black anthracitic shales stretch right across the country in a slanting direction from an anticlinal axis at Birkhill to the Irish Sea on the one shore, and to St. Abbe’s Head on the other. If we now retrace our steps along the road following one of the two burns, the one which runs past the Cottage and joins that issuing from Dobbs’ Linn (uniting about the entrance to the above place), thus forming the infant Moffat water, which runs in a straight line down the valley to the south-west, and joins the Annan a short distance from Moffat. The entrance into Dobbs’ Linn has rather a rugged, dark, and weird-like aspect, which may be occasioned by the narrowness of the glen, the effect of the dark shales, and the absence of vegetation. While we must consider Dobbs’ Linn to stand pre-eminent above all other parts in the Moffat district be surpassed for the richness, profusion, and fine preservation of and I might add that nowhere else can it its fossil remains —to the physical student it cannot be surpassed for its fine rock sections, as well as its extensive range of the Graptolitic family, in both genera and species. There are other places in the district besides these named. The principal are Hartfell, Garpel Glen, Duffkinnel Water, Raehills, where some Transactions. 79 excellent specimens are to be obtained, and also at Glenkiln, where numerous specimens belonging to the lower shales are got. Beld Craig is also an excellent place for both the upper and lower shales, where many fine specimens can be obtained. A stranger going to Beld Craig for the first time had better go to the head of the glen and then up the burn above the fall, for about a mile, during which distance the shales are barren, but after this we come upon the fossiliferous shales in abundance. In Bromel’s description of the fossils of Sweden (1727), which appears to be the earliest account of Graptolites known, the author supposes some of them to have the appearance of the fossil leaves of grasses. The term Graptolithes (Gr. Grapho, I write, lithos, stone) is found for the first time in the ‘Systeme Nature” of Linnzus, first edition. The name was applied to certain natural objects, many of which could not be Graptolites, and which he did not believe to be true fossils. In the twelfth edition of the “Systeme,” Stockholm, 1768, there is a description of a fossil named by Linneus G'raptolithus scalaris, the nature of which has caused a good deal of controversy. This Graptolithus scalaris was origin- ally described by Linnzeus, and figured in his “ Scanian Travels ” (Scanska Resa), published in 1751. I do not think we need follow this supposed Graptolite further. It would be rather difficult to form a correct opinion of it, whether it was of a Monoprionidian or a Diprionidian form, from the figure before us, which I have brought forward and drawn on an enlarged scale from that given by Geinitz (Die Graptolithen vi. fig. 20). The two other circular forms under G. scalaris are probably _ Graptolites ; one of them has some resemblance to MW. Sedgwickii, the other has got denticles on each side of the solid axis, which I have never seen before on a simple Graptolite. We also find their denticles running downwards from the initial point, and the same from their distal point, and meeting at the centre of the circle ; this is a thing quite unusual in any form of Grapto- lite I have ever seen. There may have been some mistake in copying from the original, but in fact they appear to be more like a copy from a Grecian or Roman marble wreath—all they want is the ribbon on the top to complete the likeness, for in no way do they resemble the natural form of a Graptolite. Historical Opinions.—In 1821, Wahlenberg considered the Graptolites of Sweden as very slender Orthoceratites. In this 80 Transactions. view a few others agree with Wahlenberg. In 1839 Sir Roderick Murchison described and figured in his Silurian System three species of Graptolites. He was of opinion that Graptolites show most affinity with the living Pennatulide. We are indebted to Professor Sedgwick for the first account of the rocks of the Moffat district. In his memoir, “On the Geological Structure and Relations of the Frontier Chain of South Scotland,” which was read at the British Association at Glasgow in 1850, he classed the rocks of the Southern Highlands into five successive formations. The oldest and lowest of these formations he called the Moffat group, embracing the greater part of the strata of the district. It was explained as “a great thickness of arenaceous rocks, in which pyritous and graptolitiferous schist abounds to such an extent that the arenaceous beds become sometimes sub- ordinate to it.” In the same year he also described and figured twelve species of Graptolites from the anthracitic shales (Upper Llandeilo) of Dumfriesshire. But there can be no doubt that the most valuable paper which has as yet been published upon the rocks of the Moffat district is the memoir of Professor Harkness “On the Silurians of Dumfries,” presented to the Geological Society of London in 1850. The author clearly adopted the view that the Graptolitic shales run in long lines among the unfossiliferous greywackes, and gave a short descrip- tion of several localities along the three parallel bands of Hart- fell, Frenchland, and Craigmichen. Following these bands for a number of miles through the district, he assumed their probable continuance from the one sea to the other, and seemed to consider that the great disturbances and upheavals which these rocks sustained were caused by three gigantic faults; but I find no proof of such faults running through the district. Sir Roderick Mur- chison, the same year, in his communication “On the Silurian Rocks of the South of Scotland,” made some important state- ments upon the strata of the district—some sections of which he had hastily examined under the guidance of Prof. Harkness— and expressed his willingness to accept Harkness’s theory of the identity of the strata forming the Graptolitic bands, but he pre- ferred to interpret their geographical position on the hypothesis of great folds, the upper arches of which had been denuded. This view is the one now generally accepted. The dark mud- formed shales that are associated with the Greywackes, and in some parts highly anthracitic, are evidently the remains of an ancient Transactions. 81 sea bottom, where those serriated and curiously-formed Zoophytes, named Graptolites, seemed to have swarmed in extraordinary abundance ; and, as far as we at present know, they began life in the Silurian system, lived throughout the whole period, and died out at the close of that formation. Although their geologi- cal range is not extensive, being confined to these old Silurian rocks, their geographical range is very expansive, being found in the British Isles, Australia, States of America, Canada, and various parts of the continent of Europe. It seems a difficult matter to determine to what class the Graptolitide belong, some authorities believing that they are nearly related to the Virgu- laria of the present seas, others to the Polyzoa, and others to Sertularia or Hydrozoa, because they have a chitinous or horny exterior, with hydrotheca or cells; but the Sertularia have no solid axis, neither are the cells overlapping each other like those of the Graptolitide. Again, the Polyzoa possess a calcareous exterior, and in that case are dissimilar. It was thought at one time that Graptolites attached themselves to the rocks or other objects at the sea bottom, while some observers say they were free-floating. From a number of specimens obtained about two years ago, I am thoroughly convinced that the greatest number were fixed bodies, especially the genus Monograptus. In the genera Diplograptus and Didimograptus, there are numbers of species which have no radical point of attachment, so I think we may conclude that they were both fixed and free-floating. On the other hand, the Polyzoa, with one exception, Christatella, a fresh water species, are all attached to some object, and also the whole of the Sertularia. General Portlock appears to have been the first to suggest definitely that the Graptolites were allied to the Sertulariz and Plumularie ; however, all modern observers are now agreed in placing the Graptolites somewhere among the Hydrozoa. _ I think it may be advisable just now, as there may be some of the members present who are unacquainted with the Grapto- litide, to explain the structure of these interesting Zoophytes, and with which I will be as brief as possible. Unfortunately, they are rather small objects, but with the aid of these large drawings, and also this model of a Graptolite, I hope to make the description of them much plainer than by describing the specimens you see on the table. When we describe one we _ describe the whole of the genus Monograptus, the polypery being 1] 82 Transactions. all built up on the same principle, although they may be of different size and outline. The model shown is of the Graptolite (Monograptus priodon), enlarged about 30 diameters. It may be either straight or curved, with a solid axis or stipe, upon which the polypery is built. The common canal is well marked, in which was contained the cxenosarc, from which each polyp was developed. On the margin of the periderm which surrounds the cenosare, the hydrothecz or cells are constructed, each individual polyp going through the cenosarc to the subsistence of the whole colony. The whole of the outside of the polypery is composed of a chitinous or horny substance, generally in the course of mineralisation, the mouth of the cellule being at the point of the denticle, each cell being inhabited by a polyp, and having com- munication with the common canal. The simple Monograptus is supposed to have four margins or borders surrounding a hollow tube, the inner resting on the common canal, which is not defined, the superior on the top, or point on which is the cell mouth. This description applies to nearly all the other simple forms of graptolites. In collecting the above organisms I think it is a matter of much importance to procure, if possible, those fossils with both their distal and initial points, as they can be identified with greater certainty, besides rendering the forms of the organisms more complete. IIL. A Memoir of the Rev. Mr Gatt, Minister of Graitney, 1727-87. By Mr J. Gisson H. Starke, Vice-President. The subject of this short notice—the Rev. James Gatt—seems to me worthy of having his name recorded in the proceedings of this Society, as an eminent parish minister in Dumfriesshire who, during his lifetime, was probably as widely known as any among his contemporaries ; and whose memory still lingers among a few of the present generation. No formal biography of him has ever been published, and it is now impossible to obtain sufficient materials for this purpose, but from two brief notices of him which have been published, and from traditionary accounts, he was not only beloved as a minister, but eminent as a scholar, The leading events of his life are given in the Fasti Heclesie Scoticane, by Dr Hew Scott; and an appreciative sketch of his character appeared in ‘Good Words” for December, 1876, by the Rev. Mr Edgar, formerly minister of Graitney, or, as it is now Transactions. 83 spelled, Gretna. His name stands alone among the eminent men of that parish in the Statistical Account of Dumfriesshire, where it is also mentioned that many of his MSS. are in the possession of the ‘Misses Gibson, Edinburgh.” These ladies, now long deceased, were my grand aunts, and then well known in Edin- burgh society. It was when a boy, spending part of my holidays in Gretna, that I first heard the name of Mr Gatt mentioned with reverence and regard ; but the old people who then loved to speak of him are all dead; and, indeed, since the railway invaded what was then a secluded parish these old-world stories, as I may call them, have gradually given place to new and more exciting narratives. My present purpose is to supplement the information which has been already published by a few traditions within my own knowledge, chiefly obtained from the late Rev. Mr Smith, minister of Tillicoultry, who in his boyhood heard them from his uncle, the late Rev. Mr Smith, minister of Morton, in Dumfries- shire, both of whom entertained through life feelings of great veneration and regard for Mr Gatt’s memory. Mr Gatt sometimes spelled his name Gath, but I understand this was because in Latin “Gatheus” is more euphonious, and Gatt was his proper surname. In the Statistical Account it is spelt Galt, which has been a printer’s error. He was born 10th January, 1700, in Cullen, Banffshire ; studied theology in the University of Edinburgh ; was examined and licensed in 1727 ; and appointed assistant and successor to the Rev. Mr Black, then minister of Gretna, towards the close of the same year. He was ordained minister of the parish, 30th April, 1730, and died as father of the Synod, 3lst October, 1787, in his 88th year, and after a pastorate in the parish of altogether 60 years. He married in 1741 Miss Jean Gowanlock, daughter of the then minister of the adjoining parish of Kirkpatrick-Fleming, who died in 1786, being a year before himself, aged 86; and _ both are buried in the parish churchyard of Gretna. They had no family, and adopted a niece, Miss Maclaurin, who died in Edinburgh unmarried, a venerable and highly respected lady, in 1818, aged 88. A portrait in crayons of Mr Gatt represents a shrewd, kindly, and intellectual countenance beneath a very old fashioned white _ wig, and dressed in canonicals. This portrait has been sent to 84 Transactions. me as a gift in a generous manner by the Rev. Dr Edgar of Newburgh, formerly of Gretna. He was stout, and rather little in stature. He was a great classical scholar, and when a student in theology he obtained an Exchequer Bursary, in acknowledg- ment of which he yearly composed a Latin poem. He was recommended by the General Assembly in 1822 as a good Gaelic scholar; and I have no doubt that this language was then spoken by many in the south of Scotland, and would be a special qualification for a rural minister in this district. But his chief delight was in Latin versification, into which he translated the Book of Job and the Proverbs of Solomon. Some of his lighter poems in that language, entitled ‘ Miscellanea Metrica,” are said to have been fine scholarly productions. In Steven’s History of the High School of Edinburgh it is stated that one of the masters —Mr Luke Fraser—read a Latin memoir and criticism on the Latin compositions of the Rev. Mr Gatt for the Literary Society, which existed from 1807 to 1821 in Edinburgh; but although search has been made for the MS. it has not been discovered. Mr Fraser was famous as a Latin scholar, and as the members of this Society were mostly masters of the school and Professors of the University, this circumstance testifies also to the scholarship of Mr Gatt. He kept a diary in Latin, which I have seen, but it is now difficult to decipher. It records that he finished his translation of the Proverbs of Solomon on 4th July, 1734, and had made a copy of it by March of the year following, which copy he took with him in May to Edinburgh, when he lkewise attended the meeting of the General Assembly of the Church, and submitted it to Mr Ruddiman, the greatest of Scotch grammarians; who, I find, was like Mr Gatt, a native of Banff- shire; and at that time settled in Edinburgh as a printer and publisher of several learned Latin works. On his return to Gretna from Edinburgh he makes this entry in his diary, dated 26th May, 1735—Gloria sit Deo wm excelsis, quod ego incolumis reversus sum a Synodo Nationali. He was also a Hebrew scholar, and I show you a small Jewish calendar or almanack, now very worn and fragile, which bears within it the following writing :—“ Ja. Gatt, Graitney, gifted by Jacob and Simon Levi, who brought the same from London.” It is not only, however, as a great scholar that Mr Gatt’s memory has been so long preserved ; but for his unaffec'ed piety, Transactions. 85 bright example as a parish minister, and his humorous disposi- tion. He was a watchful shepherd over the flock committed to his care, and it is mentioned in the Statistical Account that the “ Parochial registers and transactions of the Kirk-Session, among which last are interspersed many remarkable occurrences, are extremely accurately written by Mr Gatt, and pretty voluminous. They commence in 1730 and continue for 60 years, after which there is an almost entire deficiency in the minutes of the Session.” Several extracts are given by Mr Edgar in his paper already mentioned, which therefore I do not here repeat, as I wish this notice to be confined as much as possible to circumstances which have not yet been made public. The following illustrates the earnest piety of the pastor. It is an entry in his diary of a morning reflection when rising at 5 o’clock, and is dated 20th March, 1736 :— ** Arise ! oh James, and save from flames Thy people who are sinning ; Angel ! declare me who they are, It’s time I was beginning.” In 1745 Prince Charles Edward and his followers passed through Gretna on their enterprise to seize London, and subjugate the kingdom again to the Stuart dynasty. They rested for refreshment at the Manse, but Mr Gatt having no sympathy with this rebellion against the reigning Hanoverian Sovereign, “retired,” he tells us, “in a vessel to Bowness,” across the Solway, leaving his wife to do the honours. There is a tradition that all the valuables of the parish were concealed in a garret of the Manse to escape the cupidity of the rebels, and that Mrs Gatt entertained the Prince and his officers so well that no theft was committed. In proof of this tradition, I am able to show you some solid silver spoons which, I believe, were used upon that occasion. They are handsome, and in good preservation, having been well taken care of in my family for now more than a hundred years. They bear the initials of Mr Gatt, and of his wife, and also of his niece, to whom they were first bequeathed, and who was a relative of the Gibson family. I consider them the most interesting among my antiquarian possessions. Mr Gatt was of very simple habits and primitive character, with a power of humour and repartee which has been handed down from generation to generation within the parish of Gretna. When he first arrived there from Edinburgh an inquisitive person was 86 Transactions. anxious to learn where he originally came from? ‘ Oh,” said Mr Gatt, “I left the Highlands one misty morning, and I never could find the way back again !” On applying for an augmentation of stipend, his plea was that he had to exercise a great deal of hospitality to persons from England ; for when the small stream called the Sark, between the two countries, was swollen with rain, the travellers got dipped in that Sark and he got dipped in debt. On one oceasion that he was dining with Sir William Maxwell at Springkell, a blustering fellow at the table thought to make a butt of such a simple-looking man as Mr Gatt, and went on with offensive remarks, which he no doubt thought should be accepted as mere banter, until at last Mr Gatt, looking at him, said—- “Sir, I have been in my day struck with the hoof of a horse, and borne it patiently ; but who can tolerate patiently a kick from the heel of an ass?” The company received the reprimand with silent approbation, and the snob was crestfallen for the rest of the evening. By his own request Mr Gatt was buried in a north and south position to show his belief that it matters little how the body is placed provided that the soul lies right in the sight of God. An old tombstone bears the following inscription to his memory in the churchyard of Gretna :— “Here lyes the Revd. Mr James Gatt, late Minister of the Gospel here, who died October 31st, 1787, in the 88th year of his age. He was 60 years Minister of this parish, during which long period he discharged the office of a pastor with the most unwearied diligence and fidelity, exemplifying in his walk and conversation the power of that religion which he inculcated. By the simplicity of his manners, and the affability of his conduct, he was highly esteemed by his flock, and deservedly held in the greatest veneration by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. << In memoriam perpetuam est justus. Utinam post hujus vitae exitum, felicitatem consequar Coelo Repositam. (The just man is held in perpetual remembrance. Oh that, after this life has ended, I may obtain the happiness laid up in heaven.) IV. Modern Egypt. By J. A. 8. Grant, Bey, M.D., LL.D. This communication was read by the Secretary, and gave a brief sketch of the physical features of Egypt, the various races which inhabit that country, a description of the larger cities, and some interesting details respecting its government. : : | . (9 4) =] Transactions. 3rd April, 1885. Dr Gitcurist, President, in the Chair. Thirty-eight members present. New Member.—Dr Collie, Castle Street, Dumfries. Donations.—Mr Coles presented eighteen specimens of the genus Hypnum. The Secretary laid on the table the Transactions of the Huddersfield Natural History Society, Vol. I. of the Journal of the New York Microscopic Society, gifts from the respective societies ; also several pamphlets on lake dwellings as a donation from Mr G. F. Black. Exhibits—Mr Rutherford exhibited specimens of the Red Admiral, Vanessa Atalanta, and the Painted Lady, Cynthia Cardui, and remarked that these butterflies were very rare in this district in the preceding summer. He also exhibited the larva of the Puss Moth, Cerwra venula. The Society's New Rooms.—The Secretary intimated that since the February meeting the committee held three meetings in con- nection with the Presbytery House scheme, and he submitted the following minute, which the committee had unanimously adopted, viz. :—“ That the scheme to arrange for the use of the old Pres- bytery House be approved of on the condition that sufficient subscriptions be received to cover the expense of necessary repairs and alterations.” After a short discussion, on the motion of the Secretary, seconded by Mr W. M‘Dowall, vice-president, it was agreed “ That this meeting approves of the action of the committee ; they were to further consider the scheme, and report at a future meeting called for the purpose, before deciding thereon.” Field Meetings.—It was agreed that the summer Field Meet. ings be held as follows:—May, to Spottes Glen; June, to Parton ; July, Thornhill District; August, Bridge of Dee and Brig House Bay ; September, Burnswark Camp. COMMUNICATIONS. I. A Leaflet from the Book of Nature. By Mr F. R. Cotes. Nature has but one volume and one language, and reveals herself to us through but one great channel of communication. From the sparkling of the remotest star to the gleam of ephemeral life in the lowest polyp there is for humanity but one ss Transactions. study. What are our arctic and tropic, seasons and tides, tem- peratures and mechanisms but the expression of man’s attempts at catching hold of the universal law, of his assimilating as much or as little of it as he can to the wants of his own nature ? And this one grand medium for the accomplishment of a pro- ductive study of nature, this one faculty without which a Newton or a Humboldt were impossible, with which the humblest of us can add a cubit to the stature of scientific truth, is Observation. We can never emphasis this fact too deeply. The ingenious scientist of the middle ages sat in his cell and dreamed out a theory of the universe; and a pretty brainful of cobwebs he bequeathed to the keener vision of our age. The modern scientist, albeit his ingenuity lacks something of the charm of his predecessor’s, begins and holds to the right method through- out his enquiries, and into what hidden regions his microscope and scalpel plunge, not many of us as yet perhaps fully acknow- ledge. It is not, however, on medieval theories or modern specula- tions that I want to speak to-night ; not to weigh planets or compute the age of the Glacial epoch; but, with the view of helping fellow-students, novices especially, towards cultivating this faculty of observation, I am going to describe a little of the life that goes on, all unheeded by most of us, close to the ground and amongst the foliage of common plants on any common bit of mother earth. We transport ourselves during the glowing hours of a fair summer’s day out of sound and sight of brick and mortar, and choose a strip of hedgerow well feathered with the despised “ weeds” which the roadman shovels aside into unsightly heaps. So long as it is not excessively dry, it is pretty much a matter of indifference what spot we choose. Here, for instance, is a grand clump of the common cow parsnip (Heraclewm Sphondylium), with its stout bristly stem and handsome leaves. In one of the deep-cloven sinuations of this leaf you will very likely find a tiny land-snail (Zonites nitidulus ), whose glossy house shines with a lustre Aladdin might envy. If you lift the shell, the warmth of your finger will doubtless tempt the little creature to crawl out, when, with your pocket lens, you note its dark, clear grey tentacles and brown-tinged body ; touch it ever so gently, and in go “horns” and body back into the glossy shell—timid, sensitive little mollusk! Perhaps at the root of our tall umbelliferous plant a good specimen of a very common but well-marked land- Transactions. 89 snail may be taking a mid-day nap (Helix arbustorum). Its richly mottled, brown shell, the clear porcelain-white of its outer lip, and deep blue-black of the animal itself make it an object of interest and some beauty. See! what a busy region we disturb when we lift this stone! Half-a-dozen scarlet-bodied spiderets, ‘ soldiers,” scampering away in most unmilitary haste to hide under crumbs of brown earth ; here a grey-brownish slug, there a jet black one, larger and fatter, put out first one and then another tentacle, resenting the intrusion on their slumber, while you wonder how such big, soft animals can lie, to say nothing of sleeping, under a mass of stone like this. Beetles, black and dusky brown, flashed with prismatic green, scuttle off at a break-neck pace out and over the rough hollows and hillocks made by the stone, and begin a vigorous exploration of the closely woven covert of grasses and Adoxa-leaves, which to them is a forest of mystery and safety. Those leaves of the Adowa, and, still more, its root will repay your study. Those white roundish cocoon-like things are spiders’ nests ; these pellucid globules, for all the world like single grains of boiled tapioca, are the egg-nuclei of snails. Pocket them care- fully, you may find they are phosphorescent, and it is yet a moot point what species have and have not phosphorescent eggs. Under the driest part of the root-entangled edges of our hollow is a whole colony of H. rotwndata—one of our very commonest land shells, but also one of the most beautifully sculptured. Close behind these, half hid by a drooping frondlet of a lovely, and also common, moss (7/™- tamariscinum), is the brilliant banded shell of H. hortensis, the shell whose countless variations and likeness to Helia nemoralis cause so much discussion amongst persons who prefer to disintegrate genera rather than unite species. One broad distinction between the two shells, whether species or not, is easy to bear in mind—the wood snail, 17. nemor- alis, has the outer lip dark chocolate-brown, almost black, while in H. hortensis the lip is usually white. Searching more narrowly into the crevices of this earthy hollow, you will perhaps discover that those minute gleamings of silvery opalescence, mixed up with the crumbling earth, are, when you isolate them, two other species of Zonites: crystallimus and purus; the former one of the very _ loveliest of our land-shells, its tiny tenant’s body being nearly as translucent as its house, which is aptly likened to crystal. Another pretty and generally-distributed little mollusk is likely 12 90) Transactions. to be here, Vitrina pellucida, the glass shell. Something moving on the damp side of the stone catches your eye. What are these things? like, but far smaller than, grains of rice ; and they are moving along one after another in a hair’s-breadth fissure in the stone. Pick them up with great care, using your tweezers, and on examination, under a good lens, which had better be done at home, you will find reason to marvel how Nature moulds, by means of so soft a substance as the “mantle” of a snail, a tiny monument, exquisitely sculptured, and solid and durable as marble itself. And this on such a minute scale. It would take fully two hundred of these shells, Carychiwm minimum, to cover the surface of one square inch—yet see how wonderfully their delicate convolutions are chased and carved into spiral twistings and grooves and furrows innumerable. There comes another small traveller with his house on his back, not so ornamental a dwelling as the last carried, but still well worth study. This shell is of a peculiarly rich oily gloss (Zwa lubrica) and a rich tawny brown, unlike any other land shell of ours in these two respects. How well it contrasts with the grey tones of the stone and the pure white of Carychiwm. We noticed, in passing, just now the graceful frondlets of a moss, but there are sure to be a dozen species of this lowly, but very lovely, sub-kingdom and its allies, beautifying the borders of the little hollow we are so interested in, and not beautifying earth alone. There is a reason for the existence of all life, animal and vegetable, quite apart from our direct needs and caprices. And, without a great deal of brain-racking, we can discern, surely, that one reason for the existence of mosses is to keep the moisture of rain about the roots of herbs and trees, and so, to help, in the long run, to equalise temperature and climate. Mosses are, in fact, a striking example of the power of littles. Look at the long ruddy stems which carry the fruit of thissame moss. There is good work for the microscope for many a long winter evening in the examination of the leaves and fruits of the one genus Hypnum, of which this moss is at once a very common and a very lovely type. This bit of hunting ground of ours is sure, almost, to have H. triquetrum, lorewm, and perhaps serpens and molluscum, besides others more or less conspicuous; amongst the roots of which you will very likely find one or two species of the shell Vertigo, and that — | Transactions. 91 minutest and perhaps loveliest of the Helices, H. pygmea. Below this little two-inch high crest of damp soil well moistened by the stored up rain-drops, fallen days ago on the larger mosses, are clumps of other genera, e. g. Pogonatum aloides and nanwm, Physc. pyriforme, possibly a little of the minute Ph. subulatum, while the common Fork Moss, D. scopariwm, thickly tufts the shady nooks above. Here is a moss with tiny apples each on a stalk—a very pretty little plant is it, B. pomiformis. Possibly you may notice a tall, beautiful-leaved moss with four or five or even more golden- ruddy fruit-stalks upspringing together out of its crown of green foliage. This is a prize. It is one of the genus Brywm, M. undulatum, and an unforgetable trophy. On the very stone we turned over we may find—especially if it be rather newly fallen from the dyke behind our Cow Parsnip —six or seven species of mosses all very frequent—the dainty Bryum argenteum, Grimmia pulvinata, commonest, softest tufted little moss there is; G. Doniana; Hom. sericewm, whose silk-lustrous leaves and prolific fruitage mark it out well; H. populewm ; one or two Tortule or awl-mosses ; and others easy to name when once known, but difficult to describe. Then, deep in among the stems of such larger mosses as we have noticed, and the roots of neighbouring flowering plants, the ground is intricately covered with the inwoven greenery of such beautiful and elfish-looking plants as the Commoner Hepatics, e.g., Loph. bidentata, Plag. asplenoides, and Pl. spinulosa. So lavish is nature of means and ways of nourishing different grades and successions of being, and of supplying waste and loss, for ever filling up and restoring, and making paradises out of deserts. And what fairy-like pure paradises they are—these fresh, pellucid- green, labyrinthine groves of moss and glades of Hepatic! The dwellers therein are, no doubt, happy in their way ; very little reck they of taxes and war-levies! One imagines them as free and beautiful in their very lives as the little crystalline houses they carry about so glibly. And yet, did we study them at home, narrowly, there is as little doubt that we should find even so magnificently housed as creature as Helix pygmaa, or our pet mollusk Carychiwm min., has a dread of some monster of a wood louse, or a worm, or of some conscienceless terrific fellow-snail ! Then even the larger mollusks themselves are a prey to sundry little parasites, which, though they may not injure their host fatally, no doubt inspire him with an occasional wish to “shuffle 92 Transactions. off this mortal coil.” And so we fintl that, after all, man is not the only tormented animal, that even so low in the scale of life as the soft-bodied invertebrates he has sympathies somewhat in common—that the very crawling snail which he, in cruel thought- lessness, crushes with his boot-heel, had its birth and upbringing, its loves and quarrels, its midnight revels among the gloomy recesses of the hedge, its uses and functions as one link in the never-ending chain that girdles this mystery of life. I have thus far tried to show: what may be seen under almost any common bit of hedgerow, and have purposely omitted much that is often visible, but which I cannot describe, namely, the numbers of small insects that vanish like specks of dust on the upturning of a stone, and leave a sense of bewilderment at their numbers, their variety, their rapidity of movement— their sudden non-existence, so to speak. Many plants also within touch of such a commonplace bit of ground would be observed, and long time occupied in noting and describing their striking points and peculiarities. No need to complain of want of material, at any rate. What I want to impress on anyone here likely to need a stimulus for his observation, is that the right seeing of any natural fact is in itself a most valuable possession, while the import of a rightly-recorded series of facts so grasped may—who knows ’—have definite influence upon general science in after years. Begin courageously. The first step is the most difficult every- where; and in the study of Nature, by hedgerow and hillock, one of the most difficult first steps is to rid oneself of the fear of the taunt conveyed in the words “peculiar,” “eccentric,” “queer,” and the like. You dread coming home, after a long healthy “holy-day” among the glens and woods, with bulging out pockets, vasculum crammed to bursting, and a look that means supper, lest a laugh be raised at your appearance. Learn to contemn such laughter. Common-place persons will have it that So-and-so has a weakness, poor fellow, for beetles, or ‘oor Tam’s just crazy ower thae mosses,” and so on. Well, if you feel any sympathetic power within you attracting towards -Beetles or Mosses, roll the war back into the enemy’s camp, and tell them theirs is the weakness who follow every foolish fashion with every changing moon, and theirs the craziness who prefer the gorgeousness of a “Solomon in all his glory” to the apparel in which the Creator clothes the grasses of the field. Transactions. - 93 For the majority of persons, especially those who are encom- passed continually by the strain and struggle of modern city life, nothing is better than to give free rein to a Natural History hobby. Nothing so completely forces one into patience, so utterly contrasts the clamorous bustle of man’s work-a-day notions with the deep silent sustained movement of all Nature’s processes, as to get gradually and everlastingly in love with some one group of creatures, whom you cannot hurry, who will not be the slaves of your human. precision, but into whose beau- tiful and orderly existence the more deeply you gaze the more captivated you become, while the riddles of their being may eventually help you to solve the riddle of you own. In the words of Goethe, whose intuition nearly a century ago led him to detect and expound the law of development in plants which we to-day are accepting as the basis of botany, let us remember that “Nature is always true, always serious, always severe; she is always right, and the errors and faults are always those of man. Him who is incapable of appreciating her, she despises; and only to the apt, the pure, and the true does she resign herself and reveal her secrets.” II. The Arctic Shell-beds of the Clyde. (Abstract.) By Mr R. W. Macrapzean. In this paper Mr Macfadzean refers chietly to the post- tertiary deposits at Garvel Park, Greenock, where the surface of the Old Red Sandstone crops up in a series of ridges with deep hollows between, and the post-tertiary clays lie in these hollows reposing on the denuded surface of the boulder clay, and near the level of present low water. The whole deposit is from 20 to 30 feet thick, and may be divided into several strata, only distin- guishable from each other by their contents, for they glide into one another without any perceptible break, and suggest the idea that they are the result of one continuous though varied marine action. There is first a layer of fine clay containing no shells, over which lies the shell bed, in which the chief interest is centred. The fossils preserved in it are perfect in outline, and the bivalves such as Astarte Sulcata, Cyprina Islandica, and Pecten Islandicus, are mostly found with the right and left valves in the juxta- position of life. They are of a more arctic character than the inhabitants of the present seas ; and with the exception of some 94 . Transactions. broken and accidental forms, littoral shells are absent, while the presence in great numbers of deep sea microzoa and mollusca proves the pelagic character of the deposit. Above this shelly clay there isa zone of clay without shells, covered in its turn by a layer containing recent and littoral shells. In no other deposit have the arctic deep sea and the temperate littoral periods been so well divided. There succeeded to the last Glacial epoch a gradual but comparatively rapid rise of sea level until the Garvel Park was immersed to a depth of at least 600 feet, and it became the habitat of an arctic pelagic fauna. During this rise considerable denudation of the boulder clay took place, a fresh ledge of which was annually disintegrated. The constant change of conditions, currents, and materials gave rise to the greatest diversity in the deposits, and during the rise and subsequent fall of the sea level our present shores became successively the littoral, the laminarian, and the pelagic zone, so that in many localities all kinds of bivalves are found mixed together in the same bed. It was con- tended by Mr Macfadzean that, as the same evidences are also found in Scandinavia and in N.E. America, the rise and fall of sea level were universal and simultaneous over this quarter of the world. He exhibited a classified collection of shells obtained by him from the Garvel Park deposits, and offered to present it to the Society if it was thought of sutlicient interest to the members. Ill. The Ancient Lake Dwellings of Scotland. By Mr G. F. Buack, Corresponding Member. Mr Black, in a lengthy communication on the above subject, referred to the first discovery of lake dwellings in Scotland in 1781, and to the explorations carried on at Zurich in 1853-4, Since 1857 several have been noted in this country, and described by various archologists, especially that at Lochlea, Tarbolton, Ayrshire, by Dr Munro and Mr R. W. Cochran Patrick, M.P. In reference to this lake dwelling, Mr Black gave a minute deserip- tion of the size and situation, and a list of the various relics found during the explorations. Mr Black remarks that lake dwellings have been found at Lochmaben, Sanquhar, Friars’ Carse, Loch Orr, Lochwood, Closeburn, Corncockle, and in the parish of Morton, in Dumfriesshire; and, in conclusion, suggested that Transactions. 95 this Society should undertake the investigation of any one of these. The Rev. W. Graham remarked on this paper that he accidentally discovered the lake dwelling in the Castle Loch, Loch- maben, about 40 years ago. He said, ‘it lies south-west and north-east ; in length 50 or 60 yards, and in breadth from 30 to 40 yards. The piles are of oak, and some are cut for upright standards, and others for cross beams. The rafters are cut to suit a roof at an angle of 45 degrees.” IV. Lovely Polly Stewart. By Mr James Barzour, Vice-President. A parcel of documents came recently into my hands, which, on looking over their backings, I found to be legal sweepings, and among them were several wills or copies; but as the name of this Society did not figure on any of the wills I put the parcel aside as being devoid of interest. I had been scanning Ramage’s “ Drumlanrig and the Douglases,” and after putting the papers aside I returned to it, when, after perusing less than a page, I came upon names of persons corresponding to those I had seen on the backs of the wills. I now opened the parcel and made a comparison, and not only did the names correspond, but the persons referred to were the same. There is a copy of the will of William Stewart, who, when residing at Closeburn Castle, and acting as factor for Dr Menteith, was an intimate friend of Burns and the subject of his song, “ You're welcome, Willie Stewart,” the second stanza of which runs : ‘*Come, bumpers high, express your joy, The bowl we maun renew it ; The tappit-hen, gae bring her ben, To welcome Willie Stewart.” There is the will of Miss Hannah Lee, William Stewart’s step- daughter, a young lady then 21 years of age, residing at Closeburn Castle with her mother and stepfather, and who died at the age of 23. There is also a copy of the will of Mrs Catherine Stewart, wife of Mr Bacon, landlord of Brownhill Inn, where Burns was _ wont to frequent, and who on one occasion, finding the landlord too fond of thrusting himself into the company of his guests, composed the epigram :— ‘© At Brownhill we always get dainty good cheer, And plenty of bacon each day in the year ; We've all things that’s neat, and mostly in season ; But why always Bacon ?—come, give mea reason.” 96 Transactions. These papers are interesting inasmuch as they relate to persons who were intimately associated with Burns, and, as we have seen, were themselves the subjects of his verse, and also the immediate relatives of one whose chequered life forms a romantic story, and whose beauty the Poet celebrated in song :— “© O lovely Polly Stewart ! O charming Polly Stewart ! There’s not a flower that blooms in May That’s half so fair as thou art.” Polly Stewart was the daughter of William Stewart, half-sister of Hannah Lee, and niece of Mrs Catherine Stewart, the persons whose wills are here. I do not know that the papers add almost anything to the story of Polly Stewart, but they contain references to herself, and to her family, who are the principal beneficiaries under her father’s will. Polly was first married to her cousin, Ishmael Stewart, by whom she had three sons, and the will of Mrs Catherine Stewart bears—‘ Item, I leave and bequeath to each of William, Charles, and Alexander Stewart’s children pro- create of the marriage between the now deceased Ishmael Blow- field Stewart, late residenter at Springfleld, and my niece Mary Stewart, the sum of five pounds sterling.” Mrs Stewart also remembers Polly herself in the matter of dress :—“ Item, I leave and bequeath to my niece Mary Stewart, daughter of the said William Stewart, to purchase a suit of mournings, the sum of ten pounds sterling ;” and after leaving another niece five of her best gowns, and three of her best aprons, she leaves the remainder of her clothes to a cousin, “ my best silk cloak excepted, which I leave and bequeath to my niece Mary Stewart.” Ishmael Stewart, Polly’s first husband, had, according to Dr Ramage, to leave the country under a cloud, and dared not return ; and it was never known what became of him. Polly was married a second time to George Welsh, farmer in Mortonmains, grand- uncle of the late Mrs Thomas Carlyle, a man highly respected, by whom she had two daughters, Hannah and Grace. The mar- riage proved to be unhappy, and a separation took place, when Polly joined her father in Maxwelltown, where he had come to reside. From his will we learn that William Stewart was resid- ing in Maxwelltown, that he possessed the lands of Bilbow and the houses built thereon, lying in the parish of Troqueer ; he was tenant of three farms belonging to the Duke of Queensberry, and joint-tenant of Kelhead Limeworks, and he held one-fourth share of the woollen manufactory carried on at Cample under fod Transactions. 97 the firm of Stewart, Mathison, & Co. George Welsh, Polly’s husband, is named a trustee. Polly is evidently outcast, as no provision is made for her in the will, and she is not named except as the mother of her children. The testator, after making certain provisions, appoints that the whole amount of accumulated stock is to be divided equally among his five grandchildren, viz.— William, Charles, and Alexander Stewarts, and Hannah and Grizel Welshs, daughters of the said George Welsh, and all the five children of “my daughter Polly.” A sort of sketch is got of Polly’s sons. William is described as having the misfortune of being very lame, and in so bad a state of health that in all probability he never will be able to do any- thing towards his own support. Charles has already evinced a great degree of thoughtlessness and inattention to his education, and has now entered an apprentice on board a merchant vessel. Alexander is still young and at school, and provision is made for his receiving a college education. Charles continued the thought- less course indicated in the will, and Alexander also appears to have become imprudent and unfortunate, as we find by references to them in Polly’s letters to the late Mr Pagan, King’s Arms Hotel, Maxwelltown. “Poor Charles!” she writes, “his fate interests me deeply, his heart was good, his kindness to me when last in Scotland made a lasting impression on my lacerated heart.” Again, “the precarious life of my poor Charles produces no hope to learn what became of him; his honest heart was early made to feel the chequered path that marks life. ‘Some are made to mourn.’” Of Alexander she writes: “The sudden death of my father proved a fatal stroke to the welfare of Alexander. The volatility of his disposition plunged him into a labyrinth of future misery. Me he deceived at every point; rendered himself wretched and me miserable.” The remainder of Polly’s own sad story is soon told. At the time she was residing with her father in Maxwelltown, numbers of French officers, prisoners of war, were in Dumfries, and among them a handsome Swiss named Fleitz, to whom she became unfortunately attached. She joined her fate to his, accompanying him to France, where he found employment in the Swiss troops of Louis XVIII. On Louis Phillippe ascending the throne the Swiss mercenaries were dis- missed, when Fleitz with Polly returned to Switzerland. Here Polly wrote a number of deeply interesting letters to Mr Pagan, chiefly in reference to her family, of which one or two extracts have been given. After 30 years’ absence she returned to Scot- 13 98 Transactions. land in the hope of meeting her son Alexander. She did meet him, but the result was unsatisfactory, and she returned to France. ‘After some years,” says Dr Ramage, “ Fleitz died, when Polly took refuge with a cousin in Florence. Her mind at last gave way, and she was removed to an asylum, dying there in 1847, in the seventy-second year of her age. She had survived all her children, who had all died without offspring.” = 22d May, 1886- Se HcriAaL MEETING. Mr Starke, Vice-President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the various minutes of former meetings, referring to the ‘ Presbytery House Scheme,” and stated that in accordance with the minute of meeting held on 3d April, he had called this meeting. The Chairman explained the various steps which had been taken in the matter, and stated that this meeting had been called specially “to decide whether the ‘ Presbytery House Scheme’ should be proceeded with or abandoned.” Mr Barbour, vice-president, submitted plans of the Presbytery House, and stated that he estimated the repairs and alterations to cost about £80—£60 on the building, and £20 on painting, gas-fittings, We. The Secretary stated that the Presbytery had promised £20 towards the expense, and that he had spoken to several members and friends of the Society, and he had received in this way the promise of £20 additional. After a general discussion, in which Messrs Dods, Chrystie, Innes, and Thomson took part, Mr Thomson moved—“ That the ‘Presbytery House Scheme’ be proceeded with, and a sub- committee be appointed to issue circulars requesting subscriptions for the purpose, and that when £60 be collected, the sub- committee authorise Mr Barbour, V.-P., architect, to commence operations.” This was seconded by Mr Dods, and unanimously agreed to. Mr Thomson again moved, and Mr Dods seconded, “That Dr Gilchrist, Messrs Starke, Barbour, Lennox, Watson, and Wilson be appointed the members of the sub-committee, with full power to make and conclude an agreement with the Synod, Presbytery, Kirk-Session, and Town Council, the parties interested in the Presbytery House.” This was also unanimously agreed to, and the meeting afterwards adjourned. SESSION 1885-86. Society’s New Rooms, 2d October, 1885. ANNUAL MEETING. _ Dr Gricurist, President, in the Chair. Twenty members present. New Members.—Mr George Thomson, solicitor, Dumfries ; Mr R. P. Fotheringham, Dumfries ; Rev. R. F. Mullins, Dumfries ; Rey. J. H. Oswald, Miss Mounsie, Miss Nicholson, Thornhill ; Mr J. R. Wilson, Sanquhar; and Mr Lindsay, The Holm, Sanquhar. Donations.—Rev. Mr Weir presented, on behalf of the Presby- tery of Dumfries, two books, entitled “Scotia Illustrata sive Prodromus Historie Naturalis” and “Insectorum sive Minimorum Animalium Theatrum” (1634). The Secretary laid on the table the Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society and of the Edinburgh Geographical Society, donations from these Societies ; Vol. V. of the United States Geological Survey, from the Smith- sonian Institution ; one part of the Microscopical Journal, and several parts of the Transactions of the Edinburgh Botanical Society from Dr Allan. Exhibits—The Chairman exhibited a number of minerals and specimens of rocks and some plants collected by him in the north of Scotland in the preceding summer. Secretary’s Report. The Secretary (Mr J. Wilson) submitted the following report: —In presenting this general report for the past session, I am happy to state that the Society has ever been mindful of the objects for which it was instituted, and has attended to them with some degree of success, as will be seen from the various details which we now submit. At the Annual Meeting last year there were 204 names on the roll, comprising 4 life, 182 ordinary, and 18 honorary members. During the session | life member, 9 ordinary, and 2 honorary members’ names were added, but 26 were removed—6 by death, and 20 others due to removal from the district, resignation, or 100 Transactions. other causes; so that our membership numbers now 190, or 14 less than last year. Notwithstanding that our membership is smaller a greater number take a more active part in the different meetings. In the winter the usual seven monthly meetings were held, at which 21 communications by 14 different members were read and discussed, this being 7 more than last session, and un- equalled in the history of the Society. Several of the papers read are of great importance, and testify to the usefulness of the Society in investigating our local antiquities as well as the fauna and flora of the district. The usual five Field Meetings and a special one in the end of July were held, all of which proved both instructive and enjoyable to those participating in them. The average attendances at these meetings were 32-1 for the winter and 30-1 for the summer, being larger than those of last year, which were 31:6 and 20-4 respectively. On the 22d of May last, a Special Meeting was held, at which it was unani- mously decided to proceed with the scheme for obtaining posses- sion of suitable rooms for the keeping of our books and specimens, and for holding meetings more frequently. A Special Com- mittee—consisting of Dr Gilchrist, President ; Messrs J. Gibson Starke and J. Barbour, Vice-Presidents; Mr J. Lennox, Trea- surer; Mr Watson; and Mr Wilson, the Secretary—was ap- pointed to make and complete the necessary arrangements, and to collect subscriptions towards defraying the expense. This has been done, and through the kindness and liberality of a number of ladies and gentlemen interested in the Society, we have now taken possession of our own rooms on lease for 15 years at a nominal rent, and I believe when the balance sheet will be made up, free of debt, without drawing on the ordinary funds of the Society. The importance of this undertaking cannot be over- estimated, for it will supply a desideratum long required for extending our usefulness. There were 12 Committee meetings and several other meetings of the Special Committee held during the session, all of which were well attended. The transactions for the years 1880-83, which had been pre- pared last session, have been issued to the members in November last free of charge. A sub-committee has been appointed to prepare them for the sessions 1885-84 and 1884-85, and this is so far done as to be ready for the printer when desired. The donations of specimens have not been so numerous as last Transactions. 101 year, and owing to the arrangements for the new premises being under consideration, they were not deposited in the Observatory Museum. The donations of books were more numerous. In addition to the annual reports or transactions of the following Societies—The Smithsonian Institution, New York Academy of Sciences, the Peabody Museum, the University of Christiana, the Geographical Society of Scotland, Edinburgh Geological Society, Glasgow Archeological Society, Glasgow Natural History Society, Perthshire Natural History Society, Berwick Natural History Society, The Essex Field Club, Huddersfield Natural History Society, and the South London Microscopical Society—we received nine parts of the Linnean Society’s Transactions from Mr Robinson-Douglas, one part of the Microscopical Journal and seven parts of the Edinburgh Botanical Society from Dr F. Allan, and a number of pamphlets on Archeological subjects from Mr G. F. Black. The Society has made an important addition to the Library by purchasing Vols. I. and II. of Bain’s Calendar of Documents. All these books have been circulated among the members, but imperfectly owing to the want of proper library accommodation. Having thus briefly narrated what has been done in the past, let me add a word or two with regard to the future. I expect we shall have a sufficient number of communications to fill up the ordinary meetings of the ensuing session, and therefore we should utilise our rooms by having a course of bi-weekly meetings, or lectures, for the benefit of the junior members. We have sufli- cient accommodation for specimens of all the local birds and fishes, as well as for innumerable beetles, butterflies, and other insects. If each member would undertake to add to our collection a single specimen, the present empty cases would be well filled by our next annual meeting. We would then have a better oppor- tunity of studying the lower creation, and learning that— ‘* In these Thy lowest works, yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought and power divine.” This report was cordially adopted, and the Secretary awarded a vote of thanks for his honorary services. The Rev. Mr Weir, in seconding the motion, expressed on behalf of the Presbytery of Dumfries, the satisfaction which that body felt at the altera- tions and improvements made by the Society on the Presbytery House. 102 Transactions. TREASURER’S REPORT. The Treasurer (Mr James Lennox) submitted his annual state- ment, showing the Income and Expenditureto be as follows :— INcoME. EXPENDITURE. Balance from Session Printing of Transactions..£14 15 0 1883-84 .. ae 2 34) Excavations at the Old 140 Subscriptions at 2/6... 710 0 Bridge ... 1 4 6 Entrance Fees 7 17 6 | Bain’s Calendar of Docu- 1 Life Member’s Subserip- ments (2 vols.) G0 tion 2 2 0 | Printing of Circulars, &. 3 1 6 Arrears... 1 5 0O | Secretary’s Outlay sou Flos 0 Transactions and Flora Treasurer’s Outlay 0 4 1 sold ee 2% 0 6 | Balance due Society— Interest... os ‘ery (On yD In Bank 18 07.6 In Treasurer’s hands... 1 1 114 £48 9 64 £48 9 654 “* Audited and found correct.” —(Signed) Wm. Battery. This report was unanimously adopted, and the Treasurer was also thanked for his honorary services. Election of Office-Bearers.—The following were elected oftice- bearers and members of committee :—President, Dr Gilchrist ; Vice-presidents, Messrs J. H. Gibson Starke, J. Barbour, W. M‘Dowall, and F. R. Coles ; Secretary, Mr J. Wilson; Assistant Secretary, Mr R. Barbour; Treasurer, Mr J. Lennox; Committee, Major Bowden, Dr J. Cunningham, Messrs J. Rutherford, R. Murray, T. Watson, A. Innes, J. Neilson, J. Maxwell, J. Davidson, and J. W. Dods. Notice to alter Rule .—Mr J. Lennox gave notice that at next meeting he would move that the name of the Society be made shorter, by omitting the word “Scientific” in the title, as is stated in Rule I. Periodicals, &c.—Proposals to purchase some periodicals and to hold more frequent meetings were remitted to the Committee with power to be dealt with. 6th November, 1885. Mr Couss, Vice-President, in the chair. Thirty-five Members present. New Members.—Messrs J. Symons, J. R. Macdonald, C. S. Phyn, J. W. Whitelaw, and 8. Grierson, Dumfries ; J. Wallace, Auchenbrack, Thornhill; James Paterson, Moniaive; and H. A. Macqueen, Thornhill, Transactions. 103 Donations.—The Chairman presented 50 specimens of land and fresh water shells found in the district ; he laid on the table notes on Naias Graminea, and the report of the Botanical Exchange Club, as donations from Mr Arthur Bennett. Exhibits—Mr Rutherford exhibited a tree frog from India and a puss moth; Miss Robb exhibited a number of New Zealand plants and several articles of the Maori handiwork, also a few specimens of limestone and minerals from the neighbour- hood of Bristol. Alteration of Rule.—Notice having been given at last meeting by Mr Lennox, it was unanimously agreed to alter Rule I. so as to omit the word “scientific ” in the title of the Society. The Secretary reported that the Committee had decided to have an intermediate course of lectures during this session, on the third Friday of the month, and to purchase Science Gossip, the Scottish Naturalist, and the Micrographie Dictionary. The Committee’s decisions were unanimously approved of. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. A List of Kirkeudbright Mollusks. By Mr R. F. Couss, Vice- President. Last April, at the close of our Winter Session, I was asked to make a list of the Land and Fresh Water Mollusks belonging to our district. Thoroughly to comply with our Secretary’s request —to tabulate into some resemblance of the arrangement planned and set forth in the Catalogue issued by the Conchological Society all the species and forms of these interesting creatures likely to be or actually found in our locality—would occupy a great deal more than the leisure-hours of the two seasons at my disposal. I feel, therefore, that some apology is due from me, when I submit only these few mounted specimens, and can give names of only some 44 species out of a total of 132 admitted as British. Two things have caused this—the limited area to which I have confined my researches, and the fact of so many of the mollusks being minute, and, without good typical specimens for comparison, difficult to distinguish. Many of them also are numerous in their genus, ¢.g., Vertigo, with eleven species and five varieties—some of them one-fifth the size of a grain of rice ; Helix, which has 25 species and about 112 varieties; and Limnea, perhaps the most ubiquitous and prolific of all our aquatic mollusks. Judging by the recently published census of 104 Transactions. Mr Taylor, malacology in Scotland is not “done to death,” to say the least. There are only some three or four counties from which reports were sent in, and these of the most meagre description. In our own district there have already been good workers, Dr Buchanan White, Mr Rimmer, Mr R. Service, and others. To Dr B. White, I believe, we owe the first actual record, printed fifteen years ago (Sept., 1870) in “ M‘Diarmid’s Handbook of Southwick and Colvend,” for which Rev. J. Fraser wrote the botanical chapter. In the list of L. and F. W. Mollusks there given Dr White records thirty-six species, adding “that probably more than a dozen other species inhabit the district.” His record contains—Arion ater, L. agrestis, and marginatus (three out of the fourteen slugs known as British), S. putris, V, pellucida, seven species of Zonites, eight Helices, Z. lubrica, C. rugosa, B. perversa, P. cylindracea and Anglica, V. edentula, only two Planorbes, albus and contortus, Ph. fonti- nalis, Limneea lacustris, truncatula, and palustris, A. fluviatilis, the decollated form of B. tentaculata, V. piscinalis, and Sph. corneum, with the yellow variety, jlavescens. In this list there are seven species which I have not yet come upon, while additionally to it I have found Pisidiwm fontinale and pusillum, M. margaritifer, Valvata cristata, Planorbus nautileus, and spirorbis, Ancylus lacustris, Zonites purus, H. aspersa, concinna, and Carychium minimum. In addition to all these, I subjoin the following names, which have been recorded for the district by other workers :—Pisidiwm amnicum and nitidum,; Anodonta cygnea; Planorbis nitidus and complanatus ; Limnea stagnalis ; Succinea oblonga ; Helix lamellata, sericea, and ericetorum ; Bulimus acutus and obscwrus,; Pupa ringens and marginata ; Vertigo pygmea and pusilla ; Cochlicopa tridens and Acme lineata. I am unable to mention localities for the above nineteen mollusks, since their names appear simply thus towards the close of Maxwell’s “ Guide to the Stewartry ”—in a list compiled by Mr Service from various sources. There are, therefore, just 60 species recorded of land and fresh water mollusks belonging to the S.W. of Scotland. Any attempt to allocate them to the three counties or to compile a census from them is unhappily at present impossible. This must be left to time and to our own care and interest in the subject. A few words respecting the comparative or rather relative rarity and abundance of the species Transactions. 105 may not be thrown away on any here present who may be induced to work in this department. Of the three very common garden snails, H. Aspersa, nemoralis, and hortensis, it is scarcely necessary to say more than that, in most people’s opinion, the less we have and see of them the better for our gardens and our- selves. H. arbustorum is almost as common, if not indeed in some localities more frequent than hortensis. Many of the Zonites are abundant — nitidulus and cellarius especially. Clausilia rugosa may be found in the chinks of many an old wall by the score ; H. hispida and concinna with v. subrufa. I have taken dozens off in a very few minutes from under the leaves of strawberry plants ; while you can hardly lift a biggish stone on a crumbly bank of rubbish and ‘‘ weeds” without seeing H. rotundata. Among the aquatic mollusks Valvata cristata, Planorbis Nautileus, L. palustris, and An. lacustris are the rarest —the last I have found only in one locality, in the water of Tarff. Sphaerium corneum and Bithynia tentaculata are to be seen in numberless quantities in many a shallow runlet of the Dee, more particularly near Threave Castle. And now, lastly, for a brief paragraph of suggestion to any members who may be induced to give the help of their enthusiasm in working out the distribution of our mollusks. It is always pleasant to break up virgin soil—to work in a new field—to explore. And in hunting for mollusks in Galloway and Dum- friesshire there is, besides this charm, the added attractiveness of its beautifully-varied natural scenery and rock configuration—a potent factor in our botany, and one which, I am sanguine enough to think, may be quite as interesting in almost every other department of natural science. Other motives for collecting mollusks are, the comparative easiness of the work, the slight outfit required, the small space into which your specimens can be stowed, ready at any moment for reference and study. Then the actual charm of the quest itself, ¢.g., the exciting events of a good day’s dredging over a lonely loch, hauling up with your _ stout line and grapple perhaps a cluster of Awodonte, or an ante- diluvian boot, a battered and rusty axe head, or some long searched for tiny mollusk like Planorbis nautileus, or a rare aquatic plant ; the delight of watching, as you lie full length on the flowery brink of some pellucid stream, its tiny deeps and shallows, with the minnows “staying their wavy bodies ’gainst the stream,” or its amber pools where innumerable Limncei and 14 106 Transactions. Sphaerva are curiously gliding, and floating shell downwards ; while further up, where peaty linns look bottomless, and the pike gourmandises on everything he can get a hold of, with what a sense of victory you haul in your bag net and, letting the muddy water drip out of it, behold some new or rarely caught mollusk in the hey-day of his spirits, wondering with his blind but sensitive tentacles what in the world has come over the “ spirit of his dream” in the sunless depths where long-rooted pond-weeds spread their canopy of dusky green. There are several points with respect to the life-history of our mollusks worthy of careful and patient observation and record. For example, there is the controversy over Helix nemoralis and H. hortensis to settle. We could each add our quota to the eluci- dation of this vexed question were we to note whether these reputed species breed together, whether they at all seasons are found in one and the same locality, what their food is, what, in short, are their points of resemblance and of distinction. In carrying out the practical study of our L. and F. W. mollusks, it is always well to note down, at the time of capture, what is the plant they appear attached to, and, when coming indoors, preparatory to killing your specimens in boiling, literally boiling, water—the only merciful and instantaneous method of disposing of them—to note particularly the general colour of the body, the surface-texture of the back, and the shape of tentacles and ‘ foot,” with an approximate indication of their length as compared with the length or diameter of their shells. After leaving your mollusks for a few hours in the water, a little neat and skilful manipulation with a bent pin will, in nearly all cases, fetch out the soft parts, leaving you with a shell more or less clear, but always worth reverent examination, and revealing, under the lens, curves of sculptured traceries and hues prismatic to an amazing degree. Think for a moment of what has yet to be done in ascertaining the causes of variation in species, sub-species, and variety. There are certain species like Limnaea peregra, whose capacity for variation in shell form is something astonishing. We could—or we may some day at any rate—arrive at a clue which will help us in threading out towards the truth a path through the labyrinths of these seemingly lawless creatures— absolute Robin Hoods of the submerged forests of our tarns and streams—if the facts of their lives and their general surroundings were only narrowly and well watched. Transactions. 107 Other points arise in the study of these numerous but easily passed over creatures. For instance, I am fond of thinking that it is only to cloak our laziness and ignorance that we divide and sub-divide Creation into orders and genera and species. There are always, if not in our own Flora and Fauna, then in some other, links between one genus and another ; and, if we only knew more, we should readily admit that really there is no such thing as “species,” or, rather that what we call a “species” is only the outcome at one particular epoch, a climax, of innumer- able gradations in forms of being. It is doubly interesting, therefore, to be able to fill up an admitted gap in the natural sequence. By finding, for the first time in Kirkcudbright, this little shell, Valvata cristata, one day amid hosts of Planorbis albus on the floating pondweed-leaves, one of these links was made clear tome. JV. cristata, not only by internal organisation, but by shape of shell, connects most palpably the Genus Planorbis with the Genus Valvata. Planorbis has a flat discoid shell, in many species perceptibly convex, indeed, on both sides. Compare one of them with the commoner Valvata (V. piscinalis) of our Fauna, and see the difference. Then note how neatly and timeously this tiny cristata comes in to blend the two genera, with its shell, as Gwyn Jeffery remarks, “perfectly flat in all stages of growth ”—so like a Planorbis albus, and yet so unmis- takably a Valvata in texture and colour, and those more subtle distinctions which make the real difficulties of science. In the same way Physa acuta, a European species, connects our two species of Physa, hypnorwm and fontinalis ; and another shell, which we ought to get in our district, Zonites fulvus is the link between the true Zonites and the true Helicidae. I might multiply instances of this kind ; but as this is not a lecture upon Malacology, I must refrain. My object is merely to suggest the direction in which many of us might find plenty of work and study on taking up the subject of mollusks and shells. I repeat, in conclusion, that, in addition to the healthful pursuit of watching and hunting for these strange little creatures, there are no obstacles such as expensive tools or accessories of any kind in the path of the adventurer. Even time is not so much a desider- atwm as in almost any other Natural History pursuit. Some scores of pill boxes of various sizes, an old mustard tin or two, a long stick to which a salmon gaff or a bag-net can be quickly fitted, and, I must add, a passion for dabbling in cool, clear- 108 Transactions. running streams, with strength of will enough to probe the unsavoury mysteries also of stagnant ditches—with this simple outfit there is no reason why any one of ordinary intelligence should not soon become an expert mollusk-hunter, and not only gain health of mind and body, but add his facts to the ever- increasing sum of knowledge. Il. A Day on Ben Lawers (Abstract). By Mr J. M‘Anprew. In this paper Mr M‘Andrew described a visit made in company with sixteen other botanists, under the guidance of Dr Stirton, to this celebrated district. The visit to Ben Lawers was made on Saturday, 18th July, 1885, from Killin. To botanize Ben Lawers alone, Lawers Hotel is the most convenient inn to stay at, but Killin is more central for the whole Breadalbane range of mountains. Dr Stirton proved an excellent guide, as he has botanized the mountain for all sorts of plants for the past 30 years, has been nearly 80 times on the Ben, and knows all its best spots, and has made many discoveries on it. The ascent of the mountain is neither difficult nor dangerous, but it is very tiresome to “ work,” owing to the rough and rocky nature of its surface. It is among mountains of mica-schist like Ben Lawers that are found deep glens, rugged ravines, and abrupt precipices. This rock formation flanks more or less all the principal mountain chains in the world. The western ravine is thus described—‘“ Rocks of all forms and sizes, jagged points protruding through grassy slopes, huge boulders over and under which the botanist must crawl to secure his treasures, dashing mountain rills, and splashy wet ground were the characteristic features of the ravine.” ‘The eastern ravine is much narrower, and there are no high rocks in it—in fact, it is a deep gully in the mountain with large broken rocks in it. At the bottom of these eastern corries lies Loch-na-gat.” Ben Lawers is the Scottish paradise of Alpine plants, no other mountain in Britain equalling it in the richness and variety of its Alpine flora. The Clova mountains come next to it, and in many respects are a formidable rival. Botanists from all parts of the world have for a long time, and especially for the past thirty years, trod its mica-schist, and botanized in its ravines, and have returned to it with increasing affection and admiration, and yet its botanical treasures are not exhausted, for almost every year reveals some of its hidden rarities. By turning up ‘‘ Hooker’s Transactions. 109 British Flora,” ‘“‘ Hobkirk’s Synopsis of the British Mosses,” or ** Leighton’s Lichen Flora of Great Britain,” any one can convince himself of the great number of plants recorded from Ben Lawers. It may be asked—Why is Ben Lawers so famous for Alpine plants? Several reasons may be given—Its friable mica-schist affords an excellent soil for plants, its rugged and varied surface, and its immense ravines, running towards the east, with their boulders, rocks, corries, and even rills, give shelter to rare crypto- gams; its frequent dews and mists afford abundant moisture ; its rocky ledges and grassy slopes afford resting places for plants; it is high, 3984 feet. Its rills have Saxifraga aizoides, Oxyria reniformis, &e. ; its grassy slopes are carpeted with Alchemilla alpina; its damp places have Tofieldia palustris, Juncus big- lumis, and trigluwmis ; it is the only British station for the beau- tiful Myosotis alpestris ; it has Saxifraga hypnoides, Cherleria sedoides, Sibbaldia procumbens, Salix reticulata, Cerastium alpi- num, &e.; while near the summit may be found Saxifraga cernua and rivularis ; and in sheltered crevices everywhere Aspidiwm Lonchitis, Asplenium viride, and Cystopteris fragilis. Ben Lawers is very deficient in three genera of mosses—the Andrewa, the Sphagna, and the Campylopi. Some of the rarer plants are becoming extinct, as Hypnum Halleri, Stylostegiwm cespiti- cium, and a few others. Carex ustulata once grew on Ben Lawers, and was considered extinct in Scotland, but has been confirmed for Perthshire this summer. Its Cryptogamic Flora has a very close affinity to that of Scandinavia. We find grass on Ben Lawers up to the very summit, with no heather. The water of its rills and streams is clear as crystal and cold as ice, everywhere perfectly safe to drink. In one of the two papers on the ‘“ Mosses of Ben Lawers,” given in the Transactions of the Edinburgh Botanical Society, Dr Stirton says :—‘‘There is no other mountain in Scotland I have climbed that presents such curious and perplexing anomalies in its cryptogamic vegetation. Almost at every step in the more favoured spots the botanist meets forms which seem to mock his powers of discrimination, and above all to warn him that nature is not to be cramped and con- - fined by any classification of man’s devising.” Ill. The Botany of the Sanquhar District. By Dr A. Davinson. Last year I addressed you on this, among other subjects, and though it gives me much pleasure again to add a few, and I hope 110 Transactions. not unimportant, facts to Topographical Botany, I regret to think that Field Botany in the neighbourhood of Sanquhar has a limit, and though my researches have been pushed in the least frequented and unexplored districts, I have been unable to add so many new localities and species as I did last year, when the district was practically unexplored. I will in this paper then speak of the Sanquhar and Kirkconnel parishes only. Viola lutea, the yellow pansy, is abundant on all the upland meadows, and, along with the variety ( V.) amena, forms in many parts quite a pleasing feature in otherwise barren districts ; but in no place do they appear in such variety and profusion as at Wanlockhead, where they bedeck the green swards with their variegated petals as richly as do the gowans on the lowland meadows, while the heaths are in like manner enriched by the golden bloom of the pretty whin, Genista anglica. The knob- berry, Rubus Chamemorus, is also found here in fair abundance, and in a few of the glens Saxifraga hypnoides is not uncommon, but few other flowering plants have been able to find a footing in the wet and sedgy soil of these gloomy uplands. Spire salier- Jfolia, the willow-leaved spire, has become naturalised in Elliock woods. Pp »g ally on ledges of the rocks. The Sparrow Hawk is rare, and its nest has not been seen for a year or two. Fifteen or twenty years ago their nests were common. Occasionally the common 15 114 Transactions. Buzzard is seen, sometimes at a great height, sailing slowly and gracefully in circles—at other times hunting along the hillsides, The grouse appear to be very much afraid of this bird, as, on two occasions, when one crossed the valley to the opposite hill they seemed to clear off it altogether in the wildest manner. A pair of buzzards nested until three or four years ago ona rock on the farm of Appin, but they have not returned since their young were taken from the nest by some labourers, who had been work- ing in the district. It seems a great pity that such fine birds as the hawks should be persecuted as they are. The harm which the larger ones would do to game would be but trifling, while some of the smaller ones feed largely on vermin. The Tawny Owl is common in the wooded parts, nesting occasionally in a hole in the ground, but more frequently in hollow trees. Books on British birds give the number of its eggs as from three to five, but although not a season has passed for a long time without my knowing of one or more nests, I never saw more than three, and in four cases out of five, not more than two eggs. The Long-eared Owl is rare. It evidently lays its eggs in pairs, at a considerable interval, as in a nest of four found recently two were almost hatched, while the other two were not more than half. From the situation of a nest (amongst heather) found many years ago, it must have been that of the Short-eared Owl, the only instance of its occur- rence, But once has the nest of the Barn Owl been observed, in a rabbit-hole. The female was wantonly shot. The Spotted Flycatcher is plentiful. On all the streams the Dipper is found. This bird sticks very closely to the same nesting site, there being several places, generally by a water-fall, which are never without a nest. The same nest is used year after year, if not carried away by floods. The moss of which the outer part is composed, being gathered fresh from the stones by the burns, frequently grows, when the situation is a damp one, forming a dense water. proof covering for the lining of grass, the only part which seems to require annual repair. There are almost invariably four or five dry oak leaves as an inner lining. The eggs of a pair of Dippers were taken last year, and the birds laid a second time in the same nest, a very unusual occurrence, not, however, until they had another a few hundred yards from the first almost com- pleted, when it was swept away by a swell in the river. They evidently considered that time would not permit of their building : Transactions. 115 a third nest ; so they returned to the fi.st, where they reared their brood in safety. The Wissel Thrush, almost the earliest songster, is common. On one occasion I saw a pair of these birds attack a hen that was passing near their nest. It was only this season that the Song Thrush appeared in anything like the numbers in which it was found previously to the severe winter of 1879-1880. The Blackbird is plentiful, too plentiful, we think, during the fruit season. The Ring Ouzel is found on all the hills building its nest, which is very like the blackbird’s, amongst the heather, in the ivy which clings to some of the rocks, or in juniper bushes. The Hedge Sparrow, whose nest, owing probably to the beautiful colour of the eggs, is robbed so often by boys, is common. That bird, which is a general favourite, in spite of its pugnacity, the Robin, is very common. No other bird becomes so familiar with our dwellings. Some time ago one began to come into our house, by and bye getting to spend the whole day indoors, entering in the morning before there was much light, and remaining until quite dusk, never, however, overnight. During the cheese-making season its headquarters were in the dairy, when it fed on the curd. When the supply failed there, it betook itself to the kitchen, clearing up the crumbs from the table and floor after meals, or baking opera- tions. Its favourite perch was the edge of a pan which hung from the ceiling, where it sat and sang for hours daily. Any noise in the house, particularly the scrubbing of the floor, never failed to set robin a-singing. On washing day it was sure to be found in the midst of the hubbub, walking about amongst the tubs and people quite at home, and singing all the time—some- times in a low, sweet strain scarcely audible, at other times quite loudly. It never seemed at ease when one of the male sex approached. Suddenly it disappeared, to our sorrow, probably having fallen a prey to a cat, the end to which more pet birds than that robin have come. The Redstart, Whinchat, and Wheatear are all common. There is rather a remarkable Redstart’s egg on the table, having a few spots at the larger end. The nest of the Wheatear is very difficult to find, partly on account of the prevalence of stone dykes, which form their favourite nesting site. Occasionally they take to a rabbit hole. Both the Whitethroat and Garden Warbler are numerous, particularly the former. 17 130 Transactions. “* On-girded Him, God Alnighty, When he would On gallows mount, Proud before All men Bow [durst not I].” In the second column the cross itself speaks, and says— « (Ahof) Ik riikne kyningk | heafunes hlafard, heelda ik ni darsti, bismeredu ungket men ba etgadre ik wes mith blode bistemid bigoten of. Ss I upraised the mighty King, Heaven’s Lord, Heel (over), I durst not, Men reviled us both together. I was with blood besmeared, Poured from [the man’s side].” Weturn now to the third column, on the other side of the monu- ment, and there read— s¢ 4. Krist waes on rodi, hwethre ther fuse fearran kwomu eththile til anum. ik thet al biheald sare ik wes mith sorgum gidreefid.” ‘« Christ was on Rood, Whither there readily, (Men) came from afar The Prince to aid— I that all beheld, Sore I was with sorrow troubled.” The fourth column gives— ‘* Mith strelum giwunded, alegdun hie hin limweerignze gistoddun him (et) his likeas heafdum bihealdun hiz ther heafun. ee ‘* With missiles wounded, Laid they him limb-weary— They stood at his corpse’s head, Beheld they there Heaven [’s Lord].”’ The lines here given will be found to be in close agreement with the dying words of Bede, the few English lines embedded in the Latin text, and also with the Northumbrian original of Cadmon’s Transactions. 131 hymn. In the Runes also the letter & occurs, which did not appear in southern English till two centuries later. The dual accusative wngket is extremely old, and occurs nowhere else. The x of the infinitive has been clipped, and the dialect is thus in close agreement with the old Norse and Frisic. In southern English the infinite ends in an. The of the plural imperfect has also been clipped, and there is a curious softening of the guttural h (= ch in loch) in elmthiig, which is here written almeyottig. The word #2 (to) is unknown in southern English, but occurs in the Northumbrian original of Cadmon’s hymn and in the Northumbrian Gospels. For comparison with the lines above printed, we may here give the Northumbrian original of Cadmon’s hymn along with King Alfred’s West Saxon version. The Northumbrian is as follows :-- ‘«« Nu scylun hergan hefvenriczs uard, Metudzs mecti end his modgidane, Uere uuldurfadur, sue he uundra gihues, Eci dryctin, or astelidz. He erist scop elda barnum Heben till hrofe, haleg scepen : Tha middungeard moncynnes uard, Eci dryctin, efter tiade Firum, foldu, frea allmectig.” King Alfred’s version is :— “‘ Nu we sculan herian heofonrices Weard, Metodes mihte and his modgethone, Wera Wuldorfeder ; swa he wundra gehwes, Ece Dryhten, ord onstealde. He erest gesceop eorthan bearnum Heofon to hrofe, halig Scyppend ; Tha middangeard, monneynnes Weard, Ece Dryhten, efter teode Firum foldan, Frea Ailmihtig.” Translation— “¢ Now shall we praise heaven-kingdom’s warden, The Creator’s might and His mind’s thought, Of men the glorious father,—as He of every wonder, He, the Lord Eternal, formed the beginning. He first shaped for earth’s bairns Heaven as a roof, holy Creator (‘‘ shaper ”’) ; Then mid-earth, mankind’s Warden, Eternal Lord, afterwards made, The earth for men, Almighty Lord.” Wanley in his catalogue of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts placed the date of the manuscript containing Cadmon’s hymn in the year 132 Transactions. 737, and this early date is confirmed by the handwriting and by the close agreement of the lines with Bede’s Latin prose translation, which runs thus :— “‘ Nune Laudare debemus auctorem regni coelestis, potentiam Creatoris et consilium illius, facta Patris gloriae. Quomodo ille, cum sit aeternus Dens, omnium miraculorum auctor exstitit, qui primo filiis hominun coelum pro culmine tecti, dehine terram custos humani generis omnipotens creavit.” “ GADMON ME FEUOTHO.” I have already mentioned that the runes on the top stone have been interpreted “ Cadmon me made,” and on this point I think there can be no doubt. Now, we only know of one Cadmon, and we know him chiefly as a poet, and we are further told by the venerable Bede that this Cadmon composed poems on “ The creation of the world and the origin of the human race, and the whole story of Genesis, of Israel’s departure out of Egypt and entrance into the land of promise, of many other parts of the sacred history, of the Lord’s Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven, of the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the doctrine of the Apostles,” &e. Yet, notwithstanding all this, it is asserted by many scholars that the “ Dream of the Rood” was not composed by Cadmon, but by another poet— Cynewulf. Thus Mr Sweet, in his “ Anglo-Saxon Reader” (fourth ed., 1884), tells us that the poem was written by Cyne- wulf, on the strength of Cynewulf’s name being introduced into another poem in the same manuscript (Ver. cod.), in the form of an acrostic in Runic letters! He also informs us that “The Runic inscription of the Ruthwell Cross in Dunfriesshire also gives a fragment of the poem in the old Northumbrian dialect of the seventh or eighth century.” On the other hand, Prof. Zupitza, in his “Alt und Mittelenglisches Uebungsbuch ” (3d ed., Wien, 1884), gives us the Runes with the various read- ings, but ignores the top stone altogether, and yet he cites among his authorities the ‘ Vetusta Monumenta” and Prof. Stephens’ “ Runic Monuments!” In conclusion, I cannot do better than quote the thoughtful words of Dr Anderson in his lecture on the Cross. He says—‘“ This, then, is the story of the decipherment of the Runes on the Ruthwell Cross. I know nothing in the whole range of monumental history that surpasses it in interest. Tt makes us regard the monument not only as a finger-post in the history of Christian art, but as a landmark in the history of English literature. In its sculptured decorations it preserves to Transactions. 133 us the style and quality of a very peculiar phase of early Christian art. In its associated inscriptions in the Latin language and character, it preserves to us the key which gives the explanations of other sculptured groups that have no asso- ciated inscriptions. In them also it preserves to us the very words of the texts of Scripture, of the passages from the Apocry- phal gospels, and the legendary lives of the saints that were thus chosen for sculptured representation. Above all, in its Runic inscription it has preserved a fragment of one of the earliest known specimens of old English literature—a poem undoubtedly of very unusual merit. No literary monument graven on stone of such a character, or of greater importance in the history of literature, exists anywhere else. It is a monument of culture in the highest sense of the term. It is a monument unique of its kind, bearing witness to the existence of an artistic culture, which for its age was high, and of a literary culture which but few of the succeeding ages have greatly surpassed. It is, there- fore, a monument of which the nation of whose history it forms a conspicuous part might well be proud.” 8th January, 1886. Mr J. G. H. Srarxe, Vice-President, in the Chair. Thirty-four members present. New Members.—Dr Aitken, Inverness, and Miss Barbour, Belmont, Dumfries. Dr Gilchrist’s Death.—The Chairman intimated that since the Society had last met, their esteemed President, Dr Gilchrist, had been removed by death, and for this reason the special meeting was not held on the 18th December. He called upon Dr Grierson _to move a resolution. Dr Grierson—as one who had known the late President for many years—in feeling terms moved “That this Society record in its minutes the great loss which it has sustained on the removal by death of Dr Gilchrist, and that it tenders to Mrs Gilchrist its deepest sympathy in her sore bereavement.” This was seconded by the Chairman, who testified to the kindly manner and unvarying courtesy with which their late President was ever ready to assist the members, and to further the objects of the Society. The Society's New Rooms.—The Secretary submitted a report 134 Transactions. of the sub-committee (see Appendix) that had been appointed to make arrangements and carry out the operations in connection with the new rooms. On the motion of Mr J. Thomson, seconded by Mr Dods, the report was unanimously adopted, and the sub- committee were awarded a hearty vote of thanks for completing the undertaking so successfully, special thanks being given to Mr Barbour, Vice-President, and to Mr J. Wilson, Honorary Secretary. It was also unanimously agreed to award the Society’s thanks to all the ladies and gentlemen who had contri- buted so liberally towards the expense. Exhibits. —Dr Grierson exhibited a Japanese magic mirror, a black snake from South Africa, the nest of the trap-door spider, and several Indian curiosities. Election of President.—The Chairman intimated that the coinmittee had resolved to recommend Dr Grierson to be their President in succession to the late Dr Gilchrist, and he moved accordingly. This motion was seconded, and unanimously agreed to. Dr Grierson, in accepting office, remarked that the first meeting of the old Society consisted of Dr Gilchrist, Dr Dickson, Mr W. G. Gibson, and himself, and that as the present Society numbered over 200 members, he was much gratified by the honour conferred upon him. CoMMUNICATIONS. T. Galloway Place Names. By Mr J. M‘Kix, To the greater number of us many of these names convey no intelligent meaning whatever, yet we may be assured that whether they belong to parishes or farms, hills or valleys, lakes or rivers, they are never mere arbitrary sounds devoid of meaning. Though many of them may have become so obscured by the mists of antiquity, and their passage through several languages as to make them but indistinctly visible, yet they ought always to be regarded as records of the past, inviting and rewarding a careful historical research, for they often record events which history has failed to commemorate, and embalin for us the guise and fashion of speech ‘in eras the most remote, and of language that may have long ceased to be vernacular. We owe a debt of gratitude to our semi-barbarous ancestors for the varied and beautifully descriptive names they gave to all the prominent features of the land. The Gaelic placenames in Galloway were word pictures of the country, as it appeared when first beheld by the original settlers. Transactions. 135 In marked contrast to this is the poverty of inventive faculty evinced by the earlier settlers in America, who were not savages but civilised men, yet a large proportion of the names given by them to places are thoroughly barbarous in character, and for the most part utterly imappropriate, and accomplish very insufficiently the purpose which names are intended to fulfil. Such names as Salem, Bethel, Athens, Troy, Rome, London, Paris, Corinth, and the like, are scattered broadcast throughout the length and breadth of the land, and by their endless repeti- tions must be a source of great perplexity in the post-office, booking office, and schoolroom. Much may be said in favour of the names whereby the Colonists have striven to reproduce in a land of exile, the names of the beloved spots which they had left. I was much struck with this, when a few years ago I passed through that part of Canada lying between the lakes Huron and Erie, and generally known as the Huron tract. The Colonists of that district being chiefly from the South of Scotland, the familiar Galloway names were everywhere to be met with, and though many of them were inappropriate in such a level country, yet on account of their being given in memory of the old homesteads they were excusable. Not so, however, the intolerable presump- tion displayed by those who have ruthlessly seized upon the grand historic names of the old world, and applied them by the score to a limited number of wooden houses, a sawmill, grocery, and grog stores, which go far to make up a city in a Western forest. But from this digression to return to Galloway. A very important point in ascertaining the meaning of topographical words is to discover their ancient spelling. As the greater number of these had been spoken for ages before they were written, and when they came to be written the manner of spelling would in a great measure depend on the accent of the speaker and the ear of the writer, which accounts for the diversity that often appears in spelling the same word, _ though it may be nearly at the same date. I have now before me the Valuation Roll of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, retoured to Exchequer, 15th July, 1642. The spelling used in it makes plain the meaning of many words which modern spelling has almost completely obscured. Words being like coins, they _ get clipped and worn by constant use, until the legend which _ they bore at first becomes almost effaced. The several races who at different times held sway in Galloway, namely, the Caledonian 136 Transactions. Gael, the Romans, the Teuton or ancient Saxon with a sprinkling of Norse, the Irish Celt, and the Anglo-Saxon, have each left some record of their history in the names they gave to the sites and surroundings where they had found a home. Whenever we attempt to make an analysis of local names we find that by far the greater number contain two component elements, one of these which in Gaelic names is generally the prefix, and in Teutonic names the suffix, in some general term meaning island, river, mountain, dwelling, or inclosure, as the case may be. The following are the Gaelic prefixes, with their English corruptions and significations, which occur Galloway :— most frequently throughont English Corruptions. Gaelic Prefixes. English Significations. Ach, Auch, Achen, Auchen, Auchin Dal May, Mach, Meath Aird, Ard Bal, Bel Bar, Barra Ben Carn, Cairn Blair Car, Com, Crum Cory, Corrie, Cors Coul, Cull Craig, Craigie Drum, Drym, Drem Doun, Doon, Dum Larg Garv, Gar, Garron Glen Strath Kil, Killy, Killie Knock Loch, Lochen Lag, Logan Ton Tor Pol Rie, Arie Kelly, Achadh, often con- tracted to Ach and Acha Dail Magh, Machair Aird, Airde, Ard Baile Barr Beinn Carn Blar Cam, Car, Crom Coire Cul Creag, Craigie, Crea- geach Druim Dun Learg Garhh Gleann Srath Coille Cnoe Loch, Lochan Lag, Lagan Monadh Torr Poll Ruighe, Airidh A field A field A plain, a field Height, lofty, elevation A town, farm, hamlet, or home A point, an extremity A mountain A mountain, also a monu- mental heap of stones A battle, a battlefield, also a plain A bend, crooked, curved A ravine, a deep hollow The back, a back-lying place A rock, a rocky place A ridge A castle, a fort, a mound The side of a hill, the slope of a hill, rising ground Rough, roughness A small valley A larger valley A wood A knoll A lake, a small lake A hollow, a small hollow A hill A conical hill A pool, a marsh A shealing, place of sum- mer pasture The first to be noticed is the English corruptions of the Gaelic Ld Transactions. 137 Acha or Achadh, a field, the most common being Auch. There are over thirty places with this name in the Stewartry. These being often in groups make known to us where the cultivated lands of the Gael were situated, and where they have made most progress in agriculture, and thereby in civilisation. Time will . only admit of a limited number in each case being given as examples :—Awchenlairie is from the Gaelic words, Achadh-na- hiolurie, and signifies, the field of the eagle, proving that eagles then frequented the adjoining cliffs ; Awchenreoch, from Achadh- riabhach, meaning the grey-looking field; Azwchencloy, from Achadh-na-cloiche, the field of the stone ; Awchlane, from Achadh- liana, the field of the plain; Awchengibbert, from Achadh-na- t-iobairt, the field of sacrifice. This name is so clearly of heathen origin that it proves its great antiquity. The prefix Dal, which is from the Gaelic Dail, means also a field, but is not so common as the former word ; Valquhairn, from Dail-a-chairn, the field of the cairn ; Dalry, from Dail-righ, the king’s field ; it implies also sometimes that the field is level, Dail-reidh meaning the level or smooth field ; Dalbeattie, from Dail-beithe, the birch-tree field. The birch among the ancient Gael was used as an emblem of readiness to do a kindness. A young maiden presented her lover with a twig of birch as a sign of her acceptance of him. The Gaelic words, Magh and Machair, both signify a plain, and sometimes a field; Machermore, from Machair-mor, the great plain ; Balmae, from Baile-magh, the hamlet or home of the plain ; Zannymaas, from Teine-magh, the fire field. This name is evidently of heathen origin, referring to where fires had been specially lighted to the pagan god, Bel. The next in order of the prefixes is that of Aird, Airde, or Ard, signifying height, high, lofty ; Ardoch, from Ardach, meaning the high field ; Laird- mannoch, evidently a corruption of Ard-mheadhonach, the middle height, which very aptly describes its position ; Airdrie, from Airde-reidh, the smooth height, or else from Airde-righ, the king’s height ; Bal and Bel, from the Gaelic Baile, means not only a town or village, but also a farm, home, or dwelling ; Balgerran comes from Baile-gearr-an, which means the town on the short stream; Balcary, from Baile-na-carragh, the house of or at the pointed rocks; Balmaclellan and Balmaghie, the town or dwelling-place of the M‘Lellans and M‘Ghies; Bar and Barra, from the Gaelic Barr, meaning a point, extremity, or upper part, occurs very frequently. There being more 18 138 Transactions. than sixty places with this name in Galloway, it is occa- sionally used singly, and in its Gaelic spelling when it simply signifies uplands, but mostly as a prefix. Bargally, from Barr- geal, the white or fair point ; Bardarroch, from Barr-darach, the oak wood point ; Barcaple, from Barr-capull, the horses (mares) point on uplands ; Barlochan, from Barr-lochan, the little lake at the point; Ben, the English corruption of the Gaelic Beinn, a mountain ; Bengairn, from Beinn-a-chairn, the mountain of the cairn; Bennan, from Beinn-a-nan, the mountain of the river, which graphically describes its situation as it rises from the margin of the Ken; Benbrock, from Beinn-bhroc, the badgers’ mountain ; Cairn, from the Gaelic Carn, also means a mountain, and sometimes a monumental heap of stones; like Bar, it is sometimes used singly, but generally as a prefix; Cairnsmuir, from Carn-mor, the great cairn; Cairnleys, from Carn-liath, the grey cairn ; Blair, from the Gaelic Blar, a battle, a battlefield, also a plain ; Blairinne, from Blar-inne, the battle or battlefield at the water channel or river ; Blairshinnoch, from Llar-sionnaigh, this may mean either the battle of the foxes, from the cunning dis- played by the combatants, or the plain of the foxes; Blairbuves, from Blar-buidhe, the yellow battlefield or plain. Car, from the Gaelic Cam, Car, Crom, a bend, curved, crooked; Carlae, from Car-liath, the grey bend; Carsmaddie, from Car-madadh, the wolf's bend; Cargen, from Car-eanach, the curved or winding water. The English words Corry, Corrie, and Currie, all of which are from the Gaelic Cotre, meaning a ravine or deep hollow, are frequently met with. Corriedow, from Covre-dubh, the black ravine ; Corriefeckloch, from Coire-fitheach-loch, the ravens’ ravine of or at the lake ; Airriereoch, evidently from Coire-riabhach, the grey looking ravine. Cowl and Cull, from the Gaelic Cul, mean- ing the back or back-lying place, are of common occurrence ; Culdoch, from Cul-du-oich, which means the back-lying place of the dark water, which fully describes its position in connection with the dark water of the Dee; Cvlreoch, from Crdl-ribahach, the back-lying grey looking places. Craig and Craige, from the Gaelic Creag, Craigie, Creagach, meaning a rock, a rocky place, occur very frequently. It occasionally appears singly as Crag, but generally as a prefix. Craigdarroch, from Creay-daraich, the rock of the oak wood; Craigshinny, from Creag-sionnaigh, the foxes’ rock ; Craigdew, from Creag-dubh, the black rock. Drum, from the Gaelic Drwim, a ridge, is also of frequent occurrence ; Transactions. 139 Drummore, from Druim-mor, the great ridge ; Drumboy, from Druim-buidhe, the yellow or aburn ridge; Drumbeg, from Druim- beag, the little ridge. Doon, Dun, Downe, all corruptions of the Gaelic Dun, which means a castle, a fort, a mound, or earthwork. It appears in several places singly as Doon, and Downs, but chiefly as a prefix. Dunjarg, from Dun-dearg, the red fort; Dwn- drennan, from Dun-nan-droigheann, the fort of the thorn bushes ; Dunmuck, from Dun-muic, the fort of the wild sow. Larg, from the Gaelic Learg, meaning a hill side, the slope of a hill, rising ground. This is often used singly as Larg and Largs, but also as a prefix ; Largmore, from Learg-mor, the great slope or rising ground ; Largnean, from Learg-nan-ewn, the hill side of the birds, or abounding in birds; Larglanglee, from Learg-lan-liath, the home or cultivated spot on the slopes of the grey hill. Gar, Garts Garrow, corruptions of the Gaelic Garbh, meaning rough or roughness, appears pretty often; Garroch, from Garbh-ach, the rough field; Garlog, from Garbh-lag, the rough hollow ; Garerogo, from Garbh-creagach, the rough, rocky place. The next prefix is the very common one of Glen, from the Gaelic word Glean, which signifies a small valley; Glenshinnoch, from Glean-sionnaigh, the valley of the foxes; Glenkil, from Glean-coulle, tlie wooded valley. It is also met with singly as Glen or the Glen. Strath, from the Gaelic Srath, means a more extensive valley than the word Glen, and thereby of course not near so frequent; Strathmanna, from Srath-eannagh, the valley of the marsh; Strathmaddie, from Srath-madaidh, the valley of the wolf. The next prefix is in English, Kid/, Killie, and Killy, which are all derived from the Gaelic Coille, signifying a wood, a forest; Ailldow, from Coille-dubh, the black wood ; Killimore, from Coille-mor, the great forest ; Killigowan, from Coille-ghobhainn, the blacksmith’s wood ; very probably because it was from where he obtained the fuel for his forge, the black- smith being, of course, a very important personage in the remote ages, particularly in making the swords, dirks, &c., with which _ the Romans under Agricola, in the first century, found the Gal- __wegians fully provided. Knock, from the Gaelic Cnoc, meaning a knoll or small hill, is very common; Knockengarroch, from Cnoce-na-garbh, the knoll of roughness; Knockmulloch, from Cnoc-mulloch, the knoll’s summit ; Knocklea, from Cnoe-liath, the grey knoll. Loch and Lochan, which means a lake and a sinall lake, are very frequent; Lochenbreck, from Lochan-breac, the 140 Transactions. small speckled lake, probably from its abounding in trout ; Loch- fergus, from Loch-Feargus, or Fergus’ lake ; Lochdow, from Loch- dubh, the black lake. Lag and Lagan, which signify a hollow, and a small hollow, are also general, often singly, and occasion- ally as a prefix ; Laganorry, from Lagan-airidh, the hollow of the shealing ; Laggan-Mullan, from Lagan-mhwillin, the hollow of the mill. Mon is an English contraction of the Gaelic Monadh, which means a hill; Minniedow, from Monadh-dubh, the black hill; Minnibuce, from Monadh-buidhe, the yellow or auburn hill; Muneraig, from Monadh-creag, the rocky hill. Zorr, which means a conical hill, is used singly as Z’or, and Zorrs, and as a prefix— Tormanie, from Torr-na-monaidh, the conical hill of the mountain; Torrorie, fromTorr-airidh, the conical hill of the shealing. The next on the list is the prefix Pol, from the Gaelic Poll, which means a pool; Puleree, from Poll-crioch, the boundary pool ; Polmadie, from Poll-madaidh, the wolf’s pool ; Polvaddock, from Poll-feadog, the plover’s pool. The English words Ate and Arie are from the Gaelic words Ruighe and Aridh, signify a shealing, that is, the place of the summer pasture, also a dwelling at these during the summer season; Benaire, from Beinn-arridh, the shealing of the mountain ; Clauchrie, from Cloiche-rwigh, the stony summer pasture; Largirie, from Learg-airidh, the summer pastures of the hill-side. Having thus given local examples of the above Gaelic prefixes, we will now turn to the Saxon suffixes, where it will be found that those which occur most frequently denote an enclosure of some kind, something hedged, walled in, or protected, which prove how intensely the Saxon race was imbued with the principles of the sacred nature of property, and how eager every man was to possess some spot he could call his own, and guard from the intrusion of every other man. Those universally recurring terminations, ton, ham, hay, burgh, yard, garth, park, croft, and field, all convey the notion of inclosure, or protection, of which the following are local examples:—Chapleton, Edingham, Auchen- hay, Dryburgh, Clonyard, Fairgirty, Gledpark, Coopercroft, and Broadfield. There are over fifty places in the Stewartry having the suffix ton, which signifies a place surrounded by a hedge, or rudely fortified by a palisade. It becomes like the Gaelic Ach, a sort of test word, by which we are able to trace the localities where the Saxon intruders first settled among a hostile and alien race. Those places called Garleton and Borland Transactions. 141 take their names from two classes of society among the Saxons— the former from the ceorles or middle class, and the latter from the boors or lowest class, the thanes being the highest. The suffixes, bery and Jaw, mean respectively a hill, and a rising ground, examples Greenlaw, and Raeberry. Den and shaw, a wooded valley, and a wooded hill, or height, Clouden and Clatteringshaws. This latter may be taken as an instance where the meaning is greatly obscured by modern spelling. In the Valuation Roll of 1642 it is spelled Catteringshaws, which means the wooded point of the hill frequented by the wild cat. That wild cats abounded in this locality is evident from the neighbour- ing lands formerly being called Catbellie, wild cats being common in Galloway until after the beginning of the present century ; but since they no longer prowl in that neighbourhood, or yet the wolf in Strathmaddie, and the badger having ceased to make his hole in Benbrock, the scream of the eagle being no longer heard at Auchenlairie, and the wild sow having deserted Dunmuckh, the roebuck having fled from Rueberry, and the fox from Knock- shinny, these together with the ceorles and boors would alike be forgotten were it not that their memory lives through their “names being given to the places which they had inhabited. In concluding these remarks, I would submit that the Antiquarian Section of the Association might find congenial work in rescuing from obscurity these beautifully descriptive, yet fast waning place-names. The Natural History Section might also be induced to assist, as it would add to the interest of any floral or other specimen they picked up, if, while noting the name of the locality, they were likewise able to record how it had obtained that name, 5th February, 1886. Dr Grierson, President, in the Chair. Forty-three members present. New Members.—Dr Hunter Dryden, Dumfries; Dr Robertson, Penpont; Mr Robson, Penpont; Messrs J. Cumming, M. M‘Innes, and T. C. M‘Kettrick, Dumfries. Donations—Mr W. J. Maxwell presented on behalf of Captain Maxwell of Terregles five rare birds from New Zealand, includ- ing the ground parrot, Stringops iabroptilus; four local birds—two 142 Transactions. owls, a kestrel, and a golden-eye ; a stoat; and also “A History of the Birds of New Zealand,” by W. L. Buller. Major Bowden presented eleven volumes of the Philosophical Journal. The Secretary laid on the table the Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Field Club ; the Second Annual Report of the U.S. Geological Survey, as a donation from the Smithsonian Institu- tion; and called the attention of the meeting to the handsome clock which had been placed in the rooms as a donation from Mr J. C. M‘Lean. Exhibits.—The Chairman exhibited a gold coin found near Thornhill, of the reign of Robert II. Mr Wallace exhibited the small tortoise-shell butterfly, and remarked that he had found half a dozen of the species at Terreglestown during the past week. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Some Practical Suggestions. By Mr J. G. H. Starke, Vice-President. An interesting discussion followed the reading of this paper. Il. At Aberdeen with the British Association. By Mr J. Suaw. Mr Shaw, in this paper, described the various interesting places visited by the Association, and briefly noticed some of the im- portant scientific papers that were read at the conference. III. 4 Gossip about Lichens. By Mr P. Gray. Tn this paper, which was illustrated by a number of specimens, the author referred to the successful investigations made by Mr M‘Andrew in Galloway, and regretted that so little was known of the Lichens of Dumfriesshire. He suggested that the mem- bers should collect as many of these as possible, and forward them to Mr M‘Andrew or some other authority for identification, for by so doing they would not only make themselves acquainted with these interesting plants, but further the advancement of science. Mr Gray next described the Lichens, their place in nature, their habitats, their impatience of atmospheric and other impurities, and remarked that their luxuriance was one of the tests of the healthiness of a climate. He recommended that the collectors should examine all the stone-dykes, and visit the Lochar Moss, and the woods of Dalscone, Carlaverock, and Kirk- michael. The collector of Lichens should carry a strong sharp Transactions. 143 clasp knife, to detach those growing on trees, &ec., a geological hammer and well tempered chisel to split off pieces of rocks, The specimens should be wrapped in soft paper, labelled with locality and date, and might be carried home in a satchel. He gave instructions for the drying and examination, and recom- mended Lindsay’s Popular History of Lichens as a useful book to beginners. 5th March, 1886. Dr Grierson presiding. Twenty-six members present. Deceased Member.—On the motion of the Secretary, it was agreed to record the loss sustained by the death of Mr W. Adamson, who had taken an active part in the Society since its foundation, and who had for several years acted as Honorary Treasurer. New Members.—Dr J. Callander, Dunscore, and Mr J. M‘Veigh, Dumfries. Donations.—The Secretary laid on the table thirteen parts of the Linnean Society’s Proceedings, as a donation from W. D. Robinson-Douglas, Esq.; the Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology 1882-83, from the Smithsonian Institution. Mr S. Chrystie presented a collection of birds’ eggs from the district. Exhibits—The Chairman exhibited a bronze spear-head found at Bowhouse, Carlaverock, and an old engraving of “The Pillars,” a shop which stood in the corner of Bank Street and High Street. Mr Starke exhibited a number of engravings of Sir Walter Scott, some of which he remarked were very rare. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. A Stoic Philosopher's View of the Deity. By Rector Cutnnock. The author gave an interesting account of the old Stoic school of philosophers, and submitted a resumé of the teachings of Epictetus in reference to the Deity. Il. An Hour with the Old Scottish Balladists. By Mr W. M‘Dowatt. 144 Transactions. 2nd April, 1886. Dr Grierson presiding. Thirty-eight members present. New Member.—Miss Thomson, Rosemount Terrace, Maxwell- town. Donations.—The Secretary laid on the table the Third Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey, four parts of the Transactions of the New York Academy of Science, as donations from the Smithsonian Institution ; three volumes of Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Historic Society, forty-one parts of Greviella, an engraving of old Dumfries, an engraving of Dumfries about 50 years ago, three sheets of the Ordnance Survey Maps of the district, several specimens of local rocks and minerals, fragments of Roman pottery found at Carlisle, an old spur found under the foundations of the New Church, Dumfries, and a box containing specimens of lead in various stages of manufacture, as donations from Mrs Gilchrist. Mr Coles, Vice- President, presented 110 specimens of flowering plants, and, on behalf of Mr Arthur Bennett, a collection of dried plants for distribution to the members. Mr P. Stobie presented a guinea note, dated at Dumfries, 2d April, 1804. Bust of late President.—The Chairman unveiled a bust of the late Dr Gilchrist, which had been placed on a bracket in the larger hall, under the Committee’s instructions, by the artist, Mr J. W. Dods, and he laid thereon a beautiful wreath of spring flowers, remarking that these were the flowers Dr Gilchrist so much prized. Summer Programme.—The Secretary submitted the following list of places selected by the Committee for the Field Meetings : —May—Kirkconnell woods and the sea-shore to New Abbey ; June—Kirtlebridge; July—Morton Castle, Gatelawbridge Quar- ries, and Crichope Linn; August—Shieldhill to Lochmaben ; September—Annan and district. The Chairman intimated that he had received a proposal for a joint-excursion from the Secretary of the Scottish Natural History Club, Edinburgh. The Committee’s list was agreed to, and the Committee were empowered to alter any of the preceding to meet the convenience of the Edinburgh Society, and to take part in the joint excursion. Transactions. 145 CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Botanical Field Notes for 1885. By Mr J. Finevanp. In responding to an invitation of our Secretary to give a communication to the Society this session, it has occurred to me to offer you a resumé of a few botanical notes which were made by me during last summer. The Thornhill district of Upper Nithsdale may now be regarded as having been fairly well sur- veyed in regard to the general run of flowering plants, as I think the last paper from the district given by Dr A. Davidson will testify. With the exception of one or two of the more critical families of plants, any records now to come from the district must be regarded in the nature of gleanings. The discovery of Nifella translucens here in 1884 induced me to make a special search for these hitherto neglected plants. With this object in view, a number of the ponds and lochs which were accessible were therefore visited by me, but in the majority of cases the value of my examinations was entirely of a negative kind. In a few others, however, I was more successful, and a second station falls to be added for this Nitella translweens. Morton and Closeburn are now known both to possess it. The cupillacea variety of Chara fragilis occurs in Closeburn, and there remains only another species to be reported, Nitella opaca, which ’ is also found in the same parish. These results, although small, might be considered encouraging, but I do not anticipate a large find in these plants, considering the limited area of loch surface which there is in the district. As there is only one species of Characee as yet recorded from Sanquhar, one would infer that they increase in a southerly direction as affecting Upper Niths- dale. Potamogetons and other acquatic plants naturally came in for a share of attention in these searches. From the cause already mentioned, which also affects the distribution of Charas, the district is not rich in Potamogetons either. I think we cannot count more than six, and one of these is a sub-species. P. obtusifolius seems to be more common with us than P. crispus. In Carices, wmpullacea seldom misses an opportunity of appearing in any situation which might sustain it. C. vesicwria is not so common, and evidently prefers the western side of the valley, a preference not peculiar to it alone, but which is characteristic of some other plants. (. disticha has this last year been gathered on a piece of waste marsh by the Nith, Only one patch of it 19 146 Transactions. - has been observed. At an immature stage this Carex was thought to exhibit more the habit of C. arenaria, and it became therefore desirable for its thorough identification to procure specimens in a state of maturity. Progress was reported by an oceasional visit ; but when at last I went to secure the coveted specimens I found the scythe of the mower had passed over the place—perhaps had taken a wider sweep, impelled by the harder times—and in place of these Carices now being placed on the table for your inspection, they went to swell the crop of meadow hay. I hope to have better luck with it this coming season. C. limosa is a valuable addition to our local Carices. I gathered it in Glencairn in a situation which has every appearance of being a permanent locality for this rather rare Carex. A form of Carex fulva, gathered in the vicinity of Moniaive, which I passed on to our eminent referee, Mr Bennett of Croydon, was con- sidered by him to be the sferilis variety of Syme, and which he thinks is either the same or nearly the same as Xanthocarpa. Perhaps the most interesting find, and which also occurs in Glen- cairn, is a second station in the county for the so-called Nuphar intermedia. It seems to very closely resemble the Sanquhar plant, and indeed is probably identically the same, as the cireum- stances in both cases are similar. In both places apparently they are the only form of Nuphar present, and in addition, the localities occur at about the same altitude, and both are in the peat formation. I submitted specimens to Mr Bennett, who believed them to be Nuphar lutea, var. minor, of the third edition of English Botany, but was not certain whether they were the NV. intermedia of Ledebun, which he said was con- sidered a hybrid between NV. pumila and N. lutea. Mr Bennett wrote me later on that the Nuphars were by no means settled, that the descriptions did not fit some of the supposed NV. pumila plants of Perth, Aberdeen, &c. He further expressed the opinion that it was only by collecting material and submitting it to Dr Caspay, who is the authority on the genus, that he could hope to see our species and varieties properly arranged. It cer- tainly looks a unique occurrence to have two stations in the county so distinctly apart for this plant, when the nearest places it is recorded from are in East Fife and Northumberland. The only other new plants to record for the district are Rhyncospora alba and Juncus supinus, variety fluitans, the former from an upland moor in Closeburn and the latter from near Penpont. Transactions. VAT In the beginning of last August I had a short tricycle run through the south of the county, which afforded me an opportunity of extending my knowledge of our flora, and also of obtaining some specimens for my herbarium. I will mention only the less common plants which came under notice. I am well aware the majority, if not all of them, will be known to Dumfries botanists, although one or two of them do not seem to have been hitherto recorded. On the shore below Glencaple very little search sufficed to reveal the delicate flowers of Anagallis tenella, half hidden in the wet and spongy parts of the turf, whilst close beside were the pearl-like blossoms of Saginu nodosa. (énanthe Lachenalit was there the characteristic umbellifer. Blysmus rufus struggled for possession of the drier parts of the ground with considerable success. Nowhere on the shore did I notice it so abundant as there. On reaching the ruins of Carlaverock Castle, I think the most striking feature, botanically speaking, is to be seen in the moat, where the tall and handsome grass, Glyceria aquatica, forms the greater portion of vegetation in the outer edge of the water. The adjoining marsh was quite gay with the bright colours of Genistu tinctoria and Betonica offici- nalis. Carum verticillatum, liberally intermingled, gave an air of refinement to a rather beautiful group of plants. (Carex paludosa is tolerably plentiful here and (nanthe fistulosa likewise. Further round the shore the littoral species increase, and seem fairly well represented. Carex extensu is common on the shore about Ruthwell, and here also I found Carex vulpina growing in isolated tufts by the edges of ditches or drains, which intersect the merse. Bentham remarks of this Carex that where it occurs in Scotland, it is chiefly a coast plant. Ihave an immature Carex taken from Lochar Moss at Racks Station a year previous, which, after com- paring with this, I take to be the same species. Salivorniu herbacea is found in the tidal portions of the shore here. A little more inland I gathered Valerianellu olitoria, Drosera intermedia, and Lycopus europeus. In a pond close at hand were Potamogeton crispus and one of the Batruchian Ranunculi, R. floribundus. Another of these, A. peltutus, I also found in a ditch with Spar- genium simplex and Veronica Anagallis. The latter plant I mention only because, although a widely distributed one, I have never seen in Upper Nithsdale, having gathered it, however, in Moffatdale. Anchusa arvensis, as a weed in a corn field, was gathered near the shore at Ladyhall. Any further notes were 148 Transactions. entirely from roadside observation, which I think are to be not despised. In some highly cultivated districts the roadside may form about the only refuge for hard pressed species. Corydalis claviculata is not very frequently met with, but may be seen from the road between Clarencefield and Brow Well on the edge of a wood. Galiwm cruciatum bulks largely as a roadside species about Clarencefield and further south. It is scarcer in the north of the county ; but probably the Sanquhar district is the only one where it is absent. Galiwm Mollugo puts in an appear- ance near Clarencefield, and increases in some parts of the road, especially between Dornock and Gretna. It formed a striking feature, climbing and overtopping the hedges on the wayside with its large panicles of numerous white flowers, fully expanded at that time. Some specimens grew so luxuriantly as to measure between five and six feet in length. Another plant met more frequently in passing southwards was Poteriwm Sanguisorbu. Near Cummertrees Orobanche major was gathered, and also Filago germanica, which I am not sure whether to regard as native or not. In passing out of the county towards Longtown a fine display of the handsome and showy flowers of Scabiosa urvensis was met with, accompanied with Daucas carota. Near Canonbie Impatiens Noli-me-tangere looked like a thriving escape. Close to the town of Langholm Vicia sylvatica and Carex sylvatica could be gathered plentifully from the road. My intention was to have made some examination of Eskdale in the interest of the botanical section of our Natural History Society, but stormy and wet weather here intervened and completely stopped any field work. My leisure time being limited, I had to abandon my intentions, and leave it perhaps to some other member of this Society to provide us with records from that district. Il. Recent Additions to the British Flora. By Mr Artuur Bennett, F.L.S. I have taken the Seventh Edition of the London Catalogue of British Plants as my starting point, and will briefly notice some of the plants which have been recorded since its publication, Probably at no era in British Botany have so many new plants been recorded. » r=] © fucka] = S 5 z a | §3 o}| 8 | 8 | ga]es] BR! g 3 = Ss wa} eo] 2 | Salen] ow oa == S| a |Scie [aa] < as a Ao lA .| Inches. |Inches} Inches. 48.850 | 1.520 | 29.827 29.304 | 1.296 | 30.205 34.2 | 40.6 | 11 | 0.46 | 1.97 29.240 | 1.230 | 30.046 24 47 33.2 | 39.8 | 13 | 0.35 | 1.58 29.100 | 1.532 | 30.012 27.5 | 53.3 | 35.1 | 44.2 | 11 | 0.38 | 1.66 29.212 | 1.288 | 30.045 30 59.6 | 41.7 | 50.7 | 11 | 0.41 | 0.98 29.789 | 0.731 | 30.192 38.2 | 70.6 | 48.8 | 59.7] 7 | 0.36 | 0.56 29.410 | 0.968 | 29.961 39 69.8 | 52.1 | 60.9 | 21 | 0.87 | 4.01 29.240 | 1.144 | 29.938 36 67.8 | 48 57.9 | 14 0.91 | 2.62 29.100 | 1.465 | 29.877 30.5 | 62.4 | 44.7 | 53.5 | 20 | 0.79 | 4.00 29.189 | 1.374 | 30.061 24 52.8 | 37.3 | 45 12 | 0.28 | 1.34 28.537 | 1.784 | 29.665 23.5 | 45.1 | 34.4 | 39.7 | 19 | 0.81 | 3.62 28.911 | 1.349 | 29.740 21 41.1 | 31.8 | 36.5 | 19 | 1.26 | 5.31 28.537 | 2.095 | 29.964 21 54.8 | 39.5 | 47.2 [181 | 1.26 |30.99 Barometer.—The highest reading of the year was on the 17th April, and reached 30-632 inches ; the lowest on the 3rd November, 28°537 in. Annual range, 2°095 in.; and mean pressure (at 30° and sea-level), 29-964 in. In 1886 the range was 2°923 in., and the mean pressure 29°800 in. The month in which the greatest fluctuations of pressure occurred was November, when the range was 1:784 in. ; but it was considerable also in January and in September and December. In June, when the weather was remarkably fine and settled for several weeks in succession, the range did not exceed 0°731 of an inch, and the mean pressure of the month was unusually high, being no less than 30:192 in. But the highest mean pressure of the year was in February, viz., 30°205 in., with readings ranging from 29-304 in. to 30°600 in. In the months from February to June, inclusive, anti-cyclonic conditions for the most part prevailed, and the mean pressure in each was over 30 inches (mean of the five months 30-100 in.), with a rainfall very much below the average. In 1887 there has been no such excessive fall of the barometer as occurred in Dec- ember, 1886, and the storms which were at times experienced were only of moderate violence, and did little damage, at least in this part of the country. Temperature.—The highest temperature of the year occurred on the 25th June, when the thermometer rose to 87°, and the lowest on 8th February and 22d December, when it fell to 21°, giving an annual range of 66°. The mean maximum for the year, as will be observed from the tabular report, was 54°8°, and the 30 TRANSACTIONS. mean minimum 39°5°. The winter quarter, taking in December along with January and February, was not characterised by any great extremes of temperature. In these months there were 50 days in which the thermometer fell to the freezing point and under, with an aggregate of 228° of frost. This compares favour- ably with the previous year, in the same months of which the thermometer registered 444° of frost in 72 days. But it indicates at the same time a winter of considerable severity, the mean temperature of these months being about 37°6°, as compared with an average of 39°. The wintry weather, however, extended as usual a long way into March, in which 10 nights of frost were recorded, with an aggregate of 28°. There was frost also to some extent in April and May. April had 10 nights with 24°, and May 2 nights with 3°. The temperature of the spring months was considerably. below the average, with a prevalence of northerly, north-easterly, and north-westerly winds, and unusual dryness, which awakened fears of a late and deficient harvest. But the marked rise of temperature, which came with the bright and sunny weather of June, and was continued in July, along with copious rains in the latter month, proved so favourable to the progress of vegetation, that the harvest, instead of being later, was rather earlier than usual, though deficient in quantity in light soils, from the want of sufficient moisture at an earlier period. In June there were 14 days on which the maximum temperature exceeded 70°, and in seven of these it rose above 80°, ranging from 70° to 87°. In July also there were 14 days with a maximum of over 70°, the range being from 70° to 80:5". The mean temperature of June was 59°7°, being more than 4° above that of last year, and about 3° above the average of the month. The mean temperature of July was still higher, being 60°9°, exceeding that of July, 1886, by 2°6°, and the average of fermer years by 1°3°. The hottest days occurred in the latter half of June, but in July the nights were warmer. As illustrating the effects of this unusual heat on vegetation, it may be mentioned that in Mr Henderson’s garden at Newall Terrace ripe cherries were gathered on the 23rd of June, ripe strawberries on the 25th, early vegetables, such as peas, turnips, carrots, and onions on the 30th, and ripe gooseberries on 11th July. August and September do not call for any particular remark on the point of temperature. Both were about 2° below the average, and there was a degree of unsettlement in the weather between the middle of August and the middle of September, which TRANSACTIONS. 31 greatly retarded the work of the harvest, and caused in many cases serious damage to the grain crops. In the other autumn months there was an unusual decline of temperature, the mean of October being only 45° and that of November 397°, as compared with 49°8° last year in the former month and 42-1° in the latter. As early as the 8th October the higher hills in Dumfriesshire and over Scotland had a covering of snow, and on the night of the 11th or morning of the 12th the thermometer registered 8° of frost. Northerly and easterly winds prevailed in both these months, and in November the sky was for the most part overcast, with a consequent minimum of sunshine, which made the weather both cold and gioomy. October had 10 nights of frost, with an aggregate of 28°, and November 13 nights, with an aggregate of 47°. The total number of days throughout the year in which the thermometer was at or below the freezing point was 96, and the aggregrate degrees of frost 360. In 1886 the number of days was 112, and the aggregate 536°. So far, however, was the excess of cold this year counterbalanced by the unusual heat of June and July that the mean temperature of the year was 1° higher than that of 1886, viz., 47°2° as compared with 462° in the latter year Comparing this with the mean temperature of other parts of Scot- land, as reported this week in some of the newspapers, I find that Ardrossan had a mean temperature for the past year of 47°3°; Leith, of 47:2°; Aberdeen, of 464°; and Wick, of 45°3°. It may be interesting to note, as showing the difference between a northern and southern temperature, that the mean annual temperature of Greenwich for the last fifty years is 518°. Mr Dudgeon of Cargen reports a mean for the year of 46°2°. How this difference from the temperature of Dumfries is to be explained I cannot say ; but I have repeatedly observed that both the highest maximum and the lowest minimum temperatures of the month at Cargen are, as a rule, lower than those reported at Dumfries by one or two degrees, and sometimes more. There must be different local con- _ ditions affecting the temperature to give rise to this difference in places so near one another. The mean of 47°2°, though above the mean of the previous year, is still somewhat under the usual average. Rainfall—There were 181 days on which rain or snow fell (rain, 170 ; snow, 11); on 34 of which, however, the fall did not exceed one hundredth of an inch ; total, 30°99 inches. In 1886 ‘rain or snow fell on 224 days, with a total of 41:13 inches. The heaviest fall in 24 hours in 1887 occurred between 9 4.M. of 6th By) TRANSACTIONS. December and 9 A.M. of the 7th. There was very heavy rain on the 6th, followed by snow during the night, which at 9 A.M. measured 6 inches in depth ; and was the heaviest snowfall of the year. The rain and melted snow together gave a depth of 1:26 inches in the guage, equivalent to 126 tons of water to the acre. The year, as a whole, however, was remarkably dry. There were two months in which the rainfall was less than one inch; May having 0°98 in., and June only 0°56 in. From the 8th June to the 2nd July not a drop of rain fell. February, March, and April, and later in the year October, were also abnormally dry ; the aggregate rainfall of these six months being only 8-09 in., whereas in the previous year it was 16°79 in., and the mean of the preced- ing 26 years as observed at Cargen was upwards of 19 in. The total rainfall of the year was 30°99 in.: that of 1886 was 41°13 in; showing a deficiency for the past year of 10°14 in. as compared with the previous one, and of 13°66 in. as compared with the mean of the preceding 27 years at Cargen. In consequence of this un- usual dryness, especially in the first half of the year, many of the springs and wells in the district failed as early as July, and were not replenished again till December. The same deficiency of moisture seems to have prevailed in a greater or less degree over the whole country, but more on its western than on its eastern side. Thus Colmonell, in Ayrshire, records a deficiency of more than 10 in., Greenock of nearly 15 in. (the lowest since 1875), Bridge-of-Allan of about 9 in., Leith of nearly 7 in., and East Linton in Haddingtonshire of nearly 5 in. In illustration of the fact stated, it may be mentioned that the River Tay, near Perth, is said to have been lower by half-an-inch on July 10th than its lowest point in 1826, which was one of the driest years on record ; and the Nith for many weeks was lower than the writer remem- bers to have seen it. There were few thunderstorms during the year, and none of any severity. The writer of this paper observed only six occasions on which thunder was heard—two in July, on the 2nd and 31st ; two in August, on the 17th and 18th ; one on the lst November, with sharp hail showers ; and one on 14th December between 4 and 5 A.M., also accompanied by hail showers. The total number of hailshowers observed was ten. The following is a summary of the wind directions for the year : CalmorsVers N:» N.E. EB. SE oS. Ss. We We ae 7 Al. 85° WY 24: 23. 90° Soave TRANSACTIONS. 33 Note to Mr Thomson’s Paper. The following will throw light upon the expression “ profane persons brewing” (page 28): “ Bailie Johneson reports that in going through the town last Sabbath he found in the house of James Moorehead a large pot upon the fire boyling wort, and in John Baxter’s house Wright found the said James Moorehead's wife with a choppin stoup in her hand, and the said James Moore- head’s wife sitting at a table and said she was seeking barm.” The following extracts may be interesting from the form of punishment :—“ 1641. Bessie Black for her 3rd departure from virtue to sit six Sabbaths and at the cross in the J ougs.” “1642. Euphane Thomson and Jane Johnson, servants, for scolding each other, to be put in the Jougs presently.” “1644, A man and his wife for slander are sentenced to stand at the kirk style with the branks in their mouths.” “1695. It is statute and ordained that who drink to excess shall pay the Nobleman twenty pounds ; the Barron, twenty merks ; the Gentleman Heretor or Burgess, ten merks ; the Yeoman, forty shillings ; the Servant, twenty shillings ; and the Minister the fifth part of his stipend. TH. Zhe Druidical Circle in Trogueer. By Mr Joun Brown, F.E.LS., of Drumsleet. The Druidical circle on the Hills farm lies about four miles from Dumfries, a little over half a mile to the left of the farm called East Hills, as one journeys towards Lochrutton. Or, taking the footpath to Lochrutton Kirk, a quarter of a mile past Turnfeen, the traveller would find it about 200 yards to his left just as he is about to reach the top ot the ascent. It is, on a contour line of the trigonometrical survey maps, shewn to be situated exactly 500 feet above the level of the sea, and lies in a somewhat depressed place close to the last rising of the hills behind, which attain 625 feet. In the depression is a platform evidently to some extent artificial and irregularly circular, 70 to 80 feet in diameter. The top has been levelled, or rather made level, by using the materials brought from the sides. On this little platform is the Druidical circle. There are now ten stones in the circle, but, judging from _ the distances from stone to stone, it is probable there were a few _ more when the circle was complete. There is no central stone ; all are round the sides. One was 134 feet distant from the next ; other distances were, 17 ft., 19 ft. 8 in., 25 ft., 34 ft. 4 in., 37 ft. 7 in.; the average is about 25 ft. 3 in.; and the circumference 34 TRANSACTIONS, 227 ft. Gin. This measurement is not®given as strictly exact, but includes the diameter of each stone. The stones are not from the quarry in the hill-side, which is 4 soft clay slate ; but they present the usual forms of boulders obtained from the drifts of the glacial period. They are not granitic, and they are not silurian, yet seem to be metamorphic, judging from the appearance of white soft- looking grains of which they are largely composed, with one exception. This exception is the only one which is distinctly silurian, and is the most remarkable one in the whole circle, as it contains some of the “cup markings” on its flat top, which have so strongly attracted the notice of antiquarians of late. This stone has a flat top, but it is its natural top, and not made flat by the hand of man. It has two straight sides, the rest is roundish, From the angles two lines of 35 in. and 36 in, can be drawn. It has a circumference of nearly 10 ft, One of the cups is smaller than the others, of which there are three on the top, running in line nearly straight about a foot in length. A line drawn straight across the centres of the first and third would just cut the edge of the circumference of the second. The diameter of each of these three is the same, that is 8-10ths of an inch, and of capacity to hold a boy’s marble—not the ¢aw, but the forfeits. A good counter might be able to run the number of holes round it to a higher figure, but there will be no difficulty in counting 12 similar cups round the sides. The three on the top alone might arouse suspicion as to their great antiquity, but the others uphold their claim in a manner not to be disputed. 3rd of February, 1888. Mr Tuomas SHORTRIDGE, ex-Provost, presided. Twenty-six members present. New Member —Mrs Thompson, Rosemount Terrace. Donations.—Two volumes from the author, Mr Peter Gray, one on Fungi and Mosses, and the other on Seaweeds and Shells ; a pamphlet on the Rock-Sculpturings in Kirkeudbrightshire from the author, Mr George Hamilton; a Communion Token of the associated congregations of Dumfries, dated 1766, from Mr Barbour ; two Communion Tokens of St. Mary’s Church, Dumfries, from Mr William Allan; the Tokens of Balmaclellan, Dalry, Minnigaff, and Kells, from Mr M‘Andrew ; and of the following TRANSACTIONS. 35 Parishes from the Kirkeudbright Museum, viz.: Borgue, Buittle, Dalbeattie, Dalry, Girthon, Kelton, Kirkcudbright, Kirkmabreck, Kirkbean, Newabbey, Parton, Rerwick, Terregles, Troqueer, Twynholm, and Urr. COMMUNICATIONS. I. Botanical Notes for 7887. By Mr JAmeEs FINGLAND of Thornhill. The season of 1887 will be remembered for its ideal summer weather, which, for at least the months of June and July, was an almost unbroken record of sunshine and genuine warmth. This hot weather, although favourable and enjoyable for outdoor botani- eal work, was fatiguing for long excursions on foot, whilst a certain drawback was experienced in the shorter time plants remained in bloom. The rather unfavourable character, too, of the early autumn caused an unusually fine season to be also a short one from a field botanist’s point of view. A notable feature of 1887 was the early flowering of many plants, which I more especially observed amongst aquatics. The intermediate form of the yellow water lily, which occurs in Glencairn, was gathered in flower on the 12th of July last. In 1885 it was seen in flower on the 28th of August—perhaps, however, at a later stage, for which a few days might be deducted ; nevertheless, making a marked difference of nearly six weeks between the two dates. The water lobelia at Loch Urr I obtained in flower on the 20th of July last, which was just a month earlier than in the previous year. Some of the Potamogetons or pond- weeds, I am sure, came very much earlier too, but I have no previous dates to compare with. It has occurred to me that the flowering of aquatics might more fairly indicate the character of a seasun in regard to temperature, these plants not being affected by drought, which so often hastens the maturing of terrestial vegeta- tion by stunting the growth, were it not that aquatics probably derive a stimulus and benefit from direct sunshine whether the _ atmospheric temperature is of an average warmth or not. The amount of solar heat absorbed by a lake will vary with its depth or shallowness. Other affecting circumstances will be found in its _ physical surroundings, situation, or exposure. The matter may _ appear to be unimportant. It is not so, however, to a collector who wishes to secure specimens valuable for exchange from a locality at some distance. Disappointment may be thus saved by 36 TRANSACTIONS. making a careful calculation. In the instances of early flowering I have given I do not think the atmospheric heat (which did not begin till June) sufficiently accounts for the phenomena, but that the sunshine of the earlier dry months had a share in it. In giving a summary of results for 1887, I am indebted to Dr Davidson, Sanquhar, for some notes from his district. The finds of most interest which he reports are Scadcosa arvensis, at Drum- buie ; Avadis hirsuta, Kello Linns; Veronica hederefolia, Phleum arenaria, and Lolium temulentum variety arvense, from the river side at Sanquhar ; Cerasdium semidecandrum, from Crawick ; and Potentilla argentea, near Holywood. Two of these at least, if not three, are additions to our Flora. Mr John Corrie, Moniaive, has made two good finds, both in his own parish of Glencairn. One is a valuable addition to our family of native Orchids in Walaxis paludosa, although Dr Grierson informs me since that he collected the same plant a number of years ago in the parish of Keir, but does not know whether it now exists there or not. The other plant is Carex irrigua, a locality for which has hitherto been a desideratum. In the Thornhill district I have to add Cad/itriche autumnalis and Nitella flexilis from the parish of Closeburn. Two other additions to the county are Carex Gderi, for certain at last, growing in considerable quantity in a dried-up pond near Auld- girth, and Ufricularia intermedia, found at Loch Urr. Two more plants, Stachys betonica and Hippuris vulgaris, are new to the dis- trict. The former I gathered near Auldgirth, this new locality, therefore, becoming a link between the only other two localities for it at Sanquhar and Caerlaverock in the Nith valley; the latter plant was found in Closeburn, but the specimens of it there were rather dwarfed. Mr Corrie and I met with a very luxuriant growth of the same plant in Fingland Lane, Kirkeud- brightshire, alongst with Potamogeton rufescens, Sparganium minimum, and Carex paniculata. In critical genera Rosa tomen- tosa, var. scabriuscu/a is an addition and a variety of Rosa canina between “ arvatica” and “ Watsonit.” There has also been found a variety of Rosa mollis, “ psuedo-rubiginosa,” ou the Nith, which will, I think, be new to Scotland, as Mr Bennett of Croydon, who kindly named it for me, and also sent the specimen to Mr Baker of Kew, to have it confirmed, informs me that it has only hitherto been found in York and Surrey. In brambles, Rubus macrophyllus and Rubus umbrosus have been found near Annan, and Xoehleri at Auldgirth, In Mints, the sudglabra TRANSACTIONS. 37 variety of JZ. sativa has been identified from the Nith near Kirk- land. A pendulous and distinct form of Carex vesicaria, from a marsh near Kirkbog, concludes our list from Upper Nithsdale. During the season, however, I made one or two excursions to the Dumfries shore of the Solway, thinking I might find there some additions to our Flora, and I was not disappointed, having been able to add several species and confirm some previous doubt- ful records. Thy physical character of the shore is on the whole rather monotonous. The margin between the cultivated land and high-water mark (in many places of little width) consists mainly of sand or mud, merse-land, and shingle or gravel, rougher or finer. Each variety of land surface has its own grouping of plants, and throughout the season lovers of flowers may find much to interest them. At Tordoff Point I gathered Scirpus caricis and Allium vineale, var. bulbiferum Syme. Near Annan Waterfoot, Zrodium cicutarium, Juncus Gerardt, and Alopecurus agrestis. Between Pow- foot and Newbie I found Cakile maritima and Agropyron junceum. These are all new records. The following plants, some of which are rare, were also collected: Ranunculus sceleratus, Brassica monensis, Ononts spinosa, var. mitts, Eryngium maritimum (very sparingly), z/ago minima, and F. germanica (both in dry banks below Powfoot), Aatricaria inodora, var. salina, Polygonum avicu- lare, vars. vulgatum and arenastrum, Atriplex patula, Salsola kalt, Ammophila arundinacea, Lepturus filiformis, Juncus glaucus, J. supinus, var. subverticillatus (near Brow Well), and Juncus mari- timus, from Mr Robert Armstrong, obtained near Caerlaverock. For the purpose of making a comparison between the shore flora of Dumfries and its two adjoining maritime counties, I have looked up the records in last edition of the “ Topographical Botany,” and in case of Dumfries and Kirkeudbright using also recent lists. Of the total number of 87 species which are designated as “ littoral” in the “Cybele Britannica” (of course this excludes a number of plants common on the shore, but which are found inland near “coast level” or in lower grounds), I find 46 recorded for Cumberland, 40 for Kirkcudbright, and 27 for Dumfries. As there are about 12 species unrecorded for this county that are common to both the other counties, we may expect a closer examination of our shore will reveal an additional number of species. 38 TRANSACTIONS. Il. WWood-Castle, Lochmaben. By Mr JAMES LENNOX, F.S.A. Wood-Castle, Woody-Castle, or Dinwoody Castle, is situate 1500 yards north-west of Lochmaben Town Hall, on the farm of Lochbank, on the estate of Elshieshields. It is a cireular camp of British origin, and surrounded by a fosse and ditch which are well preserved, and also in part by remains of a second fosse, which, visible on the western and northern aspects, has disappeared on the southern and eastern. The extent of the fortification I have been at some trouble to ascertain by means of accurate measure- ments. There is one original entrance through the ramparts. Taking a straight line from this gateway (in line with the inner base of the rampart) to the most remote point within the lines the distance traversed is 207 feet. A transverse line, cutting this in its centre at right angles, measures 193 feet. The cireumference of the fort, measured round the top of the rampart, is 704 feet. From the outer base of this rampart to the opposite outer base measures 280 feet. This rampart reaches the extreme elevation of 15 feet above the fosse on the north side, and declines to its least height towards the western aspect, where it is only eight feet high (at one point). This depression in the lines is directly opposite the gateway and at (what now appears to be) the weakest point in the defence. As the southern aspect is reached the ram- part returns to about the same elevation as on the northern, and so it continues along che eastern face to the gateway. There is but one gateway, and it is situate on the east by north part of the fort : in width it is about 15 feet. At first sight a second gateway seems to be present directly opposite the entrance. But on more than a casual inspection it is found that the break in the ramparts on the east position is intentional, and has the pathway paved with boulders: whereas that on the west side is the result of demolition. What is left has the slope of the adjoining rampart, and there is no trace of a formed roadway. Besides, on the east the ramparts rise on either side of the entrance with an almost added strength, whilst those on the west dip gradually down to it. The interior of this British strength varies from two to four feet below the level of the rampart: the rampart rising highest above the camp level on the north side and lowest on the west. The fosse or ditch, which is still complete, runs in an unbroken manner from the north side of the gateway round the northern aspect of the fort to the west, where although traceable it becomes less distinct. In this clearly marked part it measures a TRANSACTIONS. 39 15 to 16 feet wide. On the south-west it again deepens, and here it measures 14 feet, and so it continues to the south, where it altogether disappears. The second fosse, or rather what remains of it, commences at the north-east, being fairly marked on the side next the ditch, and reaching an extreme elevation of 8 feet, and sweeps to the north-west. At the west it is, however, barely traceable. But on the south-west aspect it again becomes marked, especially towards the ditch, and finally it ends at the south. This outer rampart is fast disappearing under the plough, and in a few years I fear no trace of it will remain. The gateway through this rampart, as shewn on the ordnance survey, has disappeared, but was situated about 70 feet north of the inner gateway. The greatest diameter of what remains of the camp is 370 feet. This runs from the south-west to the north-east. The ramparts are constructed of large loose stones, on which there is neither the mark of chisel nor trace of mortar. These boulders are covered with earth, dressed into a military shape. Having thus described the position, measurements, appearance, and construction of the camp, I pass to a consideration of its origin. Beyond all doubt the camp is British. This is obvious for the following reasons : First. It is circular. The fortresses of the ancient Britons are always found to consist of concentric circles of stones, whereas those of the Romans are invariably square. Hill Burton insists on the sameness of Roman camps in all parts of the world (p. 73 of History of Scotland), and says that in construction they evince “an extremity of immutability.” And both he and Chalmers use “circular and British” and “square and Roman” as synonymous terms. Second. The ramparts are not of Roman construction. According to Chalmers (Caledonia Vol. I., p. 25) the ramparts of British forts ‘‘ were composed of dry stones and earth, without any appearance of mortar or cement.” Maclagan deals largely on this, but in a more extended form. This is the construction of “ the lines” at Wood Castle. Third. The gateways through the different ramparts in a British strength are placed in a zig-zag manner, and not as ina Roman fort directly opposite each other. —Vide Hill Burton, p. 84-86, Vol. I. Fourth. The ancient Britons often chose lakes for fortresses. Now the position of Wood Castle is very peculiar. At the time of its construction it _ must have been a peninsular stronghold. On the south-east is the Mill Loch, on the south-west the Upper Loch, and _ stretching away along the whole of the west to the north is still mossy 40 TRANSACTIONS. ground, reaching to Chapelcroft Farm. This mossy ground passes to the north and ends on the north-east in a peat moss, used until lately by the inhabitants of Lochmaben to cart their peats from. Thus on three sides the camp was in the days of its occupation, in all probability, surrounded with water, or almost so, and the only possible mode of approach was from the east, where the gateway is. Wilson in his Pre-historic Annals of Scotland (Vol. II., p. 89) says of Wood Castle that it is “a remarkable circular fort near Lochmaben, in Annandale, which General Roy describes as a Roman post, though it differs in every possible feature from any known example of Roman castramonta- tion. That it is a British stronghold is not now likely to be called in question. It bears a close affinity to the circular earth- works which accompany some of the Scottish megolithic circles. The fortifications here specified are not, however, to be classed with the simple circular hill forts first noted, wherein we trace the mere rudimentary efforts of a people in the infancy of the arts. They display equal skill in the choice of site and the elaborate adaptation of such earthworks to the natural features of the ground.” I have searched Roy’s Military Antiquities for a description of Wood Castle, and I find no deseription of it. All I find is a ground plan and elevation drawn to a scale on Plate VIII. of “The Roman Post of Wood Castle.” Now, Roy belonged to a school of antiquarians who tried to prove that the chief remains in the country are Roman, just as old-fashioned teachers tried to inculeate English grammar by teaching Latin rules. The circumstance that a Roman way passes close to Wood Castle is, I think, purely accidental, and the fact that the camp is not on a hill top cannot be considered as powerful evidence against the theory of its being British, when it is remembered that the Britons affected lakes, that the camp is of essentially British con- struction, and that the Romans have never been known to alter the characteristic shape of their encampments. Those who wish to pursue the matter further will be aided by consulting Maclagan’s Hill Forts of Scotland, Gordon’s Itinerarium Septentrionale, and Leslie’s Early Races of Scotland. Ill. Mew Studies of Some Old Scotch Ballads. By Mr Wm. M‘Dowat., F.S.A. Mr W. M‘Dowall occupied about an hour in analysing and commenting upon some choice specimens of our old ballad TRANSACTIONS. 4] minstrelsy. He stated that when bringing the subject before the Society about a year ago he had only a very slender stock of ballads in his wallet, but since then he had increased it to upwards of sixty ; and the more he read of these ancient lays the more was he charmed with their simplicity, their pathos, their mingled force and tenderness, and their poetical beauty. Some of these new studies of old ballads he would now lay before them. As on the first occasion he had explained the manner in which they had been produced and their leading characteristics, he would not now occupy time by travelling over the same ground. After a few more preliminary remarks, Mr M‘Dowall presented seven studies seriatim, the ballads selected being Edom o’ Gordon, Johnnie of Breadislee, The Gay Goss-hawk, Jamie Telfer, Kinmount Willie, and The Marchioness of Douglas. 2nd of March, 1888. Major Bowpen, V.P., presided. Thirty-five members present. New Members—Mr Thomas Fraser, Dalbeattie, and Mr William M. Wright of Charnwood. Donations.—Mr James Barbour presented a wooden plate with the initials J. F. and the date 1715, which belonged to a John Frood of Blackshaw, Caerlaverock ; also a saucer with the initials M.D., 1752. The Rev. R. W. Weir presented the com- munion tokens of Closeburn, Dunscore, Greyfriars (Dumfries), Tinwald, and Trailflat. The Secretary presented from Dr Sharp an address read to the Entomological Society of London, and a copy of a pamphlet on Jnsecfa ; also nine parts of the Journal of the Linnean Society from Mr W. D. Robinson-Douglas, the 21st Report of the Peabody Museum, and the Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences. COMMUNICATIONS, I. Zhe Roman Baths of Aque Salis, Bath. By Mr James W. WHITELAW, Solicitor. After apologising for choosing a subject not strictly within the lines of the Society, Mr Whitelaw went on to describe Bath and its history, dwelling upon the time of the Romans and the _ Various traditions connected with it. He pointed out that there _ were evidences of the Roman Baths having been used for a long 42 TRANSACTIONS. time after the Roman legions left. Mr Whitelaw then went on to describe the baths, and in conclusion said they were a splendid memorial left by these old Romans, not only of the comfort, luxury, and splendour which they brought with them into this remote part of their dominions, but of that solid, all-enduring, time-defying work which they cid, and which was emblematic of the indomitable courage and perseverance which subdued the whole of the then known world. Il. Zhe Old Church of Dumfries. By Mr JAMES BARBOUR. St. Michael’s Church is still sometimes called “the Old Church,” but the title was first and properly applied to the building which preceded the present one, after the New Church, now Greyfriars’, was founded in the year 1727. It is the form and character of this earlier building, of which very little is known, although not quite one hundred and fifty years have elapsed since it was taken down, I propose endeavouring to elucidate in this paper. The site of the church is a conspicuous one, and with an outline showing that peculiar kind of eminence which is suggestive of the idea that it may have been a “high place” of heathen worship, afterwards appropriated to its present use when, under the influence of Christianity, such worship had ceased. This at least is the most ancient religious foundation in the town of which there is authentic record, receiving mention as early as the middle of the twelfth century, more than one hundred years before the founding of Greyfriars’ Monastery by Devorgilla. It has no doubt continued uninterruptedly to be a place of public worship ever since. Dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the patron of the Burgh, whose image the official seal bears, it and the old Castle which stood near were doubtless the two institutions under whose protecting shadow and fostering care the town was first planted and reared. Here the citizens worshipped, and in the small cemetery around, the only one existing in the town until quite recently, all their past generations are laid. Recently when repairs were being made on the existing building remains of old foundations were exposed, and some frag- ments of stones believed to be parts of the older church. Having these to start with, and wishing to follow out the subject, I examined the Records of various bodies likely to contain informa- tion, and fortunately found in those of the Presbytery, engrossed in extenso, the reports of tradesmen to whom remit had been made —— TRANSACTIONS. 43 in the year 1744, while the Old Church was yet standing, to enquire into the condition of the fabric. These reports furnish important and reliable information, from which, when supplemented from other sources and considered in connection with the founda- tions and other remains brought to light, may be obtained a fairly complete idea of the design of the Old Chutch. The church had long been in a state of dilapidation, and from time to time complaints were made, followed by ineffectual attempts to put the building in order, but it was evidently worn out and ruinous. At last several families removed from it and declined to worship there owing to its unsafe state. In these cir- cumstances the Presbytery was called in, and on the 22nd March, 1744, that reverend court held a visitation at the church, when a remit was made to tradesmen in the following terms : “ To inspect the state of the church as to the walls, roof and windows, accord- ing to their respective crafts, and bring in against the afternoon a just report of the state and condition of the church as to these par- ticulars, and what articles and pieces of reparation would be needful for putting the same in good and suflicient condition, as also to make up an estimate of the expense at which the needful reparation might be wrought and completed.” It will be observed that the terms of the remit would exclude the reporters suggesting that a new church ought to be built, and accordingly, although reparation of the old one would practically mean renewal, they proceed in these reports to describe in detail one portion of it after another as insufficient and to be re-built, until nearly every several feature of the old church receives mention, rendering the reports much more valuable for our purpose than they would otherwise have been. From these sources I proceed with the description of the Old Church as it stood in the year 1744, immediately before its demolition, in order to make room for the existing one. It com- prised three divisions, frequently referred to in the reports on which we are drawing, the central one being described as “ the body of the kirk,’ and the other two as “ the two side aisles.” “ Middle walls” are mentioned as separating the aisles from the body of the kirk, and supporting the roof. These rested on _areades of three bays, each with a fourth bay on each side, not arched over. The pillars were six in number, with four half ones at the wall, giving four bays to each arcade, but only six arches are mentioned, not eight, as the number of spaces would require. 44 TRANSACTIONS. The discrepancy is accounted for by supposing the design of the church to have been originally cruciform, in which case the bays without arches would represent the joinings of the transepts at the crossings. The side walls of the aisles, which were finished with “cornices” and “rustic corners,” were of equal height with the middle walls; and the roof was a triple one, being described as consisting of ‘the middle roof,” which covered the body of the kirk, and “ the two side roofs,’ which covered the aisles. In the east end of the body of the kirk, which was a gable, were two large windows, and there was a doorway in its west wall. Besides the west doorway there were four others, two being in the south wall and two in the north one; and in each of the aisles there were four windows, one being in the east end, two in the side wall, and one inthe westend. One of the west windows is described as a large Venetian window of one hundred and seventeen lozenges. Admission of additional light was provided for by means of sky- lights placed in the roof. The foundations of the Old Church, zz s¢u, determine the position and extent of the central division or “ body of the kirk,” and its two sides and east end would correspond with those of the eentral division of the existing church respectively, but its west end was four feet short of the existing west wall. They also show that the arcades stopped short of extending up to the east end of the building. Other remains indicate that some of the pillars were octagonal, that the arch-rings were chamfered, and that the gable was of a high pitch and finished with a chamfered skew-stone, having a cross on the apex. Attached to the west end of the church was a thick short tower, the room within which was known as the “Session” or “ Session-house.” Subscriptions were raised in the year 1740 for “the raising and exalting of the Old Kirk steeple to bear some resemblance to other spires,” as it is expressed in a minute of the Seven Trades, but the walls proving to be insufficient, the tower, instead of being raised, was taken down, when the existing spire was erected on the same site, against the end of the old church. Passing to the consideration of the interior fittings of the church, of which we have some early glimpses in the Kirk-Session books, and a very full ‘ Abbreviate of the Minutes of the Commit- tee of the Town Council, Heritors, and Kirk-Session of Dumfries, appointed by them to regulate the seats in the said church,” in the year 1695. On 12th April of that year it was appointed “ that TRANSACTIONS. 45 the chairs and stools in the body of the kirk be removed, and their room filled up with convenient seats (but movable), which are to be built by the Session and farmed out as they see conveni- ent.” This, however, was not the first time the church had been fitted with seats. The committee appointed on this occasion required parties to produce their titles to such seats as they might lay claim to; and many of them claimed possession from much earlier dates. Two claims were founded on titles reaching back to 1624, several referred to the year 1636, a few to 1661, and a large number founded on an allocation made in the year 1682. The Session claimed to have regulated the seats in the church “from the time of the first Reformation.” Such fixed seats as existed prior to the year 1637 appear to have been built by the occupiers, the Session giving consent, in consideration of payments to them for behoof ofthe poor. On 5th July of that year the Session instructed the partial seating of the church, as their minute bears: “It is enacted by the Session ye betwext ye two pillars over against the minister’s pulpit” (the body of the kirk) “‘ Desks be erected, one chiefly for ye use of John George Homes, and likewise for the honest men and best burden bearers.” The seating seems to have undergone from time to time many changes, and the church was never more than partially occu- pied with pews. ; The pulpit, which had a sounding board, stood at the east end of the body of the church, and near it were the Reader’s desk, the Elders’ pew, and the Baptism pew. Inthe year 1695 the arrange- ment of the pews was in five columns, and they were numbered 1 to 79 ; but of their form there is no special mention. In addition to the ordinary seats there stood round the walls others, the family pews of the larger Heritors, each built by its owner, and displaying a variety of design more or less quaint and ornate. Some were of considerable size, sufficient for 12 or 16 persons. They were raised somewhat above the level of the church floor, enclosed with railings, and roofed with canopies. Hoddam had permission to “adorn” his pew and heighten the cover of it ; and mention is made of a pew bearing the initials of the owner's name and the date of its erection. The minutes of 1695 relating to the regulation of the seats bear also on the history of the galleries. The Magistrates’ Loft and the Merchant’s oceupied the front part of the West Gallery, and behind these, separated from them by a railing, was the 46 TRANSACTIONS. Common Loft. The Trades Galleries began to be erected in the year 1610. The Smiths, in support of their claim to their gallery, declared they once had an extract of an Act dated about the year 1612, allowing their trade to build their loft. The Wrights founded on an Act of Session, dated 4th August, 1636, which they produced, with others. The Weavers declared they had lately the extract of an Act granted by the Session in the year 1655. The Shoemakers produced an Act of Session dated the year of God 1613, likewise another of date 27th September, 1655. In regard to the Tailors’ Loft, the following interesting old Act of Session was produced. ‘The minute proceeds—* Adam Wright, Deacon of Taylors, produced ane Act of Session, dated the 9th day of Feby., 1610, which (the register not being now extant quherin it was) is here insert as follows :” “The 9th day of Februarie, 1610, the Minister and Session being convenit in the Kirk of Drumfreis, the quhilk day George Lorimer, Deacon of the Tailzoris, in name and behalf of the remnant of that Craft, desyrit libertie to build ane Loft, for the use of the Tailzoris of Drumfreis in time of Divine Service, in that part of the Paroch Kirk of Drumfreis quhair lang befoir ye said Craft had obteint libertie to build ane Alter of Saint Anna, as the warrant granted by the Counselle of the saide Burgh the yeir of God ane Thousand fyve hundred and fortie seven, therein producitt be the said George in parchment, at length purportes. To the quhilk desyre the Provost, Baillies, & Session fullie condescendit allin ane voyce without contradictioune, providing allwais that the sd Loft come not further without the pillars within the bodie of the Kirk above the space of ane feet and ane half, or thairby, wn the quhilk boundis the first furme of the said Loft might stand, and no more.” For the Glovers it was alleged there were several Acts in their favour, and one extant in the Session Register dated 25th May, 1654. And the Fleshers founded their right on an Act of Session dated 17th March, 1659. The lofts were not then arranged in the church continuously and symmetrically as now, but each stood. by itself with its own stair. One is described as being supported on “three stoops,” and that they were not regarded as integral parts of the building appears from the terms of a Minute of Session dated. February, 1638. Absentee seatholders were: not tolerated by the Session ; their seats were liable to be taken down or otherwise disposed of ; TRANSACTIONS. 47 and the galleries were not exempt from being similarly dealt with. The minute referred to runs: ‘The Session resenting and taking into their earnest consideration the slender resorting to the house of God by sundry tradesmen, but especially of Masons and Wrights, and they for that effect being convened, are admonished to repair to the kirk in tyme coming better than heretofore they have done, otherwise their Loft which is erected in the church will be taken down.” The Trades, like the Heritors, were not without some ambi- tion to make a display in the church, inasmuch as they were accustomed to affix to the front of their lofts the emblematic devices of their several Crafts, so much so that the Session found it necessary to put some check on the practice, and on the 11th March, 1683, “ enacted and ordained that no Trade put any broad (painting) or sign (emblematic) upon the forepairt of their Loft, but ilk ane to be sighted and showed to the Sessione.” The only relic of the Old Church of 1744 preserved is one of these signs dated 1722, which had no doubt been duly “sighted and showed” to the Session, It consists of three wooden panels, which were until recently attached to the south wall of the present church behind the Squaremen’s Gallery, and are now preserved in the Session-house. On one of the panels is displayed the numer- ous emblems of the Squaremen’s Trade, artistically grouped together, and the following curious lines are inscribed on the other two :— The * Ark - the - Church - From * Final - Ruin ° Savd - When * God * on - Sinners’ head The - Deluge « Lavd : And - Tho By * Virtue - Of « this Art * of ours Proud * Babell - Lifted - up Her * Lofty - Towers : Against ‘it * Solomon’s ° Glorious * Temple ° built, Where * God * the Vast Creation’s Framer * dwelt ; Jesus * our * Cheif, The fahrick * once Renewed ° When - on * the * cursed * Tree ° His Blessed * head - He - Bowed ° His - Blood - the * shattered _ Works * of * God * Together - Glewd ° 48 TRANSACTIONS. Public exposure being a prevailing method of punishment, the church as a public place was fitted with the usual appliances for carrying into effect the sentences of the ecclesiastical courts, and also of the Civil Magistrate. ‘The seat of repentance ” stood within, and the jougs and gorgets hung at the principal door, attached to the wall by chains. The first of these occupied at one time a place on the Common Loft, afterwards it was placed in the body ot the kirk opposite the pulpit. That it was raised consider- ably above the church floor is evidenced by a minute of Session excusing a culprit going up to it on account of bodily infirmity. It is designated in the Session Records “ the place of repentance,” oftener perhaps “the pillar”—short for “ pillory,” occurs in full in a few instances. After the Reformation a north wing was built, and other extensions and alterations followed from time to time, until only the nave and chancel remained of the pre-Reformation building, and the foregoing details exhibit the altered church and its acces- sories as an incongruous jumble, inartistic, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. Its original form and character were different. The pre- Reformation Church comprised a nave, with aisles separated from it by arcades of three bays each and with the usual lean-to roof; also north and south transepts; and a chancel. Mention is made in the records of “the lean-to called the altar of St. John the Baptist.” Other documents show that the windows were filled in with stained glass to St. Mary, St. Andrew, St. Christopher, &e. Many altars and chapelries were founded within the church. Mention is made of altars of the B.V. Mary, St. John the Baptist, St. Ninian, St. Andrew, &c., and of an altar erected by the Tailor Trade in the year 1547 and dedicated to St. Anna, the patron of that trade. The chapels were designated after their founders, and the areas occupied by them continued to be so named after the Reformation. Thus we have the M‘Brair aisle, the Newall aisle, the Cunningham aisle, and the Maxwell aisle. In this connection the following extract from the Minute of Committee on the regula- tion of the Seats in the year 1695 is of interest. Referring to a claim by Martin Newall to the second seat in the Newall aisle, the minute proceeds: ‘‘ And because it is by several old charters and papers evidenced that the Newalls had a special interest in that part of the church these hundreds of years, therefore they allow this dask to Martin Newall and his posterity.” which name TRANSACTIONS. 49 One pre-Reformation memento of the church remains, the bell gifted by the Lord of Torthorwald, preserved in the Observatory Museum. It is of elegant form and tasteful workmanship. The Latin inscription translated runs: “ William de Carlell, Lord of Torthorwald, caused me to be made in honour of St. Michael, in the year of our Lord 1443.” At the time when the old foundations were uncovered five tombstones were also exposed within the church at the south-east corner, and the state of the soil under the floor showed that the practice of burial within the walls prevailed extensively until a comparatively recent period. The tombstones are imperfect, but on two of them portions of border inscriptions remain. One reads: “Heir - Lyis * James Couplan [d] . . . |Dumf]ries - 1665; and the other . . . . “J.S. Johnstoun -Sumtym Thesar” . . Documentary evidence of the custom referred to also exists. A draft agreement between the town of Dumfries and the heritors of the landward parish, drawn in the year 1709, states the object aimed at to be: ‘To prevent mistakes and pleas betwixt the town and the landward parish anent the division of the seats of the church of Dumfries, and the burial places in the church and church- yard.” In the year 1744 the Session consulted Mr William Grant, advocate, as to their position with those heritors to whom they had sold seats in the church ; and Mr Grant gave it as his opinion that any heritor of the parish who has acquired by this title of grant from the Session of a heritable or perpetual right to a seat or burial place in the church his title is good. On the 21st Jan., 1714, the treasurer received two guineas from Geo. Gordon of Grange “ for the liberty of his father’s corps lying in the Session [house] ;” and in the year 1721, Mr Veitch was granted a burial place within the church for himself and his wife. The two following instances of this custom are of some interest. In the Memorials of St. Michael?’s Mr M‘Dowall remarks on the absence in the church- yard of any monument in memory of the great family of M‘Brair. The explanation of the omission is to be found in the fact that the family burial place was situated within the church. A minute of Session, dated 8th Nov., 1705, after narrating that Robert M‘Brair _ of Netherwood is allowed to erect a seat for twelve or sixteen per- sons in the M‘Brair Aisle, proceeds, “and finally the Session consents _ to the preserving of his right of burial place in the said isle as has _ been in use and wont by his predecessors ;” and on 8th June, 1747, __ after the present church was built, the Provost reported “ that the 50 TRANSACTIONS. Council had been summoned before the Lords of Session at the instance of the widow and children of Alexander M‘Brair of Nether- wood anent a burial place in St. Michael’s Church, and that it would be proper an agent for the town should be appointed.” The second instance is that of James Muirhead, in reference to whom Mr M‘Dowall says, when speaking of his wife’s tomb, “‘ We cannot tell whether or not ‘James Muirhead, late baylie of this burgh,’ lies beside his spouse, as the inscription only mentions him in his married relationship to her; but if it could be found out by any means that the philanthropist was buried here or elsewhere in Dumfries, a stone erected to mark the hallowed spot would be a graceful, even though a tardy tribute to his great worth.” James Moorhead was also buried within the church, although at what particular spot I cannot say. The following interesting Town Council minute, dated 18th March, 1745, bears on the subject, and its terms are in unison with Mr M‘Dowall’s sentiments: ‘ The said day the Magistrates and Council, considering that the deceased James Moorhead, in Castledykes, made a handsome mortification for a Poorhouse in this burgh, and that the old church is now rebuilding, and that a part of the wall thereof is carried up near to the grave where the said James was interred in the said church, the Magistrates and Council are of opinion that a monument should be erected upon the said wall in memory of the said James Moor- head, and appoint a committee of the Magistrates, Provost Crosbie, Provost Ewart, Mr George Clerk Maxwell, the convener, and a deacon, whereof three a quorum, to consider of a proper monu- ment to be erected in memory of the said James Moorhead, and to make ane estimate thereof, and report the same to the Council.” With a few remarks on the existing Church and the origin of its design I will conclude the paper. The spire was built, as before stated, in the year 1740, while the old church was yet standing; and although the details are crude its excellent proportions give artistic value, and make it a feature of the town to be held in regard. The interior of the church is still more worthy of admiration. Unique as a Presbyterian place of worship with its massive and stately stone pillars and arches and over walling, separating the side aisles from the central area, one is curious to know something of the origin of such a design. On the Old Church being condemned by the Presbytery, the Town Council obtained from Mr Adam, the celebrated architect, TRANSACTIONS. 51 a plan for a new building, but, being too expensive, one prepared by the tradesmen, on whose reports the reverend court acted, was preferred, and Mr M‘Diarmid has suggested, in accounting for the elegance of the church, that the design must have been partly borrowed from Mr Adam’s plan. A careful perusal of the process before the Presbytery and of the proceedings of the Town Council in the matter will, I think, lead to the conclusion that another and more likely explanation is to be found. Estimates submitted to the Presbytery along with the reports on the reparation -of the Old Church had been approved, and on the amount brought out, the proportion to be paid by the land- ward heritors had been arranged. Being thus restricted, the Council, on Mr Adam’s plan proving too expensive, arranged one with the tradesmen on the lines of their reports and estimates, but with such modifications as the new conditions seemed to re- quire. In this way the design originated and grew out of the form of the Old Church. The ground plan almost exactly follows the old one; the central division corresponds in position and width with the old chancel and nave, as do the aisles with those preceding ; and the most prominent feature, viz., the arcades, a pre-Reformation characteristic, is also carried forward from the old church. Eventhe number of the pillars and half pillars agree, and the roof, although of pavilion form, was intended to be triple like the old one, the arcades being built for its support ; but a change was afterwards arranged, as, according to a minute of Council dated 25th June, 1745, it was agreed on the suggestion of the trades- men to alter the plan, and, instead of three roofs, to adopt a design of one span, with a platform on the top, which the tradesmen represented would be as sufficient and much more beautiful. The pulpit now occupies exactly the place where the ancient altar stood. Ill. A Bronze Ewer Found near Moniaive. By Mr JouHN Corrie of Moniaive. The brass tripod ewer was found during May, 1885, by a drainer employed on the lands of Craigmuie, an estate on the boundary line between Dumfriesshire and Kirkeudbrightshire. The soil in the vicinity is of the character of moss, and the ewer was found embedded therein at a depth of about three feet from the surface. The broken foot was found lying close beside. Mr Thos. Conchie, mole-catcher, Moniaive, noticing the strange shaped 52 TRANSACTIONS. vessel lying on the bank, asked and obtained possession of it, and the relic was presented to me by Mr Conchie the same night. The vessel measures 83 inches in height, by 24 inches across the mouth, while the body expands to 54 inches diameter. The legs measure 2 inches in length, and they are turned outwards at the end, forming small feet about three-quarters of an inch in length. The spout appears to be hexagonal in form, and tapers slightly to the mouth, where it has been worked into what may be considered a rude representation of an animal’s head. By the kindness of Mr Wilson a rough sketch of the vessel, which I made at his request, was submitted to the experts in charge of the National Collection at Edinburgh, and Mr Black, who replied to Mr Wilson at some length, says: ‘The Moniaive vessel is a typi- cal one of a class in use between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries. There is haidly any difference in their general shape. Their usual dimensions are about 9 inches in height by from 5 to 6 inches in diameter in the widest part, narrowing to about 3 x 3 across the mouth. There are in all twenty-one vessels of this class in the National Collection in a more or less perfect state of preservation. Of these, two are from Dumfriesshire, one from Birrens, Annandale, the other found in a moss near Closeburn Hall, was presented to the National Collection in 1830 by Mr (afterwards Sir) C. G. 8. Menteith. This specimen is in the shape of an ordinary jug, the spout not being separated from the body of the vessel. It may be mentioned, he continues, that a brass tripod was found on the site of the Lake-dwelling in the Loch of Banchory, Kirkeudbrightshire, and another on a Lake-dwelling site in Loch Canmor, Aberdeenshire. This would lead one to suppose that they must be of great age, but, he adds, it does not follow, as we know that Lake-dwellings were used as places of residence and defence down to the sixteenth century.” 6th of April. Major BowbeEN, V.P., presided. Thirty-seven members present. New Members.—Miss Hannay and Miss J. Hannay, Victoria Terrace. Donations.—The Annual Report of the British Association ; the Essex Naturalist for February ; a Photograph of the Cup and Ring Markings at Highbanks, Kirkcudbright, from Mr J. M‘Kie ; TRANSACTIONS. 53 a Photograph of the Shark exhibited by Mr Hastings at the November meeting ; Tokens of Kirkmahoe Parish from Mr W. G. Gibson ; a Wasp’s Nest from Mr Hume of Cherrytrees. Mr J. W. Dods presented a Roman Coin found in Egypt by one of the soldiers during the recent campaign. COMMUNICATIONS. I. Zhe Kirkmadrine Crosses. By Mr James G. H. Starke, M.A., F.S.A., of Troqueer Holm. The Kirkmadrine Crosses have never been the subject of a paper before this Society, and as I went to see them last summer it occurred to me that you might be glad to have an account of their history, characteristics, and present condition. They were first brought to public notice in 1872 by a paper read before the Scottish Society of Antiquaries in Edinburgh by Dr Mitchell, who had accidentally discovered and examined them with the skill of a scientist some years previously. They are the oldest and only monuments of their kind in Scotland with the exception of one other, also situated in Wigtownshire, near to Whithorn. But they are fast going to destruction, and one of my objects this evening is to awaken the interest which has too long slumbered regarding them, in order that something may be done for their better preservation in future. There are hundreds of monoliths with crosses incised upon them scattered throughout Great Britain, but only about half-a- dozen similar to those at Kirkmadrine, in having the sacred monogram of Christ upon them, and in peculiar characteristics which enable us to determine their date as being not later than the 7th century. The Rhind Lectures, delivered by Dr Anderson in 1879-80, and by Mr Romilly Allen in 1885 (since published) satisfy the mind of the most exacting student that these Kirk- madrine Crosses, as they are called, belong to a very early date after the introduction of Christianity into Scotland, not later, they believe, than the 7th century. They are probably older than the Ruthwell Cross, which, with its beautiful ornamentation and poetic lines from Caedmon, speak of an advanced art and literature derived from the teaching of Paulinus in Northumberland a.p. 625, while these Kirkmadrine crosses display a simpler and earlier style, derived from Rome through Gaul by St. Ninian and his followers. I may here mention that Kirkmadrine was one of several small parishes long ago merged in the modern parish of Stoneykirk, the 54 TRANSACTIONS. churches of which were chapels of ease in ancient times to the famous monastery at Whithorn. It is pronounced by the country folks Kirkmadreen, according to the Scotch pronunciation of the letter 7. And now I proceed briefly to describe the characteristics of pillar-stones, and in what respect these are distinguished from others. Pillar-stones are generally sepulchral, but sometimes they mark sacred boundaries, or are commemorative only of persons, or, as in the Ruthwell Cross, have been erected as a sign and memorial of the Crucifixion, and any name inscribed, e. g., ‘‘Caedmon made me,” being of secondary importance. These are probably sepulchral. Of the three stones, the two which serve as gate posts are about 5 ft. in height and between 1 ft. and 1} ft. in breadth. On the top of one are inscribed the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and on both of them are incised a simple Greek Cross, the limbs of which gradually expand in breadth towards their extremities; the perpendicular limb being turned to the right at its top, so as to make the Greek capital letter P, which, when thus united with the cross, constitutes the sacred monogram. On the third stone, which was seen and copied by Mr Todd 75 years ago, there was a similar shaped cross and monogram at the top, and at the foot, in Latin capital letters, the words Jnitium et Finis, to correspond and explain the Greek letters on No. 1. It is the sacred monogram, called the Chi-Rho Mono- gram, which give these stones their peculiar significance. The Chi-Rho Monogram is composed of two Greek letters, the former of which is similar to our St. Andrew’s Cross ; and the Rho is like our letter P. By swinging round one limb of the Greek letter X so as to place it at right angles with the other limb, we have the Latin form of a cross, which has either the one limb put exactly across the other limb or a little upwards. This Latin form of the Greek Chi-Rho Monogram soon spread from Rome to other countries, and is found upon monuments in Gaul A.D. 377. It is the chief characteristic of these Kirkmadrine Crosses. It is only found upon the very early pillar-stones. There are very few examples of it upon stone monuments throughout Great Britain, there being only 3 in the west of England, 1 in North Wales, 4 in Scotland (Co. Wigtown), and ove in Ireland.—Allen’s E.C.Sy. pp. 86-113. The Kirkmadrine Crosses have these further special charac- teristics, viz., that they are rough undressed pillar-stones, without TRANSACTIONS. 55 ornamentation, and that the sacred monogram is placed wthin a circle. And further, although of less consideration, the formula employed in the inscription and the style of lettering materially differs from all those of a later date. These characteristics stamp the Kirkmadrine Crosses as contemporary with the earliest period of Christianity in Scotland, ze, between A.D. 400-700. Mr Romilly Allen says: “ The monograms on the pillars at Kirkmad- rine bear a great resemblance to those sculptured over the doorways of houses in Syria of the 6th century, which are illustrated in Mon. de Voguel’s magnificent work on this subject.” In regard to the inscription and style of lettering we have further evidence of great antiquity.. In English the inscription is :— Tam Alpha and Omega. Here lie holy and chief priests— That is Viventius and Mavorius : — us and Florentius. I am the Beginning and the End. The words Hic Jacet and Hic Dormit are those used in the Cata- combs of Rome, and at a later time throughout Gaul. They were subsequently quite superseded by a request for prayer for the soul of the deceased, Ora fro me. The style of the letters R. M. F. and the occasional combination of two letters, resemble some stones in Wales which are ascribed in the Archaelogia Cambrensis to the Romano-British period. Lastly, let me endeavour to give a pro- bable answer to the natural enquiry, To whom were these stones erected? In the fact that their names have not come down to us in history, we have an additional adminicule of evidence in favour of their antiquity, because in early times monuments were not raised to obscure individuals. It should also be kept in mind that until the life of Queen Margaret A.D. 1093, we possess only frag- ments of authentic Scottish history in Bede, Adamnan, the Irish and Welsh Annals, Northern Sagas, and Pictish Chronicles. The following is an interesting extract from the Ecclesiastical History of the Venerable Bede, who died in 735, regarding the district now under consideration. He writes: “The Southern Picts had long ago forsaken the errors of idolatry, and received the true faith by _ the preaching of Ninias, a most holy man, who had been regularly _ instructed at Rome, whose Episcopal See, remarkable for a Church dedicated to St. Martin of Tours (wherein he and many other Saints rest in the body) is still existent.” The names inscribed in these Kirkmadrine Crosses resemble _ those upon Christian graves in Gaul. We know that Ninian went 56 TRANSACTIONS. to Rome through Gaul, which was the overland route to Rome, and that he got masons from Tours to build Candida Casa. But it is reasonable to suppose that after St. Ninian’s death Candida Casa would be sacred to his memory alone, and that Kirkmadrine would be named after St. Martin of Tours, to whose memory the holy men named upon these pillar-stones performed services. That district is studded over with the prefix of “ Kirk,” which is Anglo- Saxon, and the same dialect would harden the name Martin to Madrine. There is no X in the Gaelic, but C spelled sometimes K, as in Kilbride, Innokill ; and later the Norman-French Zag/ais for Zglisle occur in this district for the word Church instead of Kirk. It has been suggested that they may have been Irish ecclesiastics, but all the facts are against this theory. There are no pillar-stones like them in all Ireland ; and the Greek letters and Monogram, together with the Latin inscription, point to a Byzan- tine-Roman influence succeeding, if not contemporary with, the 4th century, when Constantine was converted to Christianity. If I have reasonably established this I shall have sueceeded in the main object of this paper. Il. Zhe Oak and Other Trees. By Mr FRANK MILLER of Annan. Mr F. Miller, Annan, read an able paper, rendered more at- tractive by copious poetical extracts, on the subject of the ‘“ Oak and other Trees.” He dealt first with the extraordinary longevity of the oak, stating that oaks were still standing in this country which were planted as acorns before the last of the Roman legions left these shores. He then vividly depicted the reverence with which the Druids regarded the tree, and the observances associated with it in Druidical times, and also treated of the many historical associations which had since centred round it. The oak had also proved its practical value, the strength and durability of its timber specially fitting it for naval purposes in the days when “the wooden walls of old England” were renowned all over the world, and making it valuable for architectural uses in the present time. Among large oaks, Mr Miller mentioned several majestic trees in Scotland, specifying particularly two at Drumlanrig, which had escaped the mania for destruction of the late Duke of Queensberry, and two on the Eskdale estate of the Duke of Buccleuch. Mr Miller then dealt at some length, and in an interesting fashion, with the characteristics of the beech, the ash, and the yew, and the poetical associations connected with them. OLD INSCRIPTIONS & CROSSES IN KIRKMADRINE CHURCHYARD (COPIED BY W.J. on 318? MAY, 1887.) THE STONE IS SANDSTONE & SPOTTED WITH LICHEN. I STONE IN WALL ADJACENT TO ONE OF THE GATE POSTS APPARENTLY UPSIDE DOWN. EVIDENTEY THERESHAVE BEEN EETTERS IN THE 4+ BLANK SPACES OF THE GROSS. i A ST AEE oS I eS sce II, MONUMENT SERVING NOW AS GATE-POST FOR THE CHURCHYARD ar. Le LEFT GATE-POST HIC JACEN SCI ETPRAE CIP VISACER DOTESIDES VIVEN IV S ErMA/ORIVS CIRCLE 14 INCHES IN DIAMETER INSCRIPFION TAKES UP 15% INCHES IN DEPTH I2% INCHES BROAD FULL BREADTH OF STONE |S 16/2 INCHES HEIGHT OF STONE FROM GROUND 4 FEET, 4 INCHES SIZE OF LETTERS 2 INCHES BUT A LITTLE VARYING : F . . ‘ ‘ od iM ‘ CA Ca , : ‘ F Ill, MONUMENT SERVING NOW AS GATE-POST FOR THE CHURCHYARD RIGHT GATE-POST. : CIRCLE 94% INCHES IN DIAMETER INSCRIPTION TAKES UP ABOUT 9/% INCHES IN DEPTH 10 INCHES BROAD FULL BREADTH OF STONE ABOUT | FOOT HEIGHT OF STONE FROM GROUND 5 FEET HEIGHT OF LETTERS 2/2 INCHES IV STONE IN MIDDLE OF WALL AT THE S.W. ANGLE OF CHURCHYARD LYING HORIZONTALLY, ABOUT 9 INCHES IN BREADTH LENGTH EXACTLY 3 FEET. : : { : Bd 1 TRANSACTIONS. or -1 Ill. Buittle Old Church. By Mr JAMES MATTHEWSON, Dalbeattie. The brief notes here contributed are intended as a small aid to the solution of the question, “Is Buittle Church of the time of Devorgilla?’ In ground plan the church measures 80 ft. 10 in. in length by 25 ft. 4 in. in greatest width. The nave measures 46 ft. in length by 21 ft. 8 in. wide; the chancel, 34 ft. 10 in. long by 25 ft. 4 im. wide. The west door is circular-headed, 3 ft. 22 in. wide, a plain 2 in. chamfer running round the outside, checked at 8} inches inwardly, and thereafter slightly splayed. Over this door is a small round-headed window measuring 3 ft. 8 in. by 1 ft. 8in. Two windows remain in the nave, one in the north, the other in the south wall. Between the nave and chancel a pointed chancel arch still stands. The clear width of passage measures 9 ft. 6 inches. The plan of the pier below the caps and profile of caps are here given full size ; but an evident filling up of the floor prevents a proper examination of the bases. In the chancel one window appears in the north wall and two in the south. The north window measures 3 ft. 11} in. high by 11} in. wide. It is round-headed, and the interior elevation, as shown in the sketch, is worthy of notice. In the east gable is a door 3 ft. 2} in. wide, covered by a thin lintel, which forms the sill of a centre window. This window measures 8 ft. high by 14} in. wide. At a distance of 3 ft. 11 in. on either side stand windows 6 ft. 8 in. high by 11 wide. The three east windows are all round-headed, and finished externally by a plain chamfer. In the north wall, at the junction of the nave and chancel, and near the present floor level, I some time ago found, bedded in the old mortar, a portion of roofing slate. The slate had a pin hole, and had been well dressed. It had apparently been used by some of the builders as a levelling for the bed of the stone immediately above. Some of the stone dressings are a reddish freestone, others resemble mill- stone grit. In some parts of the building both kinds appear indiscriminately mixed. The perfect condition of the present pointed arch between nave and chancel, the jumble of materials in some places, the broken slate, and other features, seem to suggest that a much older church may have existed on or near the site of the present one, and that the present building is much later than Devorgilla. 58 TRANSACTIONS. IV. Zhe Old Cornkiins at Barelosh, Kirkgunzeon. By Mr Wm. J. MAXWELL of Terregles Banks. On the Farm of Barciosh, near Southwick Station, there are a number of circular pits which have recently attracted notice, and although two of them are marked on the Ordnance Survey map as Old Kilns, it was thought desirable that one should be cleared out so as to ascertain more exactly its construction and purpose. The result of this investigation is to shew that the structures in ques- tion are old kilns, and that they have probably been used for drying grain before grinding it in the hand-mills or querns formerly in use. The one recently cleared out was found to be 6 ft. 6 in, in depth, 13 ft. in diameter at the top, and regularly contracting to a diameter of 4 ft. 6 in. at the bottom. Like the others on the same farm it is circular, situated on the slope of a hill and firmly built with rough stone, without lime. It has a smooth compact floor of clay. At the bottom is an aperture resembling a pen or drain, 18 in. in width by 15 in. in height. Two stones project from the circular wall towards the inside, apparently to serve as steps in climbing out. Atthe side on which the ground is highest there remain the foundations of a rectangular building 134 in. by 103 in. inside measurement. This building is not sunk below the surface of the ground, and may have been used for storing the grain before or after the drying process. This kiln is about 90 yards to the south-east of Barclosh farm-steading, and about 40 yards from the road leading past it. 286 yards further south, and 55 yards on the other side of the parish road, there is another kiln of similar construction and dimensions. About 190 yards to the south-west of that last mentioned and clese to the parish road, there is a third, and in the copse or young plantation adjoining, a fourth kiln—the last two of somewhat smaller size and without the rectangular building observed in connection with the first two. It seems remarkable that so many of these kilns should be found so near together, but the remains of other buildings show that numerous dwellings have at one time existed at this place. Here and there threughout the copse and rough ground adjoining may be noticed curious mounds and cairns, which may perhaps be natural, or thrown up in clearing the ground for tillage, but which may, on the other hand, indicate ancient burial-places. In Sir Herbert Maxwell’s work, I believe he translates Barclosh as mean- ing the Hill of the Trench, Pit, or Grave, TRANSACTIONS. 59 15th April, 1888. At a meeting of the Council at which Mr Ropert Murray, V.P., presided, the Secretary submitted the following letter from the Rey. R. H. Taylor, M.D., to the Rev. Robert W. Weir: LIvERPOOL, 1 Percy STREET, April 14, 1888. Deak Sir, , ; Will you oblige me by being the medium of conveying to the ‘‘ Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society” the gifts which I now send of the MS, History of the Parish and Town of Dumfries, written by my grandfather, the Rev. William Burnside, D.D., formerly minister of St. Michael’s Church. The conditions on which I bestow the volume are simply these : 1. That I may have an exact copy of the same. 2. That the volume may be open to the inspection of all who wish to see it, subject to the rules of the society. 3. That in the event of the society being dissolved, the MS. may be given to the Museum at present contained in the Observa- tory on the Corberry Hill, in the Parish of Troqueer. It affords me much pleasure to hand over this interesting narrative to those who I know will appreciate it, and doing so will be careful to pre- serve it. Be so good as apprise me of the safe arrival of the volume. I am, Very sincerely yours, R. H. TAYLOR. Rev. R. W. WErR. ’ The thanks of the Council were awarded to Dr Taylor for his present, and to the Rev. Robert W. Weir for being the means of procuring this valuable document. Field Meeting. Sth of May. The first excursion for the season took place on the 5th May, when a small party inspected several objects of interest on the farm of Barclosh, Kirkgunzeon, under the guidance of Mr W. J. Maxwell, Terregles Banks, and Mr Wellwood Maxwell of Kirk- -ennan. A portion of the walls of Barclosh Tower is still standing, although in a very decayed condition, adjacent to the farm-house. The walls are over three feet in thickness, and it is evident that the place has been one of considerable strength. Scarcely an indication remains of the existence of the castle, of which it formed 60 TRANSACTIONS. a part, and which was oné of the principal seats of Lord Herries at the time of Queen Mary. The party next inspected the old corn kilns, respecting which an interesting discussion took place at the last meeting of the Society, but despite much earnest investigation no fresh facts were elicited regarding them. It may be noted, however, that the remains of buildings are always to be found near these kilns, and the conclusion is therefore irresistible that a considerable popula- tion was at one time maintained on what now appears a stretch of the most unpromising pasture land in the Stewartry. The party next proceeded to Barclosh Outer Hill, where much speculation was indulged in regarding a large number of cairns of stones which have been built, without much apparent design, at irregular intervals all over the hill. It was suggested by some members of the party that these cairns were erected by the Celts to mark places of sepulchre ; but a more prosaic section contended that the ground had merely been cleared for purposes of pasturage, and no carts being available in those days to transport the stones to a distance, they had been collected in this way. The usual monthly meeting was held in course of the afternoon, Mr W. J. Maxwell presiding. The Secretary intimated the following additions to the library since’ last meeting: The Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, 1886-87; of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club (two parts) ; the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club; the New York Academy of Sciences ; and from the Smithsonian Institution, a Bibliography of the Eskimo Language ; Perforated Stones from California ; Work in Mound Exploration ; and a Bibliography of the Sionan Language. Also two mono- eraphs—one on the salt mines of Hallein, and the other on an Excursion to the Hospice of Great St. Bernard by the author, Dr R. H. Taylor. Field Meeting. 2nd of June. Owing to the heavy rain no excursion was made. Dr Taylor, of Liverpool was elected on honorary member on the recommenda- tion of the Council. A meeting of Council was held on the 29th June, at which Mr Joseph Wilson resigned the honorary secretaryship, on his TRANSACTIONS. 6] removal to Fifeshire. On the motion of Major Bowden, Mr Wilson was heartily thanked for his services as secretary, Messrs Watson and Murray making complimentary remarks upon the value of his exertions on behalf of the Society. Mr Robert Barbour was elected secretary till the end of the current session. The Council agreed to present a gold watch to Mr Wilson as a testimonial in recognition of his labours as secretary. This presentation was made on the 5th of July at a meeting of the Society specially sum- moned for the purpose. Field Meeting. th of July. A party of twenty-six members from Dumfries, who weie joined on the way by Dr Grierson, president of the Society, and several members from Sanquhar, making thirty-five in all, had a circular drive on Saturday, 7th July, from Thornhill, proceeding up the Valley of the Nith and Mennock Pass to Wanlockhead and Leadhills, and returning by way of the Elvan and Dalveen Passes. On the way up Mennock, a halt was made at a spot called the Pangrains, to inspect two little grass-grown grounds, intersecting each other in form of a cross, supposed to mark the site of an ancient place of worship. The shaft of the cross is twelve yards in length ; the arms each measures seven yards. At Wanlockhead the party were conducted by Mr Peter Stewart, resident manager of the Lead Mines, through the crushing, washing, and smelting works, the various processes being explained to them, and Dr Wilson, of Wanlockhead, pointing out the various minerals found along with the galena. They had also explained to them the methods employed in desilverising the ore (according to Pattinson’s patent) and extracting litharge. At Leadhills the President obtained from one of the miners a few grains of native gold, and several of the members procured samples of different minerals from the lead mines. Field Meeting. 8th of September. The last field meeting of the session was held on Saturday, 8th September, when a party of thirteen left the Fountain by wag- gonette, at 9.30 A.M. They first visited Springfield Camp, near Dunscore, where they were joined by the Rev. Mr Simpson and Dr Callander. The latter undertook to act as conductor, and 62 TRANSACTIONS. pointed out the peculiarities of the camp. The camp is an inter- esting one. It occupies the summit of a span of Springfield Hill, and near by is a spring of water, from which its name is probably derived. The position is one of great strength, and it commands a most extensive prospect. Burnswark is in view; and the spectator overlooks the whole valley of the Nith downwards, and Glenesslin valley and a considerable part of the valley of the Cairn upwards. Proceeding by way of Dunscore village, Dalgonar Bridge, and Glenesslin to Sundaywell, the fine single-span bridge over the Cairn at Dalgonar Mill and the beautiful glen below were noted. Further on, Collieston, the ancient lairdship of the Welshes, was pointed out, and Chapel, deriving its name from a small church which stood there, and of which only one stone is now to be seen. Arriving at Sundaywell, the old tower was examined. The build- ing is now so much modernised that little of its ancient character is left. A panel over the door bears a shield, above which are the initials IL.K.S.W. [J. Kirk, 8. Welsh 7], and below the date 1651. Sundaywell Camp, which is little known, was the next object of attention. It lies at the base of Bogrie Hill on a natural mound. It is somewhat larger than Springfield, measuring about 120 yards by 70; but the two camps resemble each other to a remarkable degree, and although more than five miles apart in a hilly country, they are visible one from the other. Proceeding to Bogrie Tower, the oak fern was found in abundance in the glen of the burn. The tower which stood here was removed several years ago, but the remaining dwelling-house is of considerable age, and possesses some points of interest. In its walls and in those of the offices are a large number of moulded stones which belonged to the Old Tower, and they indicate that the building has been one of some importance and with character- istic features. There is a panel inscribed with the initials IK-IM and the date 1660. A small circular camp at Bogrie Hill was also visited. The return journey was made by way of the Glen of Lag, and the remains of Lag Tower were examined with interest. Of it the late Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe says: “I think I never saw so rude a ruin as the tower of Lag, in the glen of that name. The stones appear to have been taken out of the burn, and made walls of, without the help of pickaxe or chisel—not a tree, or anything like one, to be seen—nothing but huge round stones, and stunted TRANSACTIONS. 63 whin bushes, and a scanty rivulet flowing between the solitary braes. Things, however, may now be changed, for it is more than 20 years since I visited the Glen of Lag.” No change is visible. Mr Richard Rimmer, F.L.S., of Dalawoodie, and Rev. Richard Simpson, of Dunscore, were elected members at a meeting pre- sided over by Mr R. Murray, V.P. Sao Lom, Leee-so. 5th ‘October, 1888. ASN NeUA LL ME ED ENG Mr JAMES G. H. STARKE, M.A., F.S.A., in the Chair. New Members—Mrs Wm. M‘Dowall, Cresswell Terrace, and Mr John Smith, St. Michael Street. Donations.—The Secretary (Mr Robert Barbour) laid on the table the Smithsonian Report, 1885, Part I; Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society's Journal, 1888, Part I.; and the July and August numbers of the Essex Naturalist. SECRETARY'S REPORT. The Honorary Secretary submitted the following report :— One change has occurred during the Session which deserves very special mention. The Society has lost the valuable services of Mr Wilson, who for several years discharged in a most efficient manner the duties of Honorary Secretary. Mr Wilson having received promotion in the Civil Service, resigned the office in consequence of leaving the town. The Society is much indebted to Mr Wilson’s activity during the time he held office, and the value of his services is fully recognised. At the last Annual Meeting the membership of the Society numbered 223, comprising 6 life, 197 ordinary, and 20 correspond- ing members, while the Roll-book at present shows a membership of 209, 7 being life, 185 ordinary, and 19 corresponding members. During the Session 12 new members have been elected, while 26 names have been taken off the roll, on account of death, change of residence, and a stricter scrutiny. Seven winter meetings were held as usual during the Session. The average attendance was 29.7, being a falling off as compared with last year, when the average was 34. Nineteen communica- tions were read, most of which were of considerable local interest. At the December meeting a new code of Rules was adopted, on the recommendation of the Committee, TRANSACTIONS. 65 On account of the very unfavourable weather during the summer only three of the five Field Meetings arranged were held, and the attendance was small, except at the July excursion, when the party numbered 33. The districts visited were Southwick, Leadhills, and Dunscore. The Society’s Transactions for Session 1886-87 have been published. The volume contains the usual record of the work done and the more important of the papers read during the Session. Two of the papers are accompanied by valuable illustrations. A special feature of the work is an appendix containing a descriptive list of articles exhibited at the Conversazione held on the 27th, 28th, and 29th October, 1886. Many of the articles mentioned are of historical value, and have not before been exposed to public view. Science Gossip, Nature, The Scottish Naturalist, and The Journal of Botany have been taken in during the Session and cir- culated among the members. The Museum and Library continue to increase, donations having been received at all the winter meetings during the Session. On the motion of Mr James Lennox, Mr Robert Barbour was thanked for his services as secretary. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. President, Mr Richard Rimmer of Dalawoodie ; Vice-Presid- dents, Major Bowden, Messrs Francis Maxwell of Gribton, Well- wood Maxwell of Kirkennan, James G. H. Starke of Troqueer Holm ; Hon. Secretary, Mr Robert Barbour ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr James S. Thomson; Council—Rev. William Andson, Messrs James Barbour, James Davidson, John W. Dods, James Lennox, William M‘Dowall, Miles M‘Innes, John Neilson, Thomas Watson, Rev. Robert W. Weir. Auditor, Mr Thomas Laing. The Chairman moved a vote of thanks to the retiring presid- ent, Dr Grierson, which was heartily accorded. 10/2 November, 1888. Mr RicHarD Rimmer, F.L.S. (the President), in the Chair. New Members.—Mr John Blacklock, solicitor; Mr Maxwell of Screel ; Rev. J. H. Thomson of Hightae. 66 TRANSACTIONS. Donations. —A fine specimen of the Peregrine Falcon, pre- sented by Mr W. J. Maxwell of Terregles Banks ; the Proceedings of the Glasgow Natural “History Society; the first volume of the Transactions of the Highland Society (1799), presented by Mr James Barbour; and a stake a//eged to be from a lake dwelling in the loch at Lochmaben, presented by Mr James Lennox. Mr J. G. H. Starke (advocate) having briefly referred to the loss which the Society had sustained in the death of Mr M-Dowall, proposed the following resolution, which was agreed to unani- mously :—“ That this Society records its deep regret at the sudden death of its most distinguished member, Mr William M‘Dowall, F.S.A., the historian of Dumfries, and desires that its sympathy with his domestic circle in its bereavement be communicated to his widow.” PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. The President read a short inaugural address to the following effect :—Ladiesand Gentlemen,—The first duty incumbent upon me this evening is to thank you very heartily forthe honour you have done me in electing me to your presidential chair. When your wish that I should become the President of this Society was first intimated to me, I confess that, fora moment, I was somewhat doubtful whether I could conscientiously undertake the responsibilities pertaining to that office, but the invitation was conveyed to me in terms so cordial and so pressing that I felt myself bound in common courtesy to accept it, and this I did the more readily because it seemed to imply on your part a confidence in my ability to serve you, which was by me as unlooked-for as it is, I fear, unmerited. It will, however, be my earnest endeavour, so long as I occupy this chair, to do my little best to promote the welfare of our Society. I will now make a few remarks respecting the progress which has been already made by the Society towards the attainment of the ends for which it was originally instituted, as well as some of the means by which it may best achieve that which still remains to be accomplished in the future. These remarks must, however, be very brief, because I rejoice to see that we are to be favoured with two communications which will, I am sure, be more attractive to you than anything I have to say this evening. 1 have not yet had an opportunity ot reading any of the Transactions of this Society except the last, which has recently : | TRANSACTIONS. 67 been issued ; but I gather from its pages quite enough to enable me to congratulate you heartily upon the work which has been done in archeological research, as well as in many of the branches of natural history. As to archeology, it would indeed be “passing strange” if we who have our home in this charming district, teeming as it is with monuments of the past, could go on our way all heedless of such relics, which, silent though they be, speak to us in “ language more eloquent than words” of days and deeds which but for them would have been for ever buried in oblivion ; but, fortunately, there are among us those who have taken care to see that treasures such as these are not ignored. I read with much pleasure in the Transactions alluded to several interesting papers on this subject, especially those communicated by Mr Wilson and Mr Coles. Passing on to natural history, botany would seem to hold a first place in the estimation of ourmembers. This is not surprising, and full advantage has evidently been taken of the lavish manner in which Flora has bedecked this district. In geology and mineralogy I understand that good work has been done. Zoologists, too, have not been idle, and here I must not omit to notice a very interesting and able communication by Mr Armistead on “ Atmospheric and other Influences on the Migration of Fishes,” a subject which has not hitherto received the attention it deserves. The insecta have been well looked after, especially by Mr Lennon, whose unwearying zeal and energy in his favourite pursuit called forth my admiration, if I mistake not, so long as thirty years ago, and if he has continued until now to be as unrelaxing in his effort as he then was, it must be a very cunning species which has eluded his searching eye. And now a word about the mollusca. It is much to be regretted that the study of these creatures has, in this district, been hitherto greatly neglected. If they are looked down upon with con- tempt by those who know but little about them, it ought to be remembered that nothing which the Almighty has seen fit to create can possibly be unworthy of our contemplation. To those, however, who would wish to make amends for neglected oppor- tunities there is the satisfaction of knowing that a new field for research lies open before them in this locality, and to me it has always been a source of intense pleasure, so far as natural history is concerned, to find myself on hitherto untrodden ground. 68 TRANSACTIONS. Some of you at least may not be aware that afew years ago conchological maps of every county in Great Britain and Ireland, showing the distribution and number of species of land and fresh- water shells then known to occur in each county, were from time to time being published, and I was astonished to see that Dumfries- shire stood nearly, if not quite, at the bottom of the list, and deserving to wear the dunce’s cap! Now, I want some of you to help me to blot out this stain upon our character as naturalists. Of course it is but little that I have been able as yet to effect in this direction, but that little convinces me that a diligent and persevering search will reap a rich reward. I trust, therefore, that our knowledge of the mollusca of this district will in the coming year be largely increased, and then I shall be glad, if permitted, to speak to you at greater length about them than I have been able to do this evening. In conclusion, I would strongly urge upon you the necessity of striving to do original work. This will bring you face to face with Nature. Listen to her teachings, which, if rightly learnt, will help you to shake off the fetters of self-pride which are too often wont to stay our progress, and then she will lead you step by step onward and upward until you are enabled to form a better, though still feeble, conception of the stupendous majesty of Nature’s beneficent Creator. COMMUNICATIONS. I. An Ornithological List for the Parish of Glencairn. By Mr JOHN CoRRIE of Moniaive. The first bird to be mentioned is the Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus), now avare bird in the district, although common, I believe, at one time, and known to nest regularly on the Auchen- strowan, Lorg, and Craigenputtock crags. Single birds were seen this year in the vicinity of Woodlea and Maxwelton, but it is un- likely they would be allowed to nest. The Merlin (alco Gsalon), like the Peregrine, is yearly becoming less common. During May of the present year a pair nested on the Bogrie moors, but the female was trapped and her mate is said to have been shot. The Kestral (Falco Tinnunculus) is still a fairly common species, but its extermination, like that of all the hawks, can only be a matter of time. The Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter Misus) may be considered rare. The Kite (AZz/ows vulgaris) is now almost, if not quite, extinct. When a boy, a tame Kite or ‘‘Gled” as we called it, was TRANSACTIONS. 69 kept at the Craigdarroch Inn, Moniaive. It was allowed perfect free- dom, but never attempted to escape. One Lamb Fair day a shep- herd’s dog, having stolen a piece of beef, retired to a quiet corner of the inn yard to eat it. The ‘“Gled” happened to be perched on the roof of an adjoining outhouse at the time, and the dog had no sooner squatted with his prize than the *‘Gled” swooped down upon him, seized the piece of beef, and bore it off to his perch, the startled collie meanwhile bolting up the nearest passage. The Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) is said to have been common thirty or forty years ago, but it is rarely met with now, and I have never seen the bird personally. The gamekeeper on the Craigdar- roch estate informs me that he has once or twice seen a pair of Buzzards “ sailing” down the glen as far as Craigdarroch, but they always turned there and made away back again. When seen it has always been during the winter months, and there is not the least likelihood of the bird being met with as a nesting species. Nocturnal birds of prey are represented by four species: The Long-Eared Owl ( Ofus vulgaris), which is not common ; the Short- Eared Owl (O¢us Brachyotus), rarer still; the Barn Ow] (S¢rix Flammea), which, down to afew years ago, nested regularly at Hastings Hall; and last, the Tawny Owl (Syraium Stridula), our only really common species. The Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa Grisola) may be considered common, It is a bird unconventional alike in its choice of nest sites and its selection of materials. Some years ago we found a nest in the vicinity of a joiner’s workshop, built entirely of shavings, and placed in the crevice of a stone bridge. The Common Dipper (Cinclus Aguaticus), a bird often spoken of as scarce, is common in Glencairn. It is met with along all our streams, and there are few places suited to its habits where I could not undertake to find a nest. It is one of our earliest nesting species, and often has its young hatched before the majority of our birds have even thought about egg-laying. I knew a nest this year in which the brood was hatched during the third week of April. It is unaccountable to me how the Dipper is so often overlooked as a songster. An attractive bird, with a good deal of individuality about it, and therefore often described, it is at the some time but rarely we see it referred to as a singer. Thus, for instance, in a series of well-written articles on bird life lately con- tributed to Good Words, the writer includes the Dipper in his list of winter residents, but omits it in his list of winter songsters, 70 TRANSACTIONS. --a most unmerited slight, as all who have listened to the bird will be ready to testify. The Missel Thrush (Zurdus Viscivorus)is common, Deservedly famous as a songster, he is no less gifted in the use of bird Billingsgate, and woe betide the luckless egg-collecting wight upon whose head is poured the full venom of his wrath! The Fieldfare (Turdus Pilaris) is of frequent occurrence in the winter months. The Song Thrush (Zurdus Musicus), | am pleased to say, abounds. The Blackbird (7urdus Meru/a) is plentiful, and its near ally, the Ring Ouzel (Zurdus Torguatus), not uncommon. The Hedge- Sparrow (Acentor Modularis) is common, and sociable as well. Two years ago a remarkable instance of interrupted egg-laying came under my notice. A nest had been built in the garden hedge, and a single egg laid therein, when the birds to all appear- ance forsook the nest. Six days later, however, the birds re- turned, and re-arranged the nest, when laying was continued. The Robin (Zrythaca Rubecula), another lover of human abodes, is met with everywhere. The Redstart (Phoenicura Ruticilla), although occurring throughout the parish, can scarcely be con- sidered common anywhere. In Tynron district it seems to be much more abundant. On one occasion I found no fewer than three nests in the immediate vicinity of Tynron Village. The Whin Chat (Saxicola Rubetra) a bird we call Stonechat in Glencairn, and the Wheatear (Saxicola @nanthe) are both common. A year or two ago I would have described the Grasshopper Warbler (Salicaria Locustella) as rare, but I have satisfied myself that in Glencairn at least it occurs in considerable numbers. I had my attention first directed to the bird some five or six years ago when rod-fishing on the Cairn, and I have frequently heard it during similar excursions since. The nest is said to be very difficult to find, and to this circumstance may perhaps be attributed my want of success in the search. I have information of a bird shot in the water of Ken district which, from the description I received of its note and plumage, and, what is still more characteristic, its peculiar habit of skulking, I have no doubt was the Grasshopper Warbler. That delightful nocturnal songster, the Sedge Warbler (Salicaria Phragmitis) is common. During mid-summer it sings the greater part of the night as well as the day, and while some people profess not to care for its hurrying manner in song, I have often been entranced with its melody. Both the Blackcap (Curruca Atricapilla) and Wood Warbler (Sylvia Sibilatrix) are rare. The TRANSACTIONS. i Whitethroat (Curruca Cinerea) and Willow Wren (Sy/via Trochilus) are fairly numerous, while the Lesser Whitethroat (Carruca Sylviella) and Chiffchaff (Sy/via Hippolats) may perhaps be con- sidered rare. The Garden Warbler (Curruca Hortensis) I am dis- posed to think must occur with us, but I have failed to recognise it. The Gold-crested Regulus (Regulus Cristatus), the smallest not only of British but of European birds, and one of the prettiest, is not uncommon. It is our only species that builds a hanging nest, and the structure, in compactness and beauty and architecture, is only rivalled by that of the Chaffinch. The Wren (7Z7raglodytes Vulgaris) is plentiful, and a favourite with everybody. Strange sites are often selected for nesting, and great ingenuity shown in concealment. We once saw a nest built in a tuft of waterdrift which a flooded stream had left suspended from the branch of an overhanging tree. On another occasion we found a nest concealed in a clump of polopody fern on the rocky face of Craigen- puttock Moor, a site which appeared much better suited to the hawk than to the tiny wren. The Creeper (Certhia Familiaris) can scarcely be considered rare, but it is retired and unobtrusive in habits, and, on that account, often overlooked. The Great Tit (Parus Major) is met with sparsely throughout the parish. It is a bird endowed with great strength of bill, and we have seen it break the shell of a hazel-nut with ease. In autumn the sharp tap-tap of its bill in the nut woods may often be heard when the bird itself is unseen. The Blue Tit (Parus Ceruleus) is common. The Cole Tit (Parus Azer) and Long-Tailed Tit (Parus Candatus) are both somewhat scarce. When I have seen the latter at all it has usually been in flocks of six or more intent upon some winter food foray. The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla Garrula) was seen once many years ago in the vicinity of Hastings Hall—the only instance of its occurrence. Among the Motacillide, the Pied Wagtail (AZotacil/a Alba) is the only really resident variety, and it is likewise the most common. The Grey Wagtail (AZo/acil/a Boarula), the handsomest of its class, can scarcely be considered a plentiful bird. During the winter months it is entirely absent. Ray’s Wagtail (AJozacil/a Flava), the smallest of the wagtails, is also the least common. I have seen it in one locality for several years in succession, but I am doubtful if it occurs anything like generally. The Tree Pipit (Anthus Arboreus) is not uncommon. The Meadow Pipit (Anthus Pratensis) is abundant. The Sky Lark (A/auda Arvensis), our “feathered Pan,” as 12 TRANSACTIONS. Anderson calls it, carols over all our meadows. The Snow Bunting (Plectrophanes Niv Lis) has only been seen once. The Common Bunting (Zméeriza Miliaria), although recorded for the lower portions of the parish, does not appear to be generally dis- tributed. The Black-Headed Bunting (Zmderiza Schoeniclus) is not by any means an uncommon bird, but it is rarely seen at any great distance from its nesting haunts—the rushy margins of streams or marshes. The Yellow Hammer (Zmderiza Citrinella) is still a common species, although sadly reduced in numbers by recent severe winters. The Chaffinch (777ngz//a Coelebs) is almost as common as the ubiquitous House Sparrow, and, despite his handsome coat, almost as little prized. He sings a good song, nevertheless, and builds the prettiest nest of all our British birds. The Mountain Finch (Aringilla Montifringilla) is known to us as an occasional visitor only. The House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus) is met with everywhere. The larger number build their nests under the eaves of houses, but no inconsiderable portion build on trees. When a tree is selected the structure is invariably large and ugly. The Greenfinch (Coccothraustes Chloris) occurs plenti- fully. The Goldfinch (Carduelis Elegans), a common enough bird, I believe, at one time, must now be considered rare. The Siskin (Carduelis Spinus) is occasionally seen asa visitor, but it has never been known to nest. The Common Linnet (Zzxota Cannabina) is abundant. The Mountain Linnet (Zzzota MJontium) visits us from time to time in flocks. One winter, four or five years ago, I caught two of these birds in the hand by simply following a flock of them and imitating their feeding note. The Lesser Redpoll (Zixota Linaria) is rare even as a visitor. The Bullfinch (Pyrrhula Vulgaris), although seen here and there throughout the parish, occurs in no great numbers anywhere. The Starling (Sturnus Vulgaris) in Glencairn, as elsewhere, is becoming increasingly common, A generation ago starlings were almost unknown, and I am credibly informed that the first starling seen in Glencairn was sold for half-a-sovereign, and the bird was a dead one. The Raven (Corvus Corax) down to within recent years nested regularly on the face of Auchenstrowan Crag, but the site has now been abandoned, and we are not aware of any other in the parish or its vicinity. The birds, however, are still seen at intervals. The Crow (Corvus Corone) is common, and, I need scarcely say, so is the Rook (Corvus Frugilegus). It is a popular belief in the South of Scotland that crow nest-building commences on the first Sabbath TRANSACTIONS. 73 of March ; but if this is so, the birds would appear to get confused in their dates occasionally, as we have seen them re-habilitating their old homes as early as the second week in February. In Chambers’s “Book of Days,” the twelfth day after Candlemas (O. S.) is similarly associated with the nesting habits of the crow ; and we are told the Rev. Dr Waugh used to relate that, on his return from the first year’s session at the University of Edinburgh, his father’s gardener undertook to give him a few lessons in natural history. Among other things he told him that the “craws” (rooks) always began building twelve days after Candle- mas. Wishing to show off his learning, young Waugh asked the old man if the craws counted by the old or by the new style, just then introduced by Act of Parliament. Turning upon the young student a look of contempt, the old gardener said : ‘“ Young man, craws care naething for Acts of Parliament.” We are disposed to think they care just as little for popular beliefs, and that in the matter of nest-building they observe no hard and fast rule whatso- ever. The truth is that by the first Sunday in March, or even the twelfth day after Candlemas, nest-building has become so general that even the unobservant can no longer shut their eyes to the fact. The Jackdaw (Corvus Moneduda) is plentiful. A few nest in ruined buildings and in chimneys, but the greater number make use of rabbit burrows. When White wrote his delightful “Natural History of Selborne,” this habit of nesting in burrows was considered something very remarkable, but we suppose instances of its occurrence are now known to be frequent. The Magpie (Pica Caudata) is now almost, if not quite, extirpated. Our welcome visitor, the Cuckoo (Cuculus Canorus) is common. This bird’s peculiar habits of nidification are well known, but I have an incident which is probably unique. Robert Currie, shep- herd at Castlehill, in the parish of Durrisdeer, while on his usual morning round of inspection among the sheep stock under his care, noticed a young bird lying on the ground. Lifting it, and looking about him, he discovered a nest, which contained a similar birdling, not far off, and in this nest he placed the birdling he had picked up. Next morning, on making a return visit to the spot, he was surprised to find the bird outside the nest again. He replaced it once more, but soon afterwards found it outside as before—this time dead from exposure. He then discovered that both of the birds were young cuckoos, and each being actuated by the instinct to eject its fellow-occupant from the nest. The 74 TRANSACTIONS. sanguinary struggle had proceeded until one of the combatants succumbed, a victim to the instinet of its kind. That richest plumaged of British birds, the Kingfisher (A/cedo Zspida) is rare. The only place I have ever seen it is on the Cairn, in the vicinity of Maxwelton. The Swallow (Aizundo Rustica), the Martin (Hirundo Urbica), and the Sand Martin (Aivundo Riparia) are all common, » Heimii, Hedw. Didymodon rubellus bits ate var. serratulus, Ferg. a5 flexifolius, Dicks. * eylindricus, Wils. . Ditrichum homomallum . Trichostomum tophaceum he mutabile, Br. - crispulum, Bruch. 55 nitidum, Lindb. aie 7 littorale, Mitt. Barbula muralis, L. et oy unguiculata, Dill. an fallax, Hedw. Me recurvifolia, Schpr. ay rigidula, Dicks. ... cf spadicea, Mitt. ... 2 cylindrica, Tayl. ix revoluta, Schweg. a, convoluta, Hedw. “a inclinata, Schweg. - tortuosa, Schweg. a subulata, L. 3. leevipila, Brid. ... As ruralis, L. ewe 5 var. arenicola, Braithw. a intermedia, Brid. fo papillosa, Wils. ... Ceratodon purpureus, L. ... Distichium capillaceum Eucalypta ciliata, Hedw.... ~ streptocarpa, Hedw. ... 93 Locality. Terregles (s). Fields and gardens—common. Common on mud walls and by roadsides ; (c.) Colvend shore ; S. of Caerlaverock. Common ; Dumfries (s) ; Moffat (n) On R. Ken, near Dundeugh, Dalry. Little Richorn Wood, Dalbeattie, &e. Black Craig, N.G. ; Criffel (s)— frequent. About Kenmure, &c., N.G. ; Dur- risdeer (s). Garpel Bridge, N.G.—rare. Dullarg Hill, Balmaclellan; Col- vend shore; Durrisdeer (s)— frequent. Colvend shore. Do. Do. Very common on limestone walls. Do. (s) (e). Roadsides and waste ground; Cluden (s) (ce). Penton Linns (s). Walls—frequent. Ken Bridge, N.G. Kenmure Castle, N.G. Limestone walls. Do. Colvend shore—very rare. On the hills; The Glen (s)—fre- quent. Dumfries; Routen Bridge, Ter- regles (s); N.G. The Holm, N.G.; The Glen, and Terregles (s). Roofs of houses (s) (c). Sandy sea-shores. Threave Castle, Castle-Douglas. On old trees—frequent. Very common. R. Ken, N.G. ; Nith and Cairn (s) (c) ; Grey Mare’s Tail (n). Head of Blackhope Burn (n). Glenlee, N.G.; The Holm; Dur- risdeer ; Lochanhead; Penton Linns (s); Routen Bridge (ec) ; Moffat (n). TRANSACTIONS. Name. Srimmia apocarpa, L. ‘5 var. rivulare, Brid. 5 maritima, Turn.... 4 pulvinata, Dill. ... ny Schultzii, Brid. ... A contorta, Wahl. ... 7 torquata, Grev. ... Pe unalis (spiralis) ... 35 subsquarrosa, Wils. sé trichophylla, Grev. 5 Hartmanni, Schpr. - Doniana, Sm. 3 var. Sudetica % commutata, Hiibn. oe montana, B. & S. 1m Stirtoni, Schpr. ... Rhacomitrium patens 34 ellipticum, Turn. bs aciculare, L. 55 Sudeticum, Funck 55 heterostichum ... 5 var. alopecurum 5 fasciculare, Schrad. % lanuginosum, Hedw.... 5 canescens, Hedw. AP var. ericoides Ptychomitrium polyphyllum Amphoridium lapponicum y Mougeotii, B. & S. Locality. Common on dykes and stones (c) (s). On stones in streams, as R. Ken; Garpel Burn, N.G. ; The Glen. Common on rocks all along the shore. Common on walls ; Brownhall (c). Cairn Edward and Bennan Hills, N.G. ; Criffel (s). W. of Millyea, N.G.—very rare. Millyea, &c., N.G. ; Whitcomb (n) Milyea, &c., N.G.; Screel (s); Whitcomb (n). Colvend ; on Bennan Farm, N.G. Common on dykes, wall tops, rocks, &e. (s) (c). Frequent by side of R. Ken and R. Dee, N.G. On whinstone on the hills; Dur- risdeer (s) ; Moffat (m). Along with the species. L. Stroan, on R. Dee, N.G.—very rare. Garrorie, N.G.—very rare. On dykes by roadsides, N.G. and Dalry. S.-W. side of Milyea, Blackhope Burn (n). Frequent on the hills, as on Black Craig, N.G. Common on wet rocks, Ke. ; Routen Bridge and Criffel (s). Common on rocks on the hills ; Burnhills (s). Very common on dykes, &e. W. of Cairn Edward, N.G. Common on rocks and dykes; Criffel (c). very common on the hills, &e. (s) (e). Common on sandy places by road- sides, &e. Side of Newton-Stewart Road, &e., N.G: Dykes and dry rocks (s) (¢). Milyea, N.G.; Blackhope Burn (n)—rare. Wet rocks and sub-alpine glens ; in fruit at Dob’s Linn, Moffat, by Mr W. Bell; Inglestone (s). N.G. ; TRANSACTIONS. Name. Zygodon viridissimum, Dicks. 2 var. rupestris (Stirtoni) *. conoideus, Dicks. Ulota Drummondii, Grev. », Bruchii, Horn. » crispa, Hedw. » intermedia, Schpr.... », crispula, Bruch. », phyllantha, Brid. ... >» Hutchinsixe, Sm. Orthotrichum saxatile “ cupulatum, Hoffm. ee rupestre, Schleich. , affine. Schrad. 33 fastigiatum, Br. ... a stramineum, Horn. 2. diaphanum, Schrad. ‘a pulchellum, Sm. ... 33 Lyellii, H. & T. ... if leiocarpum, B. & S. = rivulare, Turn. CEdipodium Grifitthianum Tetraplodon mnioides Splachnum sphericum so ampullaceum, L. Physcomitrium pyriforme, L. Entosthodon ericetorum, Bals. 95 Locality. Trees and on sheltered dykes— frequent. Holme, Balmaclellan; Troquhain —rare. Ballingear Wood, N.G. ; Creetown Glen ; Friars’ Carse (c). Hannahstown Wood, N.G.; Beld Craig (n)—very rare. Common on young oaks and hazels, &e. Do. ; Moffat (m); Brown- hall (c). Do. Not so common. Common on trees; Terregles (s). W. of Bennan and Cairn Edward hills, N.G. ; Criffel (c). Ken Bridge, N.G. ; Rerrick ; Ter- regles Village (s) ; Brownhall (c) Friars’ Carse (c). On a dyke between Carlingwark Loch and R. Dee, Castle-Douglas; Knocklae, Balmaclellan, &c. Common on trees and on dykes. Garroch Wood, N.G.—very rare. Common on trees. At the foot of damp trees and walls ; Terregles (s) ; Brownhall (c). Overton and Burnfoot, &c., N.G.; The Glen (s) ; Brownhall (ce). Common on trees, in woods, &e. ; Terregles (s). Frequent on trees; Terregles (s) ; Brownhall (c). Kenmure Holms, N.G. ; hills (s). 8. of L. Dungeon, and on Milyea, N.G. ; Cairnsmuir of Carsphairn ; Blackhope Burn (n). On dung on the hills—occasionally 8. of L. Dungeon, N.G. ; Lochar Moss (c)—very rare. Frequent on dung, as at Little Barskeoch, &c., N.G.; Knock- indock (s). Kenmure Holms,N.G.; Terregles(s) Sides of drains, &c., on the hills— frequent ; Grey Mare’s Tail (n). Burn- 336 337 338 339 341 345 348 TRANSACTIONS. Name. Entosthodon Templetoni, Hook Funaria fascicularis, Dicks. y hygrometrica, L. Bartramia ithyphylla, Brid. e, pomiformis, L. Bf var. crispa, Swartz ... 55 Halleriana, Hedw. Philonotis fontana, L Breutelia arcuata, Dicks.... Leptobyrum pyriforme, L. Webera polymorpha, Hoppe. BA elongata, Dicks.... x nutans, Schreb. ... PP cruda, Schreb. i annotina, Hedw. ‘fs carnea, L. Be, 3 albicans, Wahl. ... Zieria julacea, Schpr. Bryum bimum, Schreb. », alpinum, L. » cespiticium, L. 5 argenteum, L. capillare, L. pallens, Swartz. », Duvalii, Voit. atropurpureum, W. & M. Locality. Side of rocks by R. Ken, &c., N.G. Fields about N.G.; Kirkeud- bright ; Terregles (s); Brown- hall (ce). Common. Sides of R. Ken; Milyea, N.G. ; The Grove and Terregles (s). Frequent; Cairn Water Moffat (m). N. of Black Craig, N.G. Side of R. Ken at Dundeugh ; Crummypark Burn, N.G.—rare. Frequent in wet places and in springs ; Moffat (m) (s). On the hills; Moffat (m) (s)— common Kenmure Castle, on limestone road walls; Cluden, Ter- regles (s) ; often in flower pots. Milyea, N.G.; Whitcomb and Beld Craig (n)—very rare. S. of L. Dungeon and Milyea, N.G. Common on moors ; Durrisdeer (s) Holme Glen, N. of Black Craig, N.G. Common in damp fields and by roadsides—barren. Brownhall (e); R. Esk (s). HolmeGlen, N.G.—veryrare; Beld (8) 5 Craig (n). S. of L. Dungeon, N.G.; Moffat (ec) ; Whitcomb and Beld Craig (n). Marshy places; Whitehills, Ter- regles ; Dalveen, Durrisdeer (s). On the hills on wet rocks—occa- sionally. Frequent on the hills, but rare in fruit ; Bengairn (s) ; Criffel (s). Onlimestone dykes, &e.—common. On roofs of houses and on the ground—common (s) (c). On walls, trees, &c.—very common. Kells Hills, N.G.; Cairn Water and Burnhills (s); common on Moffat Hills (n). Head ofstream forming the mineral well, Moffat. TRANSACTIONS. 97 No. Name. Locality. 349 Bryum pseudo-triquetrum, Hedw. Wet rocks, &c., on the hills, but ;> roseum, Schreb. » filiforme (julaceum) Mnium cuspidatum, Hedw. », affine, Bland. >» undulatum, Hedw. ;, vrostratum, Schrad. », hornum, L. » serratum, Schrad. » Stellare, Hedw. >» punctatum, Hedw. » subglobosum, B. & S. Aulacomnium androgynum 5 palustre, L. Tetraphis pellucida, L. Oligotrichum hercynicum Atrichum undulatum, L.... Pogonatum nanum, Neck. aloides, Hedw. oS urnigerum, L.... ~ alpinum, L. Polytrichum gracile, Menz. +. Brownianum, Dicks. ... iy var. minus (Dicksoni). y3 formosum, Hedw. .. not common ; Dalveen (s). Woods about N.G. Sides of hill streams, &c. ;_ Critffel and Burnhills (s). Holm, Balmaclellan; N. of Ken- mure Castle ; Parton, &c. Common at foot of walls, &e. ; Terregles (s). Frequent in woods and on lawns, &c. ; Terregles (s). sub-alpine glens, as Holm Glen, N.G., &c. Common (s). S. of L. Dungeon and N. of Black Craig, N.G. S. of L. Dungeon and Holme Glen, N.G. ; Hartfell (n). Common in sub-Alpine glens, &c. N. of Black Craig, &c., N.G. ; Hartfell (n)—not common. Bankend rocks, N.G.—very rare. Marshy places—common (s). Bennan Hill, Ballingear Wood, &c., N.G. ; Crichope (s). Raehills Woods (Greville’s Scottish Cryptogamic Flora, 1823) ; Pen- ton Linns on R. Liddel(s) ; Beld Craig (n). On bare soil on the hills; L. Dungeon, N.G. ; Hartfell (n). Common ; Terregles (s). In fields and on banks ; The Grove (s) ; Moffat (m) ; Dumfries (c). Very commonin fieldsand on banks, and sides of ditches. Waulkmill Farm, N.G.—rare. Common on clayey and loamy banks; Moffat (m); Terregles and Routen Bridge (s); Dum- fries (c). N. of Black Craig, N.G.; Cairns- muir of Carsphairn ; Moffat hills (n) and (m). N. of Black Craig, N.G.; Ter- regles (s). Common on the hills by sides of drains, ce. 425 426 TRANSACTIONS. Name. Polytrichum piliferum, Schreb. 46 juniperum, Willd. 2 strictum, Banks. ... 5 commune, L. x var. fastigiatum, Lyle. Diphyscium foliosum, L. ... Buxbaumia aphylla, Hall. Fissidens bryoides, Hedw. 3 decipiens, De Not. sts adiantoides, Hedw. 5 taxifolius, L. Cinclidotus fontinaloides, Hedw. Fontinalis antipyretica, L. “p squamosa, L. ... Hedwigia ciliata, Dicks. ... Ae var. viridis, Schpr. Cryphea heteromalla, Hedw. Leucodon sciuroides, L. .. 5 var. morensis, Brid. ... Antitrichia curtipendula ... Neckera pumila, Hedw. 7 var. Philippeana, Schpr. 5 crispa, L.... aa complanata, L. ... Homalia trichomanoides ... osmundoides, Hedw. ... Locality. Frequent on dry banks ; woods near Dumfries (c); Terregles (s). Top of Milyea, N.G.; Terregles Woods (s). Frequent in bogs, as N. of Black Craig, N.G, ; Dalveen (s). Common on hills and woods and bogs. Opposite Darsalloch, N.G. Frequent on banks in hilly parts ; Dalveen Pass, and Burnhills (s). On rocks in a field N. of Ballingear, N.G.—very rare. Common; Terregles (s); Brown- hall (e). Frequent on Kells hills. Do. Do. The Glen (s) ; Craigs (c). Frequent ; Whitehills and Ter- regles (s) ; Banks of R. Nith (ce). R. Ken, &c., N.G.; Routen Bridge ; The Glen (s); Friars’ Carse (c). Frequent, Carron Water and Dal- veen Pass (s). Garpel Burn and R. Ken, &c., N.G. Dykes, rocks, &c. ; Irongray (ce) (s). S. of Laggan of Dee and near N.G. Back of Kenmure Castle, &c., N.G.; Tongland ; Rosebank (c). Kirkgunzeon Manse; Douglas Hall; Terregles (s); Friars’ Carse (c). The Holme, Balmaclellan. In woods on trees and dykes, &e. ; The Grove (s) ; Dalveen (s) Common on trees; Terregles and Burnhills (s). Not common ; N.G. Frequent ; Moffat (m); The Glen and Burnhills (s); Dalscairth (c). Frequent on trees, &e. Foot of trees, &c. ; The Glen and Terregles (s). Kenmure Castle, TRANSACTIONS, Name. Pterygophyllum lucens Mpyrinia pulvinata,° Wahl. Leskea polycarpa, Ehrh. ... Anomodon viticulosus, L. Pseudoleskea catenulata, Brid. :<. Heterocladium heteropterum Thuidium tamariscinum ... Pterigyandrum filiforme, Timm. Pterogonium gracille, Dill. Thannium alopecurum, L. Climacium dendroides, L. Pylaisia polyantha, Schreb. Isothecium myurum, Poll. Homalothecium sericeum... Scleropodium caespitosum, Wils. Bracythecium glareosum... a albicans, Neck. i velutinum .. ts rutabulum, L. 34 rivulare, B. & S. ... $5 populeum, Hedw. Pf plumosum, Swartz. Eurhynchium myosuroides = striatum, Schreb.... 99 Locality. Glenlee, Ballingear Woods, &c., N.G.; Grey Mare’s Tail (n); Dalscairth (c). Kenmure Holms, N.G.—very rare. Very common on trees overflowed, as in Kenmure Holms, N.G. ; Terregles Meadows (s). Kenmure Castle, N.G. ; Ravens- hall, Creetown; R. Dee, Tong- land ; Maidenbower, Dumfries (s) ; The Glen (s) (ce). Blackhope Burn (n). Frequent in sub-alpine glens; Routen Bridge and The Glen (s) ; Blackhope Burn and Whitcomb in fruit. Very common in woods and on banks (m) (s). N. of Allangibbon Bridge, Dalry ; on R. Ken, N.G. On rocks and trees, generally near water ; The Glen (s). Very plentiful in sub-alpine glens (s) (c) (m). Damp grassy places ; Terregles ; in fruit(s); in Mayfield marshes (c); Kenmure Holms in fruit. The Holme, Balmaclellan—very rare. Very common on tree roots and on rocks ; (s). Very common on trees and on dykes; (s). Kenmure Holms, N.G. Penton Linns on R. Liddel (s). Whiteport Bay, Almorness ; Dur- risdeer, and near Newabbey, &c. (s)—frequent. Rerrick ; Balmaclellan ; Terregles (s)—frequent. Very common ; (m) (s). Common; The Glen and by R. Cairn (s). Very common ; (s). Common by sides of streams. Common on rocks and trees ; (s) Common in woods ; Terregles (s). TRANSACTIONS. Name. Locality. Eurhynchium crassinervium, Kenmure Castle, N.G.; Holme Tayl. Glen, Balmaclellan; The Glen and Penton Linns (s). 5 piliferum, Schreb. Common in woods, &c.; The Cluden (s). 35 Swartzii, Turn. Common in glens under shade ; (s). i prelongum, Dill.... Very common (s). 2 var. Stokesii, Turn. Holme Glen, Balmaclellan, 5 pumilum, Wils. Hyocomium flagellare Rhynchostegium tenellum a depressum, Bruch. 43 confertum, Dicks. <5 ruscifolium Plagiothecium pulchellum re denticulatum 5 Borrerrianum, Spr. oo sylvaticum, L. - var. orthocladum, is undulatum, L. Amblystegium serpens, L. 5 iriguum, Wils. 3 fluviatile Swartz.... Fe riparium, L. Hypnum exannulatum, Giimb. ... a revolvens, Swartz. a5 fluitans, L. 5 uncinatum, Hedw. 53 filicinum, L. 7 var. vallisclausee re commutatum, Hedvw. ... 5 faleatum, Brid.... Sub-alpine glens ; The Glen (s). In hill burns under rocks ; Lowran burn, N.G., in fruit. Dundrennan Abbey ; Spout Glen, Twynholm; Cairn Water and Cluden Water (s). Holme Glen, Balmaclellan ; Spout Glen ; The Glen (s). Frequent on walls and_ stones ; Kells Church, N.G. Common in burns, ditches, Xe. (s). Frequent on shaded rocks in glens and on the hills ; Dalscairth (e). Common in woods on shady banks, &e. (s) (€). Frequent in places similar to 501. Holme Glen, Balmaclellan ; near Glenlee, N.G. Near Kenmure Castle stables, N.G. In woods below trees, &c.; The Glen (s). Very common at roots of trees, on dykes and walls (s) (c). Garpel Bridge, N.G.—rare. N.G. ; Durrisdeer (s). Kenmure Holms, N.G.—not com- mon, Frequent in wet marshy places ; Screel (s). Do. On tree roots by R. Ken, N.G., &e. in dry places. Common in sub-alpine glens and by wet roadsides. Tongland, R. Dee. Frequent on wet dripping rocks ; Terregles (s) (c). Dullarg Hill, Balmaclellan, &ce.— frequent, No. TRANSACTIONS. 101 Name. 535 Hypnum cupressiforme, L b 535¢ d ” 2” 2? var. tectorum, Schpr. var. filiforme, Bry. Eur. var. ericetorum, Bry. Eur. resupinatum, Wils, patientie, Lindb. molluscum, Hedw. crista-castrensis palustre, L. eugyrium, Schp. ochraceum, Turn. polymorphum, Hedw... elodes, Spr. stellatum, Schreb. cordifolium, Hedw.. ... giganteum, Schpr. sarmentosum, Wahl. ... var. subflavum, Ferg... cuspidatum, L. Schreberi, Ehrh. purum, L. stramimeum, Dicks. ... scorpioides, L. . splendens, Dill. brevirostrum, Ehrh. squarrosum, L.... loreum, L. triquetrum, L. ... Locality. Very common. On roofs of houses—common. Trunks of trees. Among heather. Holme, Balmaclellan ; Kenmure Castle, N.G. ; Terregles (s). Wet roadsides, &c.; Durrisdeer (s). Frequent in damp places; Ter- regles (s). Grey Mare’s Tail (m) (n). Sub-alpine glens; The Glen (s) ; Routen Bridge (s). Holme Glen, N.G. ; Grey Mare’s Tail (n)—very rare. Mountain rivulets; R. Deugh, Carsphairn ; Dalveen Pass and Cairn Water (s). Holme Glen, Balmaclellan—very rare. In meadows between Carlingwark Loch and R. Dee, Castle-Doug- las—very rare. Wet places on the hills ; Criffel (s). Among grass; Kenmure Holms, N.G. ; Terregles (s); Irongray(c). Simpson’s Bog, Tongland; Larg Hill, Creetown; Barmurray Moor, Balmaclellan—not com- mon. Frequent in wet places on the hills ; Knockindock (s). Occasionally on the hills; Burn- foot Hill, N.G. Common in wet marshy places (s). Very common in woods and on the hills (s) (c). Very common among grass (s) (c) Frequent in marshy places. Wet places on the hills ; Bengairn, (s), &e. Very common on banks, woods, &e. (s). Common in woods ; Dalscairth (s). Very common among grass (s). Ballingear Wood, &c., N.G.; Crichope Linn and Terregles (s). Very plentiful on the ground in woods (s) (c) (m). No. 1 46 47 TRANSACTIONS. LIST OF HEPATIC. N.G. refers to New-Galloway. (n) refers to Notes on a List of Cryptogamic Plants collected by Dr W. NiIcHou in the Moffat district. (c) to a List of Jungermanniz observed in the neighbourhood of Dumfries by the late Mr JAMES CRUICKSHANK, Crichton Insti- tution, and published in the Phytologist, No. XIV., July, 1842. (s) to a List of Hepaticee gathered in the neighbourhood of Dumfries by Mr CHARLES Scort, late of Terregles Gardens. The rest, without letters, were gathered by myself. Name. Marchantia polymorpha, L. Preissia commutata, Nees. Conocephalus conicus, L.... Asterella hemispherica, L. Riccia glauca, L. ... », crystallina ... », bifurea (?) Bisch. Frullania dilata, L. by Tamarisci (Mich.) Lejeunea minutissima, sm. of serpyllifolia, Mich. * patens, Lind. 35 flava, Sw. oh a Mackaii (Hook) ... Radula complanata, L. Porella levigata, Schrad.... oH platyphylla, L. x rivularis, Nees. Pleurozia cochleariformis... Lepidozia reptans, L. Locality. Common in damp places at foot of walls, &e. (s) (c). Wet rocks in sub-alpine glens (s) ; W. of Cluden ; Burnhills, &e. (s) Glen at Terregles; Grove pond; rocks by R. Cairn ; (c) Old College ; Dalscairth. Back of Kenmure Castle, N.G. ; rocks at Grennan, Dalry ; about Kirkcudbright. Delarran Holm, N.G., &e. (ec) Brownhall Orchard. Burnfoot Hill, N.G. Common on trees (s) (c). Do. (s) (¢.). Burnfoot Hill, N.G.—very rare. Frequentinglens; (c)Craigs, Dum- fries, &c. ; Grey Mare’s Tail (n). Do. Do. Inglestone Hill (s). R. Dee, Tongland—very rare. Roots of trees, stones, dykes, and under hedges (c) (s). Frequent in sub-alpine glens (c) (s). Do. do. Back of Kenmure Castle, N.G. ; Ironmacannie Mill, Balmaclel- lan. Frequent in damp places on the hills, as Black Craig, N.G. ; Auchencairn Moss (s). Frequent on banks and decayed roots of trees, as in Ballingear Glen, N.G. (s); Crichope Linn (c); Routen Bridge ; Dalskairth —s No. 53 TRANSACTIONS. 103 Name. Lepidozia setacea, Mitten Bazzania trilobata, Budd. ” Odontoschisma Sphagni, Dicks.... tricrenata, Wahl. a denudatum, Nees. Cephalozia Francisci ”? 9 Lophocolea bidentata, L.... sa heterophylla, Schrad. 29 obtusiloba, Lindb. byssacea divaricata (Starkii) ... var. Pearsoni, Lindb. bicuspidata, Dum. Lammersiana, Hiibn. curvifolia, Dicks. connivens, Dicks. catenulata, Hiibu. Chiloscyphus polyanthos, L. Saccogyna viticulosa, Mich. ... Kantia trichomanis, L. Trichocolea tomentella, Ehr. Locality. Frequent in bogs and on damp banks on the hills (mn); moors near L. Skene, Moffat (s) ; Crichope Linn (c); Lochar Moss ; Criffel. Frequent, as in Ballingear Wood, &e., N.G.; Penton Linns; R. Esk ; Dumfries (s). N. of Black Craig, N.G. Frequent in bogs on sphagnum (s) ; Auchencairn Moss; marshes about Terregles (c) ; Criffel, &c. Occasionally on damp places on moors, as at Barmurray, Balma- clellan. (c) Roadside between Rosehall and Brownhall. Barend Moss, near Castle-Douglas —rare. (c) Marsh above Routen Bridge. Frequent on shady dykes in woods about N.G. N. of Black Craig, N.G.—very rare. Common; (c) Lochar Moss; (s) The Glen ; (n) the Beld Craig. N. of Black Craig, N.G.; Barend Moss. Dunveoch Glen and near Garroch, N.G.—not common. Glenlee Glen, N.G.; Barend Moss ; above Routen Bridge and Crichope Linn (c). N. of Black Craig, N.G. ; Colvend. Common ; (s) (c). Frequent ; Powder Magazine, Dumfries (c) ; Grey Mare’s Tail (n); N.G. West Risk, &c., N.G.; Holme Glen; Durrisdeer (s); Ter- regles (c). Wet rocks ; Lochar Moss (c) ; Ben- nan Hill, &c. Crichope Linn (s) ; Dalscairth (c) ; N.G Wet places ; Glenlee Wood, &c., N.G. ; Dalscairth (c). 96 97 99 102¢ 103 104 106 TRANSACTIONS. Name. Blepharozia ciliaris, Nees. Anthelia julacea, (L.), Lightf. Blepharostoma trichophyllum Scapania compacta, Dum. A undulata, Dill. ... 3 uliginosa, Nees. ... ae irrigua, Nees oA nemorosa, L. A resupinata, Dum. aA purpurea (Dill.), Carr.... aa xquiloba, Schwxe. 35 curta, var. rosea, Nees. Diplophyllum albicans, L. re Dicksoni, Hook. Plagiochila asplenioides, L. spinulosa, Dicks. > * var. microphylla, Carr. punctata, Tayl. ” Mylia Taylori, Hook » anomala, Hook Eucalyx obovata, Nees. hyalina, Lyell ” Aplozia Schraderi, Mart. .. tridenticulata, Tayl.... Locality. Knockgray Moor, Carsphairn ; Barlae Wood, Dalry; Dalscairth (ec) ; Dalveen (s). Wet places and rocks on the hills. Holme Glen; Ballingear Glen ; Routen Bridge; Dalscairth ; and Moffat Hills (ec); Grey Mare’s Tail (n). Frequent. On the hills ; Inglestone (c) ; Ben- gairn (s). Carline’s Cairn, Carsphairn ; Whit- comb (n). Barend Moss, Castle-Douglas. Frequent ; Beld Craig (n) ; Friars’ Carse (c). Frequent on rocks on the hills and on dykes in woods ; side of road, Lochar Moss (ce). Occasionally on the hills; Criffel (ec); Hartfell and Grey Mare’s Tail (n). N. of Black Craig, N.G., &e. Ballingear Glen; Black Craig ; Viewfield Farm, on rocks, N.G. —very rare. Very common ; Crichope Linn (s), &e. Blackbank dykes, Glenlee, and N. of Black Craig, &c., N.G. Very common in woods on banks, &e. (c) (s). Frequent on rocks and banks in hills and woods (c) (s). N. of Black Craig, N.G. Glenlaggan Hill, Parton ; foot Hill, N.G.—,rare. Grey Mare’s Tail (n). N. of Black Craig, N.G. ; Barend Moss, Castle-Douglas ; moors at L. Skene (n). N. of ‘Black Craig, &c., N.G. ; Lochar Moss (c). Opposite Waulk Mill, N.G.—rare. Routen Bridge; Closeburn ; near Moffat Spa Well (c). Troquhain Wood, Balmaclellan ; Blackbank dyke, Glenlee, N.G. —very rare. Burn- No. TRANSACTIONS. 105 Name. 118 Aplozia crenulata, Sm. 118b 120 122 123 ” 33 var. gracillima, Sm., (Genthiana, Hiibn.) pumila, With. cordifolia, Hook. riparia, Tayl. 124 Lophozia Bantriensis, Hook. 129 130 131 132 133 134 136 137 139 142 144 149 151 152 153 158 160 be) barbata, Schr. (Schreberi) attenuata, Lindb. Flerkii, W. & M. quinquedentata, Web. (Lyoni). _lycopodioides, Wallr. ... exsecta, Schmid... ventricosa, Dicks. bicrenata, Lindb. incisa, Schrad.... Gymnocolea inflata, Huds. ” turbinata, Rad. Sphenolobum minuta, Crantz. Nardia emarginata, Ehr. ... alpina, Gott. Miilleri, Nees. Funckii, Nees. Sealaris, Schrad. ... Locality. Roadsides, &c.; Glen Mills and Goldielea (c) ; Grey Mare’s Tail (n). Common on damp soil. Glenlee Glen, &c., N.G.; Moffat (n); Dalscairth (ce). Dalveen (s); Criffel(c) ; Blackhope Glen (n). Wet rocks in glens ; Holme Glen ; The Glen. Crummy Park Glen and Ballin- gear Glen, N.G.—rare. Shadeddykesand woods; Crichope Linn (s); Dalbeattie Wood (s) ; Craigs (c) ; Moffat (c). Insimilar places; Crichope Linn(s). N. side of Black Craig, &c., N.G. ; Crichope Linn and Terregles (s). In similar places; Grey Mare’s Tail (n); Dalscairth and Moffat (c). Near Hannahstown Bridge, N.G. —very rare. Bennan Hill and Ballingear Wood, N.G.—tare. Common; Whitehill (s); Kelton and Lochar Moss (c). " S. of L. Dungeon, &c., N.G. ; Lochar Moss (c)—rare. Moss Raploch and Bennan Hill, N.G. ; Criffel (c); moors near L. Skene (n). Frequent in damp places on hills and moors, as Barend Moss, Castle-Douglas ; Lochar Moss(c). Orroland, Rerrick. Frequent on banks and on the ground on the hills. Very common on wet rocks, &c., on the hills (n) (s) (c). Common on the hills, as on Black Craig, N.G. Hartfell (n) ? Milyea; N. of Black Craig, Bal- lingear Woods, N.G.—rare. Common; Glen, N. of Durrisdeer (s); Lochar Moss (c). 106 TRANSACTIONS. No. Name. Locality. 163 Gymnomitrium concinnatum .,. Rocks on Kells hills ; Hartfell and Blackhope (n)—rare. 167 =~ crenulatum, Gott. Frequent on rocks on the hills. 170 Fossombromia pusilla, Nees. ... Fields near N.G.; moist places ; common (c). 177 -Dilena Lyellii, Hook a ... Inone spot in Lochar Moss, near the side of the English road (c). 178 Blasia pusilla, L. ... pS ... Damp roadsides, N.G. ; near Car- ronbridge (s) ; Cluden Mill (ec). 179 » epiphylla, L. oe ... Sides of ditches, &c., common (n) (s) (ce). : 180 », calycina, Tayl. - ... Damp roadsides, N.G.; Whitehill ; Dalveen hills (s) ; Beld Craig (n). 181 Aneura pinguis, L. ee ... Frequent in wet places; Whit- comb (n) ; Powder Magazine (c) ; Knockindock (s). 182 »» palmata, Hedw. ... ... Garroch Wood, N.G.—very rare. 184. » Ssinuata, Dicks. (pinnati- Bennan Hill, &c., N.G. fida) 185 », multifida, (Dicks.) Gray. Bennan Hill, N.G.; Colvend in bogs; Whitcomb (n); pretty com- mon in marshes (c). 186 Metzgeria furcata (L.), Dum. ... Common on trees and rocks (n) (c) (s). , 186b PA var. acruginosa, Hook N.G.—rare. 187 ag pubescens, Schrank. ... Penton Linns (s). 189 6 conjugata (Dill.) Lindb. In sub-alpine glens. 191 Authocerus punctatus, L. ... Embankment at back of New Quay (c). 4th of January, 1889. Mr J. G. H. Starks, M.A., in the Chair. New Member.—Mr James D. M‘Veigh. Donations.—Two numbers of the Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences and two numbers of the Annals of the same Academy, presented by the Smithsonian Institute ; an old document consisting of an “Inventory of household furniture pertaining to the town of Drumfreis left in the manse, to be made furthcomeing by Mr Robert Patoun, minister of the gospell in the said burgh, 1723,” presented by Mrs M‘Dowall. 107 TRANSACTIONS. COMMUNICATIONS. L—WMeteorological Observations, taken during the year 1888. By the Rev. WILLIAM ANDSON. 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SFO | o | ‘UMLAK | . 4 ‘OpVYS UL ‘WOULIOTL, 7 BE =| owoaH | TIVINIV' SuLio4stFoxy-Jlog ULLANOUVA JOO} OY [OAT VAS BAOGL LOTARTY “Sgt ivok oy SuLamp ‘sonyuncy “oovlsay, [[VAON JV WoL} SUOIPVATIOSY(C) [VOISOTO.LOOJOTY Barometer.—The highest reading of the barometer occurred on 13th January, when it rose to 30°660 inches ; the lowest on 28th March, 28°770 in.; annual range, 1°890 in. ; and the mean 1886. ccurred were The stormiest month of the in. 1n 1887 and 29°800i in. in hich the greatest fluctuat: pressure for the whole year (corrected to 32° and sea-level), 29°915 d with 29°964 m., as compare 10nS O in W The months January, March, May, and December. year was November, when the reading ranged from 28°842 in. to 30-076 in. ; and rain fell on twenty consecut lays, from the 8th 1ve ¢ 108 TRANSACTIONS. to the 28th, with the exception of one day, the 11th. From the 12th onward to the 24th the Nith was in high flood. He had marked the 16th November as the day on which the severest storm of the year occurred. The months of lowest mean pressure were March, July, and November, when the mean ranged from 29°601 in. in March to 29°722 in. in July. Hygrometer.—The mean reading of the dry bulb thermometer for the year was 46°; the mean reading of the wet, 43°6°; and the temperature of the dew point, 40°8°; relative humidity, 82 (satura- tion being equal to a hundred). Temperature.—Vhe highest temperature of the year was recorded on 26th June, when the maximum reading of the thermometer was 836°, as compared with 87° on 25th June, 1887; the lowest, on 12th February, when the minimum reading was 15°3, giving an. annual range of 70°3. The month of lowest temperature was February, with a mean of 36°4°; and March stood next, with a mean of 37°4°; while January, which is generally and justly accounted the coldest month of the year, had a mean of 39°. The temperature of January was 1° above average; that of February and March nearly 4° below it. There was frost on 83 nights during the year, with an aggregate of 293°. In 1887 frost occurred on 96 days, with an aggregate of 560 degs. The mean tempera- ture for the year was 46°5°, as compared with 47:2° in 1887 and 46°2° in 1886. The estimated mean annual temperature of the south-west of Scotland is 48°, so that the last three years have been under average. In 1888 there were only fourteen days on which a maximum of 70° and above was reached; and the months in which the sun is strongest, and the greatest heat is usually experi- enced, were remarkably deficient both in sunshine and warmth. The mean temperature of June was more than two degrees below average, and that of July 44 degrees. In both months, but particu- larly in the latter, there was a prevalence of northerly and easterly winds, with cloudy skies and frequent and heavy rainfalls, which greatly retarded the progress of vegetation, and contributed to make the harvest very late. August was scarcely more favourable, the mean temperature having been 24° below average, and the number of days on which rain fell, 22. But these months were followed by an exceptionally dry, though cold, September and October, which permitted the harvest, though very late, to be gathered in for the most part in good condition. The temperature of November was about 3° above average, and that of December —— TRANSACTIONS. 109 nearly 2°, so that on the whole we have had during the past year mild and open weather during the winter months, the greater part of February being excepted, with a cold and backward spring in March and April (deficiency of temperature for the two months, 74°); but as there was almost no frost in May, with a more than average supply of moisture, vegetation made considerable progress in that month, and though the exceptionally cold and wet weather of the succeeding months greatly retarded the ripening process, things were kept green and growing, and with a favourable September and October an abundant harvest was at last gathered in. Rainfall—tThe heaviest fall of rain within 24 hours was recorded on the 22d July, when 1:20 in. was registered. The wettest month of the year was November, with a fall of 6°52 in., more than 2 in. above the average; and July came next with a fall of 6°22 in., more than double the average for the month. In November there were 22 days on which rain fell, 20 of them consecutive ; and in July 24 days, the greatest number of any month in the year. Though these were the rainiest months of 1888, there was a great difference in their character. The cause of the excessive rainfall in November was a series of cyclones coming from the Atlantic, with strong southerly, south-westerly, and westerly winds, after the first week, and a temperature much above the average for the season ; whereas in July the prevailing winds were more from the east and north, and the temperature greatly below what is usual in that month. The total number of days in which rain or snow fell was 195 (rain, 186, snow, 9—mostly slight falls) as compared with 181 last year. The total rainfall for the year was 35-91 in., as com- pared with 30-99 in. in 1887 and 41-13 in. in 1886. The average rainfall at Cargen for the last 28 years, as reported by Mr Dudgeon, is 44°67 in. I have observed, however, from Mr Dudgeon’s monthly reports that the rainfall at Cargen almost invariably exceeds that at Dumfries, probably from its greater proximity to Criffel, so that the mean annual rainfall here may with probability be estimated at 40 or 41 in. rather than 44 in. This would still leave a deficiency in the past year of 4 to 5 in., though we might naturally have the impression that it has been a peculiarly rainy year, But it is to be observed that, although the rainfall of July and November and in some degree also of December, was much _ above the average, that of most of the other months was below it, January, February, April, September, and October having been 110 TRANSACTIONS. exceptionally dry—February and September in particular showing a register of less than 1 in. each for the month, February, 0°60 in., September, 0°97 in., or 1°50 in. for the two months, in place of an average of 4 in. for each month, and October a deficiency of 1} inches. Thunderstorms.—There were six occasions on which thunder and lightning were observed, the 18th and 19th of May, the 9th and 14th of June, the 26th of July, and the 10th of August. There might have been more, but these were the only instances which attracted my attention. The most severe were those of the 19th May and 14th June, which occasioned considerable loss of life, especially in the south and west of Scotland. The former travelled from the south northwards, and affected more or less the whole country from Cumberland to Aberdeen. Floods.—\ have also noted the occasions on which the river Nith was in flood, viz., from the 4th to the 7th January, the 30th May, the 23d to the 27th July, the 28th October, during a con- siderable part of the latter half of November, and on the 3d Decem- ber, the river reaching its highest point on the last-mentioned date. II. Some Notes on the Abbey of Holywood and on the Welshes of Colliestoun and Craigenputtock. By Mr JouN CARLYLE AITKEN. Although there are excellent “Lives” of the famous John Welshes, of the family of Collistoun, who figured in the days of John Knox, as well as in the tragic time of the great Whig Persecution at the close of the seventeenth century, and in the reigns of King Charles the Second, and of James, his brother, nevertheless, we may here endeavour to do something in the way of further illustration of some of the more local features, the truly classic vale of Nith seeming to afford a fair field in its still greatly unwritten history. Therefore, should we be fortunate enough, in the course of our notes, to develop any new or characteristic features in the process, our labour may not be altogether in vain. In the first place, as a featural peculiarity of those mountain and hill regions, amid which lay the ancient homelands of the Welshes, of Dunscore and Nithsdale generally, there is a pronounced and somewhat unusually Celtic association in the surnames of the clans, or communities of folk, who for so many ages lived and TRANSACTIONS. if Gi died amid this country of “glens and dargles”—such surnames appearing as if they, in their origin, had belonged to the obscure eras in the unwritten history of that locality, as the ancient hereditary domain of the Earls of Mar prior to the 14th century. Here, accordingly, we may discern, through the medium of the ancient writings, which have survived until our own time, the clear presence of certain individuals, or .families of clan-folk, bearing the surnames of the Macraiths, Padzanes, Makfadzanes, Rorysouns, Maccawils, Macmonhaths, otherwise Macmaths (origi- nally a small clan of the island of Cantyre), Makgauchens, Macadams, Jamiesouns, and many others. This country of the Welshes, lying as it did within the ancient “Deanery of Dunfres,” a/ias of Nyth, in former ages was, to a very considerable extent, a region of churchlands, monklands, and ecclesiastical baronies, which for unknown centuries had remained in the con- secutive hereditary possession of the churchmen and abbots of Melros and of Sacrobosco, or The Haliwod. For example, almost the whole area of the parish of Dunscore consisted almost exclusively of lands belonging to the Abbey of Sacrobosco, or The Haliwod, which were comprehended under the name of the “Barony of Sacrobosco,” so-called ; the “‘ Monklands of the Monks of Melros,” which occupied a whole valley of this parish, towards the Nith and the ancient church of Dunscoir, which was situated on the Nithward confines of the parish, not a great way from the Premonstratensian Priory of Friarscarse, and the Ailisland, or Ellisland, residence of the Bailie of those monklands of Melros, and in our own time of Burns memories and home associations. Both those once great religious houses seem to have owed their original possession of this region of wide-spreading natural forest and orchard country to the liberality of the ancient native thanes, lords, or barons of the vale and “* Deanery of the Nyth,” as it was. The Premonstratensian Abbey of Holywood, of which no vestige now remains, as its name seems to imply, was situated amid a plain country of the woodlands, natural oak forests, and sacred groves of the Pagan worship of their predecessors in the land. The Christian Church of Holywood appears to have been a house of religion of a very remotely antique origin, as it figures in various church records in one form or other at a very early date. The oldest name we have seen applied as descriptive of Holywood is contained in the “ Scottish Rolls,” under anno 1376, as the Gaelic Darowghoquill, the meaning of which we leave to the discretion of 112 TRANSACTIONS. those acquainted with that ancient language. Other more common forms, all conveying in their own fashion one and the same original descriptive meaning, were: Dercongal, Sacrinemoris, Sacrobosco, The Abbey of Holywood and the Priory of Saulseat, in Galloway, as affiliated religious houses of the Premonstratensian order, had claimed as their hereditary commendators the family of the Johnstone of that ilk in Annandale. According to “ Hutchison’s Cumberland,” “ John dominus de Kirkconnel founded the Abbey of Holywood in the twelfth century, and William Fitzmichael de Kirkconnel, about the year 1200, made a grant of Kirkconnel in favor of the Abbey of Holmcultran, in Cumberland” (IL, 331), and which Abbey, otherwise called of Holme, for several succeeding centuries had held chartered possession of extensive lands in Galloway. In the “ Register Book of Holmcultran,” besides numerous charters touching those their Galloway possessions, there is item “ Conventio inter Domum de Holme et Dundraynan.” In the same record we have “ Carta Will. filius Mich. de Kyrk- connell,” with the period of granting indicated by the mention therein of Lord Gilbert, who was elected Bishop of Galloway in anno 1235, and died in 1253 A.D. “ Carta Huttredi fil Fergus consensu Rollandi ville de Kyrkgunin,” with indication of the period through mention therein of Walter, Bishop of Galloway, circa 1209-35 A.D. These excerpts we owe to the care of the learned John Goldie, “ of Craigmuie,” in Galloway, ‘“‘ Commissary of Dum- fries,” in and towards the close of the last century, the transcript from his notes having been made by Dr Clapperton of Loch- maben. Early in the thirteenth century King Alexander the Second of Scotland had granted “locum de Dunscor in valle de Nyth” to the monastery of Melros. There are many other early grants of lands, &c., of a similar nature to the Abbots of those two once great religious houses, whose baronial lands had originally comprehended nearly the whole of Upper Nithsdale, as we find by the record, Although the Abbey of Holywood, in common with nearly all its kindred houses of the south-west of Scotland, possesses not any history of its own, consecutively written by the fraternity, yet there are still some scattered notices not without interest to be found recorded in the general chronicle of Scottish history. The memory of the Abbey in the “ De Sphera” of its once all famous mathematician, ‘ Johannes de Sacrobosco—John of Holywood,” still survives in the literature of the land, while, owing to the foresight and pious care of the Lord Maxwell, of the TRANSACTIONS, 113 Reformation era, we may yet discern the effigy and cultured face of this once famous John, as drawn from the sculptured stone, and which, as Antiquary Riddell, of Glenriddell, notes as a sketch, was “A drawing of the head of John de Sacro-Bosco, which Mr Cardonel took for me when he discovered it in the parish church of Terregles in 1788, and which effigy, as having formerly stood in the church of Holywood, the Lord Maxwell had caused to be removed to Terregles Church at the Reformation.” We may thus presume that this famous Abbot was buried at his own Abbey of Holywood. Concerning the early history of the Abbey of Holy- wood, we have such knowledge as is to be gleaned from occasional notices as fragmentary as they are inconsecutive in point of date. The Lord Maxwell, the Warden-hereditary of the West Marshes of Scotland, we find by early chartered evidences, had been the great chief natural Protector and Guardian Bailie of nearly the whole of the splendid Revival structures and great religious houses of the Lords of Galloway and of the south-west of Scotland in general. Not one of the least worthy of note was this Abbey of Holywood, as lying within the territory of the Lord Maxwell. Also figuring as of the ancient Abbots and Commendators of Holywood, we meet with certain Campbells, called “of Lowden and Mauchline ;” Crichtons of Librie, of the Lord Crichton of Sanquhar’s family ; the Lords Maxwell and Nithsdaill ; Johnstones of that ilk, barons of Annandale, who would appear to have been among the last possessors of the wider domain lands and church barony of Sacrinemoris, or otherwise the “ Barony of Holywood.” Among the few ascertained Abbots of this house we discern a certain fifteenth century “Nicolas Welsh, Lord Abbot of Holywood,” who is mentioned, under the year 1480, incidentally in the course of some suit before the Lords at Edinburgh. In the “Taxt Roll of Nithsdale” we find the Baronies of Holywood, of Sanquhar, Glencairne, and of Dramlanrig, each severally taxed at £120 Scots in the year 1554; the “ Monklands of Melrose, in Nithsdale,” in the same roll, being taxed at £40 Scots. We also incidentally ascertain that the tenants of the Abbey of Holywood, in the ages of the old Border raids and wars, had been accustomed to doa good deal of tough fighting, following their own Lord Abbot and their Guardian, Lord Maxwell, to the field. The baronial lands had been leased out in long tacks, granted by the Lord Abbot, in name of his abbacy, to certain tacksmen, largely of the Maxwell surname, and who you find had oftenest been previously for long 114 TRANSACTIONS. generations in the consecutive hereditary occupation of the same parcels of land, &c., as tenants of the abbey and barony. As the document containing the recital of some of those facts and features is here given for the first time, and is not without its own characteristics, as mayhap even formulated at the dictation of King James the Sixth himself, as it bears traces of his own peculiar enunciation, we may make here some larger extracts. We may also explain that the Grierson barons called “ of Lag” were from, of oldest known time, the hereditary occupants of an old Border castle, and its contiguous barony lands called “ of Lag ” both, and which even in the fifteenth century are described as “lying in the broken barony amid the Monklands of Nithsdale.” The Griers, or Griersons, of Lag, usually styled in the language of the district “The Lairds of Lag,’ had fought and fallen at Sauchieburn and in “the battle in Northumberland,” afterwards known as “ Flodden Field,” as their charters bear witness. They held their lands direct from the Crown. We accordingly find certain “ Royal Lettres granted in favor of Roger Griersoun of Lag, dated at Halirudhouse, the 12th of May, 1585,” and in the name and under the authority and subscription of King James the Sixth of Scotland. To all and sundry our lieges of quhatsumever estate, degree, or quality thai be of, and in special to the Baillie of the Abay of Haliwod, &c. Forasmuch as we and the Lordis of Our Secreit Counsaill perfytlie understandin that Roger Griersoun, of the Lag, hes divers triends and kinsmen, tenentis and induellaris upon the threttie sax pound land, callit the Keir, of auld extent, lyand within the barony of Haliwod and Sheriffdom of Drumfries, quhilk in all tymes byegane haif bene onlie subject and haldand to serve and attend upone the saide Roger and his predesessauris Lairdis of Lag, their Chief, alsweil in our weiris and raidis as in their awin particularis affairs, naither were changit, alterit, nor hichit, payand thankfullie the auld accustomit maill and dewtie quhilk thair haif aye dune. Upone the quhilk consideration, and that the quhilkis duellis neare our Bordoures quhair by at all occasions thai behuiffit to ryis and ryid with thair said chief and his predecessouris in thaire and oure predecessouris service. It pleasit our deareste grantschire, King James the Feird [Fourth] of worthie memorie, to direct his lettres and charges to the Abbots and Baillies of the said Abay for the tyme, commanding thaim to desist and ceis fra all vexatione and disobedience of the said Roger and his predecessouris and kinsmen fra making ony TRANSACTIONS. 1S novation or imposition on thaime, nor to haif ony furder intromis- sioun with thaim than, &c. . . . Quhair we being movit and remembering that there is divers actis and ordinances made be our dearest Moder and maist noble predecessoures in favors of the tenentis of Kirklandis, namelie, sic landis as lies neare oure bordouris, that thai sal nocht be remouabill, hichtit, nor raisit by thair auld dewtie, quhairby thai may be the mair readdie to obey oure service as occasion occurred. Therefore commands and charges—accordingly be thir oure Lettres given under our signet, and subscrivit with our hand. At Halirudhous, the 12th day of May, of oure raigne the augteine year, 1585.” But we must now take up the subject of the history of the Welshes, as inhabitants of those monklands. Of course the most prominent feature of all his kindred was the “ Maister John Welsh of Air,” surnamed “ The Incomparable,” and who, before and after his marriage with the heroic daughter of “ Maister John Knox,” had such a distinguished career. This John was of the Collistoun kindred of Welshes, and was the second son of the family; David, his eldest brother, succeeding their father, also a John Welsh, in the hereditary lands of Collistoun. Collistoun and Craigenputtock lands, which are associated with the history of the Welshes, lay amid the barony of Sacrinemoris, otherwise the barony of Holywood. Collistoun is known under the more ancient name of Makcollistoun, evidently derived from the clan of those parts known as the Maccawils or the M‘Calls, who were also identified as the ancient owners of the lands of Vod, Grennan or Messenger-lands, of Kaidgelaucht or Caitloch, of the same mountain and hill country. Although in the 15th century the family of Welsh had been residents of the county town and ancient royal burgh of Dumfries, certain indications afford some ground of probability that in their own quarter and section of the wide barony of Holywood they must have acted as the hereditary resident deputy-bailies of the Abbots of Holywood long before as well as immediately after the Protestant Reformation, at which time they are clearly identified as holding that trust and office. Not many years after the Reformation of 1560—which on the Borders of Scotland generally, in the nature of things, had at first made slow progress, amid a population the ardent supporters of ‘the waning fortunes of the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots, a population so long the tenants of the wide ecclesiastical lands attached to the Church under the Romish Faith in Scotland, with 116 TRANSACTIONS. their then still surviving liferentallers and tacksmen under unexpired leases, &c.—we find the family of Welsh, within the Deanery of Nith, had many important cures and charges. Shortly after the Protestant Reformation we accordingly find, as kinsmen and contemporary churchmen, a “John Velshe, vicar of Drumfries,” a “ Schir Herbert Velshe, chaplain there,” both about the presump- tive era of the birth of the Reformer, which is given as in the year 1568 ; a “John Velshe, vicar of Dunscoir ;’ a Dean Robert Velsch, Vicar of Tynron,” with “Sir Galbert Welch,” his brother, as well as others, all in possession of charges in Dumfriesshire. In the course of the seisin, dated the 21st of May, 1558, which was then granted to John Macbrair, Provost of Dumfries, as son and heir of his deceased father, Roger M‘Brair, also guondam Provost of Dum- fries, among numerous enough other items we find that of an annual rent of 13s 4d Scots money, as exigible by the said Provost from the tenant of the deceased ‘Thomas Velshe, now in the hands of Schir Herbert Velsche, chaplain, and John Velsch of © Collistoun,” and having on the south part thereof the lands of David Cunynghame and on the north those of Ninian Logan, vicar of Cowen. Mention is also made of the bounding lands of Archibald Velsche. By the records it appears that a house called “The Weighouse,” and situated hard upon the “ Lochmabengait Port,” or Gate of the Lochmabengait, now the modern English Street of Dumfries, even long before the Reformation had been in the hereditary possession of many John Welshes of Collistoun, who had owned other burgh property. On the 23d of May, 1575, one of those “John Velshes of Colingstoune,” belike the father of the Reformer, had sold this familiar mansion called ‘ The Weighouse” to Thomas Maxwell, son and heir of the deceased Gilbert Maxwell, laird of Stroquhan. The house was at this time tenanted by a certain known “ David Heris of Dumfries.” ‘This John Welsh we identify as the gentleman who figures in the following entry, as taken from the original document itself, viz. :— 22nd of December, 1573. “¢ Johannes Velsche de Colustoun,” acting as Baillie for the Superior of the lands, the venerable Father in God, Thomas, Commendator of Sacri- nemoris, grants seisin of the 10/ land of old extent of Skynfurd, in the barony of Sacrinemoris, to Andrew Makkynnay, following upon the Precept granted by the said Commendator to him. There were present, when the above seisin was granted, Cuthbert Velsche, brother of the said John Velsche (that is of Colustoun, as given above), John Grierson in Skynfurd, George Young, Robert Grierson, Herbert Stett, James Young, TRANSAUTIONS. 117 and divers others ; certified and signed by Herbert Cunynghame, Notary Public, Dumfries.” We ascertain for certain that the above John Welsh of Colustoun and Cuthbert Welsh of Stepfurd were respectively the father and the uncle, or father’s brother, of the Reformer. In other sections of the extensive churchlands and barony of Holywood there had been various holders or proprietors of more or less extensive portions of land, such as of Bargregane, Redskarris, or Skarr, Cornilie, Stepfurd, all occupied by persons of the surname of Welsh, who may most probably have been originally of the Collistoun family, which, as we may presently find, had in its direct line ended in an heiress about the beginning of the reign of King Charles the Second. A John Welsh of Scarr, who at this time was an elder of the Parish Church of Kirkpatrick- Irongray, was the eldest son of a William Welsh “ of Redskarris,” or “Skarris,” and had been present at Pentland’s Battle a few years later. This John Welsh of Scarr must have been among the nearest of kin of the John Welsh, the reputed “last laird of Collistoun,” as his daughter, the very young “ Hellen Welsh,” his heiress, has for her tutors-nominate, under her father’s testament, “John Welsh of Skarr and John Welsh of Cornilie.” Craigen- puttock, as a possession of the family of Welsh, seems to us to belong to their more recent rather than to the earlier eras of the family history. By the testament of John Welsh of Collustoun, 11th November, 1661, it appears that he died without male heirs, leaving, as we have said, the daughter and heiress, Hellen Welsh. This testament mentions also, John Kirks, otherwise Kirkhaught of Bogrie ; the famous Rev. John Welsh, of Irongray, the originator of the open-air convocation familiar as the ‘“‘ Scottish Conventicle ;” and James Welsh, writer in Edinburgh, who are of the attesting witnesses. It is also otherwise mentioned that the Rev. John Welsh, of Irongray, had attended the deathbed of the testator. The following note, taken also from its original, carries on the historical narrative of the Collustoun line : “ Anno 1678. ‘John Welsh, in Glenburn, Bailie in that part, for Mary Welsh, spouse of John Gordon, of Kirkconnell, and sister and heiress of her deceased brother-german, John Welsh, Junior of Collistoun, the hereditary proprie- tor of the lands, under a Charter of Alienation, by the said Mary Welsh, and her said husband, dated the 21st of December, 1669, grants to John Maxwell, of Steelston (her kinsman) seisin of the twenty shilling land of 118 TRANSACTIONS. old extent, of Gibbinstone alias Macolvistoun, within the barony of Holy- wood, dated the 6th of May, 1678.” In the year 1685 there is the service of a Mary Welsh as heir to her father in the 20s land of Collistoun, the merk land of Larg, the 20s land of old extent of Nether Whiteside, and the 40s land of old extent of Craigenputtock. In the local records of the town and county of Dumfries towards the middle and close of the sixteenth century there are numerous fragmentary incidental notices of the actual existence of the family of Collistoun and other Welshes, which owe any interest they possess rather to their historic associations than to any intrinsic merits of their own. At the era of the Reformation the very antique royal burgh of Dum- fries, then still the one great “ provisioned town” of the marches, its Provost M‘Brair, when called to Edinburgh by the authorities, in his evidence characterised the burgh, in its then past history of at least three centuries, as ‘a town aft brunt and harriet.” This statement history fully corroborates, even in such details as have survived. At this period the native inhabitants of Dumfries, as you may discern, had been a vehemently daring race of men, actuated by the old chivalric spirit of the Borderer, with tempers and swords almost equally sharp and shrill, on supposed just occasion, and seemingly altogether without fear in some of their undertakings. The periodical meetings of the “ Justices of the Peace of the Shire” seem to have been the known “ gala days” for the settlement of old grudges and feuds, wherein they pricked at each other in the true old Border fashion, this popular institu- tion and usage lasting in one form or other until after the period of the Union of 1707. Under such conditions it is the less surprising to find war-gear of all kinds still figuring so largely in the necessary requirements and furniture of existence as it was here as elsewhere in the Marchlands. In the interior of the burgher household you may discern bows and arrows, steilbonnets. lant-staves, guns, “ pistolets,” swords, long and small, in consider- able variety ; coats of mail, big and little, known generically as “ Jacks ;” grey-gowns, “ riding-tippats,” or hoods, for warmth and protection, while the staigs, or ‘‘ Galloway Nags,” are covered over with certain trappings and war-gear, the rider blowing his own “ slogan” upon his ‘* blowing-horn” in tones that if not sweet were terrific and loud enough. Froissart gives an amusing account of the infernal echoes of the hollow and middle of the night as raised in the Scottish camp in repose by such “ blowing of horns” as was in a TRANSACTIONS. 119 use and wont in the field. In the records there are some peculiar enactments regarding certain horses and nags, which have somehow strayed from the English Border, nobody seems to know exactly how, only their owners seem to have wished to re-acquire posses- sion of them. Here is a curious official item, which seems to point in that direction, the temporary custodian of ‘ Kinmont Liddell, Englishman’s twa horse,” having been without doubt the father of “ Maister John Welsh of Air and Collistoun,” the son-in- law of John Knox : * Apud Drumfries, the 25th of October, 1580. “Thomas Brattane, John Wrycht, co-burgesses of Drumfries, appointit ordainit, &c. Alexander Cairlell, Protonatar for them in their behalf to defend and pursew in the action and cause, wherein and whereby a fence was laid by John Newall upon twa horse of Kinmont Liddel, Englishman in the hands of Johne Welsche, of Burnfit, and accordingly require an Act to that purpose to be recorded, &c.” The next entry as to “ John Welsche” establishes his identity under either of his two landed designations as “ of Burn fit,” or else as ‘of Collistoun.” He was, of course, the Reformer’s father, as John Welsh of Collistoun, the grandfather, would appear to have died not many years after the Reformer’s birth. “* Apud Drumfries, 30th Nov., 1580. “© Welche in Colliston. ‘*John Welche, in Burnfit, Andro Edgar, in Drumfries, and John Jackson, in Killalong, bind and oblige themselves to pay to Edward Irving, callit ‘ Lang Ritchie’s Edward,’ the sum of 88 merks Scots monie, &c.” Apud Drumfries, 15th Sepr., 1578. ‘Robert Newal, Drumfries, enacts himself and becomes security for Johne Velsche, son of John Velsche, sumtyme of Collistoun, for twentie shillings fenced in the hands of Robert Velsche, burgess of Drumfries, at the instance of Thomas Hayning.” As we said, there are numerous other similar entries in the local records which represent “John Velshe, sumtyme of Collis- toun” as an inhabitant of the town, if not during the whole yet for no inconsiderable proportion of the whole year. “Sir John - Jamesoun, chaplain at Dumfries,” the Reformer’s ascertained first tutor or preceptor, we find had probably been the son of a Dunscore proprietor of land, who, about the year 1568, is designed in a local instrument as “Laird John Jamesoun.” As this “Schir John Jamesoun” was a chaplain at Dumfries under Johne Velsche, vicar of Dumfries, and was afterwards parish minister of Dunscore, 120 TRANSACTIONS. Wodrow was probably quite correct in stating that the young Reformer had received the rudiments of his education within the town of Dumfries itself, although he has omitted to quote the needful authority, which he probably well knew. According to the “ Fasti,” the parish kirk of Dumfries was dedicated to St. Michael, and previous to the Reformation belonged to the Abbey of Kelso. Among the Protestant vicars of Dumfries shortly after the Reformation we find ‘“ Maister John Velsche, 1568 ;” “ Maister Ninian Dalzell,” who was also head-master of the Grammar School of Dumfries, and “was deposed by the General Assembly in 1579 for having read to his scholars the Roman Catechism.” Maister Peter Watson, vicar of Dumfries, originally of Markinch, had also under his charge Terregles, Troqueer, and Newabbey, and was by the General Assembly repeatedly nominated as Commissioner for visiting Annandale and Nithsdale. In 1575 he complained that “the town on Yule last, seeing that neither he nor the reader would read or use doctrine, brought a reader of their own, with tabron and whistle, and caused him read the prayers, which exercise they used all the days of Yule.” He was called to account for the informal celebration of the marriage of the “ Laird of Garlies,” and at the Kirk of Duris- deer, as required, owned his transgression. Maister Thomas Maxwell, vicar perpetual of Dumfries, held previous charges throughout the county of Dumfries. At Morton, in Nithsdale, one of his charges, it is said of him: “ He cannot serve at sundry places, maks no residence, but is a Jakman with Drumlanrig.” (Reg. Assig.) He died previous to the 25d of May, 1601. From the original in the ‘‘ Hoddom Collection,” prompted by curiosity, we seem to have been the first who had attempted or thought it pos- sible to still decipher the following letter of this ‘‘ Maister Thomas Maxwell, vicar of Dumfries,” and his kinsmen, to Homer Maxwell of Speddoch, an otherwise well-known Commissary of Dumfries. In one part of the letter the reference seems to be to ‘“‘ My Lord,” thereby possibly meaning to their chief, John, eighth Lord Maxwell, Earl of Morton, &c., who, as we know, perished at Dryfesands Battle in 1593, or some nine years after the date of this letter. On the 31st of July, 1611, Homer Maxwell, of Speddoche, was declared and served heir to the deceased Mr Homer Maxwell, Commissary of Dumfries, his father (Records). The lairds ‘‘ of Conhaith ” and “ of Kelton ” were at this period brothers- german, one of whom, Robert Maxwell, was a Notary Public of TRANSACTIONS, 121 Dumfries. The authorship and penmanship of this very rare letter naturally fall to either the vicar of Dumfries or to this Maxwell of Kelton notary. The handwriting is neat, small, and well-formed, although now very indistinct, and looks like the work of some one quite familiar with such undertakings. The whole is contained upon one single quarto sheet of rough letter- paper, and is artistically ornamental in its arrangement and general execution. On the reverse of the quarto sheet is : “To our maist assurit and traist Friend the Commissar of Drumfries. “*Rycht assureit and traist freind, eftir our varye hertlie commenda- tioun ye Maxwell with your wayif with the haill reste of your freinds varaye mekle consydering the greit travell and labor that we haif maid baith at my Lordi’s handis and my Lady’s fir your relief and fauor to be procureit at thaim, quhilk bie my Lady travell and uthir friends, is grantit to you and my Lord Warrand for you, that comes not to his Lordship. It is thocht bie your haill friends that lykis your weill, that ye owther esteme’ youre wysdome oure greit and bettir nor thairis can be, or ells that ye esteme not my Lordis favor, quhilk will turn to youre rewine, seing that all friends is content to tak thair part of his lordships burding and nane refuisses quhat is thair pairtis. Thay think it meit yecum to my Lord, with all possibil deligence, or ells ye will caus uss bie hardlie repressit with my Lord, and he will think that former taillis spocken of you is trew. Thus not doutting, bot witht all possable deligence yee bee at my Lord this nicht without onie forder delay, or ells say yee not ane uther tyme bot ye ar done for be freinds and advertisit of youre danger gif it cums heireftir. Sua Committis you to God Almichty. Off Drumfreis this Mondaye the xviii. of Maii 1584. *‘Youris assurit Friends to command, Robert Maxwell in Keltoun, Thomas Maxwell, Vicar of Drumfres, and Robert Maxwell in Kirkmaho, with the advise of the haill of your freinds and your Wayif.” We have given these larger notes in order to make clearer the following examples of ‘Discipline,’ which are rather picturesque in their form. Under the Church of the Reformation began the written chronicle of such transactions. The reverence paid to the person of the priest of the Reformation seems to have differed little in degree from the usual custom under all manner of belief throughout the world, **Apud Drumfries, 10th Jany., 1578. “The Wrights of Drumfries. “The directioun of the Wrights of Drumfries by their Conventioun, halding in the Tolbuitht of Drumfries in presence of ane nobil and potent Lorde, Johne Lord Maxwell, ‘ Patrick’s sone,’ and Andrew Maxwell, David’s sone, 122 TRANSACTIONS. “‘Compearit in presence of Maister Niniane Dalzell, Minister and Skuilmaister of Drumfries, in the pulpit, the haill of the congregatione there present in the paroch kirk for the tyme, and there obedientlie passed doun on thair knees and in presence of the haill congregatione confessit thai had faltit to God, Our Fadir and Lorde the Kingis Majestie, his Majesties Regente, the Provost and Baillies throw thair disobedience devisit againis the forsaidis Conventioun in the moneth of November last bypast, and thair for askit God’s Majesty and the saidis Judges for- givenesse, promised never to do siklyke for ever; and thairupon obleissit thaim and ilk ane of thaim undir the hiest pane and chairge thairof micht follow, requiring the same to be set in Act &c. Ita est Herb. Cunynghame, Notary, &c.” “ Apud Drumfries, 6th of Aug., 1578. “ Troublance of the Toune. “The quhilk day upon complaint be Maister Peter Watsone, minister of Drumfries, given in be hym againis Robert Welsche: It is fund be the Tryall tane be the Provest, Baillies, and Counsell, that the saide Robert Welsch has dyvers tymes injurit and spokin evill of the said Maister Peter Watsone ; and in special on Tyesday last was, at eftir None, spak injurious wordis to the said Maister Peter, in his face and sicklyke, to his wyfe, Dame Courtell, when the said Robert Welsche said: ‘He had leifer see the mekill devill of ——(Hades, let us say) nor the said minister.’ Thairfore the saidis Judges and Counsell Ordainis the said Robert to find caution, undir the pane of £40 Scots that he sall not molest, nor trauble the saide Maister Peter, his wyfe and servandis, be injurious wordes or onnie uthir unlauchfulle deidis, in tyme to cum. And to cum on Sunday nextocum to the paroch kirk of Drumfries, in tyme of Preaching before None, and thair maiste Reverentlie upon his knees, befair the pulpit, ask Almichtie God mercie and the saide Maister Peter and his wyfe, the Provest, Baillies, and Counsell and haill congregatione thair Forgivnes, and to promyse nevir to do the lyke openlie nor privalie againis the said Maister Peter and his wyfe in tyme tocum, undir the pane of £40 Scots. ‘¢ On the other hand the same day, Robert Welsche protestit that the Provost and Baillies wald cause dischairge (i.e., prohibit) the said Maister Peter Watsone, his wyfe, and servandis that they come not in his house in tyme tocum. And hereupon requyrit Act, &c.” From the following entry, taken along with many other similar contemporary notices in authentically vouched and written form, as still surviving, it would appear that the ancestors and certainly the grandparents of the Reformer had resided at Collis- toun, and had owned lands in another section of the great barony of Holywood, as on the “22d of May, 1545, “‘ John Welsh, in Makcollistoun, and Marion Fergusson, his spouse, have seisin of the merkland of old extent of Stronschillat, called the merk- land of ‘‘ The Burnsyde,” lying in the parish of Glencairn, Sheriffdom of Dumfries, &c.” as Se TRANSACTIONS. 123 The charter upon which this seisin follows was granted in their favour by the superior of the lands, Alexander Glencorss, and was dated the 14th of May, 1545. Among many other local witnesses mention is made of a certain “Schir John Dunbar, chaplain ”—at Glencairn, as we think—who seems, according to the date and surrounding circumstances, to have been identical with the known and ascertained “Schir John Dunbar, rector of Castlemilk,” in Annandale, who is mentioned in the “ Latter Will and Testament” of Maister Gavin Dunbar of Mochrum, in Gallo- way, Clerk Register, Preceptor of King James the Fifth, Chancellor of Scotland, and one of the most notable Bishops of Glasgow, where he was entombed in 1547. They two had most probably been of one and the same kindred in common, although the positive degree of relationship appears not here or elsewhere. Another curious entry, belonging to this early period, records that on the “ 5th of August, 1536, Thomas Welsh, son and aire of David Welsh, called ‘ David of the Mill,” was made a Freeman burgess of Drumfries.” As probably among the first of the Reformation ‘“ vicars of Dunscoyr” was a Schir John Welsche, or Velsche, who figures in certain transactions touching the vicarage lands of his charge of Dunscoyr, in concert with John Welsh of Collustoun, on one occasion recording a protest against the alieniation of the lands, as they were his for the term of his lifetime. He is also mentioned in the testament of Dean Robert Welsh, vicar of Tynron, in 1568, wherein he figures as one of the executors as well as a legatee to the extent of some £20. Of the degree of positive relationship, if any there were, no mention is made in the testament itself. The testament of John Welsh of Collistoun, the Reformer’s father, as reproduced in Young’s excellent ‘“ Life of Rev. John Welsh,” and from the Commissariot records of Edinburgh, is dated “ At Collieston, the first day of _ August, 1600,” or, that is to say, some days prior to his decease on the 5th day of the same month of August. By it we learn that Marion Grier, his wife, survived him, that he had a brother- german, Cuthbert Welsh, and sisters, Kait and Isabell Welshes. The said John Welsh and Marion Grier, his spouse, had at the time of his decease issue as follows): Ist. David Welsh of Collistoun, his eldest son and successor. 2d. John Welsh of Air, the Reformer, his second son, and who married Elizabeth Knox, third daughter of John Knox’s second marriage with Dame Margaret Stewart, daughter of Andrew Lord Stewart of Uchiltrie (a very famous marriage in its own day). 124 TRANSACTIONS. 3d. Cuthbert Welsh, who succecded his uncle Cuthbert as heir to certain lands, and had two sons, John, his successor, and Thomas Welsh. The daughters also surviving were :—Margaret Welsh, who, previous to this year of 1600, had married Hector Maxwell, of Fourmerkland, a/éas Rue Tower, and who appears to have been of the Maxwell family, designed of Steilston and Kilness, in the barony of Holywood; Marion Welsh, unmarried, and residing at Collistoun at the time of her father’s decease. It would otherwise appear that the eldest son, David Welsh of Collistoun, had had a daughter, Jean Welsche, who forms the subject of the following unregistered and hitherto unknown contract of marriage. The William Grierson of Kirkbride, the would-be husband, was the son of Robert, the son of Gilbert Grierson of Kirkbride, who again is supposed to have been a son of the Laird of Lag, killed at Flodden in 1513. All had been the hereditary owners of those lands of Kirkbride, which they had held from their chief and superior, the Laird of Lag. This William Grierson, of the contract of marriage, had from Sir William Grierson of Lag a charter of the 40s land of Kirkbride, in the barony of Holywood, dated the 28th of June, 1614. Herbert Cunnynghame of Craigend and Swyre, Notary, Town Clerk, and afterwards Provost of Dumfries, and who had married the daughter of a “ John Grier of Swyre,” and who draws out the contract of marriage itself all in his own neat small hand- writing, may thus very probably have been not unremotely related to the contracting parties of both surnames. This contract not having been recorded in the public register for some reason unknown, by association on the part of the lady, as the niece of the Reformer, the contract may be said to possess a borrowed lustre and interest : “Copy Contract of Marriage. “ Ist November, 1613. «‘ At, Drumfries, the fyrst day of November, the yeir of God MDC. and therteene yeiris (1613), it is contractit and agreeit betuix William Griersoun of Kirkbryid, on that one part, and David Welsche of Collistoun, takkand ‘the burden on him for Jeane Welsche, his laufull dochter, on the uther part, in maner following: That is the said William sall, Godwilling, compleit and solemnizat the halie band of matrimonie with [each] utheris publiclie as efferis, betuix the dait hereof and the fyrst day of December nextocum, and thairefter indew utheris with bodies and guidis, as becumis mareit personis of Christiane dewtie. For the quhilkis cause of marriage, the said David Welsch of Collistoun, takkand the burden on him for his said dochter, bindis and oblaisses him, his aires, executoris, and assignais to content and pay to the said William Griersoun, in name of tocher with his said dochter, TRANSACTIONS. 35 the sowme of ane thousand merkis monie of Scotland at the Termis follow- ing, to wit sex hundredth merkis thereof betuix and the solemnizatioun of the, said mariage, and four hundredth merkis in compleit payment of the said tocher, within twa yeiris nexte hereftir. At the payment of the quhilk four hundredth merkis, it is appointit that the said four hundredth merkis sal be laid wairit and bestowit upon sufficient landis annualrentis and other securities to the weill and utilitie of the saidis William and Jeane spouses futur, and the langest leivar of thaime twa in conjunct fie and the aires lauchfullie to be gotten betuix thaime and their bodeis quhilkis failzeand to the narrest and lauchfull aires and assignais of the said William quhatsumevir. And because the said soume of sex hundredth merkis quhilkis are to be payit betuix and the solemnization of the said mariage are to be warit and bestowit upon the purchasing of ane heretabill tytil of the fortie schilling land of Kirkbryid lyand within the baronie of Haliwod, Sheriffdom of Drumfries : it is appointit that how sone the said William obteinis the heretabill tytill thairof he sall infeft and seise dewlie and sufficientlie by sufficient securities and infeftment agreabil to the lawis of this realme the said Jeane, his futur spouse, in lyferent during her lyfe- tyme either in fortie poundis monie afoiresaide of annualrent yeirlie to be upliftit furth of the said lands of Kirkbryid at Vitsunday and Martymes in winter be equal portionis. Or ellis in the equal half of the said landis of Kirkbryid with the pertinentis. And heirto the pairties obleissit thaime thair airis, executoris, and assignais severallie to {each] uthers. And for the mair securitie the parties consents that thir presentis be registrat in the buikis of Counsell or the Commissarie Court buikis of Drumfries, and haif the strenth of ane decreit with letteris and executionis to be direct here- upon on ane simple chairge of ten dayis and for that effect statutis. Thir presentis conjunctlie and severallie firm and stabill. In witness quhairof the pairties hes subscrivit thir presentis as followis, writin be Herbert Cunynghame, notar, tyme and plaice above wryttin, befoir thir witness, John Lyndsay of Laggane ; George Maxwell, merchand ; Herbert Cunyng- hame, younger ; and David Nelsoun. “I, the said William Griersoun, with my hand at the pen, led by the Notar, underwrittin at my command, because I can not wryte. ““Tta est Herbertus Cunynghame, notarius mandas dicti, Willielmi Greirsoun, &c., &c.” 126 TRANSACTIONS. 24th of January, 1889. At a meeting uf the Council held on this date, the Secretary submitted the following letter from the Town Clerk of Dumfries : Town Crerx’s Orricr, Dumrrizs, 22d January, 1889. Rozert Barzour, Esq., Secretary, Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. Dear Sir, I enclose excerpt from the will of the late Mr William Baxter, from which you will observe that he has bequeathed certain specimens illustrative of Natural History to the Town Council of Dumfries, with power to the Council to allow said specimens to remain for such time as they see fit in the hands of any Geological or Natural History Society locally connected with the burgh. The matter has been considered by the Provost’s Committee, and they are disposed to recom- mend the Council to place the specimens in the custody of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, if the Society will undertake such custody, but, first of all, it is desirable that the articles be inspected, and I am instructed to enquire whether the Council of your Society will depute one of its members to accompany Provost Scott to Glasgow to make the inspection. From a letter from the agents of Mr Baxter’s Trustees, I find that it is desirable that the inspection should be made on an early day. Yours truly, JoHN GRiERSON, Town Clerk. The following is the extract from Mr Baxter’s Will : Thirdly, My geological and other specimens illustrative of Natural History shall be made over to the Magistrates and Town Council of the Burgh of Dumfries in trust for the community thereof, and shall be placed or exhibited by the said Magistrates and Town Council in a Public Museum or other suitable premises in the town, conveniently situated and readily accessible to the community, but expressly excepting and excluding the establishment known as the ‘‘ Old Windmill” in or near Dumfries, with power to the Town Council to allow the said specimens to remain for such time as they see fit (subject to the after- mentioned stipulation in case of a free library being founded) in the hands of any Geological or Natural History Society locally connected with the said burgh, for the purpose of assisting the Society in illustrating Geology or Natural History or promoting the knowledge thereof. To the said Magistrates and Town Council the sum of Fifty Pounds sterling towards founding a Free Library for the said Burgh of Dumfries, in the event of the same not being founded prior to my death, providing also that the specimens and others before referred to and this : TRANSACTIONS. 12a7 pecuniary legacy shall be made over or paid to the Town Council condi- tionally on their undertaking in such manner as my trustees may con- sider satisfactory ; that the said specimens and others shall be prominently exhibited in said Library, if and when founded ; and that such Library shall be conveniently situated in the town of Dumfries, without prejudice to the Town Council allowing said specimens and others to be removed therefrom for short periods from time to time for the before-mentioned purposes of a Geological and Natural History Society, and in the event of said undertaking not being granted as aforesaid, the said specimens and others shall be made over by my trustees to such society, museum, or public institution in the town of Dumfries, as they may deem proper, and the said Fifty Pounds sterling Legacy shall fall into and form part of the residue of my means and estate, to be dealt with accordingly. The Council requested Mr James Davidson to go to Glasgow and make the necessary inspection. lst February, 1889. Major BowbEN, V.-P., in the Chair. Donations.—Ten numbers of the Journal of the Linnean Society, presented by Mr Robinson Douglas ; the Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society, 1888, Part II.; and the Zoological Record for 1887, presented by Mr David Sharp, F.R.S. COMMUNICATIONS. I. Ornittholngical Notes for 1888. By Mr Wm. Hastines. The most noteworthy of the birds sent to me is Paleas Sand Grouse, which is of very rare occurrence in this country. It is de- scribed as being met with in large flocks in some parts of Asia Minor, feeding upon the seeds of a species of an astragulus, a small pea-bearing plant, the seeds of which it seems to be fond of. The birds are well adapted for long and very rapid flight, the wings being long and very sharp-pointed, the first feather in the wing an inch longer than the second, and the feet very small and so much covered with short hairy feathers that the toes are almost -hidden from view. There was a variety of different kinds of seeds found in the body of those that were sent to me, the most common being clover seeds and the common wild mustards. Some of them had their crops full of a very small black seed, but I could not say what it was. The birds have sometimes very long flights to take before they reach their feeding ground, and have equally long dis- 128 TRANSACTIONS. tances to travel before they can have a drink of water. About some twenty-five or betwixt that and thirty years ago I had two specimens of the same kind of birds sent me for preservation. If I mistake not, they came from the Moffat district, but they were too far gone and did not make good specimens. I have seen none of them since until this last season, when I received seven nice specimens. They have been met with in various parts of the coun- try, always in flocks of a larger or smaller number. There are several different species of the Sand Grouse, some found in Russia, others in the deserts of Arabia, others in the north of Africa, and also in Spain. The plumage is of a warm, sandy colour, resem- bling the colour of the desert places that they frequent. I could hear nothing of them having nested and reared their young while here. Another very rare bird in this country is the Ruddy Shiel- drake. I had one sent me last summer, shot in the Solway. It is much of the same size as the common Shieldrake, but very differ- ently marked, being of a bright bay colour all over, and. described as being met with to the north of the Baltic breeding in rabbit- holes, in the sand hills, much the same as the common Shieldrake. I can find no account of it ever having been met with in this country. Another little bird, the Spotted Crake, and also the Water Rail, which is equally scarce, I have had specimens of this last season. But although they are scarce they can hardly be called rare. The Great Spotted Woodpecker is another scarce species. I had one, shot last season in the immediate neighbourhood of the town, but it is seldom that itis seen here. I once had a specimen of the Lesser Spotted, shot at Amisfield thirty years ago, and have seen none since. The Great Grey Shrike, or Butcher Bird, was sent me this season from New-Galloway. It was shot feeding upon a hedge sparrow that it had killed. As it cannot hold on with its claws like a hawk, it transfixes its victim on a spike in the hedge, or else in a cleft in the hedge, where it tears it to pieces and makes a meal of it. About the month of August 1 received a specimen of the ted-eyed or Dusky Grebe, a bird which is not often met with here. It is a very beautiful species, a third larger than the Little Grebe. Some years ago I had one sent me, shot on the Loch- maben Loch. It is by no means common. I have had some curious Hybrid Pheasants sent me this last season, one (a large bird), betwixt the pheasant cock and barndoor fowl. It had quite a pheasant tail, although not quite so long as in the pure breed, and its general appearance shewed at once that it was a pheasant of i TRANSACTIONS, 129 large size. I had also a bird bred between the Golden Pheasant Cock and the Common Pheasant Hen, the product being a bird a full third heavier than the pure breed. I have also had this week sent me a very curious Hybrid which I believe to be between the Golden Pheasant Cock and Silver Pheasant Hen. It is somewhat larger than the Golden Pheasant, and is a rich shining black with bright green reflections. It has spurs of a considerable size on each leg, and altogether it is a very curious specimen. In the month of December I had five specimens of the Cross Bill sent me. They appeared to me to be young birds, as they had not the bright colours of the adult bird. They have been known to breed here in various parts of the country. There is nothing that I have seen unusual to note among our native birds generally, but I may men- tion that the Hooded Crow was more plentiful last season than I ever saw it before. The same remark applies to the Short-eared Owl. Il. How IL Found my Stone Implements. (Abridged). By Mr JAMES R. WIxson, of Sanquhar. The antiquity of the parishes of Sanquhar and Kirkconnel is no matter of conjecture, but on the contrary is strikingly revealed in the history of the northern part of this country. The town of Sanquhar glories in an origin dating back, according to authentic history, to a thousand years ago, and the Camps of South Mains and Saen Caer near the town, the Lacustrine Dwelling on the Town’s Common, and the great Territorial Division Dyke which traverses the two parishes, tell of a more remote period still. Besides, the ancient Coal Workings in the parish of Kirkconnel, the Grave of St. Connal on Glenwharrie Farm, after whom the parish is named, the base of a large Runic Cross near the manse, now doing duty as the side of a sheep limbie, the Runic Stone in the Old Churchyard wall, and the Ormamental Stone in a wall on Kirkland Farm—each and all have their own tale of antiquity to tell. Dr Underwood, who was temporarily resident in Sanquhar, shewed me a small piece of gold and asked what it had formed. Having previously seen in the Liverpool Museum a large number of Gold Lunettes found in Ireland, I at once unearthed the mystery, and by procuring the other piece of the article, found that the whole formed a magnificent Gold Lunette. It is described in the Transactions of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland by the 130 TRANSACTIONS. late Mr Gilchrist Clark. It was found at Auchentaggart, parish of Sanquhar, by Mr John Wilson, a ploughman there, in 1872-3. After making certain of the genuineness of the metal, I purchased the article at the price of £25 for the late Duke of Buccleuch, and you may now see it in the Antiquarian Museum in Edinburgh, where it is deposited on loan. Visiting Mauchline on business, I saw in the rockery at St. David’s this magnificent Ring. During drainage operations on Mossgiel Farm, near Mauchline, in 1883, it was got at a depth of 24 feet from the surface, and the gentleman from whom I received it procured it from the labourer who unearthed it. Dr Anderson, of Edinburgh, considers it a very fine Charm Ring, and anxiously wished to procure it. He shewed me one as large, but of ruder construction, from the north of Scotland. Those of you acquainted with the history of the poet Burns will remember that Mossgiel was for a number of years his residence. Strange, indeed, that this Charm Ring should have been associated with the land he tilled... It may have been embedded in the soil beneath the “‘ wee, modest, crimson-tipped flower ;” and the ploughshare of the simple bard may have frequently disturbed its rest. When Mr Lewis went to pick up the antiquities he had promised me, he had to employ one of his ploughmen to search for them about the farm buildings. On delivering them to his master he remarked, “ I ken whaur there’s a far bigger stone axe than these.” ‘ Where then ?” was the query. ‘On the wa’-head of Ulzieside Barn.” I lost no time in visiting Mr M‘Call at Ulzieside, and had a fruitless search in the barn. In the granary, however, I found the object I was in search of supporting a slate against a broken window, the stone axe I found measuring 11 inches in length and weighing 7 lbs. Another had at one time been lying about the Farm Offices, but after repeated searches I have been unable to pick it up. On close inspection you will observe this handsome Axe is ornamented with an incised line on the front. and with five such lines on the side. Dr Anderson and other antiquarians who have inspected it consider it one of the finest Stone Axes found in Scotland. The town of Sanquhar was formerly a place of great activity in the weaving trade, but the advent of steam, together with modern machinery, has nearly driven every loom from the place. One remnant of the extensive trade done in weaving in Sanquhar is the prevalence of loom-weights in and about the town. They are generally water- worn stones of a round formation, about two stones in weight, with a perforation in one side for insertion of the steeple or ring TRANSACTIONS. 131 by which they were suspended. Many fine specimens could at present be picked up, but in a short time they will disappear and find their way to the stone magazines and be converted into road metal. Of Pot Querns I possess a large number. They are to be found on almost every farm in the two parishes. Some are very small and neat, while others are very capacious, and indicate that they may have been used for brewing or even dyeing purposes. I recently saw one in a wood at Langholm, parish of Auchinleck, in use as a dye-pot, and covered with a flat stone ‘above of the same diameter as the pot below. Often you will find them used as pig troughs, and the late Mr Stitt of Ryehill, an experienced valuator, on seeing my collection in my garden, remarked that he had on one occasion valued over six as good as mine to the new tenant of Orchard. He knew their original use well, and informed me of one made of granite, which he had seen when a boy lying at Townhead of Auchenbainzie. I told Mr Hewetson of his remark, and he found the Quern referred to, and removed it for safe keeping to Auchenbainzie. I may mention that I have one which was re- moved from Queensberry Square, and I heard long after “ that Wilson stole old M‘Cririck’s grandfather’s sow trough.” This proves the late use of such articles, but there can be no doubt they were originally used for removing the husks from grain or for converting it into meal by aid of a wooden or stone pestle. Wl. A Relic of Burns—Original Miniature Portrait of Clarinda. By Mr JAmeEs Bargour, Architect. Another Burns anniversary having just been celebrated, it may be appropriate, while his name is uppermost, to bring under notice a small but most interesting memento closely touching the cele- brated correspondence between the poet, as Sylvander, and Mrs M‘Lehose of Edinburgh as Clarinda. It is a miniature silhouette portrait of that lady. The history of it is thoroughly authentic. It was one of the articles given by the poet’s widow to Mary M‘Lachlan, her servant, on the occasion of leaving her situation to be married to Andrew Nicholson. Mr Nicholson, his son, inherited the relic, and his widow is now the possessor of it. The portrait is a black profile bust, delicately executed on ivory. The outline of the ivory plate is a pointed ellipse, one inch and a quarter high, and three-quarter inch in breadth. The picture itself is less than three-quarters of an inch high. It shows a prominent 132 TRANSACTIONS. and characteristic headdress. In Paterson’s beautiful edition of Burns two silhouette portraits of Clarinda are given. One of them, which also appears in Gilfillan’s edition, represents her at an advanced stage of life. It shows a headdress even more full and of a different texture than our miniature does, but the facial lines of the one resemble those of the other in a marked degree. The other portrait is a fine engraving by Banks, from the original picture in the collection of the late J. T. Gibson Craig. It is larger than the one just described, being two inches and a half high. The face shown differs somewhat as compared with the later portrait, and there are other points of diversity between them. The profile of the miniature partakes of both these por- traits, while in other respects, such as the headdress, the form and dressing of the shoulder and breast, and the terminating lines of the bust, there is such close correspondence between it and the Gibson Craig portrait as to suggest that, not only do they represent the same person, but that in respect of date and origin they are closely allied. . That they are by the same artist may be assumed —Miers, whom Burns calls a “ profile painter,” and who, at his request, executed portraits of several other friends. A very inter- esting question arises as to which of these pictures possesses the highest claim to be considered the portrait of the Clarinda corres- pondence. ‘Their relative dimensions seem to bear on the point, and in favour of our miniature. Clarinda, before going to the artist, enquired of Burns what size the portrait should be, who replied that it was for a breast pin—a purpose this miniature seems to fit in with exactly, and its history is confirmatory of its having been so applied. In this view it is one of the most expres- sive relics of Scotland’s great bard extant; he wore it next his heart. In Paterson’s volume, opposite the Gibson Craig portrait, appear the following sentences from the Clarinda letters—the miniature seems to echo the words :— Thursday, noon, Feby. 7, 1788. Clarinda— I shall go to-morrow forenoon to Miers alone. What size do you want it about? O, Sylvander, if you wish my peace let friendship be the word between us. I tremble at more.” Thursday night, Feb. 7, 1788. Sylvander—‘‘T thank you for going to Miers. Urge him, for necessity calls, to have it done by the middle of next week—Wednesday the latest day. I want it for a breast pin to wear next my heart. I propose to keep sacred set times to wander in the woods and wilds for meditation on you. TRANSACTIONS. 133 Then, and only then, your lovely image shall be produced to the day, with a reverence akin to devotion.” IV. Dumfries in the Past. By Mr Peter Gray of Camberwell. (Abridged. ) Whilst engaged in some researches among the books and MSS. in the British Museum I came upon several references to Dumfries, not perhaps very widely known, and I thought that these, with some others occurring in books in my own possession, although in themselves not of very much intrinsic importance, might prove interesting to the members of the Society. They are not of very great antiquity either, the earliest direct notice of the town occurring in one of the Itineraries of John Ray. Ray was perhaps the greatest naturalist between the times of Aristotle and Linneus, and his Itineraries are records of what were termed in his day “simpling voyages,” what are now known as botanical excursions or rambles. Three of these journals were published after his death, and it is from the second of them I am now going to quote. He entered Scotland by way of Berwick in the middle of August, 1661, passed on to Edinburgh, thence to Glasgow, and from Glasgow, through Lanarkshire, to Carlisle. “ August, the 24th,” he writes, ‘‘ we rode to Dumfreis, or, as they spelled it, Drumfrese. At Dumfreis they have two ministers—one a young man named Campbell, related, as we are told, to the M. of Argyle; the other an elder man, by name Henderson, who has married his daughter to the younger. Campbell prayed for the preservation of their Church government and discipline, and spoke openly against prelacy and its adjuncts and consequences. Here, as also at Dunbar and other places, we observed the manner of their burials, which is this: When any one dies, the sexton, or bellman, goeth about the streets with a small bell in his hand, which he tinkleth all along as he goeth, and now and then he makes a stand and proclaims who is dead, and invites the people to come to the funeral at such an hour. The people and minister many times accompany the corpse to the grave at the time appointed, with the bell before them, where there is nothing said, but only the corpse laid in. The minister there, in the public worship, does not shift places out of the desk into the pulpit, as in England, but at his first coming in ascends the pulpit. They commonly begin their worship with a psalm before the minister comes in, who, after the psalm is finished, prayeth, and then reads 134 TRANSACTIONS. and expounds in some places, in some not ; then another psalm is sung, and after that their minister prays again, and preacheth as in England. Before sermon, commonly, the officers of the town stand at the churchyard gate, with a join’d stool and a dish, to gather the alms of all who come to church. The people here frequent their churches much better than in England, and have their ministers in more esteem and veneration. They seem to perform their devotions with much alacrity. There are few or no sectaries or opinionists among them ; they are much addicted to their Church government, excepting the gentry, who love liberty and do not care to be so strictly tied down.” The present practice of inviting to funerals by advertisement is thus practically a reversion to an old custom, which Ray found also at Nantwich, in Cheshire, and which was probably common throughout the North. There are no plant localities given, but a catalogue is referred to in a note, and I have observed Dumfriesshire habitats in the “Synopsis.” Perhaps it might be well to keep this in mind against the next edition of the Flora. The author of a “Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain,” written in the first half of the last century, says of the burgh : “Dumfries was always a good town, with large streets, and full of reputable and wealthy merchants, who trade into foreign parts and employ aconsiderable number of ships, especially since they have embarked in trade to England and the English plantations. This town. is also advantageously situated for an increase of commerce on the river Nid, or Nith, for, though it stands near two leagues from the sea, yet the tide flows up to the town, and ships of burden come close up to the quay ; and about four miles below it the largest merchant ships in Britain may ride in safely. . . . They had formerly a woollen manufacture here, but the Union has in a great measure suppressed these things in Scotland, the English supplying them better and cheaper ; yet, at the same time, the Scots have more than an equivalent by an open trade to England and all the English plantations. The castle in this town is very old, yet is still pretty good and strong.” In Chamberlayne’s “ Magne Britannie Notitia” for 1718 the state of agriculture and horticulture in Scotland at the time is spoken highly of, and the country is described as abounding with the best timber trees. Regarding Dumfries it is said: “The streets are large, and the church and castle very stately.” TRANSACTIONS. 135 My next author is Dr Richard Pococke, Bishop of Ossory, a man of some note in his day. There are two manuscript journals of his travels in Scotland in the library of the British Museum. They have, I understand, been lately printed, in whole or in part, by an Edinburgh Society ; but the work is not in the Museum—at least I was unable to find it—and have taken my excerpts from the MSS. These journals are in the form of letters to his mother, addressed “ Honoured Madam.” The first of the journeys recorded in them was taken from Dublin to England, and the Bishop on that occasion arrived about the middle of July, 1750, in Dumfries, which he describes as “ pleasantly situated on the river Nith, which winds so as to make a peninsula of the town and the fields to the north of it.” I possess a copy of an etching by Scott, of Eldin, the view being taken from a spot on the Maxwelltown side a little above the old Foundry. It shows a scroggy down from the river to the New Church; and a couple of men with guns and a dog are beating the meadow on the Galloway side for game, while a pack-horse and its driver are proceeding along the Lincluden road, indicating the state of the Galloway thoroughfares at the time. On the Dumfries side there is a steep brae to the river just as I remember it before the wall was built there. ‘The principal street,” Dr Pococke proceeds, “is broad and well built of the red freestone in which the country abounds. There are two churches in the town, one of which, if I do not mistake, is for an Episcopal congregation. They have a large building here called the Nework, which, as well as I could be informed, served formerly as a ware- house. There are some little remains of an old friary im the town, famous in history for being the place where Cummins (who was suspected by Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, to have been treacherous towards him in his conduct with the English) took refuge, and was murdered by the King’s command, on which the King was excommunicated by the Pope and the chapel for ever - interdicted in which the murder was committed; on which St. Michael’s, at the east end of the town, was built for the friary, which has a handsome steeple to it. There is a fine bridge here over the Nith into Galloway. This bridge and a waterfall, made by art to keep up the river for some uses, make a very beautiful prospect from the side of the river. Boats come up to the town, and ships of forty tons within two miles of it, and they have a great trade in tobacco. This town maintained its loyalty in the last rebellion, and severe contributions being raised on them ’twas 136 TRANSACTIONS. made up to them by the Gevernment. . . . Over the river near the town is a small mount, which would not hold at the top above thirty people. It is called The Moat, and it is supposed that the heads of the place held their meetings here and promulged their laws to the people. ‘There is a very fine prospect from it of the country round. I saw from it Lincluden, an old nunnery, and near it is a monastery called Holy Rhood (qy., Holywood), and at some distance from Dumfries what is called New Abby, and in the records Adbdatia dulct cordis. (Johannes de Sacrobosco, an eminent mathematician of the thirteenth century, whose treatise, ‘ De Sphera Mundi,’ continued to be used in the schools for nearly four hundred years, is believed to have been originally a professed brother of the Convent of Holywood.) Not far from Dumfries is a chapel called Christo, where St. Christopher Setin is buried, who was beheaded (though a Scotchman and no subject) by Edward the First.” It will be observed that the Bishop’s history is not of the most accurate character, but the notices in his next journey are nearer to what is generally received. Dr Pococke’s next recorded journey ten years afterwards was a more extended one, and included the Orkneys and Western Islands. It is described in three large folio volumes in MS. In the beginning of May, 1760, he arrived in Dumfries from Port- patrick. “I came from Newabbey,” he writes, “six miles near the Nith, the old Noiras or Nidius, having a bog to the right and pleasant hills to tke left, to Dumfries, in Nithesdale, where I was in 1747 (?). This town carried on a great tobacco trade until the Tobacco Act passed, which destroyed that commerce, and ‘the people being grown rich, and their money not employed in trade, they have lately adorned the town with beautiful buildings of the red hewn freestone, and the streets are most exceedingly well paved (!). They have a handsome town-house, and all is kept very clean ; so that it is one of the handsomest towns in Great Britain (and Pococke had travelled over the most of it), and very pleasantly situated on the Nith, over which there isa large bridge ; and as the Assizes are held here for all the south part of Scotland, the town is much frequented by lawyers. The shipping le under Screfel (sic), eight miles below Dumfries, and come up three miles higher to unload at Glenteyrel (Glencaple?) Here was a friary of Conventuals, founded by the same Devorgilla (referring to a previous account of Sweetheart Abbey), in which John Duns Scotus took upon him the habit, who died in 1308 at Cologn. In : TRANSACTIONS. 137 the Church Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, killed Red Robert [John] Cuming before the high altar in 1305 ; and James Lindsey and Roger Kilpatrick murdered Sir Robert Cuming in the sacristy, and were excommunicated by John XX. in Avignon.” Thomas Pennant, the distinguished naturalist, made his second tour in Scotland in the summer of 1772. Entering Dumfries from the south “beyond Port Kepel,” by which I suppose he means Glencaple, he says: “The country on both sides of the river is very beautiful, the banks decorated with numerous groves aud villas, richly cultivated and enclosed.” Dumfries itself he describes as “a very well built town, containing about 5000 souls. It was once possessed of a large share of the tobacco trade, but at present has scarcely any commerce. The great weekly markets for black cattle are of much advantage to the place, and vast droves from Galloway and the shire of Ayr pass through on the way to the fairs in Norfolk and Suffolk.” The two churches are described as “remarkably neat.” The author then proceeds: “Had a beautiful view of an artificial waterfall just in front of a bridge originally built by Devorgilla. It con- sists of nine arches.” Pennant’s brief notice of the town concludes with the mention of “a fine circumambient prospect of the charming windings of the Nith towards the sea, the town of Dum- fries, Terregles, a house of the Maxwells, and a rich vale towards the north” (probably from the Corbelly Hill). Robert Heron, described as a miscellaneous writer—I suppose what used to be known as a bookseller’s hack—made a journey through the western counties of Scotland in the autumn of 1792, the second year of Burns’s residence in Dumfries. He describes the environs of the town as being in a high state of cultivation, with gentlemen's seats scattered around it as around Edinburgh and Glasgow. Since the beginning of that century, he says, it had risen from a state of considerable depression to considerable wealth and population, corresponding to the improvement of the surrounding country. The greater part of the High Street and of the older parts of the town would then be much as they are now, barring the ornate shop-fronts and the plate glass ; but the great towns not having yet risen to opulence, the streets would look handsome, as he describes them, by comparison. He praises the beautiful and advantageous situation of the town, says the streets are well lighted, but, unlike Dr Pococke thirty years before, thinks 138 TRANSACTIONS. that the pavements “ might be improved ”—a suggestion seasonable for many years afterwards. The schools of Dumfries, he tells us, had been long eminent, and that many very able scholars had received their initiatory classical education there, there having been a succession of three of the ablest teachers of the Latin language known for some time in Scotland, namely, Mr Trotter, Dr Chapman, and Mr Waite, the then rector. Heron’s estimate of the townsmen, and his description of the Saturnalia going on on the occasion of his visit, are so fully quoted in Mr M‘Dowall’s excellent History that it is unnecessary to repeat them here. His description of the race-week is doubtless exaggerated ; at the same time, making every allowance for that, one cannot but perceive how dangerous a place Dumfries must have been for a man of Burns’s temperament. The author of the curious and interest- ing “ Autobiography of a Beggar Boy” (James Burn) begins his memoir with the remark that where or how he came into the world he had no very distinct idea (not, by the way, a very uncommon experience), but that the first place he found himself in was a garret in the High Street of Dumfries about the year 1806. Burn did not remain long in Dumfries ; but forty years later in his chequered career he travelled from Newton- Stewart to the town. He found great changes everywhere, mostly for the better. ‘I found,” he says, “ villages where formerly there was not the vestige of a house, and in other places ruins where I had formerly seen cheerful dwellings. I could see no greater change in that part of the country than what was observable in the condition of the soil; everywhere the hand of industry was abundantly visible in the improved state of the land. In one place hundreds of acres of moorlands were reclaimed, and in another what had been a deep bog was drained and bearing a rich harvest of grain.” «“G. W., Haddington,” is the xom de plume of a Rev. D. Laing, probably a Dissenting minister of some sort, who travelled through the southern and western counties of Scotland in 1817, and published a journal of his tour in a thin duodecimo. Mr Laing arrived in Dumfries on the last day of May in the year above mentioned, and, like Heron, found the town ez /é¢e on this occasion owing to the shooting for the Silver Gun. He was wakened the next morning in a fright by the banging of the Midsteeple bells, summoning the Trades to their muster on the Sands. On the PT TRANSACTIONS. 139 origin of this Wappinshaw he enters into a lengthened disquisition upon the authority of a “public and respected character in the town of Dumfries,” who informed him that “in the reign of King James the Sixth, and on some of his excursions in that part of the country, being in danger, the news reached the town of Dumfries. Accordingly the Seven Incorporated Trades of that town went to the assistance of his Majesty. This fresh supply of troops arriving in time was the means of rescuing him from the danger he was exposed to; and so sensible was the King of this timely interference of his Dumfries subjects, to show his gratitude the more, and wishing to improve [them] in the use of arms, he complimented them with a silver tube something like a pistol barrel, now called a silver gun, with a charge to set apart a day annually to shoot for the said gun.” The writer then describes the march off to the Kingholm of the Trades, drums beating, colours flying, and a merry peal resounding from the famous Steeple. About six in the evening news arrived from what Mr Laing calls “ the field of blood,” to the effect that two young men had been accidentally wounded, one of them mortally, which prompted the following effusion of the author’s muse : ‘* Ah! thoughtless mortals think on this, Your folly and your shame ; O, turn your eyes and view the case, And sorrow for the same. Your precious time thus spent in vain, How can the thought you shun, That something’s lost—now, where’s the gain Got by your silver gun ? Is something lost? Yea, sure there is, More precious than the sun, Your brother’s blood is shed, and cries, Discharge the silver gun.” On the following (Sunday) morning he heard a sermon by Mr D. (probably Mr John Dunn, the Independent minister of that time), and in the afternoon a “ close and practical discourse ” from the Rev. Walter Dunlop, who seemed to him to be “a serious man.” Mr Laing describes the religious state of the town as not so favourable, “ according to his information,” as could be wished ; but adds that a few years previously “a worthy character,” he (Mr L.) trusts “with the same feeling spirit as the Apostle when he 140 TRANSACTIONS. beheld the city of Ephesus wholly given up to idolatry, in like manner seemed to feel for the inhabitants of this town.” What the worthy character did was to open schools for poor children and illiterate adults, which was the best and the only thing to do, for besides the two Established Churches, as Mr L. tells us, there were seven other places of worship in the town, which had then a population of about 7000. Dumfries is described by the author as “delightfully situated on the river Nith, exceedingly well built, although possessing very few remarkable 01 magnificent public buildings, and not only the county town, but also the most flourish- ing place in the south of Scotland.” The houses he considers “ in general handsome,” and possessing ‘‘a light and an agreeable appearance.” At the time of his visit “things were very dear, the quartern loaf one shilling and fivepence, the meal four shillings and sixpence a stone, and, what was still worse, oatmeal and potatoes could not be got.” Several of the novelists notice Dumfries. The complimentary references to the town and its inhabitants in Scott’s pages are familiar to us all. In “ Humphrey Clinker” Matthew Bramble is made by Smollett to express himself in high terms regarding the beauty and prosperity of the town; and his nephew, young Melford, describes it as “a very elegant trading town, with plenty of good provision and excellent wine at very reasonable prices, and the accommodation as good in all respects as in any part of South Britain.” He adds: “If I was confined to Scotland for life, I would choose Dumfries as the place of my residence.” “ Humphrey Clinker ” was written in 1770. As for the poets, Burns is not the only one by many who has sung the praises of Nithsdale. In a poem of Keats’ there is a remarkably comprehensive picture of the town and its site in a few words, communicating even an impression of the soft, “sleepy hollow ” character of its summer climate. “* The town, the churchyard, and the setting sun, The clouds, the trees, the rounded hills all seem— Though beautiful—cold,. strange as in a dream I dreamed long ago, now new begun.” I conclude this rambling paper with a couplet of John Home’s in the sentiment of which you will all concur :— ‘* Flourish Dumfries, may heaven increase thy store Till Criffel sink and Nith shall flow no more.” TRANSACTIONS. 141 BAxtER BEQUEST. The following letter was sent by the Honorary Secretary to the Town Clerk in answer to his i a dated 22nd Jan., 1889 :— Doumrriss, 6th February, 1889. Joun Grierson, Esq., Town Clerk. Dear Sir, Referring to your letter of date 22nd January last, a meeting of Council of this Society was held last night, when Mr Davidson submitted a report on the cases of specimens he- queathed to the town of Dumfries by the late Mr William Baxter, which I herewith enclose. After hearing the report the meeting unanimously adopted the following resolution :—‘‘ That the Society agree to accept custody of the Baxter specimens on the conditions following : That the Town Council provide suitable cases in which to place and exhibit the specimens, and otherwise do what is necessary to relieve the Society of any expense connected with their reception and custody. That the Society shall have power to weed the collection of worthless material. That the Society, while exercising the same care as they do with their own property, shall not be further responsible for the specimens. That the arrangement shall be terminable by either party on three months’ notice.” I an, Yours faithfully, Roserr Barsour, Hon. Secy. Ist of March, 1889. Mr JAMES Barzour, Architect, in the Chair. COMMUNICATION. The Practical Outcome of Fish Culture. By Mr J. J. ARMISTEAD of the Solway Fishery. Mr Armistead mentioned that fish culture was known to the ancients, but it seemed to have been entirely forgotten, and was re-discovered about a century ago in France by two peasants, and about the same time in Germany. ‘The discoveries at first were regarded as of purely scientific interest, and no practical value was attached to them until within quite recent years. Although a beginning was made in France and Germany, really little was done until the Americans took up the matter in real good earnest, as they usually did with anything they took in hand. They were now competing with us in ova, as they did in almost everything 142 TRANSACTIONS. else. Only the other day he received a consignment of very healthy salmon ova from America. In Canada the salmon rivers had been taken in hand, and in some of them reception houses had been built which the salmon entered, being prevented by an artificial obstruction from going further up the river, and having attendants to wait upon them. In some instances they were actually kept for some time in the fresh water and then sent back to the sea. This alone, he need not say, would tend to keep them out of the hands of the poachers. In the management of our salmon rivers, he was sorry to say, we were much behind the Americans. What with pollutions of various sorts and absolute neglect in many cases, they seemed to be going to destruction. Fish culture had at first to encounter a good deal of opposition, partly arising from our ignorance of the subject. This was the cause of its being often carried on in a rather blind manner, not sufficient care being taken with the development of the embryos, &c. While people were successful in producing fish, in many cases these would not live to grow up. However, within the last ten years they had made great strides in their practical knowledge, and this difficulty had been entirely overcome. Having referred to the hatchery on the Tay, first at Stormontfield, now at Duplin Castle, and to the great encouragement given to fish culture by the American Govern- ment—which has provided an aquarium car for transference of fish from one part of the country to another, and allows trains by which it travels to be stopped at streams for watering and other purposes—the lecturer quoted from a letter by the late Professor Baird, inspector of fisheries in that country, to this effect: ‘In the Sacramento River we are absolutely certain of our ground, having brought up the supply of salmon to more than its pristine condition of abundance by planting about two millions of young fish every year. The catch has increased in five years from five million pounds to fifteen millions; and in 1881 there was more fish than could be utilised in all the canning establishments on the river.” With reference tv the quantity mentioned, Mr Armistead observed that it was no use attempting to deal with a salmon river unless the thing was done on a large scale. Similar results had been attained on many other rivers both in the United States and Canada. As an example of the practical value of fish culture in our own country, he exhibited a diagram showing the results obtained from stocking Loch Leven with trout fry. 9000 fry were turned into the loch in 1875—a very small number for such a TRANSACTIONS, 143 sheet of water. Next year 22,000 were turned in; in 1877—- 70,000; in 1878—45,000. Then a disagreement arose, and the hatching was given up for three years. In 1882, 50,000 fry were turned in. Next year, again, nothing was done. What were the results? Before 1875 the yields were gradually getting less. Loch Leven was a favourite resort of anglers, and heavily fished ; and the fishing had been getting worse and worse year by year until 1875, when the catch fell to 5093 in number, and in weight to 5668 Ibs. ; so that the fish averaged a little over a pound. In 1876 only 3086 were reported to be taken, and the weight was 3370 Ibs. In 1877 the catch jumped up to 6092, but the weight was only 5385 lbs., being an average of less than a pound. Of course allowance must be made for atmospheric influences ; and it might be that 1876 was an unfavourable year; but the catch of 1877 was a good deal larger even than that of 1875. The fry of 1875 had not had time to grow to any size. They would not average, probably, more than a quarter of a pound; and it was probably a number of these which swelled the take, but reduced the average weight. In 1878 the catch was doubled, being 13,319 ; and again the weight was less in proportion, being only 8919 lbs. In 1879, 21,045 fish were taken, and the weight was 16,192 lbs. Four times as many fish were taken from the loch than was the case before the stocking began. In 1880 the number taken was 19,405 ; weight, 18,552 lbs. In 1881 there was a marked falling ofi—from 19,000 to 16,000 ; and the next year only 9000 were taken. That was the result of giving up fish culture. In 1882 a spurt was made, and 50,000 fry were turned in. This addition could not tell on the year 1883 ; but they had that year a great jump, from 9000 to 14,000. This was accounted for by the fact that the conservators of the loch, finding they had neglected their business, tried to atone for the error by turning in 3000 two-year- old fish. The average weight that year again approached a pound —12,742 lbs. for 16,062 fish. This table shewed clearly the benefit accruing from fish culture when properly carried on, and how a fishery suffered from neglect of it. In our salmon rivers, where fishing was carried on year by year, by methods which were being continually improved and rendered more destructive, the stock of fish must be constantly diminished, unless sh culture were resorted to or we had a very much longer close time. Another benefit which arose from the cultivation of trout was that we could grow or produce very much larger fish than were produced naturally. 144 TRANSACTIONS. The fish in Loch Leven, they saw from that table, seemed to average about a pound, and he was assured by anglers that from a pound to a pound and a half was considered good weight. In Loch Kindar—to take a local example—we had fish weighing from three-quarters to one pound pretty freely taken. They some- times reached 1} Ibs. or 2 lbs. ; but if a 2 Ib. fish were taken from that lake, he thought it would be pretty well talked about in Newabbey. He had heard of one five pounds weight being taken. But we could take fish and by artificial cultivation grow them up to 4 lbs. or 5 Ibs. quite easily. Fish taken from Loch Leven had been grown up to 9 lbs. without any difficulty. Several years ago he turned into a Lancashire reservoir some Loch Leven trout fry, which attained a weight of from 3 lbs. to 4 lbs. in three years’ time, or really in two and a half. As to the identity of the fish there could be no doubt. He made inquiry as to the food which they had been getting, and he found the reservoir was completely choked with little shell fish. Some of the trout, on being dis- sected, were found to be gorged with them. Again, he had another case in the Dalbeattie reservoir. Some fish which were turned in there were taken two years after 1? lb. and up to 2 lbs. weight, which was a rate of growth far beyond the natural growth of trout. He had for years maintained that fish, like cattle and poultry, could be materially improved by careful selection and judicious breeding ; and he was convinced that in course of time we should see remarkable results in this direction. In the case of animals and birds we had certain races of monstrosities developed. The fantail pigeon, for example, was really a monstrosity or deformity. So it was with the other fancy pigeons, all of which had been produced from the wild rock dove which frequents our rocks and caverns. With fish similar results were being produced. A particular kind of fish was just now being sold in London, he believed, at a guinea each. They were really little gold carps. You bought them in little glass globes at these enormous prices, simply because they were deformed, and had curious double tails, which were arched over. They might call them fan-tail fish, The name of telescope fish had been given to them—he did not know why. It was found that these fish had formed a race of their own, their young inheriting the double tail, hunchback, and deformities of the various fins. In the case of the char of Windermere (the Salmo Alpinus) we had a very striking result. The lecturer exhibited a very fine cast of one, coloured after nature, which had a TRANSACTIONS. 145 been reared by himself, and which weighed 2 Ibs. He had seen some thousands or tens of thousands of char taken from that lake, and never yet saw one which would turn the scale at half-a-pound. The common size, he thought, was five to the pound. Although he had heard of much larger fish being taken, they were very rare. These fish could be taken from Windermere, and in a few genera- tions grown to the size of the one exhibited. He had grown them up even to 3 lbs. Mr Armistead next alluded to the despatch of salmon ova to the Antipodes from this country by Mr Frank Buckland and Mr Youl, and also from America, and to the large proportion of loss caused by the hatching of the eggs during the voyage. It had since been discovered that by viifestie tein to a low temperature hatching could be so retarded that they could be kept for a long time. He had himself adopted this process successfully in the case of ova taken from the Nith and exhibited at the Fisheries Exhibition in London. He next spoke of the improved results obtained by hatching the ova on glass grilles, which prevented contact with ¢ any PAlaterionis substance, and expressed his preference for either glass or slate over metal, even when varnished. Passing on to speak of the American trout, Mr Armistead said this fish was really a char. They had been introduced into this country for about twenty years. He got aconsiderable supply of ova, and the fish had passed through a great many generations, and been considerably improved in that time. He exhibited a few recently hatched fry, some of the ova, and a bottle containing two little double-headed fry and several others deformed in various ways. Peculiar forms, he explained, could be produced by pressure applied to the ova. The two-headed ones were the produce of what might be called double-yoked eggs. The American trout had been a good deal run down by some people ; and one reason for that, he believed, was that wherever he had been put into rivers or lochs from which he could escape, he had done so and gone away to sea. There they attained to a considerable weight. Instances were recorded of them being taken of eight, ten, and even twelve pounds. The very fact that the fish woul leave fresh water and go to sea was one strong proof of its value. One reason why we had been unsuccessful in stocking the large rivers with it was that we had not put in sufficient. In PE it was quite a common thing to turn ten or twelve millions into a river in a season. Bare he believed, the largest known stock 146 TRANSACTIONS. ever put into ariver had been about five thousand, which would be really nothing, put into the Nith or the Tweed. So we had never really tried the fish in rivers. But in ponds and lakes where he could be confined he had done remarkably well, and was really a great acquisition to our waters. He was lately at a place where a number of these fish had been turned in, and found them spawning in the race waters at the head of the pond. They had grown to a weight of 2 lbs. or 3 lbs., and were providing not only excellent sport but occasionally pleasant change of diet to the proprietor. He had also Loch Leven trout, which he could take at any time. To have fish thus at command was a very desirable thing, and he knew none which would thrive better in small space than the American trout. He had reared them in small tanks up to a weight of 4 lbs. or 5 lbs, He found that they bore a higher temperature than our trout ; and they had also been acclimatised to greater extremities of temperature. He believed the time would come, before very long, when every country house almost would have its fish pond, and the proprietor would be able to send out and have a few fish taken from it, just as he sent now to his poultry-yard and had fowls or ducks killed for dinner. For years all the energies of fish culturists had been devoted to the culture of trout and char, with an occasional attempt at the culture of salmon and sea trout, which had been greatly retarded by the withholding of proper facilities. But now the cultivation of coarse fish was being gone into a good deal. One advantage of this would be that this class of fish lived upon a vegetable diet much more than the salmonide. These warm water fish, or fish like the carp, tench, and others, did very well indeed. under cultivation. Some objections had been taken to their flavour, and objections which, he believed, had a good deal of weight ; but these were entirely got over by simply transferring the fish before they were eaten to stews or tanks supplied with pure water. Keeping the fish there and feeding them for some time, they entirely lost the flavour of weeds and mud, and came out perfectly eatable. This was very much more widely known on the continent than here. Ifit were more widely known in this country, we might utilise many fish which at present people absolutely refused to eat. Mr Armistead next explained a method which he followed of rearing little shell fish, crustaceans, and tad- poles, to supply food for the fish in the ponds, which was done in a semi-natural way over sluices from ponds at a higher level. Fish 2 147« TRANSACTIOY. eulturists had also their maggot p.vories ; and the ordinary earth © ne bushel by sending little boys to worms could be gathered b- : Seirere follow the plough. He eirther pointed out the necessity, in con- structing a pond, of > coviding for the food supply of the fish by introducing aquati/ vegetation. There were thousands of acres of barren water’ this country lochs and moorland pieces of water, which untained only fish so small that they were not worth taking out. Many streams likewise contained no fish worth catching. ‘These waters could be cultivated to a very considerable extent, .4 good many reasons had been adduced for the small size of tae fish. One was that they were far too numerous. He had heard people recommend the putting of pike into the water to keep, them down. That was the very worst thing that could be done: The presence of pike was one of the great difficulties in the w ay of successfully stocking some of the lochs in Kirkcudbright, of which there were so many. He did not believe that the trout were too numerous in any of these mountain sheets of water. He had seen fish do better when crowded in tanks than when dispersed more thinly. He had reared two hundred or more large fish in a pond 60 feet long and only 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. It was not that the fish were too numerous ; but it was probably a want of food in these lakes. That want could easily be supplied. Aquatic vegetation could be introduced if it was deficient, as it often was in mountain streams, and shell fish or crustaceans could be put in—the fresh water shrimp, for example. The snails were . perfectly harmless to trout in all stages. The shrimps, unfortu- nately, preyed on the ova when they could get toit ; but he did not think they could do a serious amount of damage when the ova was naturally deposited by the fish, for the eggs were then buried deep in the gravel. Another reason which probably accounted to a great extent for the small size of the fish in many waters was the want of change of blood. He believed greatly in transferring fish from one water to another—introducing, of course, as far as pos- sible, really good fish. Many of our streams which are not large enough to contain good fish could be best utilised by making a - suecession of dams, which could be stocked really to any amount. A stream which did not contain any trout worth mentioning could in this way be made to produce simply tons of fish. 1438 see = : RANSACTIONS. 5th és 1 April, 1889. At a meeting of the Council, at». ,. ; he sheet ge ar tepiprecmeeibie ts)" Major Bowden, V.-P., presided, the Secretary intimated that he. Gack Ganeerctile : cation through Mr James M‘Gill, from Mr Ky yy eaurec ; é B. Clark, one of the late Mr Baxter’s Trustees, proposing on the pa ; : . rt of the Trustees that a collection of coins, which belonged to Mr b., ; : axter, should be placed in the custody of the Society (for the Town : : : Council) along with the other specimens. The Council agreed to « : 5 : accept these coins together with crayon portraits of Mr Baxter ana, hiscatee and instructed the Secretary to convey the thanks of the — g fa t : to Mr Clark. tie Gant, a) 5th of April, 1889. Major BowpEN, V.-P., in the Chair. i New Member.—Mr Joseph Wilson, late Hon. Secretary, on - the recommendation of the Council, was elected an honorary mem- ber of the Society. Donations.—Transactions of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland for 1887-88, and Reports on Local Museums in Scotland, presented by Mr G. F. Black; the 22nd Report of the Peabody Museum and an Index to their Reports; the Essex Naturalist for November and December, 1888; and two squirrels (local), pre- sented by Mr Joseph Wilson; and also two tokens of Sanquhar, presented by Dr A. Davidson. COMMUNICATIONS. I. Words in the Dialect of Dumfriesshire, found in Chaucer, Spenser, and Shakespeare. By Mr JAMES SHAw of Tynron. (Abridged.) To Beat, Bete, or Beet, Beit. To help; supply ; mend by making addition ; to add fuel to a fire; to make or feed a fire. —Jamieson. “ Two fires on the anter she ’gan bete.” —Ch., Canterbury Tales. “‘ They chant their artless notes in simple guise, Perhaps Dundee’s wild warbling measures rise, Or noble Elgin beets the heavenward flame.” —Burns’s ‘ Cottar’s Saturday Night.””, In Tynron beeting a dyke means mending it. | TRANSACTIONS. 149 Blae, \ivid.—/. Ble, livid.— Ch. “‘ Oh ! the bonny brackit lassie, She’s blae beneath the e’en.”—Scotch Song. Bug and Bugaboo, « bugbear.—/. Bug is used in the sense of bogle or spectre by Shakespeare. Bogle, a spectre. The word boggle, to start aside, swerve for fear, occurs in Shakespeare’s “ All’s Well that Ends Well.” Skeat believes the two words to be connected. Brogues. In“ Cymbeline” we have “ And put my clouted brogues from off my feet.” Bulk, for whole body, equivalent to the Scotch word Buik, occurs in.Shakespeare’s Lucrece. Bairn, achild.—/. In Langland’s “ Pier’s Plowman,” previous to Chaucer. Bullyrag, to abuse another in a noisy manner.—/. Shakespeare in “Merry Wives of Windsor” has Bullyrook, a noisy, dashing fellow. To Bullyrag is known as slang among Cam- bridge students. Belyve, Blive—J. Immediately ; forthwith ; occurs in Spenser's “Faerie Queen.” Bucht, Boughts, a bending, a fold, a pen in which ewes are milked. —J. In Spenser, circular folds or windings. ‘* Will ye gang to the ewe’s buchts, Marion.” —Scotch Song. Buff, a stroke ; a blow.—/. Buffe, a blow ; a buffet.— Spenser. ' Busk, to dress ; to attire oneself; to deck.—/. This word is in Pier’s Plowman.” Byre, cow-house.—-/. This is also a North English word. — It is cognate to bower. While Scotland has retained byre a cow-house, England has retained bower as meaning an arbour. Carle, a man ; a boor.—/. In Cymbeline we have “© Could this carle, A very drudge of nature, have subdued me ?” Chirkers, this is the Dumfriesshire word for crickets. In Chaucer to chirk means to chirp. The verb is given in J., the Dum- friesshire noun under Charkers. Cark, a load; a burden—/. We are familiar with it in the expression “ Cark and care.” In Spenser it means care. Crag, Craig, Cragge, the throat.—/. This word was common in Renfrew when I wasa boy. It is used in Spenser for the “ neck.” 150 TRANSACTIONS. Collie, shepherd’s dog.—/. In Brockett’s Glossary of N. English Words, 1825. Daft. In Langland’s “ Piers the Plowman,” it means a stupid, a dolt. ““Thou dobert, daffe, quo she, dull are thy wits.” Deck. In Moniaive old people talked of a deck of cards, meaning a pack. This meaning is not noticed by Jamieson. Dwined, wasted.—/ Chaucer's “ Romaunt of the Rose.” Dool, griet.—/. And I alone left all sole, Full of complaint and of dole. —Chaucer’s ** Romaunt of the Rose.” To Drie or Dre, to suffer ; to endure. Chaucer, zdid.—/. Dicht.—/., and in Dumfriesshire to clean, to wipe. Dight, to order, prepare, dress, adorn.—Spenser. Eild, Eld, advanced age, old people.—/. ** And doth beg the alms of palsied eld.” Sh. Measure for Measure. Lyen. ‘This plural, and also shoon for shoes, are found in all three authors. fotsonless. We have this adjective meaning dry, sapless, without pith. /. The word Foysons, for abundance, is found in Spenser and Shakespeare. feat. In the ballad of Aiken Drum, by a Galloway man, we are told of a wife “fond of a’ things feat.” Shakespeare uses feat in the sense of nice, exact. In “ The Tempest” we have the comparative degree. ‘‘ Look how my garments sit upon me, much feater than before.” Fern, Ferne, before.—Ch. In J. Fern year, the preceding year. Mr Baird of Sanquhar has heard the word so used in South Ayrshire, Frush, Frusch, brittle ; dry ; crumbling.—/. Shakespeare uses it as a verb, meaning to break. ‘*T'll frush it, and unlock the rivets all.”—Tvoilus and Cressida. Gab, to talk idly. In Chaucer it means to lie. : “Gab I of this ?” 7.e., ‘‘ Do I lie concerning this ?” Gipe, Gipon, Jupe, upper frock or cassock ; a word known to country lasses of the old school. In Chaucer’s “ Romaunt of the Rose” and 75th line Canterbury Tales. “* Of fustian he wered a gipon.—J. Glede, a burning coal.—Cz. In Captain Dennistoun’s Battle of Craigneddin, published in Galloway about the beginning of the century. I don’t recollect hearing the word.—/. TRANSACTIONS. 151 Geck, to befool.—/. Geck, to deride, to toss the head in scorn. *¢ And made the most notorious geck and gull That our invention played on.—Twel/th Night. Gre, prize. To bear the gree, to carry off the prize—/. The word is in the Knight’s Tale, Canterbury Tales.—CA. Gate, a way. The word is used in this sense in Spenser.—/. Gauhkie, a foolish person.—/.__ The word is old English, and, like the word Gowk, its original sense is “ Cuckoo.”— Vide Skeat. Ged, a pike.—/f. A N. English word from the Icelandic Goad, named from its sharp, thin head, as is also the name Pike. Gled, a kite.—/. In Tynron we have the Gled Brae. ‘‘ We have the word in English, 1690.”—.Skeaz. Grab, to seize with violence. Noun. A snatch ; a grasp.—/. Although the standard English word is Gripe, Grab is found as a “ low word” in some English dictionaries. Hyne or Hind, a farm servant.—/. The d is excrescent. The word is in Spenser’s “ Faerie Queen” with the same meaning. Hutch, a kind of basket in which coals are brought from the mine. —/j. Shakespeare has bolted hutch, a chest for bolted flour. Chaucer uses the word in its sense of box or basket. It is of French origin. Keek, to look. “Auld Nichulas sat ever gaping upright, as he had kyked at the new moon.—T'he Miller’s Tale. Ch. Kers, a water cress—/. This old pronunciation of cress, given by Chaucer, explains the meaning of our common expression, “J don’t care a curse,” Ze., 1 don’t care a cress, equal to I don’t care a button. Kith, Kythe, to show, to make known. This old Scotch word occurs in our metrical version of the Psalms, “ Froward than Kytht.” In Chaucer’s ‘“‘ Man of Lawes Tale” we have ‘* For but if Christ on thee miracle Kithe, Withoute gilt thou shalt be slain as swithe.” Loon, a worthless person, male or female, although in the east country I understand it always means a boy.—/. The word is spelled loon in ‘‘ Macbeth” and lown in “ Othello.” Maund, a basket. In Ayrshire a potato basket. ‘* A thousand favours from a maund she drew.” —-Sh. Lover’s Complaint. Mirk, dark, obscure.—Spenser’s “ Faerie Queen.” Mall, Mell, a hammer.— Spenser. Its diminutive is mallet. 152 TRANSACTIONS, Neif, the fist. In “ Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “¢ Give me your neif.” Puttock, a worthless species of hawk. The word, I believe, is twice in Shakespeare. ‘«T chose an eagle and did avoid a puttock.”—Cymbeline. The interest that attaches to it is that it occurs in our well- known, world-known I might say, Galloway place name, Craigenputtock. A sparrow hawk is named from its habit of preying upon small birds. A puttock preyed on pouts, young game birds. Pout, sometimes spelled poult, is akin to our poultry or pullet. Ock is probably a corruption of hawk. Quick. We have this word in the Creed meaning “alive.” In the sense of “alive” it occurs in Chaucer and Spenser. In Dumfriesshire Quickens is the name for couch-grass, a grass possessed of wonderful vitality. Ramps. The Tynron word for wild garlick (Adium ursinum).—/. Ramsons is the old English word. Reechy, begrimed. Rogge or Rug, to shake. Are in the Chaucer, Spenser, and Shakespeare Glossaries. Skarre, Scarre, Scaur, Skair—fJ. Bare place on a hill. Rock through which there is an opening. Rock in the sea. “‘ Bank, bush, and scaur.”—W. Scott. Rock, precipitous cliff. “Men make ropes in such a Scarre.”—Ail’s Well that Ends Well. The word is in Wycliff’s bible. In Orkney, Skerry a rock in the sea. I recommend study of the word as possibly throw- ing light on the name of the river Skarr, the principal tributary of the Nith, the most remarkable part of whose course is the precipitous rocks of Glenmarlin, near Penpont. Skathe, harm, mischief.—Spenser’s ‘“‘ Faerie Queen.” Stour, fight, stir, trouble, misfortune——/. Dust in motion, trouble, vexation. With the first four meanings it is found in Spenser’s ‘‘ Faerie Queen.” “ How gladly would I bide the stour, A weary slave frae sun to sun.” —Burns’s ‘‘ Mary Morison.” Il. “ Zhe Grave” at Conchieton, Borgue. By Mr FREDERICK R. Cougs. In this paper, which was fully illustrated with diagrams and plans, Mr Coles described an ancient burial place on the farm of Conchieton, in Borgue Parish, its main features being a ‘wmulus of a ee TRANSACTIONS, 153 small rounded boulders now much reduced in size, the diameter of it being twenty-three feet, and its height about five feet. Within this heap of stones stands a roughly-circular ring of whinstone Slabs set on edge, eight in number, and varying in size from four- teen inches to three feet and over; and at about sixteen inches distance within them, the Xis*+Vaen proper, an oblong cavity formed by four thin stones set on edge, and measuring three feet N. and S., one foot eight inches E. and W., and twenty-two inches deep. The slab covering the grave was broken in two, and - on these two stones were noticed tool-marks, such'as Mr Coles is led to believe may be genuine cup-marks. At a distance of five feet from the south end of the grave stands the head-stone of roughish sand stone, abundantly weather- marked, the dimensions of which are :—Height above ground, three feet five inches; width, 1 foot nine; thickness, nine and a half inches. That there might be no doubt as to the genuine character of this burial-place, and especially of the position of the head- stone, Mr Coles produced evidence in a letter from (the late) Mrs Gordon, whose husband was proprietor of Conchieton, in which these points were certified; and the additional information gained that after a careful search Mr Gordon could find nothing in either bronze or stone, but a handful of brown decayed bones, this ex- ploration of his having been conducted in 1844, and soon after the spot was built round, by Mr Gordon’s orders, with a strong dyke planted with trees and ivy and ever since properly preserved. Footnote.—It is noteworthy that on one of the slabs unearthed from the Cairn on Woodfield, High Banks, Kirkcudbright, during: March this year, cup-marks of the same form and size were found as those mentioned above. Ill. Notes on the Difference between the Dumfries of Dr Burnside’s MS. History and the Dumfries of To-Day. By the Rey. Rospert W. Weir, M.A. In 1790 Sir John Sinclair addressed a letter to the ministers of all the parishes in Scotland asking their assistance in the pro- duction of a statistical account of the country. He enclosed in each letter a list of 166 questions, under the four heads of “geography, and natural history,” “ population,” “ production,” and “ miscellaneous questions.” The answer to the letter addressed to the minister of Dumfries was given by the Rev. William 154 TRANSACTIONS. Burnside, then minister of the New Church, afterwards minister of the Old Church. It is given in full in the MSS. book lately com- mitted to the custody of this Society, and in an abbreviated form in the “Statistical Account of Scotland,” edited by Sir John Sinclair. I have lately had an opportunity of again reading the MSS. book prepared by Dr Burnside, and have been much struck with the very able manner in which it is written. I am convinced that if printed and properly edited, it would form one of the best contributions to the history of Dumfries that has yet been made public. As a foretaste of what may be in store for those interested in this subject when some one with sufficient leisure, knowledge, and enthusiasm can undertake the work I have indicated, I give a few notes shewing some differences between the Dumfries described in Dr Burnside’s Statistical Account and the Dumfries of 1889. Regarding the first head of inquiry, that of geography and natural history, there is not much to notice. Physical conditions do not alter greatly in the course of a century, Under this heading he observes that the distempers, as he calls them, are fever, rheumatism, and consumption. In this respect there is much change for the better. Dumfries, thanks to improved sanitary arrangements, is now more free from fever than almost any other town in Scotland. As regards rheumatism, the statistics shew that Dumfries occupies about an average position, and in regard to consumption that the death-rate is, as it was a hundred years ago, very high. Dr Burnside refers to the well-known characteristics of our climate—the moisture of the air, the dryness of the soil, the short time snow lies on the ground, and the high winds which often prevail. There is mention of floods which are now unknown to the extent to which they existed a hundred years ago. ‘‘ The parish is subject to considerable swellings of the river which often lay the lower part of the town under water. In the houses near the bridge it will sometimes rise two or three feet. These floods are most frequent towards the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. The two most remarkable of late were in October, 1778, and in November, 1772. It was in the last-mentioned flood that the Solway Moss was carried off.” There are more changes to note in regard to the second head of enquiry, ‘‘ Respecting the population of the parish.” The estimate of the population is given from information derived from parochial visitations made by himself and his colleague in St. TRANSACTIONS. 155 Michael’s. The figures are not so absolutely reliable as those in the Government censuses of subsequent years. He estimates the whole population of the town as 5600 or nearly 6000 ; in the land- ward part of the parish, 1200 or 1400 more. In the calculations I have made for the sake of comparison I have taken the mean between these, 7000. The population of the parish in 1881, according to the census, was 16,841, or an increase of 9841. In an appendix to his book, Dr Burnside gives a detailed account of the population of the New Church parish in 1795. According to this statement in that year there were in the New Church parish 1014 families and 3800 individuals. In 1881 there were in Greyfriars’ parish (which has the same boundaries as the New Church parish had in 1795) 949 families and 4259 persons, or a decrease of 65 families and an increase of 429 persons. It thus appears that the large increase in the population has arisen from new houses having been built and inhabited in the districts now known as the parishes of St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s. The increase in the population has been gradual. The census returns at the decennial periods of this century have been as follows: 1801, 7427; 1811, 9262; 1821, 11,052; 1831, 11,606; 1841, 11,409 ; 1851, 12,289; 1861, 13,323 ; 1871, 14,841 ; 1881, 16,841. In 1795 Dr Burnside and Dr Scott considered that there were in the town 1488 families of 5860 individuals. In 1881 there were in the three parishes 3568 families of 16,841 individuals. If we may venture to compare these figures we have in 1881 4-7 individuals to each family to 3°5 to each family in 1795. This would indicate an increase in the amount of em- ployment for young people. Another point of comparison leads to the same conclusion. Dr Burnside states that of examinable persons —meaning by that persons above seven or eight—“ we have three females to two males,” a phenomenon which he accounts for by the scarcity of employment for men, and by the demand for female servants. The census returns for 1881 do not distinguish in any way the ages of the males and females, but they do not indicate that the disproportion referred to exists now to the extent which Dr Burnside pointed out. In 1881 there were 9037 women and 7812 men, or an excess of females over males of 1225. The number of births, marriages, and deaths, as computed by Dr Burnside, when compared with the recent returns of the Registrar- General, furnish no indication of any remarkable change in the proportionate number of these events. 156 TRANSACTIONS. An interesting field of comparison is opened up by a table given by Dr Burnside regarding the number of persons engaged in different trades in the town. The statistics are derived, as regards the trades, from the books of the incorporations, and as regards the others, it is supposed, from personal information. Unfortu- nately, the statistics regarding the occupations of the community in the census returns are given not for the parish, as Dr Burnside gives them, but for the parliamentary burgh. An exact compari- son is therefore unattainable. The respective numbers, however, may be of some value as indicating any marked changes, and therefore I give them : Per Cent. Per Cent. 1791. of Pop. 1881. of Pop. Hammermen (blacksmiths, whitesmiths, tinsmiths, coppersmiths, and saddlers) 70 1 133 a Squaremen (joiners, cabinetmakers, masons, glaziers, coopers, and slaters) 220 3 391 2 Tailors cafe aor ae in iets) 1 186 1 Shoemakers ... is an va aes ex 3 148 8 Skinners and glovers an oe ao 3 26 ai Fleshers es ta rae A at “Roo 4 81 “4 Tanners, nailers, plumbers, brassfounders, silversmiths, watchmakers, dyers, and not incorporated me we ray LOO 1-4 134 8 Bakers es ae ate ee mam 20 8) 116 6 Stocking-weavers ... i 16 ae 80) — — - Writers ath aas ae a com a0 -—— 31 — Physicians and surgeons h. ray 4 — 29 a= Ministers 5 ee mie aa oe 8 _- 30 — Apothecaries ... 4 — 29 _ These figures are very much what might be expected. There is in proportion to the population employment for fewer artisans now than there was a hundred years ago. The much larger production is more than counter-balanced by the amount of work done by machinery. Notably, the trade of shoemaker has undergone a very great diminution. On the other hand, bakers are twice as numerous as formerly, a fact no doubt to be accounted for by the much smaller amount of oat cakes and other kinds of bread now made at home. It is very remarkable that the additional 10,000 of the population requires no more writers. It is also noteworthy that while the population has more than doubled, doctors have been multiplied sevenfold, ministers threefold, and apothecaries seven- fold. The decrease in the number of men employed in the older trades is more than made up for by the number of new employ- . A - TRANSACTIONS. 157 ments which have been called into existence, such as railway, telegraph, and post-office officials. Printers have also largely increased in number, and those employed in the manufacture of woollen goods very much more so. It could not be said now as it was said by Dr Burnside, “The spirit of industry is by no means so great among us as could be wished, and we have but few manufactures, owing in great measure, as it is generally thought, to the scarcity and dearness of fuel.” In 1791 there were 78 persons licensed to sell spirits, or 1 to 89 people. This year we have 84, or 1 to every 150 people. In addition to the 78 persons who, on an average, were licensed annually, there were on an average about 20 persons fined for selling without a license. Dr Burnside makes the reflection on this point, which has so often since been made: “ The use of spirituous liquors, and especially of whisky since its price was reduced, certainly does produce very bad effects upon the good order, industry, and health of the lower classes of the people. Unhappily, individuals themselves are not the only sufferers, for their wives and children are often in great distress and misery. Hence, too, many of the petty crimes, debts, &e., which swell the list of those sent to prison and the correction house.” In 1791 there were, according to Dr Burnside, only 38 Roman Catholics in the parish. This, it would appear, was an understatement, as in 1795 he discovered in the New Church parish alone 64. The great difference between the number of Roman Catholics a hundred years ago and the number at the present day reminds us of the fact that a large proportion of the new popula- tion has come from the sister island. In 1791 it was supposed that there were in the parish 200 belonging to the Relief com- munion, 150 Episcopalians, 270 Antiburghers and Seceders of all ages. The remainder were supposed to belong to the Church of Scotland. In those days there was one church for every thousand of the population. The proportion at this present day is about the same. The productions of the parish were said to be wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, lint, and, in the neighbourhood of the town, garden stuff, A farmer gave Dr Burnside the computation that there are in the parish about 720 acres of oats, 240 of barley, 180 of wheat, and at least 100 of potatoes, 20 to 30 acres of peas, and as many of turnips. Rev. John Gillespie, Mouswald, has supplied me with the following notes regarding the present produce, for the purposes 158 TRANSACTIONS. of comparison. Almost all the grain crops in Dumfries now are oats—very little barley. In 1888 there were 559 acres of barley in the whole county of Dumfries. There were only 51 acres of wheat in Dumfriesshire in 1888, and only 27 acres of it in 1887, so that Dumfries parish in 1790 far exceeded in its growth of that cereal the whole county now. There is now a very large acreage of turnips. They were just beginning to be cultivated in small patches in Dr Burnside’s day. The yearly rent of the landward part of the parish in 1791 was £4017 6s 8d. The same last year was £20,998 6s 8d. This large increase has arisen largely from the great increase in the number of houses in the outskirts of the town. The only illustration I have procured of the value of a farm shows no increase at all in proportion with the total. Dr Burnside mentions that in 1737 no one would take a lease of Tinwald Downs when it was offered at a rent of £35 per annum. The same lands, he adds, after a consider- able number of acres be taken off for planting, do not yield £300 a year, and at the end of the lease may yield £100 more. The rental in the roll for 1880-81 is £412. ‘“ Netherwood,” he says, “was sold fifty years before for £4000, and now is estimated at £30,000.” The rental of Netherwood in the roll is given at £241. The valuation of the lands within the burgh in 1791 was £2243 9s, and of the houses £12,293, or in all £14,536 3s 9d. The valuation last year was £68,132 11s 6d, or nearly six times as great. The rise in rents, to judge from the only example we have, has not been great, and the increase must arise largely from the larger number of houses and from persons living in better houses. In 1791 a house of three rooms and a kitchen let for £10 or £12. It now lets for £12 to £15. Fortunately, Dr Burnside chronicled carefully the prices of provisions and the average rate of wages. We have thus the means of ascertaining the great increase which has taken place in the value of commodities. The prices then paid were: Salmon, 21d to 6d per lb.; flounders, 1d to 4d; cod, $d to 1d; beef, 3d to 5d; mutton, 3d to 44d; lamb, 3d; pork, 3d to 4d; geese, 1s 6d to 2s 6d each; ducks, 6d to 8d; chickens, 7d to 8d per pair ; butter, 7d to 9d per Ib. ; Scotch cheese, 3d ; meal, 1s 6d to 1s 10d per stone ; coals, 7d to 8d per cwt. “All kinds of butcher meat and poultry,” Dr Burnside remarks, “are now double the prices they were twenty years ago. The natural progress of luxury, the fears occasioned by the American war, the increased circulation of TRANSACTIONS. 159 paper money, and, of course, the raising of rents upon the tenants have each contributed to this rise in almost all kinds of pro- visions.” The rise in the wages is as remarkable as the rise in the price of provisions. Labourers’ wages were 1s per day ; carpenters and masons, ls 8d to 2s; tailor, his victuals and 6d; labourer in harvest, without food, 1s and 1s 1d; ploughmen’s wages, 7 to 8 guineas ; dairymaids, £3 to £4 per annum; maid servants in towns, £2 10s to £4 ; men servants, £7 to £9. The schools receive warm praise. There were three estab- lished schools for English. The masters of these received £20 amongst them, 2s 6d a quarter from each scholar, and a Candlemas offering. There was one established Grammar School, the master of which had £47 a year. He got no fees from the children of burgesses, but 8s a quarter from others. The Candlemas offering amounted to about 10s 6d a head. The average number of scholars was 100. There was an established school for arithmetic, book-keeping, and mathematics. The master had £20 a year, 5s a quarter from the children of burgesses, and 7s 6d from others, and no Candlemas offering. The number of scholars was about sixty. There was also an established school for writing, where the master had a salary of £22, and the same fees as the master of the arithmetic school. The pupils were said to number about seventy. Besides these there were a free unendowed school for reading and writing, and two or three boarding schools for young ladies. It is also recorded that French, drawing, and dancing are very well taught. Unfortunately the details given do not warrant any comparison with the amount of the school accommodation or the number of children attending school at the present day. If we might hazard a conjecture, they were much behind what we now have, but in some respects considerably more adequate than the schools were immediately prior to the passing of the late Education Act. The number of poor in 1790 occasionally receiving alms was at least 150. The Poor-house (Moorheads’ Hospital) supported 45 to 50 persons. The whoie sum expended on the poor, including mortification revenue of the hospital, amounted to £400. The poor rate last year was £2930. When we add to this the revenue of Moorheads’ Hospital, of the Carruthers’ Cottages, of the Menzies and Crocket Funds, and of other Trusts, we have a total of at least £3999. It would thus appear that the people a hundred 160 ‘ TRANSACTIONS. years ago spent on the poor £5 per hundred of the population, or £4 per £100 of the rental. We spend at least £25 per hundred of the population. The proportion as regards the rental is about £4 9s per £100. It thus appears that a hundred years have brought great changes to the Queen of the South. The population has been con- siderably more than doubled, the yearly rental has been quadrupled, wages have increased about three-fold, and the price of most articles of food is more than doubled. In Dr Burnside’s time the town consisted, he informs us, of eight or nine streets and six or eight lanes. The streets would be the High Street, Fiiars’ Vennel, the East Barnraw (now Loreburn Street), the West Barnraw (now Irish Street), the Kirkgate (now St. Michael Street), Townhead Street (now Academy Street), Loch- maben Gate (now English Street), and probably Queensberry Street and King Street. The new bridge was then unbuilt, and all Castle Street, George Street, and Buccleuch Street were fields or gardens. The Town Hall and Court-House were in the Midsteeple, and underneath that were the Weigh-House and the Town Guard House. In the block of buildings where Mr Adams has his bookbinding shop were the Council Chambers and adjoining that was the Prison. On the site of the Militia Barracks was a House of Correction. Moorheads’ Hospital was scarcely fifty years old, the old Infirmary was recently erected, and the Theatre was just opened. The churches were St. Michael’s—the only one which remains in external appearance as it was—the old New Church, the Episcopal Meeting-House in English Street, the Anti-Burgher Church on the site of Loreburn Street U.P. Church, and the Relief Church in what is now the wool store in Queensberry Street. Dr Burnside, in various parts of his MSS., speaks with satis- faction on the improved condition of the people. He had met men who remembered when there were only four carts in Dumfries— two for hire and two the property of gentlemen who had purchased wood, and when all the ordinary transport was done by creels and sledges. He was proud of there being a stage coach daily to Edinburgh and an English and an Irish mail coach daily, and looked forward to there being before long a Glasgow coach. He mentions with satisfaction that a waggon from Carlisle, with six horses, comes to town and goes out again weekly, that there are eight or ten post chaises kept at the inns, that six families in the parish each keep a four-wheeled chaise, and that four have whiskeys. TRANSACTIONS. 161 He could tell of an improvement in the roads of the parish within the twenty years preceding the date of his book so great that one horse could now do the work formerly done by two. He could also say that “ within these twenty years the poor people are both better fed and clothed. At that period they had no butcher meat, and few or no hogs at all.” At the period of writing, he says that there was scarcely a day labourer but kept a hog, and laid in some quantity of meal at Martinmas. He remembered when there was seldom any good fresh meat to be had from about Christmas till the new grass came in the spring, but in his day it was to be had throughout the whole year in great plenty and of good quality. Very probably the generation a hundred years hence will look back on us, as we now look back on the generation in which Dr Burnside lived and as he looked on those further back still, and wonder how we fared with fewer comforts and fewer means of communication with other places. It may be well to remember that while we cannot wish back the good old times, we may yet believe that then as now there were men and women with good heads and good hearts, and that wisdom neither begins nor ends with the people of our own times, It is pleasant also to know that it is not true that the poor are poorer. What were rare luxuries to the poor are now easily obtained by the many. Field Meeting. 11th of May. . A visit was paid to Comlongan Castle and Ruthwell Church. The famous Runic Cross and the old tombs were inspected. Explanations were made by the Rev. J. M‘Farlan and Mr Camp- bell Douglas, the architect of the part of the Church in which the cross stands. Mr Robert Barbour, Solicitor, Maxwelltown; Mr Davidson, Teacher, Ruthwell ; and the Rev. Mr Milroy, Penpont, were elected members. 14th of May. At a meeting of the Council the honorary secretary, Mr Robert Barbour, resigned his office, and received the thanks of the Society, on the motion of Mr John Neilson. On the motion of Mr Robert Barbour, seconded by Mr Neilson, Dr Edward James Cbinnock was elected honorary secretary. 162 TRANSACTIONS. Field Meeting. st of June. A visit was paid to Crocketford and Springholm. Auchen- reoch Loch was circumambulated, many botanical specimens being collected. At a meeting, presided over by Mr George H. Robb, Dr Clarke and Miss Tennant were elected members. Mr James Barbour exhibited a copy of Innes’s History of the Buchanites, several leaves being in Innes’s own handwriting, and also a copy of the proceedings taken against the Buchanites by the Sheriff Court. The party then drove along the old military road, round part of Milton Loch, and arrived at the Hills Tower, Lochrutton, which was inspected. Field Meeting. 6th of July. (Described by Mr Wm. DIcKIE.) A visit was paid to Whithorn, where Dr John Douglas and Mr William Galloway acted as guides. The ruins of the Priory were carefully examined, and then visits were paid to the Roman Camp, St. Ninian’s Cave, and the ruins of St. Ninian’s Kirk in the Isle of Whithorn. Finally the ruins of the old Norman church of Crugegleton were explored. At a meeting presided over by Major Bowden, Dr Douglas and Mr Galloway of Whithorn, Mr George Hamilton and Mr R. M‘Conchie of Kirkcudbright, and Mr Alex. Ferguson, solicitor, were elected members. Tt is the ruined Priory which invests Whithorn with such strong attractions for the antiquary, and to it the visitors pro- ceeded, admiring by the way the ample thoroughfare and the tidy appearance of the long main street of the town. The existing charter conferring on Whithorn burghal rank and privileges was granted by King James IV., the most assiduous of the Scottish kings in his devotion to the shrine of St. Ninian, but it is under- stood that this was only a renewal of an earlier charter emanating from Robert the Bruce. The change of the commercial highway from the sea to the railway has injuriously affected it, like many other outlying towns, and has diminished its municipal revenue, of which the mainstay used to be the dues charged at the port of Isle of Whithorn, three miles from the town. But it bears its adversity placidly, and its appearance indicates a fair measure of prosperity among the burgesses. The old Town Hall and Tolbooth isa plain building, with square tower and extinguisher-shaped spire, sur- mounted by a ship in full rig by way of vane. It is not of great antiquity, having been built only about 1820 ; but it has already TRANSACTIONS. 163 been superseded for municipal purposes by a less vbtrusive structure, but one more convenient and better suited to modern ideas. The present population of the burgh is about 1700. St. Ninian, with whose fame the Priory is so closely linked, was the Columba of southern Scotland, and pursued his Christianis- ing mission a century earlier than the apostle of Iona. The year 360 is assigned as the date of his birth, and his death is reported to have occurred in 432. The place of his nativity is a subject of dispute. One account represents him as belonging to a noble Scotch family, whose residence was in the vicinity of Whithorn. On the other hand, some of his biographers favour the idea that he was of Welsh nationality. Ireland, also, has put in a claim to be the country of his birth ; but with less apparent probability. It is certain, however, that during the period of the Roman occupation he established a religious house at Whithorn, and with the aid of a body of disciples set himself to proclaim from this centre the message of the Cross among the pagan inhabitants of the country. Much success crowned his missionary labours, and posthumous fame enhanced the virtues of the saint and invested even his bones with miraculous power. Before devoting himself to the apostolic career, Ninian had visited Rome, where he received consecration at the hands of the Pope, and spent some time at the French monastery of St Martin of Tours. This noted soldier saint—from whom we derive our term Martinmas, and whose monastic habits have not been considered inconsistent with his selection as patron saint of the tavern-keepers—is in some accounts styled the uncle of St. Ninian ; and to him the Priory in Whithorn is said to have been dedicated. . A circumstance confirmatory of this is mentioned by Symson in his “ Description of Galloway,” who states that in 1684, when his work was written, there was “a little hand-bell in this church, which, in Saxon letters, tells it belongs to St. Martin’s church.” There is some doubt whether it was at Whithorn or at Isle of Whithorn that St. Ninian built the modest chapel—the “ Candida Casa” or Whitehouse of early chronicles—that was the drst stone and lime edifice built for Christian worship in Scotland. The balance of evidence seems to favour the Isle. But the modern burgh had apparently been the seat of his later ministry ; and the undisputed historical record represents the Priory as the place of his sepulture. The Priory of which the ruins now remain is of much more recent date, and would be of more extensive proportions than the 164 TRANSACTIONS. buildings of St. Ninian’s day. It was founded in the twelfth century —in the reign of David L., the “sair sanct for the Crown” —by Fergus, Lord of Galloway, the reputed founder also of Dundrennan Abbey, and father of the founder of Lincluden Abbey. Almost the only fragment of it still standing above ground is a portion of the nave and of the lower walls of the steeple and porch at the west end ; but recent excavations have opened up a double row of crypts beneath the chancel and transepts, and have revealed the foundations of other walls and a piece of causeway near to the modern Parish Church, about two feet below the present level of the ground. The church and monastic buildings must have occupied the whole of the present churchyard, the modern inter- ments being made among their foundations, and to some extent in the debris which has accumulated around the old walls. This has made the work of excavation one of difficulty and delicacy, and has very properly prevented it from being pursued to the full extent which in other circumstances would have been desirable. The Priory enclosure had extended to the main street of the burgh, from which a long lane now leads to the churchyard gate. At the street end of that lane there remains in position an old arch or “pend ” with a lion rampant and unicorn supporters sculptured in bold relief over the key-stone. This may either be the royal arms or the arms of the province of Galloway. The excavations have been conducted at the cost of the Marquis of Bute, with consent of the heritors of the parish, and under the direction of Mr Galloway. The general result is to show that the church had been in shape like a Latin cross, with north and south transepts, and that the monastic buildings had been to the north side, a position naturally determined by the position of the Kett, a stream which flows at the foot of a gentle declivity to the north, and would supply water for domestic purposes and also for the mill, which it is understood was attached to the Priory. The present church stands on the site of part of these structures. The date of its erection was 1822. Before that time the remnant of the Priory had been used for public worship. The modern edifice is apparently a commodious one ; but its design is by no means artistic—a tower dressed with red stone projecting like an excrescence from a plain square building, whitened with a rough casting of lime. It so offended the susceptibilities of John Ruskin when paying a visit to the district that he declared he would gladly give £10 to help to remove the tower. The most notable feature in the Priory ruins TRANSACTIONS. 165 is a Norman doorway, of beautiful proportions and with richly carved arch, at the south-western corner of the nave. Mr Galloway is of opinion that this interesting fragment does not occupy its original position ; and the presence of interpolated stones in the arch courses is apparent on a careful survey. It had probably been “ restored” when additions were made to the buildings in the fourteenth or fifteenth century. But in any case we have preserved what is undoubtedly twelfth century workmanship. Several quaintly sculptured stones are built into the wall at the same place. In one of these a small animal is seen to be entering the mouth of a larger; and it has been conjectured that it may have been intended to symbolise the Christian’s hope that death shall be “ swallowed up in victory.” On the outer side of the north wall are still to be seen some of the corbels which had carried the beams of the cloister arcade. The crypts to the east form a long double row, with barrel-vaulted roof; but the remains of two short pillars indicate that originally the more ornamental form of the groined arch had been used. In the northern-most crypt have been found remains of the red deer, the boar, and other animals of the chase, indicating that it had served the purpose of a larder. In one of the walls there is constructed a beehive-shaped apartment of which the purpose can only be conjectured. It may have served either as a punishment cell or as a place of solitary retreat for some of the more spiritually-minded brethren. Within the nave are two low tombs built into the southern wall, and enriched with dog-tooth ornament. They have no doubt been the resting-place of persons of distinction ; but there is now nothing to indicate their name or condition, whether lay or clerical. In the course of recent exca- vations, the skeletons were found, in cists partly cut out of the rock and partly built, but there were indications that the graves had been previously opened. The nave is now a perfect antiquarian museum. There has lately been deposited within it, for better preservation, a curious monolith that long stood, like a mile-stone, by the road-side about a quarter of a mile from the burgh. On it are traced a peculiar combination of the circle and cross and this inscription, in irregular letters : “‘ Lociti Petri Apustoli.” (?) It is supposed to be as old as the fourth century, contemporary therefore with St. Ninian, and to have marked probably a place of worship dedicated to St. Peter. It is now taken under the protection of the board charged with the administration of the Ancient Monu- ments Act. Ancient crosses have been collected in large number 166 TRANSACTIONS. from the precincts of the church and from the surrounding district. The prevailing shape is the square cross, variously known as the Greek and Maltese, and the limbs are often indicated by five embossed circles. The larger shafts are generally ornamented with wicker-work or Runic pattern. On one small stone there are traced three Latin crosses close together, the one in the centre much larger than the others, a design obviously intended to repre- sent the scene on Calvary. A large baptismal font, believed to be the one originally in use in the Priory, and elaborately sculptured corbel stones more or less entire, are also here preserved ; and among heraldic devices the arms of the province of Galloway and the double chevron of the M‘Lellan family are to be noted. A small bell, still intact, bears the date 1610, and appears from an inscription to have been cast in the city of Bruges. Somewhat incongruously neighbouring the solemn mementoes of a devotional age is a stone which has upon it several words in large raised letters, some of which are now altogether effaced or so worn as to be illegible. Some ingenuity has been expended in the effort to give an English rendering to what was supposed to be obscure Latin. If we supply the missing letters in a manner suggested by their context, as Mr Galloway pointed out, we have, as will be seen below, an epigrammatic advice in homely Scotch phrase, viz., TENT T[O] DE]|GJHT WE[EL] | Anglice—Be careful to clean well. | The stone had occupied a place in the wall of an old farm building, where it would daily but silently admonish the household to habits of cleanliness. In one of the apartments of the old Town Hall Mr Galloway has stored an extensive collection of fragmentary pieces of carving turned up in the course of the excavations. Some of these—not- ably a small but strikingly expressive face—convey a very high idea of the attainments of the early artists whose handiwork they were. Having explored the Priory and its adjuncts as fully as time permitted, the company set out for St. Ninian’s Cave, making by the way a short detour to see the large Roman camp on the farm of Rispain. A drive through a pleasantly wooded tract of country, and past the policies of Glasserton House TRANSACTIONS. 167 and Physgill, brought them to Kidsdale House. There they left the vehicles ; and, following first a shady footpath through a wind- ing glen, and then a more open road-way, a mile’s walk brought them to the shore of Luce Bay, at the little inlet known as Port Castle, from the scanty relics of an old fortalice that crowned one of the headlands. From this point the cave, which faces to the mouth of the bay, and is just above the tidal line, is plainly visible ; and only a short further walk over shingle and small boulders is necessary to reach it. The entrance is now closed by a stout metal screen, placed over it by Mr Stewart of Physgill, proprietor of the adjacent estate. The key is kept at Kidsdale House, and is readily given to responsible persons, as it was on Saturday. But the cave is so small that it can be fully surveyed from the outside. It might more appropriately indeed be termed a grotto. The rocks, which at this point are bold and precipitous, converge slightly in front of it, and probably a greater space was at one time under the natural arch. When the work of excavation was in progress a large piece of rock was lifted, which had obviously been detached from the cliff above; and beneath it was discovered a human skeleton—possibly the victim of some forgotten tragedy, most likely one whom the falling rock had buried. The rough natural walls of the cell are coated with oxide of iron, and present a damp appearance, suggesting anything but a luxurious or whole- some retreat. It was known by immemorial tradition in the district as St. Ninian’s or St. Ringan’s Cave; but it was only a comparatively few years ago that positive evidence of its monastic associations was discovered. The late Dean Stanley and Dr John Stuart of Edinburgh (author of “The Sculptured Stones of Scot- land”) were on a visit to the district, and one of their party traced upon the rock near to the cave the faint outline of a small cross. Further search has revealed the existence of four of these sacred emblems, both the Greek and Latin form being used. Excavations were thereafter undertaken, at the instance of Mr Stewart of Physgill, and carried out with great care under the per- sonal superintendence of Dr Douglas, ef Whithorn. A low wall in front of the cave was taken down (but afterwards re-built), and several small stones with crosses incised on them were found in it. Debris was removed, which had accumulated at some points to a depth of six feet, and a rough flag pavement exposed in part of the cave, the rest of it being paved with hard beaten earth. In the 168 TRANSACTIONS. pavement was a stone with a rudely carved inscription, of which only this fragment remained : SANCT NI le This stone was lifted, and affixed to the wall of the cave for better preservation, but some mischievous youths broke it. The protect- ing grating was put up to prevent further malicious acts, and the fragments of the stone were taken for greater security to Kidsdale House. Numerous incised crosses were exposed—in all seven on the living rock and twelve on separate stones. Some of these are of the rudest and most primitive workmanship, and are approxi- mately assigned to the fourth century. Others are more elaborate, and shew Runic ornamentation. At the entrance to the cave was also found a stone with a large cup hollowed out in its centre, so placed as to receive the drip from the rock, and with a drain laid from it to carry the overflow into the centre of a mound at a little distance. Probably this was a semi-natural baptismal font, or it may have been simply used as a receptacle for the collection of pure water. The cave has shared in the veneration attaching to the shrine of St. Ninian, and was also a common resort of pilgrims. The smooth surface of one uf the rock faces bears a great many initials of visitors. Most of these are quite modern; but the antique form of the characters as well as the dates attached shew that in several instances we have here preserved the rude chiselling of men who lived two centuries or more ago. Such are these: “T for J] P, 1634. IL, 1664. IC, 1678. AM, 1684.” No doubt James IV. and other royal pilgrims would also visit the cave, but the stone bears no record of this. In withdrawing to this remote and sea-girt retreat for purposes of meditation or penance, St. Ninian would be following the example of his teacher, St. Martin, and of other early Churchmen ; and there is every reason to believe that it would be used by him as an occasional residence. The scene is one fitted by its solitude and grandeur deeply to impress a reverent mind. The seaward prospect from the beach or the cliffs above is also in clear weather a charming one, embracing the Mull of Galloway, the peaks of the Isle of Man, and a part of the Irish coast. The visitors on Satur- day saw it under the disadvantage of a haze, which obscured the distant land points ; but a flowing tide, under a brilliant sun, and the water flecked by an occasional sail, made up a picture of no small beauty. TRANSACTIONS. 169 They drove next across to the shore of Wigtown Bay, to the Isle of Whithorn. This is a tidy village of considerable size, built along the landward edge of what has at one time been an island, but by artificial banking has been converted into an isthmus, with a good pier and harbour, and having in it a turreted mansion, of which Symson in the seventeenth century speaks as “the Isle, a good stone house, which belongs to Patrick Huston of Drummaston.” There are two rounded isthmuses—the inner and outer Isle. At the sea- ward side of the former are still standing the walls ofa small chapel, roughly built of whinstone and shell lime. Its outer measurement is only twelve paces by seven. This building is believed to belong to the fourteenth century, and would be served by monks from Whithorn Priory. Beside it are traces of older foundations, sup- posed to be those of the original Candida Casa of St. Ninian, which is referred to by old writers as having been a land-mark for sailors and being surrounded on three sides by the sea. A life-boat house is now built on the same neck of land, and so situated that the boat can be launched into a bay either on the north or south, as the direction of the storm may render necessary. Traces of a triple line of ancient fortifications may be discerned on the two Isles. Instead of returning direct to Whithorn, the party drove along the coast line of Wigtown Bay to Cruggleton Chapel—a small pre-Reformation building, and the church of an ancient parish, now united with Sorbie—which is in process of being restored by Mr Galloway, at the instance of the Marquis of Bute. Field Meeting. 7th of September. A visit was paid to Dornock Churchyard, where Mr John Nicholson pointed out some ancient sepulchral monuments. The Lochmaben Stane at Old Graitney was next inspected, and then Graitney Churchyard was visited. The antiquities of the place were explained by the Rev. William Bell of Graitney. Stapleton Tower was next explored, and, on the return to Annan, Mr Frank Miller acted as guide to Edward Irving’s birthplace and his father’s tannery. The Rev. William Bell, Mr John Dunlop, teacher, of Dornock ; Mr John Nicholson of Stapleton Grange; Mr and Mrs Gunning, and Miss Hamilton, of Castlebank, were elected members, 170 TRANSACTIONS. Meeting of Council. 25th of September. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr James Barbour, to hold an exhibition in November of the Baxter Bequest of mineralogical specimens, and of other interesting articles, together with the portraits of celebrated natives of the district. The Kirkmadrine Crosses. Note.—See p. 53. I gladly add this note to my paper at the request of the Hon. Secretary in order further to emphasise the two points for which it was chiefly written, viz. to draw public attention to the neglected condition of these primitive grave-stones ; and to strengthen my theory now for the first time, so far as I know, put forward that the Church of Kirkmadrine was originally dedi- cated to St. Martin of Tours. The opinion of all learned antiquarians was summed up by Dean Stanley in 1872 when he wrote that, “ Nowhere in Great Britain is there so ancient a Christian record.” These stones were scheduled in Lubbock’s Act, and yet no practical steps have been taken for their preservation, but they still serve as gate-posts and parts of the churchyard wall of Kirkmadrine. They had been carefully preserved until the Reformation, probably within the church (like the Ruthwell cross, which was not turned outside of its sacred edifice until after 1772); but now the sacred symbols and inscriptions upon them are almost illegible. It was anciently the custom to bury the dead and set up their tombstones within the church, but this was limited to priests in the 10th cen- tury (Bloxam’s Gothic Archit. III., 11 Ed., p. 871). They should be removed to the Antiquarian Museum in Edinburgh, where there is a large collection of incised stones and also what is believed to be the first church bell, of Candida Casa, In regard to the second point, it is well known that when St. Ninian was building Candida Casa—the first church of stone instead of wattles in Scotland—he heard of the death of St. Martin of Tours, A.D. 397, who had been his revered teacher, intimate friend, and generous helper towards its completion, and that he forthwith dedicated the church to his memory. But when Ninian died, A.D. 432, this church became the shrine of his grave, to which countless pilgrims resorted down to the time of the Reformation ; and there is every probability, I think, that after that TRANSACTIONS. 171 event the people of- Galloway would wish a church specially sacred to the memory of St. Martin. Apart from the personal relationship between these two, the Gallican Church had then and for long afterwards supreme influence in this country. There was a church erected to his memory at Canterbury so early as the 5th century, and out of 160 churches subsequently built, those at Hexham, Ripon, Jarrow, and Monkswearmouth were erected by masons and glaziers from Tours in the 7th century. The ancient liturgy of the British Church was derived from the Gallican Church, and the name of St. Martin of Tours occurs not only in pre- Reformation kalendars but in one of A.D. 1587 affixed to “ The cl. Psalmes of David in Meter, for the use of the Kirk of Scotland.” (Bp. Forbes’s Kal., p. xlii). There was no one whom the Church more delighted to honour ; and in answer to the question, What mean these stones? I think I may with reason say that they commemorate Romano-Gallican priests who in the 7th century ministered in Kirkmadrine Church, then erected to the memory of Sanctus Martinus. J. G. H. STARKE. SHSSION 1889-90. 4th of October, 1889. AUN UN Me Agi NR EE ESN G Major BownEN, Vice-President, in the Chair. New Member.—Mr R. M‘Glashan, of the Inland Revenue. Mr Robert Barbour (late secretary), was elected an honorary member in consideration of his services to the Society. Death of Dr Grierson.—The following resolution was passed : “This Society records its deep regret at the death of its ex- President, Dr Thomas Boyle Grierson, of Thornhill, and desires to express its sympathy with the surviving relatives on the great loss they have sustained, and its admiration of Dr Grierson’s personal character, scientific attainments, and wide philanthropy.” SECRETARY’S REPORT. The Secretary (Dr Edward J. Chinnock) then read the annual report. The membership of the Society now numbers 198 ordinary members, of whom 20 have been admitted during the session now closing. There are also 7 life members and 19 honorary members, making 224 in all on the roll. The Society has sustained a loss in the resignation of its Secretary, Mr Robert Barbour, in May. The vote of thanks passed by the Council for his indefatigable services doubtless expressed the unanimous feeling of all the members. Seven Winter Meetings and four Field Meetings have been held during the session. At the former 16 valuable papers were read, all showing laudable research, and some of very great in- terest. The papers read by Messrs Aitken, James Barbour, and : TRANSACTIONS. 173 Weir, may be mentioned as particularly interesting without de- tracting from the merits of the other contributors. The thanks of the Society are due to the painstaking scientific investigations of Messrs Andson, Hastings, M‘Andrew, and Corrie. The President is desirous of obtaining help from members in col- lecting specimens of the shells of the district. It should be the aim of all the members to obtain the support and assistance of their scientific friends in carrying out the objects for which the Society exists. Of the Field Meetings those to Whithorn and Gretna were particularly interesting and successful. It is a pity, however, that in these excursions, while archeology has been well represented, the natural history subjects have been somewhat neglected. The museum has been enriched by our undertaking the custody of the geological and other specimens, as well as a collec- tion of coins, bequeathed by the late Mr William Baxter to the Town Council. The resolution of our Council to hold an exhibition of these in November will give the public an opportunity of inspect- ing this valuable collection. In connection with the British Association the Rev. Mr Andson has undertaken to keep a register of the temperature, &c., of the River Nith, and under his direction, and with the consent of the Town Council, a gauge has been fixed on one of the piers of the New Bridge for taking the depth of the water. During the session we have lost our two most distinguished members, the one an antiquarian, the other a scientist. They were both natives of the burgh and men of whom Dumfries does well to be proud, and whose memory we should delight to honour. Mr William MDowall, in his books relating to his native town and Lincluden, could have said with the poet “Zegt monumentum aere perennius.” In regard to our venerable friend and ex-Presi- dent, Dr Thomas Boyle Grierson, it is difficult to say whether his attainments as a scientist and a philosopher or his unaffected sim- plicity of character as a man was more to be admired. His mind was stored with knowledge of the most varied kind, and yet he was as free as a child from assumption of superiority over those less richly gifted. He spent the best part of his life in imparting to others what he had acquired, and he seemed to carry out the view of Epictetus, whose works he greatly admired : “God has introduced man into the world to be a spectator of Himself and of His works ; and not only to be a spectator but an intrepreter.” 174 TRANSACTIONS. TREASURER’S REPORT. The Treasurer (Mr James S. Thomson) read his annual report. i Dip MES RE ROD NES gE CHARGE. Balance from Session 1887-88 .. ae BF =) ORIG IO 124 Ordinary Members’ Subscriptions (2s Gd) Be ue Le ORIO 6 New do. (entrance money, 2s 6d)... if 015 0 39 Transactions sold at 1s se aoe BSG 60 ane 119 O Interest on Sums lodged in Bank oe bt se 4 0 6 7 AELS): (5) U7/ DISCHARGE. Postage and Bank Charges ee 500 Ase ee Bee ee Die ih so) Salary to Hall-Keeper 110 0 Secretary’s Expenses (Mr Barbour) 2 0 0 Do. do. (Rector Chinnock) Onn 7 Copy Dr Burnside’s History of Dumfries 220 Periodical and Stationery Account 615 8 Bridges, slater are 016 8} Commission of Collector ... 018 3 Flood Gauge on New Bridge 0 5 0 Gas Account 0:3) 9 Lodged in Snes Bank ie Cr are of Society aif Pe In hands of Treasurer ars ae Bs 014 8$ 219) Grew October 4th.—Examined the year’s accounts, compared with vouchers, and found the above abstract leaving a balance of 14s 83d in hands of Treasurer correct. Tuomas LAING. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The following were elected office-bearers and members of the committee for the ensuing session :—President, Richard Rimmer, F.L.S. ; Vice-Presidents, Major Herbert G. Bowden, Wellwood Maxwell, William J. Maxwell, and James G. H. Starke, M.A. (advocate) ; Treasurer, John A. Moodie ; Secretary, Edward J. Chinnock, LL.D. ; Members of Council, Rev. Wm. Andson, James Barbour, James Davidson, William Dickie, Thomas Laing, James Lennox, Robert Murray, John Neilson, M.A., George H. Robb, M.A., and James 8. Thomson. ist of November, 1889. Major Bowpen, V.-P., in the Chair. Exhibition —The Secretary intimated that the Council had resolved to hold an Exhibition of the Baxter Bequest and the TRANSACTIONS. 175 portraits of Dumfriesshire and Galloway worthies and other objects of local interest, on Tuesday, the 12th of November, till Saturday, the 16th. Messrs Barbour, Chinnock, Davidson, Dickie, Lennox, and Moodie were appointed a sub-committee to manage the Exhibition. Donations.—Smithsonian Report for 1886, from Washington ; Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences ; Proceedings of the Canadian Institute, Toronto ; Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences, Davenport, Iowa; Essex Naturalist from January to June, 1889. Mr J. S. Thomson presented a fine specimen of blue from Kimberley Diamond Mine. COMMUNICATIONS. I. Notes on the Minerals of Dumfries and Galloway. By Mr Patrick DupDGEON of Cargen. Until comparatively recent years the greater part of this district has been almost a ¢erva incognita as regards Mineralogy, with the exception of the district of Wanlockhead and Leadhills, which has for long attracted the attention of Mineralogists, from the variety of beautiful specimens found there. One seldom finds in any mineralogical work any notice of minerals to be found in this south-west corner of Scotland ; of course a few have been noticed, and the late Mr Copeland of Blackwood called attention to several mineral localities in the district, but he does not appear to have extended his researches to any great extent in Galloway. Of course, Mineralogists are attracted in their search for minerals to places where mining operations are going on, or where they have been carried on, as it is from lead, copper, iron mines, quarries, &c., that mineralogical specimens are most likely to be procured, for reasons which will be obvious to every one. Few metallic mines have been worked in the Stewartry, and none that I am aware of in Wigtownshire, and none with any great success. Many /ria/s for lead, copper, and iron have been made in different parts of the country, which have been abandoned, but they have given mineralogists opportunities they might not otherwise have had of making many additions to the very meagre list of our local minerals, which, until very lately, were to be found in mineralogical works. Since more attention in this direction has been turned to this part of the country, a vely large number of 176 TRANSACTIONS. minerals, never before recorded as belonging to the district, have to be added to the list, and one new to science.* I leave out for the present the mining districts of Wanlockhead and Leadhills, which have been long well known—they are the only important metaliferous mines in the district. The Blackcraig mine, near Palnure, which was worked for lead for a good many years, but lately abandoned, produced very fine specimens of Dolomite, some of the crystals being of a fine purple tint, probably derived from the presence of manganese. I found there some very remarkable forms of Iron Pyrites—forms I had never before seen. The Pibble mine, about five miles north-east of Creetown, was long worked for lead, and large sums have been expended in opening it up ; it has resulted in a heavy loss to the promoters ; the usual lead and other minerals are to be found amongst the old heaps, but no very striking specimens. At Lackentyre, up the valley of the Fleet, Gatehouse, there are the remains of lead and copper workings, long since abandoned. Wulfenite (molybdate of lead) is found there—the only locality in Britain for this mineral. There are also the other usual lead and copper minerals. Hematite mines exist near Auchencairn (not-now worked), and trials have been made in the neighbourhood for copper, which exists, but not in anything like paying quantities. The usual copper ores are found in the old heaps. Copper has been tried for about half-way up the west side of Cairnsmore ; the working there appears to have been very superficial ; good specimens of Chalcoperite were found in the heaps. Several trials for lead were made some years since along the side of the Monypool Burn, near Creetown. The lead was not found in paying quantities, and they were soon abandoned. I was’ fortunate to find there a thin veil of Kupfernickel and Arsenic. The only other places which I know of in Scotland where Kupfernickel has been found are Wanlockhead and Hiider- stone, in Linlithgowshire ; it was in the vein on the Monypool Burn I found the new mineral above referred to. Up the Kinharvy Burn, above Kinharvy House, one or two manganese minerals are to be found, and very good specimens of brown quartz ; Antimonite was said to be found near that locality ; I have looked for it very carefully, but never found a trace of it. Zircon also was said to be found in the Criffel granite ; Mr Copeland mentions he could never find it ; I have looked very carefully for it, and broken up many *Mineralogical Mag., Vol. VIII., p. 200. TRANSACTIONS. Pia - hundred pieces of granite in the search, but have been equally unsuccessful. There can be little doubt, I think, that crystals of Sphene, which are found in this granite, have been mistaken for it by careless observers, as some of the Sphene crystals, superficially looked at, somewhat resemble Zircon in colour and form ; I think, too, that broken pieces of Psilomelane must have been mistaken for Antimonite, at Kinharvy, although there is little resemblance between these two minerals. Although I never found Zircon in the Criffel granite, my friend, Professor Heddle, and I were fortunate enough to find Allenite in it ; this mineral is sparingly found in some of the granites in the north of Scotland. We also found in this granite, for the first time in Britain, the rare mineral Gadolonite ; it exists very sparingly ; since then we again found this mineral in the granite from Ben Loyal, Sutherlandshire. I may just allude to an instance showing the importance of being able to recognise granites from their enclosed minerals. A gentle- man who was engaged in the investigation of the drift beds and boulder clays in the north-west of England and North Wales wrote to me that he and Professor Bonney had a strong impression that many of the boulders in these drift beds had come from the south of Scotland, and asked me if I thought I could identify any of the granites and rocks from this neighbourhood. I wrote to him I should be glad to assist him. He sent me a large number of rock specimens from the drift and boulder clays in the neighbour- hood of Liverpool and North Wales. I found I could say with a great degree of confidence that many of the granites and rocks sent were from this district, as I found crystals of Sphene in them, and I was quite certain that this was the case when I found, by _ great good fortune, a crystal of Allenite in one of the pieces of granite. It was more than a thousand chances to one finding this erystal of Allenite, as it is rather a rare mineral to find in our granite, even when carefully looked for.* I have never found Sphene in the granite of Cairnsmore, but fair specimens of Epidote are to be got in the granite quarry near Creetown, and in some other localities—generally poor. Amethyst and Smoky Quartz (Cairngorm) are found on Criffel and a few other localities. The former is very abundant on the west side of Criffel, above South- wick House ; more sparingly near Dalbeattie. Clear crystals of Amethyst, suitable for jewellers’ purposes, are rarely found ; I have * “Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society ” for May, 1883, p. 119. 178 TRANSACTIONS. never been fortunate enough to find any; I have been shown cut stones of very good colour and transparency, said to have been found in the district, and have no reason to believe they were not so. The crystals from the west side of Criffel are often large, showy specimens, very suitable for rockeries, &c., for which they are used. Smoky Quartz is not so abundant ; I have found some tolerably clear crystals up the burn behind Kinharvy House, which, no doubt, came from the Psilomelane vein. Ordinary quartz crystals are found in many parts of the district ; no very good ones, so far as I know, are to be had except at Wanlockhead, where good specimens can be obtained. Calcite is, of course, found in many localities ; I have found very good specimens at Black Craig mine, and fair ones have been got at Arbigland. Very fine Calcites are found at Wanlockhead. A vein of Molybnite was at one time worked to a small extent at Almorness Head, Buittle ; I have little doubt it was worked under the idea that it was graphite, which it somewhat resembles. Many mistakes of this kind are made from ignorance, and much money consequently thrown away. I have on several occasions seen bright yellow scales of Mica and pieces of Iron Pyrites sent from-abroad under the idea they were gold ; and one of those so-called “ mining experts” told me he was sure I ‘had a mine of wealth on Cargen,” and advised me to bore for coal! Some years ago a firm of iron and coal proprietors, under the advice of one of these quacks, spent several thousand pounds in the vain hope of finding lodes of Hematite on a property in this immediate neighbourhood. It has been said, and even stated in some publications, that Platinum was found in the water of Urr, near Dalbeattie ; from all I can ascertain, this statement is utterly unfounded. Pyrrhotine, it is also stated, has been found on Criffel; I have never come across it, but Magnetite is occasionally found there, and in other places in the district. At Glendinning, in Eskdalemuir, an Antimony mine was at one time worked, and I hear it is, or about to be, re-opened ; if so, some interesting minerals are likely to be again obtained ; besides Antimonite and Cervantite, in the old heaps I found Valentinite— the first time, I think, this mineral has been found in Britain ; at least, there is no mention of it as being a British mineral in any mineralogical work ; I also obtained some interesting Pseudomorphs there—Cervantite after Valentinite, and Cervantite after Anti- monite. An Antimony mine on the south spur of Hare Hill, between Kirkconnel and New Cumnock, was at one time worked ; TRANSACTIONS. 179 when working there I was not quite sure whether the workings were in Ayrshire or Dumfriesshire—they are close on the march of the two counties—so I will just mention I found Kermes (red Antimony) there, with the other usual Antimony minerals; I do not include this locality in the lists of minerals annexed to this paper. The rich field for minerals at Wanlockhead and Leadhills I need not further allude to, beyond saying that exceedingly fine specimens of Calcite, Barytes, Galena, Smithsonite, and Vanadinite are to be obtained there. Dr Wilson of Wanlockhead has done much of late in developing the minerals of that district, and has made a very fine collection ; he has most kindly contributed some very fine specimens to the Observatory Museum. Leadhills is actually in Lanarkshire ; the places are so near together, and the minerals of both localities are so nearly identical, that they may be classed in one list. Gold was at one time worked for over a large area in that district, and was all obtained trom the alluvial deposits in the various valleys. That the gold originally came from quartz ‘‘reefs ” containing the metal there can be no doubt, but none of these reefs, if they still exist, have been discovered ; many pieces of quartz containing gold have from time to time been found by the miners and others, and one tolerably large piece of quartz showing a good deal of gold is now placed in the Museum of Science and Art; Edinburgh, and is well worthy of attention. The late Duke of Buccleuch ordered a lithographic plate to be made of this interesting specimen, a copy of which will be found in the Observatory Museum. Atkinson, in his “ Discouverie and Historie of the Gold Mynes in Scotland,” 1619, mentions that a Mr George Bowes obtained from James VI. a permit to work the gold mines in Scotland, that at Winlocke Head he discovered “a small vaine of gold which had much small gold upon it.” He swore his work- men to secrecy, and after working the vein for some time, carried off to England a considerable quantity of gold ; before leaving, he caused the shaft to be closed up and concealed ; this vein appears ‘to have been looked for, and is alluded to by several other parties about this time ; it has never been re-found. In the preface to a French account of the reign of James V., a translation of which was published in London in 1710, it is said that “in the King’s reign (James V.) gold mines were found in Crawford Moor by the Germans, which afforded the King great sums. The Scots did separate the gold from sand by washing.” And again—* In James V.’s time 300 men were employed for several summers in 180 TRANSACTIONS. washing gold, of which they got above £100,000 English money.” In a memorandum by Robert Seton, zemp. James V., it is stated gold has been found at {Newtoun, in Angérs (2); Cartburn, in Annandale ; Solway Sands, near the new toun of Annand ; Glen- naip, betwixt Carrick and Galloway ; Galloway, in the Barony of Terregles ; and in a hill called Colochere Hill ; in the Hill of Skrill (Screel of Bengairn ?) “mucho oro y grandes pedacos.” As to these localities mentioned by Seton, I have never met with any notice of gold being obtained from any of them other than in the above- quoted memorandum. Gold can always be found in the Wanlock- head district ; it is rather wet and dirty work obtaining it ; and what with employing men to dig in the alluvium and assist in washing, any I have got myself has cost about a shilling a grain, the intrinsic value being about twopence. Wanlockhead lead con- tains about five to seven ounces of silver to the ton ; the two metals are separated by Pattinson’s beautiful process. I attach lists of minerals to be found in the different localities in the district, so far as I know. I have not a doubt, however, but that the lists can be extended. For instance, I have never found such a common and widely distributed mineral as Garnet, which, 1 cannot help thinking, must exist somewhere in the district. I must, however, now leave further research in this direction to younger hands, feeling assured that perseverance, par- ticularly in the remoter parts of the district, will be attended with success. I think it should be one of the ‘rst objects of this Society to make as complete lists as pussible of all the natural productions of the district. If all societies similar to ours did so, a mass of infor- mation would be obtained of the greatest use to all interested in the different branches of Natural Science, and at the same time save specialists an immense amount of unnecessary labour. DUMFRIESSHIRE. WANLOCKHEAD (including LrEADHILLS).— Anglesite—Arra- gonite —Asholane—Aurichalicite—Barytes— Calamine —-Calcite— Caledonite—Cerussite — Chaleedony—Chalcopyrite — Chalybite— Chessylite—Chlorite—Chrysocolla—Dolomite—Erythrine (Cobalt bloom)— Galena — Gold—Greenockite — Hematite—Jamesonite— Jasper —Kupfernickel — Lanarkite —Leadhillite— Limnite—Linar- ite—Lydian-stone—Malachite —Melaconite—Mimelite—Minium— Mountain - wood — Mountain -leather — Plumbo-calcite — Plumbo- TRANSACTIONS. 181 nacrite—Psilomelane—Pyrites, iron—Pyromorphite— Quartz (rock crystal) — Smithsonite —Strontianite —Susannite — Vanadinite — Vauquelinite—Wad—Zinc-blende. WESTERKIRK, G/lendinning.— Antimonite—Calcite—Cervan- tite—Pyrites, iron—Valentinite—-Zinc-blende. Pseudomorphs — Cervantite, after Valentinite—Cervantite, after Antimonite. CANOBIE.—Selenite (Fibrous Gypsum). Coal. SANQuHAR.—Calcite —Coal—Pyrites, iron. Morrat, Hart Fe//—Alum-shale—Selenite. GALLOWAY. Anwotu, Lackentyre.—Anglesite—Calamine—Calcite—Cerus- site — Chaleopyrite — Chrysocolla— Galena — Malachite — Pitchy Copper Ore—Pyromorphite—Vanadinite (?)—Wulfenite. BUITTLE, Craignair.— Amethyst—Sphene. of Almorness-head.—Molybdinite. GirtHON, Pibdle Mine—Anglesite—Cerusite—Chessylite— Chrysocolla—Galena—Malachite—Pitchy Copper Ore—Pyromor- phite—Smithsonite—Towanite—Tungstate of Lead (1) KIRKMABRECK, Monypool Burn.—Annabergite—Asbolane— Cerussite — Dudgeonite *— Erythrine— Galena — Kupfernickel— Pyromorphite. KIRKMABRECK, Cairnsmore.—Chalcopyrite. a. Creetown, Granite Quarry.—Epidote. Minnicarr, Black Craig Mine.—Calcite—Dolomite, white and purple—Erythrine—Galena—Pyrites, iron—Zinc-blende. Newassey, Cviffe/. — Allanite — Amethyst — Gadolonite— Magnetite-——Pyrrhotine (?)—Sphene. Nrewassey, Aznharvey.— Psilomelane—Smoky Quartz (Cairn- gorm)—Wad. ‘ NEWABBEY, A7rkdean.—-Calcite. RERWICK, Awchencairn.—Chalcopyrite—-Chessylite—Chryso- Solla—Hematite — Malachite—Pyromorphite. TROQUEER, Kirkconnell,—Barytes— W ad. Craigbill.—Hematite—Sphene. is Lochanhead.—Epidote. Quartz, Felspar, Mica, and Hornblende, the main constituents of Granite, are of course abundant in the district, but with the exception of the first, are seldom met with in distinct crystalline forms. 2? * Discovered by the author of this paper.—Ep1Tor. 182 TRANSACTIONS. Iron Pyrites is a very widely distributed mineral, and may be found almost anywhere ; in the above lists, only localities are given where really good specimens can be got. II. On the Anatomy of Arion hortensis. By Mr JoHN RUTHERFORD (late Secretary). It was through some remarks and suggestions of our Presi- dent, that I was induced to take up the study of the structure of this slug. The whole of the work, including the diagrams, is original. Arion hortensis belongs to the family, Limacide—Genus Arion. This slug is very common; may be found almost every- where in company with Zzmax agrestis and other representatives of the slug family, and, after a little eye-training, its special charac- teristics become quite familiar. It has many varieties of colour, its fixed and marked distinctive features being its lateral longi- tudinal bands, running from the caudal gland along each side of the body, crossing the mantle on the upper margin of the respiratory orifice, and terminating at its anterior edge. It has sometimes a narrow border of grey, rufous, or orange colour. The foot is often tinged with yellow, the dorsal part a darkish grey. Length is from 12 to 2 inches. It has four anterior processes, two superior, and two inferior. The latter pair I believe to be feelers, in which is located the sense of smell. The superior pair, which are slightly knobed, are the eyes, the eye proper occupying the knob or apex of the process. It has cornea, crystalline lens, choroid, and optic nerve ; is very short-sighted, not having any distinct vision beyond a quarter of an inch. The advantage of these pediculated eyes to the animal must be great, as it can turn in any direction (volun- tarily) one eye, or both. The eyes, with their columella, can be drawn into the body by the retractor muscle, which is attached in such a way that the eyeball is first turned round, then the colu- mella is drawn in, exactly as the finger of a glove would be ifa string was fastened to its inside point and drawn into the palm. To extract the crystalline lens, snip off the eye with a pair of scissors, put under pressure under the microscope, when the lens will be forced out of its place and will float in the surrounding fluid. The appendage known as the mante is a fold or overlapping of the integument, in the right border of which is the respiratory orifice. Under the fold, on the same side, is the vent and common TRANSACTIONS. 183 generative orifice. There is a caudal slime gland, with a very short duct. The gland is in the substance of the skin. After killing the slug, with the scissors cut down the centre of the foot, commencing behind the buccal mass, then pin down to the dissecting table by the edges of skin ; remove the visceral mass, and lay aside in water for future examination. There will remain attached to the skin the refracted eye, with its retractor muscle ; the cut attachment of the generative organ ; the vent; the heart ; pericardium ; aorta; vena cava; lung, with pleural membrane ; and the retractor muscles of the head and inferior antenne. Respiratory System.—Breathing is carried on through the pulmonary aperture which leads into the lung cavity. In inspira- tion, the muscle which lines the floor of the mantle contracts and bulges it up, and air is drawn in when the muscle relaxes; the mantle flattens and the air is expelled. The pleural membrane envelops the heart, pericardinm, and lung, and is attached to the skin by its border. Shell—Molluses without any external shell are called slugs ; those with external shells are called snails. In slugs, between the muscular floor of the mantle and the outer skin, there is a shell more or less developed. In the black slug, Arion afer, it consists of a few granules. The shell of Avion hortensis is a little more perfect, the granules being adherent, and measures from 1-50th to 1-32nd of an inch in its longest diameter. The shell is over the heart and forms a protective covering to that organ. Circulation.—The heart occupies a position in the posterior part of the lung substance, immediately under the rudimentary shell; it is about 1-12th of an inch in its longest diameter ; is enclosed in the pericardium ; the whole, as well as the lung, is covered by the pleura. The heart is a muscular sac divided into two cavities—an auricle and ventricle. It has a rythmical action, beating about 40 times in a minute, and may sometimes be seen pulsating externally a little to the left of the centre of the mantle. The heart of a frog or fish if removed at once after death from the body will continue to beat for some time. This power of rythmic contraction is sustained by small nerve centres in the substance of the heart, which are called ganglia. If those ganglia be destroyed, rythmic movements cease. I do not know whether the heart of a slug will continue to beat for any time after removal from its natural surroundings ; but I have seen the heart of a slug beat for an hour after the animal had been cut up and all the viscera 184 TRANSACTIONS. removed, the skin being pinned to the table, the heart, with pericardium, lung, and pleura remaining zz situ. The blood enters the auricle by the pulmonary vein, passes from the auricle to the ventricle, is pumped into the aorta (which arises from the base of the ventricle), and divides into an anterior and posterior aorta. The anterior branch passes the generative organs under the intes- tine and on to the brain or large nerve centre, as the carotid artery, on its way giving off a branch to the generative organs, and other branches to the foot crop, buccal mass, head, &c. The posterior branch supplies the liver, stomach, intestine, and the posterior part of the generative organs. The blood is returned to the lung by venous sinuses, when after passing through the lung is returned to the heart by the pulmonary vein. Liver.—The liver, or digestive gland, is large in proportion to the other viscera. It is a brownish yellow colour, and divided into two principal lobes. I believe the secretion from each lobe is conveyed to the intestine by separate ducts. It fills the cavities between the lobes of the ovo-sac and the stomach. The herma- phrodite gland, or ovo-testis, is embedded in its substance. Digestive System.—The mouth, when closed, has a puckered or drawn-in appearance. It is furnished with a ribbed, horny, crescent-shaped superior maxilla, with a posterior projecting plate, which forms the hard palate, and to which the muscles are attached which move it. The mouth opens into the buccal mass or pharynx, which is a rounded muscular lump. From the lower and posterior surface of its*cavity a pale diverticulum depends. This is the sac of the lingua] ribbon ortongue. Although sometimes called by the latter name, it has no likeness to that on which our ordinary ideas of such an organ are founded, for instead of being a projecting body lying in the cavity of the mouth, it is to some extent a sac, which passes backwards and downwards, the open end opening vbliquely upon the floor of the mouth. When this sac is dissected, laid open, and examined, it is found to be covered with small teeth, which have a superior and inferior process on those near the centre line of the ribbon. The inferior process gradually lessens from the centre to the side, and in the side teeth it is wanting. There are 112 rows, each row having 26 teeth on each side of the middle line, and is expressed : 26 + 26 x 112 =5824 teeth, each measuring 1-500th of an inch in length. Below, and overlapped by the open end of the ribbon, is a tooth-like cartilage, hinged, and resembling to some extent the epiglottis. I have had some difficulty in TRANSACTIONS. 185 understanding the physiology of this curious mouth. I think that the jaw is used to snip off portions from the edge of the leaf, and by the action of muscles on the cartilage under the ribbon it is drawn to the front of the mouth, turning the teethy sac inside out to rasp portions from the flat side of the leaf, or it may be used to rasp the leaf when held by the jaw. Behind the buccal mass there is a short cesophagus, through which the food passes to the crop, which is used asa store. It then enters the stomach, when after digestion and mixing with the secretion from the liver, it passes on to the bowel and the vent, which opens externally by the side of the respiratory orifice. When examining the con- tents of the bowel I found a great number of small intestinal worms, or entozoa. Nervous System.—Surrounding the cesophagus is a collar of nerve tissue, which may be called the large nerve centre or brain of the animal. It is divided into two divisions—the supra- esophageal ganglia ; and the sub-esophageal ganglia. Both are united by bands of nerve fibres. The supra-cesophageal ganglia (which in some measure corresponds to the cerebrum of the higher animals) give off the principal nerves to the head segment, eyes, &c., the first pair going to the inferior antenne. We know that in the higher animals the first pair are the special nerves of the sense of smell, and if we reason here by analogy we will call the smaller antenne the organs of smell. The second pair are the optic nerves. The third supplies the retractor muscles of the eye, a branch going to the retractor of the head. The sub-cesophageal ganglia are divided into two portions—an anterior and posterior portion, the anterior giving nerves to the muscular substance of the foot, &c. The posterior gives branches to the body wall, viscera, &c. The beautiful silvery appearance of the nerves radi- ating from the large nerve centre is very striking, and when once seen is never forgotten. Generative Organs.—This slug, like many members of this order, is hermaphrodite, ze. it is both male and female, but not self impregnating. The common orifice is under the fold of the mantle in front of the vent. The organs consist of vagina ; vaginal prostate; receptaculum seminis ; albuminiparous gland ; Pents sac; vas deferenes ; hermaphrodite gland, with its duct. The principal organ is the gland, which is situated in the left lobe of the liver. It consists of numerous follicles of a darkish colour, held together by connective tissue. The ova and spermatosoa are both formed in 186 TRANSACTIONS. this gland, a common duct leaves this gland and enters the albuminiparous gland near its base, when after receiving the duct of that gland leaves it to form the common generative canal. This canal is composed of the vas deferens and oviduct united together. The vas deferens branches off at the neck of the oviduct, and gradually widens asit enters the penis sac. The seminal receptacle is a pear shaped body connected to the vestibule by a short neck, It is to be regretted that the diagrams with which I illustrated this paper cannot be reproduced here, as by their aid the various parts described can be much more easily understood. 12th to 16th of November, 1889. EXHIBITION. (Description from Standard ). The immediate occasion of this effort on the part of the Society was the reception of the minerals bequeathed to the town by the late Mr W. Baxter, of Glasgow, which have been placed under its care. The minerals have been arranged in cases in the upper room, under the charge of Mr Davidson, Summerhill. There has been brought together also an interesting loan collection of local antiquities, and of Burns and Stuart relics and autograph letters ; and the room downstairs has been converted into a local portrait gallery, in which the works—chiefly engravings, with an admixture of crayons, pencil sketches, photographs, and silhouettes —number about two hundred. A portrait of Mr Baxter, executed in crayon by his relative, Mr J. R. Ferguson, Dumfries, overlooks his mineral collection. The silver gun of the incorporated trades adorns the gable ; and below it is a wooden panel, with a figure of the donor, King James VL, carved upon it, and a Latin inscription, in which the divine right of kings is asserted, this being the property of Mr Davidson. Mr Wilson, solicitor, Sanquhar, sends a choice collection of stone and bronze celts ; and contributions to the illustration of the same ages are made by Mr James Lennox; Mr J. H. Rutherford, Ash Bank, Parkgate (who sends a very fine bronze celt found in Tin- wald) ; and Mr J. Corrie, Moniaive (bronze pot). The Burns relies include the miniature of “Clarinda,” for which she sat at the poet’s request, and which was discovered less than a year ago by Mr Barbour, architect ; various books annotated in Burns’s hand- : TRANSACTIONS. 187 writing, the original MS. of the song, “Gae fetch to me,” his masonic apron, &c., the property of Mr James Lennox ; a drinking horn and early edition of his works presented by Mrs Burns to the grandmother of the present owner, Mr J. J. Glover, Hazelwood ; the books being autograph lines and inscription by Burns, which are in possession of the Mechanics’ Institute ; a gold brooch, with miniature of Robert Burns, eldest son of the poet, and hair of the three sons, lent by his grand-daughter, Mrs Brown, Dumfries ; letters of “ Lovely Polly Stewart,” her father’s will, &c., belonging to Mr Barbour. Captain Cutlar Fergusson of Craigdarroch has not only sent ‘‘ the whistle” which his ancestor carried off in the contest immortalised by Burns, but has also allowed the will of Annie Laurie, the beautiful heroine of “ Maxwelltown Braes,” to be exhibited, we believe for the first time. We give below the text of this quaint and interesting document : I, Anna Laurie, spouse to Alexr. Fergussone off Craigdarroch, For- asmuchas I considering it a dewtie upon everie persone, whyle they are in health and sound judgment so to settle yr. worldly affairs that yrby all animosities betwixt friend and relatives may obviat, and also for the singular love and respect I have for the said Alex. Fergussone, in caise he survive me I do heirby make my letter will as follows: First, I recommend my soule to God, hoping by the meritorious righteousness of Jesus Christ to be saved ; secondly, I recommend my body to be decently and orderly interred ; and in the third place nominate and appoynt the sd. Alexr. F'ergussone to be my sole and only executor, Legator, and universall intromettor with my haill goods, gear, debts, and soums of money that shall pertain and belong to me the tyme off my decease or shall be dew to me by bill, bond, or oyrway ; with powr to him to obtain himself confirmed and decreed exr. to me and to do everie thing for fixing and establishing the right off my spouse in his person as law requires ; in witness whereoff thir putts. ([written ?] be John Wilsone off Chapell, wryter in Drumfrise) are subd. by me at Craigdarroch the twenty eight day of Apryle, Jajvij and eleven [1711] years, befor the witnesses the sd. John Wilsone and John Nicholsone his servitor. Ann Laurie. Jo. Wrrsone, witnes. JOHN HOAT, witnes, Mr Maxwell Witham of Kirkconnel enriches the collection with the valuable memorials of the Stuart period from Kirkconnel, and there are a number of deeds and documents connected with another important local family, the Griersons of Lag, referring particularly to Sir Robert of the persecution era. The parapher- 188 TRANSACTIONS. nalia of the Incorporated Trades is well represented ; an Andrea Ferrara sword, with beautifully fluted blade (the property of Mr J. J. Glover), arrests attention in a small collection of weapons ; Mrs Gilchrist lends, among other things, an exact copy of the Lorne brooch ; Miss Richardson, Shakespeare Street, an impression of the original burgh seal. But want of space forbids that we should dwell at present on these or other exhibits. The autograph letters, however, tall for mention. There are two of Carlyle’s. One, the property of Mr Watson, Castlebank, was written to a friend in Dumfries during the cholera visitation. The other is in the possession of Mr J. C. M‘Naught, Queen’s Place, and is in these terms : Craigenputtock, 11th March, 1834, Dear Sir,—Here are two boxes of old books, which still do not exhaust my stock: if you can change them for me into money, they will be much more easily carried in that latter shape. Most of them are of very small value, and I have left you to dispose of these according to your own judgment and opportunity : a few I have marked as more notable, or hypothetically worth a Price, which is in general some thirty per cent. less than I bought them at in the same second-hand condition. You must do the best you can: I shall see you again in a week or two. An Invoice is inclosed, which (tho’ wrong ordered in the copying) will, if you attend to my marginal directions, give you the books some- what in their actual order and position from top to bottom of the boxes. I keep the original of it here. The little Box is not my own: as there are but a small number of books in it, perhaps you could get it emptied, and returned to-morrow by the same cart. But at anyrate there will be other opportunities. Only do not use that Box, for it suits a special purpose here. T remain (in great haste) yours truly, T. CARLYLE. Mr M‘Kie, Bookseller, ——, Duntfries, with two Boxes of Books. Mr M‘Naught also shews two brief letters of Sir Walter Scott. Two of Allan Cunningham’s are contributed by Mrs Gilchrist, Linwood. Belgrave Place, 15th April, 1835. Dear Miss Gordon,—I enclose two letters, one to Archdeacon Strachan, and another to the Hon. R. Jamesone, his Majesty’s Attorney- General. I have written a third to Mr Dunlop, secretary to the Canada Company; but it would make more than Lord Dudley Stuart’s frank can carry ; it will therefore go to-day with some letters from my brother TRANSACTIONS. 189 by the route you direct. You will see that I have thus introduced you to a good divine, a sound lawyer, and thirdly, to one who has much in his power in the disposal of land, My wife joins me in love to your mamma and yourself. I wish you all success, and bid God bless you and yours.—I remain, very sincerely, ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. Miss Gordon. 27 Belgrave Place, London, 16th April, 1835. My Dear Friend,—I am about to tax the kindness of your nature. A young lady, Miss Gordon, my wife’s dear friend and mine, goes with her brother to your land of Promise, with the hope of finding a sheltered nook and a comfortable home. She is amiable and highly respectable, and if you will be so good as befriend her it will be her safeguard among strangers, for your heart is not only warm, but the strength of the law is with you. I have introduced her to Archdeacon Strachan, and given her a note to Mr Dunlop, of the Canada Company. Some literary reputations have risen and others have remained stationary since I had the pleasure of seeing you here. Of the former, one is near and dear to yourself ; the fine true feeling and exquisite perception of beauty in her works have made them general favourites. I dare not say that I have risen, but if my books he not good they are read. [Songs ?]. The Lives of the Painters and the Life and Works of Burns have sold very well, though these merciless curs the critics snarled a little. Iam afraid they will have more cause to snarl at my next work, the Lives of the British Poets. Do, my dear friend, write me a word of encouragement about this undertaking. I have some mis- givings. My wife unites with me in love to you.—I remain, my dear friend, yours ever and ever, ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. The Hon. Robt. Jamesone, Attorney-General, &c., &e., &e. An old placard prominently displayed (and which is in possession of Mr M‘Naught, Queen’s Place) recalls the story of the abortive duel and the law suit. In the placard, which is dated 1822, Mr Vair, wine merchant, Leith, denounces Mr David Armstrong, writer, Dumfries (afterwards Provost of the burgh), who was his rival for the hand of Miss Grieve, as “a rascal, a liar, and a coward.” The portrait gallery is enriched with some early sketches by Thorburn. A picture which is attracting considerable attention is a spirited caricature of Provost Fraser, at one time proprietor of the King’s Arms Hotel, Dumfries, in which the Provost is repre- sented in the form of an ass carrying his own black servant. The 190 TRANSACTIONS. history of this picture is as amusing as the sketch itself. In 1849 a gentleman named Frith was in the habit of caricaturing any Dumfriesian of note whom he might observe on the street, these portraits being usually hung on his shop window. Among others caricatured was Provost Fraser, who, being very indignant at being dealt with in such a manner, threatened summary vengeance with fire-arms, the result being that on the following morning the sketch now on exhibition in the Society's rooms appeared on Frith’s window. The local portrait gallery has been a source of much attraction to visitors. Mr Barbour, with whom this idea originated, and on whom the chief work of forming the collection devolved, has reason to be gratified with the success which has attended his effort. In the place of honour over the mantlepiece, the Earl of Mansfield, the eminent forensic lawyer and Lord Chief Justice, fittingly symbolises the majesty of the law ; and grouped in the same neighbourhood are representatives of some leading local houses, among them the late Duke of Buccleuch—of whom there is also a charming engraving as a child in a family group—the late Marquis of Queensberry, “the Union Duke,” a caricature sketch of “Old Q”; William, fifth Earl of Nithsdale, and his Countess, the Lady Winifred Herbert, who so cleverly managed his escape from the Tower of London. ‘The Admirable Crichton ” typifies in his own person all learning and accomplishments ; and in Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe we have a modern representative of versatile genius. The most striking symbols of the county’s connection with art are Thorburn’s early sketches and miniature portraits of the late Mark Johnstone of Stonehousecroft, Maxwelltown (the father of Mrs Symons) ; of the late Mr James Bogie, nurseryman (one of the party who undertook the duty of removing the mortal remains of Burns to the Mausoleum) ; and of the late Mr Rae, farmer in Gateslack. There is also a portrait of the late Mr Dunbar, the sculptor of the sleeping child in St. Michael’s Church. The walls bear eloquent testimony to the skill of a Dumfries artist, Mr J. R. Fergusson, with the crayon, a department in which he has acquired a just celebrity. Besides his portrait of the late Dr Grierson there are hung large crayons by him of Carlyle and of the late Mr M‘Dowall, both excellent likenesses. And of his facility in the use of oils a small painting of the late Mr John Jackson, solicitor, affords a very favourable example. Near to that of Dr Grierson are hung portraits of the late Sir William TRANSACTIONS. 191 Jardine of Applegarth, first president of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, and of the late Dr Gilchrist, a more recent occupant of the office. There is alsoa portrait of the late Mr Starke of Troqueer Holm, the immediate successor of Sir William. The commanding figure in the local world of letters as here represented is of course that of Burns. Of the poet himself there are nearly a dozen engravings. Two of these (the property of Mr Maxwell, bookseller, and of Mr Gibson Starke of Troqueer Holm) bear inscriptions in the handwriting of the poet’s sons. Grouped around the central figure are portraits of members of his family and literary friends ; among the latter being Dr Currie, his first biographer ; the Rev. Dr Blacklock, a native of Annan, and the blind poet-minister of Kirkcudbright ; Mr Syme of Ryedale; the Earl of Glencairn; and an engraving of Mr Martin Hardie’s striking portrait group, “Burns in Edinburgh.” A photograph is also shewn of Miss M‘Murdo, “ Phillis the Fair” of his song. In “ the poet’s corner” we find further three portraits of Allan Cunningham, one of them being a sketch which was in the collection of the late Sir James Gibson Craig ; Henry Scott Riddell, a native of Ewesdale, and author of “Scotland Yet ;” Thomas Aird, the friend of Ayton; and James Hogg, who was successively a shepherd and a farmer in Dumfriesshire before settling at Altrive. General Sir Robert Laurie, who represented Dumfriesshire in Parliament from 1774 until his death in 1804, and one of the three who took part in “the Whistle” contest at Friars’ Carse, is also entitled to be ranked among the friends of Burns. Near his portrait is that of a descendant of his successful rival on that occasion, Mr Cutlar Fergusson of Craigdarroch, M.P. for the Stewartry, and a member of Earl Grey’s Reform Ministry. The Senate has other representatives in the persons of the late Mr J. J. Hope-Johnstone, M.P. for Dumfriesshire ; Mr Ewart, M.P. for the Dumfries Burghs ; and Mr R. Milligan, brother of the late Mr Milligan of Westpark, who sat for Bradford in the Parliaments of 1847 and 1852. In Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, Sheriff of Dumfriesshire, and Mr Andrew Crosbie, advocate, son of a Provost of Dumfries, and the “ Pleydell” of Scott’s “Guy Mannering,” we have additional pillars of the law. Divinity is strongly represented. Perhaps the most attractive portrait in this series is a remarkably fine engraving of Edward Irving. There is a complete set of the ministers of the New Church of Dumfries, several of them gentlemen of distinction; and among others we 192 TRANSACTIONS, note the late Dr Wood, Dumfries ; Dr Dunbar, Applegarth ; Dr Robert Gordon, “ the sweet preacher,” a native of Glencairn ; Dr Wightman, of Kirkmahoe; Dr M‘Vicar, of Moffat ; Mr Gatt, of Graitney ; and a medallion of Dr Scott, of St. Michael’s. Besides Mr Fergusson’s crayon of Carlyle, there are a beautiful interior view of Chelsea house, with Mr and Mrs Carlyle at home, and an engraving of the Maclise portrait. Of Hugh Clapperton, the African traveller, a portrait is lent by his cousin, Miss Clapperton, Annan. Sir John Ross, the Arctic explorer, is also represented ; and there are portraits of Paterson, the founder of the Bank of England, and Telford, the engineer. Many faces of leading citizens of a past generation are figured on the walls. The silhouettes by Firth of prominent Dumfriesians of forty years ago we have already noticed. Besides the caricature of Provost Fraser there are characteristic portraits of Dean Hamiltun, Mr Irving of Gribton, and Mr Sinclair, bookseller. A few portraits are also introduced of notables who were more slightly connected with the district ; among them being Queen Mary, Prince Charlie, “the great Marquis” of Montrose, who captured Dumfries for the Royalists in 1644, a transaction of which a contemporary printed account is exhibited upstairs ; Claverhouse, “the gallant Graham” of the Cavaliers, the heartless persecutor of the Scottish peasantry. A. collection of Wedgwood cameos, from Flaxman’s designs, illustrate another form of art. Among the exhibits in the antiquarian section, in addition to those already noticed, we may mention the immense punch bowl of the Incorporated Trades, lent by Mrs D. Dunbar, Langlands ; the ram’s horn snuff mull presented to them by the late Captain M‘Dowall,.now the property of Mrs Sloan of Elmbank ; the minute book of the seven incorporations, extending back to 1612, lent by Mr Primrose of Primrosehill; that of the Glovers, belonging to Mr James Lennox; a burgess ticket of 1773, in favour of an ancestor of his own, lent by Mr J. J. Glover, Hazle- wood; a book by the late Henry D. Thoreau, bearing the author's autograph, and also that of Carlyle, who presented it to Aird, the property of Mr Cumming, Albany. In the same case with this book and the Carlyle and Cunningham letters are a silhouette of Lieutenant Allan, of the Canadian Queen’s Rangers, and an edition of “The Gentle Shepherd” edited by him, lent by Mr Allan, chemist, Dumfries. Mr Henry Gordon exhibits the MS, of Train’s history of the Buchanites, with annotations and criticisms in the Eee TRANSACTIONS. 193 hand of Andrew Innes, the last survivor of the sect; and Mr J. J. Glover, one of the spinning wheels made by them during their stay in Galloway. a es] Flotle |e re] 4 re Ee lf) 4 > 1 ee les So] BL a | we | we we | wm | wo ae Be| Se 22 /me jaslS5 lee (ee |22/23/8e] 28 || 23 | ee | zs =| o — ° | i) =] ci) 83] 2's BE (|2e (22/22/26 |28 |SE\S4¢/E2) e. |S) s¢ | 28 | g ‘% [SHI Ss way ee ee ee pee oo) oe) CB) eee 2 S| © “"G ea ‘opeys Ul LoJOMLOULIETT, 2 S ae < -OUDAH TIVANIVE SuL10SL90y-J[OS WALANOUVE ee S | 490} OD [PAP BOS DAOGE UOLPVAOTHT “6881 aivak ay ei Surunp ‘Sonu OdVAIOT, [[VMONT JV WoL} SUOIYLATESY() [BOTSO[OIO9}0 204 TRANSACTIONS. Barometer.—The highest reading of the barometer occurred on the 5th December, on the evening of which day it stood at 30725 inches—the highest reading for the last four years. The lowest reading was on the 7th October, when the mercury fell to 28.445 in. On that occasion a very deep depression moved from south-west to north-east, the centre of which passed over the north of Ireland and the extreme south of Scotland, and about 9 A.M. was very near Dumfries. A large amount of cirrus cloud in the afternoon of the previous day, with a backing wind and a falling barometer, gave premonition of the approach of a cyclonic disturb- ance ; and the fact that at the hour mentioned, the wind, when the barometer was at the lowest, was comparatively moderate, though it had been very strong and squally during the night, was an evidence that the centre of the cyclone was then passing over this district. Between 9 P.M. on the 6th and 9 A.M. on the 7th, twelve hours, the fall in the barometer was 1:072 in. The range for the year was 2°280 in., and the mean pressure (reduced to 32 deg. and sea level) was 29°925 in.—very nearly the average of the three previous years. Low barometer readings, ranging from 28°9 in. to . 29:2 in., occurred in January, February, March, April, August, November, and December, and were for the most part accompanied by storms of wind and rain, but the year has not been exceptional in this respect, and in no case has the mean pressure of any month fallen below 29°661 in., which happened in October, the month in which most rain fell. In January, June, September, November, and December the mean pressure exceeded 30 in., and in all these months the weather was of a favourable character. Temperature.—The highest temperature of the year was recorded on the 22d June, when the maximum reading of the ther- mometer was 82°4 deg., as compared with 83°6 deg. on 26th June, 1888, and 87 deg. on 25th June, 1887. It is worthy of remark that the highest single day readings during the past three years have ‘occurred in June, about or shortly after the summer solstice. The mean temperature of June last was also the highest of the year, viz., 59°8 deg., as compared with 57:8 deg. in July, and 57:7 deg. in August, though as a rule the highest mean temperatures usually occur in Jnly. From the 14th June to the 6th July, there was very bright sunny weather, during which the maximum readings of the thermometer ranged from 64 deg. to 82:4 degs., and the minimum from 46 deg. to 54 deg., and no rain fell, and in all during the summer there were 46 days on which the maximum TRANSACTIONS. 205 readings exceeded 70 deg., in contrast with 14 days in 1888, and 40 days in 1887. The lowest temperature of the year was recorded on 10th February and 4th March, on both of which the minimum reading was 20°5 degs., as compared with 13-3 deg. in February, 1888, and 21 deg. in December, 1887. Annual range of tempera- ture, 61:9 deg. The month of lowest mean temperature was February, with a record of 37°8 deg., and December came next with 38:7 deg., and January third with 39-9 deg. In 1888 the lowest mean temperature was also in February, and the next lowest in March. There were 55 nights on which the thermometer fell to 32 deg. and under, with an aggregate of 193 degrees of frost. This compares favourably with the two previous years, there having been in 1888, 83 nights of frost, with an aggregate of 293 degrees ; and in 1887, 96 nights, with an aggregate of 360 degrees. An unusual circumstance was the absence of frost in April and May, in the former of which there was only one night on which the protected thermometer fell slightly below the freezing point, while in May the lowest recorded temperature was 40 deg., the mean temperature of that month being fully 5 deg. above average. The mean temperature of the year was 48:1 deg., as compared with 46°5 deg. in 1888, and 47-2 deg. in 1887, and 46:2 deg. in 1886. This is the first year since I began to take observations that the mean annual temperature of Dumfries has reached, or rather slightly exceeded, the value assigned to it in temperature charts, viz., 48 deg. With a fully average temperature, and a sufficient but not excessive supply of moisture, the year has on the whole been very favourable to vegetation. Rainfall—tThe heaviest falls of rain within 24 hours occurred on the 6th March and the 6th June, on both of which days 1:22 in. were recorded. On the former of these days there was a continu- ous and heavy fall of rain during the day, followed by sleet and snow during the night. The excessive fall in June was connected with a severe thunderstorm, which began about 6 P.M., and con- tinued with more or less severity till near midnight. The rainiest month of the year was October, with a total of 5:16 in., which fell in 21 days. But August was the month in which the greatest number of rainy days occurred, viz., 25 out of the 31, to the sad interruption of harvest work in most parts of the country. But as if to compensate for this the driest month was September, with a record of only 1°69 in. spread over 11 days—and November, February, and June came next, all of which shewed less than 2 in. 206 TRANSACTIONS. It is worthy of note that last year also February and September were the driest months. There was a period of drought extending from 15th of June to the 6th of July, in which no rain fell, and which was characterised throughout by warm and sunny days and mild nights. The mean of the day temperature during this period was 73°9 deg., and of the night temperature fully 49 deg. The total number of days on which rain or snow fell during the year was 202, as compared with 195 in 1888, and 181 in 1887. The total rainfall for the year was 35°17 in., as compared with 35°91 in 1888, 30°99 in 1887, and 41:13 in 1886. This gives a mean for the four years in which observations have been taken at Dumfries of 35°80 in. FHygrometer—The mean reading of the dry bulb thermometer for the year was 47-5 deg., and of the wet bulb 45:1 deg. The differ- ence (2°4 deg.) is exactly the same as last year, but the tempera- tures of this year are higher by 1°5 deg., a difference very nearly corresponding with the increase in the mean temperature of the year—from 46°5 deg. to 48:1 deg. Temperature of the dew point, 42-4 deg. Relative humidity (saturation being equal to 100) 82. Thunderstorms.—There were eight days on which thunder and lightning were observed, viz., the 5th and 7th of May, the 2d and 6th of June, the 15th, 16th, and 23d of July, and the 8th of October. Of these the storms of 7th May, 2d and 6th June, 16th July, and 8th October were most severe. The others were either somewhat distant or of short continuance, but they were almost invariably accompanied by hail showers. Once, on 16th May, at 9 a.M., I observed a very large solar halo; and on several occa- sions lunar halos were observed, which, though not invariably, were for the most part precursors of the approach of a cyclone, especially if accompanied by a backing wind and a falling baro- meter. Wind.—it may be interesting to note the prevailing direc- tions of the wind during the year. From an easterly direction, including E., N.E., and 8.E., it blew 228 times (observations being taken twice every day, morning and evening) ; and from a westerly direction, including W., N.W., and 8.W., 408 times ; from due N., 23 times; due S., 42 times; the remainder, numbering 29, being either calm or variable. The most prevalent wind is 8.W., which during the past year blew on 108 days out of the 365. It is to the prevalence of this wind in November, December, and January that the mildness of our winters is chiefly due. ' TRANSACTIONS. 207 We are indebted to Mr Bruce of Dalshangan for the following note of observations taken during 1889 at Dalshangan, in the parish of Carsphairn, which is about 500 feet above sea level. Temperature—highest, in June 79°5 deg; lowest, in March, 14 deg ; range, 65°5 deg. ; mean temperature of the year, 45°9. Rain- fall—rainiest month, December, 6-07 in. ; driest, June, 0°73 in. Total for year, 44°50 in. Il. Notice of Antiquities found in Dumfriesshire, and now preser ved in the National Museum in Edinburgh. By Grorcx F. Buack, Ph.D. In describing the objects and implements from Dumfriesshire in the National Museum it will be convenient to take them in the order of their antiquity. According to this arrangement the implements of flint and stone are the first to be described. The implements of flint, stone, and bronze found in Dumfries- shire and now in the National Museum are few compared with the number from one or two of the neighbouring counties, as, for example, Wigtownshire.* Nevertheless, the specimens, such as they are, are interesting and valuable for the purposes of compara- tive archeology. STONE IMPLEMENTS. 1. Axes.—Axehead, or celt of felstone, 64 inches in length, by three inches across the widest part at the cutting edge, which is of oblique form. The sides are flat, and the cutting edge is slightly fractured on each face. The obliquity of the cutting edge is supposed by some archeologists to be due to resharpening. This axehead was found at Dinwoodie Green, and was added to the Museum by purchase. An axe of the rare type, with sharp sides, was discovered in blowing up some large stones, possibly those of a dolmen, at Mains, near Dumfries, in 1779, and is described in the Archaologia (vol. vii., p. 414) as of “fine granite stone, highly polished, 9 inches long, 4} broad at one end, tapering to the other, its thickness in the middle § of an inch, and quite sharp at the edges all round.” 7 Il. Wedge-shaped Hammers——About the year 1840, Mr Graham, of the farm of Westhills, near the Solway, took down an * The great abundance of the specimens from Wigtownshire is due to the fact that the sandhills of Glenluce, like those at Culbin, Elginshire, occupy the site of a prehistoric flint implement manufactory. + Quoted by Evans, Ancient Stone Implements, p. 97. 208 TRANSACTIONS. old wall, which was said to have stood upwards ot two hundred years, and the hammer here described was found embedded in it. The hammer is of whinstone, and measures 11? inches in length, by 44 inches across the widest part at the butt end, tapering to a point at the other, and is 2} inches in thickness. A haft-hole has been perforated through the flat face at about 3 inches from the butt end. A hammer of greenstone, 10 inches in length, by 44 inches in breadth and 3 inches in thickness, was found at Kirk of Dunscore, and presented to the National Museum in 1827. It is a finely- made specimen, with a broad rounded butt gradually tapering to a sharp cutting edge at the other extremity. It weighs 6} lbs. The haft-hole is 2 inches in diameter on the outside, narrowing to 13 inch in the middle of the thickness. The third and last specimen is of whinstone, 74 inches in length, by 3 inches in breadth and 2? inches in thickness, and is unsymmetrical in form. The haft-hole is 2 inches in diameter on the outside, narrowing to one inch in the middle of the thickness. Several fine specimens of these implements are in the collec- tion of the late Dr Grierson at Thornhill, and have been briefly described by me in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol. X. (New Series), pp. 374, 375. A large and characteristic specimen of this type of implement was found on the site of a lake dwelling in the Loch of Friars’ Carse, and is now in the possession of the proprietor of the place. It is of hard whinstone, 10 inches in length, by 5 inches in greatest breadth and nearly 3 inches in thickness, and has been several times figured.* It is an interesting fact in archeology that this type of implement is much more common in the south than in the north of Scotland. Ayr, Wigtown, Kirkcudbright, and Dumfries are the four shires in which they are found in greatest number. In the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art there is a fine specimen of a hammer of a type peculiar to Shetland and the extreme north of Scotland. It is said to have been found in a wall at Dumfries, and is the largest specimen of the type known to me to have been found in Scotland. It measures 5 inches in * Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol. IV., New Series, p. 76; Munro, Scottish Lake Dwellings, p. 156, and Lake Dwellings of Hurope, p. 440 ; Anderson, Scotland in Pagan Times, Second Series, p. 317. = TRANSACTIONS. 209 length, by 2? inches in breadth and 14 inch in thickness, present- ing in the cross section a flattened oval. The shaft-hole is partially perforated from each face, and is at a right angle to the edges, which are rounded instead of sharp. The implement has therefore in all probability been intended for a weapon instead of a tool. Ill. Quern.—A Quern, consisting of an upper stone 20 inches in diameter and a lower stone 21 inches in diameter, both of quartz, found in a peat bog at Canobie, and presented to the National Museum in 1863. The upper stone has three small socket-holes for the handle on its upper face. IV. Carved Stone Ball—A ball of felspathic greenstone, 2? inches in diameter, ornamented with six projecting circular discs, is stated by Dr (now (Sir) Daniel Wilson to have been “ found near the line of the old Roman way which runs through Dumfriesshire on its north- ern from Carlisle.” While the large per- forated hammers already described are common in the south of Scotland and rare in the northern counties, exactly the reverse is the case with these stone balls. The only other south country specimens known to me is an imperfect one found Fig. 1.—Carved Stone Ball in 1886 on the farm of Stelloch, Glasser- en ert ton, Wigtownshire, and presented to the National Museum by Sir Herbert Maxwell, and a fine one of white quartz, 3 inches in diameter, with six projecting discs, found in Cree Moss, Wigtownshire, and now in the Thornhill Museum. In the north-eastern counties, especially in Aberdeenshire, they are found in considerable numbers. Only one specimen is known to me to have been found outside Scotland, namely, the one in the British Museum, which is said to have been found near Ballymena, County Antrim, in 1850. In all probability this specimen may really be a Scotch one carried over, lost and afterwards found in the place mentioned. The Dumfriesshire specimen is shown in fig. 1, and has also been figured elsewhere.* * Catalogue of the Museum, 1876, p. 39 ; Wilson’s Prehistoric Annals of Scotland, Vol. I., p. 195 ; Evans’ Ancient Stone Implements, p. 376 ; Proceed- ings of the Society of Antiquarians of Scotland, Vol. XI., p. 36; Anderson, Scotland in Pagan Times, First Series, p. 169. 210 TRANSACTIONS. V. Whorls.—Until recently there was only one whorl from Dumfriesshire in the national collection, which was found at Moss- peeble. It is formed of claystone, one inch in diameter, and differs somewhat from the usual form of whorl in being spherical shaped. In February last (1889) other six specimens, all found at Mouswald, were added to the national collection by donation. Five are of sandstone, and the sixth is of claystone. The largest is 2,°, inches in diameter, and the smallest 14%; inch. One is orna- mented on each face with incised lines radiating from the spindle hole. The others are unornamented. VI. Arrow and Spear Heads.—An arrow-head of greyish flint, found at Gretna, and presented to the National Museum in 1877, is one of the finest in the collection, It is of the variety with barbs and stem, and measures 1,5, inch in length. The stem is broad and is convex at the end. The apertures be- tween the barbs and stem are most «carefully made, and the ends of the barbs slant from the inner side outward and forward. Through an oversight on Dr Anderson’s part, this arrow- head is described as from Glenluce, Wigtown- Fig.2.—Flint Arrowhead, Shire. It is shown full size in figure 2, and Hain: a has also been figured elsewhere. + i Another barbed and stemmed arrow-head of grey flint, also found at Gretna, is imperfect, one of the barbs being broken off. A third arrow-head, also of the barbed and stemmed type, found at Riggmoor, has apparently accompanied an interment, as it has been subjected to the action of fire. There is little secondary working on either face, and one of the barbs has been broken off. A fine spear-head of the barbed and stemmed type is also in the Museum. It measures 28 inches in length, and shows some minute secondary working on the faces. The stem is broad, square-ended, and the barbs are worked to fine points, one being a little longer than the other. It was found at Grainhead, Gretna Green. A large lozenge-shaped spear-head of light grey flint, which was said to have also been found at Gretna Green, is in the + Scotland in Pagan Times, Second Series, p. 358, fig. 358; and Proceedings of the Society of Antiquarians of Scotland, Vol. XI1., page 270. Olt ite ttete e e TRANSACTIONS. 211 collection. In form and material this specimen so closely resembles a common Irish type that I have doubts about its being Scotch. It measures 34 inches in length, and has been formed from a large flake of almost even thickness, with a smooth fracture on each face, thus rendering surface chipping unnecessary. The edges, however, are finely worked. This specimen stands alone among the Scottish specimens in the Museum both as regards form, size, and material, but is matched by many from Ireland which are in the collection. BRONZE IMPLEMENTS. The commonest and best known implements of the Bronze Age in Scotland are (1) the axes, which are divided according to form, into (a) flat, (2) flanged, (c) winged, (d) socketed ; (2) daggers and rapier-shaped blades ; (3) javelin, lance, and spear heads ; and (4) leaf-shaped swords. The flat axes are looked upon by all archeologists as the earliest, and are considered to have been modelled on the form of the earlier stone axe. The flanged axe holds a position midway between the flat and the winged varieties, in many instances resembling the latter so much that it is often difficult to distin- guish between them. Many of the flanged and most of the winged axes are further distinguished by the presence of a transverse stop- ridge, apparently for the purpose of preventing the implements entering too far into its handle when in use. The winged axes, which are often called Aadstaves, differ from those of the second variety only in having “shorter flanges, com- bined with a greater amount of lateral expansion.” Many of these winged axes are further provided with a loop on one side in the same plane with the blade. The socketed axes, or those which are cored to receive the handle, are with good reason considered to be the latest form of all. This variety is rarely found without a loop at one side for greater security in attachment to the handle. Dr John Evans, our highest authority on bronze implements, speaking of the evolution of the forms of axes, says: “ A gradual development can be traced from the flat celt, through those with flanges and wings, to the palstave form, with the wings hammered over so as to constitute two semi-circular sockets, one on each side of the blade ; while on certain of the socketed celts flanges precisely similar to those of the palstaves have been cast by way of ornament on the sides, and what 212 TRANSACTIONS. was thus originally a necessity in construction has survived as a superfluous decoration.” * I. Bronze Axes—Dumfriesshire is unrepresented in the national collection by either the flat or the socketed varieties, there being only one flanged specimen and three of the winged type. The flanged example is a very fine specimen, and measures 5} inches in length. The lower part of each face below the stop- ridge is ornamented with narrow vertical grooves, and the outer sides of the flanges are ornamented with a cable pattern, similar to another flanged axe found near Perth and figured on page 60 of SSS SS 2 ——— == = fy I i r 4 | ef cA Fig. 3.—-Flanged Axe ms Bronze, ornamented, Found at Applegarth. Dr Evans’ work already quoted. The Dumfriesshire specimen, which was found at Applegarth, is shown in figure 3, and has also been figured elsewhere. 7 A winged axe found at Birrenswark measures 5 inches in length by 2 inches across the broadest part of the cutting edge, which is semi-circular in form. The wings are of lozenge form, and the stop-ridge on each face is imperfect through a flaw in the casting. The bronze is of a bright yellow colour. SSS oi a x ty eh ‘i t Fig. 4.—Winged Axe of Bronze, found at Canobie. SSS ———— * Ancient Bronze Implements, p. 107. + Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol. XII., p. 602 ; Evans, op. cit., p. 60; Anderson, Scotland in Pagan Times, Second Series, p- 196. TRANSACTIONS. 213 The second winged axe was found at Canobie, and measures 41 inches in length by 2 inches across the cutting edge, which is semi-circular like the Birrenswark specimen. The wings are triangular in form and are slightly bent over the faces toward each other. ‘There is no stop-ridge, and the butt is imperfect on one side. This axe is figured in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol. VII., New Series, p. 163, and the illustration is here reproduced.as figure 4. The third and last specimen was found at Mouswald, and measures 4} inches in length by 13 inch across the cutting edge. The wings are of lozenge form with rounded angles, the butt is slightly imperfect, and there is no stop-ridge. Il. Dagger—Of the type of weapon known as dagger, the National Museum possesses a very fine example which was found near Gretna. It measures 7 inches in length by 2 inches across the widest part of the handle plate. The blade is fluted at the edge, and is strength- ened by a slightly raised ridge along the centre on each side. This blade has been attached to a handle of wood, bone, horn, or ivory, by two rivets, also of bronze, each 45; inch in length, both of which are still in place. This dagger is shown on a scale of one half in figure 5, and has also been figured elsewhere. * Ill. Rapier Blade.—A_ rapier blade of bright yellow bronze is also in the national collection. It measures 10? inches in length, but a piece about ? inch in length has been broken off the point. The breadth of the widest part of the butt is 24 inches, and the base is pierced for two rivets, which have been lost. These rapier blades Fig. 6.—Dagger of Bronze, with hold an immediate position between the 20 lg i tlt dagger-blade already described and the * Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol. II., New Series, p. 97 ; and in Dr Anderson’s Scotland in Pagan Times, Second Series, p. 176. 214 TRANSACTIONS. leaf-shaped swords, though some archeologists have suggested their use as spear-heads. This specimen was found at Fairholm, Locker- erbie, and is very similar to one found at Coveney, near Downham Hithe, Cambridgeshire, figured on p. 249 of Dr Evans’ work. Three fine specimens of rapier blades, all found at Kirk- gunzeon, 8}, 144, and 15% inches in length, are in the Thornhill Museum. IV. Sword.—The only other weapon of the Bronze Age in the national collection is a portion of a bronze leaf-shaped sword, now only 104 inches in length. It is imperfect at both ends, but the handle end shows two rivet holes in each wing and the side of another in the handle plate at the point of fracture. When perfect this sword would have been about 21 or 22 inches in length. No precise locality is attached to it. - V. Caldron.—A caldron, formed of thin sheet bronze, found in Whitehills Moss, Lochmaben, has recently been added to the national collection by purchase. It measures 13} inches in diameter across the mouth, and 15 inches across the widest part at the middle, and is 84 inches in height. The rim is gone, but its presence is attested by several rivet holes round the mouth of the caldron. A caldron of similar form to the one just described, but slightly larger, was found not long since at Kyleokin, Skye, and is figured in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol. VII., New Series, page 311. Another one of somewhat similar form, 25 inches in diameter, and 18 inches in height, which was found in Carlingwark Loch, Kelton, Kirkcudbright, contained a large number of tools, such as hammers, chisels, saws, &c., of iron. It is now in the National Museum, along with its contents. These caldrons are assigned to the close of the Bronze or beginning of the early Iron Age. As regards the date of the Bronze Age in Britain, archeologists are agreed in assigning its origin to between 1500 and 1200 years B.C., from which date it continued till about the third or fourth century B.C., when iron appears to have become known. TRANSACTIONS. 215 6th of February, 1890. Rey. WILLIAM ANDSON in the Chair. New Members.—Mrs Maxwell Witham and Miss Maud Max- well Witham of Kirkconnel. , Donations.—Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences (February to June, 1889) ; Proceedings of the Canadian Institute, Toronto, for October, 1889. COMMUNICATIONS. I. Notes on Birds. By Mr Joun Corrie. I have to report two noteworthy additions to my ornitho- logical list for the parish of Glencairn, viz.: (1) The Great Snipe (Scolopax Major); (2) The Spotted Crake (Crex orzana), Neither of these species would appear to be very common in Scotland. Morris, while recording the Spotted Crake for Dum- friesshire, says that the species is a very local one, and in his notice of the Great Snipe he gives no nearer localities than Orkney on the one hand and Northumberland on the other. It is not unlikely, however, that both birds occur sparingly throughout our counties, more particularly, I would imagine, the county of Kirkcudbright, where the lochs are numerous and of a character in keeping with the tastes of such birds. The Dabchick, I am glad to say, continues to nest in the parish. Last year the birds were subjected to so much annoyance by some boys that I was quite prepared to see them forsake the locality. This summer they nested as usual, however, and, I have reason to believe, succeeded in rearing a brood in safety. A new nesting locality for the Red- shank has been discovered in Stroanshalloch Loch, a remote nook where the birds may be considered secure. The Goldfinch, a species that has long been scarce in the district, would appear to be again becoming common. Several small flocks have been observed this winter, and individuals are of frequent occurrence. It is to be hoped that this increase will not tempt the bird-catchers to a renewal of their ignoble craft. The present season, as is well known, has been a remarkably mild one, and the birds as was to be expected have been greatly influenced thereby. The Common and Black-headed Gulls, for instance, which visit us but rarely at this season, may be seen daily. The Grey Wagtail has also been observed, although only once. On the other hand, the Brambling Finch, a bird which never fails to visit us in severe weather, has 216 TRANSACTIONS, been conspicuously absent. The Raven has been seen once. Birds of prey have been even scarcer than usual. Speaking of birds of prey, I am disposed to claim for Glencairn the honour of having contained the last Dumfriesshire ‘‘Gled” or Kite (AZzdvus Regalis). The year of its death would be 1869 or 1870. Il. Zhe Balance of Nature in Regard to Our Fisheries. By Mr J. J. ARMISTEAD, In the course of this paper, Mr Armistead said that interfer- ence with the balance of nature was a matter which required a considerable amount of consideration. After an allusion to the rabbit pest in the antipodes, Mr Armistead pointed out that the killing of birds and beasts of prey, and so disturbing the balance of nature, cleared away many enemies of rats, &c., and thus left these in abundance. Undoubtedly, where man thoughtlessly interfered with nature’s balance the result probably meant loss to himself, but where thoughtfully done the result was profitable. He alluded with satisfaction to the introduction of trout from this country and America into the rivers and lakes of New Zealand, and then went on to say that in many cases man had inadvertently or of necessity interfered with the balance of nature as far as regarded our fisheries. Instances of this would be found in the alteration of the flow of water, and its pollution, as well as the draining of hills, the latter practice cutting off nature’s supplies for dry weather. The drainage of the hills had undoubtedly affected our rivers very materially, and every practical fish-culturist had become assured of that fact. Many large streams flowed into the Solway, for instance, carrying into it rain and snow water from a district ten times as big as the Solway itself, which, on account of the shallowness of the Solway, had a very material effect upon its waters. The North Sea contained a great number of fish, because it also contained immense quantities of other marine creatures, such as crustacea, worms, mollusca, echinoderms, &c. For the young fish which had been recently hatched, the presence of small micro- scopic organisms in very large numbers was of vital importance. At the very time when fish left their eggs the sea was full of young crustacea, mussels, and echinoderms, so that the little fishes inhaled as it were with the water they breathed large numbers of these exceedingly minute creatures. After a description of the effect of partially-drained lakes, Mr Armistead alluded to the work that could be done towards training fish to rise to the different flies. Ile TRANSACTIONS. 217 himself had at his place introduced a sort of training school, and tried experiments with food which would float on the surface of the water, or, at all events, not sink very deep. Mr Armistead, speaking of shad hatching in America, quoted a Mr Worth on the subject, who said that the great success achieved in the propaga- tion of this fish demonstrated what could be done with many other valuable fish. The success of the shad-hatching work carried on by the United States Fishery Commission had been proved beyond the shadow of a doubt. At first the fishermen were rather inclined to oppose the work, but now they were willing helpers, and the shad fisheries, which showed a great falling-off prior to the com- mencement of the work, had since wonderfully improved, and showed an increase in the “ take” each year. The evidence, too, which was very voluminous, was conclusive as to the successful operations of the Commission. There were rivers where shad had never before been seen, and now, as the result of the work of arti- ficial propagation, they were teeming with shad. Going on to speak of disease among fish, Mr Armistead said where fungus existed it was impossible to exterminate it, but it might be pre- vented from attacking fish by antiseptic treatment. The problem of fungus epidemics was a difficult one. The fungus was always present, but only occasionally in an epidemic form, and fish could live happily in affected rivers. He was much indebted to Mr Allan P. Swan, of Bushmills, County Antrim, for the results of his interesting investigations in this matter. Mr Swan said, and he agreed with him, that the condition of health in fishes has much to do with the fungus disease. The first consequences of a low vitality might be a slow or imperfect excretion and epidermic formation. Sickly fish were attacked, and many of the fish which died in our rivers were no doubt the legitimate food of the fungus, and one of its chief means of propagation during the cold winter weather when development was not so rapid. The purest water was as favourable to the growth of fungus as any other, and pollu- tions were unfavourable to fungus, as the chemicals in these pollu- tions were apt to destroy the fungus. The life history of the fungus had been well worked out, and they now knew probably as much about it as was at all necessary, and any points left un- ravelled could easily be worked out to the smallest detail with time and patience. He thought this could not, however, be said of the salmon, and it was the missing link in the life history of the fish that required all the energies of both scientists and practical men 218 TRANSACTIONS. to elucidate the matter as was deserving of it. Until this could be done we might and would go on floundering in the mire. This was one of the cases in which by judiciously interfering with the balance of nature a vast amount of profit might accrue to the pos- sessors of our fisheries. It was like a valuable mine of wealth unworked. Tth of March, 1890. Major BowDEN in the Chair. New Member.—Mr Robert Maxwell Witham of Kirkeonnel. Donations.—Transactions of the Edinburgh Botanical Society ; Annual Report of the Belfast Field Club; Report of the Berwick- shire Naturalists’ Club ; Bulletin on the English Sparrow in North America and North American Fauna, from the United States Board of Agriculture. The Transcription of Edgar’s History of Dumfries from the Riddell MS. was also handed in. COMMUNICATIONS. I. The Succession of Plant Life upon the Earth. By Mr PETER GRAY. After a brief exposition of the nature and mode of deposition of the sedimentary rock strata in which the remains of previously existing plants and animals are found, the author enumerated their principal sub-divisions and defined the four life periods in which they have been further arranged, namely, the Azoic (with- out life), the Paleozoic (ancient life), the Mesozoic (middle life), and the Kainozoic (new life). There were nu dates in the geological record, and, as to the length of time occupied in the laying down of the sedimentary rocks, there was the widest diversity of opinion. Physicists, judging from the rate of cooling of the globe, and other data, were unwilling to place the time when it was possible for plants to exist upon it much farther back than from ten to fifteen millions of years. On the other hand, some geologists asked for at least six hundred millions. Of the shortest of these periods, however, we could no more form a competent conception than we could of eternity. Proceeding then to a detailed examination of the sedimentary deposits, from the earliest upwards, the author stated that though no fossils had been discovered in those of the Azoic period, yet the immense quantity of carbon, in the form of graphite or plumbago, occurring TRANSACTIONS. 219 in them, might reasonably be taken to indicate the previous exist- ence of plant life, as we knew of no other source of unoxidised carbon than what is furnished by plants. Passing onwards to the Paleozoic period, it was shown that, to its close, the only vegetable remains that had been discovered were those of plants allied to the humble club-mosses of the present day, then, however, assum- ing the dimensions of lofty trees, other gigantic plants related to the equiseta or horsetails, ferns in innumerable species, and the lowest class of flowering plants (gymnosperms) of the same nature as the pine and yew. The characteristic vegetation of the Paleozoic period died out in the Permian formation, and the flora of the early Mesozoic was at first transitional, although there was no great advance. However, about the end of the latter period, whether from a gap in the record, or from whatever cause, there appeared a sudden and wonderful incoming of the higher classes of the vegetable kingdom, including the existing genera, so that the aspect of the flora was the same as that of the present day, though it was much more varied, and eryptogams and gymnospermous phanerogams sank into the subordinate position they now occupy. This has been justly described as the true Edenic period of the earth’s history, when the dry land was clad, perhaps from the very Pole, at least from the latitudes of Greenland and Spitzbergen, with an exuberant growth of foliage, flower, and fruit, accompanied by a remarkable uniformity of temperature throughout the globe. It was a noteworthy fact. that the successive vegetable forms which have from time to time over- spread the earth’s surface appear to have originated within the polar circle, and this might now be regarded as established. Throughout the greater part of the Tertiary period, the land, in the northern hemisphere at least, continued to increase, and was tenanted by the “noblest vegetation and the grandest forms of mammalian life the earth ever witnessed.” But towards its close a gradual refrigeration set in—the “ great ice age” was approach- ing. Slowly, but surely, the ice and snow which formed in the now frozen zone spread downwards, until even within the tropics glaciers filled the mountain valleys, and the rich and multiform Tertiary flora was either destroyed or driven towards the equatorial region. This wintry period having at length come to an end, the exiled plants straggled back to their native soil, a sadly diminished band. The thick-ribbed ice that burdened so large a portion of the polar and temperate zones did not, they might be 220 TRANSACTIONS. sure, pass away without great disturbance, probably, in melting, raising the level of the ocean at least 1000 feet, perhaps causing a shifting of the earth’s centre of gravity, certainly overwhelming much of the previously existing solid land. From the glacial period to the present time there had been no change in the species either of plants or animals, except that some of both have become extinct. In conclusion, the author said that he had not referred to the genesis of the various forms of plant life, extinct or existing. There was, however, it must be admitted, little in plant history, as at present elucidated, to support the evolutionary hypothesis. Still, in the main, there had been an advance in plants, as in animals, from the simpler to the more elaborate structure. In the great plan of Providence that was an abiding feature— “From lower to higher, from simple to complete, This is the pathway of the eternal feet. This is the solemn lesson of all time, This is the teaching of the voice sublime.” IL Notes from Original Sources on the Erection of the Burns Mausoleum and the Origin of the Dumfries Burns Club. By Mr James R. WItson. The paper was compiled from the minute book of the Mauso- leum Committee, of which Dr Grierson’s father (Mr Wm. Grierson of Baitford) and the Rev. Henry Duncan of Ruthwell were secre- taries, and from numerous letters from the celebrities of that time found among the effects of Dr Grierson, Thornhill, which letters Mr Wilson produced for the inspection of the meeting. A pre- liminary meeting of the “ friends and admirers of the late Scottish bard, Robert Burns,” Mr Wilson said, was held in the George Inn, Dunfries, on 16th December, 1813, for the purpose of taking into consideration the measure of opening a subscription for erecting a Mausoleum over his remains—John Syme of Ryedale in the chair. It was reported to the meeting that a number of gentlemen had signified their approbation of the measure, and it was thereafter agreed to form a Committee, and to adjourn the meeting to 6th January following. At the adjourned meeting General Dunlop, M.P., son of Mrs Dunlop, of Dunlop, the poet’s friend, was called to the chair, and it was intimated that a large number of noble- men and gentlemen highly approved of opening a public subscrip- tion for the purpose. A large and influential Committee of noblemen and gentlemen was formed, and also a special Committee TRANSACTIONS. pal with Dr Duncan, Dumfries, as convener. The raising of subscrip- tions, Mr Wilson said, had apparently been gone about in a most energetic manner, and he proceeded to read the following letter written by Mr (afterwards Sir) Walter Scott to the secretaries from Edinburgh on 14th January, 1814 :— I am favoured with your packet enclosing proposals for erecting by subscription a monument to the memory of Burns, and I am very much obliged to you for affording me an opportunity of testifying my high veneration for the Ayrshire Bard. My society is very limited, but I hope to get some subscriptions, and would be much obliged to you to send me a list of such as have been already procured that I may have some general rule for assisting my friends, for I have observed that it is often advantageous to have an idea of what would be thought liberal and handsome. I beg you will put my name down for ten guineas, without limiting myself to that sum, however, should there be further occasion. We have to regret the loss of Mr Stark, the only architect in Scotland, as I greatly fear, who could have given a plan of simplicity and dignity corresponding to the genius of the author. I presume it is only meant to inclose, not to alter or violate, the stone which Mrs Burns placed over her husband. The situation is in all respects highly striking. I will take the liberty to send one of the papers you have sent me to Mr Constable, the bookseller here, whose influence is considerable, and opens some avenues to which I have not personally any access. WALTER Scort. Edinburgh, 14th January, 1814. On 29th of same month the poet’s brother Gilbert wrote to Mr Grierson from Grant’s Braes :— Grant’s Braes, 29th January, 1814. I received yours of the 12th inst. covering resolutions of a meeting at Dumfries of the 6th curt. You will readily believe that I was much gratified with the exertions of a meeting so respectable to make so great a public testimony of their regard for my brother’s memory. It will readily occur to every gentleman concerned that however much I might be inclined it is a matter I cannot stir or be seen in, I am not very sanguine in my expectations of aid to the subscription in this neighbour- hood. I believe my brother was personally known to David Anderson, Esq., St. Germains, near Tranent, a most respectable gentleman, and a man of taste, but of too shy and delicate a cast for bringing the subscrip- tion much forward. Robert Stewart, Esq. of Alderston, near Hadding- ton, was in India, I believe, at the time of my brother’s death, and has been more successful in the pursuit of wealth than of literary taste, in which he has not been much engaged, but I have heard him talk empha- tically of heaven-born genius, &c. His near neighbour, Robert Veitch, Esq., Hawthornbank, is himself a votary of the muses, and sufliciently 222 TRANSACTIONS. enthusiastic, but as he has a large family and his circumstances com- paratively moderate, I am not sure that it would be right to make any call on his purse. Alexander Houston, Esq. of Clerkington, M.P. for Glasgow in the last Parliament, has shewn me more obliging and useful attention than any other great man in this country, but though his subscription will not be wanting if applied for, yet, I suppose he would not like to solicit subscriptions. I have thought it right to mention these gentlemen to you that Mr Duncan may judge how far it will be proper to apply to any of them. A Mr Richardson, merchant in North Shiels, once left a letter for me at the King’s Arms, Dumfries, inclosing some poems of hisown. As I had many communications of that kind from people I knew nothing of, I never thought of taking any notice of them. I happened lately, however, to meet an English clergyman who is inti- mately acquainted with Mr Richardson, who spoke in high terms both of his talents and worth, and that he had risen from a low beginning to considerable eminence and success in life. I may likewise mention to you that he is a leading member of a Marygold Society in North Shiels. I should think him a person very likely to interest himself in promoting the subscription. GILBERT Burns. And George Thomson, Edinburgh, the correspondent of Burns, wrote to Mr Syme of Ryedale of date 10th May following :— Edinburgh, 10th May, 1814. It gives me the greatest pleasure to find that there is now a cer- tainty of a monument being erected to the memory of the greatest poet our country has produced. May I request that you will put down my name for five guineas ? I cannot help feeling some anxiety that a design should be obtained worthy of the illustrious dead, and honourable to those who take charge of it. This will depend entirely on the artist to whom you apply, and *tis of the utmost importance, therefore, to fix upon one who is decidedly eminent for invention, knowledge, and classical taste, and to be guided entirely by him. For if gentlemen get various designs and then exercise their own judgment upon them, the chance of their chusing the worst is much greater than that they would chuse the best ; for this obvious reason—that there is no art or science in which our countrymen are so utterly ignorant as that of architecture or sculpture. The fine arts do not make a part of the studies either of our men of fortune or of those educated for the liberal professions. And if they acquire a smattering of knowledge after they leave the University, it is generally so superficial that it only serves to give them pretensions and to mislead them. Even those who live by the profession of architecture in Scotland are notori- ously uneducated and ignorant, and since the recent death of the truly ingenious Mr Stark, I do not know one of our countrymen who deserves TRANSACTIONS. 223 the name of an architect. If there are any whose fame has not reached Edinburgh, I ask their pardon. The gentleman to whom I would strongly recommend it to you to apply for a design is Mr Smirke, R.A., London, an eminent painter well known to every amateur of the fine arts, or to his son, the architect in London, well known by his design for Covent Garden Theatre, the front of which is worthy to have stood in Athens. I presume the design for Burns’ monument will be architectural, or chiefly so ; whatever there may be of sculpture about it will, I should imagine, consist only of alto or basso relievo. Now, the Messrs Smirke are, of all the artists I can think of, the most competent to give you a chaste, classic, and noble design, in whatever style the fund may permit it to be executed. Sculpture, I believe, even in bas relief is very expen- sive, and if the fund should not admit of a monument sufficiently large to be a striking object, and of much ornament from the sculptor to be superadded, then you must no doubt be contented to have the one with- out the other, or with the less of it. As soon as you have ascertained the total amount of the fund you should state it to Mr Smirke or the artist to whom you apply. Give hima slight drawing to show the eleva- tion and form of the ground where the monument is to be built, letting him know the exact price of building per cubic foot in Dumfries with the best freestone, and ask a design architectural and as much ornamental as he thinks it ought to be, and asthe fund will admit of, beseeching him to estimate it correctly, and not to let you begin what the fund will not enable you to finish, an error into which we Edinburghers have fallen most grievously, and more than once, as our unfinished University and Nelson’s Monument do testify. I had a conversation soon after the lamented death of Burns with Mr Smirke, R.A., upon the very subject of a monument to the poet. Upon that occasion he expressed his highest admiration of his genius and writings, said he would be happy to furnish a design, and I under- stood him to say that profit would be the least thing he should have in view. And IT remember well he expressed it to be his conviction that if any respectable character on ’Change in London would take charge of a subscription paper for erecting a monument to Burns and set about it in earnest, he would get many hundred pounds in two or three days. What would you think of writing to Sir James Shaw or any other warm-hearted Scotsman on this subject who has influence among those most liberal of all men, the London merchants ? If you write to Mr Smirke you are at liberty to communicate what I have said. G. THomson. Mr Wilson added that he might mention a fact in connection with Thomson which was not generally known. In a letter by Dr Patrick Neill, Canonmills, to Mr Grierson of date 4th February, e 224 TRANSACTIONS. 1850, the following occurred: “I had the satisfaction of seeing old George Thomson last week. He tells me he zever saw Robert Burns, although he corresponded so much with him, and got him to write some of his finest words for the old Scottish airs.” Friends and admirers of Burns in all parts of the world were asked to subscribe to the fund. The Provost and Magistrates of Dum- fries gave the scheme their countenance. Mrs Jordan, the cele- brated actress, gave a performance in Dumfries in aid of the funds, as is shown by this play bill, which produced £33 18s; and Sir Walter Scott was instrumental in securing the valuable services of Mr and Mrs Siddons for the same object, and they gave a full dress benefit night in Edinburgh, which realised the sum of £39 14s. His letters to Mr Grierson on that subject were as follow :—. Edinburgh, 20th May, 1814. I did not answer your last favour because I did not find an oppor- tunity to suggest to Mr Siddons the plan of a benefit for Burns’ Monu- ment. The fact is there are so many demands of this nature upon a theatrical manager that unless I were to find a very favourable moment T should not much like to suggest any thought that may enlarge this tax. My own idea was to speak to John Kemble when there, which would have been certain to make a house, but I was obliged to leave town while he was acting. I will keep the proposal, however, in view ; in the meantime, I send some subscriptions on the other side, which may be added to those lists already circulated. My own circle of friends is very limited, but I trust to get a good many guineas if I go to London before the books are closed. I have always declined taking money, so that you will have the trouble to collect the subscriptions by some proper person here. WALTER Scort. Edinburgh, 3d December, 1814. I have only time to write you two lines, being very busy just now. Mr Siddons readily and handsomely agrees to give the benefit, and gives two guineas himself. The expense of the house is £40. It holds £200. I must endeavour, though my interest lies little in that way, to get some women of fashion to patronise the thing, when possibly we may gather £100. WALTER SCOTT. Edinburgh, 14th December, 1814. Our benefit took place last night. We had by no means a crowded but a very genteel audience. The boxes particularly were filled with fashionable people, but neither the pit nor gallery so fullas I should have expected they might have been from the name of the bard. In this TRANSACTIONS. 225 instance the higher classes have been more favoured in doing honour to Burns’ memory. Mrs Scott took two boxes, and used all the influence she had with her friends, of whom several took boxes aud filled them well. So if the returns do not quite equal our zeal and my expectations it is not our fault. But the produce will be something considerable. As Siddons has behaved so handsomely, the gentlemen of the Committee will probably be of opinion that it will be proper to write him a letter of thanks, by which he will be highly gratified. Both he and his wife gave us a good play and farce, and did all that could be suggested for rendering the evening productive. I will pay my subscription io Mr K. W. Burnet, who will also, I hope, take the trouble to settle with Mr Siddons and remit the money WALTER Scorv. On the 8th February, 1816, Walter Scott again wrote to Mr Grierson :— You were so good some time since as to send me a drawing of Buras’ Mausoleum, which I think will look very handsome. I believe I am in debt to the fund in the sum of £5 received from Mr Weld Hartsteng, of Dublin. I got the sum when I was in England, and wrote to a friend to send the said sum to you, but I fancy it was neglected, as looking over my receipts from him I do not see any from you, so I am afraid it was forgotten. Should it be otherwise, you will have the goodness to retura the £5 note which I now enclose. I think it would be highly advisable to repair the old monument at Kirkconnel, but I feel somewhat doubiful whether there would be per- fect good taste in placing upon it our ingenious friend Mr Mayne’s very pretty verses. I should rather prefer doing what has been done on the tomb of Sir John the Grahame at Falkirk, (7.e.) cutting a new stone of the same dimensions and exactly a fac simile of the old monument. _ There is something in the forlorn simplicity of the hic jacet Adamus Fleming that I think would be injured by any modern additions. I do not the less admire Mr Mayne’s verses, to which he has added a very good stanza. I intend to solicit his aid in getting words for some fine Gaelic airs lately collected by Alex. Campbell, which I think will prove the purest as well as most extensive collection of Scotch music yet made, as he has recovered some very fine airs. WALTER Scort, Edinr., 8th Feby., 1816. About fifty plans, designs, and models were received, out of which twelve were selected as preferable to the others, and at an adjourned meeting of the Committee and subscribers held on 25th April, 1815, the design for the mausoleum by T. F. Hunt, archi- tect, London, was adopted, while that of John Hendry, Edinburgh, was placed second. Mr Hunt declined to accept the premium 226 TRANSACTIONS. of £10 to which he was entitled ae successful competitor, and agreed to furnish working drawings free of expense. His working plans and drawings are still preserved in the Museum in Thornhill. Builders’ estimates were advertised for, aud that of John Milligan, Dumfries, amounting to £331 8s 6d, was accepted, and Mr James Thomson was appointed superintendent of works. On 30th May following the Committee “ having walked down to the Church- yard and inspected the burial place of Burns, are of opinion that it is so much encumbered with monuments and tombstones sur- rounding it and a risk that it may still be more obscured by other erections, have therefore resolved, with the consent of Mrs Burns, to remove the whole remains of the family to another and more eligible situation in the new burial ground, and the mausoleum erected over the remains is agreed on, the remains to be removed in as delicate and proper a manner as possible.” This resolution was carried into effect, and on the King’s birthday, 5th June, 1815, a grand procession took place, and the foundation stone of the mausoleum was laid with masonic honours, and the usual docu ments and coins deposited therein. On the same day the Com- mittee, architect, Mr Turnerelli, sculptor, London, and others dined in the King’s Arms, and at a subsequent Committee meet- ing the Apollo’s head, for the centre of the dome, designed by Mr Hunt, and also the designs for the daisy and thistle to surround it, were approved. Mr Hunt at the same time marked off the ground in the new burial-ground. Previous to this Mr Turnerelli had sent in a design for the sculpture. On 6th June the Committee met with Mr Turnerelli, and it was agreed to adopt his design provided the necessary sum could be procured either to erect it in marble or Roach Abbey stone. His estimate for marble and figures of life-size was 750 guineas, and if the figures were a quarter less 600 guineas. On 8th June the Com- mittee, architect, and others were entertained to dinner in the King’s Arms Hotel by the magistrates of Dumfries, when the free- dom of the burgh was conferred on Messrs Hunt, Turnerelli, Walter, and Captain Hehl. At this stage many difficulties began. The contractor for the mausoleum was troublesome, and tore in pieces the committee’s written remonstrances as to the insuffi- cient jointing of the granite steps. He placed stones in the dome disconform to contract both as regards thickness and quality, and Mr Hunt had to step in and see his directions carried out. The Committee inspected the model of the plough for the sculpture TRANSACTIONS. pay as made by Mr Smale, of Edinburgh, and for which he charged £4 4s, and thought it should not have cost above a guinea, or 40s at most. It is noted “that the plough in Mr Turnerelli’s model not being considered anything like the ploughs used in Scotland, it was judged proper to have a model of a proper plough made by Mr Smale in Edinburgh, to be sent to the sculptor in London.” On 9th August, 1816, the Committee inspected the building, and condemned the execution of various parts, and particularly “ with respect to the stone which Mr Milligan calls an Apollo’s head, which he has placed in the centre of the dome, the Committee can have nothing to do with it, and require Mr Milligan to remove it, as an Apollo’s head is preparing in London under the direction of Mr Hunt, as originally resolved, and which must be placed in its proper situation when received. The daisies are not according to the patterns sent by Mr Hunt, but not having been sent in time the contractor could not delay the work, and was obliged to pro- ceed with his own idea of the pattern.” The Apollo’s head was duly received, and a duty upon it of £2 12s 94d was paid at the Custom House. Mr Thomas M‘Caig and Mr Alexander Crombie were arbiters in settling the sum due to Mr Milligan, and found him entitled to an extra payment of £101 16s 2d, and at a Com- mittee meeting a letter by Mr Milligan to Mr Hunt was read, “ of so scurrilous a nature as to be altogether unworthy the notice of the meeting, they determined to treat it with the contempt it deserves.” Work ceased, and the Committee agreed to employ a tradesman to finish the curtain wall; and also to enter into another reference with the contractor for the work performed on curtain walls, and a charge for rejected dome stones. An interdict followed the erection of the iron gates at the instance of Mr Milligan, and they were allowed to be put up after the matter had been heard before the magistrates. Mr Milligan again began work at the curtain wall, and he in turn was interdicted by the Com- mittee, and after hearing he was dismissed from the work. Mr Hunt prepared drawings for the sarcophagus, which were approved ; but great difficulties had to be overcome in regard to it on account of Mr Milligan, the contractor, insisting on doing all the work, although the Committee considered only a professional sculptor could properly execute it. Difficulties also arose in connection with the proceeds of the subscriptions received at the commemora- tion dinner held in London on 25th May, 1816, over which the Earl of Aberdeen presided ; but in the end Mr A. Gordon, the 228 TRANSACTIONS. Committee’s agent in London, and Mr Hunt and Mr Turnerelli effected a settlement, and the latter received £220 from this source as a first payment to account of the contract price of the sculpture. In connection with this dinner it may be noted that the subscrip- tions and dinner tickets brought in £528 8s 6d, while the dinner and expenses connected therewith brought the clear balance down to the above sum of £220. The whole work was now approaching completion, and on Sth August, 1818, Mr Hunt reported upon it to the Committee, who afterwards met and gave effect to a number of his suggestions, and made arrangements for the sculpture being shipped to Dum- fries. Mr Turnerelli, however, would not part with it until he knew how the balance due to him would be made good. Mr Wilson here read the correspondence between Mr Turnerelli and the Secretary in regard to this matter. Mr Turnerelli first wrote regretting that the proposition of exhibiting the marble monument of the poet in Edinburgh had not met the approbation of the Committee, and declaring that he felt it to be his duty to ascertain previous to its being forwarded to Dumfries how and in what manner the Committee intended to discharge payment, particularly as there were no funds in hand, and the Mausoleum in its unfinished state had cost more than £800, and would require a sum set apart after being finished to keep it in repair. He positively asserted that the monument was worth double the sum stated in his estimate to the Committee. Reply- ing to this letter, the Secretary wrote to Turnerelli, and in the course of his letter said the Committee “considers that it (the letter) reflects no credit on you, and is in direct opposition both to your profession and agreement. I need not again recapitulate your own proposal and agreement which of yourself you ought not to have forgot, but which you have not had the candour to admit —on the contrary, have studiously avoided taking notice of—as if the Committee had been acting as children and not to have known what they were doing. However, every transaction is minutely narrated, and the proposal and agreement distinctly stated, which you cannot deny, or should you attempt it there are sufficient witnesses to prove the fact, which we must now establish on oath, since we see now who we have to do with. Although we have hitherto been disappointed in procuring the funds we have good reason to expect, yet we have confident hope of very considerable sums from different quarters, abroad particularly. We had lately TRANSACTIONS. 229 advice of £160 being stibscribed in Demerara, and the prospect of its being made out £200, and in all probability we will receive it early in the spring, as the gentleman, a native of this place, is then expected, who had the management, and we are at present in correspondence with America.” “Surely,” the letter went on to say, “he could not expect the Committee to advance the money out of their own pockets, particularly for a work not delivered, although part paid for, and which none of them had ever seen or heard any opinion of except from Mr Turnerelli himself. They had never urged the affair upon him, but he had urged himself upon the Committee.” The letter added, “you have already our ideas respecting exhibiting in Edinburgh. The Committee never entertained the idea of exhibiting the tribute to the memory of Burns through the country as a pupit show. We feel more venera- tion for our country and our Bard.” Further correspondence of a similar nature followed, and in the end the sculpture was sent down from London and placed in the Mausoleum. At this time Gilbert Burns, now drawing near the close of his life, when asked to visit Dumfries, wrote to Mr Grierson :— Your obliging letter of the 27th I only received yesterday. Iam much afraid it will not be in my power to visit Dumfries during the time the London marbleman is to be with you, though I much wish it ; not that I think I could be of any use in improving the marble, as I scarcely think it possible to make an artist produce the likeness of a person he has not seen, but it would certainly gratify me much to comply with the wishes of those who have taken so much trouble to do honour to my brother’s memory. I trouble you with the enclosed to Mrs Burns, and beg you will get it immediately sent to her. If I do make out my visit to Dumfries at this time it will be on Thursday, the 2d Sept., and wish her to be aware of my coming, as I believe the coach arrives late at Dumfries. I will send and invite Dr Sibbald to accompany me if I find I can set out, or send what despatches with me he wishes if he do not think of journeying, which I rather doubt. I beg you will present Mrs B.’s and my assurances of kind regard to Mrs Grierson, and believe me to be ever, GILBERT Burns. _ Grant’s Braes, 31st August, 1819. A large balance, continued Mr Wilson, was still due to Mr Turnerelli, and all the Committee did was to undertake to raise it if at all possible. Nothing further seems to have been paid except a sum of £150 remitted from Demerara. Letters down to 6th 230 TRANSACTIONS. April, 1821, passed between the parties, and in the end Mr Turnerelli apparently considered his claim totally bad, and ceased to write on the subject. These facts as to the price of the sculp- ture were totally different from those given in a leaderette of the Dumfries Standard, wherein it was stated that the sculpture was gifted to the community by Turnerelli. The Mausoleum itself, as well as the sculpture, had been the subject of much _ hostile criticism, and even to this day the discussion was periodically revived. Even “honest Allan” could not refrain from passing his judgment, and in a letter to Mr Grierson, of date 30th July, 1834, he speaks out boldly :— {am grieved to find that my remarks on the Burns monument have given pain to a worthy gentleman and a lover of the muses. I agree with you that the design of the architecture is elegant, and may add further, the unity and harmony of the whole are much to my mind, My objection is that the structure wants that massive vigour of design and hardness of material which insure duration in this moist and stormy climate. The sculpture I most heartily and conscientiously dislike. It is ill conceived, and worse executed, and, indeed, the sentiment is beyond the power of sculpture to express. Who can carve an inspired or rather an inspiring mantle? It is but a bit of marble. The muse in the hand of Turnerelli was not likely to succeed in her task. It reminds one of that passage in Seripture—* And a certain woman threw a piece of a mill-stone on the head, &c.” (The quotation is from Judges, c. 9, v. 53, aud is And a certain woman cast a piece of a mill-stone upon Abime- lech’s head, and all to break his skull.”) I am supported in my dislike by very high authorities. A few days ago Mr Wordsworth, the poet, wrote to me saying that he had been in the vale of the Nith, and had walked in the footsteps of Burns. “ By-the-bye,” he says, “ what a sorry piece of sculpture is Burns’ monument in Dumfries Churchyard. Monstrous in conception and clumsy in the execution, it is a disgrace to the memory of the poet.” Chantrey had no chance for the monument — he was not one of the competitors—so I was not at all disappointed. Had it been confided to his hands, you would have had a statue for your money worth a couple of thousand pounds. I have had a drawing made of the monument—the architectural portion I mean—and it will be engraved for the concluding volume ; nor will I fail to intimate to whom we owe the first monument raised by the gratitude of Scotland and to the memory of Burns. You did your best to have the poet honoured, and who can do more? I have likewise done my best, nor shall I be displeased should a worthier life be written or a better edition of his works published. I have, however, no cause to repine at my success. There is a regular sale of five thousand vopies of each volume of Burns’ works, and TRANSACTIONS. 931 of the six thousand printed of the life only a few copies are unsold. Though I understand that my labours have not been quite acceptable to sundry persons in the vale of the Nith, it is otherwise with the rest of the country, and some of the first men in the island have written con- cerning the life and notes in terms of praise too flattering for me to mention. I am not much mortified at this reception in my native valley ; so long as it is remembered that I wore an apron and wrought with a scabling hammer in the Friars’ Vennel, so long will my works not have “fair play ;” but time renders justice to all, and the day is not distant when I shall either be forgotten altogether or be more honoured than at present on the banks of the Nith. I am told that our friend Mr M‘Diarmid has a life of Burns in progress. I am glad of this. He will set the world right in many important matters regarding the genius and fortunes of the poet. So solicitous was he, I have heard, about the truth, that he actually sat beside Mrs Burns with an interleaved copy of my life for two days ques- tioning her till, to use her own words, she was both weary and ill-pleased about it. His love of truth on the part of our friend did not shorten, I trust, the life of the lady, though it seems to have embittered it. I observe that he says the true history of the poet’s marriage has never yet been told. That is true, but can it be told with propriety? Should he desire to tell the whole truth, I can help him to three of the poet’s letters on that very suhject which have not been published, and which contain his sentiments on the matter. I hear with some sorrow that the poet’s sword and pistols, which he presented to Dr Maxwell, were sold at a sale of the latter for a mere trifle. This is not at all creditable to the admirers of Burns about Dum- fries. Iam trying to regain them, and I hope to succeed. I beg you to accept my best thanks for the kind expressions con- tained in your letter regarding my edition of the poet. When I am next in Dumfries—and that will be soon—I shall find my way to Thornhill, without an invitation, and spend a day with one whom I remember with pleasure. When [ was a humble labourer in Dumfries, I looked up to you as one of those who loved literature, and I assure you time has rather strengthened than diminished this feeling. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. Belgrave Place, 30th July, 1834. The minute book, concluded Mr Wilson, contains no further information in regard to the cost of the Mausoleum and sculpture, although it appears that all charges against the Committee were duly advertised for and called in. Mr Grierson, the secretary, appears from a correspondence with Mr M‘Diarmid in regard to a disputed subscription to have got his strong iron box robbed of the cash book, visitors’ book, and other documents connected with the 932 TRANSACTIONS. Mausoleum when on a visit to the coast, and it is therefore impos- sible to tell from the documents at my command what amount was actually expended. The cost seems to have been well up to £2000, and I fear the verdict of the present day is that a very bad return has been received for the money expended. Mr Wilson then alluded to the origin of the Burns Club in Dumfries. The Committee entrusted with the erection of the Mausoleum and their friends, he said, appeared to have celebrated the anniversary of the poet’s birthday by dining in the King’s Arms Hotel on 25th January, 1817. No dinner appeared to have taken place in 1818, but on 25th January, 1819, the event had been celebrated in the Globe Inn. At that meeting it was agreed to open a subscription for the purchase of a china punch bowl, to be used on all similar occasions, and the sum of £19 8s 6d was then subscribed in guineas and half-guineas. Accordingly a bowl was purchased, made by Spode of Staffordshire, of excellent work manship, with elegant emblematic devices, capable of holding 3 gallons, and the original subscribers’ names were placed thereon. A handsome silver punch spoon and three dozen glasses were also acquired, and along with the bowl produced at a meeting of sub- scribers on 18th January, 1820, and very much admired. The cost of the bowl was £15 ; of the spoon, £2 2s ; and of the glasses £4 15s. It was then resolved in order to give effect to the cele- bration of the birthday of the bard to form the subscribers to the bow] into a society, to be named “ The Burns Club of Dumfries,” and Mr John Commelin was chosen president and Mr Grierson secretary, and minute regulations drawn up for an annual dinner. The newly-formed club dined in the King’s Arms on 25th January following, about forty gentlemen being present, under the presi- dency of Mr Commelin, with Mr Syme as croupier. At this meeting Thomas White, mathematician, and James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, were admitted honorary members. At the same meeting it was resolved as soon as the funds of the club would permit to purchase a suff mul/, and to have a portrait of the bard painted for the Club by an eminent artist. It had been arranged that Major W. Millar should preside at the dinner on 25th January, 1821, but in his absence Mr Commelin again presided, and Mr W. Gordon, jun., acted as croupier. This meet- ing took place in the Commercial Hotel, when thirty-seven sat down to dinner, which was excellent, the wines were good, the large china bowl was often filled with good whisky toddy, and the =r - * , L TRANSACTIONS. 233 company enjoyed the entertainment to a late hour. In the course of the evening Mr Gilbert Burns, the brother of the poet, and Mr Mayne, of the Star Office, London, a native of Dumfries, and author of the “ Siller Gun,” were created honorary members. Mr Gilfillan, a new member, and a rising artist, intimated that he would paint and present the Club with portraits of Burns and his widow, an intimation which was received with much pleasure. On llth January, 1822, the Club met and appointed Mr John M‘Diarmid president, and created as honorary members Robert Burns, Wm. Burns, and James Glencairn Burns, sons of the bard ; Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Campbell, James Montgomery, Allan Cunningham, William Tennant, Professor of Oriental Languages, and author of ‘‘ Anster Fair,” and George Thomson, Edinburgh. Sir Walter Scott replied to the secretary :— 23d January, 1822. IT am honoured by the intimation that the Dumfries Burns Club have distinguished me by admitting me an honorary member, to which I am not otherwise entitled, excepting my sincere and heartfelt admira- tion of the great national poet, whose memory it is the purpose of the institution to celebrate. I beg you will make my respectful thanks acceptable to the members. WALTER Scorr. The original of this letter is framed and hung up in Dr Grierson’s Museum, Thornhill, and it is believed to contain the first notice of Burns as the “Great National Poet.” At the dinner on the 25th, James Hogg was present, and at the particular request of James Glencairn Burns “a strong bottle was filled with punch from the bowl to be sent out to him to India,” the carriage of which to London cost 7s 8d. James Hogg appears to have sung several fine songs. Keith Douglas, M.P., and Thomas Moore were admitted honorary members, and Mr Gilfillan presented the portraits of the bard and his widow decorated with wreaths of laurel taken from the shrubbery at the poet’s tomb. Letters were also read from James Glencairn Burns and Mr Mayne. In 1823 it was agreed to ask General Dirom of Mount Annan to preside at the anniversary dinner. The General consented to preside, and he was elected president for the year, while Sir John Malcolm, Sir Pultney Malcolm, and others were enrolled honorary members. 234 TRANSACTIONS. Allan Cunningham, of date 14th January, 1823, writes to the secretary : I will thank you to express my acknowledgments to the Burns Club of Dumfries for having elected me an honorary member. Such a dis- tinction was as much beyond my hopes as it was unexpected and welcome. To obtain the notice of our native place is a pleasure which befalls few, and I have the proverbial intimation of its rarity to warrant me in thanking you with as much warmth as delicacy will allow me to use. To the most gifted it seems honour enough to be named with Burns, and I know not that such honour is enhanced by electing me along with some of our most inspired spirits. Some declaration of my faith in the illustrious subject of your meeting may be necessary. I am proud to name the name of Burns, and I recall his looks and dwell on my remembrance of his person with fondness and enthusiasm. In my youth, when poesy to me was an enchanted and sacred thing, I loved to wander in his haunts and muse on his strains everywhere so full of pathetic tenderness and sub:ime and moral emotion. I thou ght then, and 1 think now, that capricious and wayward as his musings often were-— mingling the tender with the comic, and the sarcastic with the solemn— that all he said was above the mark of other men, that he shed a redeem- ing light on all he touched, and that whatever his eye glanced on rose into life and grace and stood consecrated and imperishable. I saw that his language was familiar yet rich, easy yet dignified, and that he touched on the most perilous themes with a skill so rare and felicitous that his good fortune seemed to unite with his good taste in keeping him buoyant above the mire of homeliness and vulgarity in which so many meaner spirits have wallowed. That in him the love of country, devotion, enthusiasm, love, happiness, and joy appear characterised by a brief and elegant simplicity at once so easy to him and unattainable to others that all those, and they were many, who sought to follow his track among themes of domestic life and homely joy wanted his power to dignify the humble, adorn the plain, and extract sweet and impassioned poetry from the daily occurrences of human life. All this and much more than this has been better expressed before, but I know on such a subject I will be indulged in a moderate degree of enthusiasm. I am not sure if you have safe accommodation in your Club Room for works of art. I ask this because I wish the Burns Club to accept from me the bust of a poet, one living and likely to live in his chivalrous poems and romantic stories as long, perhaps, as British literature shall live—the production, too, of the first sculptor of the Island—the bust of Sir Walter Scott by my friend Mr Chantrey. If such a thing can be accepted be so good as tell me, and I shall gladly confide its presentation to your hands. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. Eccleston Street, Pimlico, 14th January, 1823. TRANSACTIONS. 235 The bust of Sir Walter Scott, by Chantrey, referred to in the above letter was duly despatched, and the donor again writes on December 25th, 1823 :— Some ten or twelve days ago I forwarded to you by way of Leith the bust of Sir Walter Scott for the Burns Club of Dumfries. I hope by this time it has reached you in safety. You know much better than me how such things are introduced. You will therefore oblige me by pre- senting it in your own way at the next meeting. I trust you will have a large increase of members, and much mirth and eloquence. It was my wish to have written you earlier. T have long felt how much all owe to your discreet and active enthusiasm in other matters as well as those of song, and though slow in expressing it, I have not felt it the less sensibly. To render our native town distinguished, to make it, though less populous, as far known and famed as prouder cities, ought, and I trust has been, the wish of all her sons. For my own part, though living in a distant place, and out of the way too far to be with you in person, I feel not the less solicitude for the fame and name of Dumfries than those who have the happiness of dwelling in her streets. Humble and remote as I am, my best wishes are ever with you, and I love my native vale and district zealously to do it honour as the wisest or the proudest of its children. I am willing to think that [ have, though in a far less degree, in the wish of him in whose honour you are so soon to assemble re- desired, and was ever a desire more amply fulfilled for the sake of his country and the love he bore her—“ To sing a song at least.” Remember me to Mr Macdiarmid. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. London, 25th December, 1823. The only further trace of the Burns Club he could produce was contained in the following letter from Sir Walter Scott, dated from Abbotsford, 29th December, 1831 :— I am very much flattered with the invitation of the Burns Club of Dumfries to take their chair upon the 26th of January next, and were it in my power to do myself so great honour it would give me the most sincere satisfaction. But my official duty detains me in close attendance on the Court of Session during its sittings, besides which I am not now so equal as at a former part of my life either to winter-journeys or to social exertion. The severe illness to which I was subjected some years ago obliges me to observe great caution in these particulars. I beg to express my sincere wishes for the conviviality of the meet- ing, and to express my most respectful thanks for the honour which the Club have conferred upon WALTER Scort, Abbotsford, 29th December, 1831, 236 TRANSACTIONS. 4th of April, 1890. Major BownbENn, Vice-President, in the Chair. New Member.—-Mr John Thorburn Johnstone of Moffat. Donations.— Annual Report of the Canadian Institute, 1888-9 ; Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1888-9 ; and Mr J. J. Reid’s paper on Mouswald and its Barons. Mr Scott Elliot presented a copy of Lees’s Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union, and botanical papers from Mr J. G. Baker, F.R.S., the author of them. COMMUNICATIONS. I. Zhe Flora and Fauna of Madagascar. By G. F. Scott Euiot, B.Sc. Nothing would seem to be easier than for a botanist to describe the flora of a tropical island, but in reality nothing is so hard as to give an account of so strange and outlandish a vegetation. The flora of Madagascar contains probably 6000 or 7000 species, of which 10 per cent. are endemic. Most of these special forms, moreover, are so strange and extra- ordinary that anything like a detailed description is impossible. They are in-fact vegetable kangaroos. I shall simply try to describe the vegetation, or rather the different vegetations, as one sees them. The island consists of an enormous mass of granitic mountains rising to a height of 10,000 feet in isolated peaks, but usually forming an irregular tableland or mountainous plateau about 4000 feet above the sea level. The flanks of this tableland are covered with dense and luxuriant forest, which thus forms a belt all round the island and limits the bare upland plateaux of the centre. Between this forest and the sea is a rather wide stretch of sandy plains broken by lagoons, brackish and freshwater lakes, and intersected in all directions by deep and broad rivers. The flora of this sandy littoral is very monotonous. There is usually a stretch of short turf with Phaseolus, Ipmea Pes Capra and other plants with long trailing runners rooting at intervals. Our English sandpiper is common along the shore, but the commonest creature is a small red crab, of which myriads are always running up and down just outside the reach of the waves. It is a ferocious little animal, and snaps its extremely small claws whenever one approaches, while gradually sidling away into the water. There are in places very dense brushwood, formed chiefly TRANSACTIONS. 237 by Lobelia Scevola and certain Rubiacez, and this is at times broken by clumps of Casuarina trees and Pandanus. The former is a favourite perching place for the’guinea-fowl, which are found in large numbers along the coast. Every now and then one has to take to a canoe and travel up some sluggish river. The banks of these rivers are fringed by groups of Traveller's tree, Baobab and other trees, not differing so much from our own forms in appearance. A gigantic Arum with leaves nearly 4 feet long is often arranged in long rows along the margins. The beautiful blue water lily and the yellow Limnanthemum rest on the surface of the water, and occasionally one finds the latticed leaves of the Ouvirandra, one of the curiosities of the island. The lovely little blue and red kingfisher may often be scen perched on the bushes, and occasionally darting off after some incautious fish. Looking over the sides of the canoe one is astonished at the quantity of fish that inhabit these waters, and this explains the presence of _ crocodiles, which in such places are extremely numerous. They are not really often seen, but one hears frequently of oxen caught by the crocodile and dragged off for assimilation, or of some un- fortunate woman gathering rushes who has been seized and dis- appeared for ever. Occasionally one rows under a group of flying foxes hanging by their tails. They turn their foxlike heads downward, expostulate vigorously, then unhook themselves and fly off with a strong steady flight. Such a stream ends in a wide lake or reedy lagoon, chiefly formed of Cyperus equalis. Along its sides grow huge grasses 10 or 12 feet high, and on a withered tree one often sees a cormorant perched with its bill in the air and looking sideways downwards at the canoe with a peculiarly . leery expression. Such places are the chosen haunts of the thirteen or so species of ducks, some as big as a small goose, others not larger than a quail. Herons of all shapes and colours abound, and other kinds of waterfuwl are quite innumerable. Occasionally, though rarely, one sees a flock of flamingoes drawn up side by side, shoulder to shoulder, in a regular military line. The pure white line which their bodies form is visible miles away. Near at hand one sees the bright scarlet wing coverts which form a belt halfway down the white uniform. Such lakes and sandy stretches form a large portion of the coast, but one soon begins to leave them und mount the outlying flanks of the hills. These form a series of gentle slopes and valleys before one enters the forest proper. This is the home of the Traveller’s tree, one of 238 TRANSACTIONS. the most striking plants in existence. It has a stem 8 or 10 feet high and about 20 leaves spreading out like a fan, each of which is about 10 feet long. The bright white flowers grow on a sort of cone at the bases of the leaves, and the honey is busily visited by a beautiful little sunbird with a scarlet and blue breast. The seeds are the great mainstay, moreover, of the rather dingy slate- coloured Malagash Parrot, which frequents them in great numbers. This tree is of the greatest use to the natives, whose houses are built almost entirely with its leaves. The water, however, obtained by piercing the leaf bases is lukewarm and of a very vegetable taste. It is also here that the Rofia palm, whose split leaves are so much used by gardeners, grows. It is also here that the Bamboos thrive, with their enormous gracefully curved leaves, like a gigantic bunch of ostrich feathers, of a delicate yellowish ereen, The extraordinary Nepenthes, moreover, is not uncommon on these slopes. The grass clothing these gentle rises is very harsh and useless, and there is an abundance of the common bracken everywhere. ; Soon, however, one enters the true forest, which covers three or four ranges of parallel mountain chains. It is usually not very beautiful. The path is only about two feet wide, and is walled in on either side by a sort of gigantic hedge 70 or 80 feet high. This is formed of dense undergrowth and huge trees, from the lower branches of which hang the enormous foliage masses of the climbing plants. The aim of Nature seems to have been to fill every available space with leaves. There are no glades and none of those agreeable vistas so common in English woods. Though the appearance of these trees is not really very striking, they are all of entirely different kinds. One here meets huge Compositee, the Vernonias, with enormous umbels of purple heads; such Leguminose as Neobaronia with fleshy, flattened, leafless branches. Brexia, a tree 80 feet high, whose nearest relative in our country is the Saxifrage; Weinmannia is also a Saxifrage. Many of the largest trees belong to Euphorbiacex, such as the genus Euphorbia itself and Croton. There is also a huge forest tree, Wormia, a near ally of Ranunculacece. Few of these trees are at all beautiful; perhaps the bright pink flowers of Ixora or Colea are the handsomest, and one of these in full blossom is very beautiful indeed. The creepers are chiefly objectionably spiny Asparaguses or Smilax, but their number and variety is enormous. The undergrowth of Plectranthus, Balsams, &c., is often very TRANSACTIONS. 239 beautiful, but it is on dead trunks and decaying stumps that one sees the finest plants of all: Bolbophyllums, Angrecum superbe with its long spikes, 18 inches long, densely covered with huge white flowers and A. sesquipedale with its enormous spur. Ferns ’ of all kinds abound ; tree-ferns 20 feet high ; and in the deeper denser parts huge quantities of Hymenophyllum, as well as many of our common forms. The silence in these huge forests is some- times almost oppressive. Almost the only animals are the different kinds of lemurs, whose shrill whistling bark may occa- sionally be heard. Different species are adapted to play the parts of monkeys, squirrels, dormice, &c., none of which exist here. The larger kinds live in large bands flying from tree to tree, and feed on small birds, fruit, &c. Others live in hollows regularly hiber- nating, and to do this store up their winter food in their tails, which become extraordinarily fat and fleshy. Here the wild boar, really a Babiroussa, spends most of his time. He wakes up towards evening, and spends the night wandering about feeding on the pommejacot (Imbricaria). Sometimes one comes on huge furrows made by him when ploughing up the Lily bulbs, Dioscorea, &e. Sometimes he digs up the unfortunate Tenrec, a kind of hedgehog which hibernates below ground, and eats him, but his most favoured morsel is a snake. He begins at the tail and eats up the snake to the head, which he always leaves untouched. Towards morning he retires to a shady spot, and there makes a comfortable bed, covering himself with dead leaves and grass, where he slumbers till the evening. The only important carnivor- ous mammals are insectivore, the largest being the Fouche, a non- descript mastiff-like creature which one seldom sees. The whole of the animals are far less specialised structurally than those of the continent, while in habit they seemed quite as distinct. Of birds the handsomest are the Couas, with very beautiful bluish plumage ; there are also hoopoes ; several kinds of pigeons, one of which has a sort of whining bark very much like a small terrier ; a peculiar black starling also lives in flocks, flying from tree to tree. A bird called the “ Tolo,” a kind of cuckoo with an absurdly long tail, is very common ; it is very stupid, and never seems to realise that its tail can be seen when once it has concealed its head. Still, in spite of these exceptions, it is really insects, and especially butterflies, which give a little brightness and colour to the forest. Fifty or sixty brilliant blue and black butterflies fluttering above a little stream by the path are really a wonderful sight, and Red 240 TRANSACTIONS. Admirals, pure white Papilios, and Acreeas with bright red spots on their wings, are all very common in the darker places. Some- times one sees a millipede about 10 inches long, with hundreds of twinkling red feet crawling over the path, and a very large wood- louse, which rolJls into a ball about an inch in diameter, is very common. But the insects are a study in themselves in Madagas- car. When one emerges from the forest into the interior, the difference is extraordinary. As far as the eye can reach, there is nothing but range after range of bleak granite hills covered with a uniform grey grass broken by low scrubby perennials. Only small bushes with heath-like leaves seem able to live on the soil, which is a hard red clay, the debris of the granitic and gneissose rocks. The flowers are usually very inconspicuous, and it is most remark- able to find Rubiacea such as Anthospermum, Leguminose e.g. Indigofera, Hypericums, Stachys, Philippias, &c, all taking the same appearance. There is even an extraordinary Monocotyledon which has done its best to become something of the same kind— Vellosia. Where there is more water the flowers are more beauti- ful, and it is in such places that one finds Disas and Habenarias with long stalks and bright pink and white flowers, or that most beautiful Gentian Tachiadenus with a corolla 4 inches long, and the handsome shrubby Impatiens forms; but it is impossible to do justice to these flowers in such a paper as this. The main features of the flora are, however, easy to under- stand. There is a certain number of seaside plants usually the same as those found along the Eastern Coast of Africa. The flanks of the mountains are covered with forest, and this flora shows most affinity with the forest plants of the Hast African Coast, while the bare steppe-like highlands of the interior are covered with plants which show distinct relationship with the similar grassy plateaux of the Transvaal and the Shiré Highlands. Il. Annan: Its Historical and Literary Associations. By Mr FRANK MILLER. Mr Miller said the town which he had been asked to describe was interesting to every student of Scottish history as one of the famous old border burghs. Owing to its geographical position, it was sadly exposed to the fury of invaders during the long-con- tinued wars with England ; and again and again it was the scene of desperate conflict. When at length the union of the crowns secured a permanent peace, it was universally acknowledged that TRANSACTIONS. 241 the exertions of the stout burgesses of Annan had proved of the utmost value in the struggle for the maintenance of the rights of the little kingdom of Scotland. Not only was the burgh renowned in history ; it was rich in association with some of the most illus- trious of modern Scotchmen. The greatest lyrical poet the British Isles have produced, one of the most intrepid of African explorers, a pulpit orator of unique power and spiritual elevation, and the deepest and most earnest thinker of our time had all been more or less clusely connected with it. As the town in which Irving was born, and in which Carlyle received his education, Annan would never cease to be regarded with interest. Having made a brief reference to the churchyard, and quoted several of the more curious epitaphs, Mr Miller proceeded : Annan Castle, the site of which has so long been occupied by the church- yard, was erected at least a hundred years before the War of Independence for the protection of the town, which, as references in various ancient documents show, was even at that early period a place of some importance. In the year 1300 the Castle was repaired by Robert the Bruce, whose ancestors had obtained the whole of Annandale in fief. A stone from the building, with Bruce’s name and the date 1300 inscribed on it, was seen by Pennant “in the wall of a gentleman’s garden,” when he visited the town in 1769. It is now at Bideford, in Devon, from which, let us hope, it will one day be brought back to Annan. The Castle is associated with not a few stirring events in Scottish history. Of these perhaps the most memorable is the defeat of Edward Baliol by Lord Archibald Douglas in 1332. Shortly after his coronation at Scone Baliol gained possession of the fortress, and commanded the barons of Scotland to repair to it and do him homage. His movements, however, were carefully watched by Douglas, who, at the head of one thousand horsemen, rode hastily from Moffat, and falling upon the town and castle at midnight, routed the forces of the usurper with much slaughter. Baliol lost his brother Henry and the most distinguished of his English followers in the action, and only saved his own life by fleeing precipitately to Carlisle. During the long wars with England the Castle was frequently captured and laid in ruins. As the chief stronghold of the town which was the key to the West of Scotland, it could not be abandoned to destruction ; and after demolition by the foe it was always speedily rebuilt. Eventually the pious but poverty- stricken burgesses obtained permission from James VI. either to 249 TRANSACTIONS. convert it into a place of worship or use its stones to build one. Though its Castle was the main defence of Annan in time of war, the church, which stood near to it, was also a place of strength, the tower being fortified. The destruction of “ Annan Steeple” was the chief object of an English invasion in September, 1547. At the head of 2500 men, “whereof 500 were Scotsmen that served the King,” Lord Wharton advanced to the attack, planting his siege train on the slope known as Battery Brae. The defenders were ably commanded by an officer named Lyon and by the Master of Maxwell, and the Lairds of Johnston and Cockpool. They did not exceed a hundred in number, yet for eight hours the unequal struggle was maintained, the heroic men of Annan hurling defiance at the foe— ‘¢ Till forty of the poor hundred were slain, And half of the rest of them maimed for life !” The battered church after its capture was completely destroyed, being blown up with gunpowder. “This done,” writes the old historian, ‘‘ the English sacked and burnt the town, and left not a stone standing, for it had ever been a right noisome neighbour to England. The Englishmen had conceived such a spite to it that if they saw but a piece of timber remaining unburnt they would cut the same in pieces.” Near to the brae from which on that far-off September morn- ing the invaders’ guns poured their deadly discharge stands “ The Moat,” a long old-fashioned house, guarded by spreading elms and beeches. In the midst of the grounds, which stretch down to the holm, is a small tree-crowned height—one of the artificial eminences so common in Annandale. The ‘Moat Hill” is generally supposed to have been raised in early times as a spot on which to assemble for the administration of justice, but its origin is really wrapt in mystery. The Moat fora few months in 1808 was the residence of the Rev. James Grahame, author of “ The Sabbath,” who married an Annan lady, a daughter of Richard Grahame, town clerk. In his charming retreat the poet wrote “The British Georgics,” gaining fresh inspiration from the old- world garden and the little wildernesses of tree and shrub. Only a Virgil can treat satisfactorily such a subject as “‘ Husbandry,” but Grahame’s work has merit, and in many of the lines the influence of local scenery can be traced. Proceeding, in his description of Annan, to the Town Hall, a handsome modern erection, Mr Miller gave some of the results of TRANSACTIONS. 243 his examination of the records preserved in that building. These documents include the Council Minutes from 1678 to the present year, and a number of important ‘‘ dispositions.” The lecturer expressed his surprise that the older Council records, from which much curious information could be gleaned, had never been tran- scribed and published. Reterring to the state of the burgh two hundred years ago, he said: The poverty of Annan in the closing years of the seventeenth century seems to have been great. One privilege, that of collecting customs, was enjoyed by the town, having been granted by Charles II. to recompense the burghers for their losses during the civil wars which raged in the time of his father. A ferry boat on the river was “ pairte of the common good,” but the rent yielded by it seldom amounted to 40 pounds Scots per annum. The appearance of the town shewed its insig- nificance. The houses were small and of rude construction, while the church was a plain building without a steeple. The sanitary condition of the burgh was unsatisfactory, though the magistrates now and again issued orders for the cleansing of the street, and fined persons found guilty of indulging in practices detrimental to the public health. The inhabitants being “sudden and fierce in quarrel,” fights and aggravated assaults were common. In 1686 the schoolmaster was fined ten pounds Scots for fighting, and in 1700 the town clerk was condemned to pay fifty pounds Scots “ for a blood and ryott committed by him upon Robert Johnstone, son to the deceased David Johnstone, sometime bailie.” Women not infrequently figured in assault cases, “ ryving of hair” being one of the favourite amusements of the gentler sex. The good old sport of tossing in a blanket was not unknown in Annan, as is shown by an entry, dated 1694, recording the infliction of a fine upon two men “for raising of an blanket and throwing of David Johnstone and Adam Johnstone to the ground.” If quarrelsome, the people were comparatively honest. At times a goose was stolen from the common, or peas and beans were taken from a neighbour's garden, but few serious cases of theft occurred. Offences against property were punished with more than the usual severity. In 1701 a servant maid, convicted of complicity in a theft of barley from her master’s barn, “ was ordained to be put in the stocks on Monday morning, and to continue there during the magistrates’ and Council’s pleasure.” The court, considering it probable that the girl’s master would prove tender-hearted and refuse to give her up on the awful Monday morning, wisely appended to the sentence 244 TRANSACTIONS. these words, “and the said John is ordained to be imprisoned if he fail to produce her.” Amongst other offences with suitable penalties attached were, “saying that the magistrates did not give true judgment,” “ building of peat stacks upon the High Town Street,” “raising and pulling up of march stones,” and “ cutting and carry- ing away of wood” from plantations in the neighbourhood. Persons were frequently fined for “irregular marriage,” and on one occasion a man was prosecuted for “ resetting the Egyptians and also eating and drinking with them ”—in other words, for sheltering gypsy outlaws and fraternising with them. Passing from the picture of life in the burgh two centuries ago as reflected in the Council records, Mr Miller alluded to the connection of Carlyle with Annan, mentioning that the Old Academy, to which he was taken by his father on that “red sunny Whitsuntide morning ” in 1806, has long been the residence of Mr Batty, who for many years was Chief Magistrate of the burgh. The house is large and dark--one of the buildings which Dorothy Wordsworth had in her observant eye when she penned her singularly graphic description of Annan. Carlyle’s “doleful and hateful school life” lasted till 1810, when he was sent to Edinburgh University. Four years later he returned to Annan, having obtained by competition the post of teacher of mathematics in the Academy. He remained in the town till 1816, boarding with Mr Glen, the burgher minister, in the house in Ednam Street now occupied as the United Presbyterian manse. With the name of Carlyle will always be associated that of Edward Irving, who was born in 1792, in a house in Butts Street. Gavin Irving, the father of the preacher, was a tanner, carrying on his trade in a yard near to his dwelling-house. He held the office of bailie when the election celebrated in Burns’s “ There were five carlins in the south” took place. His wife, Mary Lowther, was a native of the parish of Dornock, where her father owned a piece of land. She was a handsome woman, with brilliant black eyes, and her energy and force of character won the admiration of all who came in contact with her. Irving received his education at Annan Academy, ot which the talented Dalgliesh was head master. In a few sentences the lecturer outlined Irving’s meteoric career, and remarked that not a few of his townsmen would still tell with strange awe how they witnessed in their youth his solemn deposi- tion in Annan Parish Church and listened to the ery of anguish which burst from his lips when his opinions were condemned. TRANSACTIONS. 245 Another celebrated man, Hugh Clapperton, the African explorer, was born in Butts Street, in 1788. His father (a native of Lochmaben) was the only surgeon resident in the healthy town. Miss Clapperton, the explorer’s cousin, had kindly allowed the _ exhibition to the Society of Dr Clapperton’s ticket of admission as a burgess of the royal burgh. Annan, it was mentioned, was also the birthplace of Thomas Blacklock, the blind poet-minister, author of the beautiful sixteenth paraphrase ; but the house in which he was born has long since disappeared—its very site has been unknown for at least fifty years, Towards the close of his troubled life Robert Burns had often occasion to visit the town, which was then the home of numerous smugglers, a large contraband trade being carried on with the Isle of Man. “The Deil’s Awa’ wi’ the Exciseman” was written in a house in High Street, not on the shore of the Solway, as stated by Chambers on the authority of Lockhart. The poem, immediately after composition, was read by Burns to a large company assembled in the house. Mr Miller explained that this fact was made known to him by Dr Williamson, whose father and grandfather were both included in the poet’s audience. Another building in High Street was worthy of notice. In December, 1745, the retreating army of Prince Charles Edward bivouacked at Annan, and “Scotland’s Heir” found shelter in the Buck Hotel. The burgesses were prudent enough not to quarrel with the Highlanders ; but over their “white port” they breathed devout wishes for the speedy destruction of the Prince and all his followers. During the Rebellion the Magistrates and Council met in the public-houses almost daily to discuss the move- ments of the enemy. Much liquor was, of course, consumed at the expense of the burgh, and some of the publicans’ bills remained unpaid until 1749. A quotation from the minute of the Council meeting at which payment of the outstanding debts was author- ised may be acceptable. Find upon examination of the said accompts that the greatest part of the articles therein stated have been contracted by some of the Councillors when met together for intelligence and advice about their common safety in the years 1745 and 1746, when the country was in the utmost confusion by the late unnatural rebellion. . . . . Dodeclare that this indulgence is only on account of the late troubles, and that this act shall be no precedent to invalidate or infringe the foresaid act of the 246 TRANSACTIONS. Town Council on the 7th of December, 1740, regulating the extent and method of payment of the burgh’s expenses in public-houses. 2nd of May, 1890. Major BowpeEN in the Chair. New Member.—On the motion of the Secretary Mr J. G. Baker, F.R.S., curator of the Kew Botanical Gardens, was elected * an honorary member. Donations.—Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, 1887-9 ; Proceedings of the Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science, 1888-9; Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences ; the Seventh Annual Report for 1885-6 of the United States Geological Survey. Mr Scott Elliot made a report of his preliminary efforts in procuring assistants for forming a /ora of the district, and the formation of an Herbarium for Dumfriesshire and Galloway. The Dinwiddie Library. The Secretary read the following letter, received through Mr Robert Stoba, Solicitor, from Mr Robert Dinwiddie, of New York. Brae Srpe, ScarBoroucu-on-Hupson, New York, Ist March, 1890. To Dr Epwarp J. CHINNOCK, Secretary of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Dumfries, Scotland. SIR, Mr Robert Stoba has kindly consented to hand you with this letter two cases of books as per enclosed list, for- merly the property of my late father, Robert Dinwiddie, a native of Dumfries, and, as I believe, a member of your Society. These books were bequeathed in his will to me, but I have concluded to offer them to your Society in the hope that they may prove of value to its members in many ways. [trust that they may prove acceptable to your Society, and find a permanent home among the fellow-townsmen of my father, and I desire that they shall be added to your library of reference, and be known as the ‘‘ Robert Dinwiddie Library,” and held subject to such regulations that, while promoting to the utmost usefulness to all members of your Society, they will still be protected as far as is possible from loss, destruction, or mutilation. In presenting these books to : TRANSACTIONS. 247 your Society, I do so believing that such disposition would have been agreeable to my father’s wishes could he have been consulted, and I am glad to be the medium of tendering you this donation to your library. I have the honour to be, Yours very truly, Rosert DInwIppie. The Secretary was directed to write thanking the donor for his valuable present. Mr James Lennox, F.S.A. (the Librarian) read the following ‘paper entitled “The Dinwiddie Library, and how it came to this Society” :— The original owner, Mr Robert Dinwiddie, was born in Dumfries, 23d July, 1811, and died at New York, 12th July, 1888. He was the third son of Mr William Dinwiddie, hosier. Commencing life in the Dumfries branch of the Commercial Bank of Scotland, he rose to be teller. He emigrated to America in 1835, and joined the house of Brown Brothers, merchants and bankers in New York ; shortly afterwards entering the employment of J. Laurie & Co., commission merchants, in which business he succeeded them, being left by them to administer funds for St. Luke’s and the Presbyterian Hospital in connection with the St. Andrew’s Society of New York. He retired from business in 1883, and then devoted more of his time to scientific pursuits, although he had always been a worker both in archeology and botany. His attainments in these had been recognised, as he was fifteen years a member of the New York Academy of Sciences and an active member of the Micro- scopical Society up to the day of his death. Some years ago he gifted the whole of his extensive scientific library to the New York Academy of Sciences, and what is now under our own roof has been collected since that date, being more valuable as they are more recent. He visited this country a few years ago, being here when the Cryptogamic Society were in Dumfries, and during his stay he was admitted a life member of this Society. The history of the New York Academy of Science contains a portrait of him, but no mention appears in the text, as it was with great difficulty that they persuaded him to sit for this plate, but on no account would he allow anything to be said of him. The books consist of 229 bound volumes and 22 unbound. They embrace :—24 Microscopic, 5 Medicine, 8 Geology, 24 248 TRANSACTIONS. Natural History, 38 Botany, 13 Natural Philosophy, 4 Meteorology, 6 Travels, 43 Reports of Societies, and 57 Magazines, &ec. To go fully into these would make a lengthy paper, as many of these subjects can be sub-divided into very many special studies. Amongst them we have books on fresh water plants, salt water plants, shells and fish, cryptogamic botany and flora, &c. The books are, in the main, English; many of them are elegantly bound in half morocco and half calf, which will add much to their usefulness in handling. COMMUNICATIONS. I. Observations of the Temperature of the Nith and its Estuary for the year ending 15th April, 1890. By Rev. Wm. ANDSON. The observations were taken at the instance of a committee of the British Association, which was appointed to obtain observations of the temperature of rivers, estuaries, and lakes over the United Kingdom as compared with that of the air, and as modified by the direction and force of the wind, the state of the weather, &c., the chief object being to ascertain the seasonal variations. The observations at Dumfries were taken throughout the twelve months. Mr James Lewis took the observations of the estuary at Kingholm Quay, from 25th June to 21st March, and observations were begun at later dates in the River Dee by Rev. W. I. Gordon, of Tongland, and in the Dee estuary by Mr Macdonald, lighthouse keeper, Little Ross. These, he understood, were still being carried on, but as the year was not completed they could not be reported upon. The Nith observations, he explained, were taken at the Dumfries boathouse, where there was an average depth of more than three feet. In consequence of the damming of the water by the weir below the Old Bridge the river at this point never fell very low; he had never seen the depth less than 2} feet. On two occasions of heavy flood even the parapet wall was overflowed— once in the beginning of November, when the depth was estimated to have been fully ten feet, towards midnight on the Ist; and again on 25th January, after heavy rain and the melting of snow on the high grounds, with a south-west gale, when the depth of 9 feet was registered at the gauge on the Old Bridge. The hour of observation was at or near noon. The following table shewed the mean temperature of the air and water for each month TRANSACTIONS. 249 separately, along with the state of the river or the mean depth as registered at the gauge (which was erected in July), viz. :— Air. Water. Dif. State of River. Corrected Means for April. 51°3° 45°8° 5°5° — Average. - May.... - 60°5° 56°6° 3°9° Under average. 5 June... 65°8° 63° 2°8° Low and very low. “3 July.... 63°3° 60°3° 335 Very low till 10th, then above avg. Mean Depth at Gauge— + Aug... 62°3° 575° 48° 5 feet, % Sept... -59°7? 531° 6-6" 46 ,, Oct..... 496° 45° 46° 5-1), Nov.... 45°62 431° 265° 5) ve ¥ Dee... 402° 382° 2 55 ,, " Jan. . 444° 405° 3-9° 6 . Feb. ... 428° 381° 47° 48 ” War, ( 1+ Sa? OTA Phy de od Means for whole year ......... 52°8° 48°5° Mean difference between air and water for year ...... 43° From this table it will be seen that the highest monthly mean temperature of the air for the year was in June, when it was 65°8°, the mean temperature of the water for the same month being 63°, also the highest mean for the year. The lowest was in December, when that of the air was 40:2°—water, 382° ; but the mean tem- perature of February for the water was a fraction lower than this, viz., 38°1°, while that of the air was 42°8°. Range for monthly means—air, 65°8° ; water, 38°1°—27°7°. The highest single reading for the air was on 31st July wee, AON The lowest single reading for the air was December ... ee 2 le Extreme range for air... re AS mee 45° Highest single reading for water was on 4th July te 2. GONSs Lowest single reading for water was on 13th February 1g, ie Extreme range for water ... Bes A aa 34-6° The months in which the mean monthly temperature of the air and water most nearly approximated were : December, when the difference was only 2° (¢.e., of air above water) ; November, 2°5° ; 2 June, 2°8° ; and July, 3°. Those in which the temperature varied 250 TRANSACTIONS. most were: March, 7:4° ; September, 6°6°; and April, 5°5°. Mean difference for whole year, 4°3°. Thus it will be seen that the months in which the temperatures of the air and water most nearly approximated were those in which the day was at the shortest and the longest. In other words, there were two maxima and two minima of difference between the temperatures of the air and water, the former occurring in the months of March and September, the equinoctial months; and the latter in December and June, the months of the winter and summer solstice. The former fact is easily explained, but it is rather a curious circum- stance that the same thing should hold good of the month in which the sun is longest above the horizon, and most vertical. The explanation, I have no doubt, is that in the latter part of June and the first part of July, when there was a period of drought and warm weather, which lasted more than three weeks, the river fell to its lowest level, and the current was very sluggish. Hence the water became more heated than in ordinary circumstances, and its temperature more nearly approached that of the air. Though as a rule the temperature of the air was higher than that of the water, there were a good many exceptions to this rule, especially in the months of May, June, July, November, and December. Thus there were five days in May in which this occurred, six in June, and four in July, with an aggregate excess in the temperature of the water of 37°. In November and December there were also 15 days with an aggregate excess of 30°4°, the greatest number being in December, viz., 10 days, while on other two days of that month the temperature of air and water was equal. The conditions under which this state of things was ob- served were, as a rule, in summer, when the temperature was lowered by cloudy and wet or dull and foggy weather, or by the prevalence of cold winds ; and, in winter, when the conditions were similar, or when frost set in. The most extreme difference was observed on July 7th, when the reading of the air temperature was 53°, and that of the water 65°—a difference of 12°. This was at the close of the period of drought before alluded to. The greatest excess in the temperature of the air above that of the water occurred in March, when on 16 days it was higher by more than 7°, ranging from 7° to 14°5°; and the next in September, in which month there were 13 days in which the difference exceeded 7°, ranging from 7° to 13:2°. On these occasions the weather was a TRANSACTIONS. 251 for the most part bright and sunny, or if cloudy or rainy, very mild, with south or south-west winds. _ I have also to submit a table shewing the mean monthly temperatures of the air and water of the estuary of the Nith at Kingholm Quay, and taken with great regularity by Mr James Lewis, for a period of about nine months, from 25th June, 1889, to 21st March, 1890. The hours of observation necessarily varied, because the proper temperature of the estuary could be obtained only when the tide was up. For the most part they were taken between the hours of 9 A.M. and 4 P.M., though sometimes a little earlier and sometimes a little later. Air. Water. Difference. Means. From 25th June to 31st July a se ES cl Oy +0:2° » Ist to 3lst August ibs =a eens! 56-9 -2-1 », Ist to 30th September ... 2 OW 32 54:4 -18 », Ast to 3lst October e. my © 4D 45°8 +0°3 3, Ast to 30th November ... e. eg ite: 41°6 -42 », Ist to 14th December ... Cah eaten 36°8 -15 », Istto3lst January .. ve scihy SEE 39°5 ~16 » Ist to 28th February ... ae 25, TARO 37°4 -2°6 », lst to 2lst March S ae Yon ALT 40-4 -2°3 Sums 4 ie é ... 429°9 4143 Mean —— Difference. Means... os ae oh ELST 46 EF From this table it will be seen that for the period from 25th June to 31st July the mean temperature of the estuary was a fraction of a degree higher than that of the air, and the same thing occurred again in October. In all the other months it was lower, but not to the same extent as in the case of the river temperature. Taking the whole period during which observations have been made, the mean temperature of the air was 47°7° and of the water 46°, giving a mean difference of only 1-7°, instead of 4°3° as in the case of the river. This result might have been somewhat modified if the observations had been extended over the whole year instead of nine months, but not, I think, to any great extent, there being an obvious reason why the temperature of the estuary should be higher than that of the river as compared with that of the air, viz., the fact that when the tide rises it passes over the extensive tracts of sand which in the Solway Firth are left bare by the receding tide, and in sunny days become heated by the sun, to which it may be added that the influence of the Gulf Stream must tell in 252 TRANSACTIONS. some degree upon the temperature of the tidal water, while that of the river is wholly unaffected by it. It may perhaps be asked why the mean annual temperature of the air in my observations should be 52°5°, while in those of Mr Lewis it is only 47°7°, and the mean temperature of the water 48°5°, as compared with 46°. But this admits of an obvious explanation. For one thing, there were no observations taken by Mr Lewis in April, May, and the greater part of June, while mine included these months, and another thing to be taken into account is that my observations were taken invariably about noon, when the heat of the day was approaching its maximum, while those of Mr Lewis were taken at all hours when the tide was up. I regret that I have not been able to procure a sufficiently extended number of observations of the temperature of Lochrutton Loch to be of much value, but by the kindness of Mr Beck and Mr Lindsay I got observations made from the 8th to 19th August, and from 13th September to Ist October, with the following results : Means. Air. Water. Difference. From 8th to 19th August... ; .. 58°3 61:1 +2°8 », 18th September to Ist Oovaer .. 543 55°2 +0°9 From this we may probably infer that during at least the autumn and winter months, and possibly in summer also, the temperature of the Loch is, as a rule, in excess of that of the air. But the observations are too limited in number to warrant any decided conclusion being founded upon them. II. Seaweeds. By Mr JosEpH WILSON (late Secretary). Seaweeds form by far the largest section of the Algz, which is one of the three great classes into which the thallogenous plants are divided. They are most abundant in the tropics, and many thousand species have been found in the waters surrounding the British Isles. These aquatic plants vary very much in size, form, texture, and colour. Some species are entire and coriaceous, others branched and filamentous ; some are flat, with or without a midrib ; others are round, and in some instances measure several hundred feet in length. One characteristic feature of all is that they have no true roots, but absorb their food instead from the medium in which they exist. TRANSACTIONS. 253 The seaweeds found along the shores of Dumfriesshire and Galloway have not, as far as I am aware, been catalogued, and although they are not so varied or plentiful as those on more exposed coasts they form a portion of the flora of the district and should not be overlooked. Seaweeds are found in greater abundance on the rocky and exposed coasts, in the pools of water among the rocks, and growing in the water when the tide is at the ebb. As there are no rocks along the coast. of Dumfriesshire, but sand banks instead, and the distance to the water’s edge when the tide is out considerable, only a few specimens can be obtained growing in the natural state, and not many are to be gathered when washed ashore by storms. The Galloway coast differs from that of Dumfriesshire, for there are rocks at Douglas Hall, Colvend, and further westward, but _ these are either of the Silurian or Igneous formations, and are not so favourable to the growth of seaweeds as the softer rocks. In order to investigate the seaweeds of the district it is necessary to examine the rocks or other structures where they grow at all seasons of the year, and every opportunity should be taken to collect specimens washed ashore by spring tides and storms. Under these circumstances the making of a complete list of seaweeds is no easy task, and as the spare time at my disposal was limited, I have only been so fortunate as to secure some of the commoner species, many of which I now exhibit and briefly notice. Sup-Cuass I.—Je/anospermee.—The seaweeds in this sub- class are of an olive colour and grow in abundance on every shore, except one genus—Sargasswm—which covers immense tracts of the Atlantic in the tropics. This sub-class is divided into six orders, which we shall briefly notice. \ Fucacee.—All the plants in this order are dark olive and have the peculiarity of turning black when dry. The following are frequently met with: alidrys Siliguosa, growing in rocky pools, and at low water mark on the rocks at Douglas Hall and the Galloway coast. cus vesiculosus, common sea-wrack, grows on every stone washed by the tide. F. Serratus, common, is distinguished by the serrate fronds, no air vessels, and grows in large patches on the rocks between tide marks. & Wodosus, also common, generally washed ashore at Glencaple and Ruthwell by the tide. A number of parasitical species attach themselves to this plant. / Canaliculatus, a small 254 TRANSACTIONS. plant scarcely four inches in length, grows in tufts on rocks between tide marks at Douglas Hall and Colvend. / Ceranoides at the mouth of Nith near Glencaple. Himanthalia Lorea, or sea thongs, grows on the rocky shores at low water mark and is frequently washed ashore with spring tides. Desmarestia aculeata is a representative of the second order — Storochnacee--occasionally met with growing in pools on the Colvend coast. Order ///—Laminariacee is represented by Alaria esculenta, occasionally washed ashore in winter ; Laminaria digitata and LZ. Saccharina, frequently met with along the Caer laverock shore ; and also Chorda ji/um in winter and spring. The plants in the next three orders grow attached to rocks at low water, or in tidal pools, but I have only been able to distinguish one genus—Dectyosiphon—from Ruthwell. Sup-Cuass Il.—Rhodospermee.—The plants in this sub-class differ in texture and colour, and the frond is more or less jointed, as you will notice from the specimens exhibited. Odonthalia dentata, frequently met with on the coasts of Fife, should be found at Colvend. Polysiphonia nigrescens, P. fastigiata, are very fre- quently met with on the stems of Fucus nodosus. Laurencia pinnatifida, or pepper dulse, found growing on stones at Colvend. Corallina officinalis grows on the rocks at Douglas Hall, &c., and Delesseria sanguinea, D. alata, grow attached to the stems of the Laminaria. Plocanium coccineum is abundantly met with along the whole coast, and is a great favourite with every sea-side visitor. Rhodymenia palmetta, dulse, not so frequently used for dietetic purposes as formerly, grows attached to the rocks, and the lesser dulse, Zridwa edulis, is occasionally met with among the larger seaweeds attached to the rocks. Several species of the Ceramzacee may be found in the waters of the Solway. Ceramium rubrum, C. roseum, C. Turnert are occasionally gathered growing on the larger seaweeds. Sus-Cuass II].—Chlorospermee.—The grass-green seaweeds are represented by the Siphonacee, Confervacee, and Ulvacee, among which Cladophora rupestris, common ; Conferva rupestris, C. Albida, Enteromorpha intestinalis, and Ulva latissima are fre- quently met with on the sand shores at Caerlaverock and Ruthwell. TRANSACTIONS. 255 Ill. Zdgars MS. History of Dumfries. By Mz JAMES BARBOUR. Dr Burnside’s MS. History of Dumfries, written in the year 1791, contains reference to an earlier MS. account of the town by Edgar. The original of this latter work is not knuwn to be extant, but a transcript of it is embraced in the Riddel MSS. preserved in the library of the Antiquarian Museum, Edinburgh. A copy has been obtained for this Society, and, as desired by the Secretary, I have prepared a brief notice of it. A note prefixed to his transcript by Riddel explains how it was obtained and who the author was. He says :—“ This account of Dumfries was wrote by ——- Edgar, a burgess of that burgh. He was father to the late Theodore Edgar of Elsishields, near Lochmaben. I had it copied from the original MS, in Edgar’s own handwriting, which, in 1790, was in the possession of John Clark, senr., writer (and late Provost) of Dumfries.” (In.) E.R. 1791. A monument to the memory of Theodore Edgar of Elsishields stands in St. Michael’s Churchyard, from which we learn that he died 5th February, 1784, aged 68. On another stone within the same enclosure we read: “Here lyes the body of Mr Robert Edgar, writer in Dumfries, who lived almost four score years and ten, and died an honest man. July 4th, 1759.” This was our author, of whom, although doubtless a prominent man in his day, little is now known. Many legal documents are extant in his handwriting, and the Seven Trades’ minute book shows that he acted as clerk to the Incorporations during the long period of forty-five years, from 1701 till 1746, when he resigned. The MS. appears to have been written at a period later than 1745, the events of that year being referred to in it in terms indicating the lapse of some time since their occurrence. It is entitled : INTRODUCTION TO THE HisToRY oF THE ToWN oF DUMFRIES. In which the Origin, Situation, Length, Convenience, Royalizing, Buildings, Demolitions, Advances of Trade, are considered from the Earliest Accounts. 2nd. The Government, Administration and Execution thereof, Crafts Increase, Industry and Manufactures are shown, with Reasonable Remarks and Advices on the Whole. By a Lover of Truth and of he Welfare of the Burgh. 256 TRANSACTIONS. There is prefixed an address “To the Reader,” from which it may be inferred the MS. was intended for publication. The names given to Dumfries, the origin of the town, and its situa- tion, antiquity, and topography are treated of, but the work may be regarded mainly as a disquisition on the constitution of the Burgh and the administration of its affairs. I will submit a few of the topographical details. The main street is described as extending from the head of Friars’ Vennel to Catstrand, a mile in length. Many of the names then common continue in use, such as Friars’ Vennel, Townhead, Fleshmarket Street, and Whitesands. Others have given place to new names. Irish Street was formerly known as West Barnraws, Shakespeare Street as East Barnraws, Loreburn Street as North-east Barnraws, and Queensberry Street as Mid Barnraw. The peculiar arrange- ment of the numerous closes in the town is described as resembling the teeth of acomb. They were on each side of the streets 30 or 40 feet apart, and led down to the inhabitants’ houses, yards, and barns. The streets are described as being well paved and free of standing water. The public buildings belonging to the town were :—The Old Tolbooth, now a bookbinder’s workshop, situated opposite the Midsteeple on the south side of Union Street, which was rebuilt before the Rebellion of 1715 ; the Prison or Pledge-house, which stood on the north side of Union Street, and was built at the King’s command and the town’s expense in 1583 or 1585, as ap- peared by an inscription on the forewall ; the Midsteeple, built in 1707 ; and the New Church, built in 1727. The town also added a north-west wing and a tower to the Old Church after the Reformation. Previous to 1708 there were only two bells in the town—one in St. Michael’s Church, supposed to have belonged to Sweetheart Abbey, and one over the Tolbooth, which had been gifted to the town in 1443 by William Lord Carlyle in honour of St. Michael, described as “a little clear sharp sounding bell.” It is preserved in the Observatory Museum. The Fish Cross stood in the High Street opposite English Street ; and the site of the Market Cross was the centre of the block of buildings north of and adjoining the Midsteeple. A great building, called the “ New Wark,” stood in the space now called Queensberry Square, on the staircase of which were the Royal Arms of Scotland and others, and the date 1583 or 1585. TRANSACTIONS. 257 The Castle, which stood on the site of Greyfriars’ Church, was built by John Lord Maxwell and Elizabeth Douglas, his lady, anno 1572, on part of the ground formerly belonging to the Grey- friars’ Monastery. The building was of three storeys, with four large vaults in the basements, and a turnpike stair and bartizan covered with lead ; and there were four or five acres of ground attached to it and walled in. For near thirty years, from 1660 to 1687, the Castle was not possessed by the Nithsdale family, but in 1688, immediately before the Revolution, it was put into complete order and occupied by them. Before the Rebellion of 1715 the Earl of Nithsdale sold the Castle to John M‘Dowall of Logan for the sum of one hundred and forty guineas. The bridge of Dumfries consisted of nine arches, with a tenth arch under the street, and there was a port on it in the middle of the river, which had, our author says, till within these sixty years great valves or gates, which the administrators have laid aside as troublesome. It was the custom for the county families to reside occasionally or permanently in the county town, and many of them built comparatively handsome houses for themselves there, which much enhanced the town’s appearance. The situation of the town is described as one of the most delectable in the nation, the river Nith being on one side and Lochar Moss on the other, with corn lands between, and with many delightful walks and “refreshing turns” around. The following verses are offered as applicable : In Nithsdaleshire towards the south there stands A royal burgh, which all that shire commands, Drumfries ’tis call’d, and very near the town The river Nith in chrystal streams runs down ; A pleasant bridge that’s built with arches nine Of red freestone as stretched with a line From Vennel-foot to Galloway it tends And divers roads thro all that country sends. Near eight miles south the mountain Criffel stands Well known, and seen from several distant lands, And on the east old Solway’s force makes way With swelling tides both in the night and day, And north-east too, tho’ distant from the town Queensberry stands with her adorning crown, Yea round about with many little hills This town seems guarded from all threatnin g ills; And yet we find much of the country round 258 TRANSACTIONS. Lyes uninclosed, uncultivate the ground, Which great defect doth from the owners flow For tenants by well-try’d experience know (Their tacks being short, as seldom long they be, Perhaps three years, or five, or three times three). If they should be at cost and pains to make Their land prove fertile and much labour take To bring the ground a better crop to bear Their rents are rais’d or they turn’d out next year. This to amend let all attempt with speed Who have it in their power to give remead ; May many join, and all with one consent Obtain at length an Act of Parliament, That in North Britain all who set yr. lands Shall on stampt paper sign it with their hands That all their tenants’ tacks or leases bears The fixed term of one-and-twenty years, That tenants may have time to try and make Improvements of their lands for their own sake. Let them enclose some aikers every year, And plant such planting as the soil will bear ; Let summar’ justice ’gainst the tenants be Quite laid aside, and let them courteously Pay all their rents, but if the landlord find His tenant backward go, or come behind In his improvements, and no friends he have That will assist him or his credit save, Then let his tack be registrate with speed, And others take that will perform the deed. If some such method could be thought upon, Much money might be sav’d, for much is gone Of late to other countries to procure Corn, wheat, and rye, that did not long endure. But if our lands were all enclosed well, And well manur’d, all that in Scotland dwell Would be sustain’d, and much would be in store For every year’s produce would produce more, And then North Britain might lift up her head, And thankful be when all her sons have bread. The constitution of the Burgh and the administration of its affairs are criticised at great length and severely. It was the custom, our author says, for the old Council to elect the new, the community having no voice in the election, and no direct power to impugn the actions of their rulers. The result was that affairs were managed mostly by a faction forming little more than a majority of the Council, composed of relatives and friends, banded together to perpetuate the magistracy among them, and whose motive was TRANSACTIONS. 259 love of power and self aggrandisement rather than the good of the town. Unfortunately there is meagre mention of events of interest to us which took place in the writer’s time. Of King James's Provost and of the Revolution we gather the following :—In 1686 King James VIL. arbitrarily discharged Burghs from electing their Magistrates and Town Council ; and following on this he himself nominated persons to these offices. John Maxwell of Barncleuch in this way became Provost of Dumfries, who was known afterwards as King James’ Provust. He was descended from a cadet of the House of Kirkconnell. Being bred a lawyer in Dumfries he became Town Clerk at the Revolution of 1660. He acted as agent for the Earl of Nithsdale, by which he gained considerably. Being a professed Catholic he became, in 1681 or 1682, disqualified by the Test Act to continue as Town Clerk and demitted that office after having arranged for a yearly pension of £5 for life. In 1686 King James VIL., as before mentioned, nomi- nated him to be Provost of the Burgh, in which office he continued till the Revolution of 1688, when he and his Council fled, but being taken he was sent to Edinburgh and imprisoned there. His Council granted him, instead of the usual Provost’s allowance of 100 merks, a salary of 500 merks per annum in consideration of his residing in the town and attending to its affairs. He sought by his authority to embellish and ornament the town in which he first drew breath by new buildings, causing those that were old and waste to be rebuilt. The paving of the public streets was also initiated by him, the work being brought in his time above the Cross. He had a patent to be a senator of the Court of Session at Edinburgh, for which he was well qualified by long practice and a long head and subdolous wit. This Provost hada sour melancholic command and authority to conciliate reverence and regard, and to ingratiate the people, proceeded in appearance of strict justice more and beyond many of his predecessors ; and in regard to his posi- tion in the Council, he was sure to have a set of Councillors who, he being King’s Provost, only asked what said the Provost and then it was so. At the Revolution in December, 1688, after King James had gone away to France, the people of Dumfries and the country about arose and burnt the Pope in effigy and took away the popish books out of the popish houses in Galloway, with their priest’s vestments in crimson and velvet, and trinkets, and also carved 260 TRANSACTIONS. idols of wood out of the Castle or Palace, and burned all at the Cross of Dumfries on Yule day 1688. And the Magistrates having absconded, the principal heritors and old Magistrates advised the family to remove from the Castle and all Catholics from the town by tuck of drum, to prevent further trouble and damage, which they did accordingly ; and in May following famous Mr Campbell was repossessed in the Kirk to the universal joy of the inhabitants. Here is a characteristic extract which bears on the history of the Old Bridge : It is a memorable Remark on some families of Divine Justice that all may fear and beware of exemplary punishments on the enemies of the Church of God, even to the third and fourth Generation of their Fathers, who were guilty, which, says mine author, is discovered in the History of the Church of Scotland, viz., Saturday, the 4th of August, 1621, the time of the proceedings of the Parliament of Scotland and the moment the Commissioner, the Marquis of Hamilton, his rising to sceptre the Act of Parliament ratifying the Assembly holden at Perth, 25th August, 1618, now ratified. In which Parliament John Corsan was an affirming Voter for the Town of Drum [fries] and Amisfield and Lag for the shire of Dumfries, ratifying the five Articles of Perth—there fell out such Blackness and Darkness, three successive great Lightnings, three loud claps of Thunder, Hailstones and prodigious Rains, Fire in the houses of Edinburgh in the morning called the Black Saturday. This Prodigious, tremendous, terrifying, unseasonable weather continued all August, began again in October, And on the 4th of October Ten arches of the Bridge of Perth were broken down by the deluge of waters, and the Bridge of Tweed, almost finished, at Berwick was broken down, and one or two arches of the Bridge of Dumfries next to the town fell, all as tokens of God’s displeasure against the cowardly Commissioners, and the places who sent them, in concurring to destroy the Church of Scot- land. So that it may be apply’d, that for 120 years these places and families have not prospered. As to the falling or demolishing of the one or two arches of the Bridge of Dumfries nigh the town, I remember, says mine author, a Tradition from some old people in my hearing, half- a-century ago. That a worthy Presbyterian minister being lodged in the house on the Hast of the Friers’ Vennel, named Lag’s Lodging, did all that day to twelve o’clock at night, watch and enjoin the people to watch and pray, for that some strange occurence would fall out that night, and that He himself did watch and heedfully observe the swelling of the River Nith, with the great Tempest of Wind and Rain, and said that he perceived a moles or monstrous Bulk as of many Stones or Trusses of Hay together come down through the Bridge, which took away one or two arches between eleven and twelve at night about that time. TRANSACTIONS. 261 The following accounts not being now extant in the Town Council books may be of value : The Provost who most improved it was C——ston, who hath left an Account of his management from Michaelmas, 1702, to Michaelmas, 1708, which is as follows :— Accompt of Debts paid by Colistown for the Town of Drumfries from Michaelmas, 1702, to Michaelmas, 1704. Mks. To Arbigland of prinl. and @ rent which was owing to his Father, p. Bond . 3700 0 0 To J. Irvine, Lady Terraughty, Be ane ‘and @ rant donot to Bond ... 3300 0 0 To B. Ewart £1900 al and £18 str. Ge @ per" rite by Bond : 3174 0 O To Mrs Reid, relict of B. Reid of eae @ Rafts £36 ste. 2 "0850":.0' 0 Mrs R.’s prinl., 2600 merks. To Janet Real, daughter of J. R. C., of aoe and @ rents p. Bond ix ; 3080 0 0 To 41 Firelocks, @ £9 “ pies i ... 0554 0 0 To Lochaber Axes, Partisans (or Halberts), and Teas’ oS OTh0". G0 To a part of the Expense of Bridging Lochermoss fey 0400 0 0 To Sr. David Cunningham in full of several years’ pad accepted by him and discharged ate 0200 0 0 To Mr Wm. Veitch 50 merk of bygone @ eit of the ‘tel sum of £20 str., which I would have paid him, but he could not uplift it without the Presbyrs. consent ... +¥ ... 0050 0 0 To Dean Johnston the balance of his Treasurer accompts ... 0600 0 0 To 2 years’ rent of Mr Robt. Patoun’s house, at £12 str., P. .. 0216 0 0 And this beside the Ordinary Salaries and spendings on the Town’s affairs, which in one of these years was only about £10 sterling. 1. Nota.—I assert that the Town’s revenue the said two years at my first entry was only £3000. 2, At Michaelmas, 1704, when Provost Rome succeeded me in the office of Provost, the Town’s debt was only about 3000 merks due to B. Ried’s children and Mr Vietch as above, and the oldest debt of £600 sterling by Dr Johnston’s mortification, which the Town borrowed in 1649, for com- pleating their outreik at the Duke’s Levie, for which the Town gave security on the Milnhole Miln (which, as it is known, Provost Crosbie and others have ruined) and which the Church Members should look into. aT procured a Compliment from the Royal Burrows of £200 Scots to the poor people burnt out by the fire in the Friars’ Vennel in May, 1702, and which I brought home and dis tributed amongst them according to their several circum- stances and necessities. 262 TRANSACTIONS. 4, The Town having thought fit to relinquish the horse miln which cost the Town great Expenses in Anno 1686, and to build a Miln beyond the Water in Anno 1705 or 1706), several sums were borrowed on that head, to which I was not witness, Mr Thomas Rome being then Provost. Account of the Town’s Debts paid from Michaelmas, 1706, to Michaelmas, 1708. To the Trades to help to build the Meal Mercat conform to Act of yl. Community ... Spent by B. Barclay £100, and fenn Melen chapel £100, abt. Margt. Ramsay’s Inditement, and £200 given her- self when she went out of the Kingdom, and £200 as the Expences of her Tryal and incident Charges All this Tryal being before the Magistrates as J mises ie Expence was an peculate and imposition on the Burgh’s Revenue. Sept., 1707.—Paid to Barncleugh Maxwell of the Arrears of the 100 merks yearly which John Herries, called Butt, should have paid him and relieved the Town, and which Kelton, as then Provost, and now his heirs, should make good to the Town : To Dr Geo. Archbald 1000 Tone ei a year’s @ oa borrowed by Provost Rome towards building the Mill To William Rae in Lintonside another 1000 mks. and a year’s @ rent for the Mill . Bought by Colesican! Son ieeterrroods 4 Mores of Grows between the Dove-Cote Croft and Castledykes, being a continual bone of contention between him and the Town, they daily poinding one another’s Cattle, and more especi- ally on this Motive that Netherwood had a Charter bound- ing said 4 Acres of Land with the Water of Nith, and having raised a Breve of Perambulation before the Sheriff, by which he designed to have carried away the greatest part of the Dock ; but his perambulation being advocate and made litigious, I forced Netherwood to sell the 4 Acres of Land, whereby the Dock and the same are now worth yearly £240 Scots, and for which 4 Acres of Ground dis- poned to the Town I paid him Eleven Hundred Merks To Gavin Carlyle for an road thro’ his park in prosperity to the Town’s Mill on the other side of the Water.. To John Gilchrist (now Baillie) the balance of hig irsagaren Accounts To Mr M‘Naught 44 10s as 2 meets @ sae of 600 ce aad borrowed for the Mill at Whitsunday, 1705... To James Gordon and Janet Real, spouses, £168 6s, as 2 Sai a rent of 2000 mks., and £45 10s as 2 years a rent of 600 mks., both borrowed for the Mill at Lammas, 1705, the @ rent being paid to Lammas, 1707 ; both is ... 900 0 900 0 1055 0 1055 0 1100 0 100 0 400 0 66 10 320 10 TRANSACTIONS. 263 25th March, 1708.—Paid to James Gordon the 2000 mks. Bond Mks. and @ rent thereof from Lammas, 1707 Pe ana .. 2064 0 0 To him the other Bond of 600 merks and 7 months and 20 days @ rent thereof, and the Bonds and Discharges put up in the Town’s Charter Chest ... ee ee Es moan, 16/0 At Michaelmas, 1708.—Left at my outgoing £50 str. in the hands of John Killhagys, as Treasurer, which was desti- nate to repair the Steeple of the Kirk eee =f . 2 FOO MO SO Suma Totalis ... 25,993 0 0 Nota.—The Burrow’s dues on the head of the Missive and fitting the Town’s Aique being £20 sterling these 4 years, inde 1460 mks. Item the whole Magistrate’s, Officers’ ffees, and Contingencies ; But all are augmented and altered. IV. Recent Antiquarian Discoveries at Kirkcudbright. By Epwarp J. Cuinnock, LL.D. (Secretary). I am indebted to the kindness and courtesy of our esteemed member, Mr George Hamilton, for the following particulars of the interesting discoveries recently made near Kirkeudbright by him- self and his friends in connection with the Kirkcudbright Museum. The illustration is taken from a photograph presented by Mr John M‘Kie, who is also an honoured member of this Society. On Thursday, the 10th of April, while the shepherd at High Banks, parish of Kirkeudbright, was driving in stobs to which to hang his sheep nets, his gellock or crowbar pierced a large flat stone about eighteen inches from the surface, and disappeared under the soil. On making examination he found that it had gone into an open chamber, and on laying it bare he found it was a place where some one had been buried. Information was sent that evening to Mr M‘Kie, the hon. convener of the Museum Association, and next morning he, with Mr Bell of Gribdae and Mr Hamilton, the hon. secretary of the Museum Association, went to the field and examined the cist. They found that it was the field known as Woodfield, on the farm of High Banks, which was in turnips and being eaten off by sheep. They were joined by Mr Rigg, the tenant, his son William, and the shepherd, who gave them all the information regarding the discovery. It was a pentagonal chamber, three feet in length and two feet in width, the sides being the longest and parallel, formed of two slabs of slatey rock, the base one slab of the same, and the apex pointing S.S.W. of two similar slabs of stone. Each slab was about eighteen inches wide, and kept in their place by a 264 TRANSACTIONS. packing of small stones behind each. The top or covering stone was lying alongside—a large irregular-shaped stone, four inches in thickness. This had completely covered the chamber. The floor was composed of two slates, which rested on the soil. The whole was quite clear of anything except two pieces of arm bones, a small piece of a skull, and a piece of a left under jaw, in which were three teeth (two molar and one canine)—young fresh teeth evidently belonging to a youth. At the west side of the cist was a small urn, which, however, fell to pieces very shortly after being exposed to the air. its contents were apparently nothing but a little earth. This urn was 64 inches in height by 43 inches in width. It was well proportioned, had no lid, and was of burnt clay. It was ornamented with old Celtic ornamentation of a kind known to belong to the bronze age, and might have lain undis- turbed where it was found at least 2000 years. The ornamenta- tion was evidently done by hand with a comb or some such toothed instrument tracing it round the vase. It consisted of lines drawn round, but not regularly, of zig-zag lines with a chevrony appear- ance, and was all over the outside of the urn from the top to the bottom. There was no ornamentation inside nor at the bottom outside. Noticing remains of two large cairns in Woodfield, and having obtained leave from the proprietors, Mr Hope and Lady Isabella Hope of St. Mary’s Isle, and the tenant, Mr William Rigg, the members of the Kirkcudbrightshire Museum Association proceeded to open these cairns on the 17th of April. Both cairns are about the same size, being some 200 feet in circumference, quite round, and rising only some six feet from the natural surface of the field, as for years back they had been probably used to get stones for dykes and rude drains connected with the agriculture of the land around. They are 150 yards apart, and nearly north and south of each other. Two good, stout, intelligent labourers, under the direction of Mr M‘Kie of Anchorlee, commenced at seven in the morning on the most southern of the two (which lay on the top of a small hillock that had some half a century ago been occupied by the officials of the trigonometrical survey while they were surveying the surrounding country between 1840 and 1850) and cut two trenches at right angles to each other towards the centre, keeping the natural surface of the ground as the floor of the trench. At first they pierced through a circle of smaller stones, which had evidently fallen at different times from the cairn ; then they came OM topuoT esenbs uaand'g urunexy comer U ies Rutt eee hi ee | = ‘LHOIUGCNOMUM ‘SNUVE HOIH LV GNONOY SNUN TRANSACTIONS. 265 upon a ring of large pieces of rock, chiefly quarried from the neighbourhood. Very few travelled boulders were found among them, but inside this ring, which had evidently marked the outside base of the cairn, were heaped up stones of all kinds and descrip- tions, among which was found a flat stone with evident cup markings and the peculiar dotted appearance caused by the rude sculpturing in these olden times by sharp-pointed pieces of stone. On approaching the centre, the floor, or under part of the trench, which had all along been the original surface of the field, sank, and a rounded chamber about three feet in diameter was reached, filled with very fine earth. This hole was set round with largish stones laid lengthwise, and with no stones inside at all. Rather an amusing incident occurred here. All present, in a great state of excitement, were watching every stroke of the men’s pick-axes and spadeful of earth that was thrown out, when one of the members of the Association called out, “ Stop, stop ; there is some- thing carved on this stone,” and he brought a stune about a foot square, and, clearing away the soil adhering to it, laid bare a beautiful specimen of the “ broad arrow.” There was a good laugh at this discovery and some disappointment, for, if this were all, it showed the mound was of recent construction, as the broad arrow is the mark of the Government surveyors, who had used this mound only some half century ago, and many were the quotations from the “ Antiquary” of Edie Ochiltree’s observations to the Laird of Monkbarns when Aiken Drum’s lang ladle was turned up on a somewhat similar occasion. However, the conclusion come to was that this stone had been sunk by the trigonometrical surveyors to uphold their flag or measuring pole while there, and the search was continued with increased zeal. The fine earth in the centre hole was carefully lifted out by hand, and in a short time an urn (in pieces), more highly ornamented than the one found on the 10th, was discovered, and a quantity of bones around it. These bones were in small pieces and considerable quantity, as if more than one body had been buried there, and the remark was hazarded that the urn may have contained the cremated remains of the chief who lay there, while the bones were the remains of slaves who were killed and buried along with him to be his com- panions or servants in another world, so that he might arrive in it with his customary attendants and in all due state becoming his position in this world. The urn is about six inches in height and six and a half in diameter with no cover, ornamented on the outside 266 TRANSACTIONS. with a running pattern, and lines going round the upper part and lines converging from near the shoulder to the bottom. It was more glazed on the outside, and the burnt clay of which it was composed was much thicker and the mouth coarser and larger than in the one discovered the preceding week. There was nothing more found, so the trenches were filled up and the mound smoothed over, and the second cairn was attacked in the same way by cutting two trenches from the south and east to meet in the centre. The stones which surrounded this one on the outside were much larger than those encountered in the other, and the workmen had not gone far till they came on pieces of a very plain urn with a quantity of bones, and close by a large flat stone, 3 feet by 24 in size, which, on being carefully lifted. exhibited a quantity of bones resting on a second but smaller slab of stone, which was also lifted, and a quantity of bones found under this, also resting on another and still smaller stone, which was at the bottom of a sort of well cut out of the solid rock and going down about three feet. There was no urn found there, nor was there any grave or chamber found in the centre, but to the left of it traces of artificial workmanship were found, which it was resolved to follow up some other time. The proprietors of the ground have presented the urns and other objects found to the Kirkcudbright Museum. The urns are beautifully moulded and prove a know- ledge of the pottery wheel, and as they are imperfectly burnt, the makers, in order to strengthen them, mixed small pieces of hard stones or perhaps quartz with the clay (all angular). I append a few remarks made by Mr Hamilton in his communication to me :— “ One curious feature, I wonder if it is common elsewhere, is that there were three layers of stones with cremated bones placed between them, and all in a well kind of a pit in the solid rock. The largest stones were on the top, the centre one much smaller, and the bottom one smaller still. The bones were evidently placed there after cremation, as all were in small pieces, mostly under an inch square. There was no cremation before the Bronze Age. There was no tinge of iron or rust on these bones as would have existed had any iron weapons or instruments been found near them. The Iron Age commenced about 150 B.c., so we may put the age of these remains as at least more than 2000 years ago. The urns establish the fact that whoever put them there were not savages. They testify a belief in a future existence, and the cremation teaches a belief in purification by fire. There were no TRANSACTIONS. 267 idols or idolatrous representations found in the cairns or upon the urns, no crescents, crosses, or astronomical signs.” 7th of June, 1890. Field Meeting—Terregles, Holywood, and Dalawoodie. New Member.—Mr Wm. Stone, Brooke Street. A party numbering close upon fifty lett the town at one o'clock, and drove first to Terregles Church, where they were met by Mr W. J. Maxwell, Terregles Banks, and had an opportunity of inspecting the “ Quhair.” Then they paid a visit to Terregles gardens ; and, making a short detour to see the Druidical Circle and Holywood Church, they proceeded to Dalawoodie, the resi- dence of Mr R. Rimmer, F.L.S., president of the Society, by whom they had been invited to a garden party. © The Quhair, which is an annexe to the church and forms the burial place of the Maxwells of Terregles, was erected by the Lord Herries of Queen Mary’s reign, and restored by the late Captain Maxwell, who placed in it the beautiful white marble statue, named “The Angel of the Resurrection” (which was, we believe, the last work of Burnie Philip, one of the sculptors of the London Albert Memorial), and had constructed the series of vaults in the crypt, one of which received his own remains in December last. It is understood that Lord Herries was himself interred here ; but no stone indicates his tomb. A slab with a mailed figure quaintly carved in relief, and the date 1568 (being the tomb- stone of Edward Maxwell of Lamington) is inserted in the pave- ment of the crypt; and an elaborate monument to Sir John Maxwell of Spottes and his wife, Dame Elizabeth Gordon, the son and daughter-in-law of the Lord Herries just referred to, is placed against the south wall. The first of the family whose tomb is distinctly indicated is ‘ William, commonly called Earl of Niths- dale,” the son of the attainted nobleman of 1715. That nobleman and the heroic Countess who effected his rescue from the Tower both died in Rome and were buried in the Eternal City. A very interesting relic preserved in the Quhair is a portion of the carved woodwork of the priests’ stalls from Lincluden Abbey. Mr James Barbour gave an address on the history of the edifice. The Terregles gardens and ornamental grounds are notable for their extent and their magnificence. Stately trees, beech 268 TRANSACTIONS. hedges of giant stature and perfect symmetry, terraces and banks of velvety turf, cunningly contrived grottos, lake and stream, and statuary present at every turn new features that invite the visitor to linger in admiration ; at this season the grounds are gorgeous with the bright and artfully blended tints of the rhododendron and azalea, while on their outskirts a long bank of the yellow broom reflects a golden glow. At the joiner’s shop they were afforded an opportunity, through the courtesy of Mr Alexander, of seeing the remaining fragments of the bedstead which was occu- pied by Queen Mary during the few nights that she spent at Terregles after the flight from Langside. These consist of the woodwork which had formed the head and foot. They are of oak, enriched with a good deal of carving, and two of the turned feet intact. The wooden canopy and some of the tapestry are also preserved, and we were glad to hear that it is in contemplation to have the surviving portions of the interesting but much decayed relic fitted together again. Only brief halts were made at the Druidical circle and at Holywood Church. At the latter place several gentlemen ascended the belfry, but failed to make out quite satisfactorily the inserip- tion on the ancient bell—a relic, it is understood, of the Abbey of Holywood—although they gave those who remained below a slight taste of its melodious quality. Dalawoodie, as all Dumfriesians know, is one of the most delightfully situated country seats in the vicinity, immediately overlooking one of the prettiest reaches of the Cairn ; and the spacious and picturesque mansion is in keeping with its pleasant surroundings. Here the large party were hospitably entertained by Mr and Miss Rimmer ; and they were afforded an opportunity of examining rich collections illustrative of natural history and numerous artistic objects which bespeak the learned pursuits and refined tastes of the owner. Mr Rimmer is a distinguished authority and author in the department of conchology, and possesses a magnificent cabinet of British shells. Botany has also engaged much of his attention, and the fruits of his industry are apparent in a wealth of mounted specimens. Numerous fine examples of antique oak carving, of embossed copper work between two and three centuries old, and of early art in other forms, add a charm of their own to the elegantly furnished apartments. Mr Rimmer possesses some fine specimens of antique furniture carved, and rare old china; and those who visited the Fine Art Exhibi- TRANSACTIONS. 269 tion in Dumfries do not require to be told that he has turned his attention with good purpose also to the gathering of rare old engravings. A very pleasant hour was spent in the gardens and grounds, which are most tastefully laid out and beautifully kept. The botanists found much on which to question their genial host, and his store of information was readily at their command. Having expressed through Major Bowden their thanks for the hospitality which had been extended to them, and been assured by Mr Rimmer that he would be delighted to have them again as his guests next season, the party left about seven o’clock and drove in to Dumfries. 3rd of July, 1890. At a meeting of the Council, Mr G.-F. Scott Elliot, F.LS., was appointed curator of the Herbarium, with the Misses Hannay and Miss M. Aitken as assistants. A letter was read from Mrs Walter Grierson of Chapel Mount, acknowledging one from Dr Chinnock, in which he had accepted the gift of her late son’s (Dr Frank Grierson) Herbarium to the Society. 5th of July, 1890. Field Meeting--Kirkcudbright, Cally Park, Anwoth, Gatehouse. New Members.—Mr John Henderson, solicitor; Mrs Sloan, Elmbank ; Miss Copland, Abbey House, Newabbey. Twenty-six members attended, and proceeded by rail to Kirkeudbright, where they were joined by thirteen of the Kirk- cudbright Club. The whole party, under the escort of Mr John M‘Kie, then drove to Gatehouse, going by way of Nunmill and Borgue, passing the old churehyard of Kirkchrist, and along the foot of the wooded moat of Doon. Some distance further on, they passed the bye-road leading across the farm of Balmangan to the burial-ground of the ancient parish of Senwick, now incorporated in Borgue. The party, however, did not visit the churchyard, which is some distance off the road ; but pushed on past Balmangan Tower, the seat at divers times of the families of Charteris, M‘Lellan, and Carson, and by Pringleton, Borgue, and Plunton Castle. The latter was the seat of the family of Lennox—or, as it used to be 270 TRANSACTIONS. written, Levenaux—which was kin to the family of which Lord Darnley came. The Lennoxes were at one time proprietors of Cally, then called Lennox-Cally, and afterwards inter-married with the Galloway Stewarts. On entering the policies of Cally, the party were met by the gardener, who showed them through the well-kept gardens, and over the charming walks which intersect the extensive lawns shaded by giant trees of unknown antiquity. By the generous permission of Mr H. G. Murray-Stewart of Cally, the visitors were allowed to explore the mansion-house, under the guidance of the genial butler. They entered by the Marble Hall, which is almost oriental in the splendour of its polished marble and delicate statues. In this hall, on a polished marble table inlaid with coloured pebbles, there stands a fac-simile of Cleopatra’s Needle, in black marble. The marble forming the floor was brought from Italy in a rough state and polished at Cally Sawmill by marble cutters brought thither for the purpose, and the huge rounded pillars are built of granite boulders taken from Craigdews, at the back of Cairnsmore of Fleet. The size of the blocks is remarkable. The drawing-room was next visited. On the walls are hung striking portraits of the proprietor’s wife and mother, and the large table in the room has its top wrought into graceful designs formed by inlaid gems in profuse variety. Several fine examples of the old masters are hung upon the walis. On leaving the mansion the visitors passed by and inspected the old Cally tower, and proceeded through Gatehouse to Anwoth Churchyard. Here they were met by Rev. Mr Black, the minister of the parish. The old church—roofless now and ivy-grown—is a small building, measuring about twenty-two yards long and scarcely seven broad. A stone over the entrance bears the in- scription : “ Built A.p. 1627.” This is the date of the settlement of Samuel Rutherford as minister of Anwoth, which is said to have been only at that time erected into a separate parish; and it is this association with the memory of the saintly and scholarly divine who first administered within its walls that invests the humble ruined fane with unusual interest. There are a number of memorial stones within the precincts of the church, some of them elaborately sculptured and bearing quaint inscriptions. The most massive is an architectural struc- ture of light-coloured sandstone, which commemorates several members of the Gordon family, who were for a time owners of the TRANSACTIONS. J: Ardwell and Cardoness estates. At least one of the interments recorded, it is curious to note, is of earlier date than the church, and this circumstance would seem to indicate that there had been an earlier place of worship. The three boars’ heads of the Gordon arms are sculptured on a circular top stone, which bears also the initials “1.G.,” and the armorial device is repeated on other parts of the monument, quartered in one instance with three sheaves and three stars. The inscriptions are elaborate, of rude verse but pious sentiment. The first in order of time is that which appears on the north end of the stone, viz. : Walking with God in puritie of life, In Christ I died, and endit al my stryfe ; For in my saule Christ heir did dwel by grace ; Now dwelis my saule in glorie of his face. Thair foir my bodie sal not heir remaine, Bot to ful glorie sal suirlie ryse againe. Mariovne Mure, goodwife of Cullindach, departed this life anno 1612. This lady was the daughter of the laird of Torhousemuir, Wig- town, afterwards of Cassencary, Kirkmabreck ; and her husband was William Gordon of Cullendoch. Two wives of their son, John Gordon (by whom in all probability the monument was erected), are the subjects of the other inscriptions. Dumbe, sensles statue of some painted stones, What means thy boast? Thy captive is but clay ; Thow gaines nothing but some few lifles bones. Hir choysest pairt, hir soule, triumphis for ay, Then, gazeng friendis, do not hir death deplore ; Yow lose a while; she gains for evermore. Margrat Makclellane, goodwife of Ardwel, departed this life 2 Apprile, 162—, eetatis suae 31. The title Ardwell here employed is understood to have been de- rived from the farm of Over Ardwell. Nether Ardwell was at that period in possession of the M‘Cullochs; as was also the estate of Cardoness; but John Gordon acquired the latter by purchase from his kinsman, William M‘Culloch, and it will be seen that in the epitaph of his second wife the title is changed from Ardwell to Cardoness. The second union must have sub- sisted only for a short time, when it was interrupted by the death of the lady. Ye gaizers on this trophee of the tombe, Send out one grone for want of hir whoise lyfe, bo — bo TRANSACTIONS. Twyse borne on earth and now is in earth’s wombe, Lived long a virgine, now a spoties wiff ; Church keepis her godlie life ; this tombe hir corps ; And earth hir famous name. Who then doth lose? Hir husband no, since heaven Hir Saule does gane. Christen Makeaddam, Lady Cardynes, depairted 16 Juny, 1628, eetatis suae 33. For the convenience of readers we have introduced some punctua- tion marks and capitals in reproducing the epitaph ; and have so far modernised the spelling as to use the ordinary characters, in- stead fv foruandz for y. The initials of the parties are cut in bold characters on the stone in the following order, I being used for J, and C as the second initial both of M‘Clellan and M‘Cadam : WG MM IG MMC IG CMC The burial place of the M‘Cullochs of Ardwell is also in the church. Built into a recess in the south wall there is a stone bearing the crest of the Maxwells of Cardoness—a man’s head within two laurel branches—-and their motto, “‘ Think on,” and beneath, along with other heraldic devices, the initials of Captain William Maxwell and his wife, Nicolas Stewart, with an intima- tion that the monument was rebuilt by them in 1710. This recess formed the doorway by which Mr Rutherford entered when about to ascend the pulpit, which stood against the wall on the west side of the doorway. John Bell of Arkland is commemorated by a large tablet in the outer wall, with a slightly mutilated Latin inscription, and a piece of sculpture in relief, representing the skeleton figure of Death bearing a scythe in one hand and discharging with the left a dart at a sleeping figure. It may be his wife to whom this epitaph, on a flat tombstone, is dedicated : Heir lyis Margrat Halliday, spouse to Johne Bel in Archland, who depairted this lyff anno 1631, Jan. 27, ztatis suze 76. O Death, I will be thy death. Now is Christ resin from ye deid, and is the First froot of them that beleive. These were no doubt relatives of John Bel of Whiteside, the martyr, whose tragic story is told on a neighbouring stone. He was a step-son of Viscount Kenmure, and his mother was a M‘Culloch of Ardwell. The inscription over his grave is as follows : TRANSACTIONS. 2T3 Here lyes John Bell of Whytesyde, who was barbourously shot to death in the paroch of Tongland, at the command of Grier of Lag. Anno 1685. This monument shall tell posterity That blessed Bell of Whitesyde here doth ly, Who at command of bloody Lag was shot, A Murther strange, which should not be forgot. Douglas of Morton did him quarters give, Yet cruel Lag would not let him survive. This martyre sought some time to recommend His soul to God before his dayes did end. .- The tyrant said, What, devil, ye’ve prayed enough | This long seven years on mountains and in cleugh ; So instantly caus’d him, with other four, Be shot to death upon Kirkconnel Moor. So thus did end the lives of these deare saints For there adherance to the covenants. Re Small stones in the churchyard commemorate Archibald Faulds and Thomas Irving, servants at Bardarroch, who had ac- companied their employer—-no doubt the Captain William Maxwell above referred to—‘“‘in Flanders and Germany during the wars of the glorious King William.” The party next proceeded to Rutherford’s monument, passing on the way Rutherford’s Well. The monument is a granite obelisk, erected on the summit of Boreland Hill in 1842, at a cost of £200, raised partly by subscription and partly by a collection taken at a sermon preached on the site of the monument by Rev. Dr Cook of Belfast in 1838. It is 60 feet in height, with a 7 feet square base, and bears on its southern face the inscription : To the memory of Rev. Samuel Rutherford, minister of the parish of Anwoth. He was appointed Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews, where he died, 1661. This monument was erected 1842 in admiration of his eminent abilities, extensive learning, ardent piety, ministerial faithfulness, and distinguished public labours in the cause of civil and religious liberty. Surely he shall not be moved for ever; the righteous shall be in ever- lasting remembrance.— Ps. exii. 6. On the reverse side there is an inscription stating that the monument was struck by lightning in 1847, and rebuilt in 1851. In the latter year a conductor was added, which now bears trace against the granite of many a discharge of the electric fluid down the side of the monument. A splendid view was here obtained of 274 TRANSACTIONS. the Isle of Man, with mists hovering over it, and of the Wigtown coast. The carved stones and remains of the vitrified fort on Trusty Hill adjoining were then inspected. After dining at Gatehouse, votes of thanks were passed to the Kirkcudbright Society and to the Rev. Mr Black. As represent- ing the Kirkcudbright Field Naturalist Clab, Mr Thomas Campbell expressed the pleasure they had in meeting the Dumfries Society. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs George Hamilton and M‘Kie, Kirkcudbright, for superintending the arrangements of the excursion. 2nd of August, 1890. Field Meeting—Irongray, Jarbruck, Moniaive, Glencairn Church, A large party drove first to Irongray Church, where the grave of Helen Walker, the prototype of Scott’s Jeanie Deans, was visited. The beautiful falls of the Old Water of Clouden at Routan Bridge were next reached, and then the party proceeded to Glenriddell and Jarbruck Butts. This remarkable elevation was mounted and carefully examined. There are four theories of the origin of this mound—first, that it was a Roman encampment ; second, that it was an ancient British burial place for chiefs or priests ; third, that it was erected as a moat or place of judgment ; and fourth, that it was a British encampment. The visitors, after an investigation and discussion, in which Messrs Barbour and Watt took the principal part, came to the conclusion that the only artificial part of the hill is the western knoll, and that the whole is due to the natural action of the river or water in bygone ages. Probably the place was utilised by the ancients as a moat, and subsequently as a place for the exercise of archery. Here a meet- ing of the Society was held, under the presidency of Mr James Shaw, and, on the motion of the Secretary, Mr Thomas M‘Kie of the Moat was elected a member. Dr Chinnock also intimated that the Council had recommended the election of Messrs W. Lennon and W. Hastings as honorary members on account of their merit as scientists and their services to the Society. On the motion of Mr J. Barbour and Mr W. Moodie respectively the election of these gentlemen was ratified. Mr John Corrie, Moniaive, now conducted the visitors to various objects of interest TRANSACTIONS. 275 in the village and its vicinity, especially noteworthy being the monument erected to James Renwick, the last of the martyrs, who was executed in Edinburgh early in 1688. This heroic young man was a native of the village. A gean tree now marks the site of the cottage where he was born. After passing a vote of thanks to Mr Corrie for his services as guide, the party drove to Glencairn Church, where the Rev. Patrick Playfair was waiting to point out objects of interest. The remains of the old pre- Reformation church and the tombstones of the three Ingleston martyrs were observed, Mr Playfair supplying as much information as he had been able at present to acquire about the old church, the gable ends of which alone remain. He then shewed the visitors through his exquisite garden, pointing out various rare and beautiful plants and flowers. After the Secretary had conveyed the thanks of the Society to Mr Playfair, the party drove back to Dumfries through Dunscore and Holywood villages. Report of the Formation of the Herbarium. By G. F. Scott-Etiior, M.A. The herbarium of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Society may now be regarded as an actual entity. It now numbers fully 500 species, in which are included almost all the rarer plants of Dumfriesshire. The majority of those not represented are either very common plants, such as Daisy, and naturalised or planted species and outcasts or escapes. There is no reason why the end of next season should not see us in possession of a complete herbarium of the three counties. The arrangement adopted has been to number each sheet after the London Catalogue as well as after Bentham’s Manual, We have entered on every sheet as definite an account of the locality as we could obtain. The entire labour of mounting these 500 and more sheets has been performed by the Misses Hannay, with some assistance from Miss Margaret Aitken and Miss Hamilton, and the thanks of the Society are especially due to these ladies for the extremely neat and beautiful way in which this part of the work has been done. It is, moreover, a peculiarly monotonous and self-denying task, and the time and labour spent upon it has been very great indeed. The herbarium has been arranged in order, and is now ready for 276 TRANSACTIONS. consultation by any member of the Society. After consulting with Miss Hannay I have thought the best plan will be to keep it in her house, 1 Victoria Terrace, as a fire cannot be kept in the Society’s Rooms during winter. Miss Hannay has, however, kindly saved us all risk in this respect, and members of the Society are cordially invited to inspect it. The Hieracia and certain other doubtful forms will be sent to the Rey. E. F. Linton, of Bournemouth, who has very kindly offered to name all for us and return them. His knowledge of British plants is extremely correct and of great width. We have received plants from a large number of members of the Society and others, and some have been extremely valuable consignments indeed. It would be invidious to particularise, so I simply append a list of our benefactors : Miss Aitken, Miss Babing- ton, Mrs Gilchrist Clark, Miss Copland, Mr J. Corrie, Mrs Grierson, Miss Hamilton, Mr J. T. Johnstone, Revs. E. F. and W. R. Linton, Miss Milligan, Mr J. Rae, Miss Reid, Mr R. Rimmer, Mr J. Shaw, Miss Ethel Taylor (2 sendings), Miss Tennant, Mrs Thomson, Mrs Carthew-Yorstoun. The rest have been collected by the Misses Hannay and myself. A special notice, however, is required of Mrs Grierson’s muni- ficent bequest of the herbarium of the late Dr Grierson to the Society. This herbarium is so complete and so accurately named, carefully mounted and prepared, that it is a most valuable bequest, and will, I hope, lead to a great botanical revival in Dumfries. It is also, however, a responsibility to the Society, and should, I hope, be much used next summer. I hope next summer to begin exchanging duplicates both with members and other societies. This summer I have forwarded some to the Kirkcudbright Museum, which have been acknowledged by Mr Watson, curator, Next year I hope to do this on a more extended scale. 8th September, 1890, Life Members, Miss Dobie, Penfillan House, Penpont, Thornhill. W. D. Robinson Douglas, J.P., Orchardton, Castle-Douglas. Alexander Young Herries, J.P., Spottes, Dalbeattie. J. J. Hope-Johnstone, J.P., Raehills, Lockerbie. W. H. Maxwell; J.P., Munches, Dalbeattie. W. J. Maxwell, M.A., advocate (Chairman of County Council), Terraughtie, Troqueer. Mark J. Stewart, M.P., Southwick. bonorary Members. Robert Barbour, late secretary, Cape Town. Arthur Bennett, F.L.S., 90 High Street, Croydon. George F. Black, Ph.D., Antiquarian Museum, Edinburgh. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., Royal Herbarium, Kew, Surrey. J. Harvie Brown, F.L.S., Duniface, Larbert. William Carruthers, F.R.S., F.L.S., British Museum, Cromwell Road, London. James Dairon, F.G.S., 6 Garden Street, Glasgow. Battershell Gill, M.D., 9 Cambridge Terrace, Regent’s Park, London. James Grant, M.D. (Bey), The Sandovian, Cairo. Peter Gray, 71 Paulet Road, Camberwell, London. R. Henderson, Manitoba, Canada. J. J. F. X. King, 207 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. William Hastings, taxidermist, Dumfries. Walter Lennon, Brooke Street, Dumfries. William M‘Ilwraith, Rockhampton, Queensland. J. M‘Meekan, Hobart Town, Tasmania. William K. Robertson, 13 Pitt Street, Edinburgh. David Sharp, M.B., F.R.S., Wilmington, Dartford, Kent. J. Starforth, architect, Edinburgh. R. H. Taylor, M.D., 1 Percy Street, Liverpool. Joseph Thomson, F.R.G.S., Gatelawbridge, Thornhill. R. Turner, 3 Westbank Place, Hillhead, Glasgow. Joseph Wilson, late secretary, Florida Villa, Windygates, Fife. Ordinary Members. John Adair, High Street, Dumfries. Dr John Aitken, Asylum House, Inverness, Miss Aitken, The Hill, Dumfries. William Allan, Irving Street, Dumfries. William Anderson, Netherwood, Dumfries. Rev. William Andson, Newall Terrace, Dumfries. J. J. Armistead, The Solway Fishery, Newabbey. James Barbour, architect, St. Christopher’s, Dumfries. Mrs James Barbour, St. Cristopher’s, Dumfries. Robert Barbour, Belmont, Maxwelltown. Robert Barbour, solicitor, Maxwelltown. Rev. William Bell, M.A., Graitney. J. Blacklock, solicitor, Irish Street, Dumfries. Major Herbert George Bowden, Irving Street, Dumfries. John Brown, F.E.LS., Drumsleet, Troqueer. Thomas Brown, Auchenhessnane, Penpont. T. Rae Bruce, Dalshangan, New Galloway. Rey. James A. Campbell, M.A., Troqueer. John Callander, M.D., Dunscore. John Callander, High Street, Dumfries. Rey. Alexander Chapman, M.A., Maryville. Edward James Chinnock, M.A., LL.B., LL.D., Rector of Dumfries Academy. J. J. Clark, Town Councillor, Irish Street, Dumfries. Frederick H. Clarke, M.B., C.M., 37 Castle Street, Dumfries. Frederick R. Coles, The Hermitage, Tongland. Miss Copland, Abbey House, Newabbey. John Corrie, Burnbank, Moniaive. William A. Costin, Roseland, Maxwelltown. John Cowan, Birkhill, Dumfries. John Craig, solicitor, Rotchell Park, Maxwelltown. Mrs John Craig, Rotchell Park, Maxwelltown. William T. Craig, solicitor, Irish Street, Dumfries. John Cumming, English Street, Dumfries. Alexander L. Davidson, Schoolhouse, Ruthwell. James Davidson, Summerville, Maxwelltown. William Dickie, Staxdard Office, Dumfries. bo -J Lie} ORDINARY MEMBERS. William A. Dinwiddie, 1 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries. John W. Dods, St. Mary’s Place, Dumfries. John Douglas, M.D., Whithorn. Bernard Drummond, Moffat. Patrick Dudgeon, J.P., Cargen, Troqueer. John Dunlop, Schoolhouse, Dornock. Alexander M. Fergusson, solicitor, Irish Street, Dumfries. John R. Fergusson, artist, Castle Street, Dumfries. J. Gillon Fergusson, J.P., Isle, Dumfries. James Fingland, druggist, Thornhill. Rev. George Laurie Fogo, M.A., Torthorwald. Richard P. Fotheringham, Brooke Street, Dumfries. Rey. James Fraser, M.A., Colvend. Thomas Fraser, High Street, Dalbeattie. William Galloway, Whithorn. Mrs Gilchrist, Linwooc, Dumfries. John Grierson, Town Clerk, Dumfries. John Gunning, Castlebank, Dumfries. Mrs Gunning, Castlebank, Dumfries. W. Halliday, College Street, Maxwelltown. George Hamilton, Ardendee, Kirkcudbright. Miss Hamilton, Castlebank, Dumfries. Miss Hannay, 1 Victoria Terrace, Dumfries. Miss J. Hannay, 1 Victoria Terrace, Dumfries. James Herries, Loreburn Park, Dumfries. James Hogg, Saughtree, Dumfries. David Boyle Hope, Sheriff of Dumfriesshire and Galloway. James Houston, Church Crescent, Dumfries. George Johnstone, Castlemilk, Lockerbie. John Thorburn Johnstone, Victoria Place, Moffat. John Kerr, Blountfield, Ruthwell. Thomas Kerr, 112 Friars’ Vennel, Dumfries. Thomas Laing, F.E.I.S., Schoolhouse, Noblehill. James Lennox, F.S.A., Edenbank, Maxwelltown. Alexander D. M‘Donald, M.D., 18 Castle Street, Dumfries J. C. R. Macdonald, solicitor, Irish Street, Dumfries. W. R. M‘Diarmid, 8 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh. James M‘Andrew, Schoolhouse, New-Galloway. Matthew S. M‘Kerrow, Boreland of Southwick. Dr Mackie, Thornhill. Mrs Mackie, Thornhill. 280 ORDINARY MEMBERS. John M‘kKie, Anchorlee, Kirkcudbright. Thomas M‘Kie, advocate, 1 Gloucester Place, Edinburgh. Thomas C. M‘Kettrick, Viewfield, Dumfries. Mrs James H. M‘Gowan, Ellangowan, Dumfries. Thomas M‘Gowan, solicitor, Rotchell, Maxwelltown. Robert D. M‘Glashan, Saughtree, Dumfries. Mrs M‘Kenzie, 3 Queen’s Place, Dumfries. Rey. John D. M‘Kinnon, Newall Terrace, Dumfries. James D. M‘Veigh, Buccleuch Street, Dumfries. James Matthewson, 18 Copeland Street, Dalbeattie. James Maxwell, Screel, Auchencairn. Francis Maxwell, J.P., Gribton, Dumfries. James Maxwell, Bank House, Maxwelltown. William J. Maxwell, Terregles Banks. Wellwood Maxwell, Kirkennan, Dalbeattie. Frank Miller, Bank of Scotland, Annan. John Milligan, Friars’ Vennel, Dumfries. Rev. William Milroy, Penpont. John A. Moodie, solicitor, Finella, Maxwelltown. Williany Moodie, solicitor, Finella, Maxwelltown. Miss Morgan, Shakespeare Street, Dumfries. Thomas A. Moryson, Jeanville, Dumfries. Miss Mounsey, Castle Lodge, Ludlow, Salop. Neil Murdoch (ex-Bailie), Netherlea, Dumfries. Patrick Murray, M.D., Castle Street. Robert Murray, 14 George Street, Dumfries. Mrs Murray, 14 George Street, Dumfries. Miss Murray (care of Dr Murray), Castle Street, Dumfries. John Neilson, M.A., Catherine Street, Dumfries. John Nicholson (ex-Provost of Annan), Stapelton Grange, Annan. James Paterson, Killiness, Moniaive. J. Patterson, St Mungo Schoolhouse, Lockerbie. Charles Stewart Phyn (Procurator-Fiscal), Dumfries. Rev. Patrick M. Playfair, M.A., Glencairn, Thornhill. John Primrose, solicitor, Arundel House, Maxwelltown. John Proudfoot, Ivy Bank, Moffat. John Rae, Rashiegrain, Teviothead, Hawick. Joseph Rae, Templand Schoolhouse, Lockerbie. David Watson Rannie, Conheath, Dumfries. Frank Reid, St Catherine’s, Dumfries. Richard Rimmer, F.L.S., Dalawoodie, Holywood. ORDINARY MEMBERS. 281 George Henry Robb, M.A., Nithmount, Dumfries. Miss Robb, 24 Castle Street, Dumfries. Miss M. Robb, 24 Castle Street, Dumfries. Dr J. M. Robertson, Penpont. James Rutherford, M.D., Crichton Royal Institution, Dumfries. John Rutherford (late secretary), Jardington, Terregles. John Rutherford, Archbank, Kirkmichael. Henry Sawyer, Rae Street, Dumfries. Alexander Scott, Bailie, Annan. Rey. J. H. Scott, M.A., Sanquhar. George F. Scott-Elliot, M.A., B.Sc., F.L.S., Newton, Terregles. Charles Seiffert, Midsteeple, Dumfries. James Shaw, Schoolhouse, Tynron, Thornhill. Thomas Shortridge (ex-Provost), Beechwood Bank, Dumfries. Rey. Richard Simpson, M.A., Dunscore. Mrs Sloan, Elmbank, Dumfries. James Smith, Commercial Bank, Dumfries. John Smith, St Michael Street, Dumfries. James Gibson Hamilton Starke, M.A., F.S.A. (advocate), J.P., Tro- queer Holm. Mrs Starke, Troqueer Holm. Miss Kate Stewart, Rosemount Cottage, Maxwelltown. Peter Stobie, Queen’s Place, Dumfries. William Stone, 17 Brooke Street, Dumfries. John Symons, solicitor, Irish Street, Dumfries. John Symons, Royal Bank, Bank Street, Dumfries. Miss Ethel Taylor, Kirkandrew Rectory, Longtown. Miss Annie Tennant, Aberdour House, Dumfries. Alexander Thompson, Rosemount Terrace, Maxwelltown. Mrs Thompson, Rosemount Terrace, Maxwelltown. Miss Mary Thompson, Rosemount Terrace, Maxwelltown. Alexander Thomson, M.D., Castle Street, Dumfries. George Thomson, solicitor, George Street, Dumfries. James S. Thomson, 75 Plainstones, Dumfries. Rev. John H. Thomson, Hightae, Lochmaben. James Turner, Linden House, Dumfries. William Tweddle, Park View, Dumfries. J. R. Wallace, Auchenbrack, Tynron, Thornhill. William Walls, Bridge Street, Dumfries. Thomas Watson, editor of the Standard, Dumfries. James Watt, Milnwood, Maxwelltown. 282 ORDINARY MEMBERS. Rev. Robert W. Weir, M.A., Castle Street, Dumfries. David Welsh, Waterloo Place, Dumfries. James W. Whitelaw, solicitor, Summerhill, Troqueer. James Williamson, 25 Terregles Street, Maxwelltown. James R. Wilson, solicitor, Royal Bank, Sanquhar. Robert Maxwell Witham, J.P. (barrister), Kirkconnel, Troqueer. Mrs Maxwell Witham, Kirkconnel, Troqueer. Miss Maud Maxwell Witham, Kirkconnel, Troqueer. William M. Wright, Charnwood, Dumfries. . a r 4 r Re. 2 7 an a Price Is 6d. a ___ Siac as a as eS oS eS a eS es Ss a Seeioetoaiontoeesteeientontenteesionzontood OD) AND %, Sac E ‘ “JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS Sa % seth aca aca’ 2 o eeveeconsres ho glans Sareea Sac A eeaneneenee eee rar Fah tP PM 7, a OF THE % Pate o%e. POOF O88, - DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY o*, Pa Pe Fe He Ge St Sac ih ence anc wow oe,oe, 8 7 aionten Sac‘ Se eee aa Ne eae a 2 AA ne eRe nR eee tenenenenneens ty all sie o Poet o. %, ns Natural History § Antiqn alyran Society, 7, sacSac ae wr et Seareareatectoets o Prrry al Poe's ps aeeeeccenssccvesaccescsesce = Ss 2. * Sreefeateos SESSION 1890-91. m3 rae eseeee, % soereesee ee) + ea ate ithe dina ri athe sete o*, PRINTED AT THE COURIER AND HERALD OFFICES, DUMFRIES. Be; 1891. peaheatestoate : errs ee eee eee ee Ee ee Oe EOC ESET ORT ETS Seezoageny oefoare tac Set tS ee eS = Vo. 7. THE TRANSACTIONS AND JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY Hatura History § Antiquarian Society, SESSION 1890-91. ; ett : “1 Wid TED AT THE COURIER AND HERALD OFFICES, DUMFRIES. 1891. Go U NC 1 LL. President. RICHARD RIMMER, F.L.S., Dalawoodie. Yice-Presidenyis, Rey. WILLIAM ANDSON. THOMAS M‘KIE,F.S.A., Advocate. JAMES BARBOUR, Architect. JAMES G. HAMILTON STARKE, M.A., F.S.A., Advocate, Secretary. EDWARD J. CHINNOCK, M.A., LL.D., Fern Bank, Maxwelltown. Treasurer, JOHN A. MOODIE, Solicitor, Bank of Scotland. Librarian. JAMES LENNOX, F.S.A., Edenbank, Maxwelltown, Gurator of Museum, JAMES DAVIDSON, Summerhill, Maxwelltown. Gurator of Herbarium, GEORGE F. SCOTT-ELLIOT, M.A., B.Se., F.L.S., Newton. Other Members. JOHN BROWN. JOHN NEILSON, M.A. JOHN COWAN. | GEORGE H. ROBB, M.A. THOMAS LAING. PHILIP SULLEY, F. Hist. 8. ROBERT M‘GLASHAN. | JAMES 8S. THOMSON. ROBERT MURRAY. JAMES WATT. ah Ty) eet Oe] Se RS Mie Secretary’s Annual Report Treasurer’s Annual Report ie ae one Observations on the Temperature of the Dee. W. Andson Martyr Graves of Dumfriesshire. J. H. Thomson Notes on Dumfriesshire Flora. G. F. Scott-Elliot ... Pre-Historic Colony at Anwoth. F R. Coles Botanical Notes from Wigtownshire, &c. J. M‘Andrew List of Lichens Gathered in Dumfriesshire, &c. J. M‘Andrew Folk Lore of Glencairn. J. Corrie ae Flora of the Moffat District. J.T. Johnstone Meteorology of Dumfries for 1890. W. Andson Remnants of an Ancient Language. P. Dudgeon Report on Mr Carruthers’ Donation. G. F. Scott-Elliot References to Dumfriesshire Flora in Shakespeare, &c. J. Shaw... Further Original Letters of the Burns Period. J. R. Wilson Notes on the Flora of Dumfriesshire. A. Bennett es Military Preparations in Dumfriesshire during the last War with France. R. W. Weir ; % : Lower Carboniferous System in Dumfriesshire. J. Dairon... Genus Rosa in Nithsdale. J. Fingland Annan in the Eighteenth Century. F. Miller British Plants in Southern California. A. Davidson ick Connection between Saxon-English and Latin. E. J. Chinnock ... Holywood Abbey. G. F. Black... bie a Meteorological Notes on the past Winter. P. Dudgeon Dumfries Academy in 1801-3. E. J. Chinnock Field Meetings us ee er Report on Herbarium. G. F. Scott-Elliot List of Honorary and Life Members = i: List of Books in the Dinwiddie Library. J. Lennox Rules aoe Ses vs se Oiignl Page 9 PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY NATURAL HISTORY & ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. SiS LON. tae O-5 t. 3rd October, 1890. ANNUAL MEETING. Major Bowpen, Vice-President, in the Chair. New Members.—Rev. George Laurie Fogo, of Torthorwald ; Rev. Patrick M. Playfair, of Glencairn ; Mr John Rae, Rashie- grain, Teviothead; Miss Ethel Taylor, Kirkandrews Rectory, Longtown. Donations.—From the Rev. R. W. Weir, a portrait of Dr -Mounsey, the court physician to the Czarina Catherine IT. in 1768, and a copy of the pamphlet published in 1815 by Dr Duncan on Savings Banks; the Report of the Bureau of Ethnology (Washington), 1883-5; Report of the British Associa tion, 1889; the Essex Naturalist, October, 1889—June, 1890 ; Report of the Belfast Naturalists Field Club; Report of Marl- borough College Natural History Society; Proceedings of the Canadian Institute, Toronto, April, 1890; Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society; Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences; the Problem of the Ohio Mounds; the Textile Fabrics of Ancient Peru ; Bibliography of the Iroquoian languages; Bibliography of the Muskhogean languages; the Circular Square and Octagonal Earthworks of Ohio ; the Smith- sonian Report of the United States’ National Museum, 1886-7 ; Transactions of the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, 1889 , Bulletin of Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences ; Proceedings y) Transactions. of the Holmesdale Natural History Club; the United States’ Geological Survey Report for 1887 ; a photograph of the Urns found in a cist at High Banks, Kirkcudbright, presented by Mr John M‘Kie ; five botanical papers presented by the author, Mr G. F. Scott-Elliot. SECRETARY'S REPORT. The Secretary (Dr Edward J. Chinnock) read his annual report :—There are now 195 members on the roll of our Society, of whom 23 are honorary members, 7 life members, and 165 ordinary members. Four new honorary members were elected during the session—Mr J. G. Baker, F.R.S., of Kew, and our own townsmen, Messrs William Hastings, Walter Lennon, and Robert Barbour, the late secretary. A considerable number of members resigned on account of the subscription being increased, but 17 new members have been elected. If this rate of increase is maintained, we shall soon regain our former numbers, and there will be little difficulty in even rising beyond them, if the same interest is taken in the work of the Society as has been shown during the past session. The removal from the district of Drs Anstruther Davidson and John Cunningham has been a loss to the Society. Among the members who have been removed by death may be mentioned Mr Walter Grierson of Chapelmount ; Dr W. S. Kerr; Rev. James M‘Farlan, of Ruthwell ; Captain Constable Maxwell of Terregles; and Mr J. H. Maxwell, of. Castle-Douglas—all men of mark. Hight evening meetings and three field meetings have been held. At the former 17 papers were read, some of them of considerable value and interest. Without detracting from ths merit of other contributors, the communications of Messrs Dudgeon, Andson, Scott-Elliot, J. R. Wilson, and G. F. Black may be mentioned as particularly worthy of notice. The field meetings were well attended and enthusiastic. It is hoped that the excursion to the Border, planned for September, which was omitted on account of unsettled weather, may be made next June. The thanks of the Society are due to Messrs Andson, M‘Andrew, and Scott-Elliot for their valuable scientific researches during the past session. Mr Scott-Elliot especially has been actively employed in collecting materials for our her- barium, which under his indefatigable management promises to Transactions. 3 be one of the best in Great Britain. But while we admire the enthusiasm of youth, we do not forget our old colleague, Mr M‘Andrew, whose work in the botanical field would do honour to _ any man in the country. We are still favoured with valuable contributions from him, shewing that his energy in observation is quite as vigorous now as ever it has been. His valuable botanical lists are now being printed in our Transactions, and he is sending in fresh ones still. Mr Scott-Elliot’s classes for botany held during the summer deserve honourable mention in this report. This gentleman’s efforts are worthy of all praise, and it is an honour to our Society to possess two such thorough botanists as Messrs M‘Andrew and Scott-Elliot. The ladies, Miss Hannay and Miss M. Aitken, who are assisting Mr Scott-Elliot in super- intending the herbarium, are deserving of the warmest thanks of the Society. Last session we had the valuable Baxter bequest of minerals and coins. This year we have received an equally valuable donation, that of the late Robert Dinwiddie’s scientific library, from his son, Mr Robert Dinwiddie, of New York. Mr Din- widdie’s affection for his native town is another illustration of Horace’s line—“ Calum, non animum, mutat qui trans mare currt.” We have now the nucleus of a good scientific library, and thanks to the exertions of our librarian the books are ready for use by the members whenever they like to avail themselves of the privilege. Another valuable donation is that of Mrs Walter Grierson, who, since the death of her husband, and carrying out his wish as well as her own, has presented to the Society the valuable collection of plants made by her late son, Dr Frank Grierson. This has been placed under the care of Mr Scott-Elliot, and added to our herbarium. I had the pleasure since the last meeting of conveying to Mrs Grierson the thanks of the Society for her donation. The exhibition of the Baxter minerals and coins, together with a collection of portraits of Dumfries and Galloway worthies, held in November, was a decided success. This success was greatly due to the exertions of Messrs Barbour, Davidson, and Lennox. It is hoped that the attempt to form a permanent collection of portraits of old Dumfriesshire and Galloway celebrities will be borne in mind and prove a reality. For this purpose funds are 4 Transactions. required, and contributions will be thankfully welcomed by the officials of the Society. TREASURER’S Report. The Treasurer (Mr John A. Moodie) read his annual report :— CHARGE. Balance in Treasurer’s hands at close of last account... £0 14 8% Balance at Credit of Society with Dumfries Savings Bank =e. Bae Eres e Subscriptions from ‘131 Members at 5s.. ee te) oo oma Entrance Fees from 20 new Members at 2s 6d es Gare LOLS Arrears recovered from Members Sa iis sao), OR Subscription from Life Member .. S see hE ZO Drawings at Door during the Exhibition of — Baxter Bequest of Geological Seer &e., in November last ae eso Lott) Less Expenses in connection therewith 2 4 6 — 12 38 Copies of Transactions sold nF was ee 22" AONE SISO Interest on Bank Account : =a as Boon ee ON ei £45 16 13 DISCHARGE. Paid Mr G. F. Black, Sub-Curator, Antiquarian Museum, Edinburgh, his fee for Transcribing from the Riddell MS. Edgar’s History of Dum- Pes eanes: £3 3 0 Paid John Grierson & Son for Herbarium, per ‘estimate 2 6 6 ,, for Stationery, Printing, &c. roe 2410) 46 », for Advertising Ibeisyen(c tor Periodicals, Books, &e. Ly O ve », salary of Keeper of Rooms 110 0 », Secretary’s Outlays... 2 4 7% ;, Treasurer’s Outlays... 019 9 ,, Expenses of Calling Meetings as follows :- — Post Cards SA ieee) 9) 185 Gratuity for Addressing : same at Is per 100 Me abe RE) Robert Johnstone, Printer... 1 0>=0 —— 513 8 », Premium of Insurance 04 9 ;, Gas Account .. Oiseau », Miscellaneous Accounts 015 64 £22 "9 “1h Balance of Funds in favour of Society as follows :— (1) Cash in Treasurer’s hands Fo es) (2) Balance in Savings Bank yeti bese Ia = —, 23, 47 40 £45 16 14 Transactions. 5 ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The following were elected office-bearers and members of the committee for the ensuing session :—President, Richard Rimmer, F.L.S.; Vice-Presidents, James Barbour, Major Herbert G. Bowden, Thomas M‘Kie (advocate), and James G. Hamilton Starke, M.A. (advocate) ; Treasurer, John A. Moodie ; Secretary, Edward J. Chinnock, LL.D.; Curator of Herbarium, George F. Scott-Elliot, M.A.; Librarian, James Lennox; Curator of Museum, James Davidson ; Members of Council—Rev. William Andson, John Cowan, William Dickie, Thomas Laing, Robert M‘Glashan, Robert Murray, John Neilson, M.A.; George H. Robb, M.A., James S. Thomson, and James Watt. The Secretary read a report from Mr G. F. Scott-Elliot, B.Sc., on the progress made in the formation of the County Herbarium. This report was printed in the last volume of the Transactions. The Rev. Adam Andrew, of Chingleput, Madras, exhibited a fine collection of ancient stone implements and weapons from India. His address aroused a great deal of interest, and an animated discussion ensued. The thanks of the Society were awarded to him, on the motion of Mr Watt. Tth November, 1890. Mr Tuomas M‘Kig, V.P., in the Chair. New Member.—Bailie Alexander Scott, solicitor, Annan. Donations.—The Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Society of North Carolina for 1890; also, a Palmyra Palm-leaf Book was presented by the Rev. Adam Andrew, of Chingleput, who sup- plied the following deseription of it :—This is a Palmyra palm- leaf book, said to be 200 years old, and contains a Teltigfi version of two parvas or books of one of the two great Indian Epics, called the Mahabarata. It is written in the Telfigi character, Teligi being one of the Dravidian languages of South India, spoken by ten millions of people. The Mahabarata is probably the longest poem in the world. It contains about 220,000 lines, and is divided into 18 parvas or books. It was written at some _ period between the sixth and third centuries B.c. It deals 6 Transactions. chiefly with the great war between the Kauravas and the Pan- davas, who were descendants, through Bharata, from Puru, one of the founders of the two great branches of the Lunar race. The object of the great war was the kingdom in North India, whose capital was Hastiné-pura, the ruins of which are traceable 57 miles north-east of Delhi. The two sections composing this Telfigh version are called—(1) the Virdta-parva, which details the adventures of the Pandavas in the thirteenth year of their exile while they were in the service of King Virata ; and (2) the Udyiga-parva, which treats of the preparations for war made by the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Mr Robert Maxwell-Witham exhibited, through Mr J. S. Thomson, a compass and sun-dial carried by William Maxwell when he was out in the 45. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Observations on the Temperature of the River Dee and its Estuary during the past year. By the Rev. Wintiam ANDSON. Rev. Mr Andson read a paper embodying the results of observations on the temperature of the river Dee at Tongland, taken by the Rev. W. I. Gordon, and of its estuary taken by Mr Macdonald, lighthouse-keeper, on the island of Little Ross. Those of the river had been taken daily from 9th September, 1889, to 15th August, 1890, usually about half-an-hour after noon. The mean temperature of the air for the period over which the observations extended was 54:5 degrees ; of the water, 50-5 degrees; mean difference of air above water, 4 degrees. Mr Andson’s own observations for the Nith brought out a mean 2 degrees lower for the water and 1-7 degree lower for the air; but the periods of observation were not coincident, the spring and summer being in the case of the Nith for 1889 and in that of the Dee for 1890, and there was a slight difference in the hours at which the observations were taken. There was an almost exact coincidence in the mean difference between the temperature of the air and water, the excess of the former in the case of the Nith being 4°3 degrees, compared with 4 degrees in the case of the Dee. With reference to the observations at Little Ross, he expressed the opinion that they must be regarded Transactions. 7 as applying to the temperature of the Solway rather than of the estuary ; the width of the estuary at the point being more than two miles, so that the water of the river must bear a very small proportion to that of the sea with which it mingled. The obser- vations in this case were taken daily for a whole year, from Ist August, 1889, to 31st July, 1890. The means for the year of air and water were precisely the same—50-3 degrees. There were seven months in which the mean temperature of the water exceeded that of the air, viz, August, September, October, November, December, February, and July. The oliservations of the Nith estuary, taken at Kingholm Quay, showed that there were two months out of the ten over which they extended in which the mean temperature of the water was higher than that of the air; and if June had been included he had little doubt there would have been three. In the case of the rivers the temperature of the water did not rise above that of the air in any month. Of the seven months in which this occurred in the Little Ross observations, the most considerable excess was in October, November, December, and February, when it ranged from 2-2 degrees to 2-9 degrees. The conclusion he was led to form was that the Solway Firth had a higher relative tempera- ture than that of the rivers which flow into it—a fact which might probably be explained partly by the influence of the Gulf Stream, and partly by the much larger body of water represented by the Solway, which secured greater uniformity of temperature throughout the year. A table of seasonal variations for the rivers and Solway brought out the following results :—Spring Quarter (including March, April, aud May)—Nith, 47-8 degrees ; Dee, 50:9 degrees ; Solway, 47 degrees. Summer Quarter (June, July, and August)—Nith, 60-2 degrees; Dee, 61:1 degrees; Solway, 57:5 degrees, Autumn Quarter (September, October, and November)—Nith, 47:1 degrees; Dee, 49:8 degrees ; Sol- way, 53:1 degrees. Winter Quarter (December, January, and February)—Nith, 38-9 degrees ; Dee, 40-2 degrees ; Solway, 43-5 degrees. It thus appeared that, while in spring and summer the waters of the Solway had a lower temperature than that of the rivers, the reverse held good in the autumn and winter. This seemed to dispose of the idea that the higher relative tempera- ture of the Solway was caused by the flowing of the tide over the sands left bare at ebb and heated by the sun, In that case 8 Transactions. they would have expected that the spring, and especially the summer temperatures, would have been in excess of the rivers, whereas it was in fact lower. Il. Haxhibit of Linnean Plants. Mr James Fingland, Thornhill, sent for exhibition to the Society an extensive and beautifully mounted collection of plants, chiefly from continental countries and some from the northern states of America, which he had obtained through the Linnean Exchange Club in return for specimens of the flora of this locality. Along with them he sent a short communication, pointing out to botanists who wished to pursue the study systematically that this afforded an inexpensive method of perfecting their collections. IIL. The Martyr Graves of Dumfriesshire. By the Rev. Joun H. Tuomson, of Hightae. Shortly after the Revolution of 1688 the Societies—that is, the confederation of the more strict Presbyterians that had been organised in 1681, and continued through all the years of perse- cution to hold meetings at short intervals in spite of all the efforts of Government to prevent them or put them cown—took steps to erect stones over the graves of those who had suffered death during the reigns of the last of the Stuarts. At first it would seem as if each district society had proceeded to erect a memorial stone or stones to those who had been buried in their neighbour- hood. The minutes of the general meetings of the societies still exist, and the earliest notice in their pages of the martyr stones is under date “ Crawfordjohn, Oct. 29, 1701,” but the language of the minute implies something had already been done at an earlier time. The minute is :— “* Crawfordjohn, October 29, 1701. “¢ First concluded that all the correspondences provide and make ready stones as signs of honour to be set upon the graves of our Jate martyrs as soon as possible ; and all the names of the foresaid martyrs with their speeches and testimonies and by whom they were martyred or killed in house or fields, country or city, as far as possible to be brought to the next General Meeting in order for the epitaphs.” No further notice of the stones appears in the minutes until ten years afterwards, when their erection would seem to have been Transactions. 9 completed. At a meeting held at Crawfordjohn, October 6th, 1711, it is recorded:—“The several correspondences were appointed to take a copy of the epitaphs engraven upon the martyrs’ gravestones in their several bounds to be brought to the next general meeting.” Two years later there is another notice. It is :— ‘* Crawfordjohn, October 26, 1713. ‘* The several correspondences are appointed to take care to get a true list of the martyrs who were shot or otherwise killed without process of .law, their names, abodes, time and place of their deaths, who killed them, and any other particulars about them, with a true duplicate of the elegies on all the gravestones against the Ist of January, to be sent to Edinburgh.” The result of these labours of the societies appeared in a volume without publisher’s names or place of publication. It is simply said to be ' “ Printed in the Year mpccxtv.” and entitled : “ A Cloud of Witnesses for the Royal Prerogatives of Jesus Christ ; or, The Last Speeches and Testimonies of those who suffered for the truth in Scotland since the year 1680.” The volume closes with the usual Finis, and a list of errata prefaced by a candid confession that the book is not immaculate. **Good Reader,—There being several Mistakes of the Press in this Impression, too many to bear any Reasonable Apology ; ‘tis hoped thy Candor and Ingenuity will pardon the smaller, and thy Pen amend the greater which mar or alter the sense, a List whereof follows.” After this list come six pages with double columns in small brevier type. The six pages begin :— ‘To fill up the Vacancy of some Pages, ‘tis conceived, that it will be neither impertinent to the subject nor unacceptable to the Reader to insert the following EprTaPns or Inscriptions that are upon the TomBs or GRAVE-STONES of the Martyrs, in several Churchyards, and other Places where they ly Buried. And the Reader is desired to Remember, that they being mostly Composed by illiterate country people, One can not reasonably Expect Neatness and Elegant Poetry in ’em, and therefore will readily pardon any Harshness in the Phrase or Metre which he may meet with.” Thirty-eight of these “ Epitaphs or Inscriptions” are given. Ten of them are upon stones in Dumfriesshire. These ten are said to be :— Upon the Grave-stone of Andrew Hyslop lying in Craickhaugh in Eskdalemoor, 2 10 Transactions. In the Church-Yard of Dumfreis upon the Grave-stone of John Grierson who lived in the parish of Irongray. Upon the Grave-stone of William Welsh in the same Church- Yard. In the same Church-Yard on the Grave-stone of James Kirko. Upon three several Grave-stones lying on John Gibson, James Bennoch, Robert Edgar, and Robert Mitchell, who were shot at Inglestoun in the Parish of Glencairn. On Rebert Edgar and Robert Mitchell, both under one stone. Upon a stone in Tynron Church-Yard lying on William Smith. Upon Daniel Mackmichael who was shot by Dalziel of Kirkmichael Jan- 1685, lying in the Church-Yard of Durisdeer. The poetry of these epitaphs is in keeping with what is said of it in the introductory words already quoted from the “ Cloud of Witnesses,” but although not “elegant,” or marked by neatness, it has a rough vigour not unsuitable to the times whose deeds of blood it seeks to keep in memory, and it always breathes a strong conviction of the righteousness of the cause for which the martyrs laid down their lives. One specimen will suffice to show what they are. It is the epitaph upon the gravestone of Daniel Mack- michael, in Durisdeer Churchyard :— As DANIEL CAST WAS INTO Lyon’s DEN For PRAYING UNTO GOD AND Not TO MEN, Tuvus Lyons CRUELLY DEVOURED ME, For BEARING UNTO TRUTH My TESTIMONY. I REST IN PEACE, TIL JESUS REND THE CLOUD AND JUDGE ’TWIXT ME AND THOSE WHO SHED MY BLOOD, All these gravestones still exist. In most cases the letters have been re-cut. Some of them by their deep cutting show that they have been operated upon by Robert Paterson, the Old Mortality of Sir Walter Scott. In several cases, as in Dumfries Churchyard, the stones in recent years, for better preservation, have been set up on supports a foot or more from the ground, As a rule, they are easily found by the footpath made in the grass by a constant succession of visitors to the spot where they lie. Besides these stones whose inscriptions appear in the “Cloud of Witnesses” of 1714, there are several stones in other parts of Dumfriesshire. In Tinwald Churchyard there is a stone with a long inscrip_ tion to the memory of John Corbet. The first part of the Transactions. 11 inscription is in prose; the second part, extending to fourteen lines, is in rhyme. The first part tells the story. It is: HERE * LYES * THE * CORPS * OF * JOHN * CORBET * WHO * DIED * THE ‘17 * oF‘ MARCH *‘ 1706 * AND * OF * HIS * AGE * 63 * YEAKS * WHO * WAS * TAKEN * IN * THE * YEAR * 1684 * BY * A * PARTY * OF * CLAVERHOUSE * HIS * TROUPE * AND ' WAS ‘ BANISHED * BY * THE * WICKED ‘ COUNSELL * OF * SCOTLAND * TO * EAST * JARSEY * 1685 * AND * RETURNED * THE * YEAR * 1687 * The letters on the stone have been recently re-cut and deepened, and the stone itself set upon supports about a foot from the ground. The stone, previous to its being re-cut, had the marks of age. The letters were all but obliterated by the feet of pilgrims that had come to visit it, and it had quite the appearance of being the work of the first half of last century, probably not long after the death of Corbet. There was a society in Tinwald, and a William Wilson, the writer of a number of forgotten pamphlets and books, was connected with it. Several of his books are in a species of rude rhyme. He is most likely to have been the author of the epitaph upon tlie gravestone of Samuel Rutherford in St. Andrews, that seems to have been first published in the fourth edition of the ‘Cloud of Witnesses,” issued in Glasgow in 1741. Rutherford’s epitaph in the Cloud has the note ‘“ Oct. 9th, 1735, by W. W.,” and its rhyme is remarkably like that of Wilson in his published books. If I am correct in assigning the rhymes upon Corbet’s tombstone to William Wilson, it is not at all unlikely that he wrote the inscriptions on the two stones next to be mentioned. In Closeburn Churchyard there is a stone to the memory of John Mathieson. The stone has had an eventful history. Dr Simpson, in his Traditions of the Covenanters, chap. xiii, p. 165 (new edition of 1889), says the stone was erected by his children. On it were the names of Mathieson and the persons who were banished along with him, and also the name of the informer who led to their apprehension. This stone was one night destroyed by the informer, but Mathieson’s descendants compelled him to restore it, with the omission of what was said about himself. 12 Transactions. When I visited the graveyard about five years ago, in the com- pany of the Rev. James Hutton, of Closeburn, I was taken to the stone, but was told that for some reason or other Mathieson’s representatives had put another stone upon the top of it, so that while I could see the sides of the stone, the inscription itself was no longer visible. Mathieson was seized by a party of dragoons and banished to New Carolina. Shortly after his arrival he managed to escape, but he had many adventures and much suffering to pass through before he got back to Closeburn, in the autumn of 1687. He survived his wanderings for many years and died October 1, 1709. Dr Simpson, of Sanquhar, says “ there is a pretty large account of his sufferings and wanderings written by himself in the possession of a family in Galloway, but it is questionable if it can be recovered.” Dr Simpson does not seem to have known of the existence of a rare 18mo.. volume printed in Kilmarnock in 1806, for the non-hearer, John Calder- wood of Clanfin, entitled—‘ A Collection of Dying Testimonies of some Holy and Pious Christians, who lived in Scotland before, and since the Revolution.” It contains a Testimony by Mathie- son extending to eleven pages. It is very possible that this Testimony is the account to which Dr Simpson refers. Along with a great deal of testifying against what he regarded as evils of his time it gives a brief but vivid narrative of his sufferings. This rare volume did not escape the wide research of Lord Macaulay. Ina note to the sixteenth chapter of his history he calls Mathieson’s Testimony ‘‘one of the most curious of the many curious papers written by the Covenanters.” In Dalgarnock Churchyard there is a stone to the memory of James Harkness, farmer in the east end of Closeburn. James Harkness was a man of unusual daring, and took a leading part in the deliberations of the Presbyterians of his district. He became a marked man, and found it prudent to retire to Ireland, then a place of refuge to Scotsmen, but after a short stay he returned to Scotland. Here he and some friends were captured by Claverhouse, and sent to Edinburgh for trial. They were imprisoned in Canongate jail, but on September 16, 1683, he and twenty-five others managed to escape. In reading the story of the escape as given by Wodrow [Book IIT., chapter vii., section 2] it seems exceedingly like the work of a skilful and fearless man, such as Harkness was. He afterwards planned and success- a i ea i ee i ee Transactions. 13 fully carried out the rescue of the Covenanters at the pass of Enterkin so graphically described by Defoe in his ‘ Memoirs of the Church of Scotland.” He long outlived the Revolution, and died December 6, 1723, in his seventy-second year. At Alan’s Cairn, at a spot where the parishes of Penpont and Tynron in Dumfriesshire and Carsphairn in Kirkcudbrightshire meet together, a stone that in time became a cairn has long marked the spot where rest the mortal remains of George Alan and Margaret Gracie. John Semple, the outed minister of Carsphairn, had been holding a conventicle in what has come to be called the Whig’s Hole, a deep hollow that seems as if it had been formed for a meeting place for the persecuted in troublous times. It suddenly sinks down on the Altry hill, not far from the water of Ken, and cannot be seen until its edge is reached. Here a large congregation was gathered, and Semple was in the midst of his sermon when the watcher gave the signal that the dragoons were approaching. The assembly at once broke up. Semple and a few of the older people were taken to a deep moss hag near at hand, while the younger folks fled in an opposite direction to reach another moss hag through which the dragoons could not pass. But they were too late. The dragoons inter- cepted them before they accomplished their purpose, and ‘fired. Several were wounded, and George Alan and Margaret Gracie were shot dead. On the evening of the following day friends stole under the covert of night to the spot and buried the dead, where they now lie. In 1857 a pillar with an inscription was erected over the grave. In Kirkmichael parish, on the high grounds that rise up on the west of Glenkilt Burn to the height of eleven hundred feet, and form a table land, the Ordnance Map has marked “ Gibb’s corse, Martyr's stone.” The stone is of some size, and makes one wonder how it got there. It is easily come upon in the moor. Who Gibb was, or how he came to be reckoned a martyr, I have not met any one able to tell me. IV. Notes on the Dumfriesshire Flora, with new Localities received from correspondents. By Grorce F. Scorr-Exxiot, E.LS. I was enabled this summer to pay a short visit to some of the outlying districts of Dumfriesshire, and though my time was very 14 Transactions. short and the weather very unfavourable, I was still able to note some interesting facts which may perhaps be of some use. First, with regard to the botanical districts of the county, it is instruc- tive to compare our flora with that of Derbyshire, which has been ywell worked out by Mr Baker. In Derbyshire Mr Baker found the limits of Watson’s zones to be as follows :—Infragrarian zone ending at 450 feet, the midagrarian at 1050 feet, and the super- agrarian at 1650 feet. I found, however, Rubus Chamcemorus, which marks the upper limit of the superagrarian zone, constantly appearing (on Pikethow, Causey Grain, MoodlawLoch, and near Moffat) at a height of 1450 feet; that is to say, 200 feet lower than it usually begins in Derbyshire. This is readily explained by the difference in latitude. In Mr Lees’ “Flora of West Yorkshire” the manner in which the zone limits “dip” or diminish in height as one travels north is very clearly brought out. Assuming, then, 200 feet as the difference due to the lati- tude, we should have 250 feet, 850 feet, and 1450 feet as the limits of Watson’s zones in Dumfriesshire. Were this the case, the flora of the lowest region should extend up the Nith to Drumlanrig, up the Annan to the junction of Wamphray water, and as far as Langholm along the Esk. I think, however, that these limits will turn out rather too high. Probably infragrarian plants will not extend so far north as this, though a good portion of the county will still lie in this zone. The limits of the mid and superagrarian zones I could not manage clearly to trace out, but the largest portion of Dumfriesshire is certainly under 850 feet in altitude. There is, however, a very distinct arctic flora which begins about the level of 1450 feet, and so far as I could judge appears with regularity at that height, that is, when soil and rock conditions are favourable. This arctic flora contains such plants as—Zhalictrum, Coch- learia officinalis, Cerastium alpinum, Rubus chamemorus, all the Saxifrages except S. granulata, Sedum Rhodiola, Epilobiwm alsinefolium, Saussurea alpina, Hreracium tricwm, and argen- teum ; Ajuga pyramidalis, Polygonum viviparum, Avena alpina Sm., Carex atrata and C. capillaris, Poa Balfowrii, Cystopteris fragilis, &e. Whether, however, the superagrarian flora extends into the ground of this arctic flora or not is a more difficult ques- tion to answer. TI have found almost all the commoner forms of this (superagrarian) flora by the sides of small streams and in i it tt i el ee ea a. Transactions. 15 ditches at and in many cases above 1450 feet, e.g., Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, at a height of nearly 2000 feet at Correifron. The aretic zone, however, if we consider it as marked by presence of - Rubus chamemorus and Cochlearia officinalis, seems to extend .along the watershed of the east and west coast from The Wisp to the Beeftub, and also on the range which ends at Queensberry. The extreme north-west of the county, and especially Beninner and Benbrack, have not so far as I know been thoroughly searched, and this is a point which should be cleared up by our botanists next summer. Whether Sazxifraga nivalis may be regarded as a proof of the mid-arctic zone occurring in Dumfries- shire is very doubtful, but unless Veronica saxatilis and one or two other records are confirmed I should doubt if one could fairly take this to-be proved. Thus, in Dumfriesshire, we have appar- ently at least four and possibly five of Watson’s zones represented, and we have also a marked littoral strip and perhaps the best examples of the very special peat-moss flora in Great Britain. The above sketch is a very superficial one, but my intention has been rather to try and give a general idea of the actual floral divisions of the county than a special account of one locality. I append a list of localities of rare or interesting plants which are not mentioned so far as I know in M‘Andrew’s work. I include many sent me by our members. Ranunculus Sardous (Crant) b. parvulus. —Aucheneass, Moffat Linn. Nasturtium palustre, R. Br.-—(Miss Hamilton) Caerlaverock. Arabis hirsuta, Br.—Spoon Burn and Correifron Cochlearia officinalis, Linn.—Causeway Grain, Whitehope, all Moffat hills, Queensberry, Penbreck. . Viola lutea, Huds.-—Penbreck, hills near Grey Mare’s Tail, &c. Cerastium alpinum, L.—Craig boar, also near Loch Skene (Mr Johnstone). Cerastium arvense, L.—Cluden Bridge. Stellaria nemorum, L.—Woodlands, Penton Linn, and Canobie parish, abundant. Sagina nodosa, Meyer.—Torduff Point. Hypericum hirsutum, L.—Castle-Douglas Road (Mrs Thomson and Miss Milligan), Geranium pheum, L.—Moniaive (by J. Corrie). Geranium lucidum, L. (by J. T. Johnstone)— Craigieburn Wood, ‘Geranium silvaticum, L.—Common ; Moffat and Langholm districts up to 1600 feet and beyond. Empetrum nigrum, L.—Common near Moffat, also Eweslees Downs (J. Rae). Vicia silvatica, L,—Between Langholm and Canobie. Ornithopus perpusillus, L.—Dalawoodie, 16 Transactions. Rubus chamemorus, L.—Almost always on hills above 1450 feet. Geum intermedium, Ehr.—Spoon Burn, Moffat, Cluden Bank. Poterium officinale (Hook).—Meggat Water; abundant. Saxifraga stellaris, L.—Queensberry, Penbreck, and almost all Moffat hills along right bank of Moffat Water. Saxifraga granuata, L.—Newton House, abundant ; near White Bridge, abundant. S. hypnoides, L.—Queensberry, Penbreck, all the hills about Moffat, Meikledale, Langholm. Sedum villosum, L.—White Hope Edge, Eweslees Downs (J. Rae), by Wauchope Water, and Kinnelhead. Epilobium angustifolium, L.— Lochar Moss. Epilobium alsinefolium, Vell.—Eweslees Downs (J. Rae), Black’s Hope (Rev. E. F. Linton), Loch Skene hills, and Correifron, abundant. Eryngium maritimum, L.—Rockcliffe (Miss Hannay). Oenanthe crocata.—Glen Mills, Woodlands. Galium Mollugo, L.—Near Old Gretna, Prior’s Linn, Canobie. Galium sylvestre, Poll.—Grey Mare’s Tail. Valeriana pyrenaica, L.—Cluden banks near the Mills. Saussurea alpina, D.C.—Midlaw Burn. Filago germanica, L.—Cummertrees (Miss Aitken). Cichorium intybus, L.—Field near Newton House. Crepis biennis, L.—Tynron (J. Shaw), a new record. Crepis hieracioides, Waldst.—Grey Mare’s Tail, Correifron. (The Hieracia are in the hands of the Rev. E. F. Linton, who has made numerous new records. ) Pyrola minor, L.—Lochmaben (Miss Black), Canobie (Miss Taylor). Pyrola secunda, L.—Near Moffat. Anchusa arvensis, Biele.—Cummertrees (Miss Aikin). Myposotis silvatica, Ehr.—Near Moffat. Veronica Buxbumii, Ten.—Woodslee Orchard, Canobie. Veronica montana, L.—Garple, Beld Craig, Penton Linns. Orobanche major, L.—Kirkeconnell (Miss Witham), Dalawoodie (R. Rim- mer), near White Bridge (J. Rutherford), Craigs (Mrs Gilchrist Clark), Scutellaria minor, L.—Colvend (Mrs Thomson). Polygonum vivicarum, L.--Above Loch Skene, probably record of Statis- tical Account, 1843. Urtica urens, L.—Meggat Water. Listera ovata, Br.—Common in south of county, Penton, Woodslee, Loch- maben, Isle, &c. Arum maculatum, L.—Moniaive (J. Corrie), a new record. Blysmus compressus, Panz.—Moodlaw Loch, a new record, Cladiwm mariscus, Br.—Loch Kindar. Carex atrata, L., Carex atrata capillaris, L., Carex atrata aquatilis, Wahl. —All found by Rev. E. F. Linton—Midlaw Burn, Carex levigata, Sm, —Beld Crag Burn. Miliwm effusum, L.—Routen Bridge. Poa nemoralis, L.—Routen Bridge, fod Transactions. 17 5th December, 1890. Mr James Barsour, V.P., in the Chair. New Members.—Rev. Alexander Chapman and Dr Patrick Murray. Donations and Exhibits.—A collection of the rarer plants of Wigtownshire was presented by Mr James M‘Andrew for the Herbarium ; a stone hammer found at Newfield, near Ecclefechan, was presented by Miss Aitken. Mr James Barbour exhibited a very fine fungus of the genus of the Polyporus; Mr John Corrie, a vulentine over 100 years old, belonging to Mrs Harkness of Dalwhat, Moniaive ; Mr J. 8S. Thomson, a bead found in opening a grave at Sweetheart Abbey, supposed to have been part of a rosary. Herbarium of British Plants——The Secretary informed the Council that Mr Carruthers, the Curator of the British Museum (Natural History) had offered Mr G. F. Scott Elliot, M.A., the selection of specimens from the Museum, with the view of form- ing at Dumfries an Herbarium of British Plants. It was agreed to empower Mr Scott Elliot to make such a selection as he deemed desirable, and that he should be requested to form the Herbarium which he proposed. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. A Pre-Historie Colony at Anwoth. By Mr Freperic R, Coes. ° The district to which my remarks are limited in the present paper is one so remarkably rich in pre-historic remains that, at first, it seems puzzling where to begin. Its area occupies strictly a good deal less than the five square miles marked out on my enlargement of the Ordnance Survey Map, and the whole of it lies well to the westward of the famous Skyreburn. It is hilly, as you may see from the names and heights of the moorland; the summits of Barholm Hill and Ben John, three miles from the sea, being respectively 1163 and 1000 feet high, while Cairn Harrow, about 1} miles more inland, touches 1500 feet. It is well bounded by streams: Cauldside Burn, on the extreme North, falling into the Skyreburn, forming together the largest stream, while Kirkdale Burn runs on the East, and the three 3 18 Transactions. smaller streams, Bardristane, Auchinlarie, and Laggan, contribute their share to the features of the hillsides in the midst. You will see from the map that the Archeological interest of this area is almost confined, concentrated as it were, to the South-middle portion of it. Here, indeed, we find no less than ten separate localities interesting in themselves, and full of value and use to us as clues, possibly, to the solution of those mysterious symbols, ‘Cup and Ringmarks.” Just outside of this smaller area, and to the west of Kirkdale Burn, we find still another, and as far as tradition goes, a specially interesting relic in Cairnholy, the cromlech supposed to mark the grave of the first King of Galloway. While about one mile to the North of Cairn Harrow summit, near the Cauldside Burn, are the 7’wmali and Stone Circle before described by me, and of which there is no breath of report or tradition whatsoever. Leaving for the present these two distant vestiges out of consideration, and beginning close on the very cliffs, we shall first notice Kirkclaugh Moat—a notable structure. From the beach of boulders at its base to its summit there are abundant proofs of the strength and guarded importance of this Moat. First, in the lengths of loose masonry lying, now all moss-grown and half hid in luxuriant wild flowers, in confusion, but still evidently once placed in a straight line from the sea landward in a N.E. direction for some five and thirty yards, then the wall takes a sharp turn E. for 22 yards. At this point, being some 16 feet or so above high water mark, it is met by the remains of other walls at right angles, one on each side, from the natural cliff on the one side and the partly built mound of the Moat slope on the other. By this the trench proper is quite evident, and can be traced round to the east of the Moat for a long curve, interrupted once by one of the cross ramparts. The side of the Moat here is very rocky and very steep. Fol- lowing the trench we reach the cross rampart at A, which leads us on to the higher and broader one at B, and so to the Moat summit The large irregular flat space on the N. and W. of the Moat proper is evidentiy artificial, and may correspond in a sense to the Case-court of an English Moat. The dimensions of the Moat are ninety feet by sixty—the longest facet, that running N. and §8., being 48 feet. Its slopes measure 36 feet down to the trenches, but on the seaward side this is much steeper and deeper, Transactions. 19 and ends on perpendicular chasms. A smail streai—the Bardristan Burn—runs close along the east side of the rampart, and its natural hollow and bank of course yields one more defence to this very well guarded Moat. The extreme W. edge also of the Case-court has been much strengthened by the embedding of large stones. Its slope down to the boulders on the N.W. cannot be less than 60 or 70 feet. On the N.E. rampart stands the stone which forms the interesting feature in connection with this Moat—a standing stone sculptured on both sides with crosses, and as the New Statistical Account has it, “with strokes supposed to be Runic.”’ It is noteworthy also that in his great work on the “Sculptured Stones,” Stuart says that it is likely this stone has been moved from its original position. He gives no authority for this opinion. Only it is odd that the N.S.A. should describe it as being near Boreland Moat when writing of that Moat. Unless there are, or were, two stones 5 feet 3 inches high, and sculptured with crosses on both sides, why should this one be written of in con- nection with Boreland Moat rather than with Kirkclaugh Moat, where it now stands? And that there may have been two stones is evident from the remark made by a writer unknown, who, in April, 1742, describing Anwoth, says, when speaking of this Moat of K., “and without the ditch on the N. side stands a broad stone erect, about 2 yards above ground, with a cross upon both sides of it, with some carving or inscription below, which I cannot read.” If the stone at present standing on the rampart of Kirkclaugh Moat stood there in 1742—and that is proved by the above writer’s words—how comes it that the N.S.A. takes no notice of it when alluding to that moat, but does mention it in connection with the Green Tower Moat at Boreland? Unless we give an unusually wide meaning to the term “near,” we are almost compelled to conclude that there were two stones of the same height, and bearing similar sculpturing. The drawing I submit for your inspection is a minutely accurate copy of one made on the spot with great care; and it shows several peculiarities. First, the simple archaic cross on the south side of the stone has been worked by means of picking— that is, a sharpish flint or bronze tool was held in one hand, and the marks picked or punched out of the surface with the aid 20 Transactions. of a hammer. This ancient cross is extremely rude, and probably pre-historic ; the whole surface near it being thus picked out in precisely the same way as our cup and ringmarks are. It measures 5 feet high by 1 foot across the arms. On the other—the north side of the stone—is carved another cross of a much more interesting character, and comparatively modern. Its lines are driven with chisel and mallet. Now, in addition to its odd little cup and ringmark near the right hand angle of the central boss, and a single ring above on the left, the peculiar ornamentation on the entire lower surface of the stone is remarkable. I am inclined to think it may be unique. No other stone in Stuart’s “Sculptured Stones” has the same simple diamond- shaped pattern running through it. In that work this stone is represented, but not so satisfactorily as it ought to be. Another point in it is the sort of shoulder formed by the deep notch—one on each side—about 6 inches below the arms of the cross. Referring to the map we now find if we turn north that, at 1210 yards, we come to very near the spot at Bardristan where, last year, a slab was found covered all over with cup and ringmarks: Tt isa small squarish thin piece of whinstone, about 15 inches across, and sculptured as you see with a considerable variety of these mysterious symbols. The largest ring measures 34 inches in diameter, the cups about 1 inch. It would have been valuable to know in what position this slab was found, whether quite alone or with other stones, whether sculptured or not; but as it was discovered in the re-making of a drain, all chance of interpreting its position is finally lost. It is now, thanks to the care of Mr Kinna, of Newton-Stewart, kept at Bardristane, where it may be easily seen. A second space of 1210 yards, this time in an N.E. direction, brings us to the standing stones of High Auchenlarie. These two stones are not now on their original site, having been removed about 28 years ago to the garden of Cardoness. Here, again, we touch the archaic; the lines are so simple, and are again conjoined to cup marks. The single line running outside the main design is also curious. The stones are respectively 5 feet 6 inches and 4 feet 8 inches’ high, and stood upon a knoll nearly midway between the Bardristane and Auchenlarie Burns. Continuing our ramble, and crossing the Transactions. 21 Auchenlarie Burn eastward, we come at a quarter of a mile or so to the remains of a stone circle, of which only five stones remain in the circle, the two others being, curiously enough, at points almost equi-distant from the tallest circle stone—one due north, 24 feet off; the other S.S.W., 27 feet off. There was once one other—its exact position I cannot ascertain. It was sculptured copiously with cup and ring marks, and was removed to the garden of Cardoness many years ago. It is well drawn in Simpson’s book on Cup and Ring Marks, and bears a strong “specific” resemblance to the Bardristane slab above described. This stone circle has been 36 feet in diameter, and it is*worth notice that its stones are placed at distances which are multiples of its diameter—+.e., six feet between the two prostrate stones. Near the north are 12 feet between the next two, 18 between the next, and 12 feet between the last two. The stones are none of them very large, nor do any of them bear traces of any sculpturing of the simplest sort. But, on the solid rock, about 51 feet S.W. of the tallest stone—the nearest rock surface—I discovered cup and ring marks. Much of the upper part of this slightly sloping rock surface was exposed to the weather, hence the actual seulpturings are not anything like so clear as in my drawing, but they are undoubtedly artificial, as are those lower down on the rock, which were turfed over. Equi-distant from this stone-circle are two cairns, or rather remains of cairns, one on the N.E., the other on the N.W., each just eleven hundred yards away. The cairn on the N.E. is a somewhat oval-shaped ring of large stones, littered with stones in its enclosure as well as about its circumference. It measures 40 feet by 26 feet, and its longer axis points N.W., Cairn Harrow summit filling in the distant view. Its situation is peculiar, being on a flattish ridge between two steep hill sides, and the ground at either end of it sloping rapidly away—a sort of naturally suggestive position for a monument or burial mound. The distance between the two cairns is a mile and a furlong. Proceeding from this cairn on Laggan, we reach, at half a mile nearly due south, the Laggan Stone—the most interesting and important of all under the present examination. For here we find a heavy, substantial, roughly pentagonal slab elaborately carved with cups and rings, and placed on the top of a low cairn © 22 Transactions. of loose stones a mere pile of stones, indeed, not significant enough to have attracted notice, were it not that we find the apex of this stone pointing unmistakably to the Four Standing Stones of Newton on the Shore Fields, a third of a mile away. This is the point par excellence that seems to me important and most interesting in our research into the meaning of these strange symbols. If we can be sure, and until I hear on undoubtedly authentic word that this slab was only recently so placed, I shall believe in its position. If, I repeat, we can be sure that this was the original position of the slab, we have gained at least one clear step further towards the elucidation of the mystery of these Petroglyphs ; for we have then a proof of their having some bearing on the burial-places and sepulchral customs of the people who erected these standing stones, and joised these sculptured symbols just this way and no other. The details of this Laggan Stone are these: There are three groups of rings, each with central cup. Tke group at the apex has 4 rings (diameter of outer ring being 8 inches) and 2 grooves. The middle group has 5 rings, diameter 9 inches. The third group has 4 rings, diameter 8 inches. The groups are so arranged that a line bisecting the stone from the middle of the lower edge to the apex cuts the centre of the cup in the apex group and touches the east edge of the cup in the lowest group. The sides of the stone measure, beginning from apex, eastward, 2 feet 1 inch, 10 inches, 1 foot 10 inches, 1 foot, and 1 foot 10 inches. The spaces between the ring-groups are 8 inches and 3 inches respectively. The cups are rather over 1 inch in diameter, and the outer rings are exactly 1 inch across from centre to centre. Again continuing our progress, this time seawards, we come at another half mile or nearly so, to the huge grave above referred to as the Standing Stones of Newton: very often called “The Three Standing Stones,” for the simple reason that only three points are visible from the distance. This sepulchral monument, however, really consists of seven stones visible above ground; first, a long flattish one, measuring 3 feet 10 inches by 1 foot 5 inches, and very thick, apparently the ist cover. At either end of it a headstone, 2 feet 1 inch by 1 foot, and a footstone, 3 feet by 1 foot, and Transactions. 23 four pillar stones set upright at each corner. Of these the stone at the south-east angle has fallen. These stones, the highest of which is 5 feet 10 inches, and the lowest 4 feet 6 inches, are to this day found on the slopes of the Laggan Hill and Ben John in long, sometimes almost squarish, oblongs, of about seven feet, and form a ready material for such usage as here exampled. The lie of the kist cover is nearly due north and south, and the distance between the two end stones is, north and south, 8 feet, and east and west 4 feet. IT had fully intended to open this ancient grave, and so complete the present inquiry by a description of its condition and contents: Inclemency of weather, however, has compelled me to put aside an excavation which might have extended to several days. I must, therefore, conclude with a summary of what, in my judgment, are the distinguishing features of this Pre-Historic Colony, marking it off from other localities in Galloway. First noticeable is the variety of character in the relics: cairns, stone circles, kist vaens, and a moat with sculptured stones, and one fragment of sculptured rock. Now, in no other district of equal area do I know of any such variety of character. The High Banks district, near Kirkcudbright—though it possesses several forts and moats— has only small cairns, and no cup and ring marks on slabs or standing stones, and no out- standing grave such as this at Newton or at Cairnholy. In other places as, ¢.g., in the northern parts of the Stewartry and the borders of Ayr and Wigtown, where cairns are pretty frequent, we have as yet little or no trace of sculptured stones, either in cup and ring marks or crosses. These considerations lend colour to the probability that this Anwoth district once formed an important and comparatively thickly peopled centre—a settlement of some duration —the actual habitations of which have long since passed away, to be remembered only by the cairn and grave and cup-marked stone, as we see them at the present day. The next characteristic is the differentiation of the types of these remains, and the suggestion that many ages must have played their part in building up sucha memorial. It is quite possible that the cairn was the earliest—as it is the most natural —attempt at a constructed tomb. Perhaps the stone-circle followed (for these, as is now pretty generally admitted by 24 Transactions. competent authorities, are in reality grave-yards), and lastly the grave-stone, with its sculptured cross, the style of which brings it up to a comparatively modern date. Another point is the relation and bearings of these ancient structures to the natural features of the ground. It cannot be mere chance that every one of them is quite close to a stream. There is abundance of ground less well watered on either side. The moat at Kirkclaugh is washed by a stream ; the two stand- ing stones at High Auchenlarie stood between two streams, as also the stone circle close at hand; while on the Laggan Burn, within 400 yards of it, we find the three distinctive remains of Cairn, cup-marked, stone, and grave. In the same way, too, Cairnholy and its numerous other remains are close on the banks of what is now Kirkdale Burn, and the cairn and circles on the north slopes of Cairn Harrow are also near another running stream—the Cauldside Burn. Lastly, the measurements of distances both as to large spaces and small:seem to me to indicate some system. As I once before pointed out, all the dimensions in detail of the Z2uma/i and Stone Circle at Cauldside are in multiples of 9 and 3; and, I think, you will find that the same law holds good with regard to most, if not to all, the dimensions of these other circles, cairns, sculptured stones, and grave at present described. I do not for a moment wish to be misunderstood to the effect that I advocate the build- ing of a merely fanciful theory of numbers in connection with this subject, but rather simply to draw attention to the fact that certain numbers do certainly occur in these dimensions with a frequency that cannot be the result of a happy accident. When there is so little systematic or regular in a subject as yet so slightly worked out, I think a reasonable endeavour to place any clue in the hands of those who are much more competent than the present writer to investigate the whole subject of Petroglyphs is our plain duty as observers. There is still a vast deal to be done—to be observed, drawn, described, and properly recorded in our annals; for as time goes on and steam ploughs become commoner, the very face of the earth undergoes a change which often causes the heart of the Archeologist to sink within him ; and, once lost, the very sites of such a colony as I have attempted to picture to-night, fade away into the past and are forgotten, Transactions. 25 II. Botanical Notes from Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Dumfriesshire, December, 1890. By James M‘Anprew, New-Galloway. During last July (1890) I again visited Wigtownshire for the purpose of studying its flora. I spent a week with the Rey. James Gorrie, F.C. Manse, Sorbie; and as the result of our work in and around that parish, we added the following plants as new records for Wigtownshire. In Capenoch Moss, north-west of Whauphill Station, we gathered 1, Drosera intermedia ; 2, Lyco- podium selaginoides ; 3, Scirpus fluitans ; 4, Carex deri, Ehrh ; and 5, a Utricularia, which Mr Arthur Bennett thinks may be Bremii. But for a true determination the plant must be gathered in flower. In the neighbourhood of Sorbie village we found 6, Erophila vulgaris ( Draba verna) ; 7, Habenaria bifolia ; and 8, Ranunculus bulbosus. At Dowalton Loch we gathered 9, Lyco- podium selago ; 10, Utricularia vulgaris ; 11, Nitella opaca ; 12, Polypodium dryopteris ; and we saw growing at Stonehouse the following ferns, which had been taken from the same loch :—13, Cystopteris fragilis ; 14, Polypodium phegopteris ; 15, Polystichum lobatum,; and 16, Polystichum aculeatum. At Ravenstone, or White Loch, we got 17, Radiola millegrana. In addition to the above, Mr Gorrie has found 18, Saxifraga granulata in the grounds of Galloway House, and 19, Hyoscyanus niger, in Rigg Bay, south of Garliestown. The most interesting botanical ground Mr Gorrie and I visited was Dowalton Loch, which, about twenty-five years ago, was drained for agricultural purposes, thus exposing to view several lacustrine dwellings, and the remains of a large canoe. Owing to the very wet summer this year, botanizing this drained loch, except along its margin, was out of the question, but from what we observed I have no doubt it would amply repay a careful search. It has several interesting ferns along its margin. Here we gathered Ophioglosswm vulgatum, Cryptogramme crispa, Sagina nodosa, Ranunculus sceleratus, Filago Germanica, ée. I next visited Drummore, a pleasant and clean village near the south of the Rhinns, with the intention of confirming, as far as possible, some of the records of the rare plants found in the neighbourhood of the Mull of Galloway. Here for three weeks 4 26 Transactions. I was fortunately assisted by Messrs R. Hogg and W. Paterson, from Kilmarnock. Botanizing along the top of the heughs is dangerous work, but along the Mull head and further north on the west coast we confirmed the existence of Huphorbia Port- landica, Crithnum maritimum, Statice binervosa, vars. occidentalis and intermedia, not growing like the common Statice, on sand and mud flats, but on the tops and the sides of the cliffs. Inula crithmoides, Scirpus Savit (common), Mertensia maritima, Astragalus hypoglottis, very plentiful on the west coast; and Oxytropis uralensis in several places. I failed to find the following plants once recorded from that district :—Atriplex portulacoides, Apium graveolens, Brassica monensis, Malaxis paludosa, and Ononis reclinata. Concerning the last-mentioned plant, of which the only British station is on the farm of Cardrain, north of the Mull of Galloway, I may state that it has not been seen there for many years, though it has been repeatedly and carefully looked for. The farmer was unable to say where the plant grew. Frequent landslips may account for its disappear- ance. It was discovered here in 1835 by Professor Graham, who found it on debris at the foot of the cliffs. In continuation of the list of new records, I add the following from the neighbourhood of Drummore :—20, Polygala vulgaris, var. oxyptera, on a bank facing the sea at Drummore (this var. has been found in Scotland before only near Stirling) ; 21, Chara contraria, on the west coast, north of Mull of Galloway ; 22, Sagina maritima, var. densa, at the south end of West Tarbert ; 23, Bromus asper, Grennan wood and south of Maryport; 24, Bromus arvensis, south of Drummore Quay ; 25, Listera cordata, in Shanks Moor and East Tarbert; 26, Hrythrea centawrium, var, pseudo latifolia, var. capitata (Koch), on the west coast in abundance ; 27, Cerastiwm semidecandrum, south of Drummore ; 28, Trifolium striatum, south of Drummore in abundance ; 29, Vicia lathyroides, south of Drummore, in fields; 30, Mentha aquatica, var. sub-glabra, Ardwell Mill am ; 31, Bidens tripar- tita, Ardwell Mill Dam; 32, Geraniwm pratense, High Drum- more ; 33 Spergularia salina, var. media, Port Logan Quay. In addition to the above new records, I may include the following new Brambles and Roses, gathered in Wigtownshire in 1889 by Mr Charles Bailey, Manchester:—Rubus rhamnifolius, Rubus wmbrosus, and Rubus Sprengel. The last was gathered Transactions. 27 near Newton-Stewart, and is the first record of this Bramble for Scotland. Also Rosa subcristata, R. mollis, and R. sub-globosa. Some other interesting plants around Drummore may be mentioned : Orchis pyramidalis, at Killiness Point, and Vicia lutea, at the north end of New England Bay, still keep their ground. South of Drummore, along the shore, may be gathered Senebiera coronopus, Potentilla reptans, Cerastiwm tetrandrum, Sagina apetala, Sagina maritima, Filago minima, Filago ger- manica, Trifolium arvense, Lycopsis arvensis, Calystegia soldan- ella, Glaucium lutewm, Eryngium maritimum, Medicago lupulina, Vicia hirsuta ; great abundance of Raphanus maritima, Ammo- phila arundinacea, and Festuca sciwroides. On the shore of Grennan wood Vicia sylvatica grows in plenty ; and in the wood itself grow many plants, notably large patches of Anagallis tenella. At Port Logan I found Spergularia rupestris, and further south Thymus chamedrys and Empetrum nigrum. At Clanyard Bay grow Carlina vulgaris, Agrimonia eupatoria, and Juniperus communis. At Portencorkrie Bay I gathered Ligus- ticum scoticum, Convolwulus arvense, Carex vulpina, Carex paludosa, Aster tripolium, and Scirpus maritimus. On the Mull Head were gathered Geraniwm sanguineum, Qnanthe lachenalii, Parnassia palustris, Radiola millegrana, Lycopodium selaginoides, Around Drummore are Lavatera arborea, but planted, Coniwm maculatum, Carduus tenuiflorus, Urtica wrens, Lamiwm inter- medium, Ornithopus perpusillus, Habenaria viridis, Malva sylvestris, Veronica scutellata, Alisma, ranunculoides, and Hyperi- cum elodes. At Ardwell Mill Dam were Lysimachia nummularia, Senecio saracenicus, Littorella lacustris ; and on the shore about Sandhead, Lquisetum maximum, and Cakile maritima. Doubtful plants have been named by Mr Bennett, Croydon. Kirkcudbrightshtre. This year I have found Juncus tenwis in another station on the roadside near Shiel, and Thalictrum flavum, var. spherocarpum. Lej., in Kenmure Holms, New-Galloway. Mr Charles Bailey, of Manchester, in 1889, gathered the following Brambles and Roses, chiefly in the neighbourhood of Gatehouse and Borgue :—Rubus Jissus, R. Koehleri, R. hirtus, R. wmbrosus, Bab., R. affinis, Bab., all in Borgue; and /’. Sprengelit, opposite Newton-Stewart. The following Roses he gathered chiefly on the hill on which the 28 Transactions. Rutherford monument stands :— /'osa spherica, Grev., R. tomen- tosa; Sm., &. subcristata, Baker, FR. Watsoni, Baker, AR. rubiginosa, L. Among Mosses I have found Hypnum ceespitosum, and Didymodon flexifolius, and the rare Hepatic Harpanthus Jlotovianus. Dumfriesshire. Mr John T. Johnstone has found Potentilla alpestris on Black- hope, near Moffat. This is a very interesting addition to the Flora of Dumfriesshire. He also mentions his finding Peuwce- danwm ostruthium, and Pyrola secunda near Beld Craig. The Rey. E. F. Linton also records Rosa Hibernica from the Grey Mare’s Tail. List of Lichens gathered in Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, &e. By Mr James M‘Anprew, New-Galloway. The following list of Lichens is only a contribution towards the Lichenology of the South-Western Counties of Scotland. Most of them have been gathered by myself in the Glenkens. Those recorded from Rerrick were gathered by the Rev. George M‘Conachie, Manse of Rerrick. Doubtful species have been referred to Dr Guillaume Nylander, Paris; Dr James Stirton, Glasgow ; Rev. James M. Crombie, London ; and Mr Joseph A. Martindale, Kendal. Dr Stirton has made several new species of Usnee and Cladoniz from specimens I have sent him, chiefly from the Glenkens. The list contains very few of the minuter species, because they are so difficult of determination. N.G. refers to New-Galloway. The arrangement follows Leighton’s “ Lichen Flora of Great Britain, Iyeland, and Channel Islands.” Ephebe pubescens, Fr. —Kells hills. Lichina pygmea, Ag.—Portpatrick ; Cruggleton, Wigtownshire. » confinis, Ag.—Maritime rocks. Synalissa intricata, Nyl.—North of Black Craig and Rig of Craig Gibbert, N.G. (Note.—This is as yet the only British record of this Lichen.) Collema nigrescens, L.—Grennan Bank, Fintloch wood, &c., N.G. conglomeratum, Hoffm.—Dumfriesshire (Dr Burgess in Leighton’s “ Lichen-Flora.”) Leptogium musicola, Sw.—Frequent in Glenkens. 2, tremelloides, L.—Dunskey Glen, Portpatrick. ” Transactions. 29 Burgessii, Light.—Holme Glen ; Knocksheen Glen ; Hannahstown Bridge (in fruit), N.G.; Duff Kinnel, near Barntimpen, parish of Kirkpatrick ; and in Mollin Linn Wood, Parish of Johnstone, Dumfriesshire (Dr Burgess in ‘‘ Lichen- Flora.’’) 8 lacerum, Ach.—Sub Alpine glens; Grey Mare’s Tail (Dr W. Nichol). a »» Var, fimbriatum.—Coal Heugh, Twynholm ; Tongland. ane sinuatum, Huds.—Holm Glen, &e,, N.G. 25 tenuissimum, Dicks.—Glenlee, and Holme, N.G. Sphinctrina turbinata, Pers.—On Pertusaria communis. Calicium melanopheum, Ach.—Glenlee Glen, N.G., on firs. » hyperellum, Ach.—Glenlee, N.G., on oaks. » quercinum, Pers.—Grennan Bank, and Hagwood, N.G, »» trachelinum, Ach.—Ballingear Wood, on firs, N.G. », curtum, Borr.—Hannahstown Wood, N.G, » citrinum, Leight.—On Lecidea lucida. Coniocybe furfuracea, Ach.—Ballingear Glen, Holme Glen, &c., N.G. Spherophoron compressum, Ach.—Bennan Hill, Black Craig, &e. $5 coralloides, Pers.—Burnfoot Hill, &c., N.G. Ss Sragile, Pers.—Cairn Edward, and Black Craig, &e. Beomyces rufus, D.C.—Common. ‘ roseus, Pres.—Knocknarling Burn, Grennan Bank, &e., N.G. »» placophyllus, Pers.—Kinervie Moor, Parton ; Darsalloch, &c., rare. - icmadophilus, Ehrh.—Frequent on the hills Pycnothelia papillaria, Duf.—Kinervie Moor, Parton ; 2} miles west of N.G. The Glenkens district is very rich in Cladonie, especially at the north end of the Bennan Hill. Dr Stirton has made several new species of Cladoniz from the district. Cladonia alcicornis, Lightf.—Twynholm Hills (Fred. R. Coles, Esq.) » pyxidata, L.—Common. 35 ee f. epiphylla, Ach.—Knocknalling. = fs f. megaphylla. ’ a ty var. pocillum, Ach.—Fintloch, N.G. ie eA var. chlorophea, Flk.—Townpark, &c., N.G. 3 - var. re f. myriocarpa, Coé’m.—East of River Dee, in Kelton parish. », leptophylla, Ach.—Airie Hill, N.G.; Kinervie Moor, Parton. (Note.—This is the first Scottish record for this Cladonia. It is in plenty.) Cladonia pityrea, F\k.—Frequent. ” 5 f. hololepis, Flk. 3 es f. elongata, Coém.—Black Craig, »» acuminata, Ach.-—Kinervie Moor, Parton, &c. »» Lamarckii, Del.—Grennan Bank, and Ballingear Glen, N.G. 30 Transactions. Cladonia jimbriata, L.—-Common ” ) ” ry: var. adspersa. var. costata, Flk. + var. ,, f£. prolifera. “1 var. conista, Ach.—-Fintloch Wood, N.G. fibula, Ach. £. subcornuta, Nyl.—Frequent, > var.radiata.—Frequent. gracilis, L=chordalis, Flk.—Common. », var. aspera, Fk. ochrochlora, Flk.—Frequent. . f. phyllosticta.—Ardoch Wood, Dalry. verticillata, Hoffm.--Frequent on the hills. cervicornis, Ach.—Very common. A var. firma.—Burnfoot Hill. degenerans, Flk.—Bennan Hill ; Barend Moss. sobolifera, Del.—Earlston Wood, Dalry ; Bennan Hill. furcata, Hoffm=subulata, L.—--Common. 5 £. exilis, Mudd.—Cairn Edward Hill. », var. corymbosa Ach. —Bennan Hill, &c. » var. racemosa, Hoffm.—Frequent. a Var - f. recurva, Hoftm. pungens, Ach.—Frequent. » £. foliosa, Flk.=nivea, Ach.—Earlston Wood. squamosa, Hoffm.—Frequent. rs f. vetusta. rigida (furfurosa, Strn).—Bennan Hill. ventricosa, Ach.—Ballingear Wood. Pe frondosa, Del. —Ballingear Glen, N.G. 5 f. asperella, Flk.—Ballingear Wood. subsquamosa, Nyl.—Black Craig, Bennan Hill, Ballingear Glen. e f. tumida, Cromb. cespititia, Pers.—Blackbank Wood, Glenlee, &c., N.G. delicata, Ehrh.—Townpark, Holme Glen, Backwood, N.G. coccifera, L.=cornucopioides, fr.—Bennan Hill, &c. bellidiflora, Ach.—Bennan Hill; Black Craig. digitata, L.—Frequent. macilenta, Khrh.—Frequent. 3 f. phyllophera.—Burnfoot Hill. * var. polydactyla, Flk.— Frequent. si var. carcata, Ach.—Bennan Hill. hacillaris, Ach.—Black Craig, &e. as f. pityropoda, Nyl.—Moss Raploch, N.G. Floérkeana, Fr.—Black Craig. s3 trachypoda, Nyl. : Cladina rangiferina, L.—Frequent. 3? sylvatica, Hoffm.—Common. fe Es - f. cucullata, Del.—Black Craig; River Ken, at Glenhoul. f Transactions. 31 Cladina sylvatica, var. tenwis.—Up the River Ken. os 3 WEE ici f. laxiuscula.—Up the River Ken. & ge f. arbuscula.—Barend Moss. PA z5 f. portentosa, Duf.—Barend Moss. » wncialis, L.—Frequent. i5 is f. adunca, Ach.— Frequent. oF 3g f. turgida.—Moffat, &c. », districta, Nyl.—Bennan Hill. Also the following new forms of Cladonia subsquamosa have been named by Dr Stirton in ‘‘ The Scottish Naturalist ’—Cladonia spilota, Dundeugh; C. dilatata, C. cristata, C. sublactea, C. furfurosa, Bennan Hill; C. deflexa, Bennan Hill; C. phyllina, Dundeugh; C. compressula, C. spicata. Also, Cl. furcata,* Cl. dispansa, Bennan Hill; Cl. ciliata, Cl. difissa. Cl. arborea, Lochar Moss; Cl. contexta, Bennan Hill; Cl. commixta. Pilophoron fibula, Tuck.—Black Craig, &e. Stereocaulon coralloides, Fr.—Frequent. Caerlaverock Wood. (Dr Lauder Lindsay in “‘ Leighton’s Lichen-Flora.’’) om evolutum.—Black Craig. as paschale, Ach.—Frequent. Caerlaverock Wood. = denudatum, Fik.—Black Craig. of 3 f. pulvinatum. —Black Craig. * var. cereolinum, Ach. (pileatum ).—Frequent on wet rocks. Usnea barbata, Fr. ae + f. florida, Fr.—Common, “3 5 f. hirta, Fr.—Common. e “6 f. dasypoga, Fr.—Rare. Troquhain Woods. ne x f. plicata, Fr.—Barntimpen Linn, parish of Kirkpatrick, Dumfriesshire. (Dr Burgess in Leighton’s ‘‘Lichen- Flora.”) a - f. ceratina, Scheer.—Common. 5 f. scabrosa.—Occasionally. Sas Vechucidéts Mann.—Marchwell, N.G.; Glenlaggan, Parton, &c. » prunastri, L.—Very common on trees. Alectoria bicolar, Ehrh.—Earlston Wood, Dalry ; Kells Hills. », jubata, Ach.—Frequent. Moffat. » lanata, L.—Black Craig, Cairn Edward, N.G. Ramalina scopulorum, Ach.—Maritime rocks. 55 polymorpha, Ach.—Maritime rocks. ‘3 calicaris, Fr.—Common. i as var. a, subampliata, Nyl.—Fintloch, &c., N.G. - e var. b, subfastigiata, Nyl.—Fintloch, &c., N.G. » farinacea, L.—Fintloch, &c., N.G.—Common. » Jraxinea, L.—Fintloch, &., N.G.—Common, ” ee f. tanieformis, Ach.—Common. Pe aa f. ampliata, Ach.—-Frequent. » fastigiata, Pers.—Common, ow Transactions. Ramalina pollinaria, Ach.—Shirmers, Balmaclellan; South Park, near Kirkeudbright. a evernioides, Nyl.—Kirkmaiden Churchyard, south of Port- William, Wigtownshire. a cuspidata, Ach.—Maritime rocks. Cetraria islandica, L.—Milyea ; Corserine ; Carline’s Cairn ; Cairnsmuir of Carsphairn; Beninner, &c.; Hartfell, Moffat. (Dr W. Nichol, in ‘‘ Leighton’s Lichen-Flora.”) 59 aculeata, Fr.—Common. és “5 f. muricata, Ach.—Troquhain, &c. “ - f. acanthella, Ach.—Burnfoot Hill, Cairn Edward, &e., N.G. Platysma triste, Web.—Kells Hills. a sepincola, Khrh, var. wophylla, Ach.—Frequent. 3 commiatum, Nyl. —Black Craig, N.G., rare. glaucum, L.—Very common. f. sorediosa. —Marchwell, N.G. bes 45 f. fallax, Web.—Occasionally. Nephromium levigatum, Ach, var. parile, Ach.—On rocks north of Bal- lingear, Holme Glen, N.G., rare. 55 lusitanicum, Scheer.—Frequent. Peltigera aphthosa, L.—Waterside Hill, Glenhoul, Ballingear Burn, &c., N.G. » canina. L.—Common. f. membranacea, Ach.—Occasionally. a >, £. erispa, Whlnb.—Occasionally. rufescens, Hoffm.—Ballingear Wood, Fintloch Wood, &c., N.G. polydactyla, Hoffm.—Common. scutata, Dicks.—Frequent. Raehills. (Sir W. Jardine and Dr Greville in ‘* Lichen-Flora.’’) horizontalis, L.—Frequent. venosa, L.—Glenkill Burnand Linn, Dumfriesshire. (Dr Burgess in ‘* Lichen-Flora.’’) Stictina intricata, Del., var. Thouarsii.—Garroch Wood, N.G.; Black- water Burn, Dalry ; Waulkmill, N.G. limbata, Sm.—Frequent. fuliginosa, Dicks.—Garroch Wood, N.G.; near Dumfries, in fruit. (Dr Richardson in ‘‘ Lichen-Flora.’’) sylvatica, L.—Frequent. Drumlanrig Wood. (Mr W. Stevens in ** Lichen-Flora.”’) Dufourei, Del. —On River Dee, Tongland. scrobiculata, Scop.—Frequent, Glenlee Glen, &c. Sticta pulmonacea, Ach.—Common. Beld Craig, Moffat. (Dr W. Nichol, in ‘‘ Lichen-Flora.”) Ricasolia amplissima, Scop.—Kenmure Woods, Glenlee Glen, &e , N.G. lete-virens, Lightf.—Ballingear Glen, Holme Glen, &c., N.G. ; Drumlanrig Woods. (Mr W, Stevens in ‘ Lichen- Flora.”) ” ” ” 9 99 ” Transactions. 33 Sd Parmelia caperata, L.—Frequent. Colvend. > olivacea, L., var. exasperata, Ach.—Kenmure Holms, N.G. oe var. prolixa, Ach.—Black Craig, Cairn Edward. physodes, L.—Very common. 33 var. recurva, Leight.—Common. var. labrosa, Ach. =f. twbulosa.—Frequent. 33 var. platyphylla, Ach.—Burnfoot Hill, N.G. cetrarioides, Del.—Townpark, Glenlee Glen, N.G. perlata, L.—Common. Caerlaverock Road, Dumfries. (Dr Lindsay in ‘‘ Lichen-Flora.”) f. sorediata.—-Little Kenmure, N G. fe var. ciliata, DC.—Frequent. ‘A f. exerescens. Waterside Hill, Glenlee Mains, Burnfoot, N.G pertusa (Schrank).—Burnfoot Hill, Ballingear Wood, Gairloch, N.G.; south of Rockcliffe. tiliacea, var. scortea, Ach.—Overton, Craigenbay, &c., N.G..s about Ernespie, Castle-Douglas; Rerrick Manse, &e. ; near Whithorn; Caerlaverock. (Dr Lindsay in ** Lichen-Flora.”’) Borreri, Turn.—Common. reddenda, Strn.—North of Fintloch plantation, N.G. ; Belly- mack, Laurieston ; Tongland. Suliginosa, Dub. —Common. Fi var. lete-virens. —Common. conspersa, Ehrh.—Common. Moffat. stenophylla, Ach. —Frequent. isidiata, Anzi.— Frequent. Caerlaverock. x f. Mougeotii, Scher.—Frequent. sinuosa, Sm.—Dumfriesshire. (Dr Burgess in ‘*Lichen-Flora.’’) saxatilis, L.—Very common, var. sueata, Tayl.—Frequent. Burnfoot, Fintloch, N.G var. furfuracea, Scheer.—Glenlee, Kenmure, &c., N G. var. omphalodes, L.—Kells Hill. Common. re var. panniformis, Ach —Frequent. Kells Hill. levigata, Sm.—Ballingear Glen, Taanach, Burnfoot Hill, Ken- mure, Backwood, &e., N.G. (Note. —There are two forms of this Parmelia, one larger than the other. ) levigata, var. revoluta, Flk.—Very common. incurva, Pers.—Cairn Edward, Gairloch, meas Craig, N.G. perigee, Nyl.—Frequent. ” ” ” ” Physcia parietina, L.—Common. pulverulenta, Schreb.—Common. f. angustata, Hoffm.—Occasionally. Ee ‘f. venusta, Ach.—Occasionally. obscura, Ehrh.—Not common. 2” 34 Transactions. Physcia obscura, f. lithotea, Ach.—Ken Bridge, N.G. oi 3 f. wlothrix, Ach.—Holme, Fintloch plantation, N.G. ce speciosa, Wulf.-—West of Cairn Edward, rare. “5 tribacia.—Colvend. =e stellaris, L.—Common. ¥y s var. tenella (Borrera tenella,).—Frequent. os cesia, Hoffm.—On house slates. Common. ne cesitia, —Shirmers, Balmaclellan. of aquila, Ach.—Maritime rocks. Umbilicaria pustulata, Hoffm.—Grennan,. Dalry ; between Cairn Edward and Bennan hills. an polyphylla, L.—Bennan Hill, &e. a: 3 f. congregata, T. and B.—Occasionally. ae a f. monophylla, T. and: B.—Frequent. flocculosa, Wulf (deusta, Fries),—Cairn Edward, &e. erosa, Web. —Frequent on Kells hills. - polyrrhiza, L. (pellita ).—Frequent. proboscidea, Ach.—Between Garrorie and Backhill of Garrorie, N.G., rare. cylindrica, L.—Frequent. fs f. exasperata, T. and B.—Milyea. Baseme hypnorum, Vahl.-—Beld Craig, Moffat. (Dr W Nichol in ‘* Lichen-Flora,’’) ri 3 var. deaurata, Ach.—Troquhain hills. Pannaria rubiginosa, Thunb.—Frequent. In fruit at Loch Dilly, near Ken Bridge; Drumlanrig Wood. (Mr W. Stevens n ‘* Lichen-Flora,”’) 9? sr 30 var. ceruleo-badia, Schcer.—Frequent on trees pexizoides, Web.—Ballingear Glen, Holme Glen, &c., N.G. PA 9% var. coronata, Ach.—Holme House dykes, Glenlee, Marchwell, N.G.; Dumfriesshire. (Dr Burgess in ‘« Lichen-Flora.’’) # triptophylla, Ach.—North of Kenmure Castle, Ballingear Glen, &e.,, N.G. 5 carnosa,, Dicks. —Grennan Bank, Townpark, &c., N.G. e plumbea, f. Light—Kenmure Woods, Glenlee Glen, N.G. ; Drumlanrig Wood. and Barntimpen Linn. (Dr Burgess in ‘‘ Lichen-Flora.’’) = f. myriocarpa, Del.—Kenmure Wood, N.G. y RE Es lanuginosum, Ach.—Black Craig, Bankend rocks,.&c , N.G. Squamaria saxicola, Poll.-—Frequent, Fr gelida, L.—Loch Dungeon, &e., N.G. Placodium dissidens.—Frequent. Viewfield, Kells School,, &c.,,N.G.. 5 tegulare.—Frequent. —Viewfield, Kells.School, &c., N.G. = citrinum;,, Ach.—Dundrennan Abbey. Lecanora vitellina, Ach.—Frequent on walls, rocks, -pailings, Xe. es squamulosa, Schrad.—Frequent on dykes,, &e. “3 = f. smaragdula, Whlnb.—Rerrick, &ce. Transactions. 35 Lecanora fuscata, Schrad.—Rerrick. a tartarea, lu.—Common on rocks, &e. a » £. grandinosa, Ach.—Frequent on trees. Ballingear Glen, &e. 5 subtartarea, Nyl.—Garroch Wood, N.G. » parella,+~L.—Very common on dykes, &c. 5 symmicta, Ach.—Holme. “J atra, Huds.—Frequent. Rerrick. 3 cinerea, L.—Frequent. Rerrick. »» polytropa, Ehrh.—Moors of Dumfriesshire. (Dr Burgess in ‘* Lichen-Flora.”) * lutescens.—On fir and larch, at Holme, &c. os sulphurea, Hoffm —Dundrennan Abbey. es subfusca, L.—Very common. 7 tA f. parisiensis, Nyl.—Overton, N.G. 33 + f. intumescens (Rebent).—Hannahstown Wood, &c., N.G. 22 », rivulosa, Ach.—Burnfoot Hill, Cairn Edward, &c. 36 Transactions. Lecidea fusco-atra, Ach., f. fumosa, Ach.—Common. contigua, Fr.—Very common on rocks on the hills. 33 », £. flavicunda, Ach.—Moffat, &c. albo-cerwlescens, Wulf.—Up the River Ken at Dundeugh. », canescens, Dicks.—Dundrennan Abbey, &e », badio-atra, Flk.—Cairn Edward, N.G. ° », colludens, Nyl.—Rerrick. lutea, Dicks.—Ballingear Wood, N.G. Lightfootii, Sm.—Frequent about N.G. ; CGiednrcen Road. (Dr Lindsay in ‘‘ Lichen- Flore. +3) biformigera, Leight.—Colvend. pulverea, Borr.—Woods about N.G. (deri, Ach.—Rerrick. abietina, Ach., var. incrustans.—North of Black Craig, N.G. spheroides, Smrf.—Ballingear Glen, Holme Glen, &e. citrinella, Ach.—Burnfoot Hill, N.G. geographica, L.—Very common ; as on Black Craig. var. atro-virens, L.—Ben-y-Guinea, &e. a 35 f. contigua.—Frequent. petrea, Wulf.—Moffat. concentrica. Dav.—Rerrick. parmeliarum, Smrf.—Common on Parmelia saxatilis Caerlaverovk. (Dr Lindsay in ‘‘ Lichen Flora.”) parasitica, Flk.—Common on Lecanora parella. Dish ontop hes Andrewii, Strn.—Burnfoot Hill, N.G. Graphis elegans, Sm.—Not common. scripta, Ach.—Common in its various forms. f. divaricata, Leight.—Rammerscales, Dumfriesshire. (Mr Thompson in ‘‘ Lichen-Flora.”) 33 a var. pulverulenta, Ach.-—Frequent. sophistica, Nyl., f. divaricata, Leight.—Raehills Wood, Dumfries- shire. (Dr Greville in ‘‘,Lichen-Flora.”) Opegrapha saxicola, Ach. —Fallbogue Bay, Twynholm. varia, Pers., var. notha, Ach.—Kenmure Castle, Holme House, N.G. Arthonia astroidea, Ach.—North of Kenmure Castle, &c., N.G. Normandina lete-virens, T. and B.—On earthy banks on the hills. Endocarpon miniatum, L.—Ken Bridge; MRerrick shore ; Eggerness, Wigtownshire. 4 var. complicatum, Sm.—Along with the type. Pr Slwiatile, DC.—River Ken, Shirmers Burn, &c. Verrucaria nitida, Weig.—Frequent. Holme Glen, &c. - gemmifera, Tayl.—On Lecidea contiqua. ” ” ” > > t 33 Transactions. 37 Folk-lore of Glencairn. By Mr Joun Corrie. At the present day it is a matter of no little difficulty to realise the solicitude with which the fathers and mothers of a past gen- eration must have watched over their offspring during the tender years of infancy. The hour, the day of the week, the month, and even the year of birth were all supposed to exercise an important influence upon the future fortune and character of the child; while witch and warlock, fay and fairy, had each the power, under’ certain limitations, of bestowing upon young and especially upon unbaptised children their unhallowed attentions. Starting with the initial step in life, we find a very prevalent belief to the effect that a child born with a “caul”—a thin membrane occasionally found covering the head at birth—is sure to be attended by good fortune in after life. In some districts of the country this “caul,” or “ holy hood,” is supposed to indicate that the child will never be drowned, but in inland Glencairn this part of the belief has failed to perpetuate itself. A child, on the other hand, born with teeth is doomed to misfortune or early death, evils which the mother usually does her best to’ counteract by having the offend- ing incisors pulled as soon as possible. Among other prevalent notions associated with infancy may be mentioned the belief that specks on the finger nails are prophetic of coming fortune, a belief by no means confined to Scotland, for the poet Crabbe, in his poem of ‘‘The Village,” says : ‘*Tn moles and specks we Fortune’s gifts discern, And Fate’s fixed will from Nature’s wanderings learn.” Infant feet have their superstitions as well as infant hands, and when the two toes next the great toe lie close together it is looked upon as a sign of riches. Again, a child should go up in the world before it goes down, otherwise it will never rise to distinction in life. Weighing a child was long supposed to have an injurious effect upon its prospects in life, but of late years this belief has been set at open defiance. It was at one time customary through- out the south of Scotland—and we believe the practice is to some extent observed still—to hold a tea-drinking on the birth of a child, when all who wished the child well were expected to taste of tke “blyth-meat,” as it was called. A similar custom, we are told, prevails throughout the northern and. midland counties of England, where “ birth-feasts” have long been popular owing to 38 Transactions. the opportunities they afford for social enjoyment and amusement. We pass over various other beliefs associated with birth and infancy that we may deal more fully with the important subject of baptism. In Scotland children are still often baptised as early as the second or third week after birth, a haste which is doubtless due, in some measure, to a lingering superstition, for baptism has long been looked upon as the only sufficient safeguard against the influence of the evil eye, or the powers of the ill-disposed fairies; and its performance has in consequence ever been delayed as little as possible. Burns mentions among the “unco’s” seen by his hero “ Tam o’ Shanter,” on the night of his eventful ride, “Twa span-lang wee unchristened bairns,” whose presence in such unhallowed company was of course due to the circumstance that the potent rite of baptism had been neglected. It was deemed of the utmost importance that the person who carried the child to church on the occasion of the christening should be known to be lucky. Prior to setting out, a small pocket of salt was put in the child’s bosom, or attached to some part of the dress, to keep witches away; and if a call was made the mistress of the house was expected to give the child a lick of sugar for luck. Once arrived at church, should there be a boy and a girl to present at the same diet, great care had to be taken to have the boy christened first, else he would grow up effeminate, while the girl would have the boy’s beard, a contingency which may have helped to reconcile the gentler sex to a sacrifice of that precedence which we, on all other occasions, concede as their due. Subsequent to baptism we find a number of curious beliefs. Thus, it is considered most unlucky to let a child see itself in the mirror until all its teeth have been cut. Itis also unlucky to cut a child’s finger nails or to cut a child’s hair, for in the former case you teach the child to steal, while in the latter there is a danger of hair growing over the child’s whole body. Another curious belief is that if the cradle be rocked while empty, it will cause its baby owner to have a sore head. Satanic or elfish influences, inimical to the child, were repelled by the use of the three oils—a mystic preparation with which the forehead was bathed as occasion might require. Coming to speak of marriage we notice first of all the various modes of love-divination. In Scotland “ All Hallow’s Eve” is, of course, the popular festival for practising this form of super- Transactions. 39 stition, and the devices resorted to by love-sick swains and languishing maidens desirous of ascertaining their lot in the marriage state are almost bewildering in their variety. We content ourselves with noficing a few of the more important. A rite rarely neglected at this propitious season was the dipping of the sark sleeve in water where three laird’s lands met. The garment was then taken home and hung over the back of a chair to dry, due care being exercised to place it in such a position that the maiden could have it constantly under view during the night; for should marriage be her lot in life the husband she was to get would enter the apartment and turn the garment. A story still lingers in the district of a much-respected doctor’s: wife who successfully practised the rite when a young and unasked maiden. She had retired to rest at the usual hour, but was too anxious as to the result of her experiment tosleep. Close upon the stroke of twelve aman she had never seen before silently entered the room, turned the “ sark,” and then, as if to leave some tangible proof of his visit, deliberately stuck a pen-knife through the sleeve of the garment. The man she saw on that Hallowe'en night was: the man she afterwards. married, and to her dying day she possessed an unwavering faith in the genuineness of the visit. We may mention in this. connection a peculiar practice long common in the district on the lst. of May. Some time during the day, maidens curious in matters matrimonial pulled nine stalks of yarrow ‘‘to dream on.” These were placed beneath the pillow for three successive nights, and if the spell succeeded, the maiden’s future husband either appeared in person or had his name told me that long before she saw her man she dreamed about him on the yarrow, and saw him as plain as she ever saw him in after life. “ T was lying in the turnip field,” she said, “when he came to me and said, ‘ My lass, ye’d better gie me ye’re hoe an’ I'll help ye a | bit.’ I answered, quite careless like, ‘Ye may hae’t’; sae he took it, and after workin’ a bit and talkin’ a bit he left me, an’ it was in that very way and wi’ thae words on his lips Rab C courted me for his wife.” Another popular method of love-divination was. to pare a turnip round and round without breaking, and then to hang the long spiral peeling over the doorway ; the name of the first person. who afterwards entered being supposed to correspond with that of the mysteriously announced to her in a dream. Tibby B 40 Transactions. future partner in life. Those again who were curious as to the number of their future family only required to pull a stalk of corn out of a corn rick and see how many ears adhered thereto. Whatever the number—two, four, or éight—the family would be accordingly. Even such trivialities as the coming husband’s age and the particular colour of his hair could be ascertained by those who cared to undertake the appropriate rites. But we have said enough to show the importance that was attached to these divinations, and we must now glance at the numerous supersti- tions connected with the all-important marriage ceremony itself, Immediately the “banns” had been proclaimed—and it may be remarked in passing that it was considered most unlucky for anyone to hear their own banns proclaimed—the bride became an object of interest to the whole of her unmarried male or female acquaintances, for a charm was supposed to reside in her person which rendered it specially lucky for them to rub shoulders with her. It is still customary in Glencairn for the bride and bride- groom to sally forth perhaps a week before the date fixed for the wedding, and deliver their invitations in person. Sometimes as many as a hundred invitations will be given in this way, and although all may not attend the ceremony there are few who do not acknowledge the invitation by sending a present to the bride, The state of the weather on the wedding day was, of course, a subject of paramount interest. Sunshine seems to have been looked upon with most favour, but as an offset to this we have the adage, ‘Sap bodes luck,” a considerate concession to those upon whom the sun refused to shed his beams of blessing. It was considered lucky for a bride to change some minor article of wearing apparel before going to get married, but the marriage gown once donned had on no account to be stripped until the ceremony was over. Perhaps the most important custom in the eyes of the guests at a rural wedding was the “ running for the broose,” a race in which the young men of the bridegroom’s party competed for the bride’s handkerchief. Originally the prize to the winner seems to have been a dish of brose, hence the name of the race ; but of recent years it has become customary to substi- tute a handkerchief or a bottle of whisky as the trophy of victory. The contest sometimes took place on foot, sometimes on horseback. In Burns’s day horseback racing must have been the rule, for Transactions. 41 when the auld farmer makes his ‘ New Year morning salutation to his mare Maggie,” he says : When thou was corn’t, and I was mellow, We took the road aye like a swallow, At broozes thou had ne’er a fellow For pith and speed ; But every tail thou pay’t them hollow, Where’er thou gae’d. At my grandfather's marriage, which was attended ly a hundred people all mounted, the racing was also on horseback, for landlord Smith, of the old Oak Inn, fell from his horse and was nearly killed, much to the distress of my grandparents, who interpreted his mishap as an omen of misfortune to themselves. It was long customary in Glencairn, and we believe the custom prevailed in other districts of the country, for an elder sister to dance in her stocking soles at the marriage of a younger one. We have also a belief that a sister acting as bridesmaid on three separate occasions, thereby sacrifices her own chances of marriage. With the groomsman or “best man” superstition has been less exacting, and, so long as he gives a liberal “ ba’” to the children, he may officiate as often as he chooses. The marriage ceremony over, and the rice or old shoes thrown after the newly-married pair for “luck,” it might be expected that now, at all events, there would be an end to superstition ; but this was by no means the case. The entrance into the new home was quite as much beset with ordinance as the leaving of the old one, and the “ young folks” had no sooner arrived at their destination than the new-made wife was presented with a pair of tongs, as symbolical of her duties, while over the heads of husband and wife, as they entered, bread and cheese were broken in token of welcome and blessing. It was an established belief that salt should be taken into a new house before “‘ kennelin,” that is, fire, and down to a recent date this practice was religiously observed throughout, at least, the south of Scotland. Burns, we are told, countenanced the rite when he took up house at Ellisland, more, we suppose, from sympathy with national custom than from belief in its virtues. >” Close upon the marriage came “the kirkin’,” an important ceremony, which usually took place on the first Sabbath after the nuptials. Neither the best man’s nor the bridesmaid’s duties were supposed to be complete until this ceremony had been per- 6 42 Transactions. formed, and in rural districts even yet a selected party of those who have been assisting at the marriage festivities accompany the bride and bridegroom_to church. The solemn and mysterious nature of death renders it a peculiarly fit subject for superstition, and in no other event of life has it shown the same vitality. Death warnings are not now, perhaps, generally believed in, but there are still those who cannot hear the howling of a dog or the ticking of a death watch without a certain feeling of trepidation. When we remember the numberless other portents of approaching dissolu- tion believed in by our forefathers, we cannot help commiserating them in the many discomforts to which they must have been subjected by an over-credulous faith. Among local portents a mysterious light known as “the licht before death” holds an important place, and instances are frequent in which the light has not only been seen, but has proved itself a faithful forerunner. The following, extracted from our gleanings, may serve to illustrate the belief. An old Glencairn lady on looking out of her door one dark night saw a strange light shining in the vicinity of a house where an acquaint- ance lived. Entering the house she commented on what she had seen, and expressed the hope that ‘it wisna the deid licht.” Her fears were ridiculed; but next morning it transpired that a member of the family, over whose dwelling the light was seen, had committed suicide. We have another illustration, and perhaps a more valuable one, on account of its precision. Peggy D—— when going to lock her door one night saw a light go past, carried, as she supposed, by a neighbour, There was nothing unusual in this, but there was a high stone dyke with a flight of steps in it, close to the foot of the garden, and she was surprised to see the light and supposed light-bearer pass right through the obstructing fence as if nothing of the kind had been there. Then, again, although the ground below the house was very uneven, the light itself was never lost sight of fora moment. Peggy, rooted to the spot, watched the light go down through the fields, then along the public road until the churchyard was reached, when turning in that direction it passed through the locked gate with the same apparent ease that the other obstacles had been surmounted, and, entering the graveyard, became lost to sight among the tombstones, A week Transactions. 43 later Peggy D——’s daughter was,carried a corpse to the same churchyard. The howling of a dog as a death-warning has already been referred to. It ‘is one of the oldest as well as one of the most prevalent of superstitions. ‘“C. W. J.,” writing in Chambers's “ Book of Days,” suggests that there may be some truth in the notion, as a peculiar odour frequently precedes death, which may render the dog uneasy. No one acquainted with the dog’s acute powers of scent will be disposed to call this an extravagant sug- gestion. Another widespread belief is that the genius of death announces his coming by means of some mysterious and super- natural noise. Thus, a knock on the door, or on the floor of a room, or in the vicinity of a sick person’s bed, is sure to be looked upon as “a call.” We have heard of one family to whom the warning came in the form of a sound resembling the smack of a switch against the window-pane. This sound was heard three times in succession, and immediately after the third repetition an ailing member died. A native of the neighbouring parish of Tynron informs me that to hear a cock crow six times before six o’clock is a sign of a death. The magpie is another bird of evil omen, and its chattering near a dwelling is supposed to foretell the decease of one of the inmates. The raven and the owl are even more unpopular than the magpie. Spencer speaks of “The ill-fac’d owle, death’s dreadful messenger ;” while the raven is invariably associated by our old Scottish balladists with scenes of death and dolour. In addition to these general portents of death, we have death warnings peculiar to certain families of rank. Thus the death of a member of the Craigdarroch family is supposed to be heralded by a sudden and simultaneous peal of household bells, while to a member of the Closeburn family the warning comes in the form of a white swan. The late Dr Ramage says that this omen sad- dened the nuptials of Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, the first baronet, when marrying for the third time. , In Glencairn there formerly existed a curious belief that the soul flew out of the mouth of the dying in the form of a bird. A story still lingers in the district of a joiner’s apprentice who made this belief the subject of a somewhat ill-timed practical joke. An old man had died in the village, and the joiner and his apprentice were busy preparing the coffin. Just as it was finished a sparrow 44 Transactions. happened to visit the workshop, and the apprentice, unnoticed by his master, pounced upon the bird and slipped it into the coffin. Shortly afterwards master and apprentice carried the coffin to its destination. No sooner had the lid been unscrewed than the sparrow took to flight, to the evident discomposure of the assembled friends, who looked upon the bird as the disem- bodied soul of the deceased. Very different were the manifestations associated in the popular mind with the death of the wicked. Our local annals supply us with at least one example in which exaggeration has been carried to the verge of the ridiculous. We refer to the stories told in connection with the death of the notorious prosecutor Lag. Thus it is said that shortly before he died he was actually experiencing on earth a foretaste of the penalties that had been prepared for him in the world to come. So terrible was the agony he endured that he prayed for bucketfuls of water to be thrown over him to ccol the burning heat of his body, a heat which must have been terrible indeed, for we are told that when he spat on the floor his spittal ‘“frizzed” for several seconds on the spot where it fell, and left thereon an indelible impress. Even death did not terminate these unwonted manifestations, for a black dog and a raven were seen to accompany the funeral cortege all the way to the grave, while the four horses which were engaged in the unhallowed work of taking him thither all shortly afterwards perished in the same mysterious fashion, I have myself conversed with a woman who heard a sound as of chains rattling, and saw long spectral shadows flit fitfully past as she stood by the “nettle neuk ” where the hated prosecutor lay. Happily, death is not always, or even frequently, accompanied by cantrips of this kind, and it is almost with a sense of relief we turn tothe more ordinary associations of this the most solemn period in man’s chequered history. When a person died it was a common practice to stop the clock, and to cover the mirror with acloth, while on the breast of the dead a vessel of salt was placed as a protection against evil influences. Napier suggests that this latter custom had its origin in the rites of the ‘sin eaters,” who, having placed a plate of salt and one of bread on the breast of the corpse, repeated a series of incantations and afterwards devoured the contents of the plates, by which means the deceased person was supposed to be relieved of such sins as would have rr Transactions. 45 kept his spirit hovering about his relatives to their discomfort and annoyance. A funeral is still an occasion of some ceremony in Scotland, but in the days of our forefathers it possessed all the importance of a festival ; “a dry funeral” being considered un- lucky. Not only ale and porter, but whisky and rum, port wine and sherry were provided in quantity and in quality corresponding with the social standing of the deceased. To such an extent indeed was drinking sometimes carried that there are instances on record of the procession reaching the graveyard without the corpse, the coffin having been left by drunken inadvertence at some stage in the way. Once the grave has been filled in over the dead, it is still customary for the relatives and friends to return to the after funeral feast, where intoxicants are rarely altogether absent. Notes on the Flora of the Moffat District. By Mr J. Tuorsurn JounstTone. The Moffat district, from its geographical position and natural surroundings, has a flora of an interesting and unique character for a lowland district, being unusually rich in Alpine and sub- Alpine forms, which find a fitting habitat among the wild, bare, rocky crags and bleak ravines of Blackshope, Corrieferron, Loch Skene, Midlaw Burn, &e. It also forms the connecting link between the floras of the Cumberland and Westmoreland high- lands in England on the one hand, and that of Perth and Forfar in Scotland on the other, and this even though our hills are not- the highest in the South of Scotland, yet an examination of the Society’s list of plants shows that the Moffat hills are a safe retreat and a sure one for a larger number of the rarer plants than these higher hills. Notwithstanding the richness of our flora, the literature regarding it is of a very limited and meagre description, and with the exception of some isolated references in some of the Botanical Societies’ transactions and the “ Statistical Account of Scotland for 1843,” it may be said to be the work of one individual, a native of the district—viz., the late Mr John Sadler, curator of the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens. As far back as 1857 and 1858 Mr Sadler gave the result of his botanical researches in the district in the columns of the Moffat Register, the local newspaper at that time, and he likewise published about 46 Transactions. that time a small book entitled ‘‘ Ramble among the Wild Flowers ’—this being a pleasantly-written narrative of a three days’ botanical tour from Edinburgh and back by way of Peebles, Manor Water, St. Mary’s Loch, Grey Mare’s Tail, Loch Skene, Corrieferron, Moffat, Deil’s Beef Tub, and Tweedsmuir. At the end of the book he gives a list of plants to be found in the neigh- bourhood of Moffat. This list was copied into the Moffat Guide- book at that time as a section on the botany of the district, and has been continued in it without any alteration till two years ago, when a new and more extensive list, compiled by myself, was substituted. In the original list Mr Sadler enumerates nearly 150 flowering plants, 28 ferns, clubmosses, and horsetails, besides a number of mosses. This list, while itis a small one numerically, shows that Mr Sadler had been very familiar with the plants of the district, and had botanised it thoroughly, for the list contains the names of nearly all the rare plants found now in the district and a few which still elude re-discovery; but every season is seeing the number of these being gradually reduced. At the present time these unreconfirmed plants of the Moftat flora are represented by the following list :—Cardamine impatiens, L. ; Genista Anglica, L.; Vicia Orobus, D.C.; Epilobiwm Alpinum, L.; Seutellaria Galericulata, L.; Salia Lapponum, L.; S. Myrsinites, L.; Juncus Trifidus, L.; Carex Rupestris, L., on Sadler's authority. While Lychnis Viscaria, L.; Alchemilla Alpina, L.; Saxifraga Aizoides, L.; Veronica Saxatilis, L ; Tofieldia Palustris, Huds.; Juncus T'riglumis, L.; and Juncus Castenus, Sm., are on the authority of the “Statistical Account of Scotland for 1843.” This list for the “Statistical Account” was prepared by the Rev. Dr Singer, minister of Kirkpatrick-Juxta at that time. Saatfraga Aizoides has been found since that time by the Rev. Wm. Bennet, Moffat, but a good many years ago, and I have failed to find it at the place where Mr Bennet told me he had gathered it. Andro- meda Polifolia, L., has the Rev. John Pagan, Bothwell, for its authority. T have no doubt that the majority of these plants are still in the district. Why they have not been rediscovered is simply the want of searchers for them. Since Mr Sadler’s time no systematic attempt has ever been made to botanise the district, and even the casual visits of botanists to the district have been very few, and their operations lave never been extended to where these rw ener Se erage «2 Transactions. 47 plants were likely to.be found. That this is so can easily be understood when I mention that since the formation of a Natural- ists’ Field Club (now extinct) in Moffat in May, 1886, which gave an impetus to the pursuit of botany here, the stations for 55 plants given in the Society list on the authority of Mr Sadler and the ‘Statistical Account of Scotland” have either been recon- firmed or new ones given for them. While stations have been found here for about 40 plants (omitting those marked common and general) which have no station given in the Society’s list for this district, and at least 10 new plants have been added as new records for the county. These results show that there is no necessity for excluding the majority of the unreconfirmed plants from the list, as some of your members have ere now suggested. Those members ought at least to make a personal effort to verify their presence or other- wise first; and having done this and failed, it will be time enough then to consider the expediency of expunging them from the list. A few notes on some of the most interesting of the reconfirmed plants may not be amiss, and for easy reference I will follow the sequence of the Society’s list. Agwilegia vulgaris, L., stiil retains its ancient habitat at Garple, while a new station has been found for it in a small rivulet on the Granton Hill. Cerastiwm Alpinum, ., Blackshope and rocks at Loch Skene. Vicia sylvatica, L., is still to be found at the Grey Mare’s Tail, but it is now rather scarce. Saxifraga oppositifolia, L., has one station only, but it is fairly abundant at it. Zpilobiwm angustifoliwm is also found at Blackshope and Corehead; while Z. alsinefoliwm Villars is also common in Blackshope, Corrieferron, and Grey Mare’s Tail. Galiwm pusillum, which appears in the Society list on Mr Sadler’s authority, is common at the Grey Mare’s Tail, Corrieferron, &c. This plant will require to ‘have its name changed to Galiwm sylvestre, Poll. Messrs E. F. and W. R. Linton, in a paper which appeared in the Journal of Botany last June, gave Galium sylvestre, Poll., Grey Mare’s Tail, as a new record for the County of Dumfries. I drew Mr E. F. Linton’s attention to the Galiwm pusillum in the Society’s list, and asked him if it was not the same plant as sylvestre. His reply was that G. sylvestre, Poll., was formerly known to Don and Smith as G. pusillum by an error, but it was not the G. pusiliwm, Linn., which was not a British plant ; and he had no doubt Sadler must 48 Transactions. have meant the same plant as he did. Saussaurea Alpina, D.C., has at least three stations in the district, one of them being in Blackshope. Hieraciwm pallidum I gathered two years ago at Craigmichen. Scaurs, and Hieractwm Lricum, Fr., Blackshope, Grey Mare’s Tail, &c., was gathered by the Messrs Linton last summer as it had formerly been by Mr J. Backhouse (see mono- graph). The Pyrolas media, Swartz, and minor, L., are fairly common in our linns. While I know only one station for the rare Pyrola secunda, L., which I gathered in flower at the end of June this year for the first time, at a new station between 8 and 9 miles distant from any of its previous recorded stations, at which places it is not now to be found. Myosotis caspitosa, Schultz, common in-all the springy places on the hills and damp roadsides. Stachys betonica, Benth., I only gathered on Septem- ber 7th for the first time, also at a new station. There would be less than a dozen plants of it growing at this place, and it is not now found at its previous recorded stations. Polygonwm vivi- parum, L., rocks at Loch Skene, where it was gathered by Mr Scott-Elliot in the month of July thissummer. Oxyria reniformus, Hook, one of the commonest plants in Blackshope, Corrieferron, Grey Mare’s Tail. I note that in the Society list this plant is favoured with four different authorities ; while this plant, along with polygonum viviparum, are claimed as new records for Dumfries in 1888. (See proceedings of the Botanical Society for 1888 ; notes on the records of Scottish plants for 1888, by A. Bennet, Esq.) Carex Atrata, L., and Carex Capillaris, L.—these rare Carices were re-discovered by Mr Linton near Loch Skene in July this year. I observed Atrata at the same place in September, but Capillaris had seemingly died down, as I did not see it. Carex Rigida, very common on the very top of Hartfell. Of plants found here which have no station given in the Society list from here are such plants as :—umaria Capreolata and F, Officinalis, corn fields and waste ground; Corydalis claviculata, D.C., common in woods; Silene inflata, Sm., railway embank- ment and at Hunterheck ; Lychnis Vespertina, railway embank- ment ; Sagina nodos1, Meyer, Craigmichen Scaurs.—Geraniwm Lucidum, L., found growing on rocks at the Deil’s Beef Tub— the specimens gathered there are very small; it also occurs on the Selkirk roadside, nearly 34 miles from Moffat. Ulex Gallia, Planche, sandbed, Annan Water, Nethermill ground, and Com _ Transactions. 49 monside. Potertwm officinale, Hook, Annan Water at Barnhill, Rosa spinosissima, Linn., occurs in Corrieferron at an elevation of 1250 feet. Rosa Mollissima, Wild, Adam’s Holm. Carduus heterophyllus, L., common on Evan Water. Hieractwm crocatum, Fries., Spoon Burn. Senecio sylvaticus, L., is very common in this district, while Senecio viscosws, which is marked very rare in the Society list, occurs on the railway sidings and waste ground about Beattock Station. Calamintha Clinopodiwm, Benth., Moffat Water and Grey Mare’s Tail. Lamiwm album, L., occurs round the ruins of the Old Chapel at the farm of that name, and is the only station for it here that I know of; it is quite plentiful there, but it does not seem to spread away from its original habitat. Juncus swpinuws, Moench., rare in the Society list, occurs in the ditches above Moffat mineral well. Carex aquatilis, var. minor Boot., Corrieferron. Carex ampulacee, Good, Well Hill. Of plants which are new records for the county, and plants which do not appear in the Society list, but which have been found in other parts of the county, and which have also been gathered here, occur the following :—Corydalis lutea, D.C., Annan Water at Beerholm ; 7’esdalia nudicaulis, R.Br., sandbeds on Evan Water and Annan Water on Holms and Beerholin ground; Sagina procumbens, var. Spinosa, Gibs., roadside near Deil’s Beef Tub—new record for county, August 4th, 1889; Rubus Ideus, var. Leessit, Bab—this was discovered here for the first time by Mr Craig-Christie, Edinburgh, in July, 1887; Rubus Koehleri, Weithe, var. pallidus, Bab., copse, Moffat Water— Messrs Linton in Journal of Botany last June; R. Lindleianus, Moffat Water, Messrs Linton, 1890; Potentilla Alpestris, Hals-fils, gathered June 22nd, 1890, by myself at Blackshope, and now recorded for the first time for the county—another station has been found for it here since then, at Midlaw Burn; Potentilla procumbens, Sibth, roadside, New Edinburgh Road; Rosa Canina, var. lutetiana, Leman, Adam’s Holine; Savifraga nivalis, Linn., July 31st, 1889, at Blackshope, only station, and will not number over a dozen plants, growing in the shady recesses of a damp rock. Among the Heiracia a number of new finds have been recorded. Heiracium Auratum, Fr., Moffat Water; H. Sparsifoliwm, Lindeb, Craigmichen Scaurs—these two are not new to the county, as, I believe, they had been previously gathered in 50 Transactions. the Sanquhar district by Dr Davidson; while in the Jowrnal of Botany for June last year the Messrs Linton record Hetracwim Argenteum, Fr., and H, Prenanthoides, Vill., for the Grey Mare’s Tail. The Messrs Linton spent four days at Moffat again this summer botanising among the Heiracia yrincipally. I accom- panied them to Craigmichen Scaurs and Blackshope, and Mr Scott-Elliot, who was staying at Moffat at that time, also accom- panied us one day to Spoon Burn and Corrieferron. During this visit a number of what I believe will turn out to be new Heiracia for Great Britain were gathered, but in a note I had lately from Mr E. F. Linton, he says it will be some time before they are able to publish the results of their visit, as a number of them require to be sent to Dr Lindaberg at Stockholm for examination. Ajuga pyramidalis, L., Blackshope, June 17th, 1888, a new record for the county at that date, and is the only station and very few plants. Among the willows also a few additions can be made to the Society’s list. Salix alba, L., var. Vitellina, L., Hydropathic grounds, where it has been planted ; Salix triandra, L. var., Annan Water at Putts; Salia Ciera X. nigricans, Gudeshaw Wood; Salix phylicifolia, L., Beerholm; S. nigricans, Sm., Blackshope; and S$. Ambigua, Ehsh, Annan Water at Putts, Where I have given no name as the authority for a plant it has been gathered by myself. In the grasses I have nothing new or rare to record, simply because I have not gone in for collecting the carices and grasses; and I must express my indebtedness to Mr E. F. Linton for examining and naming the plants of these two orders I have already by me, and also for naming the Hieracia and Salix. And as the genera rubus and rosa are also practically untouched, these, along with the grasses, &e., will take a lot of working up in the future for any one who has got leisure or interest in the matter; indeed, the whole district can stand a lot of botanising yet. And in concluding I may state that the number of plants now on the list I have made up for this district is 446 flowering plants and 41 ferns and varieties of ferns, equisetums and club-mosses, all of which, with the exception of less than 20, have been reconfirmed for the district within the last three years. In fact, specimens of the greater number of them can be seen in my own collection, Transactions. ‘51 Ith January, 1891. Mr James Barpoour, V.P., in the Chair. New Members—Mr Andrew Noel Agnew, Mr James H. Barbour, Dr Hugh Cunningham, Mr Joseph Duff, Mr Kevin Emmet O’ Duffy, Mr Robert Threshie Reid, M.P. Donations.—Seven botannical papers by Mr Arthur Bennett, F.L.S., of Croydon, Honorary Member ; The Essex Naturalist, October and December, 1890; Stirling Natural History and Archeological Society’s report for 1889-90. On behalf of Mr David Matheson, Superintendent of the Savings Bank Department of the Canadian Post Office, Mr Lennox presented a pamphlet by the Rev. Dr Duncan, published in 1815, containing the rules and Regulations of the Dumfries Parish Bank. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. Observations on the Meteorology of Dumfries for 1890. By the Rev. Witt1am Anpson. Barometer.—The highest reading of the barometer was recorded on the 23d February, when it rose to 30-724 inches, the highest reading for five years, with the exception of 5th December, 1889, when it was 30°725 in. The lowest reading was on the 6th November, a day of extraordinary rain and storm, when it fell to 28-600 in., the lowest reading since 3d November, 1887, when 28°537 in. were registered. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. of the 6th there was a fall of the mercury to the extent of fully an inch, from 29°637 in. to 28°600 in., and the rainfall was the heaviest recorded for the five years that observations have been taken at this station. The annual barometrical range was 2-124 in., and the mean pressure (reduced to 32 deg. and sea level) was 29-899 in., which is slightly under average. There were four months in which the mean pressure exceeded 30 inches—viz., February, September, October, and December, and these were exceptionally dry and quiet months, during which anti-cyclonic conditions for the most part prevailed, with their usual accom- paniments of light winds and rainfall under average. The months in which the fluctuations of the barometer were greatest, with stormy and unsettled weather, were January, March, and November.’ or bo Transactions. Temperature.—As regards the temperature, the year has been somewhat peculiar. For example, the highest single reading of the thermometer was not in June, July, or August, as is usually the case, but on the 23d May, when it was 75:2 degs., the next highest being 74:5 degs. on the 7th August, and 74 degs., on the 7th September. The proper summer months of June and July were unusually deficient in sunshine and warmth, with a remark- able prevalence of rainy days, numbering 22 in each, and the inevitable result of low temperature for the season of the year. The mean maximum or day temperature of June was 7 degs. below average, and that of July 4 degs. In the former month the thermometer never reached 70 degs., and in the latter only thrice, the highest reading being 71:5; whereas in the latter part of May there were also three very warm days, with a maxi- mum range from 70:5 to 75:2 degs. ; in August, seven, ranging from 70 to 74:5 degs.; and in September, seven, ranging from 70-1 to 74 degs. The highest mean temperature occurred in the month of September—viz., 58-3 degs., as compared with 55°6 degs. in June, 56°5 degs. in August, and 57 degs. in July. As regards the winter months, January was exceptionally mild and open, with a marked prevalence of southerly and south-westerly winds, and a mean temperature of 41:9 degs., being about 4 degs. above average. The mean temperature of February was 37:9 degs., nearly 2 degs. below average, but almost the same as in 1889. The coldest month of the year was December, with a mean temperature of only 33:5 degs. In this month there were seven days on which the maximum readings were under the freezing point, and as low as 27:2 degs. on the 13th; while there were nineteen nights of frost with an aggregate of 95 degs. The lowest temperature of the year was recorded on the night of the 13th or morning of the 14th December, when the sheltered thermometer registered 19 degs., and an exposed thermometer on the grass registered 11°5 degs. In the end of October there was a spell of severe cold, the sheltered thermometer falling as low as 23-7 degs. on the 28th; and the same thing occurred in the end of November, from the 26th to the 29th, the readings ranging from 28°5 degs. to 23°3 degs., but otherwise the temperature of these months was above average. With our recollections of the wet and inclement weather of the summer months, and the per- sistent frost of December, it might have been supposed that the Transactions. 53 mean temperature of the year, taken as a whole, would have been decidedly under average, but these backward influences were so far compensated by the mildness of January and March, and the unusual warmth which characterised the end of May and the whole of September, along with a considerable part of October, that the annual mean (47°8 degs.) is higher than that of the previous four years, with the exception of 1889, when it was 48:1 degs. In 1888 it was 46-5 degs.; in 1887, 47-2 degs.; and in 1886, 46:2 degs. A comparison of the mean annual maxima and minima of 1889 and 1890 shows that the higher mean tempera- ture of the former year was due to an excess in the day tempera- tures—for while the annual minimum is the same for each year —viz., 40°9 degs., the annual maximum is for 1889, 55:1 degs. ; and for 1890, only 54:4 degs. Over Scotland generally there seems to have been a slight excess of warmth over the average ; but in England, especially in its southern and south-eastern dis- tricts, there appears from the reports that have been issued to have been a deficiency. Rainfall—tThe total rainfall of the year was 35:72 inches, as compared with 35:17 inches in 1889, 35°91 inches in 1888, 30-99 inches in 1887, and 40°13 inches in 1886. The heaviest in 24 hours was on 6th November, when the gauge registered 2:17 inches. The rainiest months were January and November—the former with a record of 5°32 inches, which fell in 25 days, and the latter of 6-93 inches, spread over 22 days. June and July were also remarkable for the number of days in which rain fell—22 in each ; but the amount was not much in excess of what is usual in these months, at least as far as July is concerned. Both months were characterised by cloudy skies and frequent showers, with consequent low temperature ; but there were few heavy downpours of rain, such as frequently occur in the summer months. The driest months were February and December, with a record of less than one inch for each—February 0-86 in., December 0°97 in. It is worthy of remark that the whole rain- fall of these two months—viz., 1:83 inches— was less than the amount which fell on the single day in November before referred to, when 2°17 inches were recorded. The total number of days in the year on which rain fell was 208, as compared with 202 in 1889, 195 in 1888, and 181 in 1887. There was a remarkable absence of snowfall during the year. Only once or twice was 54 Transactions. there a slight covering on the lower grounds, though on several occasions in January and March and in the end of October and November snow fell on the hills. In other parts of the country, however, and particularly in the northern and eastern districts and over England, snowstorms of considerable severity were experienced, both in March and April and in November and December. Hygrometer.—The mean of the dry bulb thermometer for the year was 46°9 degs. ; mean wet, 44-7 degs.; dew point, 42°3 degs. ; relative humidity (saturation = 100), 84. The thermometer read- ings are a fraction lower than in 1889, and the difference 2-2 degs. instead of 2:4 degs. The relative humidity is 2 per cent. greater—84 instead of 82. There were no very severe thunderstorms in 1890, but thunder was heard, accompanied with lightning in most instances, but not in all, on the following dates :—January 5th and 18th, May 6th and 18th, June 27th and 29th (thunder only), July 2d (thunder only), 4th and 15th (thunder with lightning), August 29th, September 20th, and November 10th (thunder with lightning). Wind.—The prevailing directions of the wind during the year were as follows :—-From an easterly direction, including E., N.E., and S.E., it blew 96 times; from a westerly direction, including W., S.W., and N.W., it blew 208 times ; from due N., 22 times ; from due 8., 24 times ; and calm or variable, 15 times. It. The Remnants of an Ancient Language. By Mr Patrick DupGeron. O.N., Old Norse; A.S., Anglo-Saxon; O.Sw., Old Swedish ; Yk., Yorkshire; Sc., Scotch; Fr., French. There is much interest in following up to its source a language now only existing in a very mutilated state, but which was at one time current over a considerable portion of England and part of Scotland. The few notes now presented refer to our “ Scottish vernacular,” and its close connection to the dialect spoken over a great part of Yorkshire. The term dialect must be used with some reservation in speaking of the ‘‘ Folk speech” of Yorkshire and the south of Scotland, for it is really the remains of the language of the ancient Northumbrian kingdom. Though now almost expiring, and being every day less and less used even by the country Transactions. 55 people, and being constantly ‘‘ contaminated,” by influences of various kinds, a great deal of it remains, as may be seen by the diligent searcher, in words, idioms, and forms of thought, that is well deserving of attention. We in Scotland owe a deep debt of gratitude to such writers as Burns, Scott, and many others, whose immortal writings will for ages keep alive amongst us many of the words and idiomatic turns of language current in the old Northumbrian kingdom. In this respect, Yorkshire has not been so fortunate ; there appear to be no great authors from that district, such as I have mentioned we have, whose writings in the vernacular are at all likely to be perpetuated. Our coun- try, too, has been more prolific in ballads and songs than any other part of the kingdom, containing abundant remains of the old language, which can never be lost; and so, although the spoken language, the remains of the Old Northumbrian tongue, which was in almost general use in the time of our grand and great-grandfathers, is a thing nearly of the past, and is fast disappearing even amongst the country folks, yet our ballads, songs, Burns, Scott, and the works of many other Scottish authors will for ever keep it alive as a written language. The ancient kingdom of Northumbria, at one time the greatest and most powerful of the kingdoms into which the country was divided, extended from the Humber to the Forth. The Teutonic races, Engles, Saxons, and others, who invaded the country after the Roman evacuation utterly annihilated or drove the remnants of the inhabitants into the most inaccessible parts of the land, and founded the kingdom of Northumbria, which existed for more than 300 years. The Danes and Norsemen, other branches of the Teutonic race, in their turn occupied the country until subdued by the Norman conquest. The Normans, however, made little or no impression on the language of the northern parts of the country. At various times the kingdom was ex- tended in sundry directions, or, at all events, they exercised supremacy over other parts of Britain for longer or shorter periods. We find at one time the country from the German Ocean to the island of Anglesea under their sway ; cutting off the southern part of the Strathclyde kingdom, which at one time extended as far south as Warwick, they invaded and occupied the south-west part of Scotland—Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, and Galloway. How long they occupied this part of the country is 56 Transactions. somewhat uncertain—long enough, however, to leave their mark in our local nomenclature, as we are reminded of by the names Thor, Wald, Wick, Fell, Dal, &c. This short sketch has been given for the purpose of pointing out the firm hold these various Teutonic races had upon the north-east of England, and what is now called the lowlands of Scotland. The conquering races having utterly exterminated the former inhabitants, the Britons, their language was entirely freed from any chance of inter- mixture from the conquered race, and it is to the remains of this old language I intend, very shortly, to direct your attention. Of course, it was to have been expected that the two districts deriving from the same source, although kept in a great measure apart for now nearly 900 years, should have a good deal in common, but I was not prepared to find that after a lapse of so long a time the two dialects should in so remarkable a manner resemble each other, and that so many hundreds of words should be in common use in both dialects, although quite obsolete in other parts of the country ; and not only words, but the idioms, modes, and turns of expression, proverbial sayings and phrases, and the use of a number of words found in our current literature, but which have lost their original meaning in a great degree, are still in use, retaining in a great measure their primary significa- tion. My attention was called more particularly to the subject by seeing an admirable and exhaustive work lately published, “ A Glossary of the Cleveland Dialect,” by the Rev. J. C. Atkinson, LL.D. On going through the Glossary I find, on a rough estimate, upwards of 1500 words obsolete in most other parts of the kingdom, including words above referred to as retaining their primary meanings, common to both districts. A few of these words, phrases, idioms, &c., may be given as examples. The changes in our language between the times of Chaucer and Spencer are very marked, and between the latter and our own time nearly as great. I, of course, refer to the current literature of the different periods. But the two districts I have in view— the Lowlands of Scotland and Yorkshire—have been much more conservative in this matter than any other parts of the country ; many words used by Chaucer have a lively existence at the present day in these districts. I need only refer to one or two instances out of many that might be adduced. “ Brat,” now signifying a child’s pinafore, is used by writers about Chaucer's ~ Transactions. 57 time in the sense of a cloak, or outward covering. A.S. brat, a cloak, a clout. ‘* Which that thei might wrappin hem in a night, And a bratte to walken in a daie light.” Se., ‘‘ Her bits o’ brats are fairly worn through, though she keeps up an appearance of gentility.” “ Pick,” pitch. ‘* Anoynt the ship with pick and tar, Without and als within, The water out to spar.” * Shog,” to shake somewhat roughly. ‘* Shog him welle and let us lyfte.” We have it in our popular rhymes— ‘* Big it in a bog, Where it will neither shake nor shog.” “ Bugg,” a ghost, now altered to bogle, is common in both districts. The passage in what is called the “Bug Bible,” Ps. xci. v. 5—“ Thou shall not be afraid for the bugges by night,” &c., is an instance of the use of this word. In words common to both districts I may give as a few examples, out of hundreds that might be adduced—“ Fike,” O.N., jika; O.Sw., jfikia, to bustle ; a Yorkshireman says, “ T’ puir bairn nobbut jikes wi’ his taes ;” we have “ When she tak’s on her jickie fykes.” ‘‘ Deave,” O.N., deyfa, to deafen, to stun ; Yk., “A din fit t’ deave yan ;” Se., ‘‘ Whist, woman, whist! dinna deave the gentleman wi’ your havers.” “Gate,” “Gait,” O.N., gatta, a road, a way; Yk., “Let him gan his awn gate;” Sc., “Let him gang his ain gait.” “Sark,” O.N., serkr, shirt; Yk., “Strippit tiv his sark sleeves ;” Sc., “T’'ll gie ye a sark fu’ o’ sair banes.” Amongst the phrases common to both districts are “Tak tent,” “ What for no,” and various others. One word in the Glossary struck me as being very interesting in its derivation. ‘ Danish,” “ Densh,” “ fastidious, dainty, nice ; we have it in the form of Dainshock* (pr. danish), nice, prim ; “ A dainish bit body.” I am not sure I have heard the word used in this quarter. It is common on the east side of the country. Atkinson, quoting Wéorsaae, says, “So long as the Danish supremacy lasted (in England), the Danes, naturally, could only carry themselves as lords in a con- quered country. Their innate taste for magnificence and luxury * The diminutive ‘‘ock ” has evidently been added here. 58 Transactions. was abundantly fostered, and their pride was flattered by the subjugation of the Anglo-Saxons. The old English chronicles contain bitter complaints, touching the humiliation the natives were exposed to. Thus, if an Anglo-Saxon chanced to meet a Dane upon a bridge, he was obliged to wait in a posture of lowly reverence—nay, even if he were on horseback he was obliged to dismount until the Dane had crossed over.” Atkinson observes, ‘‘ Verily, the Dane might be looked upon as ‘ particular’ or ‘nice’ under such circumstances, and his generic name Dansk passed into a word expressive of such characteristics. In the idioms and modes of expression there is a remarkably similarity —“to sit upon one’s knee, 7.¢., to kneel.” Chaucer has— «¢ And doon anon he sifte him on his knee.” “To sit up on end,” in contradistinction to reclining; “ Tm doubtful itll rain afore night ;” ‘ He has been sair handled wi the cauld ;” “I’s jealous he’s after nae guid.” We also find words common in our current literature, but used much more in accord- ance with their use in olden times—“ Fetch,” in the sense of to carry—‘ bid him fetch it ;” “Few,” used as a quantity or num- ber—-‘ there was a good few at the kirk ;” “Reach,” to hand a thing to another—“ reach me yon spade ;” “Pit,” to match— “thae twa dog’s weel pitted ;” ‘‘ Even,” to compare, to liken— “JT wad ill like tae even her wi’ Jean.” The adverb “out” is used as in owd-by, not far off, just outside ; owt-gang, the way out, an outlet ; owt-ganging, going out of doors ; owt-gate, a way of egress ; out-ly, thoroughly, fully ; owé o’ fettle, out of repair, health, &c. The preposition “‘by” may be taken as another example—By-gang, a by-way ; by-passed, used in reference to past time; by the time, past the time—‘They’re lang by their time.” All the above phrases and use of particular words are identical in both districts. Words are used as augmentatives in both districts, not commonly used as such elsewhere—“ Fearful,” most fearful bonnie; ‘‘ Desperate,” most desperate kind ; “Terrible,” most terrible sweet ; “‘ Dungeon,” a dungeon 0 wit. The ‘‘slang” language of the present day is introducing aug- mentatives of this kind. A young lady was heard to say the other day, “it was ripping fun ;” and it is somewhat curious to notice that the present use of the slang word “ Fit ”—I heard a lady say she “felt very fit”—is a reverting back to its old Teutonic application, In Yorkshire they would say—“ Weel, Di iliicadh dais fn Si ew tills Wieland lie Transactions. 59 ah’s aboot jit for my dinner ;” Sc., “Weel, I’m aboot jit for my dinner,” “bed,” “tea,” &e. III. Report by Mr Gzorce F. Scorr-Exuiot, B.Sc., on ‘Mr Carruthers’ Donation. Mr Wm. Carruthers has very greatly benefited the Society by the very valuable series of plants in this collection. Members of the Society who will inspect the specimens in the Herbarium will see that they are of the very greatest importance. It is, of course, possible to get specimens of British plants without much trouble, but the importance and value of these specimens lies in the fact that they are in almost every case named by the very best authorities on English Botany, There are amongst them plants named by Mr C. Bailey, Mr A. Brotherston, Mr W. P. Hiern, and other eminent botanists, and many of the sheets have an antiquarian and autographic value which can only be ap- preciated by examination. Moreover, in point of mere numbers, this collection has at once given a completeness to our Herbarium which I had never dreamed of its attaining, and many of the specimens are of plants so rare that it would have been im- possible for us to obtain them in any other way. 6th February, 1891. Major Bownen, V.P., in the Chair. New Members.—Mr Alexander Bryson, Rev. John Cairns, Mr James Carmont, Mr Philip Sulley, Mr Alexander Turner. Donation.—The North American Fauna, Nos. 3 and 4, from the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington. CoMMUNICATIONS. I. References to the Dumfriesshire Flora in Shakespeare and Burns. By Mr James Suaw (abridged). ~ In the following brief list I have confined myself to such wild flowers as are in our district, and I have arranged the matter alphabetically :— The Anemone, or wind-flower, called by Dumfriesshire school opt See reyes 60 Transactions. children “ wild snowdrops,” is referred to in “ Venus and Adonis” as springing up from the blood of the latter. << A purple flower sprung up, chequered with white.” Again it is made to spring from the tears of Venus. ‘“< And where a tear has dropped a wind-flower blows.” Columbine.—Ophelia says to Hamlet— <¢ There’s fennel for you and columbines.” The columbine signified ingratitude. When Ophelia became crazed she had garlands. <‘ There with fantastic garlands did she come Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples.” The crow-flower in those days was “ragged robin.” “¢ When daisies pied and violets blue, And lady-smocks all silver white, And Cuckoo-buds of yellow hue Do paint the meadows with delight.” Love’s Labour's Lost, V., 2. Commentators are uncertain concerning these cuckoo-buds, but it is referred to one of our yellow ranunculuses. King Lear was met (IV., 4) <* As mad as the vexed sea, singing aloud ; Crowned with rank fumiter and furrow weeds, With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn.” Cuckoo-flowers are said to be like crow-flowers, a name for our | “ragged robin.” Darnel does not grow in our county, but the P others named can be easily recognised. Elder, that is our “ Boor-tree.” According to superstition, 4 Judas was hanged on an elder. Shakespeare makes it an emblem of grief. Cymb. IV., 2. “* Grow patience ! And let the stinking elder, grief, untwine His perishing root with the increasing vine.” ey Eee BES Me J Fern.—It was a curious notion that fern seed was supposed to have the power of rendering persons invisible. I, Henry IV. (IL, 1). “We have the receipt of fern seed, we walk invisible.” Transactions. 61 Harebell.—This tlower (Cymb. IV., 2) is considered our own craw-tae. ** Sweet the craw-tae’s early bell Decks Gleniffer’s dewy dell.” Tannahill. In Shakespeare it is associated with another spring flower. ** Thou shalt not lack The flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose, nor The azured harebell, like thy veins.” Hemlock.—In “ Macbeth” we have— “* Root of hemlock digg’d i’ the dark ” among the horrid ingredients of the witches’ cauldron. Its scientific name Contwm means a cone or top, whose whirling motion resembles the giddiness its poisonous juice produces. Holy Thistle.—This is the Cardwus Benedictus found growing on the banks of the Euchan, Sanquhar, perhaps its only inland station in our county. “*Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus and lay it to your heart ; it is the only thing for a qualm.” Much Ado, &c., IIT., 4. Ivy.—It was a custom to hang a bush of Ivy at a vintner’s ‘door. Hence the illusion to it in “ As you like it.” “Tf it be true that good wine needs no bush, ’tis true that a good play needs no epilogue.” Polygonum Aviculare, or “ Knotgrass.” **Get you gone, you dwarf, You minimus of hindering knotgrass made, you bead, you acorn.” Midsummer, c&c., III., 2. Lady Smocks. ‘* And lady smocks, all silver white.” This seems to mean our Cardamine pratense. Gerald says— ‘* Tt flowers in April and May.” Long Purples.—These are generally considered to be the early purple orchis. In Tynron they are called “ bull-dairies.” Shakespeare also calls them “ Dead men’s fingers,” from the pale colour and hand-like shape of the tubers. ** Our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them.” One would have guessed these to have been fox-gloves, known in Scotland as “ Dead men’s bells.” But that would not suit Ophelia’s garland, containing a yellow ranunculus, for the 62 Transactions. ranunculus family is early, whereas the fox-glove is rather a July flower. Marigold.—There was a curious notion that this flower opened or shut with the sun. “The marigold that goes to bed with the sun and with him rises weeping.” Winter’s Tale, IV., 3. ‘* When winking Mary-buds begin To ope their golden eyes, With everything that pretty bin My maiden sweet arise.” Cym., II., 3—Description of morning. Plantain.—This plant was valued because of its supposed healing virtues for wounds. Rom.—‘‘ Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.” Benvolio—‘‘ For what, I pray thee ?” Rom.— For your broken skin.” In Scotland a leaf of the plantain, called the waeburn leaf, or waybread leaf, used to be wrapped round a toe with a corn to mollify the pain thereof. Rosemary, or as it is called Sweet Mary in Dumfriesshire, is an old-fashioned garden perennial. It is a Labiate, but comes from the Mediterranean basin. In Shakespeare’s time it seems to have been a symbol for memory. ‘¢ There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” Hamiet. In “ Winter’s Tale ”— «For you there’s rosemary and rue, these keep ; Seeming and savour all the winter long. Grace and remembrance be to you both, And welcome to our sheep-shearing.” Rush.—Rushes were strewn upon floors previous to the intro- duction of carpets. In ‘“ Cymbeline ”— - Tarquin thus Did softly press the rushes.” In “ Henry IV.”— “‘ She bids you in the wanton rushes lay you down and rest your gentle head upon her lap.” Vide also “* Romeo and Juliet,” I., 4. The “rush candle” is mentioned in the “ Taming of the Shrew.” There is a funny illusion to the Hawthorn in “ A Midsummer Night’s Dream ”— “This man, with lanthorne, dog, and bush of thorn represented Moonshine.” © Transactions, 63 We have all heard of the “‘ Man of the Moon.” Violets.—The violet was an emblem of early death.—Pericles, eas In “ Winter’s Tale” there is a beautiful allusion to them— ‘© O, Proserpina, For the flowers now, that, frighted, thou lett’st fall From Dis’s waggon ! daffodils That come before the swallow dares and take* The winds of March with beauty ; violets, dim, But sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes, Or Cytherea’s breath ; pale primroses That die unmarried, ere they can behold Bright Pheebus in his strength ; bold oxlips and The crown-imperial ; lilies of all kinds, The flower-de-luce being one.” I must dismiss Burns with a very few words. Everyone has admired his poem on the Daisy, his comparison of the pleasures of life to the evanescent bloom of poppies, his lone glen o’ green brackens, wi’ the burn stealing under the lang yellow broom, the rose and the woodbine twining along the banks of Doon, the fragrant birk, the hawthorn hoar that mingled together over- looking the stream of the Ayr. In the matter of flowers, how- ever, he was a poet first and a florist afterwards. He pulls a posie for his ain dear May, but it is an ideal posie, impossible in nature. He puts into it the primrose and the rose. He places the hyacinth beside the hawthorn, entirely regardless of times and seasons. At the same time, in his ‘“ Lament of Mary Queen of Scots,” there is tender pathos in the references to spring flowers she can neither see nor enjoy, although there is again inaccuracy in having the slae and the hawthorn blooming simultaneously. His fervid allusions to our Scottish heather are also dear to our hearts, while his pithy song of “ Green grow the rashes ” is rooted in our memories. On New Year’s Day, 1789, he addressed a letter to Mrs Dunlop. “TI have some favourite flowers in spring, among which are the mountain daisy, the hare- bell (here he evidently means the blue squill or hyacinth of our woods), the fox-glove, the wild brier rose (here he gets mixed, putting in summer blooms), the budding birch, and the hoary hawthorn, that I view and hang over with particular delight.” In all these cases the intensity of emotion created by these beautiful objects of nature in the poet’s breast must more than excuse any inaccuracy in observation. ay « * Charm. 64 Transactions. Il. Further Original Letters, d&c., of the Burns Period. By Mr James R. Winson. Mr Wilson stated that he had discovered these letters among the papers of the late Dr Grierson, Thornhill, and although they were scarcely of the same literary merit as those he made public last year, they were still of considerable value to all interested in the literary characters of the Burns period, and of the early part of this century. The members were, of course, aware that there were in the museum in Thornhill many relics of Burns and of his associates. In particular and most prized of all there was a copy of “The Whistle” in the poet's own hand-writing, bearing the following note by Mr William Grierson, the doctor’s father :— * Received a present of this poem, which is in the hand-writing of the poet, from his brother Gilbert Burns, enclosed in a letter dated Grant’s Braes, 14th December, 1815.—William Grierson.” On opening the case in which the poem is preserved the letter referred to was found. It is most interesting, and shows clearly the known sagacity of the writer. This is the letter :— Grant's Braes, 14th Dec., 1815. Dear Sir,—A thousand times have I reproached myself for being so long of acknowledging receipt of your obliging letter by Mr T. Sibbald, with the very elegant engraving accompanying it (an engraving of the mausoleum), but I have been much and disagreeably occupied of late with sequestrating stock and crop, attending meetings of creditors, the sale of bankrupts’ subjects, &c. <‘ Peace and plenty,” formerly the toast and wish of the ill-advised, have come upon us with a vengeance, and their ill effects are felt par- ticularly severe in this county of wheat--almost exclusively devoted to corn farming—and I have not seen the country in general in such a depressed desponding state since the conclusion of the American War. Not after all but we are to consider peace as a good thing, but a newly- acquired peace, while the war expenditure has not yet ceased, can scarcely fail to produce a depression—I hope only a temporary one—but it appears somewhat preposterous that plenty should be productive of evil. I was quite vexed I was not at home the last time you called here, that I might have given you your choice of the specimens of the poet’s hand-writing in my possession. The one I have sent is not a good specimen of his writing, being hurriedly written with bad ink ; but upon the whole I considered it the most respectable I had to send you, being a poem composed on the banks of the Nith, the persons and scenery familiar to you. My wife joins me in kindest compliments to Mrs Grierson and you. Tell Mrs G. it would give me great pleasure to see her at her ain fire en’, and I am not without hopes of having that pleasure, but every year I live . Transactions. 65 increases my reluctance to undertake a long journey, and every year increases the difficulty of my leaving home; but when the mausoleum is completed I shall certainly, if then in health, endeavour to make a visit to Dumfries.—With best wishes for your family happiness and prosperity, Tam, my dear sir, your most obedt. humble servant, (Signed) GILBERT Burns. William Grierson, \Esq., Merchant, Dumfries. ‘There was an ‘interesting statement in the late Doctor’s writing relating 'to an incident which occurred at Penpont to Burns while prosecuting ‘his duties as officer of Excise. It was taken from the statement of Mrs Wallace, widow of the late Alexander Wallace, weaver, Thornhill, who was born in 1788, and was at the ‘time 75 years of age, thus showing that it was written in 1863. She stated that'her father, James Hastings, was a servant toithe Rev. Mr Keyden, of Penpont, and when in his service had occasion early one morning to take his horses to the blacksmith’s shop at Townhead. When passing through Penpont he observed a scuffle among some men in front of ‘the public-house kept by Mrs M‘Math. One of them was lying upon the ground calling for assistance, but Hastings supposing that the man was drunk gave no attention to the request. As he passed towards Town- head -he observed some ‘horses on ‘the Corsegate or Corseroad Jaden with barrels,:and he afterwards learned that the affray he had witnessed was ‘between a party of smugglers and Burns, the officer of Excise, and that the officer was the person who had ‘been knocked down and was calling for assistance. Hastings was afterwards summoned to answer before the Justice of Peace Court in Thornhill for refusing to give aid to Burns when called upon. Burns prosecuted, and Hastings having pled the mistake he‘had made in thinking it was a drunken brawl was acquitted. The public-house referred to was the house recently taken down and rebuilt ‘by Mr Douglas at the east end of the Corseroad, Penpont, and ‘in the present building there is inserted the date stone of the old house bearing the following initials and date :— “