142 TIIK REV. MR HAIRD'S ADDRESS. 



bourhood of Preston Bridge, a description of scenery from which not a 

 little was expected, nor did it disappoint our hopes. While some of 

 the party amused themselves with fishing, the remainder proceeded to 

 examine the banks of the river above Preston Bridge, which they were 

 able to do to the distance of several miles. The day was most beau- 

 tiful, the scenery interesting, and the vegetation splendid ; but though 

 many interesting plants were noticed, no addition was made to the Flora 

 of the county or district. 



The cherry and the gooseberry were both found in tolerable abun- 

 dance on the wild and precipitous side of Stainsheil Hill, a situation 

 which may be regarded as interesting in reference to the question, whe- 

 ther or not these are to be considered indigenous plants. Perhaps, how- 

 ever, the most interesting plant observed during the excursion was the 

 Litorella lacustris, growing in great abundance on the side of a pond 

 at Primrose Hill, the second time only the plant has been gathered in 

 Berwickshire. It would be endless, however, to enumerate the other 

 plants observed and admired. Many of those most beautiful, though 

 common, plants, but not less beautiful on that account, which adorn our 

 wooded banks and sunny glades, our verdant meadows and marshy 

 grounds, were here scattered in great profusion, Menyanthes trifoliata, 

 Cistus Helianthemum, Geranium sylvaticum, and G. pratense, different 

 species of the beautiful genus Hypcricum, and many others. " But 

 above all," as our Secretary adds in the minutes, " the glorious forest of 

 whins on the side of Stainsheil Hill," then in full bloom, was no doubt 

 a noble sight, and " will long be remembered with delight by those 

 who witnessed it ;" nor will it be less memorable on account of the 

 severe penance endured in forcing a painful and thorny passage through 

 them. 



But if nothing new was added to the Flora or Fauna of the district 

 by this day's walk, an interesting addition was made to our knowledge 

 of its geology, scarcely any other part of Berwickshire, perhaps, pre- 

 senting, in so small a compass, so many geological appearances, interest- 

 ing in themselves, and important to illustrate the geology of the county. 

 As the result of the observations made on that occasion, however, with 

 a more extended geological survey of the neighbouring district, has been 

 promised to be laid before the Club in the shape of a regular paper, it is 

 needless at present to do more than to notice the subject in the most 

 general manner. The prevailing rocks at Preston Bridge, and for about 

 a mile and a half above it, are merely slates, sandstones, and other rocks, 

 apparently belonging to the coal formation ; not that the general aspect 

 of the rocks themselves, which are exceedingly unlike those of the coal 

 formation in other parts of the country, still less any appearance or 

 any probability of coal being found among them, indicate them as be- 

 longing to this class of rock?, but the position they occupy with refe- 



