248 DR DOUGLAS'S ADDRESS. 



fast, the members sallied forth to take their accustomed walk. The 

 Pease Bridge and Glen having been visited on former occasions by the 

 Club, the route taken on this occasion was in the direction of Abbey 

 St Bathans, over moors the greater part of the way. The waters of 

 the Eye were traced for some distance ; but their banks proving very 

 uninteresting, the members proceeded to the extensive moor lying be- 

 tween ithe Eye and the Whitadder. The Erica cinerea raised its beau- 

 tiful bell-shaped blossoms above the surrounding turf, the richness of 

 its colours putting to the blush many of our highly prized exotics. 

 The route homewards from Abbey St Bathans was somewhat varied ; 

 but nothing worthy of notice occurred. The members, however, en- 

 joyed the delight of respiring the fresh air of the hills, and carried on 

 an unceasing conversation, on a variety of subjects, until their return 

 to the inn. 



After dinner, Dr Johnston communicated to the Club that he had 

 received the interesting notice of the discovery of Linn&a borealis in 

 Berwickshire, specimens of which were laid on the table. It was dis- 

 covered seven years ago by Mr Dunn, gardener at Mellerstain ; but 

 for the notice, the Club is indebted to Mr Hislop, teacher in the Nor- 

 mal Schools of Glasgow. " The Linnsea occupies a space of about 150 

 yards in a fir-wood near Lightfield Farm, Mellerstain." It was, when 

 Mr Hislop visited the spot, in the middle of July, just going out of 

 flower ; but several specimens in that state were gathered. The time 

 of flowering is stated in our British Floras to be in May and June, 

 but this period would appear to be too early for our district ; " and as 

 a pilgrimage to the habitat of a plant which commemorates the immortal 

 name of Linnaeus, " says our worthy Secretary, " seems to be almost a 

 sacred duty on the part of our Club, I would respectfully suggest the pro- 

 priety of fixing our next year's June meeting at the village nighest to it." 



Such, gentlemen, is an account of the proceedings of the Club during 

 the eleventh year of its existence, derived chiefly from the minutes kept 

 by the Secretary. From the preceding report, it would appear that 

 the past year has not been very prolific in discovery ; yet enough has 

 been done to shew that even on ground previously and carefully search- 

 ed, objects have escaped observation which another and more scruti- 

 nizing visit might bring to light ; and as there are yet many locali- 

 ties within the limits of the Club unvisited, it may not unreasonably 

 be expected that new and important discoveries may be made in the 

 Flora and Fauna of Berwickshire. One very interesting addition to 

 the former has been very recently made by Mr Marshall, gardener 



