244 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Auchans and Dundonald, 1st June, 1907. — Mr. D. A. Boyd 

 reported that, owing to the unpromising state of the weather, 

 the attendance, so far as this Society is concerned, was very 

 small. The party travelled by rail to Drybridge. where they 

 were joined by several members of the Irvine Ramblers'' Field 

 Club. They then walked to Auchans, where some time was 

 spent in exploring the finely- wooded grounds and visiting the old 

 castle. The latter is now uninhabited, and is fast falling into 

 a state of decay and ruin. It was for some years the residence 

 of Susanna, Countess of Eglinton, where, in 1773, she was visited 

 by Dr. Samuel Johnson after his return from his tour through 

 the Hebrides, as has been duly chronicled by his biographer, 

 Boswell, who has given an interesting account of the interview 

 between the countess and her distinguished guest. From 

 Auchans the party proceeded through the woods to Dundonald 

 Castle, and afterwards had tea in the village before dispersing. 



Among the plants observed in the course of the afternoon were 

 Anemone nemorosa, L., Ranunculus bulbosus, L., Cardamine 

 amara, L., Saxifraga granulata, L., Conium maculatum, L., 

 Veronica montana, L., Listera ovata, R Br., Arum maculatum, L., 

 and Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr. Several Mosses and 

 numerous Microfungi were also noted. 



Auchendrane, 15th June, 1907. — Mr. John Benwick, con- 

 ductor, reported that a small party of this Society, consisting of 

 eleven members and friends, visited Auchendrane to examine the 

 trees and plants growing there. They were courteously enter- 

 tained by their fellow member, Miss Cathcart. The afternoon 

 was wet, with dry intervals. Many of the largest and most 

 interesting trees were measured,* and a number of photographs 

 were taken. In the woods the BiixTs-nest Orchis (Neottia Nidus- 

 avis, Rich.) Mas very plentiful, and the Cuckoo-pint (Arum 

 maculatum, L.) was frequent. The former is recorded by Mr. 

 John Smith, in his Botany of Ayrshire, for only six parishes, and 

 the latter for only four. Neither species is recorded for Maybole 

 parish, in which Auchendrane is situated. In 1896, Mr. R. 

 M'Kay and Mr. Renwick found Neottia in Culzean policies, thus 



* For Historical Notes on Auchendrane, and Measurements of Trees, 

 <fcc. , see page 2.30. 



