HR DARLING S ADDRESS. 8 



*' Methinks it wore a nobler sight 



To see these vales in woods arrayed — 

 Their summits in the golden light, 



Their trunks in grateful shade ; 

 And herds of deer that bounding go, 

 O'er rills and prostrate trees below." 



While following their " contemplative recreation/' the members of 

 the gentle craft could scarcely fail to recreate another scene of former 

 times — affording not a less interesting contrast nor a less instructive 

 moral — 



" It taught me well, all earthly thinges be borne 

 To dye the death, for nought long time may last." 



How easy was it to bring into the landscape the stately priory, with its 

 rich church and chapel, which stood where now stands the humble and 

 unpretending kirk — the once glowing orchards — the rich cultivated 

 fields — the scattered hamlets teeming with a redundant and happy po- 

 pulation ! How easy to imagine that on such a day as ours was — 

 tempted by its sunshine and its fairness — the proud abbot of Colding- 

 Jiam had chosen it whereon to visit the sister abbey of St Bathans, and 

 was now descending, in all the state and company and panoply of his 

 order, the height that overhung the hidden retreat about us ! 



One or two members only betook themselves to seek out the vegetable 

 rarities which grew in this locality, and they were few and possessed of 

 comparatively little interest. Indeed all that are worth particular no- 

 tice were two or three species of Hieracium, viz. H. palustre, H. borcale, 

 c^ Koch, and tlie^. sylvaticum. These were found in tolerable abundance 

 ii^the rocky bed of Monnie-nut bum, below Godscroft, a place remark- 

 ab'fi as the birth-place and residence of one of the most distinguished 

 sch^ars of the sixteenth century. The H. boreale is a fine ornamental 

 species. The Melampt/rum sylvaticum was abundant in the oak woods. 

 The tpecies of oak was principally Q. Robur, but many specimens 

 approached Q. sessilijlora in its peculiarities. A pubescent variety of 

 Epilobk^m palustre was common in marshy spots on the hill sides. 

 After dinner a paper was read by the President, detailing some experi- 

 ments male with the Honey-bee, with a view to establish some new facts 

 in thehistvy of their internal economy, and which he proposes to carry 

 out next setson, ** Deo cedente." 



It remains <'or me now to say but a few words on vacating the Presi- 

 dent's chair, Wiich was conferred on me at the last Anniyersary, and 



