6 Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway 



theories. The Secretary read several extracts from letters 

 by Jas. Barbour, Esq., Bogue, to Dr Trotter, Dairy, relating 

 to the supposed ancient pavement and other antiquities at 

 Chapel-leys, parish of Borgue, which mentioned various cir- 

 cumstances requiring further investigation. 



James Starke, Esq., read a paper on " The Scottish 

 Language," * directing attention to a number of marked 

 peculiarities in the Scottish vernacular, as compared with the 

 English. The paper excited an interesting and animated 

 discussion. 



Dr Grierson, Thornhill, read a very interesting paper on 

 '• The Growth of the Mistletoe," from observations conducted 

 upon a plant in his own garden. 



A highly valuable paper was read by W. H. M'Nab, 

 M.D., Edinburgh, " On the Metamorphosis of some of the 

 Lower Animals," which was illustrated by a series of draw- 

 ings of the principal species described in their singular 

 changes of form and structure. The animals described by 

 Dr M'Nab belonged to several families of zoophytes and 

 other elementary forms of life ; the history of which, so far 

 as yet known to naturalists, has opened up so wide a field for 

 scientific investigation and speculation ; some of the general- 

 izations made by Dr M'Nab were of a very interesting and 

 important kind. 



March Sd, 1868. 



The Society held the Fith Meeting of the Session in the 

 Assembly Street Club Rooms. 



Dr GILCHRIST in the Chair. 



The minutes of last meeting were read and approved of. 



The following gentlemen were enrolled : — Ordinary 

 Members — James Barbour Esq., Bogue, Dairy ; W. O. Mac- 

 queen Esq., banker, Sanquhar ; James Halliday Esq., 

 * Note. — In last year's Transactions, p. 49. 



