16 A ddress of the Secretary. 



The party (again of six) proceeded to Racks by train, 

 and thence walked to Rockhall House, near which they in- 

 spected the remains of a Stone Cairn. Passing to Rockhall- 

 head they examined the site of what is said to have been an 

 ancient chapel, but of which there is now no trace. They 

 discovered what was not previously known to any of their 

 number, that the farm-steading itself stands on the site of 

 an ancient camp, of which the fosse or ditch is still very dis- 

 tinct on one side. Within a short distance overlooking the 

 valley of the Nith, and commanding a most extensive and 

 splendid view, is " Rockhall Moat," a striking conical mound 

 of the usual description with a fosse round it, but hid and 

 disfigured like so many more by being planted with trees. 



Leaving the Nithsdale side of the hill, the party proceed- 

 ing to the east of it towards Lochmaben, passing through a 

 small but interesting glen known as Thorniewhat Glen, In 

 this glen about two years ago Mr Robert Minto, Lochmaben, 

 discovered growing near a small waterfall a very handsome 

 plant of the Pteris adiantoides, an exotic but nearly hardy 

 fern, but though anxious search was made no second one 

 could be found. The puzzling matter is how an exotic fern 

 came to grow on such an out of the way place. Instances, 

 however, of a similar nature have occurred elsewhere. The 

 party then visited a ridge on Thorniewhat farm popularly 

 supposed to form a continuation of the ancient rampart or 

 'dyke known as the " Deil's Dyke," but on examination it 

 was clear that the ridge in question was natural and not 

 -artificial, and was the result of the action of water or of a 

 moraine. 



