2i Field Meetings. 



corpulent members of the party ascended to this apartment 

 and enjoyed the grand outlook. A few pieces of furniture 

 still remain ; part of a table, at -which James the V., the 

 " Gudeman o' Ballangeich," is said to have dined, and some 

 other remnants were pointed out. A murderous-looking 

 steel crossbow, which had probably done some execution in 

 its day, was also examined. A visit was next made to the 

 Camp, which is situated about a hundred yards from the 

 Tower. It is believed to be the work of the Romans. It is 

 nearly square, and a wide ditch still environs it on three 

 sides, and what seems to have been a gate or entrance is 

 visible on the North-East and West sides, while the fourth or 

 South side is occupied by a range of farm buildings. These 

 have apparently been built of materials from some ancient 

 building, as parts of armorial bearings, figures, and inscrip- 

 tions were visible in the walls. The party were next 

 conducted through the well-kept garden and hothouses. 

 Attention was directed to the nesting boxes for small birds 

 placed at intervals along the garden walls. Most of these 

 boxes were occupied by young families of Tits, of several 

 species. Boxes for the Starlings are also placed on tall poles 

 and on all the windows of the old Tower. As a result of the 

 accommodation and protection afforded them the birds do a 

 great amount of good, and the gardener stated that no cater- 

 pillars or other insect enemies ever troubled him. It would 

 be well were Mr Jackson's example more generally followed ; 

 we would then hear less of the failure of so many garden crops 

 through the attacks of insects. Entering the Mansion-House, 

 Mr Jackson showed his visitors some very valuable relics of 

 Robert Burns. The first was the original MS. of " Wat ye 

 wha's in yon toun," written in his exciseman's notebook, of 

 the same pattern as is still used. There were also some 

 entries of grocer's stock-in-trade which the poet had taken 

 down on the same day in which this song was written. The 

 next was the poet's own copy of the Edinburgh Edition, and 

 this was examined with a reverential interest. Almost every 

 page was occupied with notes and corrections in his own 



