28 Field Meetings. 



Criffel, and took place on August 4th, when the party, 

 which included Mr Adam White, so well-known for his long 

 connection with the British Museum, started at 9 o'clock 

 a.m. in a waggonette from Dumfries. The ascent of Criffel 

 was made from the farm of Ardwall up a short but steep 

 side. After an hour and a-half of arduous climbing, the 

 summit was reached by the foremost of the party, followed 

 at short intervals by the remainder, as their strength per- 

 mitted. A thorough search for insects and plants was 

 made on the top, and for the former was very successful, 

 upwards of thirty species of beetles being found under the 

 stones — many of them very rare. Butterflies and Moths 

 were, however, very scarce, owing to the cold wind blowing 

 across the summit. Further down, a few specimens of 

 the Mountain Carpet Moth were got, and numerous 

 Cramhidce, a genus of little moths very common in wet 

 summers. Before descending, a short rest was taken, and 

 the party had now time to look on the vast expanse of sea 

 and land spread out before them. Looking like a mere 

 speck, the town of Dumfries was seen away to the north, 

 and a long line of silvery white showed where the Nith 

 flowed for many a mile. To the eastward, the town of 

 Annan was distinguished by its canopy of smoke hanging 

 above it, and down the English coast were many a town and 

 hamlet similarly crowned. The Solway Firth lay without 

 a ruffle on its broad bosom, dotted here and there with 

 large fleets of fishing-boats. Towards the west the view 

 was still more striking, the more picturesque points being 

 wall known to most of those present. The coast of Colvend 

 Wi 0.' especiil ia'erest i\\m\ having been the scene of las-t 

 miCiinof. and several o th,' points were distinctly recogtdsed 

 Nearly the whole >f the Galloway cojist and all the higher 

 mounta'ns of the range known as the Southern Highlands, 

 were in the prospect ; on the southern horizon the outlines 

 of the Isle of Man couli be made out, but the day was not 

 bright enough for a clear view of it. A descent was made 

 oa tho western side of Criffel into the deep glea formed by 



