Field Meetings. 37 



Mains, but nothing of special note. Near Threave Castle, a 

 large extent of marshy ground, from which, as the party 

 approached, rose flocks of Wild Ducks, and Herons, Snipes, 

 Sandpipers, and other aquatic birds, was next explored, and 

 a number of plants found. The wetter portion was covered 

 with a strong growth of the Bottle Oarex, amidst which a 

 white variety of the Cavdamiae prxtensis was not uncom- 

 mon. A great floral treat awaited the party at a small, 

 black, deep pool, on whose waters floatei a quantity of the 

 Nymphcea alba, the exquisitely beautiful white flowers pre- 

 senting a most charming contrast to the bhirk water. At 

 con.siderable ri.sk of a "ducking," as m<in v flowers were 

 gathered as formed bouquets for all present. Near the edge 

 of a muddy bay formed by the Dee the grao ^fu! little Lobelia 

 dortmanna and the quoer-looking Allsm c ranu iculoldjs 

 were noticed, and a number of specim -ns -secure! by Dr 

 Gilchrist and Mr Griersun, who waJeJ in fo thi.n. A 

 thicket of Scirpus lacustris, over six feet in height, was 

 growing near the same place. On dry bi;iks near at ha-id 

 was a plentiful growth of the Lilac Devil'ti-b.t Scabious 

 (Scabiosa succisa) intermingled with which was the Sea 

 Plantain (Plantago maritima) in flower. It was explained 

 that, the plant grew away from the neighbourhood of the sea 

 only where the soil contained potash. The party next pro- 

 ceeded across the well-known .stepping stones to the island 

 on which Threave Castle is situated. At the edge of the 

 Dee a bed of a pretty little plant { Helosciadeum inundatum) 

 was seen, the flowers of which are remarkably tiny and 

 white. The party were not disposed to examine Threave 

 Castle from an antiquarian point of view, so a brief stay 

 only was made." A large plant of the Hemlock (Conium 

 maculatum) almost fills up the hole in the west wall made 

 by the shot from Mons Meg. Ferns were very abundant in 

 the crevices, the whole of the eastern wall being covered as 

 high as the eye could distinguish it by a den.se growth of the 

 Asplenium ruta-muraria, A. adiantum nigrum, A. tricho- 

 manes, and two or three others were also found. The north 

 f 



