8 Proceedings of the DumfriessMre and Galloway 



commenced with a view to compiling a Flora and Fauna of the 

 district. The Secretary was instructed to make such arrange- 

 ments with members from time to time as would further this 

 desirable aim. 



The Secretary read a paper, communicated by Mr Charles 

 Black, on the " Introduction of Badgers at Arbigland," giving an 

 iirteresting account of their mode of life as observed by him there. 

 In 1876 Col. Blackett, the proprietor of Arbigland, desirous of 

 keeping down the rabbits on his estate, had procured three badgers — 

 one male and two females — and turned them out. They had since 

 bred upon the estate, and had been found to be very useful in 

 destroying the young rabbits. When they came upon a hole 

 containing a brood of young rabbits, they did not go in at the 

 entrance, but dug right down on the top of the nest, and never 

 faUed to hit the exact spot, no matter how far it was from the 

 mouth of the burrow. They were not observed to harm any 

 rabbits, except those in the youngest stage. 



This concluded the business of the evening and of the Winter 

 Session. 



SESSIOlsT 1S79-SO. 



October •2nd, 1879. 



The Annual Meeting commencing a new Session was held in 

 the Mechanics' Institute — Mr J. Gibson Starke in the chair. 



The Bev. B. W. Weir, minister of Greyfriars' ; Messrs W. J. 

 Maxwell, Terregles Banks; Murdoch, Netherlea; Gillespie, Queen's 

 Blace ; J. Fergusson, Queen Street ; Smith, Commercial Bank ; 

 Tennant, the Academy ; L. M. Dinwiddle, Greenbrae ; Allan, 

 Albany Place ; M'Andrew, New-Galloway ; and M'Veigh, Kim- 

 meter Cottage, Annan, were elected Ordinary Members. 



The Chairman presented to the Society, on behalf of Mr John 

 Allan Broun, F.K.S., five volumes and paper-covered supple- 

 ment of the Makerstoun Observations, another volume entitled 

 Trevandrum Observations, and six small separate papers on 

 astronomical subjects, all edited by Mr Broun. It was moved 

 and agreed that the special thanks of the Society be transmitted 

 by the Chaii-man to Mr Broun for his valuable donations. 



