22 Field Meetings. 



soon as they left the railway station the Members began their 

 observations, and soon found objects enoiigh in the wilding flowers 

 and little insects among the rank herbage of the mossy meadows 

 to excite their wonder and cause delight. Of the habitat of any- 

 thing i-are or strange, from a scientific point of view, Mr Bruce 

 informed the curious. On the old bridge, which formerly united 

 the pai'ishes of Kells and Balmaghie, the little Wall Rue Fern 

 (Asplenium ruta-muraria) is to be found. Though common in 

 other parts of Galloway, it is here rare. By the way-side, decking 

 the sloping banks with their pretty blossoms, were clusters of 

 the Meadow Cow-wheat ( Melampyrum pratense), one of the 

 Scrophulariaceae, closely related to the Yellowrattle (Rhinanthvs 

 cristagalli), which is so profuse in our meadows this moist summer. 

 The Rock Rose ( Heliantheimi,m vulgare), a member of the oi'der 

 Cistacese, which exhibits the curious phenomenon of vegetable 

 irritability, was also found in great abundance. When touched, 

 the stamens visibly move. It may not be generally known that a 

 sensitive plant is to be found in the wilds of Galloway. Close to 

 the roadside, on the farm of Duchrae, Mr Bruce directed attention 

 to what is called a Roman camp. There is a deep ditch and low 

 dyke, enclosing an area upwards of thirty yai-ds in diameter. It 

 is covered with trees, and a portion of the dyke next the road 

 seems to have been removed. The circular character of the camp 

 at once raised doubts as to the nationality of the warriors by whom 

 it had been built, and these were not dispelled by Mr Bruce 

 remarking that a rocky islft in the adjoining river also bore marks 

 of having been used for defensive or residential purposes. Where 

 the party turned off the parish road towards Slogarie they were 

 called upon to admire the " Duke of Wellington," a detached 

 mass of rock on a brae not far distant. It bears a slight 

 resemblance to a human figure, with a prominent Wellington nose. 

 A little further on the party arrived at the bridge which crosses 

 the stream connecting Woodhall Loch with the Dee ; and Mr 

 Bruce stated that, although the water was then running with a 

 rapid current into the Dee, when the latter was in flood it ran as 

 rapidly back into the loch. A meadow was pointed out in which 

 the glow-worm' is often seen in warm, moist evenings. 



Arrived at Slogai'ie, the party were entertained to a sumptuous 

 breakfast, after which they had great pleasure in examining a 

 veiy complete Herbarium belonging to Mr Bruce. A beautiful 



