Field Meetings. 23 



collectiou of birds' eggs and a large number of birds, finely mounted, 

 were also examined with much interest. The bu"ds have been all 

 procured within the last few months, mostly on the estate ; and 

 we understand it is Mr Bruce's intention to present them to the new 

 public museum at Kirkcudbright. Amongst the rare or remarkable 

 specimens are a splendid Eaven, a Snow Bunting (px-ocured last 

 January), a Purple Sandpiper, a fine pair of Common Buzzards, 

 a pair of magnificent Peregrines, a Little Grebe, a Long-horned 

 Owl, and a Mountain Finch, or " Cock o' the North," as it is 

 locally termed. The party afterwards visited the well-kept 

 gardens, and a gi-eat many interesting plants and ti-ees were 

 pointed out. Mistletoe was gi-owing luxuriantly on various trees, 

 particularly on the Apples. There were fine plants also on Limes 

 and Oaks, and a small plant on a service tree, which led to the 

 rather Moody remark about a parasite on Service. A curious 

 little plant of a spruce (Abies clanbraziliense), not above a foot 

 high, but upwards of thirty years old, was next examined. 



There were so many objects of interest in the precincts of 

 Slogarie that the party were tempted to linger in the grounds • 

 but the day was fair and pleasant, though the wind was strong and 

 cold for July. A move was made along the banks of " stately 

 Dee." Two of the Members, having their rods with them, pro- 

 ceeded to investigate the ichthyological characteristics of the 

 river. After a few casts of a spinning minnow one ardent 

 student of the gentle art was rewarded with a splendid rise and 

 run from a heavy fish, and congi-atulated himself on having hooked 

 a splendid Sea-trout. After a little, however, he was disgusted to 

 discover that his captive was a Pike fully two pounds weight. 

 Another small Pike was taken ; and the other angler believed he 

 touched a Salmon, of which there are now plenty in the Dee. On 

 the meadows, by the river and grassy flats on the hillside, were 

 countless wild flowers, charming the eye with their beauty of 

 form and colour. Among these were several specimens of the 

 Orchidacese — native flowers that rival those of the tropics in their 

 style and beauty of colouring. Among them were found the 

 Early Purple Orchis (Orchis rnascula), Spotted-leaved Orchis (0. 

 macidata), Fragrant-scented Orchis ( G-ymouulenia conopsea), But- 

 terfly Orchis (Habenaria bifolia), and the White Fragrant- scented 

 Orchis (G. albida). Among the first find of more than ordinary 

 interest in the botanical depai"tment were some fine specimens of 



