32 Field Meetings. 



The Second Meeting was held on June 2nd, the place selected 

 for a visit on this occasion being the beautiful shoi-e of Colvend. 

 The weather being somewhat unfavourable at Dumfries, there was 

 a smaller attendance of INIembers than on previous visits of the 

 Society to this very interesting district. The day cleared up well 

 in the afternoon, however, and the weather became warm and 

 pleasant, and as no rain had fallen at Colvend the grass was quite 

 dry and comfoi'table to walk upon. The party left Dumfries by 

 the 12.20 train, and at Dalbeattie were joined by contingents 

 from that neighbourhood and from Castle-Douglas. The latter 

 included Mr David Kennedy, son of the world-famous Scottish 

 vocalist. Mr Kennedy is sojourning at present in Castle-Douglas, 

 and proceeds shortly to the Cape to become manager of the 

 Natal Witness. Entering the waggonette from the Maxwell Arms, 

 the journey towards Colvend commenced just as the rain stopped, and 

 the sun peeped out for a little. The first halt was made at Richorn 

 to inspect a place where grows a large quantity of the Lily of the 

 Valley (Convallaria majalis). Whether it is a true wilding here 

 or an "escape" is disputed. We have seen it growing in a 

 similar situation at Slogarie, but there also it has not been 

 definitely ascertained to be a true native. We were informed 

 that the patch at Richorn very rarely flowers : this is probably 

 the case, as only one or two little sprays could be found. The 

 next interesting incident was the discovery, as the waggonette 

 passed underneath the tree, of a nest of a Golden-crested Wren 

 attached to an overhanging branch of a Silver Fir. The beaiiti- 

 ftilly constructed pensUe nest of this the smallest of British birds 

 is seldom seen except by those interested in these matters, and 

 very rarely indeed is it to be seen so near a frequented road. 

 We were glad to observe that it was out of the reach of mis- 

 chievous boys. On passing the farm of AuchenhUl, Mr Matthew- 

 son, Dalbeattie, informed the party that on the barn wall there is 

 (or was) a female bust built in, which used to be an object of 

 dread to the children of the locality. It was known as the "Lady 

 Blanche ; " and Mr Matthewson suggested that very probably 

 there was some connection between this figure and the well-known 

 effigy of the " Nun Slab " in Dundrennan, which has been so often 

 nnder discussion. We trust that M)- Matthewson wUl investigate 

 the subject ; and as he is so intimately acquainted with the folk- 

 lore of the district, he will doubtless be able to throw some light 



