Field Meetings. 35 



and the homeward journey was begun by way of St. Lawrence's 

 Chapel and Cloak Moss. The latter had the ajDpeai-ance of a 

 newly-fallen shower of snow from the abundance in which the 

 white panicles of the Cotton Grass (Eriojjhorum) were displayed. 

 With song and joke time passed quickly enough, and the Maxwell 

 Arms Hotel was reached about nine o'clock. 



Before the Castle-Douglas Members left to catch the train, the 

 Secretary (Mr R. Service) said that, as most of them were awai'e, 

 it had been resolved at the previous Field Meeting to present 

 Dr Gi-ierson, Thornhill, with a copy of " Watei-ton's Wanderings 

 in South America," as a veiy slight acknowledgment of his kind- 

 ness in allowing Members of the Society to visit the Thornhill 

 Museum free of charge, or, in other words, refusing to take any 

 admission fee from Members. The money subscribed had been 

 left in his (Mr Service's) hands, and he had procui-ed and for-- 

 warded the volume to Dr Grierson, and he had received a reply, 

 of which the following is an extract : — " How very kind it is of 

 the Members of the Society to send me ' Waterton's Wanderings,' 

 and I accept of theii' kindness with a feeling of special gratitude. 

 I take it as a token of sympathy with the aim of my Museum. 

 The study of Nature has its own reward, but sympathy with the 

 study is as gleams of sunshine. Waterton's book will be of 

 material use to me ; I will find described in it most of the 

 objects I have got from British Guiana." 



The Dumfries Members afterwai-ds partook of tea together, and 

 came home by the late train, highly delighted with the day's 

 proceedings and laden with huge bundles of ferns, wild flowers, 

 and other spoils. 



The Third Meeting was held on July 10th, the place selected 

 for a visit on this occasion being the I'omantic parish of Durisdeer. 

 A large party left Dumfries by the 8.25 a.m. train for Cai-ron- 

 bridge, and were joined at Thornhill Station by several Members 

 of the Society of Enquiry, whose aid as experienced botanists was 

 much appreciated dui-ing the day. Much regi-et was expressed at 

 the absence of Dr Grievson, whom an unfortunate engagement 

 prevented from being present. At Carronbridge Station the 

 party were met by Mr Thomson, Durisdeer Village, who had 

 kindly consented to act as guide, and whose ser\'ices amongst 

 these apparently intei-minable hills were indispensable. The 



