36 Field Meetings. 



route lay over the farm of Drumcruil (permission to traverse 

 which had been readily granted by Mr Dickson), where an 

 ancient foi"t was pointed out at Langknowe. The old Chui'ch of 

 Kirkbride was seen on the left above the farm of Coshogle. It is 

 now in ruins, only a small portion of the walls remaining ; and it 

 is very desii-able that the unique features of this interesting relic of 

 the past should be preserved from further decay. A little further 

 on the beautiful Glen of Enterkin was reached. The majoiity of 

 the Members descended this deep ravine with the intention of 

 visiting the caini of Lagdow, which is said to commemorate the 

 spot where a Covenanter of the name of Dow was shot by 

 Sir Robert Grierson of Lag ; but the majority of antiquaries 

 doubt this tradition, and think that the name of Lagdow 

 Cairn simply means " the cairn of the black hollow." They 

 were, however, diverted from their pvu-pose by a drenching 

 rain, which came down in torrents, and they took refuge 

 up the glen of Auchenlon Bui-n. Here they had the good 

 fortune to fall in with a profuse gi-owing mass of the rare Filmy 

 Fern ( Hymenophyllum. Wilsoni), which was collected with great 

 delight, as several of the party had gone for the sole purpose of 

 gathering this interesting species. Enterkin and other glens in 

 that neighbourhood have long been famous for producing this fern, 

 and the locality is given in all the old "Floras." A little further up, 

 in a beautifully situated nook, was found a nest of the Dipper, 

 from which the young " white breasts " rather unceremoniously 

 fled as soon as disturbed. On the boulders over which the water 

 was dashing a number of pretty Fresh "Water Sponges wei'e 

 secured of the same species as was found in the Dee a year or 

 two ago, when the Society visited Threave Castle. That scarce 

 and beautiful snail the Helix arbustoricm occurred in this glen 

 also in gi-eat profusion, and a number were collected. We saw a 

 quantity of this species recently in Dr Grierson's garden, where 

 they had quite acclimatised, and thrive well. During a blink of 

 sunshine, as the party emerged from this glen on to Thirstane 

 Hill, vast numbers of the " Chimney Sweep " Moth (Tanagra 

 cluierophyllata) — a little species, sooty black in colour — was very 

 noticeable. As far as the eye could reach they were to be seen in 

 myriads flying about amongst the bracken. At the foot of Stey- 

 gail the two parties again met, and notes were exchanged. The 

 Devil's Dyke had been examined — that portion of it which runs 

 towards Dalveen. It is difficult to imagine what this dyke could 



