68 Fidd Meetings. 



entrance door the escutcheon of Sir Thomas Maclellan. The party 

 then proceeded to the ancient Market Cross, after having had 

 pointed out to them the site of the old public-house at the Moat 

 Well, where Kenmure challenged Claverhouse to mortal combat, 

 to revenge the murder of his kinsman, Bell of Whiteside. The 

 tower of the County Buildings was next visited, and from this 

 elevation an admirable view of the sea and the country around 

 was obtained. As it was now noon the party retraced their 

 steps to the Commercial Hotel, where waggonettes were waiting 

 to convey them to Sen wick Churchyard and the Borness Cave. 

 The churchyard, which is situated upon a wooded height over- 

 looking the estuary of the Dee, and commands a view of singular 

 beauty, is one of the most interesting and romantic in the 

 district. The ruins of the Church were used in the construction 

 of a more modern building, which is now in its turn also 

 disappearing. The inscriptions are in solitary instances quaint 

 and pointed, but the majority are commonplace. From the 

 churchyard the party proceeded to Balmangan farm house, 

 where an old tower was inspected, and where they were regaled 

 with refreshing draughts of milk. From Balmangan they drove 

 to South Park. Here they were met by Mr Currie, and con- 

 ducted to the Borness Cave, where many of the remains to be 

 seen in the Edinburgh Antiquarian Museum were unearthed. 

 The Cave is not very large, but the entrance, which is shaped 

 like an equilatei'al triangle, is lofty and expansive. Several 

 minute bones and pieces of charcoal were found, and many 

 beautiful stalactites were picked up by the exploring party. As 

 the time at their disposal was now short, they returned to the 

 waggonettes, and noticed on their homeward journey several old 

 fortresses and ruined fosses constructed by the warlike tribes 

 which inhabited this part of Scotland from the time of Cffisar to 

 the thirteenth century. 



Among the botanical specimens collected during the day were 

 the following : — Sanicula Europea, Adoxa moschatellina, Eiwny- 

 mus Europoeus, Erodium cicutarium, Eryngium maritimum, 

 polygonatum multijlorum, arum maculatum, fedia olitoria, and 

 ojyhioglossum vulgatiim. 



The party reached Kirkcudbright about five o'clock, and having 

 partaken of tea at the Royal Hotel, they left by the 6.35 train, 

 and arrived in Dumfries about eight, having enjoyed a very 

 pleasant excursion. 



