Field Meetings. 69 



Glenquhargen Craig, &c. — 3rd Jtcne, 1882. 



The second field meeting of the Session was held on 3d JunCj 

 the places selected for visiting being Tynron Doon, Corfardine 

 Slate Quarry, The Glen of the Scaur, and Glenquhargen Craig. 

 As the morning was dull and threatening rain, only a small party 

 assembled at the Dumfries Station to meet the train due at 8.25 

 for Thornhill. On arriving at Thornhill they were met by Dr 

 Grierson ; and having taken their seats in the omnibus and waggon- 

 ette which were in waiting, they were soon on their way for the 

 Scaur. The first object noticed was the Runic Cross, in a field 

 near the Nith, but as the programme for the day was long, this 

 was only observed from the road. The first halt was made at the 

 Scaur Bridge, and here the party were joined by their "guide, 

 philosopher, and friend," Mr Tom Brown, who was to conduct 

 them throughout the excursion. Turning to the right at the 

 bridge, they proceeded along the romantic glen through which 

 the Scaur winds its tortuous course, and as the road was rough, 

 several of the party preferred walking, and collected specimens 

 along the banks of the stream, adjoining fields, and roadsides. 

 They continued in this way until Glenmarlin was reached, when 

 another halt was made to admit of those who were inclined to 

 ascend Tynron Doon doing so. The Doon — a fortified hill with a 

 nose, as the name signifies — was not very inviting on this occasion, 

 for it was enveloped in a cloud, and a shower coming on deterred 

 the party from attemjDting the ascent. This hill, when seen from 

 near Thornhill, presents the appearance of a human profile, and 

 at its top there are the remains of an ancient fortress. It is 

 said that Bruce, after he had slain Comyn in Dumfries, fled to 

 the summit of the Doon, and remained there in safety for some 

 time. Instead of climbing the height the party inspected a 

 Roman Camp on its side, and two curious forest growths. The 

 first was a rowan tree growing out of the stem of a crab, and 

 the other was a large elm whose branches had descended and taken 

 root, springing up again into as many separate trees. The next 

 halt was at Corfardine Quarry, which was visited by the geologists. 

 This place is memorable from the circumstance that Hogg, the 

 Ettrick Shepherd, was tenant of the farm in which the quarry 

 is situated. In 1814, Hogg, writing to a friend, says of his 

 experience of the place : — " It pleased God to take away by death 



