74 Field Meetings. 



The following plants were found during the excursion : — 

 Ranuncuhis Jlammula, Nasturtium officinale, N. Palustre, Lyco- 

 pus Uuropoius, E2nlobium 2)arviJloru7n, E. jMlustre, Senecio Aqua- 

 tions, Bidens trijmrtita, Cicata virosa, Mentha Sabra, M. Aquatica, 

 Myosetes repeois, Potamogeton natans, SjMrganium ramosum, 

 Lemna minor, Typha angustifolia, T. latifolia, and (Enanthe 

 crocata. 



In September the Society was to visit " The Martyrs' Tombs, 

 Irongray, and the Skeoch Hill," but owing to heavy rain the 

 excursion was abandoned. 



KiRKBEAN. — 5th May, 1883. 



The first meeting of the summer session, 1883, was held on the 

 5th May, the district visited being Newabbey, Kirkbean, and 

 Carsethorn. The weather was the most favourable that could 

 have been desired, being bright and sunny, but not oppressively 

 hot. The party numbered twenty, nine of these being ladies, who 

 have become members for the first time this session. Starting 

 from the Fountain at nine o'clock in two open conveyances, they 

 drove without halt to the hamlet of Preston Mill, a distance of 

 thirteen miles — fully enjoying the invigorating influence of the 

 ]3ure morning air ; the sight of pasture and corn field, hedgerow 

 and woodland, in the fresh verdure of a late spring, and studded 

 with the white blossoms of cherry, gean, and sloe ; and the beauti- 

 ful panoramic scene which every winding of the road discloses. 

 At Preston Mill — where, by the way, lived "the bonnie lass" of 

 Allan Cunningham's song — they were joined by Mr William Black, 

 gardener at Arbigland, whose intimate acquaintance with the 

 geology and botany of the district enabled him to ofier some valu- 

 able suggestions for their guidance, although, much to their regret, 

 he was not able . to accompany the party on their walking excur- 

 sion. Having dismissed the vehicles, the party proceeded to 

 explore the Gill, a pretty little ravine, in some of the deeper nooks 

 of which the hartstongue fern was found growing in abundance, 

 and some specimens with divided fronds were obtained. In an 

 open and elevated spot, midway up, a short stay was made, that the 



