Field Meetings. 77 



DuRiSDEER, — Ind June, 1883. 



On Saturday, 2nd June, the second field meeting of the season 

 was held under the most favourable auspices. The weather was 

 bright and summerlike, with the sun's rays tempered by the inter- 

 vening movement of filmy clouds and the blowing of a soft fresh 

 breeze. There had been sketched by the committee a full and 

 fascinating programme — " Rail to Thornhill ; thence by road to 

 Durisdeer, where the tombs of the Douglasses and the Koman 

 Camp in "Wall Path will be visited ; thence to Dalveen Pass ; a 

 halt to be made at the ruins of Enoch Castle ; thence to Thornhill, 

 where Dr Grierson's museum will be inspected •" and, owing to 

 the attractive character of the district chosen, and the remarkably 

 pleasant weather, there was the largest turn-out of members and 

 their friends which had ever been seen at any of the Society's field 

 meetings — there being no fewer than forty, including several 

 ladies. The party left Dumfries at 8.52 a.m. At Thornhill 

 Station a 'bus, a waggonette, and another conveyance awaited 

 them. There are two ways of reaching Durisdeer from this point 

 — a roundabout way by Thornhill, and a straighter and shorter, 

 but also a steeper and rougher, by Drumcork, East Morton, and 

 Gateslack. It was resolved to proceed by the latter, since the 

 return would have to be made by the former, as being the more 

 convenient when Dr Grierson's museum was to be visited. 

 Unfortunately the Doctor, expecting the cavalcade to roll along 

 to Durisdeer through the ducal village, there awaited its approach ; 

 exhibiting a degree of philosophical patience as the time passed 

 without the party coming, and preserving the same philosophic 

 temper when he learned that he might have to await them there 

 until the sun went down, if he did not, by some means, endeavour 

 to join them in Dalveen, which he straightway set himself to do, 

 and in due course did. 



The drive to Durisdeer was greatly enjoyed. On the left, sur- 

 rounded by its rich environment of wood, stands Drumlanrig 

 Castle ; beyond it and above it a wide expanse of fertUe valley, 

 with cultured, woody eminences, and leafy hollows, and the 

 fantastic form of Tynron Doon ; and skirting the side of the road 

 as Gateslack is neared a delightfid little glen, where the road takes 

 a sharp turn, and botanists are strongly tempted to call a halt, 

 and make exploration on both banks of the babbling little brook. 



