FiKU) .Mektixgs. ."59 



the manse, and drove Ijack to Castle-Donglas, constrained l)y 

 the unfavourable weather conditions to forego the remainder ol' 

 tlie projected round. 



The only other field meeting lield during the summer took 

 place on the 30th June, when tiie Lochrutton Loch was visited. 

 The primary ol)ject of this excursion was to make an examina- 

 tion of the craunog in the loch, and with this in view the party 

 was accompanied hy ])i Munro, of Edinlnirgh, the distinguished 

 authority on lake dwellings, and the author of several works on 

 this and other subjects of antiquarian interest. The crannog is 

 on an artificial island near the west shore of the loch, now 

 almost completely overgrown witli vegetation and trees. Un- 

 fortunately, the water was too high to permit of proper 

 investigation, but sutMcient evidence was found of the fact that 

 the island was the site of an ancient lake dwelling. After slight 

 digging, a stone hammer-head and several pieces of glazed 

 potteiy were unearthed, while by a preliminary investigation 

 in more favourable circumstances, conducted by Mr BarV)our, 

 architect, the crossing of two of the black oak beams composing 

 the structure had been uncovered, and a hearth with charcoal 

 and brushwood e.xposed. It was accordingly resolved t<j have a 

 more thorough investigation at some subsequent period when, by 

 the lowering of the water in the locli, the conditions were more 

 favourable. 



