Natural History and Antiquarian Society. 



Donations to the Collection of the Society. 



Collection of Zoophytes from Montrose Bay. — Miss Mitchell, 



Montrose. 

 Microscopic Crustacea — Mr. Keogh, Troon, 

 Cast of the Arms of Sweetheart Abbey. — Mr. James Foulds^ 



Kirlchean. 



March M, 1863. 



Mr. M'DIAEMID in the Chair. 



Mr. Alex. Stratherne, Glasgow ; Mr. J. Bryce, LL.D., 

 Glasgow ; The Eev. F. 0. Morris, Nunburn Holm Rectory, 

 Yorkshire ; The Eev. J. S. Burnet, Canada, were elected 

 Corresponding Members. 



The following communications were read : — 



Dumfries in the olden time. By Mr. Stark, Troqueer Holm. 



He remarked that the sketch which he had given might be 

 regarded as an outline, to fill in the details of which by papers 

 communicated from time to time by different Members, might be 

 appropriately regarded as an aim and object of the Society. — See 

 Transactioiis. ' 



On the Death's Head Moth, Acherontia atropos. 



By Dr. Grierson, Thornhill. 



The principal points alluded to were, the cry or sound emitted 

 by the moth, which he considered was caused by the folding and 

 unfolding of the proboscis ; the comparative rarity of the species 

 in Dumfriesshire, or at least the liabiUty of the caterpillar to be 

 attacked by other insects, a fatality which extends more to certain 

 species than others, and especially the tribe of moths to which the 

 Death's Head belongs. Several specimens were exliibited collected 

 in Upper Nithsdale. 



A communication was made by Dr. Grierson, with refer- 

 ence to the examination made by himseK and Mr. Gibson, at 

 the request of the Society, of the remains of ancient armour, 

 foimd by Dr. Moffat at Corrie "Water ; and notes by Mr. A. 

 Stratherne were read ; but that gentleman not having then 

 seen the fragments, a satisfactory conclusion had not been 

 arrived at. The Meeting requested Dr. Grierson and Mr. 



