12 Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Gallo%oay Society. 



It was arranged that the first out-door excursion of the 

 Society should be held upon the 2d of June, at Braehead, in 

 the parish of Kirkmahoe, having for its chief object the ex- 

 amination of a cave which had never been explored. 



The following communications were read : — 



On the Eelationship of the Genera of Ferns, indigenous to 

 Britain and Denmark ; the scarcity of this order of plants 

 and their comparative diffusion in the two countries. By 

 Mr. T. C. Dybdahl of Copenhagen, CM.— Mr. Dybdahl was 

 introduced to the Meeting by the Chairman. 



Jottings of the Forty-five. By Mr. M'Diarmid. 



The jottings were chiefly the reminiscences of Mr. Maxwell of 

 Carrachen, of his escape, and its incidents, after the defeat. 



On the supposed origin of vitrified forts, with a description 

 of that of Craigphadrich in Inverness-shire. By Dr. Aitken. 

 Was read by the Secretary. 



■ On the Fructification of Himanthalia lorea. By Mr. 

 Croall, CM., Montrose. Eead by Dr. Gilchrist. 



The Chairman made an oral communication regarding a 

 supposed ancient stockade recently discovered. He observed, 

 that about five weeks since, a man drowned himself in 

 a tarn about two miles north of Sanquhar. In order to 

 recover the body, the water was drained off. when it was 

 found that a smaU island in the middle of the loch or tarn 

 was artificial, and had been constructed of stakes with stones 

 between, and had been approached by a zigzag line of stepping- 

 stones. It was thought that the loch might be altogether 

 artificial, forming, as it were, a moat or fosse to the little fort. 

 Dr. Grierson was requested to procure further information, 

 and report at a future meeting. 



This closed the business of the evening, and with it the 

 first Winter Session of the Society. 



