22 Address of the President. 



the Crichope linn and glen, when time being exhausted the 

 party separated. Saxifraga hypnoides, Epilobium angusti- 

 folium, Gryptogramma crispa, and OpMoglossum vulgatum, 

 were found duriug the excursion. 



On August the 4th, the coast line of the Solway between 

 Colvend and Douglass Hall was the range fixed upon to be 

 examined. Many of the party took the morning train from 

 Dumfries to Dalbeatie, where an omnibus was in waiting, 

 which conveyed them to Barnbarroch. Here they were met 

 by Mr. M'Diarmid, the Eev. Mr. Eraser of Colvend, and 

 others who had undertaken to conduct the party. One of the 

 first objects of interest was the examination of a so-called 

 ancient or vitrified fort overlooking the estuary of the water 

 of Urr. The site is upon an eminence, and on this, and among 

 the debris on the sides, were found pieces of slag, and run- 

 together fragments of the rocks of the district, shewing that 

 on the summit of this knoll fires had been kindled for some 

 purpose, and that there had been heat sufficient to vitrify or 

 melt the rocks around. Copper ore is found in the vicinity, 

 and various old levels and mining indications exist, and the 

 ore itself within these few years has been attempted to be 

 commercially mined. The hills around were, and are stUl, 

 partially covered with brushwood, the material in early times 

 used for smelting ; and there can be little doubt that tliis was 

 one of the positions to which the ore was formerly carried 

 and rudely smelted, perhaps supplying part of the material 

 for some of those ancient weapons constantly turning up 

 around. Several of these so-called forts exist also in the 

 neighbouring country, and this examination to ascertain their 

 true use wiU be profitable to the Society ; and if they are 

 proved to be ancient smelting-places, it may lead to the closer 

 examination of a district where metals are now believed to be 

 in too small deposit for profitable working. 



The party then went round the coast. It is very precipitous, 



