8 Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway 



granite, from the different varieties wliicli it exliibited, and 

 from the excellent illustrations which it afforded of the 

 contact of the Syenite and Silurian rocks, which was well 

 marked at a place nearly opposite Glencaple : a veia of 

 granite or Syenite passed through the Silurian rock and 

 varied the character of the latter very considerably. Dr. 

 Gilchrist described also the traces of the ancient sea-beach 

 along this part of the coast-line. He drew attention to the 

 geological features of the Silurian rocks, as exhibited in the 

 quany at Longwood, and the contorted and twisted appearance 

 which they present in some parts, which he thought might 

 probably be due to a vein of granite which passed near the 

 quarry, and showed a " fault," the two sides not agreeing. 

 The quarry presented also veins i^ossessing precisely the 

 character of " lode " — in mining phrase — in which the quartz 

 was of a semi-opaline character, which indicated the probable 

 vicinity of a granite vein. 



Dr. Grierson exhibited a specimen of a white robin-red- 

 breast, and a "Smew" or " White Nun" (Merr/us alhcllits), a 

 northern species, which was obtained in the vicinity of Thorn- 

 hill, and which, so far as known to Dr. Grierson, was the only 

 one ever seen in that district.* 



Mr. Maxwell, Gribton, exhibited a stone-hammer found at 

 Carmaddie in Holywood. 



Mr. M'Diarmid laid on the table a number of Roman 

 mosaics collected by him while on a recent tour in Italy. 



Dy. Gilchrist exhibited and presented to the Society a 

 quern, which had recently been found on the side of the road 

 passing between the Craig's quarries, and which had evidently 

 been thrown out in clearing a ditch ; also a slab of sandstone 



* A specimen was shot on the river Annan, near Dormont, and is now in 

 the collection of British birds there, formed by the late W. L. Carruthers, 

 Esq — W. J. 



