Address of the President. 9 



its upper parts it winds past the old remains we have just 

 mentioned without much character ; but on reaching the 

 slope of the Evan Valley it has to make a rapid descent, and 

 has formed for itself a "linn," broken by falls from one 

 rocky precipice to another. The banks are clothed with 

 natural wood, and a footpath being now cut, a summer walk 

 of great beauty has been formed. Formerly all was wild and 

 tangled. The explorer had to scramble up, as best he could, 

 and early in May there was great interest. Water-ousel and 

 grey wagtail nested at all the falls ; many kestrels bred 

 among the rocks ; and at the higher fall a pair of ravens had 

 their nest and held undisturbed dominion. The ravens have 

 now been gone for many years ; the kestrels are diminished 

 to one or two pairs. The linn is also of equal interest to the 

 botanist and entomologist, and is especially rich in ferns and 

 mosses. At all the falls where the rocks are covered in and 

 shaded these abound. Hymenophyllum vjilsoni was gathered : 

 this pretty fern covers yards of moist rock, and the rapacious 

 collector may pull off large pieces more than his share. By 

 one of the falls Aquilcgia vulgaris grows, but was out of 

 flower and not noticed. It bears purple flowers, and many 

 plants are fortunately out of reach. It keeps its purple 

 flowers ■RT.thout variation, and if at one time it originated as 

 an outcast from old Auchencass, it is now naturalised, and 

 thrives well in its very local and restricted habitat. Speci- 

 mens transplanted to the garden at Jardine Hall have not 

 varied for twenty years. 



H. blandina was plentiful in many of the open spaces in 

 the wood. 



The grcqjtolite shales were examined under the direction 

 of Professor Harkness and Mr. Carruthers. 



Carlingwark Loch and Threave Castle in Galloway were 

 chosen for the fourth excursion, the meeting-point being Castle- 

 Douglas. Members arrived there by an early train — the morn- 



2 



