Xatural Hhtory and AuHqnarian Society. 9 



Sir WM. JARDINE, Bart., in the Chair. 



With reference to the paper read by Dr. Gilchrist at last 

 meeting, and the suggestion by Mr. Dudgeon that the trap 

 dyke at Mabie might be a continuation of that seen to the 

 east of the Wardlaw Hill, Mr. Dudgeon stated that in com- 

 pany with Dr. Gilchrist he had examined the Mabie dyke, and 

 found that it corresponded precisely with that at Wardlaw, 

 both as regarded the nature of the rock and the direction in 

 which it tended. They had no doubt that the dyke was con- 

 tinuous. It was about two feet broad, and its direction was 

 E.N.E. by "W.N.W. Specimens of the trap were exhibited. 



Mr. M'Diarraid read a paper, compiled chiefly from 

 extracts from the Burgh Records, showing how quackery was 

 treated in Dumfries a century and a quarter ago. 



Dr. Grierson, Thornhill, read a paper on the relics of 

 prehistoric man found in Nithsdale, and showed several 

 specimens of stone hammers, spear heads, axes, &c., found 

 in the district, with diagrams of others. He expressed his 

 opinion that the more rudely fashioned and finished had a 

 local origin, as being the work of the ancient natives of 

 Nithsdale, while those of a higher and more finished char- 

 acter had been introduced by an immigrant and foreign 

 tribe. He further argued that from the localities and cir- 

 cumstances in which these implements were found certain 

 conclusions might be drawn as to the mode of sepulture 

 practised by the native and foreign tribes, — that Avhile the 

 custom of the natives was to bury their dead under mounds 

 and cairns, the mode practised by the foreign tribes was to 

 burn their dead previous to burial. The reading of Mr. 

 Crisp's paper on the anatomy and habits of the Spoonbill was 

 adjourned, owing to the lateness of the evening. Mr. Aird 

 presented to the Society a pamphlet by Mr. Fergusson, Q.C., 

 on the Ogham Inscriptions, and read a letter from that 

 gentleman with reference to the probability of similar in- 

 scriptions being found in Nithsdale, the ancient Strathclyde. 

 Sir Wm. Jardiue presented to the Society the first two parts 



