FIELD MEETINGS. 



Saturday, 4th of June. 



A visit was paid to the Grierson Museum, Tliornhill, Penpont 

 Church, the Valley of the Scaur, and Glenwhargan. Many 

 beautiful and some rare plants were collected by Mr James Shaw, 

 especially note-worthy being some heather in bloom, a thing 

 which had never before been seen so early in this district. 



Saturday, rst of July. 



ECCLEFECHAN AND BuRNSWARK. 



Leaving Dumfries about lialf-past ten, a party of seventeen 

 spent the day in driving to Ecclefechan by way of Carruthers- 

 town ; thence to Burnswark, with its series of Romnn encamp- 

 ments, and home by Lockerbie and Locliniaben. The route was 

 one touching several points of outstanding interest. 



The first halt to be made was opposite to Repentance Tower, 

 in order to permit of the party climbing the little hill which is 

 crowned by this puzzling and curiously named structure. In 

 appearance it is like a diminutive square tower of the familiar 

 Border keep pattern. Its walls are pierced by a number of loop- 

 holes and by a square window on the south (now built up) and a 

 door on the north. On the door lintel there are carved the word 

 " Repentance," in old English letters, and rude figures of a dove 

 and a serpent, scriptural types of innocence and wisdom. The 

 original stronghold, which forms the centre part of the present 

 building, was erected in tlie fifteenth century by Lord Herries, 

 then owner of the domain ; and it is one of this family, under- 

 stood to be the same who built Hoddam Castle, that is associated 

 with the story of Repentance. The most impressive because 

 most tragic legend is that a cliief of the liouse of Herries, 

 returning from an English foray, was crossing the Solway with a 



