98 Transactions. 



Urococcus insignis (Hass), Kiitz. 



Epithemia gibberula (Ehrnb.) Kiitz, var. rupestris, (W. Sm.) 



Rabh. 

 Eunotia incisa, Greg. 



Do. majus, var. hidenn, W. Sm. 



Do. gracilis, Ehrnb. 



Do. pectinalis, var. undulatum, Ralfs. 

 Synedra lunaris, var. undulata, Rabh. 



Do. biceps, Kiitz. 

 Nitzschia tenuis, W. Sm. 

 Navicula serians (Breb.), Kiitz. 

 Piimularia nobilis, Ehrnb. 

 Do. gibba, Ehrnb. 



2. A Superstitious Custoin in Galloway. 



By Mr John M'Kie, Kirkcudbright. 



Superstition dies hard, as newspapers still occasionally record, 

 and it is often found that customs linger in the land for genera- 

 tions after the cause which first led to their adoption has dis- 

 appeared. The habit of putting " cowsherne " into the mouth of 

 a young calf before it was allowed to suck its mother is one 

 commonly practised within my recollection. Having once asked 

 an old woman, whom I had just seen perform the operation why 

 she did so she then gave me the following legend : — " In the 

 olden time, when Galloway was stocked with the black breed of 

 cattle, there was a carle who had a score of cows, not one of 

 which had a white hair on it ; they were the pride of the owner, 

 and the admiration of all who saw them. One day while they 

 were being driven out, the carle's dog worried the cat of an 

 old woman who lived in a hut hard by, and though he had always 

 treated her with great kindness, and expressed sorrow for what 

 his dog had done, she cursed him and all his belongings. After- 

 wards, when the cows began to calve, instead of giving fine rich 

 milk, as formerly, they only gave a thin watery ooze on which the 

 calves dwined away to skin and bone. During this unfortunate 

 state of affairs a pilgrim on his journey, probably to the shrine of 

 St. Niniaii, sought lodgings for the night. The wife of the carle, 

 though rather unwilling to take in a stranger during the absence 

 of her husband, who was on a journey, eventually granted his 

 request. On lier making excuse for the poverty of the milk she 



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