48 Adder Beads. 



I think this may originally have been with a deeper motive than 

 that of enjoying the fragrance of the '' vSidderwood." 



One superstition, almost, if not quite, obsolete, was that it was 

 unlucky to meet a "cross-eyed" person the first thing in the 

 morning. Another, with which I shall conclude, was that if 

 people quarrelled about fish or fishing- the fish would be sure to 

 leave the place. 



t4th Febt-narij, 1896. 



Mr PHlLir SULLEY, Vice-President, in the chair. 



JVezei Members. — Mrs Johnstone, Victoria Terrace ; Rev. Roger 

 Kirkpatrick, Dalbeattie ; Col. J. Maxwell Witham, Kirkconnel ; 

 Benjamin Rigby Murray, Parton ; Robert A. Yerburgh, M.F., 

 Chester. 



Donatiotis. — A Treatise on Education, by Dr George Chapman, 

 rector of Dumfries Grammar School, 1773, presented by the 

 committee of the Mechanics' Institute; Transactions of Edinburgh 

 Geological Society, 1895 ; Annals of the Andersonian Naturalists' 

 Society ; Transactions of New York Academy of Sciences ; Pro- 

 ceeding of the Rochester (New York) Academy of Sciences ; 

 Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences : 

 Proceeding of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science. 



Exhibits.- -Mr Shaw exhibited a pack of Indian cards and 

 some Indian hand pictures, done at Madras. Mr Sulley exhibited a 

 deed engrossed in the reign of Charles I., and two remarkable jewel 

 cases made in the 1 0th century ; also an old seal of one of the 

 Jameses. 



The Rev. William Andson was elected joint-liljrarian with Mr 

 Lennox. 



Communications. 



I. — Adder Beads and Children's Rhymes. By the late Mr 

 James Shaw, of Tynron. 



About a week ago I visited an old lady wdio is between 80 

 and 90 years of age, resident in Tynron, and from whom I pro- 

 cured the adder bead which I now produce. It was an heir-loom 



