REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 113 
After inspecting the houses, considerable attention was bestowed 
upon the collection of hardy plants in the wild rock-garden, the 
nature of which may best be understood from the names of some 
of the genera represented in the collection. Among the plants 
successfully cultivated are species of Polygonum, Gaultheria, 
Erica, Rhododendron, Azalea, Andromeda, Menztesia, Kalmia, 
Saxifraga, Helianthemum, Gentiana, Linaria, Alyssum, Hutchinsia, 
Arabis, Hrinus, Trillium, Orchis, Villarsia, &c. 
Owing to a steady downpour of rain, many were no doubt 
deterred from leaving the city; and the attendance was con- 
sequently very small, the Society being represented by three 
members from Glasgow, who were joined at Paisley by four 
friends. 
Pitcon GLEN, lst July, 1893.—This excursion, »which was 
numerously attended, took place during very fine weather. On 
their arrival at Kilbirnie Station, the party proceeded to the 
churchyard, where they inspected the interesting monument 
erected in 1594 by Captain Thomas Crawfurd of Jordanhill, for 
himself and his wife. Captain Crawfurd died in January, 1603, 
and was interred close to the inscribed wall of the monument. He 
is designed thereon as ‘‘ Thomas Cravfvrd of Iordanhill sext son to 
Lavrence Cravfvrd of Kilbirny.” It may be interesting to note 
that Hugh Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, eldest brother of Captain 
Thomas Crawfurd of Jordanhill, fought in the battle of Langside 
(13th May, 1568) on the side of Queen Mary. Through the 
windows of the old church a glimpse was obtained of the elaborate 
oak carvings with which the Crawfurd gallery (or “ laird’s laft”) 
and other parts of the interior of the building are decorated, and 
which were executed early last century by command of John, 
- first Viscount Garnock. 
On leaving the neighbourhood of the church, with its memorials 
of the Crawfurds, the party next visited the former seat of that 
ancient family. The ruined Castle of Kilbirnie (locally known as 
“The Place”) is situated on rising ground a short distance west 
of the town. It consists of two distinct portions, which were 
built at different periods. The most ancient is in the form of a 
Square tower of considerable height, with massive walls and few 
windows, while the absence of gun-ports shows that its erection 
