278 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
the party visited the remains of what was at one time an extensive 
smithy driven by water-power. Here, it is said, the first iron 
sternpost was made and sent to Greenock, The fireclay used was 
obtained from a 6-foot seam, 150 yards further up the burn. 
On the banks of this stream were found the two species of 
Chrysosplenium, The little valley through which the burn flows 
was ascended to the more open moorland. Here the cup and ring 
markings, whose existence was made known some years ago, were 
visited. They are less distinct than four years ago, and even those 
recently laid bare show signs of weathering, while all are suffering 
from the trampling of visitors over the bared sandstone out of 
which they have beencarved. Leaving these mysterious markings, 
the party entered the policies of Cochno. This estate belongs to 
Claud Hamilton, Esq., and is tenanted by William Donaldson, 
Esq., Iron Merchant, Glasgow, who has twice kindly given the 
Society permission to visit it. The former visit was made on 6th 
September, 1890. The Hamiltons of Cochno are allied to the 
ducal family. About the middle of the 16th century, Andrew 
Hamilton of Cochno was Provost of Glasgow. Seven centuries 
ago the second Earl of Lennox confirmed a “ gift to the Church of 
Kilpatrick of the lands of Cochnach, Edinbarnet, and Cultbuie.” 
Tn the policies a number of the larger trees were measured. To 
the east of the house is a fine Beech with a girth of 12 ft. 24 in, 
at the narrowest part of the stem, 34 ft. from the ground, 
showing an increase of 3 in. since our former visit. The 
special feature of this tree is the great size of two branches 
which go off on opposite sides at 5 ft. 6 in. from the ground, and 
extend far out, The western branch girths 6 ft. 1} in. at 2 ft. 
from the main trunk, and the eastern 5 ft, 6 in. at 1 ft., while the 
diameter of the spread is 994 ft. In Mr. R. Hutchison’s list in 
the Highland and Agricultural Society's Transactions, 1881, of Old 
and Remarkable Beeches in Scotland, he notes somewhere about 
224 trees, and of those of which the spread is given only 13 exceed 
this. Another Beech, in a little plantation to the north of the 
house, has a circumference of 12 ft. 9 in. at 3 ft., an increase of 5 
in. since our last measurement. The first branch goes off at 5 ft, 
A Yew, a female tree, with a bole of 9 ft., girths 7 ft. 1 in. at 4 
ft. 6 in., an increase of 1} in. An Oak has a circumference of 10 
ft, 2 in, at 24 ft, up, an increase of 1 in, The bole is 9 ft, in 
