90 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



period of the Reformation, however, these lands of Kilbiyd- 

 Ciinynghame came into the possession of Alexander, fifth Earl 

 of Glencairn, and were bestowed by him upon his kinsmen. The 

 portion known as Carlung became the property of Hew 

 Cuninghame of Watterstoun, ancestor ef the Cuninghames of 

 Cai-lung, with whose descendants it remained till 1799. 



A whinstone quarry, noticed in the descent of Crosshill, 

 afforded an excellent view of a section of the large trap-dyke 

 Avhich forms the nucleus of the hill, and has enabled it to with- 

 stand the levelling influence of glacial and other agencies. On 

 the dry hillside, near the quarry, grew several plants of Senecio 

 sylvaticus, L. Specimens of Borage (Borago officinalis, L.) and 

 Gladdon {Iris fmtidissima, L.) occun'ed on the roadside close to 

 the garden at Yonderfields Farm, from which they had doubtless 

 been cast out or had escaped. 



At Portincross the party divided into two sections, according 

 to their desire to return by an early or later train. Those who 

 chose the latter alternative lingered beside the old weather- 

 beaten castle, and recalled some of its historical associations. 

 Through permission, kindly granted by the proprietor (Mr. 

 William Adams), an opportunity was afforded for exploring the 

 castle and ascending to the roof. With commendable cai'e, Mr. 

 Adams has recently made extensive repairs upon the building, 

 which should have tlie eft'eot of long preserving this interesting 

 relic of bygone times from the fate which has befallen so many 

 of the ancient baronial castles of Scotland. 



From documentary evidence dating from the beginning of the 

 seventeenth centuiy, it is cei-tain that at Portincross, as late as 

 that period, there existed one of those steadings known as 

 " Temple-lands," which are believed to have been bestowed upon 

 the Knights-Templar during the period of crusading zeal, and 

 afterwards came into the possession of the Knights of the Hos- 

 pital of St. John of Jerusalem. As to the exact location of the 

 " Tempill-Portincroce," tradition is silent, but we may surmise 

 that it must have been somewhere very near the old castle and 

 little rock-girt harbour, for it is to the promontory alone that 

 the name Portincross is applied. And, seeing that the cross 

 was very specially the landmark used by the Knights-Templar 

 and Knights of the Hospital of St. John for indicating the 



