GYPSIES. 173 
in a way that no other had, the real, the tragic, and the 
picturesque characteristics of gypsies. The lecture was illus- 
trated with lantern slides, principally from photographs by Mr 
M‘Cormick. 
16th March, 1906. 
Chairman—Dr J. MaxweE tt Ross, Vice-President. 
New MemBer.—Mrs M‘Lachlan, Dryfemount, Lockerbie. 
It was agreed to minute the congratulations of the society to 
the Duke of Buccleuch, a life member of the society, on the anni- 
versary of the conferment of the first Scottish Peerage to the 
family, this being the date of the anniversary, and the secretary 
was requested to send the Duke of Buccleuch an extract of the 
minute. 
Tue Scoto-NorsE PERIOD IN DUMFRIESSHIRE. By Rev. W. L. 
STEPHEN. 
The forces which have in the past moulded our national life 
are the natural objects of study in societies such as this. Many of 
these old world forces have received adequate study. In the 
case of the Roman occupation, for instance, there has been no 
lack of eager, careful, exact students. The traces or relics of that 
period are sufficiently familiar to us; but with the withdrawal of 
the Roman legions this country was subjected to a force and an 
influence which have not been, it seems to me, sufficiently investi- 
gated. That influence was the Norse, and in using the word 
Norse I use it as including the Scandinavian and also in certain 
points the Danish races. You have, first of all, to appreciate 
the influence of the Norsemen on Europe before one can. suffi- 
ciently appreciate their influence on Scotland. The bleak and 
somewhat grim conditions of life in the desolate regions of the 
North had sent out a race of men who were fitly nursed for fighting 
under all conditions. levelling in “the hazard of trackless 
ways ’’ they wandered over all Europe. One group, passing 
across to the east of the Baltic, in course of time set their leader 
