Stone Found in Kirkconnel Churchyard. 209 



more or less voluntarily from the bird's bill. The flight of the 

 swift southwards took place annually almost to a day about the 

 first of August. So strong was the migratory instinct that they 

 would even leave late nestlings to starve rather than miss the 

 migration. 



Through the hospitality of Miss Hannay those present were 

 entertained to tea, and Miss Hannay was thanked on the motion 

 of the Chairman. 



Note on Stone Found in Kirkconnel Churchyard. By 

 Lady Johnson-Ferguson. 



During the summer of 1907 the caretaker of Kirkconnel 

 Churchyard, Springkell, was setting straight a tombstone which 

 was falling over, and, in relaying the grass, touched with his 

 spade a large piece of stone. This on being turned over showed 

 the carving as seen in the photo. It is a dark grey stone, and 

 lay quite near the surface of the ground, in a part of the church- 

 yard full of tombstones of various more or less modern date. 

 There were no other pieces found, nor any remains of the large 

 tombstone of which this apparently formed a part. The stone 

 measures roughly 22 in. by 21 in., and the carving is raised 2 

 inches from the surface. Mr Barbour forwarded a copy of the 

 photo to Dr Anderson, the Museum, Edinburgh, who submitted 

 it to Sir J. Balfour Paul, Lyon King. The following are copies 

 of Dr Anderson's and Sir J. Balfour Paul's letters: — 



Queen Street, Edinburgh, 

 Oct. 30th, 1907. 

 Dear Mr Barbour, — 



I sent the photo to Mr Lyon King, and 

 the enclosed is his reply. The stone is a very interesting 



one 



Yours truly, 



(Signed) J. Anderson. 



