296 Notes on the Summer Excursions of 1 896. [Sess. 



but fortunately the sea was calm, so that a landing was easily 

 effected. 



The innumerable sea-birds were an object of much interest 

 to the members, and a beautiful photograph of a portion of the 

 rock with the birds resting upon it was taken by one of our 

 members, Mr Alister Murray. 



Two rare plants are found on the Bass — the Sea-beet {Beta 

 maritime/,) and the Tree-mallow (Lavatcra arborea), the latter 

 probably introduced. 



VI I. a. — Dredging Excursion. 



On the same day as the Bass Rock excursion, the Fishery 

 Board steamer, The Garland, was placed at the disposal of the 

 Society, through the kindness of Dr Wemyss Fulton ; and, 

 under the guidance of Mr Thomas Scott, about forty members 

 availed themselves of the opportunity of seeing the practical 

 operations of dredging and trawling. The weather being 

 favourable, numerous interesting examples of the marine fauna 

 of the district were obtained. 



VIII. — Musselburgh and the Esk. 



An evening excursion took place on Wednesday, June 17, 

 under the leadership of the Secretary, to Musselburgh and the 

 Esk. The evening was devoted to botanical work, and amongst 

 the plants gathered were Stellaria nemorum, Carduus tenui- 

 florus, Vicia sativa, Tanacetum vulgare, Scrophularia nodosa, 

 S. Ehiiiarti (a new station for this plant), and several species 

 of Salix, &c. 



IX. — Millport. 



A dredging excursion to Millport was arranged for Satur- 

 day, June 20, but the day being very unfavourable, only ten 

 members ventured. Leaving the Caledonian Station at 9 A.M., 

 and travelling vid Wemyss Bay, the party, under the leader- 

 ship of Mr Crawford, reached Millport soon after mid-day, but, 

 greatly to their disappointment, the state of the weather pre- 

 vented dredging operations being undertaken. They, however, 

 visited the marine station then located in the little vessel 

 called the Ark, where they were most courteously received by 



