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



Ravelston, situated near Corstorphine Hill, belonged at the end of the 

 sixteenth century to George Foulis, whose son was created a baronet in 

 1661. The second baronet, Sir Archibald, was "out in the '45," and was 

 executed at Carlisle for his share in that unfortunate affair. On succeed- 

 ing to the estate of Dunipace he took the name of Primrose, and in 1726 sold 

 Ravelston to Alexander Keith, a descendant of the third Earl Marischal. 

 His son Alexander (1705-1792) built the present mansion, and here he was 

 often visited by his kinsman, Sir Walter Scott, who is said to have taken 

 from the old-fashioned formal gardens some of the features of Tully-Veolan 

 in 'AVaverley.' The son who succeeded to the estate in 1792 received a 

 baronetcy on the occasion of the visit of George IV. to Edinburgh in 1822 ; 

 and on his death in 1832 Ravelston passed to his son-in-law, Sir William 

 Keith Murray of Ochtertyre, whose son, Sir Patrick, sold it in 1872 to his 

 uncle, John Murray Gartshore, Esq., the father of the present proprietrix, 

 by whom extensive additions have been made to the house. 



XII. — Dalkeith. 



On Saturday, July 11, there was a botanical excursion 

 through the grounds of Dalkeith Palace, under the guidance of 

 the Secretary, when several interesting plants were gathered, 

 amongst them being — Campanula latifolia, Scrophularia 

 Ehrharti, Circtea lutetiana, Lastrea rigida, Cystopteris fragilis, 

 Fistulina hepatica, Cantharellus cibarius, Amanita verna, and 

 A. rubescens, &c. 



XIII. — Slateford. 



Under the leadership of Dr Watson, an evening excursion 

 took place on Wednesday, July 15, to Slateford. Amongst 

 the plants collected were — Bromus asper, Melica uniflora, 

 Circa^a lutetiana, and Lycogala epidendron. 



XIV. — Balerno. 



An entomological excursion to Balerno was arranged for 

 Saturday, July 25, but, owing to the unfavourable weather, it 

 had to be postponed until Wednesday, the 29th, when, under 

 the leadership of Mr Grimshaw, a party of seventeen started 

 for Balerno. The weather was again unfavourable, however, 

 and nothing could be done, though Dr Watson discovered 

 Goodyera repens in the district. 



