32 RENFREWSHIRE EXCURSIONS. 



varied trees — deciduous and evergreen — has been carried out by 

 a master hand, the effects being most pleasing from whatever 

 points the woodland groups are viewed. Proceeding up the 

 approach from the Houston Lodge, a rowan-tree was noted as 

 having attained a good size for the species. It measured 5 feet 



10 inches in girth at 3 feet on the east side. On the way to the 

 keeper's lodge to see the pheasant-rearing enclosure, a beech of 

 large size on the left of the approach was measured. At 3 feet 

 5 inches on the west-south-west side the girth of the trunk was 



1 1 feet 8| inches. After a pleasant and leisurely perambulation 

 of Southbarr, the road was taken to Northbarr House (now the 

 property of Campbell of Blythswood), recently known as House 

 of Hill, which occupies a commanding situation amid surround- 

 ings which have been enhanced by the art of the gardener and 

 woodman. Close to the mansion house, in a bit of woodland, 

 the cuckoo-pint (Arum maculatuni) was found growing luxuriantly 

 and in patches of considerable size, and a bed of the snake-weed 

 {Polygonum Bistorta) Was also noted. On the lawn opposite the 

 house formerly stood a pair of large ash trees, one of which was 

 blown down ten years since. The remaining tree is in fairly good 

 condition, and measures 1 2 feet 4 J inches in girth at 3J feet from 

 the ground. Two walnut trees, neither of great size, stand in prox- 

 imity. North of the house stands a spreading yew tree (female) 

 which has a good bole of some height, measuring 7 feet at 3 feet. 



Erskine Parish. — On three occasions excursions have been 

 made to localities in this parish. Langbank was visited on a 

 beautiful autumn afternoon in 1886 by a small party, who had the 

 advantage of being conducted by Mr. John Renfrew, an ardent 

 young local entomologist, who also showed those present his 

 extensive collection of Lepidoptera made in the district. The 

 shepherd's needle or Venus's comb (Scandix Pecten- Veneris), an 

 umbellifer, rare hereabouts, was gathered not far from the station, 

 and the common flax (Linum usitatissimurri) occurred in the same 

 vicinity. 



In the spring of 1889 the district round Bishopton was visited, 

 the estate of Dargavel being the first point of interest. This estate 

 became in the beginning of the sixteenth century the patrimony 

 of a branch of the Maxwells of Newark, and remains in the 



