RECORDS OF EXCURSIONS IN AYRSHIRE. 33 



Draba, Artemisia vulgaris, and Convolvulus arvensis. This last 

 rare plant was growing in profusion, and presented a magnificent 

 sight with its creeping stems and branches decked with pink and 

 white blossoms. 



On the south shore Triticum caninum, T. junceum, Psamma 

 arenaria, Blysmus rufus, Juncus compressus and its var. ccenosus, 

 Scirpus maritimus, Carex binervis, C. muricata, C. flava, C. ovalis, 

 Spergularia marina, Honckenya peploides, Glaux maritima, Erod- 

 ium cicutarium, Salsola Kali, Cakile maritima, and others, were got. 



On the railway banks were plenty of Lychnis vespertina 

 and Lepidium Smithii, and at one part near Barassie Station, 

 Campanula rapunculoides. 



In Fullarton Woods the rare orchid Goodyera repens, and 

 the lesser winter-green (Pyrola minor) occur. 



On the Ballast Bank, land shells occur in great quantities, 

 amongst which are to be found Bulimus acutus and its var. bizona, 

 Helix virgata, H. aculeata ; and, under the stones close on the 

 shore, H. aspersa, along with abundance of the common slater 

 (Porcellio scaber), and here and there the pea-slater {P. armadilloides) 

 which rolls itself up into a ball when touched. 



The Glasgow Autumn Holiday, 3rd October, 1889, was spent 

 by forty-four members of the Society in the Mauchline district, the 

 estate of Barskimming being first visited. Here, for a considerable 

 distance, the Ayr Water has cut a deep ravine through the red 

 sandstone rock, the rich warm brick-red colour of the rock at 

 many parts contrasting finely with the autumn tints of the decaying 

 foliage. A path leads along the right bank of the river, and 

 much to the convenience of the sight-seer, tunnels have been cut 

 out of the rock, at a short distance above the level of the water. 

 Senecio saracenicus is eminently a Garnock Valley plant, but here 

 about a score of rather weak specimens of it may be seen 

 growing on the right bank of the Ayr. Bromus asper, Epilobium 

 angustifolium, and Viburnum Opulus were found growing in the 

 wood. Fungi were abundant, the chanterelle (Canlharellus 

 cibarius), a good edible species, and one not generally common 

 in Ayrshire, being conspicuous. Near the new bridge in the 

 policies there is a tree of considerable size which was considered 

 to be the Norway maple {Acer platan aides), with short trunk, the 



