EXCURSIONS IN STIRLINGSHIRE. 1 29 



latifolium (which is very rare in Scotland and was discovered at 

 this station by Mr. Johnston Shearer in 1889), Lycopus europaus, 

 and Lysimachia thyrsiflora. A large colony of house-martins 

 (Chelidon urbica) was noted at the railway viaduct over the Red 

 Burn at Castlecary. The nests were built under the coping 

 stones of the bridge, but this proximity to the line, and the 

 rumbling of the passing trains, did not seem to disturb the busy 

 birds in the least. In Bonnymuir Wood a hedge-hog (Erinaceus 

 europceus) in its nest was found. 



On 29th April, 1893, Dullatar, in the outlying portion of 

 Dumbarton bordering on Stirlingshire, formed the point of 

 departure for an excursion to Cumbernauld estate by way of 

 Castlecary Glen. From the station the route for some distance 

 lay along the line of the Roman Wall, the fosse of which is easily 

 traceable, as far as it was followed by the party. The marshy 

 portion of the ditch was crowded with the beautiful yellow 

 clusters of the marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris), while the lady's- 

 smock (Cardamine pratensis) and the water starwort (Callitriche 

 verna) were very abundant. Westerwood Farm, not far from the 

 wall, was pointed out as the site of one of four Roman forts, 

 traces of which have been found in the neighbourhood. Castle- 

 cary Glen was entered near the Red Burn, at a point where lie 

 the ruins of an old chapel supposed to have been erected by the 

 Culdees. A white beam tree (Pyrus Aria) was measured here, 

 and girthed 7^ feet at 2 feet 8 inches south. The early flowering 

 of our common woodland plants was evidenced in every part of 

 the glen ; not for many years had vegetation been so far advanced. 

 The wild hyacinth (Scilla nutans), red campion {Lychtiis diurna), 

 the greater stitchwort (Stellaria Holostea), sweet cicely (Myrrhis 

 odorata), beaked parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), wood-anemone 

 (Anemone nemorosa), wood-sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) and the 

 marsh-violet ( Viola palustris) were all in full bloom. The small 

 hairy woodrush (Luzula pilosa) was exceedingly common, while 

 the great hairy woodrush (L. sylvatica) was met with along the 

 stream. Of the lesser trees the gean (Prunus Avium) was most 

 conspicuous, being loaded with blossom. The hag-berry {Prunus 

 Padus) and the sloe (P. spinosa) had also a plentiful show of 

 flowers. On leaving Castlecary Glen the route was retraced along 

 the railway embankment towards Cumbernauld Glen. The orpine 



