&BPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 335 



Mr. Wilson pointed out the remains of one of the places where 

 the manufacture of gunpowder used to be carried on, evidence 

 of which was also to be seen in the number and variety of the 

 Alders growing near, the Alder being used in the manufacture. 

 He also gave some account of the birds of the district, though 

 the birds themselves were exceedingly infrequent, and but few 

 could be seen. He further spoke of the woods as being good 

 ground for botanical work, but the slopes adjoining the Gore are 

 mainly covered with " Dog's Mercury " and fems. A search 

 was made for fungi, but few were seen until the South Esk was 

 reached, when a fairly good series was obtained. 



The glen of the South Esk is deep and well wooded on both 

 sides. At various points, where the ground was wet, Siellaria 

 aquatica was growing in great profusion, trailing over the 

 " Dog's Mercury " with stems one to three feet long. Circaea 

 lutetiana and Angelica sylvestris were in great abundance, both 

 in flower and fruit. The woods had fine representatives of Oak 

 and Beech trees, and near the path were some large Geans 

 and three or four beautiful Spanish Chestnuts, one of which 

 meaiiured 13i feet at 4 feet 4 inches on south-east side. Some 

 bushes of Viburnum lantana, Euonymus japouicus, and Berheris 

 vulgaris, were veiy conspicuous with their highly-coloured 

 fruits. The Philadelphoris coronarius (the False Orange) 

 seemed to have been largely planted, and one bush of the 

 Juniper was noticed growing on tlie banks of the stream. 

 About noon Amiston House was reached, wliere the party were 

 hospitably entertained by Sir Robert Dundas, Bart. A halt of 

 twenty minutes for lunch was made, and then the way was 

 continued to Temple, Amiston being left for inspection on the 

 way back. In the glen opposite Amiston were a number of 

 introduced shrubs and trees, one or two specimens of Abies 

 nobilis being very conspicuous with their silvery foliage. There 

 was also a fine clump of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). 

 The bushes seemed veiy healthy and well gro^^^3, but bore no 

 fruit. On the side of the stream at Temple was a large Ash, 

 14 feet \\ inches at 5 feet 3 inches on west side. In the centre 

 of the fork, about 30 feet from the ground, a young Elm was 

 growing. 



The Rev. J. W. Blake, M.A., minister of Temple, now joined 



