REPORTS ON EXCURSION'S. 9n 



where they were met by twenty-three others, consisting of 

 members of the West Kjibride Natural History and Archjeo- 

 logical Society and several of their friends. The weather was 

 fine, but the coldness of the wind was hardlv suggestive of 

 approaching summer. The Dairy Road was followed for about 

 two miles, from West Kilbride to Blackshaw. The strident note 

 of the corncrake {Crex pratensis) was heard, and a white wagtail 

 {Motacilla alba) was seen. Numerous early-blooming wild-flowers 

 — such as Marsh-^NIarigold, Wood- Violet, Wood-S6rrel, Red 

 Campion, Purple Orchis, Hare's-tail, Cotton grass, itc. — were 

 observed displaying their blossoms. Among the cryptogams noted 

 were Puccinia albescens, Grev., in its cluster-cup or a?cidiospore 

 condition, parasitic on Adoxa nioschatellina ; Evernia furfuracea 

 Fr. ; and Bceomyces rufun DC, bearing its pretty little pink 

 apothecia. A passing visit was made to the site of the cup-and- 

 ring markings near Blackshaw, but it was found that most of the 

 inscribed rock-surface had been covered with soil from an 

 adjacent ploughed field. From this point to West Kilbride the 

 party returned by way of the " Old Dairy Road," from which, in 

 the course of the steep descent along the eastern slope of Law 

 Hill, a splendid view was obtained of the waters and islands of 

 the Firth. 



Gareloch, 12th May. 1906.— Report by Mr. D. A. Boyd. 

 Mr. N. G. Reid, conductor. This excursion, which took place in 

 favourable weather, was attended by three members only, viz. : — 

 Messrs. D. A. Boyd, R. Garry, B.Sc, and N. G. Reid. The 

 party travelled by rail to Craigendoran, crossed by steamer to 

 Clynder, and followed the road along the loch side from that 

 point to Garelochhead. In the neighbourhood of Barreman, 

 specimens were observed of Oniscus asellns, L.. and Philoscia 

 muscorum, Scop., two species of land Isopods. The following 

 Microfungi were also noted : — Peronospora ficaria-., Tul. — on 

 Ranunculus Ficaria : Protorayces macrosporus, Ung. — on 

 .Egopodium Podagraria : P. hellidig, Krieger. — on Eellis 

 perennis ; Uromijces ficarice, Schum. — on Pattuticulus Ficaria; 

 Puccinia violcB, Schum. — as J!cidium, on Viola sylvutica ; P. 

 vimvinellfe, Strauss. — as uEcidium, on Myrrhis odorata ; P. caricis, 

 Schum. — as ^Ecidium urticce, on Urtica dioica ; Melampsora 



