REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 99 



a fine display of wild flowers, amongst which the Blue Wood 

 Hyacinth and Red Campion were notably conspicuous. 



For several centuries this property was possessed by the 

 Barclays, of Ladyland, a branch of the Barclays, of Kilbowie, 

 descended from the Ardrossan famUy. Hew Barclay, of Lady- 

 land, was a friend and companion of Alexander Montgomerie, 

 author of " The Cherry and the Slae," rand himself a poet of no 

 mean order, as appears from two sonnets written in his happier 

 days. He afterwards embraced the Roman Catholic faith, took 

 part in a conspiracy for a Spanish invasion of Scotland, and was 

 drowned at Ailsa Craig when about to be apprehended by Mr. 

 Andrew Knox, minister, of Paisley, and several other gentlemen 

 who had gone thither for that purpose. About the year 1631 

 Ladyland passed from the Barclays, and after several trans- 

 missions was acquired by Captain William Hamilton. This laird 

 was noted for his attachment to the Presbyterian cause during the 

 period of Episcopal ascendency in the reign of Charles II. 

 Having refused the test he was in 1684 deprived of his military 

 rank, but was subsequently restored to favour, and died in battle 

 fighting against the French before the year 1690. After other 

 transmissions the estate was purchased about the year 1718 

 by William Cochran, of Edge, ancestor of the present 

 proprietrix. 



SoRN, 23rd June, 1906. — Mr. John Renwick, conductor. — The 

 party travelled by rail to Catrine, and walked to Sorn. Up till 

 the latter part of the eighteenth century, Catrine was nothing 

 more than a very small hamlet, although notable in former times 

 as the place where the court of the Bailiary of Kyle-Stewart was 

 held for the administration of justice. It afterwards rose into 

 considerable importance through the erection of extensive mills 

 for the spinning of cotton, which were commenced in 1786 by 

 Claud Alexander, of Ballochmyle, and David Dale, merchant in 

 Glasgow. In the neighbourhood of the town, a path through 

 wood and coppice is carried along the summit of the precipitous 

 banks of the Ayr, from whence are obtainable some fine views of 

 beautiful river scenery. As access to the woods and policies at 

 Sorn Castle had been kindly granted to the party, some time was 

 pleasantly spent in exploring their sheltered recesses. Numerous 



