Transactions. 9 



Southport is noted for the rapidity of its growth, and also 

 for the peculiarity of its site. It is built in the centre of a 

 sandy district, about three miles in diameter, which is ter- 

 minated on the western side by the sea. The rocks of the district 

 are Triassic, being extensions of the Cumberland and Westmor- 

 land hills. The flora is rich and varied, and, with regard to 

 many species, unique, owing to the influence of the sandy soil 

 and the sea. As an illustration to the paper, he exhibited 

 numerous specimens of the plants and a few pieces of the rocks 

 collected there durincr a recent visit. 



I8th January, 1884. 



Dr Gilchrist, President, in the Chair. Forty 

 members present. 

 A Special Meeting of the Society was held this evening in the 

 Greyfriars' smaller hall for the purpo.se of giving tlie members an 

 opportunity of exhibiting and describing objects of interest wliich 

 they possessed. Dr Gilchrist exhibited several specimens of 

 minerals from the Leadhills and other localities. Mr Wilson 

 exhibited about 100 specimens of mosses, and recommended the 

 botanical members to take up that branch of study, as the speci- 

 mens were to be found at all seasons. Mr Lennon exhibited two 

 cases of Lepidoptera. Mrs Murray sent a piece of the counter- 

 pane which covered the bed on which Queen Mary slept at 

 Terregles House. Mr James Lennox shewed two fine specimens 

 of bronze spear heads. The Secretary (Mr Rutherford) exhibited 

 a bronze ball, which bad been found in Torthorwald Parisli, 3 ft. 

 3 in. beneath the surface. The ball was submitted to Mr Dudgeon 

 of Cargen, who sent it to the National Museum, Edinburgh, 

 where it was analysed, and found to be composed as follows : — 

 Copper, 62-9; tin, 13-7; zinc, 12*2; lead, 8*8; iron, 0-6; sili- 

 cious matter, 1'4. A note accompanied these results, stating 

 " that none of the authorities in these matters can make out 

 what it has been intended for ; no similar bit of bronze has been 

 seen before." Other objects of interest were exhibited by Mrs 

 M'Kenzie, Miss Burnet, and Mr S. A. Chrystie. 



