Transactions. . 7 



breed upon Ailsa Craig. It is a most successful fisher. The 

 short-eared owl (asio accipitrinus P.) seems to be very plentiful this 

 winter. I had more of them than I ever recollect of having in 

 one season before. I also received lately a very curious speci- 

 men of the grey hen assuming the plumage of the cock ; she is 

 considerably larger than the common grey hen, and has a curious 

 mottled appearance— black and grey all over. About the begin- 

 ning of last month I received a good specimen of the red-breasted 

 Tiievga.nsev (mergus serrator L.), and in winter plumage; it subsists 

 upon tish, and lias the bill teethed like a saw for the purpose of 

 holding its slippery prey. It is not uncommon about the outer 

 Hebrides, and also in the Orkney Islands. These are a few 

 specimens that I have thought worth taking notice of — some for 

 their rarity in the district, and others for their appearance in 

 greater numbers than usual. I may also mention that squirrels 

 are now very plentiful throughout the country. 



II. Notes on Lincluden Abbey, No. 1. By Mr James Barbour. 

 For this important communication, see proceedings of 7th 

 March, 1884, as it is combined with No. 2, which was tlien read, 

 for the purpose of giving a more concise and complete description 

 of this noble edifice, and of the ruins recently unearthed by the 

 excavations conducted by Captain Maxwell. 



Aith January, 1884. 



Dr Gilchrist, President, in the Chair. Twenty-seven 

 members present. 



New Members. — Mr J. M. Aitken, Ravcnshill ; Mrs Baird, 

 Mrs M'Kenzie, and Mrs M'Gowan were elected ordinary 

 members; and Messrs G. F. Black and R. Henderson corre- 

 sponding members. 



Exhibits. — Mr W. Adamson exhibited specimens of Coralline 

 limestone and trap rocks from Winnipeg and Niagara. Mr 

 Henderson exhibited numerous specimens of grasses and flower- 

 ing plants from Manitoba, and the skins of several wild animals, 

 including the badger, goffer, squirrel, and skunk. He stated 

 that the specimens of wheat and oats on the table were each 

 grown from a single grain, and that it was not unusual for the 



