Transactions. 141 



take their names from two classes of society among the Saxons — 

 the former from the ceorles or middle class, and the latter from 

 the boors or lowest class, the tlianes being the highest. The 

 suffixes, bery and law, mean respectively a liill, and a rising 

 ground, examples Greenlaw, and Raeberry. Den and shaio, a 

 wooded valley, and a wooded hill, or height, Clouden and 

 Clatteringshaws. This latter may be taken as an instance where 

 the meaning is greatly obscured by modern spelling. In tlie 

 Valuation Roll of 1642 it is spelled Catteringshaws, which means 

 the wooded point of the hill frequented by the wild cat. That 

 wild cats abounded in this locality is evident from the neighbour- 

 ing lands formerly being called Catbellie, wild cats being common 

 in Galloway until after the beginning of the present century ; 

 but since they no longer prowl in that neighbourhood, or yet the 

 wolf in Strathmaddie, and the badger having ceased to make his 

 hole in Beithrock, the scream of the eagle being no longer heard 

 at Auchenlairie, and the wild sow having deserted Dunmuck, 

 the roebuck having fled from Eaeberry, and the fox from Knock- 

 shinny, these together with the ceorles and boors would alike be 

 forgotten were it not that their memory lives through their 

 names being given to the places which they had inhabited. In 

 concluding these remarks, I would submit that the Antiquarian 

 Section of the Association might find congenial work in rescuing 

 from obscurity these beautifully descriptive, yet fast waning 

 place-names. The Natural History Section might also be 

 induced to assist, as it would add to the interest of any floral or 

 other specimen they picked up, if, while noting the name of the 

 locality, they were likewise able to record how it had obtained 

 that name. 



bth February, 1886. 



Dr Grierson, President, in the Chair. Forty-three 

 members present. 



New Members. — Dr Hunter Dryden, Dumfries ; Dr Robertson, 

 Penpont ; Mr Robson, Penpont ; Messrs J. Gumming, M. 

 M'Innes, and T. C. M'Kettrick, Dumfries. 



Donations. — Mr W. J. Maxwell presented on belialf of Captain 

 Maxwell of Terregles five rare birds from New Zealand, includ- 

 ing the ground parrot, Stringops hahroptiliis; four local birds — two 



