1711 Fif'hl Mi'rlhiil^. 



M'heu sculpture had leauhed a liigli stage of excelleuoe. Cau the effigy be 

 ascribed to John MacGilhauck, rector of Parton, and secretary to the 

 Countess Margaret? 



Having seen the ruins, cfec, the party crossed the railway to 

 inspect a moat in tlie adjoining field. This one is not very large, 

 being only 120 yards in circumference. It is surrounded by a 

 ditch 9 feet deep. From here the party retired to the Manse, 

 wliere they were hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs 

 Pattullo. After partaking of refreshments, a short business 

 meeting was held in tlie dining room — Dr Gilchrist presiding. 

 Miss Stewart, Dumfries ; Messrs J. Coghlan, Castle-Douglas ; T. 

 A. Moryson and J. Selman, Dumfries, were elected new mem- 

 bers. The Secretary submitted a letter received from the Cum- 

 berland and Westmoreland Antiquarian Society, stating that 

 that Society purposed visiting Carlaverock Castle, Comlongan 

 Castle, and the Ruthwell Cross in July, and inviting this Society 

 to take part in the excursion. It was agreed to join in the 

 excursion, and the Secretary was instructed to make the neces- 

 sary arrangements. The Secretary also submitted an invitation 

 from W. H. Maxwell, Esq., to visit the Munches district, and it 

 was agreed to have a special excursion there, on 2.5th July, if 

 that date would be convenient. Mr Pattullo exhibited a number 

 of curiosities, including drinking vessels and native pottery from 

 the Fiji Islands, which had been sent liim by his son, Dr Pattullo, 

 who is residing there. 



As time would not permit visiting the " Cow's Clout," which 

 was about three miles distant, some of the party agreed to visit 

 Lowe's seat at Airds ; while the botanists, under the guidance of 

 Mr Walker of Crossmichael, who had kindly placed a boat at 

 their service, proceeded to explore one of the lake dwellings in 

 Loch Ken. With the exception of a few piles standing in the 

 water, no other trace of the dwelling could be seen. 



The following were among the plants found during the day : — 

 TroUius eurojxf.us, Draba verna, Polygala vulgaris, Spergularia rubra, 

 Ornithojms 2^e7-pnsillus, Vicia angvsiifolia,ya.r. Bobartli, Primus padus, 

 Sedum anglicum, Meum athamanticum (not common about Dumfries, 

 but very abundant in the meadows along the Ken), Veronica 

 agrestis, and Lysimachia nemorum, Botnjcldum Limaria, in a field at 

 Chapelbrae, and Nitella opaca, very abundant in the Ken. 



