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 during a recent visit. 
18th January, 1884. 
Dr Gixncnrist, President, in the Chair. Forty 
members present. 
A Special Meeting of the Society was held this evening in the 
Greyfriars’ smaller hall for the purpose of giving the members an 
opportunity of exhibiting and describing objects of interest which 
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 had been found in Torthorwald Parish, 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 8S. A. Chrystie. 
