184 Transactions. 
henceforth rank not as a mere “camp,” but as a Roman station 
of the first class, intended probably as a defence of the great 
Southern Wall. Successfully assailed by superior numbers, the 
legionaries had, perhaps oftener than once, to abandon it, finding 
it on their return a mass of ruins. Such at least is the tale the 
excavations seenis to tell. How often it was rebuilt by them or, 
as it may be, by other invading or by native tribes, it may be 
impossible to say. But a careful study of the various appear- 
ances it is seen to present will doubtless be made, and the veil 
that has hitherto shrouded the past may be lifted, at least in part. 
Greater interest than ever now attaches to Birrenswark. The 
camps there differ in many respects from Birrens, but from any 
point of view are worthy a careful examination. In other parts 
of Dumfriesshire are ancient strongholds to which attention is 
now naturally drawn. Raeburnfoot, in Eskdale, as described by 
its discoverer in the ‘“ New Statistical Account of Scotland,” has 
not a few of the characteristics of a Roman camp or fort. Nothing, 
however, it would appear, has been done to satisfy the inquirer 
as to its real origin. At no great distance from it is Castle O’er, 
which has been a fort of great strength though less Roman like 
in form; and in the north of Middlebie,‘on Birrens Hill, is a 
remarkable quadrangular fort that seems to have hitherto almost 
escaped notice. 
The following is the substance of Mr Barbour’s statement : 
Although the exploratory works are not yet so complete as to 
admit of all the lines being fully traced, enough has been done to 
show that the entire area of the interior of the camp was occupied 
with buildings of various kinds, and the roads about them. The 
character of the roads and structures and their arrangement are 
deserving of careful study. The plan displayed is found to be 
highly symmetrical. It shows a main road extending from the 
north gateway to the south end of the camp, and one running 
from the east gateway to the west. These divide the camp into 
four rectangular spaces, the two at the south end being the 
smaller, and these spaces again are subdivided by numerous sub- 
sidiary roads or lanes running parallel with one or other of the 
main thoroughfares. It has not been ascertained whether the 
north-to-south road was continuous or if it was blocked north of 
the crossing by a central] building—the Prztorium or the Forum 
—confirm to the arrangement found to obtain in some other 
camps. The roadways generally are formed of a thick bed of 
