Anniversary Address. 61 



be laid in his own house, were assembled, the Rev. J. D. 

 Clark, William Dickson, J. C. Langlands, P. T. Dickson, J. 

 and W. Boyd, G. Hughes, Gr. Tate, Kevds. W. Cumby, C. 

 Dowson, C. Thorp, and F. R. Simpson, and the Secretary 

 and President ; Dr. Robson, Dr. Marshall, and Mr. Graham 

 as visitors. After dinner Mr. Dickson read a paper on the 

 ancient Font of the Parish Church of Rothbury, of which he 

 exhibited a drawing. A paper on the prior existence of the 

 Beaver {Castor Fiber) in Scotland, from the pen of Dr. 

 Charles Wilson, and some observations on the habits of the 

 Common Cowry {Cyprcea europcea) were read by the Secre- 

 tary. Dr. Robson, of Belford, and Dr. Marshall, of Annstead, 

 were proposed as members, and the election of the members 

 proposed at the last meeting was confirmed. 



The next meeting of the Club was at Earlston, on June 

 24th, and was attended by only three members, — Dr. Geo. 

 Douglas, Mr. William Boyd, and the Secretary. The Rev. Mr. 

 Swan, of Smailholme, and his brother, favoured the members 

 with their company as visitors. A sumptuous breakfast and 

 dinner had been prepared in anticipation of a large gathering. 

 The day was beautiful, and the haughs of Leader as enticing 

 as of yore, and the rich golden flowers of the " bonnie broom" 

 of Cowdenknows added greatly to the beauty of the scenery. 

 Thomas the Rhymer, or Thomas of Ercildown, the ancient 

 name of the Parish, was born here, in the thirteenth century, 

 and there is still a fragment left of the Rhymer's Tower. 

 Several insects were captured, and amongst the plants observed 

 may be mentioned, Mentha viridis, Lepidium Smithii, Oeum 

 intermedium in both states, and Rumex sanguineus. The 

 Church of Earlston is modern. It was erected in 1786, dis- 

 placing the ancient structure. Its registers date from 1694. 

 The Parish is not in general mountainous, though there is one 

 hill to the south of the town 1000 feet above the level of the 

 sea, on which there is said to have been a Roman encampment. 



On the 29th July, the Club met at Greenlaw. The day 

 was most favourable, bright and with a cool air. The major- 



