tt&port of Meetings. By James Sardy. 253 



shewed what a princely plant it is, when grown to perfection. Per- 

 mission had been granted to visit Belchester House and grounds, 

 but time did not permit, as several members had to leave by 

 early train. The rest of the journey round by Birgham to Kelso 

 was performed by most without any halt, but those in the last 

 carriage, came on more leisurely. Passing Grizzlefield farm, there 

 was not much of immediate interest till reaching Hatchednize. 

 On the high bank of the Leet on the N.E., Castlelaw House and 

 its mysterious "Mount" peered through encompassing trees 

 and the woods of Hirsel, and the green bare summit of the 

 Hirsel Law swallowed up the rest of the prospect. Ferneyrig 

 bog of which we skirted the one end, and Lithtillam Loch, fur- 

 nish the best botanical ground in this part of Berwickshire. 

 Since the early days of the Club, no naturalist has explored them 

 and except some plantations they remain in almost their primeval 

 uncultivated wildness. The plantations may even have restored 

 some of the scarcer half-dying out plants to vigour. Of its zool- 

 ogy we know next to nothing. 



Birgham is a lengthy village, with two farm steadings one at 

 each end. In 177 1 it belonged to " Cockburn, Bart." At present 

 the superiority is divided between the Earl of Home and Sir 

 John Marjoribanks. Behind the easternmost farm-steading is 

 situated the graveyard, which has again become the object of 

 parochial solicitude. On one of the tombstones the name of the 

 place is spelled Birgholm, which is of the same exquisite stamp 

 as the modern Leitholm. Beneath this green platform, the cele- 

 brated historical haugh, stretches away in a spacious open plain 

 bounded and encircled by the broad Tweed, whose waters flash- 

 ing in the sunlight, are skimmed by the black-headed gulls, 

 engaged in the pursuit of minnows or water insects, their lively 

 forms finely relieved against the brightness. Where the bank 

 rises on the southern side it is crowned with trees. Birgham is 

 of sufficient height to catch a view of the Cheviot hills. 



Lonicera perfoliata was in full bloom in front of one of the 

 cottages. Above a deep cutting by the road-side after passing 

 Springhill Reseda lutea and Eypericum perforatum grow on the 

 steep bank. As we proceed, the chief elevation of the river 

 banks, originating in a deep section of the rocks, is on the north 

 side. The rock is partly of red sandstones and marls with bands 

 of gypsum, but nearer Lochton of grey marls, and sandstones, 

 overlaid by a thick bed of rolled greywacke gravel, closely re- 



