Report of Meetings for 1881. By Jas. Hardy. 445 



swept away. It is desirable to record all sucli sites of the settle- 

 ments of tlie ancient inhabitants, if their position can be ascer- 

 tained, and have them mapped. 



Accepting the kind invitation of Lady Stirling the party then 

 went to Eenton House. The immediate vicinity has been much 

 beautified and improved of recent years, by the growth of young 

 plantations, and by a new arrangement of the ground round the 

 mansion house. The house commands a fine view of the valley 

 of the Eye. The garden was visited, and excepting some of the 

 hollies and more tender evergreens, had been comparatively un- 

 injured by the frosts. Grammitis Ceterach, how introduced is 

 unknown, mixed with the common Polypody, still thrives near 

 the summit of a portion of the garden wall. The plants in the 

 greenhouse and conservatory were bright and flourishing. Among 

 the firs and pines planted to shelter the house on the west, Pinus 

 Austriaca is taking the lead, and grows very robust. Before 

 leaving the visitors partook of lunch. 



A fourth party visited Fast castle and Dowlaw dean, which I 

 follow by the aid of Mr Yernon. Driving over the moors ornith- 

 ologists distinguished a considerable variety of birds, and among 

 others, the carrion crow, the heron, the sparrow-hawk, the sedge- 

 warbler, the lark, corn-crake, water-hen, missel-thrush, stone- 

 chat, etc. Arrived at Dowlaw, the party divided, one half pro- 

 ceeding to the dean, and the other to Fast castle. This gloomy 

 border fortress occupies a striking position upon a perpendicular 

 rock projecting into the German Ocean on one side, and only 

 connected with the mainland by a steep and very narrow path 

 leading to the castle gate. At the present day there remains just 

 sufficient of the ruins of the castle to indicate that it was a donjon 

 tower of moderate size surrounded by flanking walls. [What 

 Sir Walter Scott imagined of Wolf's Crag in the "Bride of Lam- 

 mermoor," chap, x., has now been realized. About ten years ago, 

 during a thunderstorm, the battlements of this tower were struck 

 and rent by lightning, and what remains is a mere wreck.] 



Both parties being reunited, continued the journey by the Pease 

 Bridge and Cockburnspath Tower. Descending into the Pease 

 dean from the bridge a great many species of ferns were observed, 

 among which may be mentioned — Polystichum angulare very plen- 

 tiful, also P. aculeatum and P. lolatum. The Scolopendrium vul- 

 gare and Asplenium 'Trichomanes are to be found here. Other 

 ferns obtained during the day were Asplenium Ruta-muraria, A. 



