Report of Meetings for 1886. By J. Hardy. 341 



crab-tree from Ashkirk. It is recorded in both the "Flora 

 Edinensis," and the " Flora of Berwick." He had also examples 

 of the Fresh- water Sponge. He undertook to report on the 

 Algae, Entomostraca, and other rare productions of the Alemoor 

 lakes. 



Half-way down the banks the red sandstone rocks were 

 speckled with white circular spots and blotches. This is ascribed 

 by some to chemical action, possibly originating in the decay of 

 some animal substance in the surrounding fluid in which the 

 rocks were deposited. In some cases a fish scale or a deposit of 

 iron pyrites forms the nucleus of such discoloured specks. Here 

 they occupy an enlarged space. 



Then the free space of pasture ground became contracted by 

 the more abrupt banks of the river approximating, and the 

 walking by the margin of the Tweed became rough for the in- 

 expert ; but several preferred to be looking after something. 

 They were rewarded with Viola hirta, Lathnea squamaria, and 

 Nasturtium palustre. The rest ascended to the public road by 

 sunny slopes, still skirted at the top and unencroached on by a 

 profusion of wild roses and brambles. Agrimony grew here, 

 and Silaus pratensis, a yellow-flowered umbellifer not quite 

 common. The hawthorn bloom was beginning to decay. There 

 has been but a poor show this season. The most showy wayside 

 plants at the time of visit were Charophyllum temalentum (rough 

 chervil), and especially Anthriscus sglvestris, which is a great 

 hedge-bank ornament, with its handsome white umbels of tiny 

 five-petalled stars of varying sizes, with white-knobbed anthers. 

 Their light tufts rival the plumes of the Spircsas (and are of a 

 purer white) or the white sheets of Galium mollugo. JEgopodium 

 podagraria obtruded itself on the site of old residences or gardens. 



The outlook from the ridge traversed by the public road dis- 

 closed the extensive prospect hitherto excluded. Ruberslaw and 

 the peak of Dunian formed the most distant points. Nearer 

 were Bewlie Hill, Long-Newtown Place, with the green hills of 

 Minto at the back, much wood, Liliard's Edge, Penielheugh. 

 the "Nabob's tomb," "Rutherford Folly." Lessuden House, 

 a residence of the Laird of Raeburn, and associated with Sir 

 Walter Scott, is a smiling mansion amidst the dark woods. 

 Behind us lay a cultivated hollow, sweeping up to a considerable 

 elevation, perhaps the Clint Hill. In the distance in front of us 



