•20 Hpport of Meetings for 1887 '. fey J. Hardy. 



room. A rich new ceiling 1 has recently enhanced the beauty of 

 the dining room, which is further enriched by an admirably carved 

 mantelpiece representing Uueen Mary's escape from Lochleven, 

 etc. The deep window recesses (9 ft. 6 in.) of this room evince 

 the great thickness and strength of the walls of the old portion 

 of the edifice which had been originally a peel tower. The old 

 copy of the "Covenant" preserved here, has been framed. 

 There are several local names among the signatures, which 

 render it possible that they might be appended on Duns Law or 

 in the house. The company descended by the turnpike stair. 

 AVJiile viewing the lake, Mr Ferguson stated that during the 

 present dry spring from a deficiency of frogs and water-rats, the 

 Herons carried off the young of the Coots for food to the young 

 Herons. The gamekeeper on several occasions had witnessed 

 their thievish proceedings. 



Dinner at the "White Swan Hotel, Duns, was punctually on the 

 table at o..'30 p.m. The President, the Rev. David Paul, 

 Roxburgh, was in the chair, and Dr Stuart, Chirnside, officiated 

 as croupier. Twenty-six dined. Part of the company having 

 hurriedly to withdraw to catch the train going west, the party 

 was considerably broken up. 



After dinner, large collections of rare and beautiful alpiue and 

 early garden flowers were shown by Dr Stuart, Mr Muirhead, 

 Mv Ferguson, and Mr Charles Watson, which proved a great 

 attraction. There was very little leisure for paper-reading, but 

 Mr Muirhead gave the principal facts about De la Beaute, which 

 will appear to greater advantage when the paper is printed. 

 Mr Hardy's notes on Edrom and the tine collection of urns 

 recently found at Hop rig, near Cockburnspath, were held as 

 read. Mr Smith's excellent drawings of these urns and the 

 accompanying flints and iron ore were handed round. This is 

 one of the most valuable discoveries of urns ever made in 

 Berwickshire. Besides those reported in the newspapers at the 

 time, other two urns, much finer than the previous two, were 

 obtained under a slab that had remained unlifted at the first 

 exploration. Mr Smith had also set up and drawn two other 

 urns from Lilburn Hill, Northumberland, which were also 

 exhibited. The diversity of design and shape, and the display 

 of good taste by a savage people, were remarkable characteristics 

 in these funereal vases. 



Mr Andrew Currie, Darnick, sent to be shown to the Club a 



