460 Report of Meetings for 1889. By Dr. J. Hardy. 



good plants, to reward future research. Proceeding from Stane- 

 shiel burn foot we shortly reach Hewsbridge. A new bridge 

 was built here in place of the old one, whose approach had 

 become dangerous. (Mr Wilson sent in September, examples of 

 the plants growing on the old bridge. They consisted of 

 Epilobium montmum, Geranium Robertianum, Asplenium Ruta- 

 muraria, Asp. Trichomanes, Lastrea Filix-mas, Athyrium Filix- 

 fcemina, and Jungermannia Hepatica.) A thicket of Equisetum 

 Telmateia grew at the bottom of a moist slippery bank of clay. 



The Larriston burn unites with the Liddel here, originating 

 from Foulmier Height (1300 ft.) on our right. The sites of two 

 old towers were pointed out across the stream. At the shepherd's 

 cottage at Steele Eoad End we got our first view of the upper 

 reaches of Liddesdale. The Melancholy Plume Thistle ( Carduus 

 heterophyllus) grows in the moist plantations hereabouts. On 

 our right are the wooded parks of Larriston, which time did not 

 permit us to visit. Larriston, or Lauriston is the ancient house 

 of the Elliot family, to whom the Eliotts of Stobs were related, 

 an offshoot from whom founded the house of Minto. They were 

 a powerful and warlike clan in the old Border days, and had 

 several strengths. 



" Lock the door, Lauriston, lion of Liddesdale, 

 Lock the door, Lauriston, Lowfcher comes on," 



sings the Ettrick shepherd in the well-known martial song, which 

 echoes the strains of Border feuds, the words being particularly 

 applicable to the country held by the Elliots, which might well 

 be called the door into Scotland through the Middle Marches. 

 Near Larriston was the Breaken or Pricking Haugh Tower, 

 (Pickeringhaw, Map of 1590) now entirely demolished. At 

 Larriston, Prince Charles, the young Pretender, slept a night 

 before continuing his march towards England. The bed of the 

 Prince still remains in the house. 



In front, splitting the valley into two parts, the Dawston Eig 

 protrudes from the base of Dod Fell and the Whele Rig in the 

 extreme distance. The abrupt crest of Carlin Tooth, and further 

 east the Peel Fell and Dead water Fell are easily seen. 



Larriston Fell is on our right, a strong dark barrier, reaching 

 to the Deadwater gap. It is from the prevalent gritty sand- 

 stone of the Upper Tuedian, on this range, that the geological 

 term Fell Sandstone originated. 



