HfiPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1896 3S 



THE DINNER, 



A company of 50 gentlemen sat down to dinner at four 

 o'clock in the Railway Hotel. Mr Ferguson, president, occupied 

 the chair, and was supported on the right by Dr Hardy, and on 

 the left by the Rev. John Walker, Whalton. Mr Craig Brown, 

 F.S.A. Scot., Selkirk, was croupier. Grace was said by the 

 Rev. M. H. Graham, Maxton, and thanks were returned by the 

 Rev. Dr Paul, Roxburgh. After dinner, the Chairman gave 

 the toast of "The Queen," which was loyally honoured, and 

 then announced the toast of "The Berwickshire Naturalists' 

 Club." In doing so, he tuuk occasion to return thanks for the 

 Club to Mr Biber Erskiue of Dryburgh, who had generously 

 thrown open the Abbey for their inspection, free of charge ; to 

 Mr Scott of Drygrange, and to Colonel Hope of Cowdenknowes, 

 for allowing access to their grounds, the latter having pro- 

 vided refreshments for the members; and amongst themselves to 

 the Rev. M. H. Graham of Maxton, who had kindly undertaken 

 all the trouble in connection with the arrangements for the day, 

 and carried them through in the most admirable manner ; to Mr 

 and Mrs Wood, Galashiels, who had supplied them with the 

 excellent Itinerary for their tour; to Mr Richardson for his in- 

 teresting geological paper; and lastly to Mr Dunn, Earlston, for 

 his kindness in arranging for their seeing Earlston Church, and 

 the Rhymer's Tower. The Rev. Hugh Fleming, Mordington, 

 gave the toast of " The Lady Members," which was also heartily 

 honoured. It was mentioned that two gentlemen were present — 

 Mr Thomas Small, Jedburgh, and Mr Veitch, London, formerly 

 of Jedburgh — who had seen Sir Walter Scott in their boyhood. 

 The President handed round for inspection a cray-fish caught in 

 the river Aln, Northumberland, and sent by Mr James Thomson, 

 Shawdon. Dr Paul, Mr Boyd of Faldonside, and Rev. George 

 Gunn of Stichill, showed a number of rare and beautiful 

 botanical and horticultural specimens. The two gentlemen last 

 named had botanised in Redpath Dean that day, and had found 

 a number of interesting plants, including the following: — 

 Lepidiun Smithii, Hook, Sanicula Europaea, L., Reseda luteola, L., 

 Barharea vulgaris, Br., Geranium sylvaticum, L., Anchusa semper- 

 virens, L., Hyacinthus nonscriptus, L., Polystichum aculeatum, Roth., 

 Aspleniurn trichomanes^ L. (on Dryburgh Abbey.) Polygonum 

 Bistorta, L., was picked up near Redpath, and two fine Austrian 

 briar roses — one double — attracted attention in the village 



