340 ON A CIST AT BILLTE MAINS 



found in abundance in the peat moss called Chapelknowe 

 Flow, in the parish of Half Morton, Dumfriesshire. He 

 also stated that it grew plentifully in a moist hollow close 

 to the right hand side of the road leading from Lochmaben 

 to Templand Village, near Corncockle Quarry. 



The Marsh Andromeda is a plant of easy growth in the 

 rockery or moist peat garden. Its lovely, waxen, globular, 

 white flowers stand clear and distinct from the dark green 

 foliage. It is, besides, interesting from the under epidermis 

 of the leaves being coated with white wax, which Kerner 

 and Oliver, in their " Natural History of Plants," say is 

 intended to keep the stomata on the under side of the leaf 

 dry, and to keep open the passage for aqueous vapour and 

 excreted gases. 



On a Cist at BiUie Mains, Berwickshire. By the 

 Rev. George Gunn, Stichill Manse. 



Colonel Milne Home received the following particulars 

 from Mr Thomas Allan Calder, Billie Mains, of the unearth- 

 ing of a cist on that farm, about twelve months ago. Mr 

 Calder happened to be in the field called The Standing 

 Stone, or The Pech Stane, when a plough turned up one of 

 the sides of a cist, about 20 or 30 yards west from the 

 stone that gives its name to the field. The cist had been 

 formed of four rough sandstones, about 2J inches thick, 

 and was about 2-i- feet long and 10 or 12 inches in width 

 and depth. There was nothing in it whatever. The stones 

 were removed to the side of the field. At the request of 

 the President, Dr Stuart, Chirnside, went to inspect them. 

 He found that they had been unfortunately broken into 

 fragments, by a man who had instructions from Mr Calder 

 to break other stones to make roads, etc. Dr Stuart is 

 of opinion that they likely formed a short cist, where the 

 body was laid with the legs doubled up. Cists of this 

 description are not uncommon in this district. 



