Report of Meetings for 1890. By Dr J. Hardy. 51) 



Mr Kerr kindly supplies a note of the following constituents 

 of the Flora : Parnassia palustris on the west slope of Colmslie 

 Hill; Antennaria dioica ; and Trollius EuropcBUs (Globe flower) 

 grows in a belt of plantation a few yards from Langshaw school. 

 As regards the birds, he writes, Mavises and Blackbirds behave 

 most voraciously in pilfering the Easpberries and ripe Cherries. 

 He heard the call of the Cuckoo for the first time this year 

 (1890) on the 28th of April, which was from 5 to 10 days sooner 

 than usual. " We are well supplied with Owls. On moonlight 

 nights their cry is incessant. The cry varies so much that I 

 think we must have at least two species." — "Adders," he goes 

 on to say, " though not plentiful are still met with occasionally. 

 Some time ago some friends on a visit saw, on a fine sunny day, 

 a couple on the west slope of Colmslie Hill. They were also 

 seen about the same period on land either belonging to Glendearg 

 or Western Housebyres, where the two places march. This year 

 on the 5th of August two boys came upon one in the hazel copses 

 midway between Langshaw mill and the Fairy dean. Buckholm 

 Hill is out of our basin, but it is worth mentioning that an 

 Adder 22 inches long was killed there in the end of July " 

 (1890). 



A paper is promised by a member of the Club on the three old 

 towers on the Elwand, which, it is hoped, will be illustrated. 

 The journey was not prosecuted farther, in order that on return- 

 ing, time might be allowed to see the Abbey in its renovated 

 form, which has very much improved its aspect. Tlie country 

 round Melrose is greener this season than usual. Eoses and 

 other garden blooms are in unwonted profusion and perfection. 

 At dinner, the President, Major-General Sir William Crossman, 

 occupied the chair. After the customary toasts, tlie following 

 were proposed for membership : — Mr John Cocliraiie, Willow 

 Bush, Galashiels ; Rev. John Kerr, Dirleton ; Eev. Eichard 

 Burdon, Felton Park, Acklington ; and as a lady member, Mrs 

 A. H. Browne, Callaly Castle, Northumberland. Dr Stuart, 

 Chirnside, had with him a fine antique spur of large size, picked 

 up by Mr Logan, jun., in a ploughed field on the farm of Ferney 

 Castles, opposite the Pyper Knowe, an eminence behind the 

 steading of Causeway Bank. Dr Stuart, in recording it, gave a 

 short description of Billy Mire, and then treated of its authentic 

 and mythical history, and enumerated the birds that once fre- 

 q^uented its dangerous and once almost impassable swamps. Tho 



