292 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1905 



To suit the arrival of members by rail, the rendezvous 

 was fixed for Oockburnspath Station at 9-10 a.m., whence, 

 in the face of an unusually bitter wind but under a glowing 

 sun, the party set out for Dunglass Dean, 

 Dunglass following the main road to Edinburgh, with 

 Dean. the view of reaching it by the Merse Lodge. 



From this point the path leads through its 

 Eastern portion along the rocky channel of a small stream, 

 which here bounds the counties of Berwick and East Lothian, 

 and the parishes of Oldhamstocks and Oockburnspath. In 

 the course of their ramble through its sylvan shade, at times 

 illumined by streaks of sunlight adding charm to the autumnal 

 aspect of the leafy canopy overhead, the members were 

 impressed with the luxuriance of many of the characteristic 

 Ferns of the locality, the Mountain Fern (Lastrcea Oreopteris), 

 the Hart's-tongue ( Scolopendrium vulgare), and varieties of 

 the Prickly Shield-fern (Aspiditim aculeatum), attainiDg 

 very remarkable dimensions, fronds of Hart's-tongue, 16 

 inches in length, and of Aspidium aculeatum var. angtdare, 

 from 2 to 3 feet in length, having been gathered. Among 

 less conspicuous plants were Enchanter's Nightshade (Circcea 

 lutetiana) ; Mountain Speedwell (Veronica montana) discovered 

 here in 1800 by Dr Parsons; Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia 

 nemorum) ; Carex reniota and C. tnuricata. A look-out was 

 kept for the Bird's-nest Orchis (Neottia Nidus-avis) already 

 reported, but owing probably to the advanced season of the 

 year it was not met with. At points on the route, which is 

 for the most part precipitous, charming prospects were obtained, 

 as beneath the shade of clean-limbed Beeches, some of which 

 have attained a height of 100 feet, and many a girth of 8 

 feet, the sparkling water babbles towards the sea. Attention 

 was drawn to a curious section of sandstone, remarkably 

 weathered and studded with nodules of iron, as may be seen 

 also on the coast near Bilsdean and Marshall Meadows, 

 which rears itself in threatening fashion on a level with 

 the stream, not far from the bridge by which the visitors 

 crossed to the opposite bank. At this point they ascended 

 by a steep zigzag path to the ridge above, whence the 

 remarkable proportions of some of the Scotch Firs, which 

 had already been noticed, could be more accurately estimated. 



