1908-1909.] An Account of the Excursions {\^0(^. 173 



Dalmahoy. The party walked through the grounds and up 

 the beautiful glen, where the Arum maculatum was found 

 growing wild; and then drove to Kaimes Hill, to visit the 

 old Pictish camp there. The camp covers several acres of 

 ground round the top of the hill. The double fosse and 

 rampart are easily traced, as well as the principal entrance 

 to the camp. The hut circles for the accommodation of the 

 sick and wounded are also traceable, and the spring which 

 supplied the encampment with water. The party afterward 

 drove to Hatton House, to visit the sculptured stones on 

 Tormain Hill. On the way from Hatton House to Tormain 

 Hill a large bed of Scrcphularia vernalis was found growing 

 wild and in full bloom, — one of the few localities where this 

 plant is found in the Lothians. It was difficult to find the 

 sculpturings on the hill, as they are now almost completely 

 covered with turf; but after turning over the turf they were 

 brought to view. They cover an area 40 feet long by about 

 20 feet broad, and are cut on the natural surface of the whin- 

 stone rock of which the hill is composed. The sculptures 

 consist of numerous cups varying from } of an inch to 2 J 

 inches in diameter : several of them are surrounded by rings, 

 and some of the cups are arranged in the form of a triangle, 

 while others, by means of connecting grooves, form a rude 

 cross. There is also a carving of a bowl- shaped depression, 

 measuring 6 inches in diameter and 2 inches in depth. The 

 sculpturings, though rude, are very interesting, and well worth 

 a visit. The well-known " Witch's Stone," with its twenty- 

 four cup-markings, lies about half way down the hill, and 

 those members who had not seen it at the last year's ex- 

 •cursion visited it this time. (For illustration of the Witch's 

 Stone, see Plate VIII., p. 128.) 



On the following Saturday the Scott Centenary Tower on 

 Corstorphine Hill and the marl-pit at Davidson's Mains were 

 visited. The leaders were Messrs Macpherson and Henderson. 

 The party was first taken through the grounds of Clermiston, 

 and was shown some old Edinburgh curiosities, and a rock- 

 garden stocked with several interesting and rare plants. The 

 tower was next visited, but unfortunately the key of the 

 entrance-door had been mislaid, and the members were un- 

 able to see the commanding prospect from the top. On the 

 hill was found Corydalis daviciUata, one of the rare plants 



