266 An Account of the Excursions (1910). [Sess. 



by Mr Whytock, and conducted over the gardens and hot- 

 houses. The Lime-tree Avenue, through which we walked, 

 was also greatly admired (see Plate XVIII., fig. 2). The 

 deer park and the old Caledonian forest were then visited, 

 and the whole party met afterwards at the junction of the 

 two Esks. From this spot to the gate nearest Inveresk 

 the party botanised the banks of the river, and found a 

 considerable number of plants, — Anemone nemorosa in great 

 profusion ; Adoxa Moschatellina abundant ; Lactuca muralis, 

 Gam]pamda Trachelium, C. rapunculoides, plentiful but not yet 

 in bloom. In wandering through the woods several remark- 

 able trees were noticed, — oaks fully a thousand years old 

 (see Plate XIX.), and the largest elm-tree in the kingdom. 

 Several old houses of historic interest in the neighbourhood 

 of Inveresk were pointed out ; and after tea the leader 

 gave an interesting description of the church at Inveresk, 

 and the battles fought close to it between the English and 

 the Scots. 



On Victoria Day a number of members went to Dumfries, 

 but unfortunately several, not having observed the notice in 

 the newspaper advertising change of time and destination, 

 travelled to Lockerbie by a later train, and were thus pre- 

 vented from joining the bulk of the members at Dumfries. 

 Mr Service, jun., met the members at the station, and con- 

 ducted them to the principal places of interest in the 

 neighbourhood. He pointed out the spot on which the old 

 monastery stood where Bruce killed the Eed Comyn. A 

 visit was made to the house where Burns lived and died, 

 and the mausoleum in St Michael's churchyard where he is 

 buried. Considerable interest was taken by the members 

 in the relics in connection with the poet exhibited in his 

 house in Dumfries. A short walk brought the party to 

 the Museum at Maxwelltown, in the grounds of which the 

 sculptures of Old Mortality and his horse are exhibited. 

 In the afternoon the party walked to Lincluden Abbey, 

 and botanised the banks of the Cluden and Nith. The rocks 

 in the district are principally red sandstone ; and among the 

 plants gathered were Sedmn Telephmm, Cardamine amara, 

 Stellaria nemorum, and CEnanthe crocata. 



