1909-1910-] An A ccount of the Excursions ( 1 9 1 o). 267 



On Saturday, May 28, the excursion was to Melrose, and 

 a large party, under the leadership of the Treasurer, walked 

 through the Khymer's Glen to Cauldshiels and Faldonside 

 lochs. A visit was made to Chiefswood, sometime the 

 residence of Lockhart, the son-in-law of Sir Walter Scott, 

 and then to Huntleyburn, where the Scottish philosopher and 

 historian, Adam Ferguson, lived. The work by which he is 

 best known is his 'History of the Eoman Kepublic' Mr 

 Charles Fraser, an old but retired member of the Society, 

 met the party here and accompanied it to Faldonside. The 

 weather was fine, and the walk up the Ehymer's Glen was 

 both interesting and enjoyable. Ranunculus auricomus was 

 frequently met with in the woods, and Psaliota arvensis (the 

 horse mushroom) in the uplands. Mr W. B. Boyd met us 

 near Cauldshiels Loch with some early plants in his hand, 

 and among them was Ranunculus auricomus. He led us 

 to a spot where a variety of Hypericum humifusum grows. 

 Although too early in the season to get a mature plant, a 

 young growth was discovered. This is the only locality in 

 Scotland where this variety is found. On arriving at Faldon- 

 side the members were kindly entertained by Miss Boyd, 

 and after tea Mr Boyd took the party over his garden and 

 pointed out many rare specimens of Alpine plants, several of 

 which were raised from seeds by himself. A paragraph in 

 ' The Gardener's Chronicle ' of the date of this visit says : 

 " As regards the parentage of Saxifraga Faldonside, it has 

 always been understood that it was one of the seedlings 

 raised at the same time as ^S'. Boydii, but Mr W. B. Boyd 

 of Faldonside should be in the best position to enlighten 

 us on the subject." 



A joint excursion with the Glasgow Natural History Society 

 took place the following Saturday to Carnwath. The joint 

 party numbered upwards of 40, and was under the guid- 

 ance of Mr Denson. A short walk along the highway and 

 then over a moor brought them to the ruins of Cowthally 

 Castle, an ancient stronghold of the Somervilles of Carnwath. 

 The leader here gave a description and history of the old ruin. 

 The moorland was rich in waders ; many golden plovers, red- 

 shanks, curlews, common snipes, and some dunlin were 



