110 SENECIO. 



is cleared away. Pursh records a similar fact concerning a North 

 American species, S. hieracifolius. See "British America" in Edin. 

 Cab. Library. J. Hardy. 



317. S. TENUiFOLius = S. erucifolius. Edin. New Phil. Journ. 

 Oct. 1827, p. 194. — Rare. B. Sides of the road halfway between 

 Swinton and Swinton-mill, Rev. A. Baird. Road-side south of Orange- 

 laue ; and near Sunnyside and Grizzle-rig in the parish of Eccles, 

 Dr. R. D. Thomson. In the lane between Edrington and Cocklaw ; 

 and on the Raven-knowes, Dr. R. Dunlop. July. 



Mr. Baird brought specimens from the first-named locality the day 

 after he had picked them, and I well remember the pleasure he felt 

 when we ascertained that the plant was new to the Scottish Flora. 

 In those young days of ours such a discovery was a thing to boast of; 

 and the student will never be a botanist who would lightlie it. 

 Long years have passed away ; but it is not long since, when riding 

 along the broad lane, I saw the plant enduring there as fresh and 

 vigorous as at first, — and so it will continue for generations to follow. 

 Mark the contrast ! The preacher who loved to point the tale of 

 human transitoriness with the flower's short and evanescent hfe — and 

 yet truly so everduring, — has himself gone down to the grave : nor 

 to come back again, — for it, unconscious, giveth no answer to the in- 

 fluence nor of the rain of spring, nor of summer's heat. 



The Rev. Andrew Baird was the second son of the Rev. James 

 Baird of Swinton in Berwickshire. He was born at Eccles in the 

 same county, and received his preliminary education at the Grammar- 

 school in Kelso. On the death of his father, the family became 

 settled in Edinburgh, where Mr. B. pursued and completed the 

 course of study prescribed for those who enter into the Church of 

 Scotland. While at the University, Mr. B. paid much more than the 

 usual attention of students to Natural History, and was amongst the 

 most distinguished of Professor Jameson's pupils. He was one of 

 the founders of the "Plinian Society," which had considerable influ- 

 ence in making Natural History more popular with the students than 

 it had previously been. He was also one of the original members of 

 the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, and took an active part in its 

 proceedings, until his mind and time became almost entirely occupied 

 with the duties of the parish of Cockburnspath, of which he was the 

 minister; and with the discussions that led to the severance of a large 

 proportion of its clergymen from the Establishment. He was amongst 

 those who deemed it to be their duty to secede; and, joining the "Free 

 Church," he laboured zealously amongst the flock that followed him, 

 and loved hiin, until his too early death. He died at Oldhamstocks, on 

 the morning of Sabbath, June 22, 1845. His health, which for several 

 months had been in a declining state, seriously gave way about three 

 weeks before his death, which came, however, rather suddenly and 

 unexpected. 



Mr. Baird was a man of retiring and unobtrusive habits, fond of 

 society, and yet rather forming a part of the company than amalga- 

 mating with it. He took great delight in natural scenery, and was 

 hence familiar with every grand and picturesque object and view in 



