PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XI 
tower, in which loop-holes for musketry are pierced. On this side 
also are the remains of what was apparently a Chapel, but as all the 
stairs had fallen down, and many of the windows had been built 
up,—a great part of the material having also been utilised to build a 
surrounding wall,—it was difficult to make out the original plan of 
the building. Several photographs were taken, and the party then 
proceeded on their way through the beautiful policies of Birkhill to 
Balmerino, where, through the kindness of Col. Stuart Gray, the 
Abbey was thrown open for inspection. The Cloisters are the only 
parts of the building which now remain, and even they, though still 
very beautiful, have been sadly mutilated by former proprietors. The 
Rev. Dr. Campbell, an enthusiastic antiquarian, joined the party, and 
gave a most interesting account of the Abbey and its history, showing 
more especially the exact position of the Church, the site of which is 
now overgrown with trees. By making excavations, he has been 
enabled to localise the west and east ends of the church, the 
foundations of the south wall, and also of the pillars which sustained 
the central tower. He also pointed out three magnificent trees,—a 
sweet chestnut, a walnut, and a beech,—the latter said to be the finest 
in Fife. These trees are evidently coeval with the Monastery. The 
original intention was to drive on to Wormit and to return by Dundee, 
but, as the majority of the party preferred the drive, it was decided to 
go home by Newburgh. The drive back was pleasant, and, after 
having tea at Newburgh, the party returned to Perth at 6.30, having 
spent a most enjoyable day.” Miss M. Thomas has kindly furnished 
the following particulars of the botanical specimens collected on this 
excursion :—“ By the bank of the Tay, several interesting plants 
were observed, including Aster tripolium , Triglochin maritimum , 
Scirpus maritimus , A. lacustris , and CEnanthe crocata. Amongst the 
ruins of the Abbey, Parietaria officinalis was found growing in great 
abundance.” 
Before leaving the subject of the Summer Excursions, I may 
mention that the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, which was founded 
by the late Dr. Buchanan White, held its Twenty-fourth Annual 
Conference this summer in our county, namely at Dunkeld, on the 
20th, 21 st, and 22nd of September. Unfortunately, the meeting 
does not seem to have been made known to our members, otherwise 
some of our botanists would doubtless have been present, but our 
Society was ably represented by Mr. Charles MTntosh, of Inver, who 
acted as local guide for the excursions. Mr. MTntosh informs me 
that Fungi were rather scarce, owing to the dryness of the season. 
The most notable find was Sparassis crispa , Fr., a yellowish spongy 
fungus, found growing amongst the pine needles at the foot of old fir 
trees around Inver, and at the mouth of Strathbraan. Careful search 
was made in Murthly Wood for Hydnum imbricatum , Linn., and 
Agaricus (Pholiota) aureus , Matt., which had been found in that 
locality in former years, but no trace of them could be found. Some 
of you may remember that a golden mass of the last-named fungus 
formed a conspicuous feature at the Fungus Show held at Perth, in 
October, 1875. 
