PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXXV 
baked hard by contact with the heat of the dyke, in some places 
being so fused with the basalt that it was difficult to tell which of the 
two predominated. The basalt itself consisted of two types. First, 
the coarse-grained inner dolerite, which had been the last to cool, 
and in which glittered beautiful felspar crystals; and second, the 
fine-grained outer basalt, which had cooled more quickly. This last, 
indeed, was so fine that it proved very difficult to distinguish it from 
baked Sandstone save with the aid of a microscope.” 
On the way home, near Moneydie, a new station was discovered 
for Agrimonia odorata , the sweet-scented agrimony, a scarce plant in 
Perthshire. Thus ended one of the most interesting and solidly 
instructive expeditions of the season.* 
The next excursion was originally fixed for the nth August, but 
was postponed till Saturday the 18th, when a party set off by train 
from Perth to visit the Lake of Menteith. At Stirling we were joined 
by Professor Traill of Aberdeen and by Mr. Kidston, along with 
some other Members of the Stirling Natural History Society. From 
Port of Menteith station we were driven to the Lake. The majority 
of the party embarked in boats to visit the island of Inchmahome, 
on which are the ruins of the Abbey in which Queen Mary, then but 
a child, resided for about a year before she was sent to France. 
“ On the island were found the following species of land Mollusca, 
viz. :— Helix rotundata , Zonites cellarius , Z. alliarius , Z. nitidulus , Z. 
purus , Z. crystallinus , Z,.fulvus , Cochlicopa lubrica , and Pupa umbilicata. 
The manner in which these creatures have been brought to the island 
raises some curious questions of distribution. In the lake itself, 
chiefly on the under surface of the leaves of water-lilies, were found 
several species of fresh-water Mollusca, viz.:— Limmza peregra , Physa 
fontinalis , Ancylus fluvial ills, and Planorbus albusP The wind was 
strong and the water consequently so rough that attempts at dredging 
ended in failure. In returning, several interesting plants were ob¬ 
served along the shore, among which were Lycopus europceus and 
Utricularia vulgaris. Lythrum Salicaria was growing abundantly in 
several marshy places and is doubtless native in this locality, though 
known only as a casual or an introduction in the more easterly parts 
of the county. One solitary botanist had not gone with the others, but 
had proceeded along the north shore of the lake, with the object chief¬ 
ly of observing the roses that were to be found in this locality. 
These were not very numerous and comprised forms of Rosa mollis , 
R. tomentosa , R. glauca , R. coriifolia , and R. lutetiana. Two speci¬ 
mens gathered on this occasion have since been identified, though 
with some reserve, by Professor Crepin of Brussels, as belonging to 
the group of R. sub-canina , Christ. Concerning this group we shall 
have something more to say in the sequel. A pleasant journey home 
by road and rail brought to a close a very pleasant day. 
“The last excursion for the season was fixed for 30th August, 
the Perth Autumn Holiday, to Balruddery Den. This romantic 
den is within the policies of Balruddery House, on the border of 
* This was the last official excursion at which Dr. Buchanan White was present. 
