lxxvi PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
After a pleasant ramble through the grounds and greenhouses of 
Balruddery, the party wended its way to the Den. Excavations were 
at once commenced at a section half-way up, and on the burn side, 
but this was found to be somewhat poor and unproductive. After 
lunch, digging operations were commenced at the upper end of the 
Den, and here a number of exceedingly interesting fossils were dug 
out. By far the most important was a very fine specimen of a 
Cephalaspis , probably C. Lyelli. The head measures about three 
inches across, and bears a close resemblance to the shape of a 
saddler's knife, and is protected by a buckler-shaped plate, which is 
prolonged into a point on either side. The specimen, which is a 
very fine one, will find a home in the new Museum in Tay Street. 
A few specimens of vegetable remains, and spines of Clirnatius , a fish 
of Old Red Sandstone times, were also found. A remarkable feature 
of the finds during the afternoon was the very large number of the 
fossil Parka decipiens which were got, over fifty specimens being 
brought to the light of day. This interesting fossil is figured in the 
Old Red Sandstone of Hugh Miller, and bears a strong resemblance 
to a round patch of small seeds. Hugh Miller suggested in his 
delightful book that they were the spores of a plant which flourished 
during the time the Balruddery sandstones were being deposited, but 
for many years doubts were cast upon this explanation, as these 
patches were believed to be spawn of Pterygotus. Recent careful 
microscopic examination has proved Hugh Miller to be in the right. 
It may be interesting to note that quarrying operations were carried 
on by old Ned Inches, who had been on the estate for many years, 
and who excavated for the Members of the British Association when 
they visited Dundee in 1865. 
The following Botanical Notes are supplied by Mr. Barclay:— 
In the Den a profusion of plants was seen, but nothing worthy of 
special mention. A pretty large bush of Rosa alpina was found. 
This is not a native British rose, though abundant in South Europe, 
and it must, of course, have been either planted or casually intro¬ 
duced at Balruddery. It also occurs on Kinnoull Hill, where it was 
discovered some twenty-five years ago by the late Dr. Buchanan 
White. 
5. For 20th July a joint excursion had been arranged with the 
Geological Class of the University Education Society already referred 
to, in order that Mr. Goodchild might have an opportunity of 
explaining to the Members the origin and structure of the Volcanic 
Rocks of Kinnoull Hill. Much to the regret of those of us who had 
been looking forward with interest to this demonstration of our 
local Geology, a telegram was received from Mr. Goodchild stating 
that he had met with a slight accident, and would be unable to be 
present. In these circumstances I was obliged to assume the role of 
demonstrator myself. Fortunately, I remembered at the last moment 
the diagram of Kinnoull Hill which I had prepared for the wall of 
the Museum, and armed with this I did the best I could to supply 
the place of the distinguished member of H.M. Geological Survey. 
