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No. 8. THE TRAXSACTIONS JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS DUMFRIESSHIRE I GALLOWAY flatuml llistorii \ Aijtiparian Soeietij. SESSION 1891-92. PRIXTEI) AT THE STAXI)AR1> OFFICE, DUMFRIES. 1893. COTJZsrCIL, Sir JAMES CRICHTON BROWNE, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S. ^ice- Vvceti>c»jt«. Rev. WILLIAM ANDSON. THOMAS M'KIE, F.S.A., Advocate. GEORGE F. SCOTT-ELLIOT, M.A., B.Sc. JAMES G. HAMILTON STARKE, M.A., Advocate. §^ccvetavri. EDWARD J. CHINNOCK, M.A., LL.D., Fernbank, Maxwelltown. JOHN A. MOODIE, Solicitor, Bank of Scotland. Hbvaviaxj. JAMES LENNOX, F.S.A., Edenbank, Maxwelltown. ffiurrttor of JiUtaeitnt. JAMES DAVIDSON, Summerville, Maxwelltown. ffixtrcttov of gcrliarixtnt. GEORGE F. SCOTT-ELLIOT, F.L.S., F.R., Bot.Soe.Ed., Newton, assisted by the Misses HANNEY, Calder Bank, Maxwelltown. COti^ev plcmbei-a. JAMES BARBOUR. JOHN NEILSON, M.A. JOHN BROWN. GEORGE H. ROBB, M.A. THOMAS LAING. PHILIP SULLEY, F.R., Hi.st. Soc. ROBERT M'GLASHAN. JAMES S. THOMSON. ROBERT MURRAY. JAMES WATT. CO nSTTE nSTTS Secretary's Annual Report ... Treasurer's Annual Report Aitken's Theory of Dew. W. Andson Shortbread at the Lord's Supper. J. H. Thomson New and Rare Finds in 1891. G. F. Scott-Elliot Notes on Cowhill Herbarium. G.F.Scott-Elliot Fresh Water Fisheries. J. J. Armistead... Flora of Moffat District for 1891. J. T. Johnstone Franck's Tour in 1657. E.J. Chinnock ... Leach's Petrel. J. Corrie ... ... Cryptogamic Botanj^ of Moffat District. J. M'Andrew Study of Antiquity. P. Sulley Mound at Little liichon. F. R. Coles ^Meteorology of Dumfries for 1891. W. Andson... Location of Dumfriesshire Surnames. J.Shaw.. Old Sundials of the District. J. S. Thomson Scotland in the Past. P.Gray ... ... Correspondence from Grierson Collection. J. R. Wilson Curious Place Names. P. Dudgeon Catalogue of Dumfriesshire Antiquitie.=. P. Sulley Typical Trees of Upper Annandale. J. T. .Johnstone ... Oyster Culture. J. J. Armistead ... Axehead found at Annan. J.Lennox Groat dug up at St. Queran's Well. P. Dudgeon Folk Riddles. J. Corrie Notes on Some Scotch Plants. A. Bennett Bee Folklore. P. Dudgeon ... Dumfries.shire Antiquities in Edinburgh. G. F. Black Religious Beliefs of Ancient Egyptians. J. A. S. Grant (Bey) Connection between Teutonic English and Greek. E. J. Chinnock Report on Herbal ium. G.F.Scott-Elliot Field Meetings Dumfriesshire Flora, Part II. (i. F. Scott-Elliot List of Members Rules PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE DUMFRIESSHIRE & GALLOWAY NATURAL HISTORY &>NTIQUAI[IAN SOCIETY. SESSIOI^r 1891-OS. 2nd October, 189L Rev. William Andson in the chair. A'ew Members.—Dr John Maxwell Wood, Irish Street. Mr E. G. Baker, F.L.S., of the British Miiseum, was elected an hono- rary member on the ground of the interest he had displayed in the presentation of the botanical specimens to the Society by Mr Carruthers, F.K.S., and the labour he had expended in arran»ino' them. /Jonrt<i"oHS.—Richard Rimmer, Esq., F.L.S., the President of the Society, presented a copy of his Book, " The Land and Fresh Water Shells of the British Isles ;" the Transactions of the Geo- logical Society of Glasgow, 1888-90; the Report of the Manchester Museum; the Transactions of the Botanical Society, V^ol. 18- Simple Method of taking Phenological Observations ; Entomolo- gist's Record, Nos. 4 and 10; Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, 1890-91; Essex Naturalist, January to May, 1891; Transactions Scientific of the Meriden Association, 1889-90 ; Report of the British Association, 1890; the Report of the Smithsonian Museum 1889 ; Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, Nov., 1890 to March, 1891 ; Proceedings of the East of Scotland Union Societies, of Naturalists' 1890 ; Time Reckoning for the 20th Century (from the Smithsonian Report for 1886); Report of the Canadian Institute, Toronto, 1891; Spear-Throwers of the Ancient : ; 2 Transactions. Mexicans and Coast Indians of Texas (from the Peabody Musenm) the Handbook for Cardiff for the British Association, 1891. Secretary's Report. The Secretary (Dr Edward J. Chinnock) read his annual report The membership of the Society now numbers 103 ordi- nary members, of whom 30 have been admitted during the session now closing. There are also seven life members and 23 honorary members, one of whom, Dr Ans- truther Davidson, was elected during the closing session. There are thus 193 names on the roll. The Society has sustained a loss in the death of one of its most esteemed members, Mr George Hamilton, of Kirkcudbriglit. Ossa quieta, p'>-eGor, tuta requiescitc in vrna, Et sit humus cineri uon onerosa tno. Eio-ht evening meetings and four field meetings have been held during the session. At the former 24 valuable papers were read, all of which showed laudable research, and some were of very great interest. Without detracting from the merits of the other contributors, the papers communicated by Messrs Andson, Corrie, Dudgeon, M'Andrew, J. H. Thomson, Weir, and Wilson may be mentioned as particularly interesting. The thanks of the Society are due to the painstaking scien- tific investigations of Messrs Andson, Scott-Elliot, M'Andrew, Fingland, and Johnstone, and also to the Misses Hannay for the care with which they have mounted the specimens for the Herbarium, and for taking charge of the Herbarium during the winter months. The indefatigable labours of Mr Scott-Elliot in the formation of our Herbarium are worthy of the thanks of the Society. His report shews that the collection bids fair to be one of the most complete in Great Britain, outside of the national collections. It is a great honour to the Society to possess a member who devotes himself to the Avork with sucn enthusiasm as Mr Scott-Elliot exhibits. As our Society is affiliated with the British Association, all our scientific papers are recorded in the list of contributions annually published by that distinguished Society. I may mention that I affixed my name in May, as representing our Society, to a Petition — Transactions. 3 to Parliament in favour of Mr A. E. Pease's Bill, entitled ''A Bill to Amend the Wild Birds' Protection Act, 1880." A valuable collection of botanical sijecimens was presented in March to the Society, through Mr Scott-Elliot, by Mr Carruthers, Curator of Botanical Department of the British Museum. Our botanical members b3ing so widely scattered our collection of plants cannot be examined and studied as much as it deserves. The question will soon arise how the Flora of the District is to be published so as to unite the investigations and labours of all the members who have been working in this field of science, due recog- nition being given to all. Of the Field Meetings, those to the Border and to the Moffat district were particularly interesting. The weather was, unfor- tunately, against the success of the last ; but the members who dared to brave the elements had no cause to regret their decision. Our valuable scientific library has not been utilised by the members to the extent which is desirable. Various scientific journals have been circulated among the members who have ex- pressed a desire to peruse them. As the subscription for membership is so small it would be an advantage if the numbers were increased. The thanks of the Society will be due to those members who can introduce such friends as are likely to take an interest in the success and well- being of the Society. Several members have lent their co-opera- tion to the Meteorological Society in taking phenological observa- tions in this district. Treasurer's Eeport. The Treasurer (Mr John A. Moodie) read his annual report—from 1st October, 1890, to 30th September, 1891 : CHARGE. Balance in treasurer's hands at close of last account... £0 11 Balance at credit of Society with Dumfries Savings Bank Subscriptions from 138 members at OS £.34 10 ,, from 7 members at 2s 6d 17 Entrance fees from 21 new members Arrears recovered from members ... ... Copies of Tran-sactions sold... ... Interest on bank account ... — Transactions. DISCHARGE. Paid salary of keepei' of rooms £1 10 ,, for stationery, printing, &c. .. .. ... ... 16 6 ,, for periodicals, &c 16 63 ,, for coals and gas ... ... 6 7 ... ,, premium of insurance ... 4 6 ,, Secretary's outlays and postages ... ... ... ... 1 12 10 „ Treasurer's ,, „ 12 9 ,, expenses of calling meetings, as follows : Postcards £4 7 1 Gratuity for addi'essing same at Is per 100 14 Robert Johnstone, printer 10 6 11 1 " " ,, for six vols, of Dumfries Journal ... 5 00 ,, accounts for printing and publishing transactions for three years, and for illustrations ... ... ... 47 5 7 ,, miscellaneous accounts 07 2 £65 13 6i Balance of funds in favoiir of society, as follows : (1) Cash in Treasurer's hands £0 S 4^ (2) Balance in Savings Bank ... ... 11 — 19 4A £66 12 11 J. A. MoODiE, Hon. Treasurer. Dumfries, Oct. 24, 1891. —I have examined the foregoing account, and the cash book of the society, compared them with the vouchers, and find the balance stated to be correct. Joiix Neilsox. Election of Office-Bearers. The following were elected office-bearers and members of the committee for the ensuing session : President—Richard Rimmer, F.L.S. Vice-Presidents —Rev. William Andson, Mr James Barbour, Major Herbert G. Bowden, and Mr Thomas M'Kie, F.S.A. Treasurer—Mr John A. Moodie. Secretary—Edward J. Chinnock, LL.D. Librarian—Mr James Lennox, F.S.A. Curator of Museum— Mr James Davidson. Curator of Herhari um—Mr George F. Scott-Elliot, jNI.A. Members of the Council — Messrs John Brown, John Cowan, Thomas Laing, Robert M'Glashan, Robert Murray, John Neilson, M.A. ; George H. Robb, M.A. ; Philip Sulley, James S. Thomson, James Watt.