N.s. Vol. XXIV. X>,T^-^J^ THE TRANSACTIONS AND Journal of Proceeding's OF THK DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY Natural History and Antiquarian Society FOUNDED NOVEMBER. 1862. SESSION 1911-1912, DUMFRIES : Published hy the Council of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Dumfries and Maxwelltown Ewart Public Library. 1912 V r r ^^ — — . Office=Bearers for 1911=1912. President. H. S. Gladstonk of Caijenoch, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Honorary Vice-Presidents. James Barbour, F.S.A.Scot., Dumfries. J. F. CoRMACK, Solicitor, Lockerbie. Wm. Dickie, Merlewood, Dumfries. G. F. Scott Elliot, Meadowhead, Liberton. John M'Kie, R.N., Kirkcudbright. Dr J. W. Martin, Charterhall, Newbridge, Dumfries. Dr James Maxwell Ross, Duntrune, Dumfries. Vice- Presidents S. Arnott, F.R.H.S., Sunny mead, Dumfries. James Davidson, F.S.A.Scot., Sommerville. James Lennox, Provost of Dumfries, F.S.A.Scot., Edeiibank, Dumfries. Dr W. Semple, M.A., B.Sc, Ph.D., Mileash, Dumfries. Honorary Secretary and Editor of Transactions. G. W. Shirley, F.L.A., Ewart Public Library, Dumfries. Honorary Treasurer. M. H. M'Kerrow, Burgh Treasurer, 43 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries. Honorary Librarian and Curator of Museum. G. W. Shirley, F.L.A., Ewart Public Library, Dumfries. Honorary Departmental Curators. Antiquities — W. Murray. Coins and Tokens James Davidson. Natural History—Dr J. W. Martin. Geology Robert Wallace. Herbarium—Miss Hannay and Dr Semplk. Honorary Secretary Pliotograpliic Section. W. A. Mackinnel, The Shieling, Dumfries. Members of Council. President; The Hon. V^ice-Presidents ; Vice-Presidents; Secretary; Treasurer; Librarian; Departmental Curators; Secretary of Photographic Section and Miss ; M. Carlyle Aitken, Messrs Robert Dinwiddie, A. D. Drysdale, T. a. Halliday, J. P. Millioan, R. C. Reid, G. MacLeod Stewart, and A. VVeatherston. — —— — —— — —— CO^STTEnSTTS. Office-Bearers for 191112 3 Annual Meeting ... ... .. 9 Presidential Address— Huyh S. Gladstone ... ... ... 9 Addenda and Corrigenda to " The Birds of Dumfriesshire" Hugh S. Oladntcne ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910—/. J/. Oorrie 38 The Scottish Parliament and the Sanquhar Representation Therein — Rev. W. McMillan 119 Glenluce Abbey as it was and is— i?ec. A. Taylor Hill ... 129 The Kirkcudbrightshire Coast— A'er. C. .CT. DiVi .. 135 The Application of Electricity in Agriculture— Pro/e-jso)' /. W. Priestley 140 Electrical Treatment on Potato Crop.s, 1911 Mia.-i E. C. Dudgeon ... 143 Some Notes on Estate Management in the Eighteenth Century R. W. Milne 146 The Blacklock Manuscripts at Annan—i^raM^• Jl/iWer 155 The Carlyle Farm and Dwelling-place at Birrens ; Agricola's Well on Birrenswark Hill ; and a German Company's Copper Mine at Torbeckhill—all in the Parish of Middlebie James Barbour ... 163 The Development of Modern Fish Culture, with Special Reference to the Salmonidte Wilson H. Armistead . ... ... ... 169 Notes on the Parish of Kirkgunzeon Rev. J. E. Gillespie .. ... 177 Scotch Forestry—The Romance and Business Side of it— (?. F. Scott Elliot 181 John Welsh, the Irongray Covenanter— iJey. S. Dwiiloji ... ... ... 190 Weather of 1911 in Relation to Health Dr J. Maxwell Ross .. ... {101 Rainfall Records for the Southern Counties for the year 1911 Andrew Watt 210 Abstract of Meteorological Observations taken at Crichton Royal Institution, Dumfries, 1911 212 Weather and Natural History Notes for 1911 J.Rutherford 214 Some Local and other Plant Names S. Arnott 223 The Origin of the Name Dumfries— /. W. Whitelaw 229 On the Name Dumfries— 6. W.Shirley ... 231 The Crannogs in Carlingwark Loch James Affleck 235 The Market Cross of Sanquhar—if er. IF. iliikfiYtoi 241 — — — — — 6 Contents. PAGE. Place Names of Kirkpatrick-Domnd, commonly called Kirkpatrick- DiuhMn—Bev. W. A. Stark 249 Destructive Forest Insects of Dumfriesshire W. H. Whellens 260 . Anwoth Old Churchyard jRev. F. W. Saunders 270 The Coleoptera of the Solway Area— ^erirawi ilf'G'owa/i 271 The Early Coinage of Scotland, with Special Reference to a Small Group of the Early Coins of Alexander III. Jame-i Davidson ... 285 (ileanings from the Vernacular Dr Alexander Chalmers ... ... 2S9 John Lindsay, Provost of Lincluden I)r John Lindsay ... ... ... 292 Old Bridal Stone, Crouse Farm, Kirkcowau 301 Meteorological Observations taken at Dumfries, 19U9 and 1910... ... 301 Presentations ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... 304 Purchases ... ... ... ... 309 Exhibits 311 Exchanges ... ... 312 List of Members ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... 314 Index 323 ILLUSTRATIONS. A Road Scene in the Days of George IV. .. ... ... Frontispiece. Mail Bag Labels 64 M 'George's Horn 68 The Dumfries and Portpatrick Mall Coach ... ... ... ... .. 80 Dumfries and Sanquhar Waybill, 12th July, 1789 .. 94 Dumfries Postmarks— Plates I.- V. ... ... ... ... 96 Glenluce Abbey. Plan 129 Coins of Alexander III. believed to be minted at Dumfries ... .. 288 Leadwork from Old Blue Bell Inn, Dumfries ... ... ... ... 308 PREFACE. It is intended that this volume, being the Transactions of the 49th year of the Society, should form the last volume of the New or Second Series. It will be followed by an Index of both Series in one volume. It is not a complete record of the session's work inasmuch as it does not cover the summer months. It has been found desirable to publish the Transactions at the close of the Winter Session, and it is intended that in future the summer work- should appear in the volume of the succeeding session. For the same reason no Treasurer's Accounts are included in this volume. It must be understood that as each contributor has seen a proof of his paper, the editor does not hold himself responsible for the accuracy of the scientific, jiersonnl, and place names or for the dates that are given therein. I acknowledge my indebtedness to Miss Harkness for typing the Index, and to the Editors of " The Dumfries and Gallowav Standard," " Dumfries and Galloway Courier and Herald," and " The Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser " for reports of meetings. Mr W. A. Mackinnell has kindly photographed the Leadwork from the old Blue Bell Hotel, and Mr A. Coldwell, the Plan of Glenluce Abbev. I shall be glad to hear from members working on Local Natural History and Archaeological subjects. Papers may be submitted at any time. Preference is alwavs given to original work on local subjects. Enquiries regarding purchase of Transactions and payment of Subscriptions should be made to the Honorary Treasurer, Mr M. H. M'Kerrow, 43 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries. Exchanges, Presentations, and Exhibits should be sent to the Honorary Secretary, Ewart Public Library, Dumfries. G. W. S. Proceedings and Transactions OF THE Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Aiitiparian Society. SEssionsr 1911-12. 20th October, 1911. ANNUAL MEETING. The President in the Chair. The Secretary and Treasurer submitted their annual reports, which met with approval. On the motion of the Treasurer, seconded by Mr Simon Scott, it was agreed to advertise the meetings in the local papers instead of sending out post-cards. On the nomination of the Council the Office-bearers were appointed for the Session. (Vide p. 3.) Presidential Address. By H. S. Gladstone, Esq. of Capenoch, M.A., F.Z.S., F.R.S.E. I have again to thank you for having elected me your Presi- dent for the coming session ; and though I feel that an apology is due from me for not having been a more regular attendant at the meetings of our Society during the past twelve months, I would remind you that I warned }ou a year ago how this would be. You know that the serious work of our Society is done in com- mittee, and that the records of these committee meetings do not ; 10 Presidential Address. appear in our printed Transactions. I am not conscious ol having missed sucli a committee meeting during the past year and therefore my guilt, although I know how few of our Society's meetings and excursions I have attended, does not appear to me so enormous. To be present on such occasions is surely more of a jjleasure than a task, and it is only the awkward distance at which I live from Dumfries which has prevented my attendance as often as might be expected. As regards the past year, I think we may chiim to have had a good season. Our ordinary member- ship, numbering 268, is at high-water mark; but there is no reason why this number should not be increased. In view of the fact that we may expect some extra-ordinary expenditure in con- nection with our jubilee, to be celebrated next year, it is very desirable that our membership should be added to as far as ever possible. It is a somewhat remarkable fact that some 17 per cent, of our present members are in arrear of their annual sub- scriptions. We have, of course, to mourn the death of several of our members during the past session. By the death of Mr Robert Service our Society has lost one of its keenest members, and Scot- land one of her most trustworthy zoologists. The names of Dr Chinnock and Mr J. Carlyle Aitken also occur to me. You have this session duly received the volume of our Transactions as usual, and you will shortly receive another volume. This publication of two volumes during but one session has been under- taken so as to avoid the delay, previously experienced, by which the papers read before us were not in our hands till twelve months or more after we had heard them. I am sure this plan will be approved, and I trust that in the future the publications of our Transactions will be kept more up to date than in the past. You will notice when this, the 23rd volume N.S. of our Transactions, comes to your hands that nearly all the papers have a local bear- ing. In a Society such as curs this is most desirable.