Vol 5 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

60 Field Meetings.line, "An honest man is the noblest work of God;" and underneaththis, on the same pane, is the name Jean Lorimer, alsowritten by him. From Ellisland the walk was continued toFriars' Carse, and on arriving at the Hermitage there, they weremet by Mr Nelson's keeper, who conducted them to see a numberof sculptured stones and old stone crosses which a former proprietorhad collected. A megalithic circle in a wood about amile from the mansion-house was next visited.This consists ofabout fifty stones, varying from three to five feet in height,arranged around a larger one in the centre. All the stonesappear to be quarried and of a recent date. The lacustrinedwelling in the loch was next visited, a footway having beenmade to it with branches of trees and brushwood. The outlinemay still be discerned from the number of upright oaken beamsprotruding through the mud and abpve the water.Owing to the lateness of the season, very few botanicalspecimens were collected, Cardanmte amara and the butter-bur,Petasites vulgaris, along the banks of the Nith, being the onlyrarities.Orchardton Tower and Orchardton.— ith June, 1887.The second Field Meeting of the session was held on Saturday,4th June, when, on the invitation of Mr Robinson-Douglas,Orchardton Old Tower and the district around Orchardtonmansion-house were visited. Owing to the heavy rains in theearly morning, and to the constant downpour at the hour ofstarting (nine o'clock), only fourteen members assembled at theDumfries Station, and proceeded to Dalbeattie. On their arrivalat Dalbeattie, fortune seemed to smile upon the " earnest few,"for thei'e was a break in the clouds, and by the time the partyhad taken their seats in the waggonette which was in waiting,the rain had ceased. From Dalbeattie to Orchardton the drivewas most enjoyable, the beauty of the scenery being enhancedby the refreshing rain ; and, as glimpses of the sun were occasionallyobtained, the party congratulated themselves on theprospect of a pleasant day.The first halt was made at OrchardtonOld Towei', where an hour was spent in sketching the ruinor botanising in the disti'ict. As the door of the building wasopened for the party, the majority ascended to the top by thespiral staircase, where a good view of the surrounding district