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

Field Meeting8. 67ings in the neighbourhood of Kirkcudbright. At tlie liour ofstarting (9 a.m.) a small party assembled at the Dumfries station,but their number was increased on reaching Castle-Douglas andKirkcudbright. On arriving at Kirkcudbright they were metby Messrs M'Kie and Coles, wlio were to be the guides for theday, and also by Mr Hamilton of Ardendee and several membersof the Kirkcudbright Naturalists' Field Club.The first item on the programme was Loch Fergus, about threemiles from the station. At a remote period a loch of tlie abovename existed there, but it has long been drained, and what wasonce the bottom is now cultivated fields.In the twelfth centuryFergus, Lord of Galloway, had his stronghold on one of theislands in the loch, and traces of this and another island werenow observed above the level of the surrounding fields. Fromhere the party walked through Glen Lag until High Banks wasreached. On this farm a number of the cup and ring markingshave been discovered, and were duly described by Messrs M'Kieand Coles during the Winter Session. (See April Meeting.)From High Banks the walk was continued to the site of oldGaltway village, but there is not even a house standing now tomark the spot of this once populous place. The next halt was atLow Milton, where the ring marks are difierent from those discoveredat other places in the district.These markings were thefirst observed in the neighbourhood by Mr W. Thomson ofKirkcudbright,and as that gentleman now fonned one of the partyhe narrated the circumstances under which the discovery wasmade. On tlie motion of Mr Coles, the Society's thanks wereawarded to Mr Thomson for the action he had taken, and thegreat interest he had shown in bringing tliese markings underthe notice of the public. In this difficult undertaking he wasably assisted by Mr Hamilton and Mr Hornel, as they took castsof the typical markings and forwarded them to tlie BritishMuseum, to this, and other societies.Dunrod Churcliyard was next visited, also Knockshinnoch andBalmae, where other markings were seen. A British camp atDrummore subsequently engaged the party, but while therethe rain, which had been threatening for some time, began to fallheavily, and necessitated their returning to Kirkcudbriglit earlierthan they intended.