meeting by Dr. Stuart of Chirnside. Dr. Paxton of Norham exhibited a carbonaceous shale, yielding gas and oil, from the Mountain Limestone formation at Allerdene, in Northumberland; and which, it may be observed, contains remains both of fishes and plants, as well as of the Beyrichia multiloba. One imperfect specimen of the rare Crustacean Eulypterus Scouleri, from the Tuedian formation at Kimmergham, was shown by Mr. William Stevenson. Dr. Stuart reported that the Picus major, the Greater Woodpecker, had been seen at Kyloe, Horncliff, and Monnynut; and Mr. Greet had found near Norham, in the Tweed, two stone balls, which would fit the bore of the Mons Meg. After discussing the several subjects brought before the meeting, the members visited the church, a mean-looking structure, but yet retaining characteristic remains of the old Norman edifice in its western doorway, near to which hang a few links of the jougs formerly used to punish scolding, swearing, drunkenness, and similar offences. They then, under the guidance of Dr. Stuart, strolled down the banks of the Whitadder; but the day was unfavourable for observations. Mr. Tate set off to examine the stone cover of an ancient British sepulchre, which was discovered a few years ago on Goat's-know, Edington hill, formed of upright slabs of sandstone, but in which nothing was found. The cist was broken up, but the cover was removed farther down the hill and there used for the outlet of a drain. cover is an unhewn slab of the sandstone of the district, 4ft. 2in. long and 3ft. lin. broad, and on its rough surface remain artificial markings, the principal form being a round hollow or cup, from which curves away a groove, extending into a wavy line 27in. long. From the upper part of this groove another short groove issues, ending in a small cup. Other cups and lines can be traced, but not distinctly, in other parts of the stone. The figures are undoubtedly the work of art, for the tool-marks are still visible. In Northumberland, similar figures are associated with concentric circles; and, though no such circles are traceable on the stone, we may yet regard the figures as belonging to the same rock symbols This as have been described by Mr. George Tate in the Proceedings of the Club, and by Sir James Simpson in a separate volume. They belong to a period when the inhabitants of Britain had advanced so far in art and civilization as to be acquainted with the use of bronze weapons and instruments, by means of which these sculpturings had probably been made. After an excellent dinner at the Red Lion, Mr. Hardy's able address was read, and Sir Walter Elliot of Wolfelee was elected President for ensuing year." The first meeting of the year was at Burnmouth, from which also I was absent, but Mr. Langland's notes have enabled me to supply an account of the events of the day. "The meeting was not large, but numbered Mr. D. Milne Home, Mr. Hardie, Stoneshiels; Dr. Stuart, Chirnside; Dr. Brown, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Robert Douglas, Berwick; Mr. Wm. Stevenson, and Mr. Langlands. The party visited the old British camp at Habchesters, on some elevated ground about 3 miles south-east of Ayton, the height of which was determined by Mr. Milne Home to be 580 feet by the aneroid. This camp is surrounded by two very deep, circular trenches, exhibiting remains of strong masonry, and is divided into two portions by a wall through the middle. That on the north side has been for many years under tillage, but the line of the circular trench may still be traced. On the south side of the wall the works remain perfect, though it was noticed with regret that the level portion within has this year been ploughed up. The trenches are nearly 21 feet deep. The inner one is about 45 feet, the outer about 40 feet wide. There was probably a smaller mound beyond the trench, which may have been reduced by the plough. The diameter of the whole, from east to west, is about 340 yards, and that from north to south about 350 yards. Within the area are several hollows, indicating probably the sites of dwelling houses. The stones employed in constructing the mounds are freestone, brought from a distance. "The party then proceeded by the old road over Lamberton moor to Lamberton kirk, the ruins of which are of little interest. The eastern part of the wall, 21 by 35 feet, may possibly have been a portion of the ancient church; but the rest of the wall has evidently been recently erected to inclose some burial places. A number of tombstones are in the kirkyard, the oldest legible being to James Purdie of Paxton, 1730. Another of 1772 has the following inscription: Another also of 1772 to John Trotter, has "Vain world, farewell, enough I've had of thee, My crimes conspicuous, vain man avoid! Thine own heart search and then thou'lt be employed.” The Campbell Renton family still bury here. "From thence the party went to the caves recently opened by Mr. Milne Home. The articles found in them were all of comparatively recent date. They were exhibited last year at the meeting of the Club at Eyemouth, and merely show that the place had been used as a distillery. In confirmation of this, there is a tradition that a man named William Lover sold spirits here about the year 1752. The caves have probably been formed by the action of the waves, at a former sea level. They are now 160 feet, by the aneroid, above the present tide mark. Immediately below is a circular dwelling at the foot of the cliff, partly cut out of the rock, partly built, and on the face of the rock may still be read, rudely carved, the names of W. Lover, 1763, and John Hankis, 1767. "From the caves the party walked along the highly interesting line of coast to Burnmouth, noting as they passed the termination of the carboniferous rocks, where they become vertical at their junction with the other strata, after which they assembled-now reduced to six in number-at Ayton for dinner. "The opinion was general that the alteration of the day of meeting from the usual course, has on this and other occasions been found disadvantageous. "After dinner, the names of four new members were proposed, and Dr. Mitchell's paper in the Transactions of the Anthropological Society on Blood Relationship in Marriage, as regarding the Burnmouth fishermen, was discussed. It was shown that they are a thriving, well-to-do class, and that they have larger proportionate accumulations in the Berwick Saving's Bank than any of the neighbouring inhabitants. It was also observed that physically the men are a fine athletic race, and the women tall and stout. It is admitted that the care of the children is generally confided to those very little advanced above them in years, and that the weaker children are seldom reared. "Mr. Stevenson exhibited two celts, one a very large stone specimen found at Winsheil. "Among the plants noticed during the walk by Dr. Stuart and Mr. Shaw were- Viola lutea at Habchester camp; Vicia sativa, sea banks; Asplenium marinum; Arabis hirsuta, in seed, Burnmouth; Glyceria rigida; Asplenium trichomanes, abundant on Conglomerate rocks, near Flemington; Botrychium lunaria, one specimen only near Lamberton race course.' The meeting at Lauder on the 24th June was very successful. Sixteen of the members and their friends sat down to breakfast, including the President, Mr. Wm. Boyd, (who, in the absence of Mr. Tate, detained at home by indisposition, undertook the duties of Secretary,) Mr. John Boyd, Drs. F. and C. Douglas, Messrs. A. Jerdon, Wm. Stevenson, C. Black; and as visitors, Col. Smith, Bengal Army, and Mr. Romanes, of Harryburn, who kindly acted as our guide during the day. After breakfast, Mr. Romanes exhibited the silver girdle, celebrated in story, presented by the second Earl, afterwards Duke of Lauderdale, to the gude wife of Tollies-hill, in acknowledgment of services rendered to him in the days of his adversity, and which was kindly lent for the occasion by her descendant, Mr. Thomas Simson of Blainslee. He also presented the members with printed copies of the Charter granted to Lauder by James IV., 1502, and of a printed memorandum of the Burgh property, together with an impression of the Burgh Seal, bearing a standing figure of the Virgin and child, and the legend, "Insignia Burgi de Lauder," but apparently of no great antiquity. Mr. Stevenson showed a fine specimen of a celt, of the Neolithic period, from the neighbourhood of Coldstream; after which Mr. Wm. Boyd read a communication from Lady John Scott, pointing out the objects of interest in the neighbourhood, which proved of great use in arranging the excursions of the day. The Tollies-hill girdle, which was examined with much interest, is formed of silver wire, twisted in a double-curb pattern, attached to a round plate chased with arabesques of foliage, and having in the centre the letters B. C. The other extremity terminates in a silver cone, with a hook at the end fitting into an eye under the circular plate, and if need be, into rings at various lengths of the chain to meet the increasing rotundity of the dame's waist as she advanced in years. The length to the first ring is 25 in., and the next is 2 in. more, and so on by successive rings, the distances enlarging between each to 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in., making in all 51 in.; and with the plate, which is 2 in. in diameter and the cone 2 in. in length, a total of 57 in. The weight is 7 oz. 11 dwts.. The signification of the letters B. C. is not apparent, nor does the story afford a clue to their meaning. The Rev. J. Walker of Greenlaw, formerly incumbent of Legerwood parish, who was well acquainted with the Simson family informed me that these letters were believed to be the initials of her name, which could not therefore have been Maggie, and was probably a household or pet name. The incident was first mentioned by Chambers in his Picture of Scotland, on which Miss Margaret Corbet founded her story of "Muirside Maggie," communicated |