mant, and no individual of the name has possessed land in the parish for more than a hundred years. Extent, Figure, &c.-The parish is of an oblong figure, and bounded almost entirely by streams and rivers. From the Ken, on the west, it stretches to the river Urr, which, flowing from a loch of the same name, forms its eastern boundary for several miles. The Craig and Crogo rivulets, rising from the same range of hills, run in opposite directions, and separate it from the parish of Parton, on the south; while on the north, the Garple and another smaller stream separate it from Dalry and Glencairn. The whole superficies is estimated in the county map at 37 square miles. It is the smallest parish in the district. Topographical Appearances, &c.-Along the banks of the Ken a series of drums stretches towards the interior for two or three miles. The country then assumes a wilder and more rugged aspect. Moors, morasses, and hills of considerable height appear, interspersed with a few cultivated fields. Eastward, the land has been rapidly emerging from its originally barren and uninteresting condition. There still, however, remain extensive plains of moss, possessing all the sterility of the desert, and apparently incapable of the least improvement. Meteorology. The climate is upon the whole damp and the heights swampy. As drainage is scarcely known or imperfectly practised, water continues long on the hills. No epidemic prevails: rheumatism is common; and perhaps more people die of pulmonary complaints than of any other. Hydrography. The lakes or lochs in Balmaclellan are numerous. They are principally situated among the upland heights, but are far inferior in beauty to Loch Ken. This noble sheet of water sweeps the western boundary of the parish, and presents to the eye an agreeable variety of bay, promontory, and wooded isle. The river that supplies this splendid loch frequently overflows its banks till the whole valley assumes the appearance of an inland The most destructive of these periodical inundations occurs in the beginning of August or end of July, and is known in the country by the name of the Lammas Speat. Of the innumerable tributaries that tend to this immense increase of waters, the Garple is deserving of notice. In some parts, it flows through a narrow and rugged channel, while on either side rise lofty precipices wooded to their summit. Its progress is marked by a few waterfalls. The most picturesque of these is the Holy Linn, a sea. cascade worthy of its present celebrity, both on account of its natural beauty, and from having been the spot where the ejected minister of the parish, in persecuting times, occasionally baptized the children of his flock. In alluding to the scenery of Balmaclellan, the extensive and varied prospect in the neighbourhood of the village is well entitled to notice. Tourists, painters, and poets have all endeavoured to do it justice, but we have seen no effort either of the pencil or pen at all worthy of it. It will stand a comparison with the fairest scenes in the Highlands, and presents a fine combination of all the features mentioned by Scott in his description of national landscape : "Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, Land of the mountain and the flood." Geology. The principal rocks are whinstone and slate. There are two quarries of the latter within the parish. The metal is excellent, but they have not been wrought to any extent for several years. Zoology. The lakes of Balmaclellan are frequented by a great variety of water-fowl. Here wild geese and swans are occasional visitants. The coot is rarely found, yet we have seen its rude and singular nest among the reeds on the rushy margin of Loch Ken. It is so constructed as to float on the surface, and to rise or fall with the water. A still rarer bird is the kingfisher. It has been seen hovering over the Garple, and watching its prey as it rose to the surface of the stream. The small grebe is seldom noticed. Herons are by no means uncommon. Allured by an abundant supply of fish, these birds wander at certain seasons by the loneliest streams and most secluded lakes. The rapacious birds are not numerous. The eagle confines his range to the wilder scenery west of the Ken, and rarely crosses the parish. Hawks, however, reared in other quarters, take long flights, and sweep the cultivated fields for partridge and smaller birds. A pair of ravens still maintain their residence. Rooks, on the other hand, are abundant. Swarms of them, proceeding from two colonies in the parish, and reinforced by those of Kenmure, annoy the farmer in seed-time and harvest. On the whole, however, from their destruction of noxious insects, they may be looked upon not so much as a nuisance as a benefit. A few years ago, a sort of grub settled on the summit of the hills, and, spreading its ravages downwards, reduced the green heights to absolute sterility. Thither the rooks were gathered together, and, after waging war with the destroyer, have roosted ever since, in considerable numbers, on some tall trees near the foot of Cairnsmoor. Of the smaller birds that enliven the grove, a great variety abounds. At the approach of winter large flocks of "lintwhites sing in chorus" on some tall poplars near the manse. They all pause together, and then after a short interval resume their warbling. A few years ago, the missel-thrush and starling were exceedingly rare. They are now abundant. The cross-bill forms another recent addition to the feathered race of the district. Plantations have increased in the neighbourhood, and there this interesting stranger may be seen, from time to time, extracting seeds, with his singular bill, from the cones of the Scotch fir. There are no quadrupeds worthy of notice. The little, spirited, and serviceable species of horse once so famous in Galloway, is scarcely ever met with. Of the wilder animals the species are few. Foxes have no particular haunt or yird in the parish, and badgers are unknown. Otters abound, but remain the unmolested tenants of the stream. They are never harassed by the sportsman with spear or hound, and only one individual, with a trap of his own construction, has disturbed their peaceful possession of the deep. This invention, if skilfully applied, and with a due regard to the habits of these animals, might be successfully employed for their destruction. The streams and lochs are well stored with fish, and afford ample opportunity to the angler to display his skill. In Loch Houie and Loch Urr pike are very plentiful; and the largest ever caught in Britain was taken from the waters of the Ken. Here also perch abound, though introduced scarce a century ago. In the time of harvest, a very large species of trout ascends the Shirmers and Garple to deposit its spawn. In spite, however, of prohibitory statutes, poachers and others manage with impunity to sweep the streams with nets, or, in the dark night, spear the fish upon the fords, by means of torch light. The trout of Loch Brack rival those of Lochinvar in quality, and are far superior in point of size. Two were caught this year, weighing five and seven pounds respectively. Barscobe, Loch Skae, and the Lows deserve also to be mentioned. On the whole, there is no parish in the south where the angler may more successfully pursue his solitary but pleasant pastime. The following is a well-known "saw" among the brothers of the rod and line in this district : "When the mist creeps up the hill, Botany. - Few plants, in an economical point of view, are worthy of notice. Chair-bottoms and mats were once formed of the bull-rushes that fringe Loch Ken. Quantities of the Vaccinium oxycoccos, or cranberry, are still gathered from the bogs, and the fruit of the wild bullace tree (Prunus insititia) forms an excellent preserve. The brake or bracken, though not abundant, is occasionally employed as litter for cattle. Though the botanist traverse the whole parish, he will find no great variety of plants to reward his labour. A few of the more interesting flowers, however, may here be mentioned. The pale butterwort (Pinguicula lusitanica), never found on the east coast of Scotland, is plentifully scattered over the moors. Pyrola minor (lesser wintergreen) is found on one spot alone on the Garple. The densely matted foliage of the water lobelia (Lobelia Dortmanna) often forms a green carpet at the bottom of the upland lakes. This singular aquatic, with its pale blue flowers, must yield in beauty to the white lily and water crowfoot, which, in the summer months, here expand their blossoms in great profusion. In addition to these, we may simply name the following: Solanum Dulcamara, woody nightshade or bitter-sweet; Utricularia vulgaris, greater bladder-wort; Circaa Lutetiana, common enchanter's nightshade; Viburnum Opulus, common guelder-rose; Lythrum Salicaria, spiked purple loosestrife; Alisma ranunculoides, lesser water plantain; Meum athamanticum, meu or bald-money; Briza media, common quaking grass; Rumex alpinus, alpine dock or monk's rhubarb. Roses, geraniums, and saxifrages also abound. The plantations seldom exceed ten or twelve acres in any one place, being mostly confined to small isolated spots. The soil is well calculated for the growth of trees, especially of oak and ash. A few noble specimens of the silver fir were overturned at Barscobe by the hurricane of January 1839. They were of great age, and had attained an uncommon size. A solitary ash tree of a peculiar shape has long flourished at Killochy. It is seen from every point of the compass at a distance of many miles, and is known by the name of the "Daffin-tree." Probably it was so called from the natives in former days assembling there for amusement, and, like the inhabitants in Goldsmith's Deserted Village, "leading out their sports beneath the spreading tree.” II. CIVII. HISTORY. Remarkable Characters, &c.-There is no event of importance connected with the civil history of this parish. In 1545, Ar. Scott, parson of Balmaclellan, along with the prior of Inchmahome, was appointed tutor to the infant Mary of Scots, and sent to France with her in 1548 when betrothed to the Dauphin. The Rev. Thomas Verner, a man eminent for piety, was ordained minister of the parish, previous to the Restoration, outlived the persecution, and died so late as 1716, being the last of the old Presbyterian ministers that survived the Revolution, and father of the Church at the time of his death. The Rev. Samuel Smith of Borgue, the talented and accomplished author of an Agricultural Survey of Galloway, was a native of Balmaclellan. Land-owners.-The chief land-owners are Viscount Kenmure and John Eden Spalding, Esq. of Holm. Parochial Registers.—The parochial registers have not been regularly kept, and are not voluminous. The earliest entry was made in 1747. Antiquities.-On Dalarran Holm there is a standing stone of great size, but without any inscription, which is said to mark the spot where a Danish warrior fell in a bloody battle. Broken spears have been discovered at different periods in its vicinity. There is a moot-hill near the village; and, not long ago, a ball and seven pins of large dimensions were found buried in a moss where peat had been cut from time immemorial. Mr Train, the antiquarian, and well-known friend of Sir Walter Scott, gives the following account of this interesting relic, now in his possession. "A few years ago, as the servants of Mr Bell of Baryown were casting peats on Ironmacaunnie Moor, when cutting near the bottom of the moss, they laid open with their spades what appeared to be the instruments of an ancient game, consisting of an oaken ball, eighteen inches in circumference, and seven wooden pins, each thirteen inches in length, of a conical shape, with a circular top. These ancient "Reel-pins," as they are termed by Strutt in his "Sports and Pastimes of the People," were all standing erect on the hard till, equidistant from each other, with the exception of two, which pointed towards the ball, that lay about a yard in front, from which it may be inferred they were overthrown in the course of the game. The ball has been formed of solid oak, and, from its decayed state, must have remained undisturbed |