II.-CIVIL HISTORY.

As an historical incident of some importance, it may be mentioned, that, in 1817, when cutting the present line of road which leads from Airth to Stirling, the workmen came on the skeleton of a whale. The skeleton was found to the north of the mansion house of Dunmore Park, and upwards of a quarter of a mile from the bank of the river. It was traced to the extent of 75 feet.

Land-owners.-The chief land-owners of the parish are, The Earl of Dunmore; William Graham Stirling, Esq. of Airth; Sir A. Maitland Gibson of Kersie; James Bruce, Esq. of Powfoulis; John Burn Murdoch, Esq. of Newck, &c.

Parochial Registers.-There is a register of births, deaths, and marriages from 16th September 1660, to 9th November 1669. From this date there is none till 15th February 1670, when it again commences, and is carried on to 4th September 1720, when there is another blank down to 4th July 1732; from which period, it is continued, with tolerable accuracy, down to the present.

Modern Buildings.-The principal modern buildings in the parish are, an elegant front addition to Airth Castle, the mansion-house of Dunmore Park, beautifully finished, and of Gothic architecture; the houses of Newck and Powfoulis; the church, a very handsome little structure, containing accommodation for 800 sitters; and the manse, seated on a rising ground at a little distance from the village. All of these tend not a little to adorn the scenery on the south banks of the Forth, between Kincardine and Alloa.