POPULAR RHYMES OF BERWICKSHIRE. 219 



In these verses, I believe, we may trace the germs of an opinion, 



long |tn>\;ili'iit. even among the most eminent naturalists, against the 

 in ignitions of certain animals. Those especially commemorated in the 

 rhyme are termed the " seven sleepers." Ray gives a parallel tri- 

 plet concerning the birds " which nestle in the Basse." 

 " The scout, tho scart, the cat t i wake, 



The so land goose sits on the laik, 



Yearly in the spring." 



The magpie has in this country been always deemed a bird " of 

 omen foul." The following is its portentous character: 

 " One is mirth, two is birth, 

 Three is a wedding, four is death, 

 Five is heaven, six is hell, 

 Seven is the devil's am sell."* 



This is eldritch and pythonic, the record of a dark age, and was 

 averted l>y spitting four times on the ground. The following is more 

 spirited, and in unison with better feelings. It is the song of the 

 lark done into Scotch verse by some rustic rhymstcr. 

 " There is not a shoemaker on tho earth, 

 Can make shoo to me, to me. 

 Why so 1 why so 1 why so 1 

 Because my heel is longer than my muckle toe." 



Note. In Clianibers's Picture of Scotland, there is a saying regard- 

 ing Chooslie which 1 do not find in Mr Henderson's collection. It is 

 ' There's as good cheese in Choosly as ever chafts chewed, and the 

 cheese of Cheshire is nae mair like the cheese of Choosly than chalk 

 is like cheese." Chambers gives the illustration. F. D. 



The White- Fishery on the Coast of Benvickshire. By the Rev. RO- 

 BERT COWE of Whitsome. 



1. Ttie Mode of taking Herrings. Early in the season, before the 

 nights are sufficiently dark for the fish to take the nets, a few her- 

 rings have been caught for several years by white hooks, at Bum 

 mouth and Eyemouth. But the process is so tedious, and the num- 

 ber taken so very small, seldom exceeding a hundred or two in a 

 night, that the fishermen are not likely to adopt this method very ge- 



* A parallel rhyme regarding that given concerning the magpie, is one that de 

 nounces the pretty yellow- hammer. I hat! it from a gentleman who passed his youth 

 in the hills between Berwick and Roxburgh shires, where it may still linger. These 

 three last rhymes are, I believe, not confined exclusively to Berwickshire. 

 *' Yellow, yellow yorlin, 



Drink a drap o' the deil's blude 

 Ilka Monday morning." 



