WINTER EXCURSION. 299 



strange that hitherto only two species of Bat, Vespertilio Pipi- 

 strellus and Plecotus auritus, have been found in Scotland. 

 We were informed however that a much larger kind had some- 

 times been seen flying about ; and of it the gamekeeper kindly 

 engaged to procure a specimen or two in summer. We re- 

 turned towards evening, without observing anything remark- 

 able, excepting the ravages committed upon a stack of wheat 

 by the Rooks, which had very expertly pulled out the straws 

 in order to get at the grain. Several Dippers and a White 

 Wagtail were seen by the Tweed, which rolled along its cold 

 waters, margined with ice, and strewed with lumps of snow^ 



The town, as I have said, is situated by the side of this beauti- 

 ful river, at the mouth of Eddlestone Water, one of its tribu- 

 taries, in a valley enclosed by rounded hills of considerable 

 height, which, in summer, with their green slopes, and nume- 

 rous plantations, afford an agreeable prospect. Now that the 

 whole country was covered with snow, amid which the dark 

 firs and pines exhibited the only verdure to be seen, they pre- 

 sented a most chilly aspect, which however was more singu- 

 lar than disagreeable. Many of the exposed slopes and emin- 

 ences were almost bared by the strong wind that had blown for 

 two days, while the sheltered hollows were filled with deep 

 wreaths. The sheep had been driven into the w^oods for shel- 

 ter, or gathered into the low grounds, where they were supplied 

 with turnips, or left to shift for themselves by scraping the 

 snow from the more prominent parts. 



Next day, notwithstanding the increased depth of the snow, 

 we rambled about the town, and then crossing the Tweed, 

 made the best of our way through the wreaths to the mouth of 

 Manor Water, near wdiich, we were conducted by Mr. Adam 

 to Bellanridge, the farm of his friend I\Ir. ]Middlemass, who 

 receiA'ed us in the most hospitable manner. His well-stored 

 stack-yard offered an attraction to the small birds in the neigh- 

 bourhood, but we observed in it only the common species, some 

 of which we procured, as well as a Creeper and a Gold-crest. 

 ^Ve had entered rather cold, and wet to the ancles, but were 

 soon restored to a comfortable temperature by the agency of a 

 good fire, abundance of substantial fare, and a quantum of 



