Operations and Finds in Upper Nithsdalk. 31 



perforated at the hammer end. It is of a type common to 

 Nithsdale. 



Last year wlien some repairs were being executed at Eliock 

 there was found by a mason in the centre of one of tlie walls a 

 nice specimen of celt or axe perfectly entire. It is about three 

 inches in length, and appears to be formed of a flinty-like 

 material. Tlie same mason shortly after found a hammer-shaped 

 axe in digging the foundation of a house at Moor, in the parish 

 of Carsphairn. 



At the loan exhibition in Sanquhar a very beautiful bead was 

 exhibited by Miss Weir, Kirkconnel, and labelled .is an " Adder 

 Stone." It Avas of dark glass ornamented with white oblique 

 lines, and she stated that it had long been in the possession of 

 her family, who looked upon it as an omen, that while they had 

 it they would never be in want. Of the same type was the bead 

 obtained by the late Mr Shaw, Tynron, at Cairneycroft, in that 

 parish. As to these being adder stones and formed according to 

 the myth or legend known to all, there is no proof either in 

 written record or in natural or scientific laws. It is well 

 establislied that they have be^n personal ornaments, and have 

 been frequently found associated with ancient burials in cairns 

 and mounds. I remember when a boy seeing a so-called " Adder 

 Stone " in the possession of a female servant, who delighted in 

 recounting the exploded myth. She was nonplussed wlien we 

 told her it was calm-stone from Crossgeliock, the same as we 

 used every day at school for slate pencils. The article was a 

 common whorl made to be fitted on to the wooden spindle so as 

 to increase and maintain the rotatory motion given to it by the 

 twirl from the finger and thumb in spinning from the distaff. 

 They are very common, and have been found in or around every 

 ancient habitation. Here is a rude one found recently in my 

 own garden. If we credit the song of " the Gaberlunzie Man," 

 they seem to have been hawked about the country for sale. He 

 in persuading the daughter of the guidwife to share his fortune, 

 says : 



" VVi' caulk and keel I'll win your bread, 

 And spin'les and whorles for them wha need, 

 Whilk is a gentle trade indeed 

 To carry the Gaberlunzie on." 



Mr Borland, Auchencairn, and Mr Smith, Townhead, Close- 

 burn, have both made considerable finds in recent years. The 



