1903-1904-] Antiquities, &c., of Cramond District. 1 17 



notes. For the antiquities I have drawn upon Wood, Gordon, 

 and Eoy. With the exception of the Koman remains, the 

 notes refer to the beginning of last century. My notes 

 on the birds were made during the last twenty-five years 

 or so. 



The parish of Cramond is a pleasant and fertile district, 

 lying principally in the county of Mid- Lothian, at the north- 

 western corner of that shire, and extending along the south 

 shore of the Firth of Forth, into which the river Amon 

 (modern Almond), after running a course of above thirty miles, 

 empties itself at the village of Nether Cramond, now known as 

 Cramond village. Part of this parish, about one-tenth of the 

 whole, is situated in the county of West Lothian, which is 

 separated from Mid-Lothian by the Almond, for several miles 

 above its confluence with the Forth. The parish is bounded 

 on the west by the parishes of Dalmeny and Kirkliston ; on 

 the south, by those of Corstorphine and St Cuthbert's ; and by 

 the last-mentioned parish on the east. The northern boundary 

 is formed by the Firth of Forth, which at this place is from 

 four to six miles broad. The parish appears to contain 3900 

 Scotch, or about 4900 British statute acres. The extreme length 

 of this district, measuring from Leny Bridge on the west to 

 Wardie burn on the east, is nearly six miles, and the breadth 

 scarcely ever exceeds two miles. The eastern part of the 

 district, lying two miles north-west of the metropolis of Scot- 

 land, appears rather level, though the ground, in some places, 

 forms gentle risings. Near the centre of the parish is seen the 

 northern end of a craggy ridge, very steep on the eastern side, 

 but declining gently towards the west, called, from the adjacent 

 parish, in which the principal part of it lies, Corstorphine Hill, 

 The view from here is remarkably fine. To the north and 

 west the face of the parish becomes more variegated than the 

 eastern side, and agreeably diversified with rising grounds, 

 particularly with Leny and Craigie Hills. The chief ornament 

 of this part is the Almond, the banks of which stream, from 

 Craigiehall to its confluence with the Forth, being very high 

 and steep, almost wholly covered with wood, and frequently 

 checkered with bold and overhanging rocks. The land, in 

 general, rises to a good height even close to the shore : there 

 are, however, in three or four places along the sea-side, sandy 



