PYROLA. — ILEX. 141 



or in patches. It was just where this heather touches on the shingle 

 that we found the Pyrola. The top is crowned with circular mounds 

 and fosses, and with the remnants of walls constructed of huge stones. 

 These walls have been evidently circular, and have been, and are 

 believed to be, the ruins of a temple erected in Druidical times to the 

 worship of their god ; but Druids and their temple are now become 

 mythical with the learned. There is no harm in holding to the 

 popular creed ; and the imagination riots on this high hill, as it tries 

 to rebuild the temple, to refurnish the feast of the Baaltein, and to 

 rekindle the sacrifice and the ascending fire, which greeted the sun as 

 he arose glorious from out the sea on the east shore, and was hailed 

 as the divinity with shouts from the worshippers crowded on the 

 vale beneath. I believe in the popular creed*. 



The view from the hill is very extensive, and full of interest. You 

 look abroad into the varied scene, and in the far distance are descried 

 the spire of the Town-hall of Berwick, the uncertain haze that over- 

 hangs the sea and mingles with the heavens, and the field of Hali- 

 don ; and westwards Dunse and Dirrington Laws bound the landscape. 

 The plain of Millfield lies level at our feet glistening with the silver 

 line which reveals the very sinuous way of the Glen through it, and 

 smiling with the golden culture that waves so gently over its surface. 

 The poverty of the village that occupies its centre forces on the 

 memory, in contrast, the ideal picture of its former regal state ; and 

 we easily again clothe the plain with the broom which was long 

 enough to ambuscade warriors of yore. Humbledon, or Holmedou- 

 field, lies on the south marked with its memorial stone, where the 

 brave fell thickest ; 



" two-and-twenty knights, 



Balk'd in theii- own blood;" — 



in front lie the heights which hid the march of Surrey when he led 

 his army to Flodden ; and Flodden itself is on the left of us hard 

 by. Surely this is classical ground ; but I may not dwell on scenes 

 and events which the pen of Scott has gifted. 



In the Wern. Mem. v. p. 228, Mr. David Don has published a 

 learned and excellent monograph on the Pyrolae, which the student 

 of this genus should consult. 



369. Ilex AauiFOLiuM. Clje f^olly : f^ollm: ^olyn. — Deans, 

 frequent. " In Northumberland we know several remains of natural 

 woods where the Hollies are numerous, and where many have at- 

 tained a size equal to those upon record At Detchant, near Belford, 

 in a large natural wood, there are still Hollies of a very large size, 

 though most of the finest have been cut down within the last few- 

 years, and their valuable timber sold to the herring-curers. At 

 Twizell House there are also several Hollies of ancient growth and 

 considerable size in the wooded dells and other remains of natural 

 wood." 



" In natural woods, and especially in the deep glens and rocky 

 denes of our northern districts, however beautiful and diversified the 



* See the Pict. Hist, of England, i. chap. ii. sect. i. 



