THE COMMON BITTERN. 55 



valley from the northern watershed are several small 

 rivulets known as the Auchencrow Burn, Fosterland Burn, 

 Draeden Burn, and Lintlaw Burn. Auchencrow Burn has 

 its source near Shillum Dykes, and after draining part of 

 the lands of Coldlands, Sunnyside, Fairlaw, Stoneshiel, 

 Eerneycastle, and Greenhead, passes Auchencrow village 

 and Auchencrow Mains, and thence enters Billie Mire 

 Burn or Cast, which now occupies the bottom of the 

 valley, about half a mile to the east of Billie Mains. 

 Fosterland Burn — which is said to have derived its name 

 from the foresters of the ancient Priory of Coldingham 

 having property on its banks — arises in boggy ground on the 

 heights to the west of Warlawbank, and, after being joined 

 by Greenburn and other lesser runnels, passes close under 

 the ruins of Billie Castle and adds its waters to Billie Mire 

 Burn, about a quarter of a mile to the east of Billie Mains. 

 Draeden Burn, a name which, says Mr. Carr, in his History 

 of Coldingham Priory, " an etymologist can have little diffi- 

 culty in tracing to the same root as the word ' Druid,' " has 

 its origin in a plantation situated a short distance to the east 

 of Slighouses, and, being augmented by the waters of several 

 small springs, proceeds eastwards, and, crossing the public 

 road from Lintlaw to Billie Mains not far from the spot 

 upon which formerly stood Little Billie, the birthplace of 

 the late Dr. Henderson of Chirnside, passes near the Pech 

 Stane, and falls into Billie Mire Burn about a quarter of a 

 mile to the south-east of Billie Mains. A large circular 

 cairn, which was removed about fifty years ago, stood near 

 the Pech Stane above mentioned, on the farm of Little 

 Billie. These relics of ancient times are referred to in the 

 following fragment : — 



Grisly Droedan sat alane 



By the cairn and Pech Stane ; 



Billy, wi' a seg sae stout, 



Cries ' ' I'll turn grisly Droedan out ! " 



