POPULAR RHYMES OF BERWICKSHIRE. 219 



In these verses, I believe, yve may trace the germs of an opinion, 

 long prevalent even among the most eminent naturalists, against the 

 migrations of certain animals. Those especially commemorated in the 

 rhyme are termed the "seven sleepers." Hay gives a parallel triplet 

 concerning the birds " which nestle in the Basse." 



" The scout, the scart, the cattiwake, 

 The soland ^oose sits on the laik, 

 Yearly in the spring." 



The magpie has in this country been always deemed a bird "of 

 omen foul." The following is its portentous character : 



" One is mirth, two is birth, 

 Three is a wedding, four is death, 

 Five is heaven, six is hell, 

 Seven is the devil's ain sell."* 



This is a record of a dark age, and was averted by spitting four 

 times on the ground. The following is more spirited, and in unison 

 with better feelings. It is the song of the lark done into Scotch verse 

 by some rustic rhymster. 



" There is not a shoemaker on the earth, 

 Can make shoe to me, to me. 

 Why so ? why so ? why so ? 

 Because my heel is longer than my mnckle toe." 



JVote. — In Chambers' Picture of Scotland, there is a saying regard- 

 ing Chooslie which I do not find in Mr Henderson's collection. It is 

 " There's as good cheese in Choosly as ever chafts chewed, and the 

 cheese of Chesliire is nae mair like the cheese of Choosly than chalk 

 is like cheese." Chambers gives the illustration. J. H. 



TJte White- Fisher 1/ on the Coast of Bencichshire. By the Eev. 

 EoBERT Co WE of A^Tiitsomc. 



1. The mode of talcing Herrings. — Early in the season, before the 

 nights are sufficiently dark for the fish to take the nets, a few herrings 

 have been caught for several years by white hooks, at Burnmouth 

 and Eyemouth. But the process is so tedious, and the number taken 



* A parallel rhyme to this, is one that denounces the pretty yellow-hammer. 

 I had it from a gentleman who passed his youth in the hills between Berwick 

 and Roxburgh shires, where it may still linger. These three last rhymes are, I 

 believe, not confined exclusively to Berwickshire. 



" Yellow, yellow yorlin. 

 Drink a drap o' the deil's bhide 

 Ilka Mondav morning." 



