THE BED GROUSE. 169 



the month of March, and that a penalty of 40 shillings 

 should be imposed upon any one who dared to contravene 

 this regulation, which should be given to the lord of the land 

 where the burning had place." ] By the Act of George HI., 

 which is at present in force, every person who shall set 

 fire to any heath, from the llth of April to the 1st of 

 November, shall forfeit 2 for the first offence, 5 for the 

 second, and 10 for the third; or, in default of payment, 

 six weeks', two months', or three months' imprisonment 

 respectively. The annual burning of the heather on the 

 Lammermuirs in spring is a sight which I remember seeing 

 as a boy in East-Lothian, where the long straggling fires by 

 night, and the clouds of smoke by day, 2 reminded one of 

 Leyden's graphic description : 



How grand the scene yon russet down displays, 



While far the withering heaths with moor-burn blaze ! 



The pillar'd smoke ascends with ashen gleam ; 



Aloft in air the arching flashes stream ; 



With rushing, crackling noise the flames aspire, 



And roll one deluge of devouring fire ; 



The timid flocks shrink from the smoky heat, 



Their pasture leave, and in confusion bleat, 



With curious look the flaming billows scan, 



As whirling gales the red combustion fan. 



Mr. Hardy says : " It is a popular belief that when 

 Moor-fowl call near houses in moorland places much rain 

 may be expected, and that the cocks make an oft-repeated 

 " Kick-dick, dick, dick," before rain." 3 



1 Tytler's Scotland, vol. iii. p. 110. 



2 In East-Lothian heather-burning was supposed to bring rain. According 

 to Dr. Johnston of Berwick this belief was also prevalent in Berwickshire. 

 Bot. East. Borders, p. 137. 



MS. Notes. 



