X PEEFACE. 



" Berwickshire is naturally divided into two great districts, 

 well marked by their difference of external character and sur- 

 face, the High and the Low ; - the former comprehending the 

 subalpine districts of Lammerrauir and Lauderdale, the latter, 

 which, in an economical point of view at least, is by far the 

 most valuable, as well as beautiful, being named the Merse. 

 The former division forms part of that great hilly range, ex- 

 tending in a S. W. direction from St Abb's Head to the Solway 

 Frith, a range which, in different parts of its course, is known 

 under different names, but every where marked by the same 

 great features, the round-backed shape of the hills, their 

 smooth and unbroken outline, and the thick covering of ver- 

 dure, which in general reaches to their summits. The latter 

 division again extends from the base of this hilly tract to the 

 banks of the Tweed, which forms the southern boundary, 

 being generally a level, smooth, unvarying extent of country, 

 without any very marked or striking features, save those pecu- 

 liar to a fertile and well cultivated district. 



u Conformably to this great natural division into high and 

 low country, the geology of Berwickshire, in a general point of 

 view, may, in like manner, be regarded as possessed of only two 

 grand features, and as consisting (principally at least) of only 

 two great rock formations, of very different eras, however, and 

 characters. These are the transition and secondary classes of 

 rocks, the former being those which predominate in the districts 

 of Lauderdale and Lammermuir ; the latter, under the form 

 of the second, or new red sandstone formation, being those of 

 which by far the greater part of the Merse is composed. We 



less made proper use of, will never lead to any results, either generally inte- 

 resting, or generally valuable." 



