Anniversary Address. 189 



was observed, and its graceful movements watched for some 

 time; this is one of the breeding places. At Petticowick 

 there is a junction of greywacke and porphyry, the latter 

 covering the former at one side of the little bay; but perhaps 

 the most remarkable feature here to be seen, is the complete 

 separation of these two formations by an elongated valley, 

 which, fifty years ago, was a quagmire, but has recently been 

 drained. Leaving Petticowick, we ascended Headland — the 

 western of the three hills composing St. Abb's Head — which 

 is interesting on account of the ruins still visible on a neck 

 of land, supposed to be the remains of St. Ebba's Nun- 

 nery ; the building is 26 yards long by 9 wide, and the walls 

 have been set due E. and W. by the sun. This neck of land 

 has been fortified by means of a deep fosse, a drawbridge, 

 and a strong wall towards the land side ; portions of which 

 wall still remain. It is known amongst the country people 

 under the name of " Kamfauds," or ramparts. 



The light house, which was erected three years ago and is 

 well worthy of a visit, stands upon Harelaw — the middle 

 hill of St. Abb's Head — and is about 200 feet above the sea. 

 Here we had an opportunity of examining a portion of the 

 porphyry rock — laid bare for the purpose of inspection by the 

 kind permission of Mr. Herriott — which had, by some agency 

 (not yet satisfactorily explained or understood by geologists,) 

 been ground down, smoothed, grooved, and striated in a most 

 remarkable manner ; this is attributed by some to the action 

 of ice, but I am inclined to believe it to have been done by 

 the sea, before these rocks were upheaved into their present 

 form by volcanic agency. 



Kirk Hill — or the most eastern of the three hills — was 

 next visited; on its summit are the remains of a chapel 

 (hence the name), and a burial ground. The chapel is known 

 to have been erected by Robert Walworth, Prior of Colding- 

 ham, about the year 1380, and is almost of the same dimen- 

 sions as St. Ebba's Nunnery. Descending by the Old Kirk 

 Road, near the site of the old town, we crossed the quagmire 

 and proceeded to North Field Farm, where our carriages met 

 us and conveyed us back to Ayton to dinner. 



