224 Mr. Hardy on Border Earthquakes. 



nine years ago. It was then much less known than now, 

 for the subject is at present engaging the attention of the 

 horticultural journals. Sometimes I take it to be a fungus, 

 and sometimes an insect; but, whatever it be, it is destroying 

 our pears and breaking our hearts, and cruelly baffling our 

 utmost ingenuity either accurately to diagnose it or success- 

 fully to banish it. In conclusion, the only rare birds we have 

 seen in the parish are the kingfisher, the golden-crested wren, 

 and an unfortunate one of Mother-Cary's chickens, that, a 

 few years ago, dashed itself against the school-house window. 

 Its remains now rest in the museum at Kelso. There is a 

 large colony of sand-martens above the Broomhouse quarry,- 

 whose close proximity to the school is not to be envied. 

 Hawks occasionally approach to perch on the rails opposite, 

 or hover about till they calculate the opportunity of "stoop- 

 ing " upon the helpless marten. This they seldom fail in 

 accomplishing, and they seem utterly regardless of the near 

 presence of man or school-boy. 



I have only to add that the following little notabilities will 

 be exhibited : — 



1. The geological specimens referred to. 



2. A nodule, which is supposed to contain quartz, and which will 



be broken up ; [but it didn't]. 



3. Portions of elk's horns referred to. 



4. The whirl of a distaff, found in the field before mentioned 



beneath some up-lifted stone flags. 



5. A coin of Edward first's reign, found in a field at east end of 



village ; probably deposited in one of the old gardens. 



6. The stone found in the church, and supposed to be the capital 



of a pillar. 



7. An old black oak arm chair, finely carved and in perfect pre- 



servation, which belonged to King Eobert Bruce. 



8. A finely bound copy of Macklin's Bible, in 6 vols • the most 



splendid edition of the Bible ever printed. 



M. H. Graham. 

 11th May, 1871. 



