418 Meetings of Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, by J. Hardy. 



"Adder-stone," the Ovum anguinum of Pliny, about which there 

 has been a considerable expenditure of learning. The water in 

 which these were boiled was accounted a sovereign remedy for 

 cattle-sickness ; and their jjossession was also esteemed so lucky, 

 that they were bequeathed by an old lady to a relative, as pre- 

 ferable to a money equivalent. There was also a broad wedge- 

 shaped celt, entirely polished, representing an advanced stage of 

 that sort of implement, of dark green metamorphosed slate, which 

 had been picked up on the battle-field of Monivaird (Moeghavard) 

 where, according to the Eegister of St. Andrews, Kenneth V., 

 the Grim, an usurper, fell in 1001, in conflict with Malcolm II., 

 the " rex victoriosissimus " of that period. (See Pinkerton's En- 

 quiry, ii., p. 189.) Lesley calls the place Achnabart. (De 

 Eebus Gentis Scot., p. 192). This implement very much re- 

 sembles the one preserved at Ashiesteel. Mr William Stevenson 

 brought with him a geological map of Berwickshire, which he 

 had completed previous to the Ordnance Survey, the area and 

 bearings of the rock formations being laid down minutely, after 

 much painstaking Mr Eobert Eenton had with him an old 

 dagger of a peculiar form, which had been found on the top of 

 one of the Eildon Hills ; a hollow smooth concretion in white sand- 

 stone, which resembled the impression of a small human foot ; 

 and a Death's Head Moth, captured on the banks of the Gala. 



The morning was very wet, and till the day cleared up, the 

 interval was utilised in visiting the Mid-Mill of Messrs J. and ~W. 

 Cochrane, Tweed manufacturers ; and the company thus enjoyed 

 the privilege of surveying one of those vast industrial establish- 

 ments, to which the town of Galashiels owes its growth and pros- 

 perity. One characteristic of Galashiels is, that it is very long, 

 and being cramped laterally in a hollow between the hills, 

 rather narrow ; but it is now in search of accommodation climb- 

 ing the heights on either side, and even encroaching on the 

 private demesne of the lord of the manor, part of Gala Park 

 having recently been fued for building purposes. The pillar of 

 the cross is old ; and as well as the rest of the structure is of red 

 sandstone. The inscription is: "Erected in 1695, restored in 

 1867 with a new base, by the Magistrates and Inhabitants with 

 consent of Hugh Scott, Esq., of Gala." 



The excursion was in conveyances, and about 11 o'clock the 

 weather having cleared up, the party were soon on their way 



