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



Selkirk Common in 1681, 1 notice the word "Pickwork" applied 

 to one portion of the marches, possibly an old wall or ditch 

 attributed traditionally to the same awfully strong, long-armed, 

 and laborious people, whom the present Lowlanders call " Pechs 

 or Pits."* 



We again regain the vale of the Tweed after its junction with 

 the Ettrick, a river whose bulk almost equals it. It is remarked 

 that the woods are more tarnished by recent gales, in the wide 

 space that opens around us, as we pass Abbotsford, than among 

 the secluded nooks where we had been sojourning. 



After dinner the following were proposed for membership : — 

 Mr William Home, writer, Galashiels ; Rev W. Whyte Smith, 

 Galashiels ; Mr John Russell, Galashiels ; Mr Thomas Turnbull, 

 Lilliesleaf. Two papers were read at the meeting. 1. On the 

 Catrail, by Mr James Smail. 2. On Howbottom, the hained- 

 ground at Bowhill, by the Rev. James Farquharson. 



Mr James Wood gave an account of the discovery, during the 

 present summer, of six ancient slab graves, when the workmen 

 were levelling a hillock called the " Aiken Knock," to prepare 

 for the foundation of new houses, on ground, till recently, in- 

 cluded within Gala Park. 



The formation of a new approach to the new mansion house of 

 Gala, had also led to the destruction of a venerable elm, long 

 held in superstitious reverence by the natives of Galashiels. 

 This, called the " Eound-about Tree," was a reputed resort of 

 the fairies, and other uncanny beings ; and one of the few ex- 

 amples left of a trysting tree. It was cut down September 13, 

 1878. 



An hour was spent pleasantly by those who remained be- 

 hind, at Dr Gloag's manse, where they were shewn his her- 

 barium ; his well-stocked collection of ferns, containing numer- 

 ous varieties of British species ; and his minerals and other 

 curiosities. 



* Acts Pari. Scot., viii., p; 424. The march ran by a strand to the " well 

 called Kettiethirstwell, and thence goes east the highway that leads to Mid- 

 lame, till it comes over against the north syd of the Murder-moss, and then 

 stricks over to the north syd moss till it come to the east syd of a pickwork, 

 & from thence goes up ane narrow rod upon the east syd of the said pickwork 

 straight over to ane other rod that merches G-reenhead's propertie from the 

 Common." " An old dyke stead" is recognised as distinct from this pick- 

 work. 



