A Glimpse of the Olden Times, by Mr. Thos. Craig. 467 



1875, a Common Skua was shot on the farm of Harden Mains, in 

 the parish of Oxnam, Roxburghshire, while pouncing on a tame 

 duck which was swimming in the mill pond. It had already 

 killed the duck, and was in the act of tearing out and devouring 

 the bird's entrails, when fired at. Harden Mains being at least 

 thirty miles out of its legitimate reckoning, the bkua was, no 

 doubt, hard pressed by hunger, when it took such an unusual 

 mode of satislying it. 



Storm Petrel. — (Thalassidroma pelagica.') Three or four speci- 

 mens of this Petrel were seen frequenting the Frith of Forth, 

 during the storm which prevailed about the middle of October, 

 1875. Two, which were shot, came under my notice at the time. 



EOBEET GKAY. 



13, Inverleith Roto, Edinburgh, 10th February, 1876. 



A Glimpse of the Olden Times.— KAm FOWLS. 

 Communicated by Thomas Craig, Kelso. 



Isolated local incidents are often pregnant with interest 

 as throwing light on the customs of the olden times, the 

 relations of the different classes of society, the changes 

 wrought in the course of years, and the social influences 

 that were at work in everyday life ; and it is curious to 

 contrast little and apparently trivial circumstances of the 

 past generations, with present feelings and practices. The 

 relations of the farmer with the agricultural labourer have 

 of late years been the subject of keen and general discussion, 

 and not a little has been written upon the subject in the 

 Border district, from the standpoint both of the larmer and 

 the worker. Much of the discussion hinged upon the advan- 

 tages or propriety of the " hinds" being partially paid in 

 kind and allowed to keep a cow. A generation or two ago 

 it was not uncommon in certain parts of the district, for 

 farm servants, both " hinds" and " cotters," to be allowed to 

 keep poultry to a certain extent. The following extract 

 has reference to that custom so far back as 180 years ago. 

 It is copied from a manuscript book containing memoranda 

 made by the farmer of Elliston, in the parish of St. Boswell's, 



