64 Anniversary Address. 



C. teretiuscula, and C.paludosa, Botrychium Lunar ia, and Ophioglos- 

 sum vulgatum. A streamlet falling into the Loch on the west side 

 issues from a small sheet of water, the Picmaw Moss, which is a 

 breeding place of the Black-headed Gull, La/rus ridihundus. In 

 spring this part of the grounds is lively with the vociferous cries 

 of these birds ; but our visit was made at a season when not a 

 solitary gull was to be seen, and when it would have been vain to 

 hunt for even a withered remnant of the plants enumerated. 



The party, after observing for a time the water-fowl congre- 

 gated near the House, walked round the Loch, going by the west 

 side under the long limbs of fine beeches which stretch overhead 

 across the path, and dip down to the surface of the water ; and 

 returning by the east side where the ground rises more abruptly 

 and to a greater height than on the opposite side, and the path 

 runs among Scotch Firs, Beeches, Planes, Birches, &c., admir- 

 ably mingled for effect of foliage. Near the N.E. corner of the 

 Loch, and almost on a level with it, is an old well* of fine clear 

 water, to which, and to the water of the Loch the townspeople had 

 at one time a right of access, the ground bordering on the 

 Loch here having been buighal property, and approached by 

 a narrow lane along-side the present garden. This ground, 

 with a small neighbouring field, was purchased from the burgh 

 in 1819 by Mr John Pringle ; the lane was shut up, and the citi- 

 zens lost their right of access to Haining Loch, except on occasions 

 of fire. A more questionable right was but recently in possession 

 of the town of Selkirk, that of running part of its sewage into Hain- 

 ing Loch ! The advantage of this arrangement was more than 

 doubtful ; for not 200 yards from the end of the sewer was the 

 mouth of the pipe which led a supply of water from the Loch to 

 the Pant-well in the Market Place, the principal public well in 

 the town ! We have changed all that. The town is now well 

 supplied with water from another source, and a complete system 

 of drainage renders it unneccessary to send to Haining Loch one 

 drop of that water when it has been converted by use into sewage. 



After a brief visit to the Garden, which is close to the N.E. 

 corner of the Loch, the party left The Haining by the upper gate, 

 and passing along Castle Street and down Back Eow, reached 

 Dovecot, the residence of one of our number. Dr. Henry Scott 



* This Well is sometimes mistaken for St. Mungo's Well, which is a 

 few hundred yards distant, in the Deer Park, and is at present the source 

 of water-supply to the House. 



