108 The Catrail, or Picts-Work-DitQh, by James Small. 



whicli (by the way) passes the south, end of the Oatrail, and is 

 still, 1880, strongly marked, and is in shape the exact counter- 

 part of several sections of the Catrail, He states that these 

 ''war fences were constructed about 446;" but like all other 

 writers on the subject, he cites no authority for his opinions. He, 

 however, states that ' ' the honour of the discovery of this impor- 

 tant remain is due to Gordon, who visited this part of the king- 

 dom in 1720;" and that " nearly ninety years passed between 

 Gordon's survey and that of Dr Douglas." He further says: 

 "The object of this ditch maybe learned from its name: Cat 

 signifying conflict or battle, and Rhail a fence ; a war fence or 

 partition. This gigantic undertaking was carried through by 

 the Ottadini and Gadeni people after the Eomans left, to protect 

 themselves and possessions from the Saxons, who were advancing 

 upon them from the north and east. It would also serve as a 

 screen, under cover of which the tribes could pass from one place 

 to another without being seen by the enemy. In the same way 

 their flocks and herds might be conveyed without being ob- 

 served." 



The late Mr William Kemp, Galashiels, wrote an excellent 

 paper on the line of the Catrail, in the neighbourhood of Gala- 

 shiels ; and he noticed at some length the so-called forts on its 

 route. 



The late Mr Norman Kennedy also wrote a very good paper 

 on it, particularly in connection with the Roxburghshire part of 

 it. The paper was read at a meeting of the Society of Anti- 

 quaries, Edinburgh. 



The writer of the account of Cavers parish in the "New 

 Statistical Account of Scotland" bestows only a few lines of 

 notice on the Catrail ; and Dr Chambers, in his excellent History 

 of Peebleshire, gives a short account of it. Mr Hardy has, be- 

 sides, informed me that Dr J. A. H. Murray had, many years 

 ago, read a paper on the Catrail to the members of the Hawick 

 Archaeological Society, but this paper I have not seen. It is also 

 adverted to in Chatto's Rambles in Northumherlmid, pp. 171-175, 

 which furnishes also a reference to other works of the kind else- 

 where. 



THE CATRAIL, OR PICTS-WORK-DITCH, AS IN 1880. 



It may be right to mention here, that I passed ten days, and 

 several parts of days in tracing, and trying to trace, the Catrail 



