o^'l Ornithological Notices. By William Evany. 



judge of poetry, and though his leisure moments were few, he 

 occasionally found time to write verses of very considerable merit. 

 Whatever he took in hand was performed with the most perfect 

 accuracy. He occasionally gave lectures, and frequently wrote 

 articles on subjects relating to the antiquities of the northern 

 counties. His writings were always polished and elegant. He 

 was a learned philologist, and a great authoritj' on the derivation 

 of the names of places. He took particular interest in all matters 

 relating to the archaeology and folklore of his native county. 

 He was for many years a highly respected member of the 

 Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, and a frequent contributor 

 to the annually published Report of its proceedings. When the 

 Club visited Redesdalein 1881 Mr Arkle was assiduous in point- 

 ing out and describing the various objects of interest. He read 

 a paper on the Elsdon Mote Hills, those mysterious mounds of a 

 prehistoric time, the use, and age of which must probably remain 

 for ever a matter of conjecture. This paper is published in the 

 Kepoit of the Club's Proceedings for 1881. He was a great 

 authority on Mote Hills, and had visited several in different 

 parts of Great Britain. He was a great lover of books, and his 

 extensive library contained many rare works. He possessed a 

 collection of poems and songs of the local bards which is at once 

 unique, interesting, and valuable. The leading features of Mr 

 Arkle's character were his indefatigable industry, unerring 

 punctuality, and ardent love of truth. It may be truly said of 

 him that he touched nothing that he did not adorn. Of a kind 

 and genial disposition with an exact knowledge of many subjects, 

 he was the most agreeable of companions, and his memory will 

 not soon fade from the minds of his many friends. 



Ornithological Notices. By William Evans, F.R.S.E., Edin- 

 burgh. 



Gkeat Snipe (Scolopax major). 



At the meeting of the Club at Hawick on 15th September 1886; 

 Mr William Evans exhibited on behalf of Dr Thos. Anderson, 

 Ettrick Shaws, Selkirk, a fine example of the Great Snipe, which 

 had been shot the previous day in a rough meadow on the farm 

 of Ramseycleuch, parish of Teviothead, Roxburghshire. The 

 ground on which it was obtained is a favourite resort of black 



