Note on a Spider new to the district. By G. Bolam. 151 



coast is situated. The Eammel Cove, both in the dark interior, and in the 

 adjacent cliffs, maintains a few pairs. Between it and Fastcastle a few 

 birds may be observed to sally out, as one walks near the edge of the grey 

 cliffs ; but there is a more numerous settlement in some of the coves and 

 rocks below Fastcastle, which can only be reached by a long detour. The 

 birds being dependent for food on cultivation, the coves between Fastcastle 

 and St. Abb's Head are probably not so populous where the arable ground 

 is reduced to a narrower belt. At St. Abb's Head they people nearly every 

 cave, and several of the rocks, but according to Mr Hepburn, chiefly 

 resort to the rocky caverns in East Hurkers cliff, and the coves of 

 Harelaw and Peticowick. (Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, III., 72). There is a 

 "Doo Cove" between Scout Point and Horse's Head, in the line of 

 precipices between Eyemouth and Burnmouth. The Pigeons' Cove within 

 the Berwick Boundaries is well-known. 



In severe winters they resort to the stackyards, and even consort with 

 the poultry. At Penmanshiel, long ago, I have seen the ridges of the out- 

 houses occupied with hundreds of some of these foraging detachments in 

 line ; and sometimes they would induce the birds of the place to accompany 

 them, which never returned. In open winters they feed in the clover 

 fields ; and are most persistent visitants to newly sown, or freshly sprung 

 wheat-fields, and as spring advances, to those of oats and barley, and are 

 very ready to pick up clover seeds, if not well covered in. As soon as the 

 crop ripens on the rocky knolls, they point out the fact to the jackdaws ; 

 and they are greedy feeders on the seeds of vetches, peas, and beans. They 

 require to be shot, as mere gunpowder is no scare to them. 



Note on a Spider (Meta Menard i, Lett.) new to the district. 

 By George Bolam. 



One day towards the end of March, 1888, while turning over some large 

 stones at the bottom of the cliff running along the coast below Lamberton 

 Shiels, about four miles to the north of Berwick, I displaced a large slab of 

 Old Red Sandstone and disclosed in the face of the rock a small rugged 

 cave, from the roof and sides of which hung tangled masses of roots and 

 grass. Suspended by a strong silken cord to one of these hung a very 

 conspicuous white cocoon, in size larger than a blackbird's egg, and which 

 proved on examination to be full of small young spiders. 



The unusual size and snowy whiteness of the cocoon, as set off by the 

 dark recess in which it hung, could not fail to have attracted the attention 

 of the most casual observer ; and I had little doubt, when a few minutes 

 later a large spider made its appearance creeping up the side of the rock, 

 that I had found the architect of this beautiful home and the parent of 

 the numerous progeny. 



