^64 



Old Scotch Crusie. (Plate IX.) 



The Old Scotch Crusie exhibited at the Melrose Meeting, 

 is figured in Plate IX. It is a good specimen of its kind, and 

 belongs to Mr John Freer, F.S.A. 



The locality from which this Crusie came, and its age are 

 unknown. 



In height it stands 10^ inches, of which the body represents 

 7^ inches, and the legs the remaining 3 inches. The lower shell 

 measures 4^ by 3^ inches, and is 1 inch in depth, and the upper 

 shell measures 3J by 3 inches, and is ^ of an inch in depth. 



The engraving is from a sketch by the late Mr William 

 Heatlie. 



Notice of Antique Spur found at Ferney Castlefi. By 

 Charles Stuart, M.D. (Plate X.) 



Thk Antique Spuk which I produce to-day was picked up 

 in a ploughed field last year, by Mr Logan, junr., on the farm of 

 Ferney Castles, and seems a good specimen of "the persuaders" 

 used by " The Border Prickers bold and rude." The field in 

 which it was found is situated exactly opposite " The Pyper 

 Kuowe," an eminence behind the steading of Causewaybank, a 

 farm about two miles from the village of Chirnside. In old 

 times a Causeway afforded the only means of passage across 

 Billie Mire, an extensive marsh which occupied the valley, 

 extending from near Ayton due west and south west to Chirnside 

 Bririge. This morass is now partially drained by a huge cast or 

 cut, that eventually forms Billie Burn, which joins the Whit- 

 adder above Chirnside Bridge. The mire or mere formed a 

 strategetical position in days of yore, during war between the 

 two countries, as the various heights on each bank were crowned 

 by a castle or fort ; Oldcastles, Ferney Castles, and Billie 

 Castles respectively, in the parishes of Chirnside, Coldingham, 

 and Bunkle. The only passage across the mire was the Cause- 

 way already mentioned, which connected the two parishes of 

 Chirnside and Coldingham. This Causeway is said to have 

 existed in the time of the Romans, and was always pulled up in 

 the time of war. The large stones of which it was composed, are 

 still occasionally ploughed up by Mr Logan's hinds on the 



