Memoir of Sir Walter Elliot of Wolfelee. 363 



There is a short paper of Sir Walter, then Walter Elliot, Esq., in 

 the Border Magazine, edited by J. A. Wade (Edinburgh, W. P. Nimmo, 

 July to December 1863.) It relates to a Common Crane, Ardea grus, 

 L., which was shot in the end of May 1863, on the Abbotrnle estate, 

 by Mr Thomas Brown, Eule Townhead, and preserved by Mr Forrest, 

 Jedburgh, for Charles Henderson, Esq., of Abbotrule (p. 160.) Sir 

 Walter recognised it in Mr Forrest's shop, and, subsequently, contributed 

 an article to the Magazine, pp. 317-318, on the species of Orus, 

 particularly noticing the habits of the Common Crane and the 

 Demoiselle, or Ardea virgo, L. {Anthropoides virgo of Vieillot) in India, 

 where both species arrive about the same time — at the beginning of 

 harvest — and remain till March, when they migrate northwards. Both 

 feed entirely on grain. The Common Crane flies in flocks of 8 or 

 10 to 20, but the Demoiselle in bodies from 50 to 100 and upwards, 

 repairing to the corn-fields in the morning and evening, and reposing 

 in the sandy beds of the rivers during the day. 



This Memoir, kindly communicated by the author, was 

 accompanied by the following Letter. 



Caledonian United Service Club, 



Edinburgh, 



20th August 1890. 

 To James Hardy, Esq., LL.D. 

 Dear Sir, 



I exceedingly regret that much occupation and 

 the infirmities of advancing years have prevented me from meeting 

 your expressed desire that 1 should prepare a fuller account of Sir 

 Walter Elliot of Wolfelee, as a great orientalist and man of science. 

 During his long service in India, he was a very active member of 

 the Asiatic Society — and, perhaps, a more complete list of his 

 contributions to various journals might be compiled. 



Illustrations of his manifold labours might be extracted from his 

 diaries and correspondence. I have a large bundle of letters written 

 when he was Commissioner of the Northern Circars, and afterwards 

 Member of Council at Madras. I cannot promise to do much myself, 

 but I would be glad to place these letters at your disposal, or his 

 son-in-law, Mr Elliot-Lockhart. 



Surely the epitaph of Sir Walter Elliot, as an eminent Borderman, 

 should appear in the Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists' 

 Club. It was one of the last efforts of his friend and admirer. Sir 

 Henry Yule. 



My eyes have been weak and troublesome. With my great regret 

 at not writing sooner, and with much respect, 



Yours very truly, 



H. CLEGHORN. 



