A EAMBLE ROUND YETHOLM 831 



and without desire 

 to make further acquaintance with the Moss or its peculiar 

 treasures, my steps were turned in the direction of a small 

 stream whose banks seemed to offer a surer foothold. This 

 water issued from Hoselaw Loch, which lay to the East, and 

 was the chief object of interest in the day's proceedings. It 

 covers an area of thirty-two acres, and is almost entirely 

 fringed with low-growing plants, in marked distinction from 

 the stalwart reeds and rushes that encircle Yetholm Loch. 

 On its surface wild-fowl seemed quite at home, while the 

 Coot (Fulica atra) and the Black-headed Gull {Lams ridihutidus) 

 are known to breed on its swampy edges. The present pro- 

 prietor of Hoselaw, Mr James A, Somervail, informed me 

 that the perch which at one time swarmed in the Loch had 

 entirely disappeared. This fact strikingly confirms the report 

 made by Rev. John Baird, in his description of the parish 

 of Yetholm in the New Statistical Account (1845), namely, 

 "Sometimes, during the most sultry period of summer, shoals 

 of perch are, from some cause unknown, cast out dead upon 

 the margin of the lake." A few carp have been introduced 

 lately, but sufficient time has not elapsed to determine whether 

 they will survive their translation to peaty water. In winter 

 a laige number of birds frequent its neighbourhood, among 

 these being Mallards (Anas boscas), Shovellers (Spatula clypeata), 

 Teal (Querquedula crecca), Widgeon (Mareca jjenelope), Pochards 

 (Fuligula ferina), Tufted Ducks (F. cristata), Golden Eyes 

 (F. clangula), Goosanders (Mergus merganser), Snipe (Gallinago 

 coilestis), Sandpipers (Totanus hypoleucus), Redshanks (T. 

 calidris), Grebes (Podiceps cristatus), and the rarer Sclavonian 

 species (P. auritus). Comparatively few bushes adorn the 

 margin, but on the South-East an old plantation lends variety 

 to its bare outline. Girdling the Loch on its Northern shore 

 were many familiar damp-loving plants, such as Panunculus 

 lingna and R. sceleratus ; Nasturtium palustre ; Com,arum, 

 palustre ; Carduus heterophyllus ; Lycopus EuropcHus ; Typha 

 latifolia ; Carex curta ; C. disticha ; C. hirta ; and C Jtava ; 

 while outspread upon its extensive surface, here and there, 

 fine patches of Buck-wheat in full flower produced an effect 

 of roseate beauty, varied in intensity of colour with the ripple 

 of the water. Peplis portula has likewise been recorded. 



