SESSION 1911-1912. 



L_^ MID-LOTHIAN BURN, 



By Messrs J. U. REID and R M. READDIE. 



{Communicated Nov. 22, 1911.) 



On a certain day in the autumn of 1908 two friends were 

 walking in the country, and in the course of their walk came 

 on a bridge over a stream. Leaning on the bridge the one 

 inquired of the other which water this was. "Don't you 

 know ? " was the reply ; " that is the So-and-so Burn " (naming 

 it). Still speaking of the beauty of other parts of the burn, 

 which both knew, one of the friends, with the keen eye of 

 the naturalist, pointed out a beautiful specimen of the king- 

 fisher which immediately rose and flew up-stream, its brilliant 

 plumage glinting in the sunlight. How far this incident in- 

 fluenced the mind it is impossible to say, but one remarked 

 that it had long been a dream of his to attempt the photo- 

 graphing of the whole course of the burn, but that practically, 

 so far, the dream had not been realised. Somewhat to the 

 speaker's surprise, and altogether to his delight, the other 

 friend remarked, "If you care to take up such a piece of 

 work then I'm with you." The compact was sealed; and 

 here we have the privilege of submitting the result of our 

 work. 



We are out on the hills, and though all is peaceful on 



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