326 Dr George Johnston on the 
“a faint light on the characteristics and descents of the peo- 
ple,’ and of recording the fragments of the simpler’s lore, 
and dispensatory of our native plants which are fast fading 
into oblivion, is enforced with a quiet engaging earnestness. 
In the introductory chapter the district is defined as compre- 
hending the whole of Berwickshire, the liberties of Berwick, 
and the immediately adjacent parts of Northumberland and 
Roxburghshire ; it embraces an area of about 700,000 acres, 
of which about one half is arable, and the other half is hill 
pasture, or moor. The sea constitutes its boundary on the 
east, whilst on the other sides it is surrounded by high grounds 
of more or less elevation, where the Cheviots and the Lam- 
mermoors are the principal. Its fitness for the vocation of 
the naturalist is amply illustrated in the accompanying short 
descriptions of its hills, valleys, deans, lakes, and streams, 
both in their individual character and as component parts in 
the landscape ; for, to use the author’s own words,— 
“‘T could not fail, at the same time, to discover its many pastoral 
—its many sylvan—its many landscape beauties, which lie hid 
amidst its hills and deans, and hard by its waters. And there was 
the additional attraction of visiting spots which have been made for 
ever eloquent by the events of which they are the monuments; for 
the district is indeed rife with places that derive interest from his- 
torical recollections—with everlasting hills whence arose the smoke 
of druidical sacrifices—with rills whence was lifted the water of 
the baptism of the first converts to our Christianity—with cairns, 
camps, and seats of regal and lordly power—with ancient priories, 
and cells, and abbeys, that are still our admiration—with battle- 
fields of note—with strong castles, and towers, and bastiles—with 
fairy traditions and love passages—with much poetry and romance 
—with the birthplaces of men who have risen above common hu- 
manity.”’ 
Yes, truly we may say,— 
‘¢ Nullum sine nomine saxum.” 
The deep, narrow glens, locally termed deans, are a very 
striking feature in the physical aspect of the district, and it 
is with pleasure that we quote in part a description of one 
of them as a favourable specimen both of our author’s powers 
of description and of observation :— 
‘ The water has got increase, and has more force and velocity, and — 
