252 THE ORNITHOLOGY OP BERWICKSHIRE. 



mily, not less interesting for their vocal powers than for their active 

 and lively habits, occupy a prominent station. Among the rarer spe- 

 cies we reckon the greater pettychaps (Curruca hortensis), whose notes 

 are rich and liquid, many of them emulating those of the nightingale ; 

 the grasshopper warbler (Salicaria locustelld), and the little pettychaps 

 {Sylvia hippolais). Other species also, we have remarked of late years, 

 do not abound to the extent they formerly used to do : such is the case 

 with the sedge-warbler (Salicaria phragmitis) and white-throat (Cur- 

 ruca dnerea), and the whinchat (Saxicola rubetra). This defalcation we 

 are inclined to attribute chiefly to the effect of an improved system of 

 agriculture, which, by draining and reclaiming the marshy spots, and 

 little tangled thickets of sallow, and other rough and rampant herbage 

 that used to be so common in many of our fields, and the attention 

 that is now paid to the cleansing of hedges, which are annually divest- 

 ed of their weeds, has destroyed the favourite and appropriate breed- 

 ing-places of these birds, and may probably also, in so doing, hare les- 

 sened the supply of some peculiar insect food, necessary to their own 

 economy, or that of their young. 



Among the occasional visitants is the Lanius excubitor (great but- 

 cher bird), which is only seen during the autumnal and winter months ; 

 and that beautiful member of the Ampelidse, the Bohemian waxwing 

 (Bombydlla garrula) : most of our members will recollect the grace- 

 ful actions and appearance of the beautiful specimen so long alive in 

 the possession of Dr Johnston. The appearance of this species is very 

 uncertain, and sometimes many years elapse without the occurrence of 

 a single individual. Of the Fringillidse, we enumerate nine perma- 

 nent residents, three periodical winter visitants, and three occasional 

 visitants. Among the periodical winter visitants, the snow-flake (Plec- 

 trophanes nivalis) sometimes appears in great numbers, particularly in 

 the upland districts, where they haunt the open grassy tracts as well as 

 the oat-stubbles ; in storms of snow they descend towards the coast, 

 where small flocks of adult males are often seen together, the females 

 and young birds keeping by themselves, and generally in larger bodies. 

 The mountain finch (Fringilla montifringilla) is another winter visi- 

 tant from the Arctic Regions, and in some seasons is very numerous. 

 It often associates with the chaffinches, to which it is nearly allied ; 

 but may be distinguished from it by its note, call, and superior size. 

 Of the occasional visitants, the siskin {Carduetis spinus\ an elegant 

 little bird, is sometimes very abundant during the winter and early 

 spring months ; it is generally seen where the birch and the alder 

 abound, as the seeds of these trees are its favourite food ; on this ac- 



