THE ORNITHOLOGY OP BERWICKSHIRE. 253 



count it is most frequently seen on the banks of our rivers and burns, 

 where the latter tree usually grows. The crossbill is another bird 

 whose visits used formerly to be at very uncertain intervals, but which, 

 of late years, has almost assumed the habits of a permanent resident, 

 and has been found breeding in the island : this change of habit we at- 

 tribute to the extensive plantations spread over the kingdom, most of 

 which contain a large proportion of the fir tribe, the seed of which is 

 its chief subsistence. 



The only member of the Sturnidae* is the common starling, which 

 we note as a permanent resident, for, though it changes its feeding- 

 ground according to the seasons, it never appears to be far distant, as 

 we observe the few pairs that nidificate at Twizell frequently visit their 

 haunt during winter, and when not engaged in incubation. The mem* 

 bere of the Corvidso, or crow family, are eight in number, all of which 

 are permanent residents, except the royston or grey-backed crow (Cor- 

 vus comix), which is here a periodical winter visitant, its summer re- 

 treat being the northern parts of Scotland, Norway, &c. In its form 

 and habits it is intermediate between the carrion crow (Cor. corone) 

 and the rook (Cor. frugilegus), though, we believe by Dr Fleming, it 

 is still considered as a mere variety of the former, an opinion in which, 

 it is scarcely necessary to say, we do not acquiesce : as a species, it 

 seems to us as well marked as any in the genus. The jay, one of the 

 handsomest members of the family, is thinly disseminated in the district, 

 a few are generally resident in the larger woods, such as those of Detch- 

 ant, Fenwick, Kyloe, &c. The red-legged chough (Fregilus graculus), 

 another of the family whose distribution is local, and limited to dis- 

 tricts where high and precipitous rocks abound, finds a congenial re- 

 treat in the precipices of St Abb's Head and adjoining coast : here it 

 is not uncommon, but being a bird of a wary habit, it is very difficult 

 to approach within gunshot, and specimens are not easily obtained. 

 Of the Scansorial tribe, the Picus major (great spotted woodpecker) 

 is the only species belonging to the Picidte that we venture to insert 

 in the list, having at different times met with a few individuals, during 

 the period of their migrations, within the limits of the Club, viz. one 

 at Haggerstone, and two or three at Twizell. The wry-neck ( Yunx 

 torquillai) and hoopoe (Upupa Epops), belonging to the same tribe, are 

 only admitted as very rare visitants, one of the former having been 

 killed at Twizell, and two or three specimens of the latter within our 

 limits. In the numbers of the cuckoo or gowk (Citculus canortu) 

 which visit us annually, we think we perceive a great decrease within 

 the last twenty years ; this we also attribute to the advance of agri- 

 * Rosp-pnstor, killed at Tweedmouth and Lrulythorn. 



