THE ORNITHOLOGY OF BERWICKSHIRE. 255 



permanent residents, one periodical summer visitant, the well known 

 green plover or pewit, Vanellut cristatus ; three periodical winter visi- 

 tants, all of which are shore birds ; and one occasional visitant, the dot- 

 trel, Charadrius morinellus, which rests for a few days upon the grounds 

 around Scremmerston and Unthank, in April or beginning of May, 

 when passing to its breeding stations in higher latitudes. 



Entering upon the order Natatores, we enumerate as members of the 

 Anatidco three permanent residents, one periodical summer visitant, the 

 beautiful piebald sheldrake, which breeds annually in the rabbit-holes 

 upon the links at Holy Island and Ross ; seven periodical winter visi- 

 tants, and seven occasional visitants. Among the latter are the two spe- 

 cies of wild swans (Cygnusferus, and C. Bewickii\ the bernicle or elake- 

 goose (Bernickt leucopsisj, which I have received from Holy Island; 

 also that very rare bird the Anser ruficollis, a specimen having been 

 shot near Berwick several years ago, which found its way into Bullock's 

 museum, and from thence, we believe,, into that of St Petersburgh. 

 The Shoveller (Spathulea clypeata) has also been killed upon the 

 Tweed. 



Of the true divers or Colymbidae, the list contains eight members ; 

 one of which, the little grebe or dabchick (Podiceps minor), though not 

 numerous, is a permanent resident. Six are periodical winter visitants, 

 four of which belong to the genus Podiceps r the other two are the great 

 northern and red-throated divers (Colymbus glacialis and C. septentrio- 

 nalis), both of which frequent the mouth of the Tweed and Berwick 

 Bay during the winter and early spring months ; the eighth member is 

 the Colymbus arcticus, black-throated diver, a rare visitant. A fine 

 specimen, caught in a salmon-net in the Tweed, is now in my possession. 



Of the Auk family, Alcadese, there are three periodical summer visi- 

 tants, all of which breed in great numbers in the precipitous cliffs of St 

 Abb's Head ; and two occasional winter visitants, viz. the Una grylle, 

 black guillemot, and the Mcrgulus alee, rotch, a species that breeds in 

 very high latitudes, and is frequently mentioned in the writings of arctic 

 navigators. 



The Pelicanidse are three in number, two of which, the common cor- 

 morant (Phalacrocorax carlo), and the crested shag (P. cri*tatus\ are 

 permanent residents ; the Sula bassana, solan goose, we may consider 

 as a periodical summer visitant, as it is to be seen almost daily skimming 

 along the surface of the water, or precipitating itself upon its prey with- 

 in our limits, on its flight to and from the isle of Bass, its great breed- 

 ing station on the eastern coast. 



