68 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



the district. As has already been pointed out, the Tree Pipit 

 commonly goes by the name of Wood Lark in the country. 



SHORE LARK, Otocorys alpestris, Linnaeus. A casual winter 

 visitant, which seems to have been more frequently noticed, within 

 recent years, than formerly upon our coasts. It has occurred four 

 or five times in the northern part of Northumberland, and in January 

 and February 1895, I na d the pleasure of seeing many individuals, 

 on the shore, in the neighbourhood of Holy Island. On the 2oth 

 May 1880, the late Dr. Colville Brown told me he had seen a 

 specimen, on the sea banks a little to the south of Scremerston Sea 

 House, a day or two previously, a very late date to find this bird still 

 lingering here. 



As regards the Borough itself, the late Robert Gray (" Birds of 

 West of Scotland," p. 118) refers to a specimen in the Millerstain 

 collection, shot on Spittal sands, in 1840; and on i2th December 

 1885, my brother observed a single Shore Lark, in company with 

 some of the common species, on the "meadows " about a mile north 

 of Berwick. During the snowstorm of January 1897, 1 noticed two or 

 three individuals about the beach, behind the Pier, and shot one of 

 them, as a local specimen, on the 2ist of that month. On the East 

 Lothian coast, particularly about Dunbar, Shore Larks have been 

 frequently seen and obtained, but up to the present time none seem 

 to have been recorded for Berwickshire. It seems unlikely, however, 

 that the intervening coast should be so entirely passed over, and were 

 a stricter watch kept for them, it would no doubt sooner or later be 

 rewarded. 



In my experience these birds keep very closely to the shore, 

 especially dry benty parts of it, and show a strong predilection to 

 visit old bits of seaweed left dry above high-water mark. They also 

 stray to the adjacent stubble fields, where they become associated 

 with other kindred species, without, however, mixing indiscriminately 

 with the flocks. The dark markings about the head are much more 

 inconspicuous at this season than would be imagined, and it is rather 

 the dark tail and the different note, as the bird takes wing, that is 

 likely first to betray their presence. 



PICARIJE. 



SWIFT, Cypselus apus (Linnaeus). A well-known summer visitor, 

 nesting in considerable numbers under the tiled roofs of Berwick. 

 In leaving their nests, it is some time before they can get thoroughly 

 under weigh, and they often descend almost to the ground before 

 they are able to recover themselves. I once knew a cat, which made 

 a regular practice of lying in wait for, and springing at them, as they 

 passed her, and upon one occasion at any rate, she captured a poor 

 Swift ; probably it was not her only successful attempt, for she seemed 

 always to be upon the lookout. 



