222 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



But numbers of nests were most undoubtedly not seen, in- 

 cluding many tenanted early and late in the season ; and 

 keeping this in view, it would not, I think, be unfair to 

 double the number of nests on the farms in question for the 

 purpose of arriving at an approximation of the number of 

 young birds reared thereon during the present season. The 

 result is 602 nests with, say, seven young in each nest, equal 

 to 4214 young birds on these farms. 



A few remarks bearing upon the haunts and habits of 

 the bird may not be uninteresting. These are taken from 

 the particulars which I have received, and, owing to their 

 originality, have a special value attached to them. Except 

 during the storms of winter, it frequents the vole ground, 

 preferring boggy land covered with coarse grass or rushes, 

 also bracken -patches, and high heather. In the severe 

 weather of winter it seeks the shelter of plantations. Mr. 

 Glendinning, Nether Cassock, informs me that forty to sixty 

 spent last winter on some low -lying ground in his farm 

 among willow-bushes ; and Mr. Mitchell, Newburgh, Ettrick, 

 notes that great numbers sought shelter in a young planta- 

 tion on the neighbouring farm of Oilman's Cleuch, and that 

 during the snowstorms, numbers occupied the bare spots 

 beneath the overhanging banks of Scaur braes along the 

 river. They also frequented similar resorts in quarry holes 

 and on steep brae faces along hill burns. 



The nests have been seen in all the usual haunts of the 

 bird ; and several, as the Schedule will show, contained an 

 extraordinary number of eggs. The average number may 

 safely be taken at eight to ten, and the number of young 

 reared at seven. Few unfertile eggs have been seen, and 

 the young are hardy. Nests have been found as early as 

 the end of February and as late as July ; but the greater 

 number were found from the end of April till the end of 

 May, being the lambing season, when the shepherds were con- 

 stantly traversing the whole ground. I have been informed 

 of several instances in which the bird has exhibited great 

 boldness in the defence of its nest. On one occasion a bird 

 struck Mr. Mitchell, Newburgh, a smart blow on the head 

 while examining its nest. And in many instances dogs have 

 been struck in passing the nest or the young. The young, 



