NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF ETTRICK 23 



WHEATEAR, Saxicola cenanthe. This is one of the earliest of the 

 spring visitors. During the nesting season it is distributed over 

 the whole area in considerable numbers. 



WHINCHAT, Pratincola rubetra. A common bird on suitable ground. 



STONECHAT, Pratincola rubicola. Scarce. I have seen the bird 

 occasionally on the face of the hill above Ramsaycleuch. 



REDSTART, Ruticilla phosniciirus. This most attractive bird is dis- 

 tributed over the whole area during the nesting season, in every 

 suitable wood and brake. 



REDBREAST, Erithacus rubecula. Common. 



WHITETHROAT, Sylvia rinerea. Common during the nesting season. 



BLACKCAP, Sylvia atricapilla. This charming songster is a feature of 

 the wooded parts of the valley from Tweed to Thirlestane. A 

 number frequent the beautiful grounds at Bowhill and Haining, 

 and birds are always heard in the summer season from the public 

 road at Oakwood, Kirkhope, Shaws, Singlie, Cacrabank, and 

 Thirlestane. One of the most delightful and memorable inci- 

 dents of a drive in the valley on a genial June morning is the 

 certainty of being electrified by its rapid, mellow notes in passing 

 these haunts. 



GARDEN WARBLER, Sylvia hortensis. Rare. Have heard it twice, 

 once at Bowhill and on another occasion at Thirlestane. 



GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN, Regulus cristatus. Common in all the 

 coniferous plantations. 



WILLOW WREN, Phylloscopus trocliilus. Abundant. 



WOOD WREN, Phylloscopus sibilatrix. A few pairs at Bowhill, Oak- 

 wood, and Thirlestane, and during the past twofyears a bird has 

 been heard at Cacrabank. 



SEDGE WARBLER, Acrocephalus phraginitis. Abundant in spring and 



summer. 

 GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, Locustella ntevia. Have heard this bird 



twice in different years in June : once nearly opposite Annels- 



hope farmhouse ; on the other occasion in the rough pasture 



opposite Tushielaw farmhouse. 



HEDGE SPARROW, Accentor modularis. Not plentiful. 

 DIPPER, Cinclus aquaticus. A few pairs on every stream. 

 LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE, Acredula caudata. Scarce. 

 GREAT TITMOUSE, Parus major. Common. 

 COAL TITMOUSE, Parus ater. Fairly common. 

 BLUE TITMOUSE, Parus cozruleus. Common. 

 WREN, Troglodytes parvuhts. Common. 



