22 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



winding north-easterly course of some thirty-three miles it 

 falls into Tweed two and a half miles below the town of 

 Selkirk. In its course it is joined by numerous hill burns, 

 two of which Tima and Rankle Burn have courses of some 

 seven and ten miles respectively ; and by Yarrow (which has 

 a course of fourteen and a half miles from St. Mary's Loch) 

 two miles above Selkirk. Yarrow I have simply driven 

 through, never resided in, so that these notes have only a 

 very limited application to that area. 



The valley of Ettrick, which is, as a rule, narrow, is 

 bounded on either side, from the grounds of Bowhill (the 

 seat of the Duke of Buccleuch) upwards, by wave after wave 

 of hills, generally green, and often high, with peat in many 

 instances on their shoulders and summits. The area under 

 cultivation is small, but the slopes are, as a rule, well 

 wooded from Tweed as far south as Shaws (the residence of 

 Mr. Scott Anderson). Between Shaws and Thirlestane 

 Castle (the seat of Lord Napier and Ettrick) there are 

 several scattered plantations ; and at Thirlestane Castle the 

 valley and slopes are finely wooded, and many of the trees 

 are well-grown, beautiful specimens. 



It will accordingly be inferred that the conditions of bird- 

 life are not unfavourable, and such is the case. The list 

 annexed does not pretend to be exhaustive. It is a simple 

 record of what has been observed during a limited period of 

 each year by myself, or seen by others whose names I give. 

 Were attentive observations made during longer periods of 

 each year, and in autumn and spring, many additions might 

 be made to the list of 9 1 species which is annexed. 



MISSEL THRUSH, Turdus viscivorus. Occurs in scattered pairs as 

 far up the river as Thirlestane. 



SONG THRUSH, Turdus musicus. Fairly common in every wood and 

 brake over the whole area. Less numerous than formerly 

 during seasons 1895, 1896, and 1897. 



REDWING, Turdus iliacus. Common in autumn. 

 FIELDFARE, Turdus pilaris. Parties in autumn and spring. 



BLACKBIRD, Turdus merula. Common over the whole area up to 



Cossarshill. 

 RING OUZEL, Turdus torquatus. A few pairs during the nesting 



season on suitable ground. 



