A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BERWICK-ON-TWEED 5 



A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BERWICK-ON-TWEED, 

 WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO "THE BIRDS 

 OF BERWICKSHIRE," AND NOTICES OF THE 

 OCCURRENCE OF SOME OF THE RARER 

 SPECIES IN THE ADJOINING DISTRICTS. 



By GEORGE BOLAM, F.Z.S., etc. 

 (Continued from Vol. K, 1896, /. 93.) 



PASSERES. 



MISSEL THRUSH, Turdus viscivorus, Linnaeus. A resident species, 

 breeding in a few places within the limits of the borough, as, for 

 example, in the plantation below New Water Haugh, and sometimes 

 also in gardens in Ravensdowne. It is generally supposed to have 

 increased very much in numbers, in the district, within what we 

 may term (ornithologically speaking) historic times. Various recent 

 writers have remarked upon its comparative rareness in their younger 

 days, or when they first came to the district ; but even so far back 

 as 1830 or 1831, we find Selby writing : " This species within the last 

 ten or fifteen years has become very common in the northern 

 counties." While ten years later viz. in 1840 he ranks the 

 Missel Thrush as a resident " which in our younger days was con- 

 sidered a very rare bird," but " has now become common." 



SONG THRUSH, Turdus musicus, Linnaeus. ) Well-known resi- 



BLACKBIRD, Turdus vierula, Linnaeus. j~ 



dents, breeding everywhere. In autumn the native stock is largely 

 augmented by immigrants, perhaps from abroad, proof of which is 

 very visible in the flocks of these birds which we sometimes meet 

 with in the turnip-fields in October and November. At that season 

 of the year numbers of them may also be found, upon our sea banks, 

 where they forage for snails, etc., along the grassy ledges of the cliffs, 

 and amongst the rank growth of herbage at their base. 



To some extent, no doubt, the birds which breed with us are 

 also migratory in winter, but possibly it is only the young birds 

 which then move southwards. Be that as it may, it is quite certain 

 that many of the old residenters in our gardens do not depart, but 

 remain throughout the year in their chosen haunts. 



REDWING. Turdus ttiacus, Linnaeus. ) 



, . ., . T - Common winter visitants, 



FIELDFARE, Turdus pilarts, Linnaeus, j 



generally associated in flocks. They arrive about October, and 

 frequently remain till late in spring, sometimes until the middle of 

 May. 



