A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BERWICK-ON-TWEED 7 



WHINCHAT, Pratincola rubetra (Linnaeus). Another summer 

 migrant, arriving in March, and I used sometimes to meet with the 

 young, in our garden in Ravensdowne, on their return journey, in 

 August, and September, at which season they are in a much spotted, 

 and most interesting state of plumage. It is never numerous, but a 

 pair or two sometimes nest within the limits of the borough. 



STONECHAT, Pratincola rubicola (Linnaeus). Resident, and breeds 

 in several places ; always a pair or two upon the sea banks. The 

 beds of coarse herbage at the mouth of the Whitadder, and on the 

 Orit Island, on the Tweed, form favourite resorts during winter. 



REDSTART, Ruticilla phxnicurus (Linnceus). Not very numerous, 

 but nests wherever suitable places occur, and is seen regularly in 

 Berwick, in spring and autumn. I am not aware that it breeds 

 nearer to the town than at Castle Hills. 



BLACK REDSTART, Ruticilla titys (Scopoli). This is a bird which 

 one would think ought to be attracted by our rocky coast, but, though 

 I have for years kept a careful look out for it, the only instance 

 of its occurrence here is a female, in winter plumage, which was shot 

 by my brother, on the rocks behind the pier, on i5th December 

 1893, and is now in my collection. 



It has occurred once or twice on the Northumbrian coast, and 

 has also been recorded from the shores of the Firth of Forth. It is 

 not included by Mr. Muirhead in his "Birds of Berwickshire." 



BLUETHROAT, Ruticilla suecica (Linnaeus). No record here, but 

 in addition to the specimen recorded by Selby, from the Town Moor, 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne, shot 28th May 1826, and now in the Newcastle 

 Museum, one was taken at the lighthouse, on the May Island, on 22nd 

 September 1881, (Gray in " Hist. Berw. Nat. Club," vol. x. p. 84), and 

 another is recorded by Mr. Geo. Pow, of Dunbar (loc. cit. vol. xi. p. 

 248), as having been killed at Belhaven, in East Lothian, in the end 

 of May or beginning of June 1868, and preserved by Mr. William 

 Johnstone, Belhaven. The last mentioned specimen is said to have 

 the central spot on the breast "yellowish brown with pure white 

 below." The May Island bird was recorded by Mr. Gray as belong- 

 ing to the entirely blue-breasted form, R. wolfi, but I have been 

 obligingly informed by Mr. Wm. Eagle Clarke that the specimen is 

 now in the Museum of Science and Art, in Edinburgh, and belongs 

 to the red-spotted race. 



ROBIN, Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus). As common, and as wel- 

 come, in Berwick as elsewhere. A considerable increase to the 

 native stock is noticeable in September, and October, at which 

 season I have often remarked it with the little bands of Redstarts, 

 Warblers, Pied Flycatchers, etc., which sometimes pay a visit to the 

 gardens in the town. 



