A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BERWICK-ON-TWEED 83 



downe, from the middle to the end of September, but have not of 

 late years been able to keep a very good look-out for it. In the 

 spring I saw one in the garden there, on 4th May 1885 (the year 

 in which it first appeared to any extent during summer). One was 

 shot, at Castle Hills, on 26th April 1890, and another seen, at The 

 Elms, on 8th May 1892. These were all males in the conspicuous 

 black and white dress ; the only female I have seen here in spring 

 was one, which I picked up dead, by the roadside, near the Hope 

 Nurseries, on loth May 1891. It was in a very emaciated state, and 

 had no doubt fallen a victim to the bleak and barren weather we 

 experienced that season. On loth June 1885, my brother saw a 

 fine male, on the side of the Whitadder, below Edrington Castle, in 

 Berwickshire. 



As evidence of the lateness of its arrival on our shores, I may 

 mention that the Rev. Charles B. Carr saw one upon the Fame 

 Islands, on i6th May 1889. 



RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, Mitsricapa parva, Bechstein. As 

 already recorded (" Hist. Berw. Nat. Club," vol. x. p. 387, etc.), I was 

 fortunate enough to meet with an example of this rare visitor, in the 

 garden, at Ravensdowne, on 5th October 1883. It was a young bird, 

 in the inconspicuous brown plumage of immaturity, and is still in 

 my collection. 



SWALLOW, Hirundo rustica, Linnaeus. A common summer 

 visitor, arriving about the second week in April, and departing by 

 the end of September. A few remain later, and may be met with 

 throughout the following month. During the last nineteen years 

 I have noticed it, on three or four occasions, about the town, in 

 November, the latest date being i6th November 1887. 



MARTIN, Chelidon urbica (Linnaeus). Not so abundant as the 

 last, but large numbers breed under the ledges of the rocks, upon 

 the cliffs, near Berwick, and northwards along the coast of Berwick- 

 shire. Under the parapets of the Royal Border Bridge, the Martin 

 finds a secure site for its nest, and this is its principal breeding-place 

 about the town. Although the bulk of them leave early in the autumn, 

 belated individuals not unfrequently linger on until November, the 

 latest date I have here being the 23rd of that month in 1889. 



SAND MARTIN, Cotile riparia (Linnaeus). Common, and nests 

 regularly in holes in the old town walls. I have sometimes also 

 noticed it upon the sea banks, nesting in holes in the rock, rather 

 than in the bank itself, though the latter is of course the ordinary 

 situation, here as elsewhere. In 1881, I saw a nest in a hole in the 

 wall, which encloses the policy, at Paxton House a most unusual 

 circumstance. The Sand Martin arrives before either of the two 

 preceding species, in spring, and I have noticed it here as late as 

 the 1 2th November, this in 1886. 



