A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BERWICK-ON TWEED 85 



and other convenient places ; and further afield in holes in trees, old 

 buildings, lime-kilns, and the like. Is well distributed, and fairly 

 plentiful, throughout the surrounding districts, on both sides of the 

 Border, more especially along the sea coast. In Berwickshire it 

 seems to have extended its range inland considerably, within the last 

 ten or twelve years, and I have noticed it breeding at Paxton, 

 Foulden, Hutton Hall, Chirnside, and other places. 



In June 1878 I found several nests in the banks between 

 Coldingham Shore and St. Abb's Head, and since that date I have 

 frequently noticed it breeding there. 



CHAFFINCH, Fringilla ccelebs, Linnasus. A common resident. 



BRAMBLING, Fringilla inontifringilla, Linnaeus. A winter 

 visitant ; more abundant in some years than in others. Arrives 

 about the beginning of October, and an odd bird sometimes lingers 

 till late in spring. I saw a female in the garden, at Ravensdowne, on 

 ist May 1884, at which date Chaffinches had eggs, and on loth 

 April 1889, a fine male was quietly picking amongst some sea- 

 weed, close to the Pier House. In the autumn they have been 

 observed at Ravensdowne: in 1882, on i2th and i6th October; in 

 1883 and 1884, on 5th October in each year ; and, on i4th November 

 1877, a beautiful male came with the Sparrows to pick up some 

 crumbs in front of my office window. 



An old male, which had been caught in the snow, near the Tweed 

 Dock, in 1877, lived with us for over three years, and became very 

 tame, coming eagerly to take a fly, or other food, from the fingers, 

 when held near his cage. 



LINNET, Acanthis cannabina (Linnaeus). A resident, assembling 

 in large flocks with other birds during snowstorms, and much 

 sought after by our youthful bird-catchers on the "Meadows." 



The nest is invariably placed in a whin bush, and, as the old 

 Northumbrian proverb has it, " Whins and Fenwicks flourish every- 

 where," so that the Linnet finds no lack of congenial nesting-stations 

 in the district. 



MEALY REDPOLE, Acanthis linaria (Linnasus). An occasional 

 winter visitant, not always distinguished from the more common 

 form. A male in my collection was one of two which we kept in 

 confinement for some time, and which were snared at The Greens, 

 during the great snowstorm, in the beginning of March 1886. On 

 2ist October 1885, I saw two very pale-coloured individuals, feeding 

 upon the street, with some Sparrows, near Dr. Maclagan's stable door 

 in Ravensdowne. It is not included in Mr. Muirhead's book, but has 

 since been recorded, as a Berwickshire bird, by Dr. Stuart, from a 

 specimen seen by him, near Chirnside, on 25th November 1895 

 ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist," No. 17, p. 58). 



