The Scottish Naturalist. 281 



1874;^ Tweedside, Oct. 1875.- Occasionally seen in 

 East Lothian : Gray. 



15. Circus cyaneus. Boie. The Hen Harrier. 



This species, though formerly very much more common 

 than the last, is now also exceedingly rare. Bred until a 

 very few years ago in Berwickshire, and was once very 

 abundant on the Lammermoors. 



[Circus Montagui. Yarr. Montagu's Harrier. 



Selby mentions the occurrence of a specimen in Berwick- 

 shire. One was shot near Alnwick, May 1847.-] 



STRIGIDM. 



16. Bubo MAXiMys. Sibb. The Eagle Owl. 



Of very doubtful occurrence within the precise limits of 

 our district. Fifeshire (Pennant, ed. 1772); Aberdeen, 

 Oct. 1866 j 3 Pitlochry, Jan. 1873.* 



17. Otus vulgaris. Flem. The Long-eared Owl. 



This species, though rare, according to Mr Gray, in the 

 West of vScotland, is probably the most abundant of our 

 Owls. Like the rest of them, however, it is everywhere 

 destroyed by the gamekeepers. 



18. Otus brachyotus. Boie. The Short-eared Owl. 



This bird, like the Rough-legged Buzzard, and one or two 

 others, is very abundant in some seasons, while in general 

 very scarce. Dr Turnbull mentions a nest at Blinkbonny, 

 East Lothian. Mr Gray says it often breeds in that 

 county, but I have heard of no recent authenticated in- 

 stance. Specimens were particularly abundant in the 

 winter of 1875-76, and rather less so in 1876-77. 



19. Strix flammea. Limi. The Barn Owl. 



Tolerably abundant, but not so much so as either the 

 Long-eared or Tawny Owl. 



20. Syrnium stridulum. Brehm. The Tawny Owl. 



Nearly, if not quite, as common as the Long-eared Owl. 



^ Trans, of Roy. Pliys. Society. ' Proc. of Berw. Nat. Club. 



3 Gray's ' Birds of the W. of Scotland.' ^ ' Scottish Naturalist.' 



