The Scottish Naturalist. 309 



gamekeeper has seen the Kestrel carry off a small weak pheasant. 



Song Thrush and Fieldfares. — On the 25th October last, 

 Thrushes were numerous along with Blackbirds, under the cover 

 of withering ferns, in the middle portion of Langleyford vale. 

 Farther up, among the pretty groves and clumps of birches, be- 

 low the Hope, many of the Thrushes were congregated into 

 small flocks, preparatory to migration. When a Sparrow-hawk 

 passed they flew off in concert, and alighted among the trees in 

 a body. I afterwards saw another large party flying across the 

 open waste far up the water. At the same time there were 

 present other birds of the kind in search of food among the 

 dense beds of brackens, not connected with those gatherings 

 which may have been aliens. Keeping in separate companies, 

 there were also on the open hills many Fieldfares, new arrivals. 

 I found some fresh killed by hawks. Mr. Hughes wrote me 

 that about that period large assemblages of Fieldfares frequented 

 the Cheviot Moors, as if collecting for dispersion elsewhere. 

 At Oldcambus, December 2, during a frost, the local Thrushes 

 formed a small scattered flock in a field near a plantation, where 

 sheep had recently been pasturing ; and for several days numer- 

 ous Fieldfares and Starlings fed through among them, till a thaw 

 enabled them to obtain food elsewhere. In former seasons I 

 have frequently observed, at the close of autumn, Thrushes fly- 

 ing in flocks on the moors above Redheugh. They took refuge 

 at night in furze bushes. 



Skylark. — In the heavy snowstorm at the close of the year 

 1875 birds were reduced to great straits for a supply of food. 

 On Dec. 20, when the workers were picking up some turnips in 

 a fold for the sheep, a Lark followed them throughout the whole 

 afternoon. Their legs were wrapped with straw bands, and 

 want had so tamed it that it began picking at the straw; and 

 having obtained two or three grains of oats, it evidently expected 

 more by keeping behind them. When they stood it came up on 

 their feet, and allowed itself to be stroked. They offered it 

 crumbs, but it would not have them, but picked up whatever 

 food the fresh turned-up earth revealed. I am informed that 

 the Earl of Home's keeper, in 1875, observed a cream-coloured 

 Lark on Drakemire Moor, but he could never catch a sight of 

 it afterwards. 



Bunting (Embcriza miliaria). — Whatever may be the case 

 elsewhere, Buntings are seldom seen in North Northumberland 

 during winter. On March 14th, 1876, I observed one at South 



