o 



10 7 he Scottish Naturalist. 



Middleton, in a thorn hedge, associated with Yellow-hammers 

 and Chaffinches. 



Black-Headed Bunting (Embcriza schcsniclus). — A few, 

 during severe winters, still frequent the stackyards on the 

 higher farms. Now that the heaths and bogs are drained, this 

 bird has become extremely scarce. I see that a few in summer 

 frequent the borders of Coldmartin Loch, near Wooler ; also, 

 Woolerhaugh, near Earle; and on Doddington Hill, where they 

 are called " Blackcaps." In June I saw one or two of these 

 birds at Easington Grange, near Belford. 



Chaffinch {Fringilla coelcbs). — July 17th, I observed in the 

 garden a female Chaffinch chasing a young Blackbird, which 

 fled chattering in alarm to escape being pecked. 



Brambling {Fringilla montifringilld). — Mr. Brotherston re- 

 marks in a letter — " I believe beech mast is the staple food of 

 this bird. I have seen them feeding on it in the middle of 

 April, when there was no difficulty in getting other food. Some 

 specimens that I obtained at that time had the head nearly 

 black, the grey ends of the feathers being rubbed off." 



Greenfinch ( Coccothraustes chloris). — On the 14th April I 

 noticed above a whinny bank one either fixing on the site of its 

 nest, or serenading its partner. It kept hovering in the air with 

 its gay wings spread out, or sailed round in a circuit ; and then 

 seated itself qn a bush and uttered spree ! spree ! with apparent 

 glee. Three days after it continued sailing backwards and for- 

 wards over this centre of attraction, ejaculating a variety of notes, 

 as well as its brief, cheery song. About harvest it becomes very 

 mischievous among early ripening patches of corn ; and is at all 

 seasons a common bird. 



Siskins and Redpoles. — Siskins have been observed some 

 years to frequent the old alder trees at the Pease Bridge ; and 

 also those at the sides of the Tower burn, near the Pease Mill. 

 Mr. Ferguson informs me that the gamekeeper at Dunse Castle 

 sees Siskins in the plantations there throughout the season ; so 

 that there is a likelihood of some of them breeding there. Of 

 date March 8, 1876, Mr. Ferguson thus writes: "The game- 

 keeper at Dunse Castle tells me that, for several weeks past, he 

 has seen almost daily during the winter months a flock of from 

 20 to 30 Siskins — invariably accompanied by a like number of 

 Redpoles — feeding on the fruit of some alders growing at the 

 margin of a pretty large pond or "damhead" near his house. 

 So far as he can judge, the number of males and females seems 



