100 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



an Icterine Warbler {Hifipolais icterind) appeared in the 

 garden of my old friend, the late Mr C. M. Adamson, at 

 North Jesmond— probably the only spot in all North- 

 umberland where its note would have been recognised ! 

 It was shot, for complete identification, and most nearly 

 resembled a wood-wren {S. sibilatrix), but for its larger 

 size ; legs slaty blue, beak brown. This is, I believe, 

 the only record of the species in the north of England. 



In 1877, on June 15th, I observed, near Elsdon, several 

 clouded yellows (Co/ias edusct), and caught one — curiously, 

 a hybernated example. This is a butterfly I have never 

 seen in the north of England before or since, and have no 

 doubt that these were immigrants from over-sea. Another 

 rare insect, only once seen, is the comma {Grafita C. 

 album) — Silksworth, September 23rd, 1874. Of the 

 aristocracy of the insect- world, the emperor moth 

 {Saturnia pavonia minor) is characteristic of the moor- 

 land, and its conspicuous green- and red-spotted cater- 

 pillar may often be seen among the heather in the earlier 

 part of the shooting season. 



This is also the date (mid-June) when the whinchat 

 commences that note, " U-tic, tic, tic," indicative of 

 young being hatched ; and which continues, with mono- 

 tonous iteration, till towards the end of July. I specially 

 name this, since a similar remark would apply to nearly 

 all the small summer-birds ; but the whinchat is the most 

 conspicuous and its note the most easily recognised. 



June 20 (1906). — The lowland woods swarm with 

 newly-fledged broods of wrens, ruddier, but no less perky 

 than their parents. This is an exceptionally late date, 

 since the wren nests early, and in other years the young 

 are abroad a fortnight before this. 



June 22. — Found a nest of the twite (Linota flavi- 



