108 BIED-LIFE OF THE BORDERS. 



appear regrettable that the fate of the few survivors of these 

 noble aborigines should in some cases be left at the mercy 

 of ignorance and prejudice. The present status of the 

 Peregrine as a resident bird in Northumberland, and along 

 the Borders is most precarious : it can still be so described, 

 but, owing to the ceaseless persecution in spring, a whole 

 season will sometimes elapse without so much as seeing a 

 Peregrine on the hills. 



The Buzzard, too, has disappeared. I have never once 

 seen one on the wing, and not a single pair now nest in 

 Durham or Northumberland. The few Buzzards that do 

 occur, are generally met with during the month of October, 

 but these are usually of the northern type, or Rough-legged 

 Buzzard {Buteo lagopus), of which species I have examined 

 three or four shot at this season. These are no doubt 

 merely belated stragglers from the ranks of the great migrat- 

 ing bauds which, on the approach of winter, pass southwards 

 from the shores of the Baltic and from Northern Europe, 

 but whose course lies in the main to the eastward of our 

 islands. I have also seen one specimen of the Common 

 Buzzard shot at this season, and a Goshawk (immature) 

 killed in November. 



Merlins are tolerably abundant on the Border moors, 

 where a few pairs nest in spring among the heather ; but it 

 is in September and October that these little falcons are 

 most numerous — chiefly young birds, which prey on Larks 

 and other small birds along the fell edges. These are no 

 doubt on migration, but we have some throughout the winter, 

 for I have records of them in November, December, and 

 January. Adult males are comparatively scarce ; their blue 

 backs show in conspicuous contrast with the dark heather 

 when seen flying over it, but harmonize admirably in colour 

 with the big grey boulders on which they are so fond of 

 perching. 



At the end of the month the Grey "Wagtail {Motacilla hoar- 

 ula) is noticeably abundant ; their numbers decrease as the 

 winter advances, but in mild seasons a few remain about the 

 burn-sides during December and January. Peewits also disap- 

 pear from the high moors during winter ; at this season (end 



