HlIiD N'oTES Fl;OM ESKKALK. (io 



The surrounding's are almost entirely pastoral, consisting of hills 

 and moorland; while the woods, which are generally of spruce 

 fir, mixed with a few hardwoods, are nearly all full grown, and 

 lie, for the most part, in the valley along the course of the river. 

 These trees, with their large coarse branches, are not suitable 

 nescing- places for the smaller birds; they prefer those from six to 

 ten feet h'gh, with closer and greener foliage, which afford them 

 better shelter from their numerous enemies. 



Owing to these circumstances I will confine my remarks 

 to-night, with one or two exceptions, to some of the rarer visi- 

 tants to the district, which have been observed by myself or 

 friends. Several of them are common enough in more favoured 

 districts, and I will only refer to them as being rare in Eskdale. 

 One or two, which I have seen further from home, are rare any- 

 where, and being objects of general interest, I will take the 

 liberty of alluding to them also. 



THE GOLDEN LAGLE. 



I have only heard of one specimen being seen in the district. 

 It was shot on the farm of Cote many yeai's ago. 



HONEY BUZZARD. 



A specimen was shot in the year 18.50 by my brother, and 

 was stated by the late Sir ^Villiam -lardine to have been the 

 second Scottish example then recorded. 



KOUGH-LEGGED liUZZAUD. 



I myself shot one in the parish of Westerkirk in the year 

 1867. I saw it fly from a steep bank of thorn and hazel and 

 disappear behind a large tree which screened it from my view for 

 a second or two, but so soon as it jiassedthe tree I, on the impulse 

 of the moment, fired, and unfortunately my aim in this instance 

 was too sure — I say unfortunately, as I deprecate the destruction 

 of every rare visitor ; but I was young then and anxious to secure 

 anything rare. I confess myself culpable, and the fact of my 

 being ignorant as to what the bird was till I picked it up is no 

 excuse, as I was sure it was a rare one of some kind. I regret 

 the barbarous act, and would not now destroy a rare bird. This 

 one had indulged so heartily in a feast of partridge meat that its 

 crop burst when it fell to the ground. Seven specimens were 



