1903-1904-] Wild Life around Edinburgh. 99 



Davidson's Mains, which vies with the Elf Loch at the Braid 

 Hills in being one of the most popular hunting-grounds of the 

 Natural History societies in Edinburgh. But as these ex- 

 peditions generally take place in the evenings, it is question- 

 able if the members of these societies as a body ever see the 

 place at its best. True, to the botanist the plant life may 

 be the same, and the microscopist may find material to 

 analyse or dissect in his study, but to enjoy the real life 

 interest one must be early astir and alone. It is then that 

 one sees nature at its best, and it is surprising to find what a 

 variety of life exists at this spot now so near the confines of 

 the city. In giving a note of the birds I have seen here I 

 will not say they all came under observation on one day, but 

 they may all be seen there. 



It is a typical spring morning, and as we cycle to this spot 

 the first bird to attract our attention will probably be the 

 magpie. In spite of the constant and bitter persecution of 

 gamekeepers, this bird still manages to find an asylum in 

 Corstorphine Hill and the grounds of Craigcrook Castle. I 

 counted fifteen birds in a group one morniug last year. This 

 is a large number now, but before the noble trees of Barnton 

 were felled to make room for the puny sticks of the golfer, 

 twice or three times that number was no unusual sight. At 

 the side of the hedgerow there is a bird sitting apparently 

 well pleased with itself, pouring forth its pleasant but some- 

 what monotonous song. It is not so brilliant in colour as 

 the yellow-hammer, and is larger in size. This is the corn- 

 bunting, a bird often to be seen sitting on the telegraph wires 

 on the country roads near Edinburgh, but of which very few 

 have an intimate knowledge. 



The marl pit is but a short distance from the Craigcrook 

 road, and as we leave the highway a bird resembling the 

 sparrow starts away from the ditch. It does not fly far, and 

 with the aid of a field-glass we are able by its black head and 

 pretty white collar to identify the reed-bunting. If we ad- 

 vance quietly to where the saugh-trees grow at the edge of 

 the marsh, we shall find the willow-wren hopping among the 

 branches. This bird is, I believe, the most regular of our 

 local migrants. Taking cover among the trees, and, as far 

 as we can, seeing without being seen, we have an interesting 



