42 THE WHINCHAT. 



wire fences, and alighting upon their highest points, utter- 

 ing from time to time its call-note of " Utik-utik-tik-tik-tik." 



When migrating southwards in autumn, it is occasionally 

 observed on palings, hedges, or stooks, in the lower parts 

 of the county, where it adds an interesting variety to the 

 usual birds in the Merse at that season. 



Mr. Hardy records the following localities as favourite 

 haunts and breeding-places of the Whinchat : — The Sea- 

 banks east from Eedheugh, Oldcambus Dean, Pease Bridge, 

 Edmonsdean, Haugh near Eiver Eye at Quixwood, head 

 of AUerburn near Abbey St. Bathans, Windshiel, ground 

 behind Cockburn Law, Whitchester and Eigfoot, Penman- 

 shiel Moor, Soldier's Dyke near Dowlaw, Earnslaw and 

 Greenside hills, Lowrie's Knowes near Dowlaw, and Eed- 

 heugh Hill.^ He mentions that the Whinchat and the 

 Stonechat were once much more numerous than at present 

 on the skirts of the moors in the neighbourhood of Old- 

 cambus, but cultivation has driven them into the back 

 wastes.^ 



Dr. Stuart found it in considerable numbers in Gordon 

 Bog on the 30th of June 1879,'^ and it is also recorded as 

 having been seen at Corsbie Bog on the same day.** It was 

 observed near Longformacus on the occasion of the Meeting 

 of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club there on the 26th of 

 July 1882.^ On the 5th of May 1885, while on my way to 

 Greenlaw, I noticed several birds of this species flitting 

 along the top of the hedges by the sides of the public road 

 near Crossrigg Earm, and I saw one or two perching on 

 the wire fence by the side of the road leading from Burn- 

 houses to Abbey St. Bathans in May 1886, 



The song of the Whinchat, which may be heard shortly 



1 yee Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vols, vii,, viii., ix., and x. 



2 Ihid. vol. ix. p. 393. 3 Jijia. vol. ix. p. 230. 

 ■» Jbid. vol. ix. p. 235. -^ Ibid. vol. x. p. 22. 



