282 THE BARN OWL. 



coming from her nesting-place in the face of the preci- 

 pice on summer evenings, to search, with silent wing, the 

 adjoining grounds for mice and other prey, with which to 

 feed her young.^ 



In the Lauderdale district, the drainage holes of Norton 

 Bridge, near Thirlstane Castle, were occupied by this owl 

 about forty years since ; and it also bred at Old Norton,^ in 

 the neighbourhood of which it might then be seen skimming 

 noiselessly over the haughs of the Leader and other streams, 

 in the early twilight, and occasionally pouncing down upon 

 some unfortunate mouse, which it would bear off in its 

 claws with a scream of satisfaction.^ The ruins of Corsbie 

 Tower, in the parish of Legerwood — the ancient seat of the 

 Cranstouns — were formerly a well-known resort of the White 

 Owl, from which, in the dusk of the evening, she sallied out 

 to Spottiswoode * and her other hunting-grounds in the 

 vicinity, whence in due time she returned 



lu sullen silence to her ancient home. 



Wilson, Morning, 



Lady Grizel Baillie has informed me that, until 1841, a pair 

 of Barn Owls had their nest every year in one of the 

 chimneys of Mellerstain House ; and Mr. Hardy, Oldcambus, 

 writes that it used to be found in the Pease Dean.^ It is 



1 Verbal information from Mr. James Eentou, Allanbank, who has lived at 

 Blackadder for upwards of forty years. Mr. Brunton, Clarabad Mill, tells me 

 that he recollects a boy at Allanbank Stables, named Archibald Simpson, 

 getting a young White Owl out of its nest in the rocks at Blackadder House, 

 thirty years ago. 



2 Hist. Ber. Kat. Club, vol. vii. p. 302. 



' Information from Mr. Peter Scott, Lauder, 



4 Information from Lady John Scott Spottiswoode, of Spottiswoode, who 

 writes to Mr. P. Stormonth Darling: — '^ Spottisiooode, bth March 1886. — I 

 have been inquiring about the Wliite Owls. They used to build every year in 

 Corsbie Tower, and came about here from there. I remember when we were 

 children my sister had a tame young White Owl, which was given to her by old 

 Mr. Murray, the tenant of Corsbie." 



5 Mr. Hardy's MS. Notes. 



