66 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



" Sir, — During the height of the present severe storm 

 grouse were observed to take wing from the high rocky coast 

 between Helmsdale and Berriedale, and proceed right out to 

 sea. Fishermen tell me that they had seen them fly in packs 

 over their heads when about three miles from shore, and by 

 the direction they took would strike land somewhere on the 

 Banffshire coast, after a flight of about forty miles. It would 

 be interesting to know if ever they reached, but which I very 

 much doubt, as these birds are not adapted for making such 

 long journeys without rest. — I am, etc., A. B." 



Being curious to learn if the arrival of these very venture- 

 some birds had been noticed, at my request an acquaintance 

 of Mr Thomas Edward wrote to "the Banffshire Naturalist," 

 and received the following reply : 



" Low Shore, Baxff, January 17, 1879. 

 " Dear Sir, — There have been grouse seen, and shot, too, 

 on our coast during this stormy weather, but whether they 

 came from Sutherland, or only down from our own hills, I am 

 not aware. That they, as well as other birds and beasts, have 

 suffered dreadfully, there is no doubt. — Yours sincerely, 



" Thomas Edward." 



Berwickshire. — From John Wilson, Esq. of Wellnage, Dunse, 

 I have the following : " I have been so little out of doors for 

 a month past, that I could not give you the information you 

 asked about the wild birds, of my own observation. I have 

 how had the opportunity of questioning several of my farmer 

 friends, and shall give you the results. I know from my own 

 observation that the crop of haws and berries was this year a 

 very poor one. Dog hips were plentiful, but nothing else. 

 There were a few berries on some of my hollies, but they dis- 

 appeared with the very first days of snow. A few dead 

 fieklfares have been noticed lying about, but not many, and 

 I liear of nothing else. When the snow was at the deepest, 

 the wood-pigeons were desperate. A regular shooting went 

 on daily in most of the gardens about Dunse. Above a dozen 

 were killed in my own. Tliey were in a fair condition, but I 

 hear of both them and rabbits being very lean. For a time 



