254 



TlIK ORXITIIOLOGY OF BERWICKSIIIRK. 



a most abundant species ; hut from the injury it commits on the 3'oung 

 clovers and the turnip-fiekLs, is held as an enemy, and proscribed by 

 the farmer ; tlio other is the rock-pig-eou, the original stock of our 

 dovecot pigeons, which inhabits the cavernous precipices along the 

 coast. As an occasional visitant vre are also able to add the turtle- 

 dove to the list, a small flock having visited the neighbourhood of 

 Berwick this last autumn. 



Of the PhasianidpR, the only member is a permanent resident ; and 

 of the Tetraonideo tliree are permanent residents, and one the quail, 

 which we have met "witli at Cornliill and other parts within our limits, 

 an occasional visitant. 



Of the Otidpe, or bustard family, we have ventured to insert the Otis 

 tetrax (little bustard), a single specimen having been killed within 

 half a mile of Twizell. 



Of the Ardeadee, or heron group, belonging to the order Grallatores, 

 we reckon three species ; one a permanent resident, the other two, viz., 

 the bittern {Botaurus stellaris) and the night heron {Nycticorax euro- 

 pcvus), rare visitants. A fine specimen of the latter was killed some 

 years ago at the Hirsel, and presented to the Edinburgh museum by 

 the Earl of Home. 



Of the Scolopaceous family, there are two permanent residents, one 

 periodical summer visitant, scn^en periodical winter visitants and seven 

 occasional visitants. Among the latter we may mention as rare, the 

 green sandpiper {Totanus ochropus), the greenshank {Totanus glottis), 

 the solitary' snipe (Scolopax major), the rufi {3Iac]ietts pugnax) in its 

 winter plumage, and generally young birds of the year, and the grey 

 phalarope [Phalarupus luhatns) ; the only summer visitant of the family 

 is the Tufanus I/i/jjoleucos (common sandpiper), a neat clean-looking 

 bird, well known to tiie angler, and whose wing-feathers often assist 

 him in taking his finny pre3\ 



Of the Eallidfe there are five members, three of which arn periodical 

 Slimmer visitants, one a permanent resident, and one a periodical 

 winter visitant. To the first belongs the Corncrake, whose well known 

 grating call is first heard towards the end of May, in the meadow- 

 lands, particularly those adjoining the margins of the Tweed, the 

 Whitadder, and other streams. Of the Plovers, or famil}' Chai adriadte, 

 there are three permanent residents, one periodical summer visitant, 

 the well known green plover or pewit, VaneJlus iriatatns ; three 

 j)eriodical winter visitants, all of which are shore birds ; and one 

 occasional visitant, the dottrel, Charadrinft mnrinpllus, which rests for a 

 few days upon the grounds aroimd 8cremerston and TTntliank, in 

 April or beginning of May, when passing to its breeding stations in 

 higher latitxides. 



