Tlic Avifauna. 89 



of i8gi we brought a young brood from Abington, in 

 Lanarkshire, and after keeping them till fully matured, 

 gave them their liberty. 



The Carrion Crow, though no doubt rare, is 

 found in the district. A pair make their nest every 

 year in the policies of Prestonfield. The Grey Crow 

 is seldom seen, but we have twice shot one in the 

 Craigmillar woods. The Rook, as in most parts of 

 the country, is plentiful at Craigmillar. A number 

 of rookeries exist within a mile of the castle. We 

 have known a pair of rooks build their nest on a 

 chimney of the Inch House. 



Jackdaws are numerous, as, with the exception of 

 boys at nesting-time, few people care to molest them 

 in this district. A number breed in the castle ruins. 

 Though not often seen, albinos are yet occasionally 

 met with. A naturalist of our acquaintance has a 

 pair, the one pure white and the other buff-coloured, 

 taken from the same nest last year. 



The Heron is by no means rare, and may fre- 

 quently be seen in the brooks south of the castle. At 

 dusk it may also be observed winging its way towards 



