Birds. 2877 



this neighbourhood, no longer affords it a resting place, having been 

 drained and converted into arable land, to the grief of the lover of 

 Natural History. 



III. Winter Visitors, 9. 



Merlin Jack Snipe 



Fieldfare Teal 



Redwing Golden-Eye 



Mountain Finch Goosander 

 Woodcock 



The Merlin sometimes visits this district in autumn and winter, but 

 is not often seen. I have shot two or three examples in autumn at 

 various times. 



The Fieldfare is common in the low-lying parts of the county, but 

 only resorts to the upper parts in hard weather. 



The Redwing is rarer, though flocks are occasionally seen. 



The Mountain Finch may be considered as a regular winter visitor, 

 as some examples of the species are to be seen intermingled with 

 flocks of chaffinches generally every winter. 



The Woodcock is sufficiently common, though not abundant. 



The Jack Snipe is rare. 



The Teal, the Golden-eye and the Goosander visit our rivers and 

 streams in severe weather, but cannot be called common. 



IV. Occasional Visitors, 14. 



Osprey Common Crossbill 



Bohemian Waxwing White-winged Crossbill 



Ray's Wagtail Quail 



Snow Bunting Red-necked Grebe 



Goldfinch Little Grebe 



Siskin Common Gull 



Lesser Redpole Black-backed Gull 



The Osprey is very rare. The only instance I know of its occur- 

 rence is a pair of them being shot, by the Tweed, the end of last 

 month (May, 1850). 



The Bohemian Waxwing occurred several times in this county 

 during the past winter. 



Ray's Wagtail. A straggler or two of this species is sometimes 

 seen in spring, but is very rare ; and I know of no instance of the 

 bird breeding here. 



viii 2 I 



