96 Mr Smail's Zoological Notes in 1869. 



Zoological Notes in 1869. By James Smail, Galashiels. 



April 15th. — Martins were seen by me, for the first time 

 this season, at Cowdenknowes. 



April 82nd. — The Cuckoo I heard on Buckholm hill, and I 

 do not remember ever hearing it in April before. Apropos of 

 the Cuckoo. On 24th of May, 1866, I saw twelve Cuckoos 

 in the course of a walk of two and a half miles, in the glen 

 of Blyth water, in the basin of which stand the remains of 

 the Hare-faulds. The glen is very wild ; and in that part 

 where the Cuckoos were so numerously seen, there are many 

 clumps and thin patches of natural wood, principally birch 

 and ash. It occurred to me that these birds might have very 

 recently arrived at this favourite retreat, and that, when 

 pairing was effected, they would nearly all disperse, and by 

 their " wandering voice " make their presence known in other 

 favourite spots in the district. The Cuckoo is now seldom, 

 if ever, heard in the low-lying districts about towns. Thirty 

 years ago I have occasionally heard it in old orchards at 

 Jedburgh. In the Border counties it has taken almost entirely 

 to the solitary upland woods within the last twenty years or so. 



May 28th. — I found a Robin's nest, containing young, in 

 the remains of a whale's jaws, lying in an unfrequented 

 corner among nettles, in the policy of Major Scott of Gala. 

 The nest was in a hole in the thick end of the jaw-bone, 

 and was inserted so far that the darkness of the hole prevented 

 it from being seen. 



A Blind and Lame Lark. — A relative has at present (22nd 

 June) a Lark twelve years of age, which is stone blind and 

 has only one leg. It has been blind for seven years, and it 

 is as jovial a songster now as it was eleven years ago ; and 

 being blind it sings as much during the night as in the day. 

 Some months ago, when it was enjoying a run on the floor, 

 it was trampled upon, and by this mishap one of its legs was 

 totally severed and one of its wings somewhat injured. It 

 speedily recovered, however ; for in three days it began to 

 sing with its wonted spirit, maugre its blindness and the loss 

 of a leg. 



June 28th. — I found a nest, with three young, of the Ring- 

 Ousel, in Erncleuch glen in the Lammermoors. The nest is 

 somewhat larger than the common blackbird's, but built of 

 nearly similar material. Both parents were in a great state 

 of chatter and excitement, and showed a great deal of boldness 



