Notes, by George Bolam. Ill 



enabled to see two of these birds on that farm on the 28th De- 

 cember, 1876. After a long stalk I managed to get within about 

 sixty yards of them, and one of the birds having its head towards 

 me, I saw distinctly the black markings on the breast. The 

 specimen shot a very short time previously on a neighbouring 

 farm — I believe the adjoining one — and secured for the Berwick 

 Museum, had probably been in company with these two birds, as 

 it seems they had been in the neighbourhood for some time. 

 The field on which I found them feeding, was green with clover, 

 a favourite food with the species. The White-fronted Goose 

 may certainly be considered scarce in this district, as we very 

 seldom hear of its capture. 



Richardson's Skua (Lestris parasiticus). — Shot a remarkably 

 fine specimen of this Skua on the 1 8th of August last at the 

 Coves, Holy Island ; it is in the usual adult plumage. Mr Han- 

 cock says this species is common in September and October ; it is, 

 however, a bird I have long been on the look out for, and yet 

 this is only the second I have seen at or near Holy Island in all 

 my experience in shore shooting. 



Kelso, January, 1877. 



Notes. By George Bolam, Weetwood Hall. Zkth Jan., 

 1877. 



1876. 

 Dec. 27. — Two Golden-eye Ducks {Anas clangula, Pennant) male 

 and female, both young birds, were shot here, and at 

 same time several others were observed flying about 

 1877. on river banks. 

 Jan. 2. — A Water-rail {Rallus aquaticus, Pennant) an old female 

 in full winter plumage (and the only one of the kind I 

 have seen here) was shot in river Till. 

 ,, 13. — A Eed-throated Diver (Colymlus stellatus, Pennant) 

 was picked up on the river side, a young male in very 

 bad condition and weighing a little over 2 lbs. 

 ,, 16. — A Bough-legged Buzzard (Falco lagopus, Pennant) 

 was shot on Horton Moor, by A. Bolton, keeper to 



