On some of the Birds of Lauderdale, by Andrew Kelly. 145 



Shnson, in 1830, came across a family party of Wrens, all doing 

 for themselves ; four of them were of the orthodox colour, but 

 the fifth, their sister, strange to say, was of a lovely white. A 

 pretty sight it must have been. 



Alcedo Ispida, — The Kingfisher nested in the upper district 

 of Lauderdale, in 1871. Since then there has been only one 

 seen. Can the others have been drowned in the spates of the 

 Longcroft water ? I have known these birds for long, especially 

 on the Whiteadder ; and they never appeared sensibly to have 

 increased or diminished in numbers, although all the time, they 

 nested and brought up their young regularly. My idea is that 

 they have the water portioned off, as it were, into circuits, and 

 none dare inhabit any of these runs, till a vacancy occurs ; or 

 they somehow banish their young from the district. 



Hirttndo rtjsttca. — One evening, an angler from Lauder, 

 whilst casting his line into the waters of the Leader, felt a power- 

 ful nibble, and then a wobble or two overhead. On looking up, 

 to his surprise, a Swallow was caught by one of his hooks. This 

 piscatorial feat reminds me of another. Professor Wilson, when 

 in the Highlands, writing to James Hogg, says : " I killed nine- 

 teen and a half dozen of trouts, and nearly caught a Red Deer by 

 the tail." 



Caprimulgus EuropvEus. — Goatsuckers are very plentiful about 

 Abbey St. Bathans. They seem to have a great liking for the 

 natural woods there, or rather for the abundance of moths which 

 they furnish as a food supply. I have occasionally seen them, 

 hunting, like so many Swallows, the flies amongst the cattle. I 

 have heard it lately asserted, that when they are engaged making 

 their whirring noise, their feet are hooked to a branch, and their 

 bodies are rotating rapidly round like a wheel. 



Phasiantjs Colchictts. — Some years ago, a Carrion Crow, in 

 search of nests, having scented out a Pheasant's nest in the plan- 

 tation about Thirlstane Castle, was making it very unpleasant to 

 the sitting bird, when a rabbit-catcher happened to pass. He 

 was going to shoot it, but the Pheasant rushed out upon its 

 dusky tormentor, and a regular struggle ensued, in which the 

 Pheasant came off victor. It fairly danced for joy on the top of 

 the disabled Crow, to which the man of rabbits gave the finish 

 with his foot. 



Perdix cinerea. — It not unfrequently happens during the 



