156 Ornithological Notes, by Robert Gray. 



Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus). — A very handsome male 

 bird of this species was shot near Pencaitland, on 22nd Septem- 

 ber last, and sent to Mr Small for preservation. It was of large 

 size, and unusually dark in colour. This bird was exhibited by 

 Dr J. A. Smith, at a meeting of the Eoyal Physical Society. 



Short-eared Owl (Otus brachyotos), — Short-eared Owls were 

 again very plentiful throughout the district in September and 

 October. Mr Hope, bird stuffer, George Street, shewed me one 

 in the flesh — a young bird with traces of down upon it — which 

 had been shot near Ayton, in Berwickshire, on 13th July, 1876. 

 This would seem to indicate that the species breeds somewhere 

 on the Berwickshire moors. 



Tawny Owl (Syrnium stridula). — If one may form an opinion 

 from the numbers of this Owl which are sent to the Edinburgh 

 taxidermists, this is unquestionably the most common species in 

 the Eastern Counties — the Barn Owl and Long- eared Owl being 

 comparatively scarce. The grey plumage seems characteristic of 

 the Tawny Owls of the Lothians and districts lying to the north. 

 Judging from the clear grey plumage and plump condition of 

 the birds, I am inclined to regard many of those found upon the 

 Eastern Coasts as migratory visitors. 



Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor). — A male was shot at 

 Bowhill, Selkirkshire, on 9th March, 1876. It had, like most 

 others I have examined, only one spot on the wing. Another, 

 in similar plumage, was killed at Ormiston, Haddingtonshire, on 

 22nd November last. 



Black Eedstart (Phcenicura tithys). — An immature female 

 Black Eedstart was shot on the banks of the Eorth, opposite 

 Kincardine, by my friend, Mr John A. Harvie Brown, on 10th 

 November, 1875 ; and in August, 1876, a male was observed at 

 Elie, in Eifeshire, by Dr Burves, of Edinburgh, who knows the 

 species well, and is therefore sure of having identified the bird 

 correctly. I mention the two instances as an inducement to those 

 members of the Club, resident in East Lothian or Berwickshire, 

 to look out for the Black Eedstart in both counties. 



Jay ( Garrulus glandarius). — As it is now generally believed that 

 the Jay is becoming very scarce in East Lothian and Berwick- 

 shire, it may not be out of place to mention that two specimens, 

 male and female, were killed near Salton, on 2nd February of 

 the present year. 



