178 



Notes on Birds. By Mr George Muirhead, Paxton. 



Osprey (Pandion haliceetus.) — An Osprey was observed frequent- 

 ing the high rooks on the sea-coast near Burnmouth, in Septem- 

 ber, 1871 ; and about the same time one was found, unable to 

 fly, in the dam at Netherbyres Mill. It was taken to the game- 

 keeper at Ayton Castle, but unfortunately was not preserved. 



Merlin (Falco cesalon). — A female in full plumage was shot by 

 the gamekeeper at Paxton, in the "Well Mire" wood, on the 

 banks of the Whiteadder, not far from the village of Paxton, in 

 October, 1876. That wood is one of the favourite haunts of 

 hawks in this locality. I have observed the Merlins there several 

 times. 



Rough-legged Buzzard {Buteo lagopus). — A fine specimen of 

 this bird was obtained on the sea banks, near the Pier Pield, 

 Berwick-on-Tweed, in October, 1876, and is preserved in the 

 Berwick Museum. The bird, when shot, had evidently only 

 newly arrived from a migratory flight, for I was assured, that, 

 on being observed it displayed little activity and was easily 

 stalked. Several instances of the Eough -legged Buzzard having 

 been killed lately in the neighbourhood of Gifford, East Lothian, 

 have come under my notice. It appears to me to be evident, 

 that this bird has occurred more frequently during the past 

 season than usual in this country, for I have noticed many 

 instances of its having been killed, recorded in the newspapers. 



Short-eared Owl (Otus Irachyotos). — I have never observed 

 this bird in the immediate neighbourhood of Paxton, although I 

 have had every opportunity of doing so. Numerous specimens 

 have been shown to me as having been killed in this county, and 

 in East Lothian, during the past winter. A female was shot at 

 Billylaw, near Berwick-on-Tweed, in the beginning of the present 

 month (March, 1877). 



Grasshopper Warbler (Salicaria locustella). — One night, in 

 June, 1876, when I was returning from visiting some friends in 

 this neighbourhood, while passing along the footpath by the side 

 of Nabdean Mill Pond, I heard for the first time, the note of the 

 Grasshopper Warbler. The song of the bird proceeded from 

 amongst the whin bushes in the Silver Pir Strip to the west of 

 Nabdean. Next evening when I went, accompanied by the 

 gamekeeper here, to listen to the bird, it allowed us to approach 



