Zoological Notes, by Andrew Brotherston. 183 



is not always the case, the following fact will show : — I dissected 

 one, a male, which was shot near Yetholm, October 20th, 1876, 

 the stomach of which was full of beetles and barley, about equal 

 parts of each. As there was no scarcity of animal food at the 

 time, it must have been from choice that the barley was eaten. 

 Although not an uncommon bird on our coasts during the winter 

 and spring, it is comparatively rare so far inland, only stragglers 

 being met with — occasionally a pair. I have seen only one since, 

 (December 13th), it was flying up the Teviot above Roxburgh 

 bridge. 



Long-tailed Duck [Anas glacialis), Penn. — Judging from the 

 number of specimens, and information received, during the 

 months of November and December, the Long-tailed Duck was 

 plentiful about the mouth of the Tweed. ALL that I saw were 

 immature. 



Merlin (Falco (esalori), Penn. — The Merlin like all its con- 

 geners, although not yet what can be called rare in this district, 

 I am sorry to say, is annually becoming scarcer, so much so that 

 I only saw one in 1876. It was shot near Kelso, 30th November. 



Curious capture op a Barn Owl. — As the first train in the 

 morning of December 13, 1876, was going at full speed between 

 Kelso and Roxburgh, the driver observed the funnel of the 

 engine strike a bird, which was attempting to " cross the line." 

 Owing to the rate at which the train was going, it could not fly 

 off, but remained in front of the funnel, until he went forward 

 and secured it, when it proved to be a Barn Owl. 



White-pronted Goose (Anser alhifrons), Jentns. — Mr Robert- 

 son, of the Goswick Coast Fisheries, shot an adult female in Gos- 

 wick Lowe, on December 9th, 1876. It was a very fine specimen 

 shewing the white " front," and the dark bars on the breast very 

 distinctly. The markings on one side of birds in a wild state, 

 are generally a counterpart of the other ; but in this instance the 

 dark bars below were unequal ; on one side, though irregular, 

 they were quite distinct and separate, while on the other they 

 were run together — almost wholly black. Sometimes the breast 

 on old birds is entirely black, usually it is irregularly barred. 

 The Laughing Goose, though plentiful in some parts of the 

 country, appears to be a very local species, generally only 

 stragglers being met with. It is uncommon on the Borders, the 

 only other examples that I have seen were some immature birds 

 in Mr Steel's shop, a few years ago. 



