Zoological Miscellanea and Extracts, by James Hardy. 195 



Little Bittern (Otis Tetrax). — A specimen of the Little 

 Bittern was shot by Mr John Chrisp, at Hawkhill, about four 

 years ago. — Eev. W. J. Meggison. 



HOW THE GrREEN PLOVER IK" FEEDING ON THE GRASS STARTS HIS 



prey. — The Rev. F. E. Simpson, North Sunderland, communi- 

 cates the following curious observation on the habits of the Lap- 

 wing : — " The bird when feeding on grass land systematically 

 hunts over the sward. Standing firmly on one leg, it shakes the 

 grass with the other (which it keeps in advance) with a quick 

 vibratory motion, pressing on it, and so startling any insects that 

 may be harbouring there. On these when roused to motion, it 

 suddenly stoops, picks them up, and advancing a few feet 

 resumes the operation in a fresh place. With a large flock on a 

 field, the whole surface must in this way be pretty closely tested. 

 This accounts for the seemingly odd way in which the birds 

 after standing still, as it would seem to one at a distance, sud- 

 denly run forward a little, and as suddenly stand again." 



The Eeeve. — Dr Stuart writes from Chirnside, 11th Septem- 

 ber, 1876, as follows : " Two rare birds made their appearance 

 at Edington Mains, in the mill pond, the other day. The groom 

 shot one, but the other escaped. Mr "Wilson sent the shot bird 

 to Dr Duns, of the New College, Edinburgh, who made it out to 

 be the Eeeve, the female of the Euff, Philomachus pugnax. I 

 should also mention that the bird which escaped was a young 

 bird, much lighter in the plumage than the one shot. The Eeeve 

 was observed to be feeding it with insects from the pond, which 

 proves that it must have been bred not far off." 



Little Atjk (Mergulus melanoleucos). — A Little Auk was shot, 

 by Mr J. E. Wood, of Eoulden Bastle, on the north side of 

 Foulden estate, near Lamberton moor; December, 22, 1876. — 

 Berwick Advertiser, December 29, 1876. 



In continuation of his previous notes, Mr Eobert Gray sends 

 the following : — 



Eohgh-legged Buzzard {Buteo lagopus). — A male and female 

 were captured at Innerleithen, on 28th April and May 1st of the 

 present year, and sent to Mr Hope, Edinburgh, for preservation. 

 It is not unlikely this pair would have nested in the district had 

 they been left undisturbed. 



Fieldfare {Turdis pilaris). — I had an opportunity of examining 

 a newly killed pair — male and female — from the neighbourhood 



y 



