On the Ornithology, &c, of Bowhill, by Mr James Kerss. 197 



it, arrived by post, apparently empty ; and I was surprised a few 

 days afterwards to see an odd-looking insect at rest, on the win- 

 dow-frame, which immediately commenced its wheezing noise, 

 on being disturbed. Perhaps it had got out into the envelope. 

 It is the Astynomus JEdilis, a native of Scandinavia. It is said to 

 be plentiful on the Quaysid e at Newcastle, having been intro- 

 duced with timber. I am not aware of a previous arrival of a 

 similar stranger at the port of Berwick. 



On the Ornithology, &c, of Bowhill, Selkirkshire. Commu- 

 nicated by Mr James Kerss, head-keeper to His Grace 

 the Duke of Buccleuch, at Bowhill. 



The most recent rare birds that have been killed here, are — 

 the Lesser Butcher Bird, the Black-throated Northern Diver, the 

 Tufted Duck, and the Pied Smew. The Smew is rather rare — 

 so much so, that I believe there is not a specimen of that bird in 

 the Museum in Edinburgh at present. I once shot a Smew, or 

 White-headed Nun, on the Teviot, near Kelso — about 50 years 

 ago — which should now be found in the Kelso Museum ; any. 

 how it was sent, I am sure, to the Kelso Museum, at the time. 

 Woodcocks, within a very few years breed very commonly here ; 

 particularly and observable since the Duke gave an order out, 

 that no Woodcocks were to be shot after the 1st of March. 

 Woodcocks will breed in close wooded places, but more generally 

 in the open, where there is heather. No Dotterels frequent this 

 part of Selkirkshire to my knowledge. The Merlin Hawk is 

 common ; the Osprey, or Fishing Hawk, occasionally occurs. 

 The Pough-legged Buzzard, some winters is very common. 

 Some 12 or 14 years ago, upwards of a dozen of these Buzzards 

 were trapped here. Only one Jay has been killed here in my 

 time, now upwards of 40 years. One or two nests of the Goat- 

 sucker I have known of here. Siskins are very common, and 

 Mountain Linnets ; Blackcock game is common here, and Ped 

 Grouse. The Ping-ouzel, or Heather Blackbird, breeds in rocky 

 glens among the hills, the nest being generally on the ground ; 

 the Dipper, or Water-ouzel, breeds commonly o all the hill 

 burns here ; and Kingfishers occasionally. Crossbills are not 



