353 



Ornithological Notes. By Robert Gray, F.R.S.E., F.S.A., 



Scot. 



Rough-legged Buzzard (JButeo lagopus). — Since the date of my 

 last communication (April, 1877), various specimens of this Buz- 

 zard from the Border counties have come under my observation, 

 although there has been no actual irruption of the species during 

 that interval similar to what took place in 1876. The latest dates 

 of its occurence for 1877, are as follows : — (1) one — a female shot 

 at Innerleithen, on 28th April ; (2) one — a male shot at the same 

 place on 1st May; and (3) several seen flying about in various 

 parts of Peebles-shire in the first and second week of May. 



Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris). — A female of very dark 

 plumage was shot at Yester, Haddingtonshire, on 2nd June, 

 1877. It was small in size, not exceeding in measurement and 

 weight an ordinary male bird. This bird had evidently been 

 sitting quite recently as the breast was bare of feathers. The 

 eggs in the ovary were of very small size. 



Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). — Large flocks of this bird were seen 

 flying about in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh as late as the 

 second week of May, 1877. One or two isolated pairs (m. and f.) 

 in full breeding plumage were also observed within a few miles 

 of the city still later in the season, and several of these were ex- 

 amined by me in the flesh. These flocks had obviously come 

 from the south and were en route for their breeding quarters, 

 though their departure had been delayed beyond the usual time. 



Blackcap Warbler {Sylvia atricapilla). — This warbler, as is 

 now well known, remains with us in limited numbers throughout 

 the winter months, subsisting upon berries and fruits of various 

 kinds. A male bird, now on the table before me, was killed with 

 a catapult by one of the boys at Merchiston School, near Edin- 

 burgh, on 5th January, 1877. 



Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida).—! am glad to say that this beau- 

 tiful bird has, of late years, increased considerably in numbers 

 on all our rivers and streams. The same remark applies to many 

 other districts in Scotland, which I have visited. It is especially 

 abundant on the river Tay and its tributaries. 



Turtle Dove ( Columba turtur). — A pair — male and female — 

 were shot near Dunbar, on 7th June, 1877, and sent in the flesh 

 to Mr Small, taxidermist, Edinburgh, in whose hands I saw 

 them. 



