498 Ornithological Notes, by Robert Gray. 



coast in December last, while the stormy weather lasted ; and 

 numerous notices of its capture were recorded in the local news- 

 papers ; at least two examples were picked up in an exhausted 

 state in the streets of Berwick. 



There have been extraordinary numbers of wild fowl in the 

 neighbourhood this winter, but not many rare ones have been 

 procured. At Holy Island last December, as many as 12 couple 

 of Woodcocks, and a great many Snipes were, I heard, obtained 

 by one man in a single day ; while numbers of both these birds 

 were always to be seen in the game-shops here. Wild Ducks 

 and Wigeons, too, were very plentiful ; while lately there have 

 been a great many Brent Geese shot on the " slakes" near Holy 

 Island. Pochards and Scaup Ducks have also occurred in con- 

 siderable numbers I obtained two very good examples of the 

 latter in November, and a Pink-footed Goose in October. A few 

 Long-tailed Ducks have also been shot in the neighbourhood. 



Berwick-on-Tweed, 10th Feb., 1879. 



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

 Scot. 



Tawny Owl (Syrnium stridula). — Since my last note on this 

 species I have had corroborative testimony from several observers 

 regarding its increase in the Eastern Counties of Scotland during 

 the winter months, and I have come to the conclusion that the 

 accession to its numbers is due to the arrival of migratory flocks 

 from Northern latitudes. During the present winter I have ex- 

 amined upwards of twenty specimens all in the clear grey plumage 

 which, I believe, distinguishes these migrants. I have also seen 

 not a few in the plumage of the first year. 



Grasshopper Warbler (Salicaria locustella).—A male Grass- 

 hopper Warbler was shot by Mr William Evans, within two 

 miles to the south of Edinburgh, on 29th May, 1878. 



Waxwing {Bomby ' cilia garruld). — A female was killed at Brox- 

 burn, Linlithgowshire, on 3rd December, 1878. It had perched 

 on a hedge by the roadside and attracted the curiosity of a 



