Additional Notes on Birds, by George Muirhead. 505 



roosted in the evergreens about Mordington House, last autumn. 

 When the birds were disturbed they rose in thousands from the 

 bushes. I saw large flocks of Starlings on the fields by the side 

 of the sea on Lamberton Farm, in the end of January. They 

 had gone there evidently on account of the ground being clear of 

 snow, from its proximity to the sea coast. 



Raven (Corvus Corax). — Major Campbell Eenton of Mording- 

 ton, Mr Mein of Lamberton, and I, saw a fine specimen of this 

 bird on Lamberton Moor, on 29th January last, during the 

 recent very severe weather. It was frequenting a field where 

 sheep were feeding, and did not appear to be shy, for it several 

 times alighted on a stone dyke by the road side, not above fifty 

 yards in advance. Its hoarse croaking struck me as in keeping 

 with the stormy state of the weather, and the loneliness of the 

 moor. The gamekeeper at Mordington lately informed me that 

 he had, last year, trapped a Eaven on the estates. I observe 

 that Mr Harting, in his " Ornithology of Shakespeare," says, re- 

 garding the Eaven, " From the earliest times the Eaven with his 

 deep and solemn voice, has always commanded attention, and 

 superstitious people have become impressed with the idea that 

 there is something unearthly in his nature, and ominous in his 

 voice." Shakespeare frequently alludes to the "ill-boding Eaven." 

 Dr Turnbull, in his "Birds of Bast Lothian," says it is " rather 

 rare on the Lammermuirs, and is also occasionally met with on 

 the sea coast." I have never seen the Eaven in East Lothian. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker (Picus major) A beautiful 

 female was shot at Quixwood, about the beginning of this month 

 (February, 1879). I saw the bird before it was preserved. It 

 is now in the possession of Mr Hogg, of Quixwood. 



Night Jar (Caprimulgus JSuropceus). — When I was walking 

 round the green walk at the west side of Paxton Policy, on the 

 morning of Sunday, 1 9th May last, a Night Jar, which had been 

 sitting on the low sunk wall by the side of the walk, flew up, and 

 alighted on a thick branch of one of the trees in the adjoining 

 plantation, where it sat for sometime, and then flew off into the 

 wood. I am well acquainted with the habits of the Night Jar, 

 having had very frequent opportunities of seeing the bird in the 

 summer evenings, when I lived in GlemlTrquhart, Inverness- 

 shire, and have two of its eggs in my collection, which were 

 found amongst some ferns in the glen. 



