506 Additional Notes on Birds, by George Muirhead. 



King-Dove (Columba Palumbus).—Few Wood-pigeons have 

 been seen about Paxton during the past winter. I saw vast 

 flocks on the turnip fields near Dunbar, one day, during the snow 

 storm, in January last. 



Black Grouse (Tetrao jP^m:).— Major Campbell Eenton, of 

 Mordington, lately told me that Black Grouse used to frequent 

 Lamberton Moor, not very long ago, and that a Grey-hen was 

 shot near Mordington House, 8 or 9 years ago. On referring to 

 the account of the Parish of Mordington, by the Eev. George 

 Fulton Knight, parish minister, written in 1835, for the "New 

 Statistical Account of Scotland," I find it stated that " the com- 

 mon kinds of game, as hare, partridge, blackcocks, dotterel, and 

 woodcock, are plentiful." Hence, Black game about 40 years 

 ago, must have been numerous on the moor. 



Bed Grouse (Lagopus Scoticus). — Five Grouse were seen on 

 Lamberton Moor during the late severe snow storm. Major 

 Campbell Eenton informs me that, about five years ago, a 

 Grouse's nest, with 8 or 9 eggs, was found on a part of the moor 

 where the heather is long ; and that, unfortunately, the bird was 

 killed on the nest by a fox, and since that time no Grouse have 

 been seen on the moor, until the five above mentioned were ob- 

 served. I have no doubt that, long ago, Grouse were plentiful 

 on the moor. 22nd February, 1879, the gamekeeper at Mording- 

 ton tells me that there are six Grouse on the moor at present. 

 He thinks that they must have come from Coldingham Moor. 



Partridge (Perdix cincrea). — Partridges suffered very much 

 from the wet summer of 1877 ; indeed, only about two or three 

 broods survived on the estate of Paxton. The great severity of 

 the weather in December and January last, must have been very 

 trying for the Partridges, and, I fear, that they will not be plenti- 

 ful next shooting season. 22nd February, 1879. The game- 

 keeper at Mordington mentioned to me to-day that he had seen 

 several Partridges dead amongst the snow, during the storm in 

 December and January. 



Quail [Coturnix vulgaris)— John Hakin, residing at Billylaw, 

 near Berwick, informed me, sometime ago, that he had shot a 

 Quail, near Heatherytops, in January, 1877. 



Coaimon Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus). — Major Campbell 

 Eenton, of Mordington, has been so kind as to supply me with 

 the undernoted information, regarding this now very rare bird 



