522 Zoological Notes, by Andrew Brotherston. 



description of the nesting places, to have been two different 

 nests. The first was on an islet in a fresh water loch, " at the 

 end of a slanting under-ground hole, about two feet io length." 

 The second "had been found on a small island under a Swan's 

 nest." 



Lesser Tern (Sterna minuta), Linn.— An immature male ex- 

 ample of this beautiful little bird was obtained near Ancroft, in 

 the beginning of August, 1877.* 



Pose-coloured Pastor {Pastor roseus) Linn. — Sometime during 

 the month of August, 1877, one of these rare birds, apparently a 

 young male, was said to have been caught in a garden near 

 Ancroft. When it was sent to me sometime afterwards to re- 

 stuff, it had rather a suspicious look of having been a " skin" — 

 more especially as an attempt was made to pass off another un- 

 doubted foreign skin said to have been shot in the same neigh- 

 bourhood.! 



Eared Grebe (Podiceps auritus), Linn. — On August 13th, 1877, 

 a female of this species was shot on the pond at Kerchesters, 

 near Kelso. Besides the remains of insects, the stomach con- 

 tained a quantity of feathers. 



Little Gull (Chroicocephalus minutus), Pallas. — I saw an im- 

 mature specimen of this beautiful little Gull on the 16th of 

 August, 1877, at Coldingham Loch. All the time I was at the 

 Loch — about an hour — it was flying gracefully about, busy 

 catching insects, frequently lifting them from the surface of the 

 water, and only occasionally alighting for a few seconds. In its 

 manner of flight it resembled the Sea Swallow, especially at a 

 distance, indeed the first sight I got of it I thought it was one of 

 those. birds. But on a nearer approach — and it came very near, 

 not in the least shy or afraid — the square tail showed the differ- 

 ence at once. The Little Gull in the collection of the late Mr 

 "Wilson of Coldingham, and which was in similar plumage, was 

 obtained at the same place. 



White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), Gmelin. — Another ex- 

 ample (see page 183 of this vol.), an adult female was shot near 

 Goswick, by Mr Johnston of Scremerston, about the middle of 

 October, 1877. It is an excellent specimen in fine plumage. 



Cook Wrasse (Labrus mixtus mas), Pries and Eks. — A full 

 grown example of this exceedingly beautiful Wrasse was caught 



* See a previous notice. — Ed. f Also previously noticed, — Ed, 



