Zoological Notes, by Andrew Brotherston. 525 



authenticated instance of such being the case anywhere in Great 

 Britain. 



Garfish (Belone vulgaris), Cuv. — A fine specimen, 28^- inches 

 in length (24in., according to Yarrell, is the usual length) was 

 caught in the Tweed, at Berwick, May 8th, 1878, where it 

 appears to be not uncommon about that time of the year. 



Deformed Grayling {Thymallus vulgaris), Cuv. — A peculiarly 

 curved specimen was got in the Tweed, near Milne Graden, May 

 15th, 1878. The backbone approached the form of Hogarth's 

 " line of beauty." From the Teviot this fish has spread and in- 

 creased rapidly during the last few years. 



Early appearance of the Death's Head Moth (Acherontia 

 Atropos). — On the 21st of May, 1878, a fine specimen was picked 

 up alive, on the footpath between Heiton and Kelso, and another 

 was caught at Lempitlaw on the 3rd of June. Both were over 

 five inches across the expanded wings — the largest measuring 5£ 

 inches. From their fresh appearance, they did not appear to 

 have been long out of the pupa state. 



Slate- coloured Moles. — I preserved two specimens of a light 

 slate colour in 1878. Moles of this colour appear to be much 

 rarer than the so-called White Mole, which is not uncommon in 

 some parts of the Borders. 



Hybrid Duck (?) — This bird was shot September 25th, 1878, 

 by Mr A. Eoberton, on Hoselaw Loch. Mr J. Harvie Brown, 

 who saw it shortly after it was set up, was inclined to think that 

 it was a hybrid, between the Wild Duck and the Shoveller (Mr 

 Eoberton informs me that the Shoveller has bred at the Loch), 

 but it appeared to me to be too large for that cross — being 

 larger than a Mallard, but much lighter in colour. Possibly it 

 was between the Wild and Tame Duck. 



Merlin (Falco JEsalon), Tunst. — A few of these beautiful little 

 falcons still occasionally visit us in the autumn and winter. I 

 had two, both males, in September, 1878, In one of them the 

 tail was as regularly graduated as that of a Magpie. When 

 moulting, the tail and wing feathers are shed in pairs, on oppo- 

 site sides at the same time, always keeping them balanced. In 

 this district very few female Merlins, in proportion to males, occur. 

 Is it the same in other parts of the country ? If so, what is the 

 reason ? 



Bernicle Goose {Bernicla leucopsis), Bechst. — A male was 



