Zoological Notes, 1873, by Mr. Andrew Brotherston. 133 



This is a not uncommon bird on the Tweed ; also, on 

 Yetholm and Hoselaw Lochs, during winter. Fleming 

 says, " a winter visitant of the sea-coast." [Mr. Gregson 

 has shot the Pochard duck in the Till, near Weetwood, 

 Northumberland.] 



Short-eared Owl (Strix brachyotos). — A young bird was 

 got near Spylaw, on the 26th of July, 1873. This is a 

 migratory species, arriving in October and departing in 

 March, although stragglers occasionally remain to breed in 

 this country. I believe this specimen was bred in the 

 district. Almost the whole face was a dusky black, instead 

 of a broad circle of that colour round the eyes as in the adult 

 bird. 



White Water Rat (Arvicola amphibia). — One was 

 caught by a shepherd's dog in Heatherhope burn, near 

 Hownam, on the. 21st of June. It was a pure white, and 

 had red eyes ; not like the so-called white mole, which is 

 usually of a reddish or yellow shade. This variety of the 

 mole is frequent. I have had them from many places in 

 the district ; but they appear to be more plentiful about 

 Lintlaw than elsewhere, as Mr. H. Paterson, mole-catcher, 

 Ednam, caught fifteen there during one season. I remember 

 of seven full grown ones being caught within one week in a 

 " mossy " field near Sprouston. 



Variety of Hedge-Sparrow (Accentor modularis). — 

 There was a very peculiarly coloured Hedge-Sparrow found 

 dead at Bowhill, September 16th, 1873. The under parts 

 were white, with a few dark spots on the breast, and all the 

 upper side — except the tail, which was the usual colour — 

 was light coloured. 



Puffin (Mormon fratercula). — On the 4th of August, 

 1873, there was one caught in the Kale, near Grahamslaw ; 

 rather an odd place for a true sea-bird to be found, although 

 I have seen similar instances, viz. : — A Little Auk ( Uria 

 minor), in Hendersyde Park wood ; a Stormy Petrel 

 at Stichill ; and an immature Ringed Guillemot ( Uria 

 lachrymans), below Teviot Bridge, September 20th, 1869. 

 It is not a rare occurrence, also, to see Kittiwakes inland 

 in winter. In December, 1872, one was shot on the Tweed 

 at Sharpitlaw mill ; and in the end of January, 1873, one 

 was caught in the Teviot at Nisbet. About the same period 

 another was killed at the Shaws, at the base of Carter Fell, 

 and several other instances have come under notice ; almost 



