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Ornithological Notes. By Robert Gray, F.R.S.E. 



The following notes, bearing on the occurrence and habits of 

 some of the birds of East Lothian, have been made chiefly 

 within the last few months, and are offered as a short con- 

 tribution to the Club's " Proceedings." After a lapse of 

 nearly thirty years I find but little change in the winged 

 fauna of the county, with the exception, perhaps, of the 

 excessive increase of the Wood Pigeon. A few years ago, I 

 ventured a surmise that the very large flocks of this bird 

 which are often seen during the winter time, have not been 

 reared in this country, but are made up of migrants from 

 more northern districts ; in proof of which instances have been 

 cited of the arrival of " clouds of pigeons " on the sea shore 

 both in Haddingtonshire and Mid-Lothian, The extra- 

 ordinary slaughter of Wood Pigeons within the limits of the 

 county itself, which has resulted in no apparent diminution 

 of their numbers, may be accepted as another proof that 

 strangers have filled their place. 



Birds of prey, as a rule, have of late years been subjected 

 to various destroying influences throughout Scotland. East 

 Lothian may not have suffered more than other counties, if, 

 indeed, so much ; but the fact remains that, with the excep- 

 tion of some of the Owls, few raptorial birds can now there 

 be called native species. Their presence in winter, when 

 they are most seen, is almost entirely due to their wander- 

 ing habits at that season of the year ; though in some 

 instances it may be traced to the passage of migratory 

 flocks, as has been known in the case of the Rough-legged 

 Buzzard and Short-eared Owl. Game preservers and egg 

 collectors are now the worst foes of these interesting birds ; 

 which nothing, apparently, can save but an intelligent 

 interest in their fate among these two classes. That such a 

 feeling (aided, perhaps, by the operation of the gun tax) is 

 already gaining ground in some parts of Scotland, can 

 scarcely be questioned. Peregrines have resumed eyries 

 that have been long deserted; the Kite and the Osprey 

 have successfully reared their broods within the last two 

 years ; and there can be no doubt that both our British 

 Eagles (the Golden and White-tailed) are now so far pro- 

 tected as to justify a hope of seeing them at no distant date 

 return to their old haunts in the southern counties. 



Marsh Harrieb (Circus ceruginosus ). — A very fine 



