286 Zoological Notes, by Mr. Andrew Brotherston, Kelso. 



of, until the frightened inmate slips out, when the nest is 

 immediately taken possession of by the Swift. 



Egyptian Goose (Anser JEgyptiacus), Jenyns. — Three of 

 these beautiful birds — a male and two females — were shot 

 out of a flock of seven on Yetholm Loch, May 22nd, 1874. 

 In addition to the two shot, several years since, on the 

 Tweed, at Floors, by his Grace the Duke of Roxburghe, Mr. 

 W. Stevenson shot a pair at Carham about 34 years ago. 



Tuetle Dove (Colurnba Turtur), L. — The Turtle seems 

 to be extending its northward range, in the breeding season. 

 There was a fine female shot at Clifton Park, Roxburghshire, 

 on the 28th of Ma}^, 1874. The most forward ova were 

 larger than a pea, so that in all probability it would have 

 nested in the neighbourhood. A week later (June 3rd), a 

 male was shot at Kilham, Northumberland. As the two 

 places are only a few miles asunder, it is not unlikely to 

 have been the mate of the one shot at Clifton Park. Have 

 they been known to breed in Scotland ? On the 19th of 

 November following, a young male was shot in a stubble 

 field, about a mile from the mouth of the Whiteadder, near 

 Berwick. This is the latest that I have seen any record of 

 — it is nearly a month later than the one that was got near 

 the same place on October 20th, 1872. 



Teal (Anas crecca), Pen. — I found a nest with four eggs 

 on Primside bog, on June 9th, 1874. The nest was thickly 

 lined with down. It was placed on a dry, slightly elevated 

 spot, and quite open, although there was plenty of shelter 

 near. Unlike the common Wild Duck when disturbed from 

 the nest, she did not pretend lameness, but flew right oft". 

 The eggs were of a uniform creamy-white colour, without 

 spots. Fleming says " reddish white with brown spots." 



Black Water Vole (Arvicola ater). — Macg., " Trans. 

 Wern. Soc," vi., p. 424. " Var. Possibly a distinct species." 

 — Bell's " Brit. Quad." — Mr. Hugh Paterson caught an adult 

 female in a mole-trap, on Sharpitlaw Anna, in August last. 

 The chief difference that I could observe between this and 

 the common Water Vole, besides the colour, which was a 

 deep black, rather lighter below, was its smaller size ; length 

 of head and body, 6| inches ; tail, 3 inches. According to 

 Macgillivray it is common in the counties of Banff and 

 Aberdeen ; and Jenyns states that " the black variety is not 

 uncommon in the fens of Cambridgeshire, and differs in no 

 respect from the other but in colour ; " while Macgillivray 



