Zoological Notes, by Mr. Andrew Brotherston, Kelso. 289 



tooth, and is thought to have a singular property of preserv- 

 ing the teeth." 



" Moonie." — I have no doubt that " the Moonie, a small 

 bird which I could not identify," mentioned in " Our Visit to 

 Holy Island in 1854," by Dr. Johnston (" Proa," 1873, p. 

 43), is the Goldcrest (Regulus cristatus, Flem.J As long 

 back as I can remember, the " Moon " has been the local 

 name for the Goldcrest, and still is amongst schoolboys in 

 this district (Kelso and Ednam). Another local name men- 

 tioned by Dr. Johnston, which shows a common origin, is 

 that of the Sand Martin ; at Holy Island it is " Butterie," 

 here it is " Bitterie " and " Bitterbank." 



Goldfinch. — Mr. James Jack, at East Mains, Lauder, in 

 December, 1874, saw eighteen of these now rare birds in our 

 district, in one flock ; and at various times during the winter 

 small flocks of three, four, and five ; and towards the end of 

 February, 1875, he saw thirteen at one time. I only know 

 of one pair in this neighbourhood for several years past; they 

 were seen on Tweedside, below Rosebank toll, feeding on the 

 of Centaurea nigra. 



Miscellanea ; Extracts from Correspondence, &c. 

 By James Hardy. 



Finding, among my correspondence, some particulars cal- 

 culated to promote the objects of the Club, I place them at 

 its service under this heading. I received them in conse- 

 quence of some inquiries about local Natural History, and the 

 writers intended that I should make use of them. I shall 

 be glad to have similar notices from any of the Club's mem- 

 bers, who may not be disposed to write elaborate papers, 

 but may have some observations which they wish to be 

 preserved. To the offerings of my old friends, only one of 

 whom now remains, I subjoin a few other incidents of the 

 past season. 



