Miscellanea, Correspondence, &c, by Mr. Jas. Hardy. 297 



seeds of the burdock, that weed being very abundant then. 

 It still shews itself, but it is not allowed to seed if we can 

 prevent it. Some birds, perhaps Grey Linnets, appear still 

 to be very fond of the seeds, as the withered burrs are often 

 torn in pieces. 



Snow Bunting. — When a boy I was well acquainted with 

 the fields " where the snow-flake reposes." The birds allowed 

 of such a near approach that they could almost be "clapped"; 

 but if this was foolishly attempted, there was a sudden rise 

 into a high wild flight, as if they had been accustomed to 

 dash down the steeps of elevated mountains into any amount 

 of wide empty space ; and they never alighted except afar 

 off, where, if followed, they exhibited the same signs of 

 apparent familiarity, but of actual untamedness. Its loose 

 way of flocking, and straggling manner of flying is that of 

 a bunting, and not the straightforward, compact combina- 

 tion of an assemblage of finches. At their arrival and 

 departure numbers resort to the fields bordering the sea. At 

 the latter stage the male plumage gets very mealy in its 

 hues. They are most rapid runners, and appear to be ac- 

 customed to crouch and hide among rough ground and rocks. 

 One day I observed one resting on the cope of a stone wall, 

 but when it became conscious that it was attended to, it ran 

 here and there among the top stones like a mouse, and then 

 dropped down on the side that I could not reach. It then 

 hastened crouching along the wall-side, and perceiving that 

 I followed, it stood up on its legs like a lark, and uttering 

 its peculiar " treet," " treet," disappeared ; and that is all 

 you get to know about this " wild bird of the wandering 

 wing." 



Food of the Wood Pigeon. — In some parts of East 

 Lothian, where the soil is subject to the growth of wild oats, 

 Wood Pigeons are very fond of its fallen seeds, and some- 

 times cram their crops to that degree, that, owing to the 

 seeds swelling when moistened, they burst ; and thus some 

 of the birds fall victims to their extreme voracity. 



Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus). — September 19th y 

 I roused a bird, which from its plumage, so far as I could 

 judge, was this migrant, at the side of the pond at upper 

 Humbleton, near the base of the " Heugh." It was dusky 

 coloured, with the rump or base of the tail, and also the 

 belly white ; about the bulk of a Blackbird, and with a call- 

 note allied to that of the Golden Plover* 



