302 Mr. A. Kelly on some of the Birds of Lauderdale. 



was secured. The Buzzard was blamed for killing a hare in 

 the same field, which was quite warm and appeared as if it 

 had been the victim of a hawk. Ten years later, and another 

 Rough-legged Buzzard was caught in a similar way, by one 

 of the rabbit-catchers, who had it conveyed to the Luggy, 

 where it was thoroughly examined by Mr. Scott and l)r. 

 Riddell, Lauder, and declared by them to be that bird. 

 What was rather awkward, the Buzzard, for proper security, 

 was chained by the foot in the garden for the night, but in 

 the morning he was flown, chain and all, and never after- 

 wards found. 



Circus ctaneus. — The Common Harrier was once very 

 numerous in the subalpine ranges of the Lammermoors. 

 Twenty or twenty-five years ago, and for half-a-dozen years 

 later, it was thought nothing wonderful to see three or four 

 of them skimming the sombre heath, and making everything 

 liftable on it their prey. Their nests were commonly built 

 with heather-birns — great broad things, three or four feet 

 round — either in heather bushes or scaurs. Sir William 

 Jardine remarks of their young, " they are well supported 

 with food, we believe by both parents." This appears to be 

 groundless, as the male bird, unassisted, supplies his own 

 table ; and well he seems to accomplish it, as the heads and 

 bones strewed .round the eyrie and the adjacent ground 

 testify. His method of doing it is rather singular. As soon 

 as he has taken a prey, he makes off to his eyrie, rising 

 higher and higher till he gets right over it ; when he peers 

 suspiciously all round to see if the coast is clear. Having 

 satisfied himself that there is no lurking enemy, he reports 

 himself to his mate by giving a sound something like 

 " tehee," " tehee " ; she answers, and leaps into the air to 

 catch the food which he has .dropped, and whisks it off to 

 her young. He, on the other hand, hurries on without 

 alighting to a fresh foray. This will be repeated on an 

 average once every hour by the male bird, so readily dis- 

 tinguished by his plumage. 



Otus brachyotus. — The Marsh Owl frequents all our 

 moors sparingly. One or two of the nests have been found 

 in the heather, in the month of June. 



Strix flammea. — At no distant date, the White Owl 

 nested profusely at Old Norton and Norton Bridge. 



Noctua Tengmalmi. — Mr. Scott shot a specimen, but he 

 never thought of its rarity till it was too late for stuffing. 



