382 Mr Muirhead on the Birds at Paxton. 



18. Redwing. Turdus iliacus. The Redwing frequents thia 

 neighbourhood in considerable numbers, coming in October, and 

 flying in flocks with the Fieldfares, during the autumn, winter, 

 and spring. The high trees above the Primrose Banks are a 

 favourite resort of theirs in autumn, and the plantation along the 

 Banks of the Tweed at Finchy during snowy weather in winter. 

 I have found several Redwings dead this week (22nd Dec, 1874) 

 from the severity of the weather. One comes every day, and 

 searches for food amongst the gravel close to my house, where 

 there is no snow lying. 



19. Blackbird. Turdus merula. There are more Blackbirds 

 here, than I have noticed anywhere else, and they whistle so 

 loudly during the spring evenings in the flower garden, that the 

 whole air resounds with their melody. I have sometimes heard 

 at least half a dozen whistling there at one time. Near the 

 waterwheel, above the Avenue Bridge, is also a great resort of 

 theirs in the spring evenings. 



20. Hedge Accentor. Accentor nodularis . The Hedge 

 Sparrow is common about Paxton. I have noticed that a good 

 many frequent the bushes at the side of the Whiteadder, near 

 its mouth, when snow lies on the ground in winter. 



21. Redbreast. Erytliaca rubecula. This favourite bird is 

 numerous here. Mr St. John, in his " Natural History and 

 Sport in Moray," mentions that he has known the same Robin 

 return for several winters in succession to a house. I have 

 observed a similar instance of its habits. 



22. Redstart. Ruticilla phoenicurus. Several pairs of Red- 

 starts build their nests every summer in the Policy. There was 

 a nest in the Wester Strip, in 1872. I believe the Redstart has 

 come only recently to this neighbourhood. I have been told that 

 it was first noticed here, four or five years ago, and being a 

 strange looking bird, it attracted the attention of the workpeople. 



23. Stonechat. Pratincolarubicola. The Stonechat frequents 

 the waste ground near the mouth of the Whiteadder, in the 

 autumn months ; and I have seen it several times on " Orrit," 

 which is a small island on the Tweed near Gainslaw. When 

 looking for Snipe there, on the 25th November last, I saw two 

 Stonechats flying about the island, and alighting on isolated 

 reeds and thistles and occasionally on molehills. The salmon 

 fishermen say that it breeds about the mouth of the Whiteadder 

 in summer, but I have seen it there in autumn only. 



24. Wheatear. Saxicola cenanthe. I have occasionally ob- 

 served Wheatears about the fields here, in spring and autumn. 

 They were in every instance females or young birds. I have seen 

 no males in full plumage in this neighbourhood. 



25. Sedge Warbler. Salicaria phragmitis. One or two 

 pairs of this interesting bird, breed annually at Tweedside, in 



