390 Mr Muirhead on the Birds at Paxton. 



seen in the fields about here in autumn, winter, and spring. I 

 have not noticed any nests here in summer. 



80. Oyster Catcher. Hcematopus ostralegus. The Oyster 

 Catcher is occasionally seen in spring, about the mouth of the 

 Whiteadder. 



81. Heron. Ardea cinerea. The Heron is comparatively 

 numerous about Paxton, and occasionally four or five roost at 

 night, on the silver fir trees, at the side of the Tweed, in the Old 

 Heronry Wood. Some years ago several young Herons were 

 confined below the trees at the Old Heronry, in a wire netted en- 

 closure, for about a year and a half, for the purpose of inducing 

 them to remain and build their nests on the trees ; but, on get- 

 ting their liberty, they flew away, and did not return to build, or 

 to roost regularly on the trees. The Heron is a very picturesque 

 bird, and adds a charm to the scenery at the side of the Tweed 

 or Whiteadder. 



82. Curlew. Numenius arquata. A few Curlews are some- 

 times to be seen about the mouth of the Whiteadder, but not 

 often. 



83. Bedshank. Totanus calidris. I have observed several 

 Redshanks at the side of the Tweed, and about the mouth of the 

 Whiteadder, in the early spring months. The plaintive whistle, 

 which they utter while flying along the course of the river is 

 pleasing to the ear. 



84. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucos. Several pairs 

 of the Common Sandpiper breed every year in the Whiteadder, 

 and they also frequent the Tweed. I have seen this bird when 

 wounded, swim on the -water, and dive under the surface, ap- 

 parently with great ease. 



85. Greenshank. Totanus glottis. A. fine specimen of the 

 Greenshank was shot by the gamekeeper here, on the Whitead- 

 der, near Edrington Castle, in the spring of 1871. 



86. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticola. A Woodcock or two may 

 generally be found during the winter months in the woods about 

 Paxton. They appear to have their favourite retreats during the 

 day time. I have seen them most frequently in the Well Mire 

 Wood, the Crow Dean Wood, and the Old Heronry Wood ; but 

 they also frequent the Wester Strip in the policy, and the Silver 

 Fir Strip at Nabdean. I have been told that they used to be 

 found in small numbers in Clairvale Wood near Paxton Tileworks, 

 before the thick under cover died out or was cut down. I never 

 saw so many Woodcocks about Paxton Woods, as I did during the 

 severe snow storm in the end of December, 1874. They were 

 generally to be found about the sides of the burns in the woods, 

 where the ground was free from frost. I observed that at the 

 beginning of the severe weather, the cocks on being flushed, flew 

 off very rapidly, and were difficult to shoot ; but after the weather 



