Zoological Notes, by Andrew Brotherston, Kelso. 505 



drive off the intruder. I recollect of a pair which selected a 

 large lime tree at Ednam, to build their nest in. A peacock had 

 been in the habit of roosting in the same tree for several years, 

 but after the Missel Thrushes took possession, there was no more 

 peace for him ; whenever he flew up to his old perch, both birds 

 attacked him, alternately flying at his head. Their attacks were 

 so persistent and well sustained, that he was ultimately forced to 

 shift his quarters, although he seemed very loath to do so. Mr. 

 Hardy, in last year's " Proceedings," says that this bird is called 

 the " Feltyfleer and Big Mavis in Berwickshire." In Boxburgh- 

 ehire and the adjoining parts of Berwickshire it is called the 

 " Muzzle Thrush," and the Fieldfare is the " Feltyfleer." 



Food and Habits of the Peregrine. — To judge from the re- 

 mains strewed about in the vicinity of the nests of these fine 

 Falcons, which annually have their eyrie in the Bizzle, the young 

 appear to be chiefly fed upon Wood Pigeons. '1 here are also the 

 remains of a few Black and Ked Grouse, Golden, and Green 

 Plovers, and Curlews, scattered about. Grouse and other birds 

 bred near the haunts of the Peregrine, seem to have no fear of 

 them. I saw a striking instance of this a few years ago, when 

 crossing the spur of the hill (Cheviot) between Fleehope and 

 the Bizzle. When about 200 yards from the Falcon's nest, (they 

 had nearly full fledged young at the time), a Gray hen rose close 

 to my feet ; from the way in which she behaved, 1 thought there 

 was a nest, and on looking carefully, I saw several young ones 

 about the size of newly hatched chickens. 



When the nest is approached the Falcons keep flying round 

 and round above the intruders — the female usually lowest — all 

 the time uttering shrill piercing screams. Sometimes they come 

 close together, and immediately afterwards the male will dart 

 downwards like an arrow to the bottom of the glen ; he looks to 

 all appearance as if he would be dashed to pieces, but when near 

 the ground his headlong course is changed, and in an incredibly 

 short space of time he is in his old position overhead, screaming 

 as before. 



Common Marten, (Martes foina). — From the following circum- 

 stance, it is not improbable that the Beech Marten still exists on 

 the Borders. On July 6th, 1871, when standing above the rock 

 in which the Falcons have their eyrie in the Bizzle, along with 

 Mr Jones, (a student with Mr. Kay, at Linton Bankhead), an 

 animal, which we at first thought was a young fox, came out 

 from among the loose masses of rock below, and after running a 

 short way up the glen, it began to ascend to the top of the slope, 

 on the same side on which we were, and took right away in the 

 direction of Henhole. When running up the side of the glen 

 we had a fine side view of it ; the arching back showed that it was 



