Birds of Lauderdale, by Mr Andrew Kelly. 521 



the average number of Sparrow Hawks' nests ranges from five 

 to six. In the year under notice, there were only five nests, and 

 the old birds belonging to them had been shot down. Still, 

 hawks continued to be shot as usual ; sometimes as many as 

 three during a day. Query, why were these birds not nesting, 

 when the others were ? 



Honey Buzzard, (Pernis apivorus). — Substitute this for Buteo 

 lagopus at p. 301. The paragraph refers to the Honey Buzzard. 



Long-eared Owl, (Otus vulgaris). — The following incident 

 brings out certain features, unlooked for in this owl. In 1874, 

 Thomas Kiddell was standing in the Luggy plantation, holding 

 in his hand a young owl of this species, which he had newly 

 taken from its nest, to induce the old bird to come within shoot- 

 able distance. In spite of the cries of the decoy, the old bird 

 kept skimming about remotely, scarcely seeming to acknowledge 

 her relationship, till in a moment, when he was least aware, she 

 rushed upon him with such force, striking bill and claws deep 

 into his cheek, that he thought some party had given him a blow 

 with a stone, and he had barely time to shoot the horned fury 

 to prevent a second attack. 



Grey or Spotted Flycatcher, (Muscicapa grisola). — This Fly- 

 catcher, in summer, constantly frequents the pleasure grounds of 

 Thirlstane Castle. The artful creature sits as motionless as a 

 stuffed bird, on some eminence, till some fly or giddy butterfly 

 passes near. Then the stuffed bird leaps into life, its prey is 

 unerringly seized ; and ever faithful to its habits, the little 

 morsel must be eaten on the perch, whence it darted off. It 

 then resumes its stolid look, and patient waiting. 



Goldfinch, (Carduelis elegans). — A flock, this season, selected 

 the sunny braes of Old Thirlstane, for a visit. About the same 

 period a flock of the Lesser Eedpole frequented that locality. 



Siskin, {Carduelis spinus). — The Siskins so common about the 

 banks of the Blackadcler, and the neighbourhood of Dunse, are 

 hardly to be met with in the lower vale of the Leader ; and in 

 the extreme north of it, about Lauder, they were altogether 

 missing, till this winter, when they are more than ordinarily 

 numerous for this kind of bird. 



Starling, (Sturnus vulgaris). — An out-house at Cleekhimin 

 had long been a resort for Chimney Swallows, but has now come 

 to be occupied by a company of Starlings. My new guests 

 possess a faculty of mimicry, but are shy of exhibiting it, until 

 after the period of incubation. Then their idle days seem to set 

 in. Their most successful attempts are the notes which accom- 

 pany the Peewit's aerial evolutions, and the call of the Whaup. 



Carrion Crow, or Hoodie, (Corvus corone). — With great fore- 

 sight, these birds begin to nest early in spring, in order that their 



