Birds of Lauderdale, by Mr Andrew Kelly. 523 



after laying her eggs, she began to regret what she fhad done, 

 and left them. Mr Scott gives me a sort of companion picture to 

 this ; namely, that he has seen a Wood Pigeon nest in a 

 dove-cot. 



The winter stock of East Lothian pigeons, so much insisted 

 on as being overgrown, may be yearly augmented by those which 

 come right over the hill from Berwickshire, as soon as severe 

 weather sets in ; for we have very few in Lauderdale during the 

 winter. Like other birds they come back again in the spring to 

 nest ; there being unlimited accommodation among the spruce 

 plantations covering almost every hill. March 5th, 1876. — The 

 Wood Pigeons are arriving in great flocks, to take up their 

 breeding quarters. 



Black Game, (Tetrao tetrix). — Of the Berwickshire precints of 

 Lauderdale, Black Game does not appear to have been an ac- 

 knowledged occupant, till 1830; but appearances lead to the 

 belief that it must have frequented much earlier the adjoining 

 birch covers of Colmslie Hill (Eoxburghshire) ; for it is rather 

 the arborescent braes and glens far up among the hills, than 

 high ranges of heather, that constitute a suitable domicile for 

 the Black Cock. More like the pheasant than the grouse the 

 Black Cock never pairs ; and the female is left with all the cares 

 of incubation, while the male is an idle rover with others of his 

 associates. There have been three very striking varieties of the 

 Black Cock noted in this part of Berwickshire ; one almost 

 white ; another speckled ; and the third with a white wing. 



The Great Snipe, (Scolopax major). — This bird has been seen 

 once or twice on the Leader about Thirlstane Castle ; and in 

 1870 one was shot by Mr Scott, which I believe is still in the 

 possession of Mr Tilly. 



Jack Snipe, (Scolopax gallinula). — The Jack Snipe is nearly as 

 numerous, in our district, as the common species. This I ascer- 

 tained by inspection of Mr Scott's game bag. Young birds have 

 been frequently met with, in August, by Mr Scott and others, so 

 that this is a breeding species with us. 



Wigeon, (Anas penelope) . — A flock of these ducks frequented 

 an old water run of the Leader, between Newmills' ground and 

 the Haugh — from the first till near the middle of October, when 

 the party broke up. Afterwards, Mr Scott of Lauder, fell in 

 with one of the divisions about Newbigging Upper Pond. He 

 shot one, a fine duck, which was stuffed by Mr Darling. The 

 crop was full of grass, Poa annua. 



The Golden Eye, (Fuligula clangula). — One made its appear- 

 ance in the mill-dam at Primrose Hill, and was literally hunted 

 to death by the youngsters of the steading. I have never seen 

 this duck in the Leader, or heard of its being shot in the 

 vicinity. 



