bij'2 The Migration of Birch. By James Hardy, 



abovo row on the telegraph wires, while others occupied the house-ridges 

 in compact lines. Sept. 28, Swallows continue at Wormerlaw : these were 

 the last I saw for the season. 



OCTOBEK. 



Oct. 1, Swallows left Marchmont, P. Lotiey. Oct. 5, many Pipits in 

 dean, Rock and Moss Pipits intermingled, all left the place before 6th ; 

 Stonechat in dean. Oct. 10, a single Pipit on top of Three Brethren Hill, 

 Selkirkshire ; no other bird of the kind over a great expanse of moor 

 traversed. Oct. 2-i, Cormorant returned to Scart Eock ; 7 Hei-ons on the 

 tocks, several of them young birds. Oct. 26, 10 Herons on sea-rocks ; 

 stretch out their necks when they fly off and continue in alarm. The 

 drawn up neck marks the sedate flight ; pair of Stonechats in dean. Oct. 

 9 and 16, Woodcocks on Oldcambus hill and dean. 



November. 



Nov. 2, G-rey-backed Crows arrived on coast. Nov. 3, about 20 Missel 

 Thrushes passed in a flock northwards ; alighted on some hedges of a sea- 

 side field. Nov. 14, Highland hills visibly white with snow. A large 

 flock of Wild Geese, 40 at least passed over Peumanshiel, and a great flock 

 of niigx-ating Wood Pigeons passed south on the same day ; a flock of 

 Snow-buntings arrived in the moor fields there. Frosty on 15th. Nov. 21, 

 2 Redshanks in a ploughed field ; Golden Plover heard at evening for two 

 nights : pair of King-ousels seen about this date in a quai-ry on hill above 

 Headchesters. 



Grey Flycatcher. This summer a Grey Flycatcher's nest was placed in 

 a tin tankard suspended inside the window of an out-house in the garden at 

 Milne Graden. It allowed the tankard to be taken down, and the young 

 to be examined. It first reared 5 young ; and then 2 of a second laying. 

 The nest and the " tin " are preserved in Milne Graden House. 



December, 



Dec. 11, during snow, the hips were cleared ofE the wild-rose bushes in 

 the dean, perhaps by Black-birds, which were numerous. 6 Grebes at 

 sea ; a pair of Stonechats perched on thistle tops at Siccar point, the male 

 •was very solicitous that the female should move on, flying foremost, and 

 then returning to urge her forward j a Rock Pipit having approached too 

 near, he attacked it ; Redshanks of which there are very few on the coast 

 this year, at inland pond, and later at cracks in a pool iced over. Dec. 13, 

 One Snow-bunting in stackyard among Finches. Dec. 14, three Snow- 

 buntings passing ; 1 Grey Linnet at thistle — down on sea-coast ; Song 

 Thrush feeding on Helix aspersa ; large numbers of Wood Pigeons have 

 gathered into a flock, and are feeding on Swedish turnips; apparently from 

 a different district. Having overfed themselves they sat moping till 

 roused up by anyone passing. They left when the snow disappeared 

 shortly after ; one Fieldfare by a burn side ; 3 Snow-buntings ; 2 large 

 Grebes at sea. Dec. 31, 3 Fieldfares. " 



