The Migration of Birds. By James Hardy. 565 



note, more objurgatory than melodious, followed by others better tuned, 

 iand terminating with thrush-like notes. May 6, Swallows near Cock- 

 bumspath. May 7, Wind E., milder. On the moors, a migratory rush of 

 Pipits during the night ; they sat by nines and tens about swamps on 

 Earnslaw and Greenside hills, accompanied by several male and female 

 Wheatears — the Wheatears were paired and very brisk ; a female Whin- 

 chat was of the company, and 2 Stonechats on the furze ; none of the 

 Pipits were singing. After passing this cluster, none were seen for a long 

 space ; when a female Whinchat perched on a paling stob, from which it 

 dropped down as if to pick up food, according to the habit of it and the 

 Stonechats and Wheatears. Reed Bunting in Penmanshiel moss ; 3 or 4 

 Wild Ducks ; Curlews seen coming fi*om the coast to the moors ; several 

 spread over the moors, but not numerous ; Eing-ousel on the dry ground 

 east of the moors, and in Dowlaw dean. Numerous Lapwings nesting on 

 new land on the moss edges ; Pipits rather scarce on the rest of the moor. 

 15 Wild Ducks in Lnmsdean moss, and 4 in Penmanshiel moss — their sum- 

 mer haunts. Only a pair of Black-headed Gulls at Lumsdean moss ; the 

 bare heathery ridges near it, a favourite resort of the Golden Plover ; saw 

 some half-dozen Cuckoos, 3 of them calling. Only 1 Willow Wren in 

 Dowlaw dean, and another in a thicket on the moss ; Redstarts seen and 

 heard in the dean; 2 male Whinchats on Lowrie's knowes (see last year). 

 Cuckoo again seen at Piperton, at Penmanshiel moss, and on paling Dow- 

 law dean. 4 or 5 Coots i>i Dowlaw pond ; pair of Stonechats on Redheugh 

 hill, and a few moving Wheatears. Thus the wild moors were becoming 

 peopled, or afforded a resting-place for sojourners on their way to still 

 more remote retreats. May 8, Sleety and cold. A male Redstart in gar- 

 den, dropping repeatedly to the ground, and then seating itself on branches, 

 thrilling its tail ; very restless, settling nowhere, it continued till 8 o'clock 

 in the evening, then ti-ied to conceal itself in ivy, but fixed on a wall apple- 

 tree for the night. May 9, Snowy. Redstart acts in the same manner as 

 yesterday. May 10, prevented by Sparrows, it was every now and then 

 glancing to and fro to escape their intrusion; left on 11th. May II, Tit- 

 lark near a ditch ; a male Redstart associated in planting with Chaffinches 

 and Greenfinches; 1 female Willow Wren; 2 newly arrived Wheatears. 

 An unwonted number of stragglers (migrants) crossed the neighbourhood 

 this spring. Swift and Swallow on sea-banks, and a Pied Wagtail ; 2 Cur- 

 lews left on the shore. May 12, Wind E. with considerable rain, and then 

 shifted to W. and became milder after severe weather. Oldcambus dean 

 is tortuous and capable of sheltering numerous birds among its furze, white 

 thorn bushes, and black thorn thickets. In the afternoon at 2 o'clock I 

 happened to enter it at the open western end where it terminates in flat 

 cultivated ground. Here and all down the dean were a band of migrants 

 resting in the shelter, after their long journey. At first there were about 

 6 Whinchats, 2 Grey Linnets, 2 female Redstarts, and 5 or 6 Willow Wrens 

 on the furze bushes ; the Willow Wrens in search of food among the 

 blossoms. More appeared as I went downwards, at one place nearly a 

 dozen being in progress westwards ; and then there were no more birds for 



