5G8 The Migration of Birds. By James Hardy. 



August. 

 Aug. 3 and 4, Jackdaws for two days have flocked to fields where 

 caterpillars and chrysalids of Diamond-moth were numerous on tm-nips, 

 or concealed under clods, turning these over in search ; but on the 5th 

 and 6th have returned to their mischief among the bean-pods ; many 

 Whitethi-oats as well as Willow Wrens, young Ohaflftnches, and a few 

 Thrushes in bean fields. Aug. 0, Curlews with mellow notes flying between 

 the sea and the hills. Aug. 7, 8 Herons on shore ; Whitethroats in 

 garden ; many young Stonechats in dean. Aug. 14, several birds migrat- 

 ing southwards ; there are a number of Wheatears on walls at the upper 

 and lower part of the dean ; and 3 or 4 Whinchats are associated with 

 the Stonechats that breed there, and a young Wheatear. Rooks and Jack- 

 daws ravenous on corn, especially ripening oats. They hover about it, 

 and dive into it like sea-fowl into water; the Jackdaws more in number 

 than the Eooks ; young Eooks insensible of danger despise shots fired at 

 them ; and Jackdaws associate with these bold unwary birds for a leader. 

 When they fly off one young Eook will be attended by two or three Jack- 

 daws ; Lapwings appeared in numbers in turnip fields ; Jackdaw again 

 at the caterpillar-frequented fields of turnips. Aug. 15, Several migrat- 

 ing young Wheatears on walls. Aug. 18, several Wheatears, young Pied 

 Wagtails ; and several Sea Pipits have found out the Caterpillars ; Sparrow 

 Hawk scattered them. Aug. 19, great band of Curlews at sea. It will be 

 seen by Mr E. Eenton's report that during this month Curlews and Lap- 

 wings were departing from the centre of Berwickshire. 9 Herons and a 

 considerable flock of Eedshanks at sea ; numerous young Grey Linnets at 

 thistle-seed on sea-banks, they pull out the seed, and let the down fly off 

 like successive puffs of smoke : Swift last seen. Aug. 25, 12 Herons on 

 coast ; 4 or 5 young Grey Wagtails at turnip-caterpillars -, Linnets 

 continue at thistles. 



September. 



Sept. 4, Whitethroat at garden, all the small birds gone from the woods ; 

 Pied Wagtails among sheep at Blackburn ; all the birds away from the 

 banks of the Eye from Blackburn mill downwards to Quixwood; no 

 Whinchats; Sand Martins or Sandpipers, or Moor Pipits; 5 or 6 Wild 

 Ducks in Eye ; Wheatears seen in crossing the country ; 1 Curlew still 

 on the uplands ; Black-headed Gulls were on the leas ; and Lapwings in 

 turnip fields. Sept. 6, family of Stonechats still in dean, with a Whinchat 

 and Willow Wren among them ; Wheatear on wall ; Whitethroats in gar- 

 den, and for a few days after. Sept. 11, Wheatears had all left Gullane 

 Links ; Grey Linnets frequented the links ; numbers of Pied Wagtails 

 near Cockburnspath Station, and in an oat field, all in movement south- 

 wards ; 12 Black-headed Gulls and Lapwings on the caterpillar-haunted 

 turnips ; the Gulls every now and then attacking the Lapwings, which 

 nimbly eluded them. Sept. 14, 1 Wheatear. Sept. 17, went to Wooler. 

 Swallows assembling on slated roofs at Belf ord ; and a little party occupied 

 in line a rail across a brook in view of the Park j no birds on Chatton 



