The Migration of Birds. By Dr Chas. Stuart. 



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Ang. and Sept. On Aug. 23, our colony of Swifts left us for warmer 

 quarters. Our cold summer must have proved a bad one for them, as there 

 never were so few flies to be seen, consequently food must have been 

 scarce. On Sept. 10, I saw the House Swallows congregating for a flight. 

 Sept. 11, see no Willow Wrens, Flycatchers, or Eedstarts ; Partridges are 

 more numerous than usual, strong on the wing, and not to be distinguished 

 from old birds. The wet weather was against Pheasants, which are not so 

 strong nor plentiful as usual. No Swallows nor summer visitors seen here 

 since Sept. 23 ; however there are still a few stragglers, as 5 Swallows 

 were seen at Chirnside station on Oct. 1, and there were two nests in 

 Broomdykes granary at the same time. 2 Kingfishers were seen at 

 Blanerne bridge, and another pair at Nine wells, by Mr Eoss Hume. 

 Blaneme bridge is a fine locality for seeing rare birds. Flycatchers 

 hawking for insects from the boughs of the beeches overhanging the 

 river ; Gulls, Herons, and Wagtails are there very plentiful, and summer 

 visitors are also numerous. There is a great increase in the numbers of 

 Thrushes and Blackbirds. They robbed the cherry trees and then took to 

 gooseberries and currants. The crop of the last was so great that what 

 was stolen was never missed. 



Oct. Nov. Dec. Oct. 16, Barometer falling. Large flock of Wild Geese 

 observed over Harelaw, flying south. Oct. 18, Cheviot covered with snow. 

 Oct. 29, large flocks of Missel Thrushes, and Fieldfares in the cleared bean- 

 fields. Birds in flocks, especially Greenfinches which are very numerous 

 here. The country is still green, and not like what is seen at the end of 

 October. Still the birds are congregating ; large flocks of Green Plovers 

 and Starlings seen yesterday when out driving. Golden Plovers in flocks 

 about Whitsome, where they constantly assemble every season. Nov. 3, 

 after this date, the weather became fine, dry, and sunny. Green Plovers 

 in flocks are still with us. A few Siskins on the alders at Edington hill. 

 Nov. 19, cold wintry weather : snow right down on Cheviot. Dec. 1, 

 Thomas Ainslie, Chirnside bridge, saw a single Swallow flying over the 

 Mill dam there, and hawking for flies. Some repairs were being attended 

 to on the roof of the Eoaster house at the Paper Mill. This bird had been 

 dislodged from snug quarters where I believe it had been hybernating. 

 Dec. 8, Golden and Green Plovers in great flocks observed in many places. 

 Dec. 9, saw two Bullfinches at Foulden-hag. These birds are now rare in 

 this neighbourhood since the great frost two years ago. 



1884. 



Jan. 10, a spring-like chatter among the birds was to be heard to-day, 

 and the Missel Thrush was in full song on the tree-tops at the manse. 

 Jan. 12, a Sparrow Hawk in pursuit of a Thrush at Harelaw in this parish 

 was on the point of being caught, when in despair it flew for protection 

 to the shepherd, and lighted between his feet. The shepherd with his 

 stick beat ofE the pirate, who flew in circles round his legs, quite closely, 

 determined to seize the bird ; all its efforts failed however, for the bird 

 was set safely at liberty by its protector. When riding past Jardinefield, 



