578 The Migration of Birds. By Dr Clias. Stuart. 



believe that it had any evil intentions with regard to the lamb as it 

 was pretty well grown. He opened the window with the idea of getting 

 a shot at the Crow. Upon hearing the window opened it flew down the 

 field. Waiting out of sight, the bird was back again immediately, pursuing 

 the same tactics, and lighting on the ewe, commenced flapping its wings ; 

 it could easily have been shot had the lamb not been in the way. How- 

 ever, Mr Blackadder was determined to see what was the cause of the 

 Crow's proceedings, and on the door being opened it flew away. Upon 

 looking at the ewe, he speedily discovered the cause of the extraordinary 

 proceedings of the black-neb. A small bird had been feeding close to the 

 ewe, aiid the crow wishing to capture it, the poor bird had taken refuge 

 under the sheep, and master crow failed to dislodge it until Mr Blackadder 

 making the ewe move, it flew away into a hedge close at hand. 



June 6, many Redstarts and Whitethroats are seen daily. The delicious 

 warble of the Blackcap in the dean below Fishwick Mains, running to 

 the Tweed, was heard by me last Saturday, and at least three pairs were 

 nesting there. The OrcMs mascula flor. alb. grows there, and it was 

 while I was gathering this plant that I saw and heard the Blackcaps ; 

 which also are to be seen near Allanton, in the Blackadder wood. 



Aug. 12, many Redstarts, Whitethroats, and Flycatchers about Blanerne 

 bridge. Aug. 20, the Swifts left us in a body on the 20th, having com- 

 pleted their breeding operations. 



Sept. 17, the great body of the Swallows have taken their departure. 

 From the 10th inst., they were seen in line on the telegraph wires at the 

 station in hundreds, prepared for a flight. A few stragglers remained 

 with us till the end of the month or early in October. 



Squirrel Stealing FRUiT.-Sept. 18, when at Broomhouse inEdrom parish, 

 T was informed that the garden had been robbed of plums and apricots, 

 in a most unaccountable manner, no trace whatever being obtained of the 

 thief. Locked doors and high walls were not easily overcome, and the 

 innocent might be blamed. The gardener was determined to find out the 

 delinquent, and lying in wait, caught him.with the plum in his possession, 

 and saw him nimbly scale the high wall, which is surrounded outside by 

 trees, and escape, the said thief being a Squirrel who had feasted on the 

 plums and apricots, and left not a vestige of one behind. I am not aware 

 of another case of the kind on record, and shall feel greatly obliged by 

 any one informing me as I have long since ceased to regard anything as 

 new, if such a case came within their observation, 



Sept. 24, saw a colony of Longtailed Tits in the Pistol plantings, Black- 

 adder, a bird which has been very scarce in this district for some years. 



Oct. 1, a string of Wild Geese flying north was seen from the top of 

 Ohirnside hill. Oct. 10, seven strings of Geese were seen within a few 

 days, flying west over the farm of Broomdykes, by my sou who was 

 working among the sheep. Large flocks of them were seen at Rawbum, 

 Longformacus, by the steward, who shot one on the young grass, where 

 they were feeding. After being fired at they were very shy, and could 

 not again be approached. 



