165 



Ornithological Notes. By Geoege Bolam, Berwick-on- 

 Tweed. 



Honey Buzzard {Pernis apivorus). — The bird shot at Long- 

 houghton Low Stead, on the 16th September, 1876, and recorded 

 as a Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) in the Club's Proceedings 

 for that year, page 190, I have since had an opportunity of ex- 

 amining, and find that it belongs to this species, a bird perhaps 

 scarcely so rare in the district. It is one of the dark variety, 

 and seemingly a young bird. 



Red-backed Shrike {Lanius Colliirio). — About the beginning 

 of August, 1879, a boy killed a Eed-backed Shrike, with a stone, 

 amongst some willows by the side of the embankment at the 

 south end of the Berwick Railway Bridge, It is in the first 

 year's plumage, and is now preserved in the Museum here. 

 This Shrike is a rare casual visitor to the district, but several 

 examples are recorded as having been captured during the last 

 few years. In Scotland, generally, it appears to be increasing. 



Hoopoe ( Upupa Epops). — One was killed at Eyemouth in the 

 beginning of May, 1879, and sent, for preservation, to a shop in 

 Berwick, where, upon going to see it, I also saw another speci- 

 men which had been shot at Holy Island four or five years pre- 

 viously. During the spring of last year there were numerous 

 newspaper reports of the capture of this bird in different parts 

 of the country. 



Pied Plycatcher {Muscicapa atricapilla). — On the 16th of 

 October last, I shot a specimen of this bird in the garden here. 

 When first observed it was busily engaged catching insects, and 

 this it did in exactly the manner of the Spotted Flycatcher, flit- 

 ting about from branch to branch, or returning to the same 

 position from which it had flown ; when sitting too, its likeness 

 to the common species was very marked, in its habit of raising 

 the wings and uttering a short note every now and again. 



Stock Dove {Columba CEnas). — I have to record what is, so far 

 as I am aware, the first authenticated instance of the breeding 

 of this bird in Scotland. On the 20th April, 1879, whilst walk- 

 ing on the steep banks on the north side of the Whitadder, a 

 short way above Hutton Bridge, a Stock Dove flew out some 

 little way below me, and on going down to the place I was agree- 

 ably surprised to find its nest, containing two eggs, a good deal 



