Ornithological Notes, by Robert Gray, F.R.S.E. 365 



are given them, wliicli is as soon as ever the flight feathers have 

 come to their full length. 



Ornithological Notes. By Robert Gray, F.R.S.E. 



The following notes upon various birds occuring in Hadding- 

 tonshire, Mid-Lothian, and a portion of the surrounding counties, 

 have been made since the date of my last report in January, 1879 : 



PESEQunra Falcon {Falco peregrinus). — There are still several 

 eyries of this Falcon in Berwickshire, East Lothian, and Fif eshire. 

 In one of these young birds are taken yearly for training purposes, 

 and I have had repeated opportunities of examining adult birds, 

 male and female, killed at other stations. A fine specimen — a 

 female — was shot at North Berwick on the 18th October, 1879, 

 and an equally handsome bird was killed in Fif eshire a few weeks 

 ago. 



Red-footed Falcon {Falco rufipes). — A female specimen of 

 this rare bird was shot at Kinghorn in Fif eshire on 21st Septem- 

 ber, 1880. I examined it before it was skinned, and have the 

 sternum now in my possession. 



Barn Owl {Strix flammea). — This species, which breeds regu- 

 larly in the outskirts of this city, and frequents several of the 

 church towers, has been much commoner in the Lothians during 

 the last twelve months than in bypast years, while the 



Tawny Owl {Syrnium stridula) has not been so numerous, 

 except in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, 



Q-reat Q-ret Shrike {Lanius excuUtor). — Has been met with 

 repeatedly since November in Mid-Lothian and adjoining counties. 

 One was shot within four miles of Edinburgh in the last week of 

 January, 1881. 



Turtle Dove (Columha Turtur). — A male Turtle Dove was shot 

 near Ratho on the 2nd June, 1879, and sent to Mr. Hope, Edin- 

 burgh, for preservation. 



Grey Plover {Squataroh cinerea). — This species visits Porto- 

 bello sands in October. I examined three which were shot there 

 on the 23rd and 30th, and a fourth which was shot at Leith on 

 the 30th October, 1879. 



Oyster Catcher (S<zmatopus ostralegusj. — This bird appears 



