Record of Migration, Sc, of Birds. By James Hardy. 553 



Coot.— March 7th, returned to an inland pond from and to which they are 

 regular migrants ; pair of Wild Ducks arrived with them ; Oct. 28th left, 

 and the Dabchicks about the same period ; and another species of Grebe ar- 

 rived and replaced them. When the Coots are intercepted in their autumn 

 journey they fight vigorously and bite their opponent, and will not he gain- 

 sayed. There are Coots also in a pond at Dowlaw ; and at Fairneyside. At 

 Eaimeyside the Coots before the frosts of winter, 1880-1, betook themselves 

 to the bum that passes through the dam. A Dabchick at that period at- 

 tached itself to the tame ducks, and came daily to the door to be fed with 

 them. 



Water-hen. — March 10th, returned to its favourite pond ; but the frost 

 and snow prevented its stay ; and it did not renew its visit till April ] 4th, to 

 settle. 



Pied Wagtail: Spring!.— March 16th, good day, fijrst Wagtail ; on the 17th 

 two were present, being a breeding locality. March 24th, two appeared at 

 Penmanshiel, but left. April 1st, two at the first locality, walking on the 

 ice of a pond. April 3rd, a pair at Pease Bridge ; AprU 9th, Uth, 12th, and 

 28th, others seen in a variety of places ; the last noted arrivals were May 5th 

 and 11th. A specimen oi Motacilla alba on stones in a burn. May 3rd; en- 

 gaged in search of water insects ; not again seen. — AprU 11th, first Wagtail 

 at Fairneyside near Ayton.— ^. Leitch. March 19th, at Fans, Earlstoun. — 

 R. E. March 7th, at Stamfordham. - /. F. B. April 24th, at Shawdon.— 

 James Thomson. Autumn, — Aug. 16th, no WagtaUs visible. Aug. 30, Pied 

 Wagtails at Ednam. Sept. 20th, last for the season seen at Innerleithen. 

 Nesting places observed at the middle part of Edmond's dean; at Heriot water 

 above Stockbridge ; and on the Water Eye at Butterdean Mill ; at Eenton 

 and Horsley ; and Drybum and Saltpanhall, E. L. 



Gkey Wagtail.— May 18th, at Kedheugh water-fall a female had just 

 landed ; it flew northwards by the coast line. May 23rd, had just arrived at 

 Biel bum. East Lothian. In general were very scarce this year. May 13th 

 only one Grey Wagtail on the Whitadder below Blanerne, which is a favour- 

 ite resort, while there were several of the Pied species. Dr. Stuart remarks 

 that no Grey Wagtails remained in the vicinity of the Whitadder to winter 

 in the autumn of 1881-2. Absent this year in Pease burn, Dowlaw bum, 

 Eigg-dean, and Water Eye above Grant's House ; present at Dunglass burn. 



Gold Crest. — March 27th, a single bird in a hedge. No Gold-crests or 

 Creepers, and rarely any Wrens were seen during the summer of 1881. Dec. 

 29th, a single Gold- crest on Spruce firs in the Pease-dean woods; where a 

 pair was visible in March, 1882. 



Moor-Pipit : Spring. — March 30th, from 10 to 15 arrived on the coast at 

 Eedheugh, where among young grass, they were springing at flies ; calm and 

 frosty. April I6th and 23rd, there were two or three on the moors. May 

 9th they were assembled in great numbers on Coldingham moor, where at 

 one place I counted from 20 to 30 pairs. It was a good clear day. They 

 were mostly perched on the top of heather and furze bushes. There was very 

 little song among them, very few mounting into the air. Auttmn.—Jxdy 

 20th, a considerable number of young birds from the hills, frequented the 

 coast near Siccar point. Aug. 22nd, Pipits had deserted the Lammermoors 

 ftbove Woodhall Woods, E. L. Aug. 26th, Sept. 5th, 6th, 7th, numerous 



