244 Notes on Birds. By Dr Charles Stuart. 



outhouse. I had a good opportunity this summer of observing the Pere- 

 grine Falcon in the north while botanising with the Scottish Alpine Club, 

 in Corry Duchlair, in Glen Lochay, near Killin. In a very wild rocky ravine 

 we had halted to rest, under a rock, when a Peregrine with outstretched 

 pinions hovered immediately over us, uttering his shrill piercing scream 

 of alarm, and displaying the beautiful mottling of the feathers in his 

 breast and abdomen. His mate was nesting in the rocks just above us ; 

 and he was jealous of our presence so near his domain. No more noble 

 bird flies than the Peregrine, whether we consider his boldness, swiftness 

 of flight, or handsome shape ; and he should be protected like the Eagle, 

 or he will soon become extinct, like other members of his family. 



The Merlin (Falco JEsalon) of Pennant, Montagu, Fleming, and Bewick, 

 is not a very common species in the east of Berwickshire. The female 

 builds in retired moory places, her nest being very difficult to And when 

 she is incubating. The male sits on an eminence at a distance, and emits 

 a peculiar sharp cry of alarm on the approach of an intruder. Near Fast 

 Castle, at the edge of Dowlaw Dean, she was wont to breed among the 

 heather. Mr W. Cowe for several years watched to find the nest without 

 avail ; but at last succeeded in doing so. When the male bird gave the 

 alarm, the female got off her nest, and ran out among the heather for some 

 distance before she rose, consequently it was very difficult to find the 

 exact locality. However, the nest was at length detected. The Merlin, 

 although of small size, is a bold bird, and was held in great repute for 

 hawking, being most determined in the chase. In fact, for hawking he 

 was second to none, as the old song runs : — 



" Philip the Falconer's up with the day, with the Merlin on his arm, 

 And down the mill meadow has taken his way, to hawk — and pray, 

 where's the harm ? " 



The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Fleming and Selby, so called from 

 its destructive tendencies in the poultry yard, is extinct in the Merse of 

 Berwickshire. Mr Allan of Bowshiel recollects when it -bred in Billie 

 Mire. It always chooses a wild, moory, rushy place to build its nest in, 

 which is constructed of reeds, sticks, and rough grass, always situated 

 well above water mark. Its fine blue colour gave it a distinguished 

 appearance ; and it is a pity that it has now disappeared from the district. 

 Indeed, all the hawks are killed without mercy by gamekeepers. In some 

 parts of the north of Scotland I have often observed the bird. 



Referring to what I have written as to the difficulty of finding the 

 Merlin's nest, from the female bird running among the heather whenever 

 the male utters the warning cry of alarm, precisely the same stratagem 

 is resorted to by the Green Plover. When you enter a field where these 

 birds are breeding, the male rises with a note of alarm : the female now gets 

 off her nest, and runs away to a distance before rising. The nest is always 

 near where the second bird is seen. This is well understood by gatherers 

 of Plover's eggs in the spring, who pay no attention to the rising of the 

 first bird, who is only a sentinel. 



The Raven or Corbie Crow (Corvus corax). Like many others, the Raven 

 is a scarce bird in the Eastern Borders. Sixty years ago these birds nested 



