Natural History Observations. By J. Thomson. 253 



were painfully frequent. The copses and hedgerows were literally full of 

 nests this season, while in banks and mossy crannies they were most 

 numerous. Mr John Ritchie, Kelso, informed me that while his traction 

 engine was stationed at Stichill for the purpose of driving a saw-mill, a pair 

 of Blackbirds built their nest in the spur wheel. The construction of the 

 nest went on despite the noise of the steam, the buzzing of the saws, and 

 the presence of the workmen ; and four eggs were laid when the engine 

 had to be removed to another place. A pair of Blackbirds reared two 

 broods of young in the lambing shed at Maitland hall. The shed, a zinc- 

 covered erection, was visited regularly two and three times a day ; and in 

 addition, the hen sat throughout the whole of the clipping time, when six 

 men worked underneath her. There were nests of the Blackbird and 

 Ox-Eye in the wall of the ruined church at Mertoun. A pair, of Blackbirds 

 built their nest in a shed at Maxtqn, but forsook when the usual supply of 

 artificial manure was placed underneath it. The nest was placed on an 

 open joist. Another pair built their nest, and the hen laid four eggs in a 

 heap of firewood at the kitchen door of Morridge hall farm house. I knew 

 of a Wren's nest in a draining pipe, while a pair of Redbreasts built in an 

 old tin. 



Despite the proximity of the Duke of Buccleuch's kennels, Foxes are 

 exceedingly abundant around here. Though very destructive to poultry, 

 they do much good to farmers in the way of keeping down the rabbits, of 

 which they seem particularly fond. Gamekeepers inform me that last 

 winter the rabbits caught in their traps and snares were regularly des- 

 troyed by foxes. If not absolutely carried off, the carcases were so mangled 

 that they were rendered useless for food. As many as a score of traps 

 would be robbed at a time. May 20, In walking through a wood near 

 Lilliard's Edge, I found a Partridge half devoured, and shortly aftorwards 

 I saw a vixen and six well-grown cubs. Passing over part of the adjoining 

 farm, a fox sprang up in the middle of a field and trotted leisurely towards 

 the nearest hedgerow. Desirous of watching his movements, I seated my- 

 self behind the opposite hedge. It was not long till Reynard emerged from 

 his temporary retreat, and walked in a westerly direction till he was about 

 fifty yards from a wood, and the same distance from the northern fence. 

 Here he crouched down in a furrow in wait for his prey. Nor had he long 

 to wait. A rabbit came out of the adjacent wood and ambled forward in 

 the direction of the fox, which had concealed himself in a part of the field 

 where the grass was rankest. Every now and then the fox would raise his 

 head to watch the rabbit's movements ; and as the latter seemed uneasy 

 and suspicious, and fx-isked round about him in a semicircle on the wood- 

 side, at a safe distance, he had occasionally to turn himself in his lair. 

 This went on for a considerable time, until some ewes and lambs grazed 

 quietly forward to the spot. One of the lambs walked up, sniffed at the 

 fox, being quickly joined by its companions, and also one of the ewes. 

 This was apparently too rough on Reynard. He rose up, sniffed in his 

 turn at the lambs, and then made off out of the field and into another where 

 he again squatted down. The rabbit, meanwhile, had sought safety in the 

 wood. Foxes are very bold. One day, this month, three chickens were 



