Report of Meetings for 1886. By J. Hardy. 347 



Dr Charles Douglas was the only one who visited Littledean 

 Tower, and had a great scramble to get to and from it. It is in 

 pretty fair preservation. 



The more interesting birds noticed during the day, were the 

 black-headed gull (on the river), the tree-pipit, the black-cap 

 warbler (a common bird in Roxburghshire policies), the garden 

 warbler, the sedge warbler, the whitethroat, the willow wren, 

 and the pied wagtail. The stonechat was seen on some furze 

 near St Boswells. 



At half -past three 41 dined at the Railway Hotel, where Mrs 

 Brydone provided an excellent dinner. Mr Middlemas, Alnwick, 

 President of the Club, occupied the chair. After the toasts 

 allowed by the rules of the Club had been honoured, Mr Hardy 

 read the following notices : — Pied Flycatcher. — A pair had their 

 nest in the beginning of June near Harbottle, in the same situ- 

 ation which they occupied in 1885. Chiff-chaff. — Judging from 

 its distribution this year in Berwickshire, this little warbler is 

 spreading itself over the country. Mr William Evans saw and 

 heard it at Grant's House, again at Whitehall, where Dr Stuart 

 and I were in his company ; and on June 26, Mr Pow, Dunbar, 

 saw and heard it at Dunglass among the trees near the public 

 road at the entrance from Billsdean. A Goatsucker, killed by 

 the cold weather in June, was found near Oldcambus. Brown 

 Owl attaching a rural policeman and other people near Branxholme. — 

 Of this T have received a full notice with attestations. Its usual 

 mode of attack was by pouncing down from a branch where it 

 was perched, and striking at the neck of passers-by ; but in the 

 case of the policeman it tore his face. The gamekeeper shot it, 

 and it was found to be a female of the common brown or screech 

 owl {Syrnium stridula ). Its object had been to scare intruders 

 from its nest. A dead young bird was found near the place 

 under a tree. The male bird was there also, but being more 

 wary, kept out of the reach of danger. 



Antiquities. — Stone Hoe or Adze. — A notice appeared in the 

 newspapers of an ancient implement having been picked up 

 behind Flodden Hill, on the south-west side, by James Wallace, 

 Howtel. Dr Dobie, Coldstream, at my request, got a sight of 

 it. It is very small, composed of greywacke, and appears to be 

 much worn. It is perforated for a handle. Dr Dobie also 

 exhibited a drawing of another fine stone celt. Silver Brooch. — 



