552 Notes on the Birds of Stobo. By John Thomson. 



Though I hare several times seen the Swallow on the 21st and 22nd, 

 and once, in 1875, on the 19th, it does not usually reach us before the 24th 

 or 25th of April. It is more numerous than the House-Martin, and much 

 more so than the Swift and Sand-Martin; the latter breeds sparingly with 

 \is, but is plentiful in the neighbourhood of Peebles. In 18S2 I saw a 

 Swift hawking about on 10th of September. 



A small flock of birds which I believe were Red-throated Pipits once 

 came under my notice. The opportunities I had for identifying them are 

 stated in the paper before referred to. 



The Bunting is less seldom seen than the Reed Bunting or Coal-head, 

 as he is here designated. The latter may be noted not unfreqnently along 

 the banks of the Tweed. 



The Yellow-Hammer is plentiful. It is often much reduced in numbers 

 by hard winters, but its recuperative powers seem to be great. One of 

 their nests I once found built in the side of a stack of oat straw : the outer 

 material of the nest was entirely of straw, in order to ensure concealment 

 by assimilating with its surroundings. 



Large flocks of Snow Buntings have been seen in severe weather, and 

 they are probably regular winter visitants to the higher parts of the county. 



In few districts perhaps does the Chaffinch more abound than at Stobo. 

 Its abundance is indeed unpleasantly made known to the farmer when his 

 cereals begin to ripen. For the empty husks on the standing grain round 

 the edges of his fields this bird and the Sparrow are chiefly responsible. 

 In every instance that I have observed, the construction of the nest has 

 been exclusively the work of the female. She takes seven or eight days 

 to complete the structure. In the spring of 1882 nidification began early 

 amongst birds, and on 15th April I saw a Chaffinch's nest completed. 

 Their note is affected by the locality they inhabit. At the farm steading 

 of Stanhope, for example, which is situated close to the hills and a few 

 miles higher up the Tweed, their song is louder, clearer, and more pro- 

 longed than at Stobo. 



The Mountain Finch is seen mostly every winter; some seasons it is 

 plentiful, in others only a few are noticed. The kernels of the Beech-nnt 

 are one of its favourite articles of diet when here ; these it picks up from 

 the ground when they have loosened from the husk, and in its search for 

 food tosses over leaves and other matters after the manner of the Black- 

 bird. It not seldom associates with the Chaffinches, especially when the 

 latter have congregated in large bands ; disputes and angry quarrels will 

 arise between individuals of the two species, terminating almost invariably 

 however in favour of the Mountain Finch. The young males, when they 

 arrive here, are wanting in the bright tints of the male of two or three 

 years, and except in their larger size, resemble the female as much as the 

 mature male. On perching, the head is drawn much back on the shoulders. 



The Sparrow is among the hardiest of all birds, and is nearly as plentiful 

 this year as I have ever seen it. Rarely in the most rigorous weather is 

 one seen in a drooping or enfeebled state. They have difficulty in. securing 

 suitable nesting-places in spring, owing to their disinclination to occupy 



