572 Migration of Birds, Sc. By Br Charles Stuart. 



rabbit when I held it up, and disputed possession with me till I shook it 

 off ! A friend of mine salmon fishing on the Ness, lay down on his back on 

 the bank, and fell asleep. Something moving on his chest awoke him, 

 when to his astonishment a large Weasel was sitting rather near his throat ! 

 He got qait of his friend, and fell asleep again ; when the same animal in 

 the same way awoke him a second time. 



The Stockdoves at Broomhouse have nested in a gnarled Oak, in holes in 

 one of the limbs. This tree served in the olden time as a Hanging Tree for 

 Mosstroopers, etc., and is a fine specimen. The gardener was attracted 

 by the birds, and showed me the Stockdoves and their nesting place. I 

 am sure they will be found higher up the river — for in Cheviot they have 

 penetrated into the most remote valleys. The Peregrine Falcon has been 

 seen and heard this season, between Ferneyside and Burnmouth. Many 

 dead Bats, old and young, are reported as lying outside their place of abode 

 at Broomhouse. Their quarters are supposed to have become too small to 

 contain the hordes which congregate there, and so they are dying off. 

 28th, saw a grey bird the size of a Thrush among the turnips at Oldcastles, 

 in this parish, but failed to recognise what it really was: The Little Grebe 

 has taken up its quarters at Foulden Newmains pond for weeks. A Duck 

 named by the Foulden keeper as the Scaup Duck has been lately shot on 

 the same pond. I have however, some suspicion that it was the mate of the 

 Garganey Duck shot there last season, for I ate a portion of it and found it 

 excellent. Now the Scaup is distinctly a fishy-tasted animal. 



The Swifts took their departure to a warmer region on the 12th August. 

 Mr George Bolam however informs me that they were flying about 

 Berwick till the 30th August. The Bed Admiral Bntterfly was seen by 

 me feeding on the scabious flower near Whitsome. I very nearly caught 

 it, but on being attacked, it flew high in the air, and away in a westerly 

 direction across the fields. It is a magnificent species. About two years 

 ago my groom introduced a white male kitten to live in the stable. A 

 couple of Norfolk Spaniels occupied a stall. The female Spaniel who was 

 very old, took to the kitten as a puppy, and "in the most affectionate manner 

 nursed it. She evidently adopted this little helpless creature as a baby ; 

 and it lay and sucked her till it Avas twelve months old and more, and 

 became a large animal. Many persons who witnessed this, could hardly 

 believe their eyes, when they saw the kindly relations between them. 

 The dog Spaniel, when he saw how affectionate his mother and the kitten 

 were, upon the death of the bitch, took also to the cat, and pussy lies every 

 night as close to his canine friend as he can get. The cat is now a large 

 fierce animal, and has some curious ways of his own. In cold weather, if 

 he has been out, he will come and give the Spaniel a touch up with his claws, 

 to dislodge the dog out of his warm nest among the straw, which he im- 

 mediately occupies, and defies the Spaniel to dislodge him. They are 

 however in general upon the most amicable footing, except at feeding time 

 when separate provision has to be made for each, as the dog cannot at that 

 time stand any interference with the dish containing his food. When the 

 Spaniel comes home after a long run after his master's conveyance, often 

 dripping wet and cold, pussy licks his wet coat, welcomes him back, and 



