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A Summer Ramble in the woods round Chirnside, with 

 notices of our Summer Migrants, &c. By Charles 

 Stuart, M.D., Edin., Chirnside. 



On the 10th June, 1886, in company with Mi- James Hardy and Mr W. 

 Evans, F.R.S.E., we set ont for a walk in the Woodlands. The weather 

 was inviting, all nature was smiling. The trees were in their summer 

 livery, and the very hum of the bee had a cheerful sound as it glided past, 

 on business intent. We entered the gate at the Kirk Walk, intending to 

 visit Whitehall woods, to note the various feathered inhabitants who had 

 arrived in this country for their annual migration, and to abide with us for 

 the season. No more delightful addition to a walk can be named than to 

 listen to the song, identify the singer, and, perhaps find the nest of the bird. 

 Following the path already indicated, which conducts the wanderer by a 

 retired way through a grove of beeches, to the old mansion and woods 

 roand Whitehall, we had hardly passed the gate, when our ears were 

 greeted by the melodious notes of the Tree Pipit (Anthus arboreus) which 

 from the beeches overhead poured forth its finely modulated song, which 

 never seems to stop. Its sable coat and speckled breast, give an almost 

 lark-iike appearance to the bird. Indeed it is sometimes designated Tree 

 Lark. Our national bard in writing 



" stay sweet warbling Wood-lark, stay, 

 Nor fear to quit thy trembling spray ;" — 

 no doubt referred to it. The true Wood -lark is a very rare bird indeed, 

 and Burns in all human probability never saw one. If it exists in our 

 district I know of no observer who has seen it. Not so the Tree Pipit, 

 which is to be found in every grove, and is one of our most constant 

 songsters. 



Close to the path a Partridge had her nest well concealed among the dry 

 grass and wood-rushes, containing many eggs. How strange that such a 

 timid bird should prefer to make her nest close to a path, or even in the 

 hedgerow bottom of the highway, in preference to some more secluded 

 spot. A tuft of wool hanging from some green sprouts, situated half way 

 up the trunk of an oak, led us to examine the tree, where the nest of the 

 Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola) containing several eggs, was to be 

 seen. The bird was watching our movements, but beyond examining the 

 beautifully claret-spotted eggs, we carefully abstained from the appearance 

 of evil. Passing on, the Redstart (Sylvia pluvnicurus) was jinking about 

 on the old wall next the Gala Law field. Patiently watching its move- 

 ments, the bird was seen to enter the wall : and taking a stone out at the 

 spot, there appeared a nest full of young ones, covered with black down, 

 with their rumps of a bright orange yellow, where the peculiar brown 

 feathers in the tail of the mature bird, are afterwards seen. This 

 orange yellow seems to furnish the colouring matter for their feathers. 

 The churr ! churr ! churr ! of the Whitethroat, was also heard in the Kirk 

 Walk, but the bird was non est inventus, having become alarmed at our 



