320 BIRDS OF LAUDERDALE 



Along the Leader and its tributary streams the Dipper is 

 a common bird all the year, and the Sandpiper's call a 

 familiar one in summer. The Kingfisher would increase if 

 allowed, as we have so many of those quiet wooded streams 

 which the bird loves ; but it is too often shot. A pair 

 frequent a pleasant reach of Leader at Newmills. One was 

 captured in a remarkable way at Drummondshall. There is a 

 pretty little cottage in a wooded hollow of the East Water 

 there, the front of it covered with greenery. One morning 

 a Kingfisher entered by the wide open door and was caught 

 in one of the rooms. The road that leads past the house 

 crosses a covered conduit that carries the mill-race to a saw- 

 mill. The mouth of this " cundie " is almost in line with 

 the cottage door. Several times the birds had been seen 

 entering it or making their exit on the garden side. It was 

 supposed that the captured Kingfisher flying hurriedly had 

 taken the open door in its green setting for the opening of 

 the conduit. More probably the bird sought refuge in the 

 house from the pursuit of a hawk, as twice afterwards a 

 hawk was noticed chasing one of the Kingfishers along the 

 stream. The inmates of the cottage take a very intelligent 

 interest in birds. Tliey senf me word to come and see the 

 captive before it was set free. On going I found it under 

 a basket turned end upwards on the table by way of a 

 temporary cage. It was a beautiful bird in perfect plumage. 

 Held in the hand it made vigorous pecks at the fingers with 

 its strong bill. After the gleaming tints were duly admired 

 it was given its liberty, and following the mill-race disappeared 

 among the trees. 



Another bii'd of marshes and watery places was captured 

 under similarly unusual circumstances, a year or two since, in 

 one of the houses of the town. A Water-Rail flying overhead 

 after dark was in all likelihood attracted by tlie lighted street. 

 In any case one evening the Rail was chased by a cat into a 

 house in the Row- The people caught and kept it ; but the 

 bird did not survive long. I saw it soon after, preserved 

 and mounted, in the home of one of our bird lovers. A 

 fair proportion of Moor-hens are found along the streams, 

 though the b^nks are too open and the currents rapid enough 



