Notes on Birds in the Eastern Borders. 329 



allowing the shooters to pass them, but never before of their 

 taking to ground. However, this is not more remarkable 

 than a fox climbing into a tree, a case of which I have 

 recorded in the Proceedings. 



The Swifts left this neighboiu-hood between the 6th and 

 r2th August. The Eedstarts a few days later. The White- 

 throats and Willow Wrens have all left at this date, 25th 

 August. Both birds were often in my garden ; indeed the 

 Whitethroat nested there, but left earlier than they did last 

 year. For many years I have observed that the Swifts 

 leave on the first rain storm before the 12th August. As 

 many as fifty were seen flying in the evenings, screaming, 

 about the beginning of that month. 



During the wet weather, on the 4th August — in driving 

 along the highroad near Edington Hill, in this parish — I 

 saw two Landrails sunning themselves, during a sunny blink, 

 on the summit of a grassy dyke, glad, I suppose, to escape 

 from the wet oats from which they had come. 



September 9th — large bodies of House Swallows, sitting 

 on the telegraph wires alongside the railway, preparing for 

 migration. By the 17th a large body of these birds 

 had left. 



Numerous Missel Thrushes have returned, after a short 

 absence. The Missel Thrush breeds on the north 

 side of the parish, in a beech wood, on the estate of 

 Mains. 



After considerable absence, large flocks of Eooks, Starlings, 

 and Lapwings have returned to the district. The Corn 

 Bunting is now widely distributed over this parish. Strange 

 to relate, in contiguous localities, not a single specimen is to 

 be seen. After the breeding season they migrate, perhaps 

 to the north, on the approach of harvest ; and up till this 

 date, 15th November, there is not a single bird, to be seen 

 here. I have observed the Corn Bunting as far north as 

 Thurso, and have often wondered whether they migrate 

 north or south ; for about Christmas they again appear in 

 the stackyards in the Eastern Borders. 



September 17th — the Gray Wagtail is at Allanton Bridge. 



It was the first migrant seen in early spring at the same 



locality. 26th September — numerous Swallows seen to-day 



at Paxton village, none here ; and five Pied Wagtails, which 



QQ 



