330 Notes on Birds in the Eastern Borders. 



can hardly be termed migrants, for they may sometimes be 

 seen all the winter. From this date, till the 16th October, 

 occasional parties of Swallows were flying about at Foulden ; 

 but with the first snow on Cheviot, on that date, the last 

 five birds took their departure. 



Cold, frosty weather, with more snow than usual at this 

 season, culminated in a great storm on the 22nd, when I 

 had the good fortune to see the Great Shrike near some out- 

 lying stacks on Edington Mains, close on the march with 

 West Foulden. On previous occasions when this bird has 

 been seen, it has been in similar places, possibly on the 

 hunt for mice. The first Bramblings or Mountain Finches 

 were feeding on the beech mast on the same day, and were 

 evidently new arrivals. Two miserable Swallows were 

 trying to fly at Foulden House, and were the very last 

 in this district, almost benumbed with cold, and want of 

 insect food. 



October 28th — a very severe frost, for the season of the 

 year, was experienced for about a week, with considerable 

 snowfall. In forty-seven years experience I never previ- 

 ously had to pick frozen snow from my horse's feet, as 

 was the case at this time. Temperature, 25° in the screened 

 thermometer. 



November 7th — weather fresh and very fine. Saw Field- 

 fares and Redwings ; new arrivals, and smaller flocks than 

 usual. No heps nor haws in the hedges ; at least a great 

 scarcity of the latter, which may mean an open winter. 

 Many Kestrels and Sparrow Hawks in the district. The 

 Green Plovers, in hundreds, are bathing in the shallows of 

 the Whitadder at East Blanerne, and, in brilliant sunshine, 

 are a beautiful sight when flying about. 



November 25th — I had the good fortune to-day to see a 

 bird new to Berwickshire, and have lately again seen another 

 pair. Linota canescens, the Mealy Redpole. The first speci- 

 men was seen at Harelaw, in this parish, and was evidently 

 a new arrival from Greenland or some other Arctic region. 

 It was greedily feeding on the seed of the stinging nettle, 

 and allowed me to stand within three feet of it for five 

 minutes. The picture of the Mealy Eedpole, in Morris' 

 " British Birds," is a facsimile of this prettj' creature. It 

 was in beautiful plumage ; its red head and mealy-coloured 



