ORNITHOLOGICAL ifOTES. By G. feOLAM &3 



informed by Mr Cuthbert Eiddell. A pair were noticed 

 together in the Duke of Northumberland's Park, at Alnwick, 

 on 3rd July 1898, • where they would in all likelihood be 

 nesting ; and I have a record of another supposed instance 

 of the breeding of this bird in our district during the same 

 year, but it has not yet been verified. The Hawfinch has 

 pushed its way considerably northwards of late years, and 

 seems likely to maintain its footing. 



Ring Ouzel. Turdus Torquatus, Linn. 



About the 24th May 1898, and again about the 12th May 

 1899, there were many of these birds on Holy Island, in 

 conjunction with small bands of other migrants, including 

 both Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts, and a couple 

 of Nightjars. These visitations generally occur during misty 

 weather. On 9th October we disturbed two Eing Ouzels 

 near the foot of Kyloe Crags, where they were feeding 

 upon brambles. 



When grouse shooting on Cheviot, one day in August, I 

 was rather amused at the discussion which arose over one 

 of these birds. It had been shot by one of our party from 

 a patch of bracken, as we climbed the hill, and was an 

 old bird in moulting condition, and of three gentlemen 

 present, one did not know what it was, but thought it a 

 rara avis, while the two others asserted it to be a dotterel ! 

 Old Alick, the shepherd, however, knew better, and con- 

 fidently appealed to me to say "whether it wasna jist a 

 Hill-hlachhird." 



Jay. Garrulus glmidarius (Linn.) 



There was quite an immigration of this species to the 

 south of Scotland, and north of England, in the autumn of 

 1897, and many were reported from different parts of the 

 Club's district. Dr Stuart first recorded them from Chirnside 

 Parish, where one was shot on 23rd October, and two others 

 seen, while a month or two later another was killed. At 

 Middleton Hall, Belford, and Detchant Wood (an old breeding 

 station from which Jays had long been extirpated) a number 



