118 NOTES FROM GARDEN AND FIELD 



This bird likes to be near water, hence a name Eeed 

 Bunting sometimes given to it. It builds near or on the 

 ground, and can hardly be called a migrant. 



Dendrocopus major, the Great Spotted Woodpecker, has 

 nested in two places in Duns Castle Woods during last 

 season, brought up the young birds, which have flown, and 

 will do well. Although a true migrant from Scandinavia, 

 these birds remain all the year round at Duns Castle, 

 Langton, and Longformacus. Last October I observed one 

 busily feeding in the strip of wood by the roadside between 

 Tempest Bank and the Free Church at Allanton. That these 

 birds frequent the woods about that neighbourhood is easily 

 seen, as the dead branches (particularly of the oaks) are 

 entirely denuded of the dead bark, which they effect in 

 search of insects. A considerable flight and migration had 

 reached the north and east coasts of the kingdom, reports 

 of their arrival being sent from Tongue, in Sutherland, to 

 our own coasts. There is little doubt that a colony has 

 established itself between Carlisle and the Eastern Borders. 

 They nest in the month of June. 



The Pied Flycatcher is a rare visitant to the Eastern 

 Borders ; but a flight had evidently reached our coast, for 

 specimens were reported from Dunbar, St. Abbs, Whitecross, 

 and Coldingham, on the loth May 1899. More inland, Mr 

 Ferguson reports the presence of a pair at Duns Castle 

 Loch. I have seen them on three different occasions in 

 this parish, in different years. They are not, however, seen 

 every year. 



The Dipper, Cinclus aquaticus, is plentiful about every 

 bridge on tlie Whitadder. To watch him at the side of a 

 stream, go flop overhead, and emerge a considerable distance 

 farther down a rough stream (for this bird walks on his 

 feet under water) with his mouth full of larvae, is a curious 

 sight. In December, perched on a stone, one is astonished 

 to hear the very pretty, sweet song, uncommon at that 

 season ; and, on closer inspection, the little black bird, with 

 white patch and ring, is seen whisking his tail up and 

 down, and bobbing most politely to his mate. 



Alcedo ispida. — The Kingfisher is always about the river 

 bank at Ninewells. On a sunny day, with plumage well 



