360 Ornithological Notes. By George Bolam. 



to the noted Fame Islands." But there must surely be some mistake in 

 this. The species is spreading northward, and an odd pair may, and no 

 doubt do, occasionally nest in the district ; but all my enquiries in the 

 localities indicated have failed to elicit that the bird is known to anybody 

 save as a rare and accidental visitant. 



Red-leggeu Partridge. Caccahis rufa, Linnaeus. 



About the end of December 1889, a female of this species, which it was 

 stated got up in company with a common Partridge, was shot by a free- 

 man of Berwick, on the meadows lying a short way to the north of the 

 town ; and on 28th October 1890, a male, in perfect plumage, which I 

 purchased for my collection, was killed near the Hope Nursery about a 

 mile from Berwick. This also was in company with a single bird, which 

 however was thought to be of the same kind as the one shot. 



During the following summer, a solitary bird which attracted attention 

 by its unfamiliar and oft-repeated call, was frequently seen about Velvet 

 Hall farm, and was shot by Mrs JerninghaTn's gamekeeper, at Murton Whin 

 covert, towards the end of September. 



These birds had of course been introduced, and were the first I had seen 

 in the district ; and enquiries elicited the information that the Hon. 

 Edward Marjoribanks had, within the last few years, turned down a few 

 upon the Edington estate, which is only a few miles (as the crow flies) 

 from Berwick. The keeper at Edington Hill tells me that the birds were 

 hand reared, and turned out in the summer, but gradually seemed to stray 

 away from the place. Only a few were shot, and the remainder have all 

 now disappeared ; he does not think any of them ever bred upon the 

 property. 



QcAiL. Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre. 

 On 15th June 1888, an adult male, in fine plumage, which had been 

 picked up below the telegraph wires at Tweedmouth, was brought to me, 

 and is now in my collection. On 26th September 1886, while walking 

 between Unthank and Scremerston, I rose three Quails from a stubble 

 field; and on 11th November following, one was shot at Mouseu near 

 Belford. The numbers of these little game birds which visit us seems to 

 vary very much in different years. On the evening of 13th June 1887, I 

 heard their soft pleasing call issuing from a field of young grass at Murton 

 White House, and in Jane of the present year they were also heard on 

 Halidon Hill, Berwick. 



Spotted Crake. Porzana maruetta, Leach. 



In the beginning of November 1891, a Spotted Crake, which had 

 apparently been disabled by coming in contact with the telegraph wires, 

 was picked up upon the platform at Beal railway station, and preserved by 

 George Smith of Lowick. About a month previously, one was shot by 



