172 Movements of Birds on Migration at Chirnside. 



'sin^iJarly fine bird ; a beautiful warbler and night songster. I have 

 heard it sing where nesting at 2 a.m., when quite dark, at Allanton Bridge. 



Sylvia salicaria. — Garden Warbler, 5th June at Ninewells, near 

 Chirnside. 



Ergulds ceistatus. — Golden Crested Wren in all our pine woods 

 both summer and winter. 



Sylvia atricapilla. — Blackcap, at Ninewells, Blackadder ; Fishwick 

 Mains Dean from the 15th May. Our Scottish Nightingale, but a 

 very shy bird. 



Phylloscopus collybita. — The Chiff-chaff is one of our: earliest 

 arrivals, and remains late. Is plentiful at Whitehall, Duns Castle 

 Woods, and many other places. 



Phylloscopus trochilus. — Willow Wren is plentiful in the Blackadder 

 Woods from 20th April. In full song from June. 



Phyllo.scopus sibilatrix. — Wood Wren. Is a lovely songster in June 

 from the tops of the trees in the Pistol Wood at Blackadder ; his 

 delightful warble is a sure, .proof .of summer. 



AcROCEPHALUS ScHCENOBCENDs. — The Sedge Warbler, another night 

 songster, is with us from the 5th June or earlier. 



MoTACiLLA, Wagtail. — The Pied Wagtail remains with us all winter. 

 I, have also seen the Gray Wagtail, in fresh weather, running about. 

 The White Wagtail I have seen near Tweedhill, near the Union 

 Bridge, on more than one occasion. 



Anthus trivialis. — Tree Pipit, about all the woods here in June. 



Lanids excubitor.— Great Gray Shrike; saw a fine specimen on 10th 

 October. The bird seemed a new arrival, and I had a good opportunity 

 of a near view for about ten minutes. 



MuscicAPA GRisoLA. — Spotted Flycatcher. Breeds at Whitehall, Broad- 

 meadows, and other places in this district in June. 



Hirundo rustica. — Swallow, April 20th at Allanton Bridge. Leaves 

 end of September. Stragglers till 20th October or even later. 



CoTiLE RiPARiA. — Sand Martin, April 30th; leaves with the Swallows. 



Chelidon urbica. — House Martin, 13th May; leaves in September. 



Cypselus apus.— The Common Swift arrives May 13th. When 

 breeding operations are over, the packs fly about till strong on the 

 wing, but leave with the first rain storm in August, generally about 

 the 10th. A pack of thirty careering in the air on a clear summer 

 evening, emitting their sharp scream, is one of the finest sights in 

 Bird life. These birds prefer to build under red -tiled roofs. They 

 invade the Sparrows' nests, turning out both eggs and young, and 

 take possession. I have seen them at this piratical work, some boys 

 showing me the young Sparrows ejected by the Swifts, which I 

 observed going and coming. The dash of the Swift on the wing is more 

 like the headlong flight of the Peregrine Falcon than that of any other bird. 



Alauda arvensis.— The Skylark. This bird occurs during summer 

 in every field, and the country would not be attractive without the 

 carol of the Lark. In winter we have a great addition to our native 

 bred birds. During weather preceding a snowstorm, flocks containing 



