The Scottish Naturalist. 
105 
from the neighbourhood, it is better to regard its presence as ex- 
ceptional. The above instance was at Berwick-on-Tvveed. 
Blackcap {Sylvia atricapilla). Tliough the Blackcap is far 
less plentiful near Melrose than it is a hundred miles farther 
south, it is found breeding in most places where the surroundings 
are really suitable ; it is, however, often overlooked, and few 
persons distinguish it from the Garden Warbler. At Ormiston, 
and other places between Kelso and Jedburgh, as also round 
KelsO;, it is always to be found, the valleys of the Teviot and 
Tweed being well adapted to its habits ; but the wild moorland 
country, which fills so large a part of the district, affords few op- 
portunities for its establishment. An example was taken at Ednam 
by the late A. Brotherston, on December 25th, 1865, 
Garden Warbler {Sylvia hortensis). Mr. James Hard)-, 
Secretary of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, considers that he 
has established the fact of this bird's occurrence at Ormiston, 
while it visits other parts of the counties of Peebles, Roxburgh, 
and Berwick, such as Stobo, Jedburgh and the Kelso country ; 
but as the note, nest and eggs are so similar to those of 
the Blackcap, further identification is necessary to define its exact 
range, and this, it is to be hoped, will be forthcoming, as in May 
or June it is easy to observe the birds when incubating. I have 
never seen a nest of this species in the district, but only that of the 
Blackcap. 
Golden-Orested Wren {Rtgulus cristatus). Frequent 
among the spruce fir woods, and, therefore, rarer towards the hills. 
Ciliffchaff {Fhylloscupus rufus). Not so common as the next 
species, but, nevertheless, breeds here and there in the larger 
woods and shrubberies. In the hill valleys it chooses the planta- 
tions in which the trees are highest, but does not reach so far up 
the streams as the Wood Warbler, resembling in this respect the 
Willow Warbler. The nest is almost invariably raised from the 
ground, often in a large fern or low shrub. 
Willow Warbler {Pkylloscopus trochilus). Sparingly dis- 
tributed throughout the low-lying portions of the country, less 
common near the hills. It is, however, reported to be common 
at Lauder. 
Wood Warbler {Pkylloscopus sibilatrix). I am unable to 
state the exact distribution of this species at present, but it is very 
common in some of the Cheviot valleys, where it frequents small 
