150 
The Scottish Naturalist. 
by Bewick, says that " it formerly had its eyrie on the highest and 
steepest part of Cheviot." An eyrie is also reported to have existed 
on the detached hill of Ruberslaw in Roxburghshire, but in this 
case there is probably some mistake, though no doubt the birds 
were formerly often seen there. Specimens continue to be ob- 
tained at intervals in the neighbourhood, as at Bughtrig on Kale 
Water, prior to 1882. 
Sea Eagle {Haliaetus albicilla). This species used to fre- 
quent St. Abbs Head and the neighbouring shores of the Berwick- 
shire coast in the middle of the century, and a specimen was 
observed there in 187 1, but farther inland records of its occurrence 
are rare; examples at Hunt Law in the Lammermuirs, Marchmont 
and Bedshiel near Duns, and Bowhill near Selkirk having ap- 
proached our district more closely than others. February seems 
to be a favourite month for their appearance. No doubt many 
are confounded with Golden Eagles. 
Goshawk {Astur palumbarius). A male specimen w^as shot at 
Minto Crags, Roxburghshire, on November 13th, 1S69, while other 
cases of the bird's occurrence are more or less doubtfully reported- 
As regards the supposed notice in the " Liber de Melros," a con- 
fusion has no doubt arisen between this species and the Peregrine, 
which is often called the " Goshawk " ; and the same may be 
said of the old records from the Moffat hills. 
Sparrow Hawk {Acdpiter nisus). This hawk is plentiful in 
the valley of the Upper Tweed, where it breeds. It is widely dis- 
tributed throughout the district, though not equally common in 
all parts ; (see " Kestrel," infra). In Lauderdale it is also some- 
what abundant. 
Kite {Milvus ictinus). Used to be common in the south of 
Scotland a century or more ago, and bred in North Northumber- 
land on Alnwick Moor. 
Black Kite {Milvus migrans). No specimen recorded from 
the district. That recorded by Hancock in the 'Ibis' for 1867, 
p. 253, from Northumberland, was about 50 miles distant. 
Honey Buzzard {Fernis apivoms). An occasional visitant. 
Instances are recorded of examples being obtained at Lauder; at 
Twizell in Northumberland on September 20th, 1846; at Newton 
Don near Kelso on May 22nd, 1865; at Penmanshiel in Berwick- 
shire on May 29th, 1876, and again in 1879; at Whitsome in Ber- 
wickshire on October 26th, 1888; and at three or four places in 
