152 
The Scottish Naturalist. 
invariably uses the nest of another bird when breeding in 
trees. 
Osprey {Fandion haliaetus). This species is an occasional 
visitor to the district ; it is reported to occur periodically on the 
Tweed by Sir Walter Elliot in the History of the Berwickshire 
Naturalists'' Club, vo\. vi., p. 320; while specimens have been 
observed at Kelso (May 24th, 1873, and September 28th, 1876), 
at Southernknowe, near Great Cheviot (September 26th, 1881), 
and on the rivers Leader and Gala. It therefore comes both in 
spring and autumn. 
Cormorant {Phalacrocorax carbo). An occurrence at Tollis- 
hill shows that it occasionally visits our inland districts. The 
Shag, as well as this species, breeds on the neighbouring coast. 
Heron (Ardea cinerea). This species is much less rare here- 
abouts than in many other parts of the country. Not to mention 
a large number of heronries in Northumberland and the farther 
part of Berwickshire, there is one at Wells, close to Rubers- 
law ; another at Ormiston House, near Jedburgh ; and a third, 
which is smaller, and consists of about a dozen nests, on the 
upper waters of the Bowmont, at Swindean; a fourth at Dodburn on 
Allan Water ; a fifth at Hendersyde Park, Kelso. At Lauder there 
are two — in Luggy Wood, and at Olisterdub respectively ; while 
at Mertoun on the Tweed, and at Lithtillum Loch there are 
two more — all in Berwickshire. In Selkirkshire there is one at 
the Haining, Selkirk. In Peebles, one at Dawick, and one at 
Portmore. 
Purple Heron {Ardea purpurea). Not recorded hereabouts, 
except from the coast of the Firth of Forth. 
Great White Heron {Ardea alba). Recorded from E. 
Lothian in Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, viii., p. 51. 
Squacco Heron (Ardea ralloides). Recorded from Howick 
in Northumberland in Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, x., p. 589, 
Little Bittern {Ardetta minuta). Recorded from Northum- 
berland in 1872. {Hist. Ber. Nat. Club,wm., p. 195.) 
Night Heron {Nycticorax griseus). Recorded only from 
Northumberland and Berwickshire, in winter and spring (see Hist. 
Ber. Nat. Club, vi,, p. 434). 
Bittern {Botaurus stellaris). Shot occasionally in the neigh- 
bouring counties, but not recorded near Melrose itself. The 
nearest locality in which it is said to have been resident is Huntley- 
