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IS  OF  YORKSHIRE 

ACC0UNTOF 

^^^^^^^H^BRBfi^^^^^Bfll 

OF1  THE  COUNTY 


OMAS  H,  NELSON,  M.  B.O.  U 


BIOLOG* 

LIBRARY 


.J 


THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE 


THE  BIRDS 

OF  YORKSHIRE 

BEING  A  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT  OF 
THE  AVI-FAUNA  OP  THE  COUNTY, 


, 
T.    H.    NELSON.   A.B.O.U. 

WITH     THE     CO-OPERATTON     OF 

W.    EAGLE    CLARKE,  P.R.S.E.,  F.L.S. 

AND 

F.    BOYES. 


A.    BKOM  INS,    LIMITED, 

\VKNl  K,    E.C. 

^ 

I.I.    AND    YORK. 

1907 


BIOLOGY 
LIBRARY 


BIOLOGY 

LIBRART 

G 


YORKSHIRE  NATURALISTS'  UNION 
EDITORIAL. 

IN  the  present  work  the  Yorkshire  Naturalists'  Union 
has  completed  still  another  county  monograph,  the  "  Birds 
of  Yorkshire."  In  the  first  part  of  the  Union's  Transactions, 
published  so  long  ago  as  1877,  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Vertebrate  Section,  gave  the  first  part 
of  a  monograph  of  the  avifauna  of  the  county.  Subsequent 
Transactions  contained  further  instalments.  It  was  found, 
however,  that  to  publish  the  work  piecemeal  would  be 
very  unsatisfactory,  and  eventually  it  was  decided  to  com- 
mence de  novo.  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  having  left  the  county, 
Mr.  T.  H.  Nelson  kindly  undertook  the  task  of  preparing 
the  work  for  the  press,  and  the  Union  is  indebted  to 
him  for  the  way  in  which  he  has  done  the  work.  For  this 
purpose  the  whole  of  the  MS.  and  lists  in  the  possession  of 
Messrs.  Eagle  Clarke  and  Roebuck  were  handed  over  to  him, 
and  Mr.  F.  Boyes  has  also  greatly  assisted  by  supplying 
many  notes  on  East  Yorkshire  birds. 

Record  should  here  be  made  of  the  generous  way  in  which 
Messrs.  A.  Brown  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  have  met  the  Union  with 
regard  to  the  publication  of  the  work,  and  of  the  care  they 
have  taken  in  connection  with  its  production. 

T.  SHEPPARD,  F.G.S., 

Hon.  Secretary. 

THE  MUSEUM,  HULL, 
June  30th,  1907. 


85E312 


PREFACE. 

THE  history  of  the  Birds  of  Yorkshire  is  based  upon 
an  unrivalled  and  exceptionally  complete  mass  of 
material,  which,  in  addition  to  my  own  observations  for 
many  years  past,  comprises  the  voluminous  notes  collected 
by  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  and  Mr.  W.  Denison  Roebuck, 
which  include  the  MSS.  of  the  late  John  Cordeaux, 
intended  for  a  new  edition  of  his  "  Birds  of  the  Humber 
District,"  together  with  lists,  notes,  and  observations 
from  nearly  all  the  leading  ornithologists  of  the  county ; 
indeed,  there  has  scarcely  been  a  Yorkshire  naturalist 
living  within  the  past  thirty-five  years  who  has  not  con- 
tributed manuscript  notes  or  lists  to  the  store  available 
for  reference. 

The  scope  of  the  work  is  comprehensive,  and  in  the 
account  of  each  species  includes  particulars  of  faunistic 
position,  distribution,  migration,  nidification,  folk-lore, 
varieties,  and  vernacular  names,  whilst  at  the  commence- 
ment of  each  is  given  the  verbatim  account  from  the 
Report  of  Thomas  Allis,  the  earliest  Yorkshire  one,  now 
published  for  the  first  time,  which,  up  to  the  year  1881, 
when  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke's  contribution  on  the  Birds 
of  the  County  to  the  "  Vertebrate  Fauna  of  Yorkshire  " 
appeared,  was  the  only  complete  list. 

It  is  necessary  to  explain  that  this  work  was  com- 
menced by  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke,  published  in  the  Vertebrate 
Fauna  section  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Yorkshire 
Naturalists'  Union,  and  discontinued  owing  to  his 
removal  from  Yorkshire  to  Edinburgh  in  1888.  The 


viii  PREFACE. 

parts  written  by  him  are  the  Thrushes,  Shrikes,  Fly- 
catchers, Dipper,  and  birds  of  prey  (Accipitres  and 
Striges),  which  have  now  been  re-written  and  brought 
down  to  date. 

I  take  this  opportunity  of  expressing  my  grateful 
thanks  for  the  valuable  assistance  he  has  rendered  me 
during  the  past  six  years,  and  for  placing  at  my  dis- 
posal the  whole  of  his  collected  information  up  to  the 
year  1888. 

I  am  also  indebted  to  Mr.  W.  Denison  Roebuck,  joint 
author  with  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  of  the  "  Vertebrate  Fauna 
of  Yorkshire,"  who  has  placed  unreservedly  at  my  dis- 
posal the  ornithological  portion  of  his  collection  of 
printed  records,  the  result  of  many  years'  bibliographical 
examination  of  the  literature  of  Yorkshire  zoology,  and 
to  Mr.  F.  Boyes,  who  has  supplied  many  notes  on  the 
East  Riding. 

My  sincere  thanks  are  tendered  to  Professor  Alfred 
Newton,  Messrs.  Howard  Saunders,  J.  E.  Harting,  W. 
Denison  Roebuck,  J.  H.  Gurney,  T.  Southwell,  C.  E. 
Millburn,  and  to  my  veteran  taxidermist,  George  Mussell ; 
also  to  the  naturalists  whose  names  appear  on  p. 
xxx.,  and  to  my  friends  who  have  most  gener- 
ously presented  me  with  materials  for  the  purposes 
of  illustrations :  Mr.  W.  Woodhouse,  who  designed 
the  sketch  on  the  title-page  and  granted  the  privilege 
of  using  two  oil  paintings  of  Bempton  Cliffs,  in  addition 
to  several  sketches  ;  Mr.  John  Charlton,  who  has  con- 
tributed a  sketch  ;  whilst  numerous  photographs  have 
been  supplied  by  Messrs.  Riley  Fortune,  E.  W.  Wade, 
H.  Lazenby,  E.  G.  Potter,  and  S.  Smith.  Other  illustra- 
tions have  been  added  by  Messrs.  J.  Backhouse,  W.  B. 
Tegetmeier,  T.  A.  Lofthouse,  and  T.  Sheppard. 

As  it  has  been  found  inconvenient  to  mention  author- 
ities in  the  text  in  every  case,  a  general  acknowledgment 
is  made  by  stating,  after  the  contributor's  name  in  the 
appended  list,  the  district  to  which  his  notes  refer.  Those 
marked  (*)  have  furnished  lists  of  birds  : — 


PREFACE.  ix 

Thomas  Altham  (Forest  of  Rowland) ;  *  Major  W.  B. 
Arundel  (Ackworth) ;  Rev.  G.  D.  Armitage  ;  *  F.  Atkinson 
(Glaisdale  and  Great  Ay  ton) ;  *  Thos.  Audas  ;  *  F.  Boyes  ; 

*  G.  Swailes  ;    *  E.  W.  Wade  (Holderness,  East  Riding) ; 
James  Backhouse,  *  Matthew  Bailey  (Flamborough)  ;  R. 
Blakeborough,   H.   B.   Booth  (Shipley)  ;    Thos.  Boynton 
(Bridlington) ;  *  E.  P.  Butterfield  (Wilsden) ;  Rosse  Butter- 
field  ;   Thos.  Bunker  (Goole) ;    *  H.  W.  Carson  (Knares- 
borough)  ;     *  James     Carter    (Masham)  ;     *  R.    Clarke  ; 
*F.   C.   Stevens  (Lower   Wharf edale );     *  W.    J.    Clarke 
(Scarborough) ;  *  A.  Crabtree,  (Halifax) ;  *  Riley  Fortune 
(Nidd  Valley)  ;   *  F.  S.  Graves  (Sedbergh  district) ;    *  W. 
Gyngell  (Scarborough) ;  Rev.  J.  A.  Haydyn ;  *W.  Hewett ; 
*Rev.    H.    N.    Hind    (Liversedge) ;    H.    K.    Horsfield ; 
A.  S.  Hutchinson  ;  *  James  Ingleby  (Eavestone,  Ripon)  ; 
Rev.  E.    P.    Knubley ;    *  F.    Lawton   (Skelmanthorpe) ; 
Robert  Lee  (Thirsk)  ;    P.  W.  Loten  (Easington,  Spurn) ; 

*  Kenneth    MacLean    (Loftus    and    Staithes)  ;     *  G.    B. 
Milne-Redhead  ;   *  W.  Morris  (Sedbergh) ;   *  S.  L.  Mosley 
(Huddersfield) ;  G.  W.  Murdoch  (Bentham) ;   *  G.  Parkin 
(Wakefield)  ;   L.  Parsey ;  *M.  N.   Peel  (Forest  of  Bow- 
land)  ;  *  T.  Petch  (South  Holderness) ;  E.  G.  Potter  ;  *  T. 
Raine  (Chapel  Allerton)  ;    *  W.  H.  St.  Quintin,  (Scamp- 
ston) ;   *  W.  Storey  (Fewston)  ;   *  G.  Steels  (Pocklington)  ; 

*  Thos.  Stephenson  (Whitby) ;   *  Rev.  R.  A.  Summerfield 
(North  Stainley,  Ripon);    *J.  T.  Thomasson  (Valley  of 
the    Hodder)  ;    J.    Thwaite ;    Lord    Walsingham ;  *  W. 
Walton  (Upper  Teesdale)  ;   *  A.  Ward  (Malham)  ;  *  W.  E. 
L.    Wattam    (Huddersfield   district);     *J.    A.    Wheldon 
(Northallerton  and  York)  ;   T.  Whitwell ;    G.  A.  Widdas 
(Bradford);    W.  Wilson;    *J.  J.  Baldwin- Young  (Shef- 
field). 

The  Introduction  has,  with  the  permission  of  Messrs. 
Clarke  and  Roebuck,  been  adopted  from  their  "  Verte- 
brate Fauna  of  Yorkshire,"  with  such  modifications  as 
are  rendered  necessary  in  a  work  of  this  nature,  by  the 
events  which  have  occurred  during  the  past  twenty-five 
years. 


x  PREFACE. 

I  also  desire  to  thank  Mr.  T.  Sheppard,  F.G.S., 
of  Hull,  the  editor  of  the  publications  of  the  Yorkshire 
Naturalists'  Union,  for  his  assistance  in  the  matter  of 
proof  reading,  preparing  the  Index  of  personal  and 
place-names,  and  seeing  the  work  through  the  press. 


THE  CLIFFE. 
REDCAR. 


CONTENTS 

VOL.    I 

PAGE 

EDITORIAL      .....  .       v 

PREFACE vii 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS xi 

INTRODUCTION         .......  xix-xlv 

Genus  TURDUS  (Thrush,  &c.)          .         .         .         .  1-21 

MONTICOLA  (Rock  Thrush,  &c.)         .         .  21-22 

SAXICOLA  (Wheatear,  &c.)          .         .         .  22-26 

PRATINCOLA  (Whinchat,  &c.)      .         .         .  26-32 

RUTICILLA  (Redstart,   &c.)           .         .         .  33-37 

CYANECULA  (Bluethroat,  &c.)      .         .         .  38-4 1 

ERITHACUS  (Redbreast)       ....  42-47 

PHILOMELA  (Nightingale)    .         .                   .  47-65 

SYLVIA  (Whitethroat,  &c.)          .         .         .  65-75 

REGULUS  (Golden-Crested  Wren,  &c.)         .  75-8o 
PHYLLOSCOPUS  (Yellow-Browed  Warbler,  &c.)    80-88 

HYPOLAIS  (Icterine  Warbler)      .         .         .  88-89 

ACROCEPHALUS  (Reed  Warbler,  &c.)  .         .  89-93 

LOCUSTELLA  (Grasshopper  Warbler)  .         .  93-97 

ACCENTOR  (Hedge  Accentor,  &c.)      .         .  97-101 

CINCLUS  (Dipper,  &c.)        ....  101-104 

PANURUS  (Bearded  Titmouse)     .         .         .  104-105 

ACREDULA  (Long-Tailed  Titmouse)     .         .  106-107 

PARUS  (Great  Titmouse,  &c.)    .         .         .  108-115 

SITTA  (Nuthatch)         .....  115-118 

TROGLODYTES  (Wren) 118-120 

CERTHIA  (Creeper)      .....  120-121 

MOTACILLA  (Pied  Wagtail,  &c.)          .         .  121-130 

ANTHUS  (Tree  Pipit,  &c.)  .         .         .         .  130-136 


Xll 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Genus  ORIOLUS  (Golden  Oriole)    .         .         .         .136-138 

LANIUS  (Great  Grey  Shrike,   &c.)       .         .  138-145 

AMPELIS  (Waxwing) 145-148 

MUSCICAPA  (Spotted  Flycatcher,  &c.)         .  148-153 

HIRUNDO  (Swallow) 153-158 

CHELIDON  (House  Martin).         .         .         .  158-161 

COTILE  (Sand  Martin)         ....  161-163 

LIGURINUS  (Greenfinch)       ....  163-165 

COCCOTHRAUSTES  (Hawfinch)      .         .         .  165-168 

CARDUELIS  (Goldfinch,  &c.)         .  .  169-174 

SERINUS  (Serin) 174-175 

PASSER  (House  Sparrow,  &c.)  .          .         .  175-180 

FRINGILLA  (Chaffinch,   &c.)         .         .         .  180-184 

LINOTA  (Linnet,   &c.)  ....  185-193 

PYRRHULA  (Bullfinch,  &c.)          .         .         .  193-195 

PINICOLA  (Pin  Grosbeak)     ....  195-196 

LOXIA  (Common  Crossbill,   &c.)         .         .  197-201 

EMBERIZA  (Corn  Bunting-,  &c.).         .         .  201-210 

CALCARIUS  (Lapland  Bunting)    .         .         .  210-211 

PLECTROPHANES  (Snow  Bunting)         .         .  212-215 

STURNUS  (Starling) 215-221 

PASTOR  (Rose  Coloured  Pastor)         .         .  221-223 

PYRRHOCORAX  (Chough)      ....  223-224 

NUCIFRAGA  (Nutcracker)     ....  224-225 

GARRULUS  (Jay) 225-227 

PICA  (Magpie)    .         .         .  .         .  228-232 

CORVUS  (Crow,  &c.) 232-254 

ALAUDA  (Skylark,   &c.)       ....  255-258 

OTOCORYS  (Shorelark)         ....  259-261 

CYPSELUS  (Swift,  &c.)         ....  261-265 

CAPRIMULGUS  (Nightjar)      ....  265-269 

JYNX  (Wryneck) 269-271 

GECINUS  (Green  Woodpecker)    .         .         .  272-274 
DENDROCOPUS  (Great  Spotted  Woodpecker, 

&c.) 274-278 

ALCEDO  (Kingfisher) 278-281 


CONTENTS 

Genus  CORACIAS  (Roller) 

MEROPS  (Bee-Eater)   . 
UPUPA  (Hoopoe) 
CUCULUS  (Cuckoo) 
STRIX  (Barn  Owl,   &c.) 

»  j> 

Asio  (Long-Eared  Owl,  &c. 
NYCTALA  (Tengmalm's  Owl,   &c.) 
ATHENE  (Little  Owl)  . 
NYCTEA  (Snowy  Owl) 
SCOPS  (Scops  Owl)     . 
BUBO  (Eagle  Owl)      . 
CIRCUS  (Marsh  Harrier,  &c.)     . 
BUTEO  (Common  Buzzard,  &c.) 
AQUILA  (Golden  Eagle) 
HALIAETUS  (White-Tailed  Eagle) 
ASTUR  (Goshawk) 
ACCIPTER  (Sparrowhawk)    . 
MILVUS  (Kite)     .... 
ELANOIDES  (Swallow-Tailed  Kite) 
PERNIS  (Honey  Buzzard)    . 
FALCO  (Greenland  Falcon,  &c.) 
PANDION  (Osprey) 


xin 

PAGE 

281-283 
283-285 
285-287 
287-292 
292-295 

301-303 
295-301 
303-306 
306-308 
309-310 
310-312 
312-315 
3 i 5-325 
325-331 
331-334 
334-338 
339-342 
343-344 
344-347 
347-35° 
350-352 
352-373 
373-374 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

VOL.  I 

A  Misty  Morning"  on  the  Bempton  Cliffs,  at 

"  Hateley  Shoot" Frontispiece 

Flamborough  Lighthouse        ....       Introduction 
Spurn  Lighthouse   .         .         .         .         .         .  ,, 

Snowden  Sleights,  the  last  of  the  Yorkshire 

Wildfowlers,  with  his  armoury         .  ,, 

TO  FACE   PAGE 

Mistle  Thrush   on   nest   in    standard    plum    tree,    four 

feet  from  the  ground        ......         2 

Mistle  Thrush  at  nest,  feeding  young     ....  4 

Song  Thrush  on  nest      .......  6 

Nest  of  Song  Thrush 6 

Nest  of  Song  Thrush  without  usual  lining     ...  8 

White's  Thrush,  taken  near  Halifax,  Dec.  1902     .         .  12 
Ring  Ouzel's  nest,  North  West  Yorkshire     .         .         .20 

Whinchat's  nest     ........  32 

Stonechat's  nest     ........  32 

Nesting  haunt  of  Nightingale,  near  Harrogate      .         .  50 

Nesting  place  of  Nightingale,  near  Knaresborough       .  56 

Whitethroat  feeding  its  young       .....  66 

Nest  of  Whitethroat,  near  Harrogate    .         .         .         .66 

Nest  of  Nightingale,  near  Harrogate     ....  68 

Nest  of  Lesser  Whitethroat,  near  Ripon         ...  68 
Nest  of  Black  Cap           .         .         .         .         .         .         -7° 

Nest  of  Garden  Warbler         ......  70 

Nest  of  Goldcrest  suspended  on  branch  of  fir         .         .  78 

Nest  of  Chiff  Chaff,  near  Harrogate       ....  82 

Nest  of  Willow  Warbler 82 

Wood  Warbler's  Nest 86 

Reed  Warbler's  nest,  Hornsea  Mere      ....  88 


xvi  LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

TO   FACE   PAGE 

Reed  Warbler's  nest,  Hornsea  Mere  ....  90 
Sedge  Warbler  feeding1  young  .....  92 
Nests  of  Grasshopper  Warbler,  near  Harrogate  .  .  96 

Nest  of  Hedge  Accentor  with  a  Cuckoo's  Egg  (top  on 

left),  near  Harrogate       ......     100 

Dipper's  nest,  in  usual  situation     .....  102 

Unusual  site  for  a  Dipper's  nest,  on  the  River  Nidd       .  104 

Long-Tailed  Tit  at  nest,  near  Pickering         .         .         .  106 

Nest  of  Long-Tailed  Tit,  near  Harrogate       . .        .         .  106 

Great  Tit's  in  old  wall 108 

Open  nest  of  Great  Tit,  built  on  an  old  Song  Thrush's 

nest  in  a  clump  of  woodbine    .         .         .         .         .no 

Cole  Tit's  nest  in  old  wall .112 

Marsh  Tit's  nest  in  sunk  fence        .         .         .         .  .112 

Blue  Tit's  nest  in  tree  stump  .         .         .         .  .114 

Blue  Tit  taking  food  to  its  young  .         .         .         .  .114 

Whale's  jaw   bones   near    Bempton,    nesting  place    of 

Blue  Tit  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .116 

Young  Tree  Creeper 120 

Tree  Creeper's  nest         .         .         .         .         .         .         .120 

Nest  of  Pied  Wagtail     .         .         .         .         .         .         .122 

Nest  of  Grey  Wagtail 122 

Young  Grey  Wagtail  in  nest          .         .         .         .         .124 

Tree  Pipit's  nest 130 

Meadow  Pipit's  nest  with  Cuckoo's  egg  .  .  .130 
Male  Meadow  Pipit  feeding  female  at  nest  .  .  .132 
Nest  of  Red-Backed  Shrike  in  north-west  Yorkshire  .  140 

Spotted  Flycatcher  on  nest 148 

Pied  Flycatcher  taking  food  to  young    .         .         .         .150 

Swallow's  nest        .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .156 

Cup-shaped  Swallow's  nest,  near  Harrogate  .         .156 

Old  Cottage  at  Hartwith,  under  the  eaves  of  which 
forty-six  Martin's  nests  have  been  found  at  one 
time  .........  160 

Greenfinch's  nest 164 

Hawfinch  168 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  xvii 

TO   FACE   PAGE 

Nest  of  Hawfinch 168 

Nests  of  Goldfinch 170 

Nest  of  Linnet  in  gorse  bush           .....  184 

Nest   of    Twite   placed    amongst    heather,    north-west 

Yorkshire 184 

Nest  of  Lesser  Redpoll  .......  190 

Nest  of  Bullfinch  in  fir  tree     ......  194 

Nest  of  Corn  Bunting     .......  202 

Nest  of  Reed  Bunting 202 

Nest  of  Cirl  Bunting,  near  Harrogate    ....  204 

Siberian  Meadow  Bunting      ......  206 

Raven's  nest,  north-west  Yorkshire       ....  234 

Cronkley  Scar,  Upper  Teesdale.    Nesting  site  of  Raven 

and  Peregrine           .......  236 

Young   Raven  after   its  first  flight  from   nest,    north- 
west Yorkshire        .......  238 

Nest  of  Carrion  Crow  (exterior),  north-west  Yorkshire.  240 

Nest  of  Carrion  Crow  (interior),  north-west  Yorkshire  .  242 

Nest  of  Rook          ........  250 

An  Ancient  Domicile.     Rooks'  nests  near  Pannal  .         .  252 

Skylark's  nest .         .  256 

Skylark  feeding  young   .......  256 

Nest  and  eggs  of  Nightjar      ......  266 

Young  Nightjar,  found  near  York           ....  266 

Home  of  Green  Woodpecker 272 

Green  Woodpecker  at  nesting  hole         .         .         .         .  274 

Young  Green  Woodpeckers   ......  274 

Lesser  Spotted  Woodpecker  taking  food  to  its  young  .  276 

Kingfisher       .         .         .         .                   .         .         ,         .  280 

Brood  of  young  Kingfishers 280 

Young  Cuckoo  in   nest   of  Pied   Wagtail,    Sutton-on- 

Forest,  York 286 

Young  Cuckoo  in  Pied  Wagtail's  nest,  near  Harrogate.  288 
Young    Cuckoo    from   Yellow    Wagtail's    nest,    near 

Harrogate 288 

Barn  Owl's  nest  in  old  oak  tree 294 


xviii  LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

TO  FACE  PAGE 

Long-Eared  Owl's  nest  .......  296 

Tawny  Owl's  nest  ........  296 

Tawny  Owl  (sleepy)        .......  302 

Tawny  Owl  (awake) 302 

Ancient  nesting"  place  of  Buzzard,  in  north-west  York- 
shire           326 

Sparrowhawk's  nest        .......  342 

Sparrowhawk  (female)    .......  342 

Telephoto  picture  of  a  Wild  Peregrine,  taken  in  north- 
west Yorkshire.        .         .         .         .         .         .         .  358 

Cautley  Crag1,  ancient  nesting  site  of  Raven,  Peregrine, 

and  Buzzard    ........  360 

Peregrine  Falcon's  eyries,  north-west  Yorkshire    .         .  362 

Nest  of  Merlin,  north-west  Yorkshire    ....  366 

Merlin 366 

Kestrel's  nest          ........  370 

Kestrel  (female) 370 


INTRODUCTION. 


ERRATA. 

Page  xxxvii.,  line  5 — For  '  1889*  read  '  1899.' 

,,     xlii.,  line  9 — For  'Two'   read  'Three.'     And  add  the  '  Liberian 
Meadow  Bunting"'  before  'the  Cuneate-tailed  Gull.' 

,,     38,  line  2 — For  ''leucocyana,'  read  ' ivolfii. ' 

>,     41,  headline — For  'Redbreast,'  read ' Red-spotted  Bluethroat.' 

,,     41,  line  4 — This  example,  obtained   at    Kilnsea,   8th  October, 
1903,  may  possibly  be  referable  to  C.  wolfi. 

»>  S^o,  3rd  line  from  bottom — For  '  Houbraas  '  read  '  Houbaras. 
i,   717,  nth  line  from  bottom — For1  130,000'  read  *  80,000.' 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 
Plate  facing  page  108 — Add  *  Nest '  after  *  Great  Tit's. 

„          ,,      610—  'Nests  of  Dunlin,  north-west  Yorkshire,'  omit 
'Teesmouth.' 


tract  of  mountainous  country,  ascending  to  2,590  ieex  at 
the  extreme  north-western  angle  of  the  county,  and  nowhere 
descending  to  a  lower  elevation  than  about  four  hundred 
feet.  A  district  of  lofty  hills,  thirty-six  of  which  attain 
an  altitude  of  two  thousand  feet  or  more,  of  extensive  stretches 
of  heathery  moorlands,  of  grassy  slopes  and  grey  limestone 


VOL.    I. 


xviii  LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

TO   FACE   PAGE 

Long-Eared  Owl's  nest 296 

Tawny  Owl's  nest 296 

Tawny  Owl  (sleepy) 302 

Tawny  Owl  (awake) 302 

Ancient  nesting-  place  of  Buzzard,  in  north-west  York- 
shire        ...                   .....  326 

Sparrowhawk's  nest       .         .         .  2^.2 


INTRODUCTION. 

YORKSHIRE:    ITS  PHYSICAL  ASPECT  AND 
AVI-FAUNA. 


*  the  largest  county  in  the  British  Isles, 
JL  containing  an  area  of  3,936,242  statute  acres,  or  6,150 
square  miles,  and  situate  between  53°  18'  and  54°  40'  N.  lati- 
tude and  about  9'  E.  and  2°  36'  W.  longitude  of  the  meridian 
of  Greenwich,  is  also  one  of  the  most  compact  in  form,  the  most 
varied  in  geological  structure,  soil,  climate,  and  physical 
aspect. 

The  lands  of  Yorkshire  rise  in  masses  from  S.E.  to  N.W., 
in  a  direction  which  corresponds  with  that  of  the  age  of  the 
underlying  rocks,  the  oldest  or  palaeozoic  formations  consti- 
tuting the  high  mountains  of  the  north-west,  whilst  the 
newest  or  tertiary  deposits  of  Holderness  occupy  the  opposite 
or  south-east  angle.  Thus  a  line  drawn  from  the  beach 
at  Spurn  to  the  highest  summit  of  Yorkshire  —  Mickle  Fell, 
2,596  feet  —  marks  not  only  the  general  slope  of  the  high 
lands  but  their  succession  in  geological  time,  and  is  moreover 
the  longest  line  (120  miles)  that  it  is  possible  to  draw  within 
the  county. 

Broadly  speaking,  the  most  salient  features  of  its  physical 
configuration  are  the  great  central  depression  and  the  flank- 
ing masses  of  hills  to  the  east  and  west. 

THE  NORTH-WESTERN  FELLS  is  a  wild  and  picturesque 
tract  of  mountainous  country,  ascending  to  2,596  feet  at 
the  extreme  north-western  angle  of  the  county,  and  nowhere 
descending  to  a  lower  elevation  than  about  four  hundred 
feet.  A  district  of  lofty  hills,  thirty-six  of  which  attain 
an  altitude  of  two  thousand  feet  or  more,  of  extensive  stretches 
of  heathery  moorlands,  of  grassy  slopes  and  grey  limestone 
VOL.  i.  b 


xx  INTRODUCTION. 

scars,  diversified  by  waterfalls,  caves,  clear  and  sparkling 
streams,  and  beautiful  and  romantic  dales,  this  elevated 
region  includes  the  main  watershed  of  the  North  of  England, 
and  within  its  limits  and  upon  Yorkshire  soil  rise  all  the 
great  rivers  of  the  north — Tyne  and  Wear  alone  excepted. 
The  steep  western  slopes  are  drained  into  the  Irish  Sea  by  the 
Eden,  the  Lune,  the  Ribble,  and  their  tributary  streams  ; 
while  down  the  broader  valleys  and  more  gentle  inclines 
of  the  eastern  slopes  flow  the  Aire,  the  Wharfe,  the  Nidd,  the 
Ure,  the  Swale,  and  the  Tees,  into  the  North  Sea. 

The  gritstone  summits  and  limestone  scars  of  this  region 
are  the  last  refuge  in  Yorkshire  of  the  Buzzard,  and  amongst 
the  last  of  the  Raven  and  the  Peregrine  ;  the  high  moors  are 
inhabited  by  the  Red  Grouse,  Ring  Ousel,  Merlin,  Twite,  Cur- 
lew, Dunlin,  Snipe,  and  Golden  Plover,  while  the  Dipper, 
Grey  Wagtail,  and  Sandpiper  are  abundant  on  the  mountain 
becks. 

Of  the  very  few  natural  sheets  of  water  in  Yorkshire 
this  district  possesses  three  of  the  most  important,  Malham 
Tarn,  Semerwater,  and  Birkdale  Tarn,  besides  a  few  others 
of  smaller  size.  Malham  Tarn,  153  acres  in  extent,  and  1,250 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  together  with  the  limestone 
plateau  on  which  it  is  situate,  is  of  special  interest  as  illustrating 
the  altitude  to  which  certain  species  will  ascend,  and  its 
fauna  has  therefore  been  made  a  special  feature  in  this  work. 
Here  the  Wood-wren,  Redshank,  Teal,  Coot,  and  Dabchick 
nest  annually,  and  it  is  one  of  the  few  localities  in  Yorkshire 
where  the  Tufted  Duck  has  been  known  to  breed. 

THE  CRAVEN  PASTURE-LANDS. — Immediately  below  the 
North-western  Fells,  which  are  abruptly  terminated  to  the 
south  by  the  steep  and  occasionally  precipitous  descents 
of  the  Craven  and  Pennine  faults,  succeeds  a  comparatively 
low  region,  under  600  feet  in  elevation,  with  an  undulating 
grassy  surface  and  low  rounded  hills,  in  places  rising  into 
fells  which  reproduce  on  a  smaller  scale  the  leading  physical 
characteristics  of  those  of  the  north-west.  Through  the  • 
green  pastures  of  this  uninteresting  country,  of  which  the 
Peewit  is  the  characteristic  bird,  the  Ribble  and  the  Hodder 


X 
f 


Flamborough  Lighthouse. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxi 

cut  their  way  in  the  form  of  narrow,  well-wooded,  sheltered 
and  productive  ravines,  giving  some  charm  to  this  otherwise 
monotonous  country,  which  formerly  constituted  the  famous 
Forest  of  Rowland. 

THE  SOUTH-WESTERN  MOORLANDS. — The  summit  ridge, 
broken  and  irregular  among  the  fells  of  the  north-west,  and 
interrupted  by  comparatively  low  ground  south  of  them, 
begins  again  near  Keighley  and  Ilkley,  and  is  carried  south- 
ward by  a  broad  and  continuous  band  of  elevated  and  mono- 
tonous rolling  heatherland,  which  extends  along  the  county 
boundary  as  far  as  Derbyshire,  and  attains  its  greatest 
elevation — 1,859  ^eet — a"t  Holme  Moss.  These  unbroken 
stretches  of  dreary  moorlands — unrelieved  save  by  deep 
and  narrow  "  cloughs  "  or  ravines,  are,  in  comparison  with 
the  Fells  of  the  north-west,  of  but  slight  interest  to  the 
naturalist.  Homogeneous  in  their  geological  structure,  and 
presenting  no  other  soils  than  the  barren  and  unproductive 
peat-laden  and  heather-covered  millstone  grit,  they  afford 
little  variety  in  their  fauna.  The  high  moors  are  inhabited 
by  Grouse — more  strictly  preserved  here  than  elsewhere — 
and  by  occasional  pairs  of  Curlew,  Golden  Plover,  Snipe,  Black 
Grouse,  Ring  Ousel,  and  less  frequent  still  an  odd  pair  of 
Dunlin  ;  the  streams  are  the  haunt  of  the  Dipper,  the  Grey 
Wagtail,  and  Sandpiper,  while  the  lower  parts  of  the  valleys 
are  inhabited  by  such  birds  as  are  able  to  maintain  their 
ground  against  man  and  his  works.  For  the  south-western 
moorlands  are  situate  between  the  two  great  coal-fields  and 
manufacturing  districts  of  Yorkshire  and  Lancashire,  and 
are  not  only  of  easy  access  to  a  vast  population,  but  within 
the  direct  influence  of  the  clouds  of  smoke  which  accompany 
the  manufacture  of  cotton  upon  the  one  side,  and  wollens 
and  worsteds  upon  the  other. 

THE  MANUFACTURING  DISTRICT. — At  the  foot  of  the 
south-western  moorlands,  and  to  the  east  of  them,  the  great 
Yorkshire  coalfield  stretches  from  Leeds  and  Bradford  to 
Halifax,  Huddersfield,  Wakefield,  Barnsley,  and  Sheffield. 
Within  this  comparatively  limited  area  is  congregated  the 
great  mass  of  the  population  of  Yorkshire,  for  here  the  presence 


xxii  INTRODUCTION. 

of  coal  and  ironstone  has  determined  the  location  of  some  of 
the  world's  greatest  industries  ;  and  the  coal-mining  districts 
of  the  West  Riding  afford  one  of  the  clearest  demonstrations 
of  the  transforming  influence  of  human  agencies  upon  the 
surface  of  a  country.  The  air  is  laden  with  smoke  above, 
vegetation  is  checked  and  stunted,  while  the  foulness  and 
inky  blackness  of  the  rivers  can  only  be  paralleled  by  that  of 
the  streams  of  the  neighbouring  county  palatine  of  Lancaster. 
Naturally  well-wooded,  the  district  still  retains  that 
characteristic  in  parts,  more  especially  in  the  southern  portion, 
where  the  noble  Chase  of  Wharncliffe,  overlooking  an  extensive 
prospect  in  the  Don  valley,  and  the  fine  parks  about  Barnsley 
and  Wakefield,  still  afford  a  shelter  to  woodland  species  of 
birds,  some  of  considerable  interest — such  as  the  Nightingale 
and  the  Pied  Flycatcher — though  the  inimical  influence  of 
smoke  has  long  told  upon  the  trees.  The  district  is  also 
interesting  as  within  it  is  situated  Walton  Park — the  sylvan 
domain  wherein  for  many  years  Charles  Waterton  extended 
complete  protection  to  living  things  of  all  kinds.  In  an  old 
ivy  tower  there  nested  in  one  spring  seven  pairs  of  Jackdaws, 
twenty-four  pairs  of  Starlings,  four  pairs  of  Ring-doves,  the 
Barn  Owl,  the  Blackbird,  the  Redbreast,  the  Redstart,  the  House 
Sparrow,  and  the  Chaffinch.  A  walled  bank,  in  the  natural- 
ist's garden,  was  fitted  with  drain-pipes,  intended  for  nesting- 
holes  of  Sand  Martins,  which  took  advantage  of  the  hospitality 
offered  them,  and  upwards  of  fifty  pairs  nested  there.  Large 
numbers  of  Magpies,  Jays,  and  Carrion  Crows  bred  in  the 
Park ;  an  extract  from  one  of  Waterton's  note  books  states 
that  on  i5th  December  1863  he  counted  more  than  a  hundred 
of  the  latter  birds  preparing  to  go  to  roost.  Here  flourished 
a  famous  Heronry,  which  after  the  death  of  Waterton  was 
disturbed  and  finally  dispersed.  But  the  continued  presence 
of  so  dense  a  population  and  the  ever-increasing  demands 
of  modern  commerce  are  gradually  breaking  up  and  destroying 
what  suitable  habitats  the  district  still  possesses,  hastening 
the  process  of  extinction  which  is  continually  going  on,  and 
thus  diminishing  a  fauna  which  was  never  at  any  time  a  very 
rich  one. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxiii 

THE  CENTRAL  PLAIN,  including  under  this  name  not  only 
the  entire  vale  of  York,  but  also  the  lowlands  of  Cleveland 
and  the  Tees  valley,  is  a  broad  fertile  tract  of  agricultural 
land,  for  the  most  part  below  300  feet  in  elevation,  traversed 
by  the  middle  and  lower  portions  of  most  of  the  Yorkshire 
rivers,  and  stretching  from  the  banks  of  the  Tees  to  the 
borders  of  Nottinghamshire.  Its  light  and  sandy  soils  support 
ordinary  lowland  and  woodland  types  of  vegetation,  the 
fauna  partaking  of  the  same  character. 

In  former  times  the  famous  forest  of  Galtres  stretched 
for  many  miles  in  extent  from  beneath  the  very  walls  of  York. 
Parts  of  the  district  still  remain  to  some  extent  in  their  pristine 
condition  ;  and  such  places  as  Pilmoor,  and  Strensall  and 
Riccall  Commons — the  breeding  places  of  the  Redshank, 
Teal,  Snipe,  Black-headed  Gull,  etc.,  and  some  of  them 
formerly  of  the  Ruff  and  other  birds — with  some  boggy  carrs 
and  wet  heaths  of  the  North  and  East  Ridings,  and  Askham 
Bog,  still  display  their  primitive  characteristics.  At  Hornby 
Castle,  near  Catterick,  is  to  be  found  one  of  the  two  decoys 
now  existing  in  the  county.  There  is  no  lack  of  woodland, 
especially  towards  the  south,  where  at  Edlington  Wood  one 
of  the  last  Yorkshire  nests  of  the  Kite  was  taken,  while  that 
of  the  Hobby  has  been  found  at  Rossington  and  in  the  woods 
at  Cawood,  and  in  the  latter,  which  were  the  largest  in  the 
county,  the  Raven  and  Buzzard  reared  their  young  till  within 
comparatively  recent  times. 

In  the  extreme  south  the  flat  marsh-lands  which  lie  between 
the  present  and  the  old  channels  of  the  river  Don,  including 
the  carrs  near  Doncaster,  and  the  famed  levels  of  Hatfield 
Chase  and  Thorne  Waste,  once  ornithologically  rich,  even  now 
present  an  avifauna  of  considerable  interest.  Formerly  the 
three  Harriers,  the  Black-tailed  Godwit,  and  the  Ruff  were 
among  the  species  breeding  annually,  and  an  island  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Trent  afforded  the  last  British  nest  and  eggs 
of  the  Avocet.  On  Thorne  Waste  was  also  the  site  of  a  small 
decoy  fairly  productive  of  Mallard,  Wigeon,  and  Teal,  especi- 
ally the  latter.  Until  quite  recently  Thorne  Waste,  which 
is  about  6,000  acres  in  extent,  was  the  breeding  haunt  oi  the 


xxiv  INTRODUCTION. 

Mallard,  Teal,  Redshank,  Black-headed  Gull,  and  occasionally 
of  the  Short-eared  Owl  and  the  Curlew.  On  the  intersecting 
drains  the  Reed  Warbler  and  species  of  minor  interest  nest 
abundantly. 

THE  CLEVELAND  HILLS,  occupying  the  north-eastern 
portion  of  the  county,  though  inferior  to  the  North-western 
Fells  in  extent  and  in  elevation — reaching  only  to  1,485  feet  at 
Burton  Head — are  no  less  picturesque  and  interesting.  Like 
them  also  it  is  a  region  of  high  moorlands — frequented  by  Red 
Grouse  and  Twite,  and  in  the  spring  and  early  summer  by 
Curlew  and  Golden  Plover,  with,  occasionally,  a  pair  of  Stone 
Curlews,  which  here  find  the  northern  limit  of  their  breeding 
range  in  Britain — and  intersected  by  the  ramified,  well-wooded, 
and  beautiful  dales  drained  by  the  Esk  and  by  numerous 
branches  of  the  Derwent. 

The  high  lands  of  Cleveland  present  bold  escarpments 
towards  the  Tees  valley  and  the  central  plain,  and  a  lofty 
line  of  cliffs  towards  the  sea,  reaching  680  feet  in  elevation 
at  Boulby.  The  Howardian  hills,  below  520  feet  in  elevation, 
which  separate  the  vale  of  Pickering  from  the  central  plain, 
must  be  considered  as  a  southern  spur  or  continuation  of 
the  Hambleton  hills,  as  the  western  escarpment  of  the  Cleve- 
land range  is  called. 

The  Cleveland  avi-fauna  is  highly  interesting.  The  Raven 
was  fairly  common  in  the  district,  and  a  pair  have  been 
observed  comparatively  recently  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast. 
This  region  was  also  the  resort  of  the  Hen  Harrier  until  1850, 
to  which  date  a  few  pairs  nested  annually.  The  Short-eared 
Owl  has  also  on  several  occasions  bred  on  the  moors,  and 
until  some  few  years  ago  a  pair  of  Peregrines  nested  annually. 
On  the  moors  the  Twite  breeds  sparingly,  and  the  Curlew  and 
Golden  Plover  not  uncommonly.  The  district  has  on  various 
occasions  been  visited  by  rare  stragglers,  such  as  the  Pine 
Grosbeak,  Lapland  Bunting,  and  Ruffed  Bustard ;  while 
Tengmalm's  Owl  has  occurred  no  fewer  than  four  times. 

VALE  OF  PICKERING. — South  of  the  Cleveland  hills  is  a 
small  tract  of  low-lying  cultivated  land,  below  a  hundred 
feet  in  elevation,  possessing  a  rich  soil,  and  including  a  con- 


INTRODUCTION.  xxv 

siderable  extent  of  carrs  and  low  marsh-land.  This  district, 
drained  by  the  Derwent  and  Rye,  is  shut  in  on  all  sides  by 
high  lands,  and  was,  in  all  probability,  formerly  a  lake,  the 
outlet  for  its  drainage  even  now  being  at  times  inadequate, 
and  in  rainy  seasons  the  lower  portions  are  liable  to  be  flooded 
for  miles  in  extent. 

THE  CHALK  WOLDS. — A  semi- circular  range  of  rounded 
undulating  chalk  hills  commences  near  the  Humber  at  Ferriby, 
and  sweeping  first  in  a  northerly  and  then  in  an  easterly  direc- 
tion, terminates  in  a  line  of  stupendous  sea-cliffs  at  Flam- 
borough  Head.  Culminating  at  its  north-west  corner  in 
Wilton  Beacon,  at  an  altitude  of  805  feet,  they  present  a  bold 
front  to  the  central  plain  on  the  west  and  to  the  vale  of 
Pickering  on  the  north,  while  by  more  gentle  inclines  their 
south-eastern  or  inner  aspect  merges  into  the  low  country 
of  Holderness. 

Originally  a  desolate,  grassy,  and  stony  sheepwalk — 
over  which  a  horseman  might  ride  for  thirty  miles  at  a  stretch 
without  meeting  with  a  fence  or  other  obstruction,  and  the 
resort  of  the  Great  Bustard  and  the  Stone  Curlew — this 
district  is  now  ranked  amongst  the  best  and  most  highly- farmed 
agricultural  land  of  England.  The  deeply  excavated  hollows 
in  the  Wolds  are  remarkable  for  the  absence  of  streams,  the 
only  rivulets  to  which  they  give  rise  being  the  variable  and 
intermittent  ones  called  "  gypseys."  This  deficiency  of 
permanent  streams  decidedly  affects  the  vertebrate  fauna, 
probably  accounting  for  the  absence  of  such  birds  as  the 
Dipper,  the  Sandpiper,  and  the  Grey  Wagtail,  which  occur 
and  breed  in  corresponding  altitudes  amongst  the  hills  of 
the  north  and  west.  The  characteristic  fauna  of  the  Wolds 
must  now  be  regarded  as  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  Great 
Bustard,  which  here  found  its  northern  limit  in  Britain,  has 
long  been  driven  out  by  cultivation,  and  the  Stone  Curlew 
is  in  danger  of  extinction,  the  chief  bird  now  to  be  noted  being 
the  Lapwing,  which  occurs  in  great  abundance. 

HOLDERNESS. — A  flat,  low-lying  district  of  triangular 
outline  interposed  between  the  North  Sea  and  the  Humber, 
and  separated  from  the  rest  of  Yorkshire  by  the  green  Wold 


xxvi  INTRODUCTION. 

hills — is  under  an  elevation  of  one  hundred  feet,  with  the 
exception  of  Dimlington  Height,  which  is  but  one  hundred 
and  fifty-nine ;  and  of  all  districts  in  the  county  is  probably 
the  one  which  has  undergone  the  most  decided  physical 
transformation.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  aboriginal 
condition  of  the  district,  now  rich  and  fertile  corn-land,  was 
that  of  a  vast  fen  or  swamp — the  haunt  of  the  Crane,  the  Wild 
Goose,  the  Bittern,  the  "  Sholarde,"  and  the  Ruff.  The  sheets 
of  water  which  formerly  diversified  the  surface  were  made 
use  of  for  the  establishment  of  decoys  for  the  capture  of  Wild 
Duck,  and  consequently  we  find  that  the  greater  number — 
four  out  of  seven — of  the  decoys  known  to  have  existed 
in  East  Yorkshire  were  here,  at  Holme  on  the  Wolds, 
Meaux,  Watton,  and  Scorborough. 

The  impetus  given  to  agriculture  about  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and  the  rapid  development  of  high 
farming,  proved  fatal  to  much  of  the  ornithological  wealth 
of  Holderness.  The  decoys  were  destroyed  by  the  Holder- 
ness  (1762)  and  the  Beverley  and  Barmston  (1800)  drainage 
schemes ;  and  many  haunts  were  broken  up  by  the  general 
revival  of  agriculture. 

Holderness,  even  now,  is  a  rich  ornithological  district, 
the  Turtle-dove  and  the  Quail  being  regular  summer  visitants, 
and  the  Hawfinch  breeds  annually  in  some  abundance. 
Hornsea  Mere — the  largest  natural  sheet  of  water  in  York- 
shire— was  formerly  resorted  to  in  the  nesting  season  by  large 
numbers  of  Terns,*  as  is  shewn  by  an  entry  in  the  diary  of 
the  Rev.  Abraham  de  la  Pryme,  dated  "  Hornsey,  Dec.  2ist 
1693,"  and  which  runs  as  follows  : — "  The  marr  is  a  mile  and 
a  half  in  length,  and  in  one  place  a  mile  in  breadth  .... 
there  are  three  hills  (islands  we  call  them)  in  the  marr,  two 
of  them,  at  the  season  of  the  year,  are  so  full  of  tern  eggs 
and  birds  as  can  be  imagined.  A  man  must  be  very  careful 
if  he  tread  not  on  them  "  ("  Publications  of  Surtees  Society  "). 
The  Reed  Warbler,  the  Pochard,  and  the  Great  Crested  Grebe 
breed  regularly ;  and  it  has  produced  some  of  the  rarest 

*  Query,  Black-headed  Gulls.  See  chapters  on  Common  Tern  and 
Black-headed  Gulls. 


INTROD  UCTION.  xxvii 

Yorkshire  visitants,  such  as  the  Great  White  Heron,  the 
Broad-billed  Sandpiper,  and  others.  The  Mere  is  inhabited 
by  pike,  which  attain  to  a  great  size,  and  are  exceedingly 
destructive  to  the  birds  which  frequent  the  water,  especially 
the  young  ones,  a  circumstance  probably  explaining  the 
absence  of  the  Little  Grebe. 

THE  YORKSHIRE  COAST-LINE — commencing  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Tees,  and  extending  117  miles  in  length  to  Spurn  Point — 
is  one  of  the  most  diversified  possessed  by  any  English  county. 

The  estuary  of  the  Tees — though  by  no  means  comparable 
in  size  or  attractiveness  to  that  of  the  Humber — is  yet  of 
considerable  extent.  That  there  was  formerly  an  extensive 
breeding  colony  of  sea-birds  is  proved  by  the  following  extract 
from  the  Cottonian  MS.  (about  1604)  : — "  Neere  unto  Dob- 
hoome  (the  port  in  the  mouth  of  Tease  soe  named)  the  shore 
lyes  flatt,  where  a  shelf e  of  sand  raised  above  the  highe  water 
marke  enterteines  an  infynite  number  of  sea-fowle,  which 
lay  their  egges  here  and  there  scatteringlie,  in  such  sorte 
that  in  tyme  of  breedinge  one  can  hardlye  sett  his  foote 
soe  warelye  that  he  spoyle  not  many  of  their  nests."  The 
species  nesting  there  would  probably  include  the  Oyster- 
Catcher  and  several  kinds  of  Terns ;  old  inhabitants  of  the 
district  are  now  (1906)  living  who  can  remember  Terns  breeding 
near  the  estuary.*  This  area  includes  vast  stretches  of  sands, 
which  afforded  the  last  breeding  haunt  of  the  seal  in  York- 
shire (one  sandbank  indeed  bearing  the  name  of  "  Seal  Sand  "); 
also  a  series  of  low  salt  marshes  bordered  by  sand-hills,  and 
intersected  by  pools  and  salt-water  ditches — formerly  the 
habitat  of  shore  fishes,  and  an  attractive  resort  for  such 
migratory  birds  as  the  Waders,  Ducks,  and  Geese.  But,  as 
so  often  has  happened  in  the  north  of  England,  the  develop- 
ment of  trade  has  here  sadly  interfered  with  the  natural 
productiveness  of  the  district.  The  discovery  of  Cleveland 
ironstone — and  consequent  rapid  rise  of  Middlesbrough  as 
a  manufacturing  and  sea-port  town — has  involved  a  train  of 

*  Dobhoome  is  on  the  Yorkshire  side,  near  Tod  Point ;  it  is  now  no 
longer  a  port,  and  is  called  Dabholme  Beck,  or  in  the  fisherman's 
vernacular,  "  Dabbing  Gut." 


xxviii  INTROD  UCTION. 

consequences  which  have  done  much  to  render  the  zoological 
riches  of  the  Teesmouth  almost  a  tale  of  the  past.  The 
navigation  has  been  improved,  foreshores  embanked  and 
reclaimed,  docks  and  harbours  built,  breakwaters  projected, 
and  blast  furnaces  erected  along  the  Coatham  Marsh. 

One  of  these  furnaces,  built  within  five  hundred  yards 
of  the  site  of  a  decoy,  caused — and  no  wonder — its  dis- 
continuance, about  1872.  Formerly  this  decoy  was  fairly 
productive,  and  on  one  occasion  yielded  a  haul  estimated 
at  five  hundred.  At  any  rate,  so  great  was  the  number 
enclosed  in  the  net,  that  it  broke,  and  most  of  the  Ducks 
escaped,  only  ninety  and  nine  being  actually  secured.  Amongst 
the  most  interesting  birds  of  this  area  are  the  Sheld-duck, 
Redshank,  and  Dunlin,  which  nest  sparingly  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Tees  estuary. 

The  first  ten  or  twelve  miles  of  the  Yorkshire  coast, 
commencing  from  the  mouth  of  the  Tees,  is  low  and  fronted 
by  a  reach  of  firm  sandy  beach,  but  at  Marske  and  Saltburn 
begins  to  rise.  Beyond  Saltburn  is  Huntcliffe,  thus  quaintly 
referred  to  in  the  Cottonian  MS.  (1604)  : — "  Huntley  Nabbe, 
where  the  coaste  beginnes  to  rise  Highe,  full  of  craggs  and 
steepe  Rockes,  wherein  Meawes,  pidgeons,  and  Sea-fowle 
breed  plentifullye."  Here  the  Cleveland  hills  present  towards 
the  sea  a  line  of  liassic  and  oolitic  cliffs  extending  for  forty-four 
miles,  and  terminating  at  the  Castle  Hill  of  Scarborough. 
These  Cleveland  sea-cliffs — amongst  the  loftiest  in  England, 
and  attaining  their  maximum  height  of  680  feet  at  Boulby — 
afford  several  breeding  stations  for  the  Cormorant  and  the 
Herring  Gull,  whilst  along  their  range  the  Raven  formerly 
bred  in  scattered  pairs  in  suitable  stations.  The  Scarborough 
Castle  Hill — the  outlying  mass  of  rock  which  marks  the 
southward  termination  of  the  Cleveland  cliffs — was  also  in 
former  times  a  breeding  station  of  this  bird,  and  it  is  recorded 
to  have  nested  there  for  the  last  time  about  1850. 

The  coast — now  the  eastern  termination  of  the  vale  of 
Pickering — is  comparatively  low  from  Scarborough  southward, 
and  mostly  composed  of  soft  rocks  which  offer  but  slight 
resistance  to  the  destructive  action  of  the  waves,  save  where 


INTRODUCTION.  xxix 

the  hard  sandstone  reef  of  Filey  Brig  projects  into  the  sea. 
The  shores  are  here  composed  of  sandy  beaches.  On  the 
diluvial  cliffs  near  Filey  a  few  Herring  Gulls  breed  annually. 

Some  distance  S.S.E.  of  Filey  the  chalk  deposits  of  England 
reach  their  northern  termination  in  a  lofty  range  of  tide-washed 
mural  precipices,  the  well-known  cliffs  of  Speeton,  Buckton, 
Bempton,  and  Flamborough,  the  most  extensive  and  densely 
inhabited  breeding  resort  of  sea-fowl  in  England.  The 
earliest  known  account  of  this  "  loomery  "  was  written  by 
Thomas  Pennant,  who,  in  the  course  of  his  journey  to  Scotland, 
visited  Flamborough  on  3rd  July  1769,  and  thus  recorded  his 
impressions  of  that  place  : — "  Went  to  Flamborough  Head  .  . 
.  .  Put  myself  under  the  direction  of  William  Camidge,  ciceroni 
of  the  place,  who  conducted  me  to  a  little  creek,  at  that  time 
covered  with  fish,  a  fleet  of  cobles  having  just  put  in.  Went 
out  in  one  of  these  little  boats  to  view  the  Head,  coasting  it 
for  upwards  of  two  miles.  The  cliffs  are  of  a  tremendous 
height,  and  amazing  grandeur ;  beneath  are  several  vast 
caverns,  some  closed  at  the  end,  others  are  pervious,  formed 
with  a  natural  arch,  giving  a  romantic  passage  to  the  boat, 
different  from  that  we  entered.  In  some  places  the  rocks 
are  insulated,  are  of  a  pyramidical  figure,  and  soar  up  to  a  vast 
height ;  the  bases  of  most  are  solid,  but  in  some  pierced 
thro',  and  arched  ;  the  color  of  all  these  rocks  is  white,  from 
the  dung  of  the  innumerable  flocks  of  migratory  birds,  which 
quite  cover  the  face  of  them,  filling  every  little  projection, 
every  little  hole  that  will  give  them  leave  to  rest ;  multitudes 
swarmed  in  the  air,  and  almost  stunned  us  with  the  variety 
of  their  croaks  and  screams ;  I  observed  among  them 
corvorants,  shags  in  small  flocks,  guillemots,  a  few  black 
guillemots  very  shy  and  wild,  auks,  puffins,  Kittiwakes,* 
and  herring  gulls  "  ("A  Tour  in  Scotland,"  1771,  pp.  14-15). 
Here  Guillemots,  Puffins,  Razorbills,  and  Kittiwakes  breed 
in  countless  multitudes,  the  Guillemots  being  by  far  the 
most  numerous  ;  and  there  are  also  a  pair  or  two  of  Herring 
Gulls.  In  a  cave  in  Buckton  cliff  called  "  The  Cote  "  the 

*  Called  here  Petrels.     "  Br.  Zool.  Supplt."  (Tab.  xxiii.,  p.  26). 


xxx  INTRODUCTION. 

Rock  Dove  breeds  in  great  numbers,  and  its  congener  the  Stock 
Dove  is  particularly  numerous,  breeding  in  the  cliffs  both  north 
and  south  of  the  North  Landing  at  Flamborough.  The  House 
Martins  have  their  nests  under  the  ledges  of  the  cliffs,  and  a 
few  Swifts  in  the  crevices,  whilst  on  the  broken  ground  at  the 
summit  the  Rock  Pipit  breeds  somewhat  commonly.  Mingled 
with  the  sea-fowl  breed  innumerable  Starlings  and  Jackdaws, 
and  a  pair  or  two  of  Carrion  Crows  nest  annually,  the  sable 
hues  of  this  bird,  and  of  its  congener  the  Jackdaw,  forming 
a  striking  contrast  to  the  delicate  plumage  of  the  Kittiwakes. 
The  Hooded  Crow  has  also  occasionally  remained  to  nest ; 
and  the  highest  portions  of  the  cliffs  are  frequented  by  the 
Peregrine,  but,  although  the  birds  are  generally  present  in 
the  season,  one  of  them  usually  falls  a  victim  to  the  gun,  and 
they  have  nt>t  succeeded  in  breeding  for  upwards  of  a  quarter 
of  a  century  until  1906,  when  a  pair  brought  off  three  young 
in  June. 

The  immense  abundance  of  sea- fowl  on  these  cliffs,  and  the 
ease  with  which  they  can  be  approached  by  means  of  boats, 
formerly  led  to  their  merciless  slaughter  for  so-called  sport 
and  to  supply  the  exigencies  of  fashion,  and  for  years  the 
locality  was  the  scene  of  so  much  destruction  that  some  of 
the  species  were  at  last  utterly  driven  away,  and  others  greatly 
diminished  in  number.  This  wanton  cruelty  was — as  a  matter 
of  fact — the  direct  cause  of  the  passing  of  the  Sea  Birds 
Preservation  Act  of  1869.  The  effects  of  that  salutary 
measure  have  been  most  marked.  The  Kittiwakes,  which 
had  become  extremely  scarce,  are  now  quite  numerous. 
Among  the  species  which  formerly  bred  at  Flamborough 
may  be  mentioned  the  Shag,  the  Black  Guillemot,  and  the 
Raven,  the  former  of  which  some  few  years  prior  to  1844  used 
to  nest  annually  on  the  rocks,  but  now  it  breeds  no  nearer 
than  the  Fame  Islands,  and  there  only  singly  and  irregularly. 

The  chalk  cliffs  attain  their  highest  elevation  of  436  feet 
at  Buckton  Cliffs,  declining  thence  eastward  to  250  feet  at  the 
point  of  the  Headland,  where  the  lighthouse  is  situated. 

From  its  favourable  geographical  situation  and  bold 
physical  aspect,  the  Headland  of  Flamborough  is  famed  as 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxi 

affording  in  the  autumn  a  shelter  to  the  neighbouring  bay, 
thus  providing  a  resting-place  for  many  uncommon  birds — 
such  as  the  Long-tailed  Duck,  Common,  Pomatorhine,  and 
Richardson's  Skuas,  the  Shearwaters,  Grebes,  and  Petrels 
occurring  annually. 

The  chalk  terminates  below  Sewerby  Hall,  and  is  succeeded 
by  the  low  diluvial  cliffs  and  sandy  beach  of  Bridlington  Bay, 
stretching  for  forty- two  miles  in  a  bold  concave  sweep,  which 
terminates  in  the  marram-covered  sand-hills  of  Spurn.  This 
line  of  coast,  the  eastern  border  of  Holderness,  composed 
of  soft  strata  which  are  being  steadily  wasted  away  by  the 
action  of  the  sea,  is  comparatively  uninteresting,  and  offers 
but  little  that  is  worthy  of  special  note  until  Spurn  is  reached. 
Spurn  Point,  the  southern  termination  of  the  Yorkshire 
coast,  is  connected  with  the  mainland  of  Holderness  by  a 
narrow  neck  of  sand-hills  overgrown  with  marram-grass,  a 
few  yards  in  width,  and  preserved  intact  only  by  constant 
supervision,  and  at  considerable  expense.  Were  these  inter- 
mitted the  sea  would  speedily  break  through  the  isthmus  and 
join  the  Humber,  as  it  has  done  on  several  occasions.  Spurn  is 
ornithologically  rich.  Birds  migrating  along  the  coast,  or 
arriving  from  the  east,  find  many  temptations  to  linger. 
The  miles  of  mudflats  left  bare  on  the  Humber  side  of  the 
isthmus  by  every  receding  tide  offer  great  attractions  and  a 
never  failing  supply  of  food  to  various  shore  birds,  and  in 
the  spring  and  autumn  are  frequented  by  great  numbers  of 
birds  of  this  class.  Many  of  these  winter  here — such  as  the 
Bar-tailed  Godwit,  Grey  Plover,  Knot,  Turnstone,  Sanderling, 
and  others.  It  is  fortunate  that  Spurn  is  very  strictly  pre- 
served, and  equally  so  that  this  part  of  the  coast  is  unsuitable 
for  "  punting."  In  winter  thousands  of  duck  and  many 
Brent  Geese  are  to  be  noted  on  the  Humber ;  while  Wood- 
cocks are  sometimes  observed  in  very  great  numbers  on  their 
arrival  during  their  migration  in  the  latter  days  of  October. 

THE  GEOGRAPHICAL  POSITION  OF  YORKSHIRE,  viewed 
from  a  faunistic  standpoint,  must  be  regarded  as  singularly 
favourable,  as  it  presents  a  combination  of  advantages  seldom 
equalled,  both  as  regards  the  actual  geographical  range  of 


xxxii  INTROD  UCTION. 

the    breeding    species    and    the    arrival    of    migrants    and 
stragglers. 

Situate  about  midway  on  the  eastern  seaboard  of  the 
British  Isles,  and  directly  opposite  the  European  continent, 
Yorkshire  is  sufficiently  far  south  to  include  species  whose 
distribution  is  of  the  southern  type — such  as  the  Nuthatch 
and  the  Nightingale,  which  find  in  it  the  northern  limit  of 
their  range,  while  it  is  sufficiently  far  north  to  admit  of  the 

9        inclusion  of  such  species  as  the  Curlew,  Dunlin,  etc.,  which 
here  meet  with  their  southern  breeding  limits. 

As  regards  the  influx  of  migratory  birds,  a  glance  at  the 
map  of  Europe  will  at  once  show  the  advantageous  position 
of  the  county.  Not  only  does  its  coast  lie  opposite  that  of 
the  Continent,  but  Flamborough  is  on  the  same  parallel  of 
latitude  as  Heligoland,  the  island  which  is  so  renowned  for 
the  myriads  of  migrants  which  pass  and  repass  it  every  spring 
and  autumn.  The  observations  made  there  for  many  years 
by  the  late  H.  Gatke  show  that  most  of  the  birds  passing 
over  Heligoland  in  the  autumn  do  so  in  a  direction  due  E. 
and  W.  Such  a  line  of  flight,  if  sustained,  would  land  the 
stream  of  immigrants  upon  the  Yorkshire  coast,  and  especially 
upon  the  prominent  Headland  of  Flamborough,  which  as  a 
locality  productive  of  rare  birds  has  few  equals. 

The  configuration  of  the  coast  materially  increases  the 
advantage  of  the  position,  which  is  still  more  enhanced  by 
the  possession  of  two  such  points  as  Flamborough  and  Spurn. 
From  the  Teesmouth  the  coast-line  trends  in  a  gracefully 
convex  sweep  in  a  south-easterly  direction  to  the  Headland 
of  Flamborough — a  promontory  which  stands  boldly  out  in 
the  North  Sea  forty-three  miles  in  advance  of  the  Teesmouth, 
.  and  fully  fifty  miles  E.  of  the  mean  longitude  of  the  coast 
of  Durham.  South  of  Flamborough  the  coast-line  recedes, 
and  after  the  concave  sweep  of  Bridlington  Bay,  again  advances 
terminating  in  the  long  narrow  spit  of  Spurn,  which — project- 
ing sixty-two  miles  E.  of  the  Teesmouth — overlaps  to  a 
considerable  extent  the  coast  of  Lincolnshire.  Those  birds — 
mostly  waders  and  marine  species — which  pursue  a  north  and 
south  course  in  their  migrations,  are  in  the  habit  of  following 


, 


I 

13 
a 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxiii 

coast-lines,  even  though  the  latter  keep  well  out  to  sea.  Such 
species  making  their  way  down  the  east  coast  would  probably 
pass  the  shores  of  Northumberland  and  Durham,  meeting 
with  no  obstruction  till  their  progress  is  arrested  by  the 
promontory  of  Flamborough,  where  they  are  observed — and 
very  often  shot.  On  leaving  Flamborough  they  cross 
Bridlington  Bay,  and  are  either  seen  at  Spurn,  or,  skirting 
Lincolnshire,  pass  on  for  the  north  coast  of  Norfolk — a  well 
situated  and  rich  ornithological  county. 

Flamborough  and  Spurn  are  by  far  the  most  favourable 
points  for  observing  the  arrivals  of  immigrants  ;  and  Spurn 
is  considered  far  to  surpass  any  portion  of  the  Lincolnshire 
coast,  though  the  tall  cliffs  of  Cleveland  probably  offer 
attractions  from  their  height  and  the  secluded  nature  of 
the  coast.  The  winds  which  bring  immigrant  birds  in  the 
greatest  numbers  in  the  autumn  are  those  not  favourable 
to  their  passage.  When  worn  out  by  a  long  and  adverse 
journey  against  contrary  winds  they  drop  on  the  first  shore 
they  reach,  and  the  presence  of  Woodcocks  at  Spurn  and 
elsewhere  on  the  coast  depends  on  the  prevalence  of  the 
strong  N.  or  N.E.  winds  during  their  passage,  which  tire 
them  out,  and  after  which  they  are  to  be  found  on  the  Point 
in  great  numbers.  On  the  contrary,  should  the  winds  be 
light  and  favourable,  they  simply  pass  on,  dispersing  them- 
selves over  the  country  in  suitable  situations,  and  very  few 
would  be  observed  on  the  coast. 

MIGRATION. 

For  this  important  section,  I  have,  with  his  kind  permis- 
sion, adopted  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke's  views  regarding  the  move- 
ments for  the  east  coast  of  England,  as  set  forth  in  his  "  Digest 
of  Observations,"  published  in  the  "  Report  of  the  British 
Association,"  Liverpool  Meeting,  1896. 

Between  Britain  and  Continental  Europe  travel  a  host 
of  migrants  which  are  either  birds  of  passage  on,  or  winter 
visitors  to,  our  shores.  The  former  visit  our  eastern  coast- 
line in  spring  when  journeying  to  their  northern  summer 
haunts  lying  to  the  north-east  of  Britain,  and  again  in  autumn 


xxxiv  INTROD  UCTION. 

when  returning  to  their  winter  quarters  to  the  south  of  our 
Islands.  The  winter  visitors  are  chiefly  individuals  from  the 
ranks  of  certain  species  of  the  birds  of  passage  which  winter  in 
the  British  area,  and  emigrate  to  the  north-east  in  the  spring. 

In  the  autumn  these  numerous  migrants  cross  the  North 
Sea  and  arrive  on  the  east  shores  of  Britain  at  points  between 
the  Shetland  Isles  and  the  Humber  or  the  northern  seaboard 
of  Norfolk.  All  the  movements  do  not  cover  this  stretch  of 
coast-line,  but  not  infrequently  such  is  the  case,  and  as  a 
rule  they  are  recorded  from  the  greater  part  of  the  region 
indicated.  Observations  prove  that  these  migrants  pass  to 
the  northward  or  westward  of  the  Outer  Dowsing  Lightship, 
which  is  situated  38  miles  E.S.E.  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Humber. 

After  long  and  careful  study  it  is  decided  that  these  im- 
migrants and  emigrants  from  and  to  Northern  Europe  pass 
and  repass  between  this  portion  of  the  Continent  and  Britain 
by  crossing  the  North  Sea  in  autumn  in  a  south-westerly 
direction,  and  in  spring  in  a  north-easterly  one,*  and  that 
while  the  limit  of  their  flight  in  the'north  is  the  Shetland  Isles, 
that  on  the  south  extends  to  the  coast  of  Norfolk. f 

It  is  to  be  remarked,  also,  as  bearing  upon  this  point, 
that  all  the  species  occur  on  migration  in  the  Orkney  and 
Shetland  Islands,  but  not  in  the  Faroes. J  And,  further, 
all  the  British  birds  of  passage  to  Northern  Europe  are  either 
summer  visitors  to  Scandinavia  or  are  regular  migrants  along 
the  western  shores  of  that  peninsula. 

After  arriving  on  our  eastern  shores,  these  immigrants  from 

*  The  direction  varies.  It  is  probably  more  westerly  (in  autumn) 
or  easterly  (in  spring)  at  the  most  northern  British  stations,  and  south- 
south-westerly  (in  autumn)  or  north-north-easterly  (in  spring)  at  the 
stations  on  the  east  coast  of  England. 

f  The  formation  adopted  by  the  migrants  during  passage  would 
seem  to  be  an  extended  line — perhaps  a  series  of  lines — whose  right 
wing  extends  to  the  Northern  Islands  and  its  left  wing  to  the  coast  of 
Norfolk. 

J  A  few  species  occur  in  the  Faroes  on  migration,  but  they  are  also 
summer  visitors  to  those  Islands  and  to  Iceland. 


INTROD  UCTION.  xxxv 

the  north — some  of  them  after  resting  for  a  while — move 
either  down  the  east  coast,  en  route  for  more  southern  winter 
quarters,  or,  if  winter  visitors,  to  their  accustomed  haunts 
in  Britain  and  Ireland.  A  few  occur  as  birds  of  passage  on 
the  west,  which  they  reach  by  overland  routes  across  Britain, 
and  then  pass  southward  to  their  winter  quarters. 

Inter  migration  between  the  South-East  Coast  of  England 
and  the  Coast  of  Western  Europe — "  East  and  West  Route." 

This  is  one  of  the  discoveries  of  the  inquiry.  It  has  already 
been  shown  that  the  more  southern  section  of  the  East  coast 
of  England  does  not  receive  immigrants  direct  from  Northern 
Europe.  There  is,  however,  a  considerable  amount  of 
migration  observed  at  the  lightships  south  of  the  Wash. 
During  the  autumn,  day  after  day,  a  stream  of  migrants, 
often  of  great  volume,  is  observed  off  the  coast,  flowing  chiefly 
from  the  south-east  to  the  north-west  at  the  more  northerly 
stations  (and  this  is  what  particularly  affects  Yorkshire), 
and  from  east  to  west  at  the  southerly  ones,  across  the 
southernmost  waters  of  the  North  Sea.  This  is  called  the 
"  East  and  West  Route."  From  the  stations  off  the  mouth 
of  the  Thames  as  a  centre,  the  birds  either  sweep  up  the 
east  coast,  sometimes  to  and  beyond  the  Tees  (many  proceed- 
ing inland  as  they  go),  or  pass  to  the  west  along  the  southern 
shores  of  England.  These  important  immigrations  set  in 
during  the  latter  days  of  September,  reach  their  maximum 
in  October,  and  continue  at  intervals  until  November.  They 
are  chronicled  with  wonderful  precision  and  regularity  in  the 
returns  from  stations  on  the  south-east  coast  of  England. 
They  are  renewed  during  winter  on  occasions  of  exceptionally 
severe  cold,  but  the  birds  then  pass  to  the  westward  along  the 
south  coast. 

There  are  some  remarkable  features  associated  with  these 
movements  : — 

(1)  They  are  frequently  observed  for  several  or  many 
consecutive  days ; 

(2)  They  often  occur  when  there  is  an  almost  entire  absence 
of  bird-migration  on  other  parts  of  our  shores  ; 


xxxvi  INTROD  UCTION. 

(3)  The  movements  appear  to  be  entirely  confined  to  the 
day-time — usually  from  daylight  to  i  p.m.,  sometimes  until 
3  p.m.,  thus  indicating,  probably,  the  shortness  of  the  passage; 

(4)  The   autumn   migratory  flocks  are  chiefly  composed 
of  Larks  in  vast  numbers,  "  Black  Crows  "  (Rooks),  Grey 
Crows,  Redbreasts,  Goldcrests,  Chaffinches,  Greenfinches,  Tree 
Sparrows,  Starlings,  and  Woodcock ;   and  during  the  winter 
Larks,  various  Thrushes,  and  Lapwings  ; 

(5)  And  lastly,   on  certain  occasions  these  immigrants, 
while  passing  northward  along  the  English  eastern  seaboard, 
actually   cross    the    movements    of    "  coasting  "    emigrants 
proceeding  southward.     At  Redcar  and  the  Teesmouth  these 
immigrants  are  frequently  observed  coming  in  direct  from 
the  north  or  north-east   (as  well  as  from  the  east).     The 
arrivals  from  the  north  and  north-east  usually  comprise  Pipits, 
Snow  Buntings,  Finches,  and  Starlings,  and  these  occur  gener- 
ally in  calm  weather  or  during  the  prevalence  of  light  northerly 
or  north-easterly  breezes.     In  some  seasons  continuous  flights 
of  various  Thrushes  are  seen  coming  in  direct  from  the  sea. 

These  conclusions  have  been  chiefly  based  upon  autumn 
data,  because  the  information  for  that  season  is  more  complete 
and  voluminous.  When,  however,  we  come  to  examine 
the  information  relating  to  spring  movements,  with  a  view 
to  ascertain  how  far  they  corroborate  the  conclusions  so 
clearly  indicated  by  the  autumn  chronicles,  it  is  satisfactory 
to  find  decided  evidence  that  the  birds  retrace  their  flight 
to  the  north  and  east  along  precisely  the  same  lines  as  those 
along  which  the  autumnal  south  and  west  journeys  were 
performed.  Thus  in  the  spring  these  birds  depart  from  the 
same  sections  of  our  eastern  seaboard  as  witnessed  their 
arrival  in  the  autumn. 

Nearly  every  season  possesses  some  remarkable  feature 
connected  with  migration  : — thus,  for  instance,  in  October 
1879,  Pomatorhine  Skuas  were  reported  in  enormous  numbers  ; 
in  1887,  Little  Stints  and  Pygmy  Curlews  were  unusually 
abundant ;  Grebes  were  the  chief  features  in  1892  ;  Scaup 
Ducks  and  Little  Auks  in  1895  ;  Rough-legged  Buzzards  in 
1903,  and  so  on. 


INTROD  UCTION.  xxxvii 

The  system  of  classification  followed  in  this  work  is  chiefly 
in  agreement  with  the  List  of  British  Birds  compiled  by  the 
Committee  of  the  British  Ornithological  Union  in  1885, 
modified  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Howard  Saunders'  Manual 
(2nd  Ed.  1889). 

The  most  important  requirements  in  the  compilation  of 
a  local  fauna  are  a  careful  definition  of  the  true  faunistic 
position  occupied  by  each  species,  and  of  its  distribution 
and  relative  numbers  within  the  area  treated  of,  together 
with  some  notice  of  its  migratory  movements.  To  these 
should  be  added — in  the  case  of  the  rare  species — lists  of  all 
the  occurrences,  with  dates,  localities,  authorities,  and  such 
other  details  as  are  likely  to  be  of  service. 

For  the  purpose  of  denning  the  faunistic  position  of  the 
Birds  of  Yorkshire,  the  following  terms  are  employed  : — 

RESIDENTS     } 

SUMMER  VISITANTS      ..)}' 

WINTER  VISITANTS  "    =  REGULAR  VISITORS. 

BIRDS  OF  PASSAGE 

OCCASIONAL  OR  ACCIDEN- 


i  —  IRREGULAR  VISITORS. 
TAL  VISITANTS    . .     . .   J 

RESIDENTS  are  species  which  are  found  in  some  district 
or  other  of  the  county  throughout  the  year,  and  therein 
breed  annually. 

SUMMER  VISITANTS  are  species  which  appear  annually  in 
the  spring,  remain  through  the  summer  for  the  purpose  of 
rearing  their  young,  and  afterwards  depart  in  the  autumn. 

WINTER  VISITANTS  are  species  which  appear  annually  in 
the  autumn,  and  remain  in  more  or  less  numbers  throughout 
the  winter,  departing  in  the  spring  for  their  breeding  haunts. 

BIRDS  OF  PASSAGE  are  species  which  are  observed  in  the 
county  only  on  their  annual  passage  to  and  from  their  breeding 
haunts  in  spring  or  autumn,  or  both. 

OCCASIONAL  VISITANTS  include  the  species  whose  appear- 
ance in  the  county  is  uncertain,  but  whose  occurrence — 
they  being  resident  in,  or  more  or  less  regular  visitants  to, 


xxxviii  INTROD  UCTION. 

other  parts  of  the  British  Isles — is  not  improbable,  even 
though  their  visits  may  be  very  few  and  far  between  ;  and  also 

ACCIDENTAL  VISITANTS,  mere  waifs  and  strays — species 
whose  geographical  range  renders  their  occurrence  in  Britain 
quite  exceptional  and  more  or  less  remarkable. 

These  definitions  have  been  carefully  framed,  and  will,  it  is 
believed,  be  found  applicable  to  all  cases.  A  few  general  re- 
marks upon  them,  illustrated  by  characteristic  examples,  desir- 
able in  order  to  make  their  meaning  perfectly  unmistakable, 
will  be  given  in  proceeding  to  analyse  the  Yorkshire  fauna. 


The  avifauna  of  Yorkshire,  compared  with  that  of  other 
counties,  stands  unrivalled,  not  only  in  its  numerical  extent, 
but  also — a  circumstance  of  much  greater  significance — in 
the  inherent  richness  which  is  shown  by  the  number  of  species 
breeding  annually  within  its  limits. 

Excluding  twenty-one  species,  which  have  been  recorded 
on  the  strength  of  evidence  more  or  less  insufficient  to  establish 
their  claims,  the  total  number  of  birds  on  the  Yorkshire  list 
is  325.  The  Norfolk  list,  given  in  "  Trans.  N.  and  N.  Nat. 
Soc."  (1885,  1886,  1887),  included  288  species— to  which 
must  be  added  27  which  have  occurred  in  the  county 
since  that  time,  for  the  names  of  which  I  am  indebted 
to  Messrs.  J.  H.  Gurney  and  Thomas  Southwell  of  Norwich, 
making  a  total  of  315.  The  list  given  in  Hancock's  "  Birds 
of  Northumberland  and  Durham,"  published  in  1874,  com- 
prises 268  species.  But  applying  the  same  rules  as  are 
employed  for  the  exclusion  of  doubtful  species  from  the 
Yorkshire  list,  the  total  is  reduced  to  266  for  Northumberland 
and  Durham. 

Since  the  publication  of  Hancock's  catalogue,  however, 
the  following  species  must  be  omitted  from  the  list : — the 
Purple  Gallinule,  Virginian  Colin,  Egyptian  and  Canada 
Geese,  and  the  Blue-tailed  Bee-eater  (which  latter  occurred 
in  Yorkshire,  see  p.  284).  Eleven  additional  species  which 
have  occurred  in  Northumberland  and  Durham  are : — the  Tree 
Warbler,  Icterine  Warbler,  White  Wagtail,  Rustic  Bunting, 
Little  Bunting,  Alpine  Swift,  Spotted  Eagle,  Crane,  Red- 


Snowden   Sleights,  the  last  of  the  Yorkshire  wildfowlers, 
with  his  armoury. 

vS.   H.   Smith. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXXIX 


necked  Phalarope,  Kentish  Dotterel,  Sabine's  Gull.  The 
Mute  Swan  may  also  be  added  to  the  residents,  making  a 
total  of  275. 

The  species  excluded  from  the  Norfolk  list  are  : — Pallas' s 
Shrike,  Grey-headed  Yellow  Wagtail,  Red-barred  Crossbill 
(L.  rubifasciata),  Eagle  Owl,  Pelican,  Great  White  Heron, 
Little  Egret,  Buff-backed  Heron,  Canada  Goose,  Egyptian 
Goose,  Harlequin  Duck,  Rock  Dove,  Hooded  Merganser, 
Virginian  Colin,  Green-backed  Gallinule,  Cream-coloured 
Courser,  Eastern  Golden  Plover,  Sabine's  Snipe  (variety), 
Wilson's  Petrel,  Ringed  Guillemot  (variety),  all  admitted  on 
insufficient  evidence. 

The  species  which  have  been  added  to  the  Norfolk  fauna 
during  the  past  twenty  years  include  : — Siberian  Stonechat, 
Aquatic  Warbler,  Pallas's  Warbler,  Yellow-browed  Warbler, 
White  Wagtail,  Tawny  Pipit,  Water  Pipit,  Red-breasted 
Flycatcher,  Citril  Finch,  Holboell's  Redpoll,  Northern  or 
Russian  Bullfinch,  Two-barred  Crossbill,  Yellow-breasted 
Bunting,  Great  Spotted  Cuckoo,  Flamingo,  Lesser  White- 
fronted  Goose,  Ruddy  Sheld-duck,  King  Eider,  Allen's  Gal- 
linule, Caspian  Plover,  Siberian  Pectoral  Sandpiper,  Sooty 
Tern,  Mediterranean  Herring  Gull,  White-billed  Northern 
Diver,  Great  Shearwater. 

A  comparison  of  the  three  avifaunas — based  upon  a  careful 
analysis  in  accordance  with  the  faunistic  definitions  given  on 
page  xxxvii — yields  the  following  results  : — 


RESIDENTS 
SUMMER  VISITANTS 


WINTER  VISITANTS 
BIRDS  OF  PASSAGE 
OCCASIONAL  AND  ACCIDEN- 
TAL VISITANTS    . 


North- 
umber- 
land and 
Durham 

York, 
•hire. 

Nor- 
folk. 

84 

91 

76 

30 
114 

32 

31 
107 

123 

43 

12 

55 
29 

50 
26 

106 

118 

132 

275 

325 

315 

= ANNUALBREEDERS 


: TOTAL  AVIFAUNA. 

C  2 


xl  INTRODUCTION. 

The  Capercaillie,  although  not  placed  between  square 
brackets,  is  not  included  in  the  list  of  county  birds ;  if 
this  species  is  added,  the  total  number  is  326. 

This  decided  superiority  of  the  avifauna  of  Yorkshire 
over  those  of  the  two  maritime  districts  with  which  alone  it 
is  fair  to  institute  comparisons,  is  to  be  accounted  for  by  a 
combination  of  advantages.  In  Yorkshire  the  favourable 
geographical  position  of  Norfolk  is  associated  with  its  physical 
advantages  and  those  of  Northumberland  and  Durham,  and 
when  it  is  further  considered  that  Yorkshire  possesses  in 
addition  a  much  greater  diversity  of  surface,  soil,  and  climate 
than  either,  there  remains  little  reason  for  surprise  at  the 
numerical  excellence  of  its  fauna.  The  superiority  is  not 
merely  one  of  numerical  extent.  Casual  and  accidental 
visitants  cannot  be  regarded  as  true  members  of  any  fauna, 
and  the  ornithological  richness  or  poverty  of  a  district  can  only 
be  gauged  by  a  comparison  of  the  number  of  its  residents 
and  regular  visitants,  and  more  especially  of  that  of  the 
species  which  breed  annually.  In  this  respect  too — as  the 
table  shows — the  superiority  of  Yorkshire  is  well  marked, 
demonstrating  still  more  forcibly  the  advantages  possessed  by 
the  county  which  contains  the  greatest  diversity  of  surface, 
a  diversity  ranging  in  this  case  from  the  low  carr  lands  of  the 
E.S.E.  to  the  mountains  of  the  W.N.W.,  with  a  coast-line 
affording  both  lofty  and  rugged  cliffs  and  sandy  flats, 
thus  presenting  every  kind  of  habitat  necessary  for  the 
presence  of  almost  every  type  of  bird  which  breeds  in  the 
British  Isles. 

The  ninety-one  RESIDENT  BIRDS  include  the  following 
species,  which  deserve  special  mention  : — 

The  Nuthatch,  Wood-Lark,  and  Lesser  Spotted  Wood- 
pecker, find  in  the  county  the  northern  limit  of  their  general 
distribution  in  Britain  during  the  breeding  season  ;  though 
they  have  been  known  to  nest  occasionally  or  singly  in  dis- 
tricts still  further  north. 

The  Raven,  Buzzard,  and  Peregrine  Falcon,  all  formerly 
resident  in  some  abundance,  are  now  restricted  to  a  few  pairs 
of  each  species  still  attempting  to  breed  annually,  the  Buzzard, 


INTRODUCTION.  xli 

once  so  common  among  the  crags  of  the  Yorkshire  fells,  being 
now  the  rarest  of  the  three,  though  it  is  highly  gratifying 
to  announce  that  it  succeeded  in  rearing  young  during  1906. 
The  elegant  little  Goldfinch,  although  widely  distributed  in 
the  county,  is  extremely  local  and  nowhere  numerous.  The 
Sheld-duck  is  one  of  the  most  local  birds  which  nest  in 
Yorkshire,  only  two  breeding  haunts  being  known. 

Yorkshire  Heronries  have  greatly  decreased  during  the 
past  century.  Those  now  in  existence  are  enumerated  when 
treating  of  the  Heron. 

Of  the  thirty-two  SUMMER  VISITANTS,  the  Nightingale, 
Reed  Warbler,  Wryneck,  Turtle-Dove,  and  Stone  Curlew 
reach  in  Yorkshire  the  northern  limit  of  their  annual  distribu- 
tion during  the  nesting  season.  The  Wryneck  and  Turtle- 
Dove  have,  however,  been  known  in  isolated  instances  to 
rear  their  young  in  localities  further  north. 

The  local  and  interesting  bird,  the  Pied  Flycatcher,  is 
probably  more  abundant  than  in  any  other  British  county,  its 
breeding  haunts  being  numerous  and  widely  diffused. 

The  Lesser  Tern  has  a  single  breeding  station.  It  is 
somewhat  singular  that  Yorkshire,  having  this  species  and 
the  Ringed  Plover  in  abundance,  should  not  be  able  to  include 
among  its  breeding  birds  the  larger  species  of  Terns,  though  it 
is  possible  they  formerly  bred  at  the  Teesmouth. 

The  fifty-five  WINTER  VISITANTS  do  not  include  many 
species  which  merit  special  mention,  but  the  following  are 
uncommon  birds  of  annual  occurrence  : — The  Great  Grey 
Shrike,  Shore  Lark,  and  Rough-legged  Buzzard.  Some 
birds  of  this  class,  as  the  Hooded  Crow,  Crossbill,  and 
Short-eared  Owl,  have  in  isolated  instances  been  known  to 
breed  in  the  county ;  whilst  the  Tufted  Duck  may  now  be 
classed  as  breeding  regularly. 

None  of  the  twenty-nine  BIRDS  OF  PASSAGE  admit  of  much 
comment.  The  Pgymy  Curlew,  Common  and  Buffon's  Skuas, 
are  amongst  the  least  numerous  ;  while  the  Dotterel  still 
visits  the  county  annually  as  of  old,  but  in  gradually  decreasing 
numbers. 

Of  the  hundred  and  eighteen  OCCASIONAL  and  ACCIDENTAL 


xlii  INTRODUCTION. 

VISITANTS,  the  Bearded  Reedling,  Crested  Titmouse,  Lesser 
Grey  Shrike,  Ortolan  Bunting,  Chough,  and  Golden  Eagle 
are  noticeable  as  of  exceptionally  rare  occurrence. 

The  species  excluded  from  the  Yorkshire  list  are  placed 
between  square  brackets,  in  their  proper  order,  and  although 
their  claims  to  a  place  in  the  county  fauna  must  be  regarded 
as  inadequate,  it  is  quite  possible  that  further  investigation 
may  show  some  of  them  to  have  been  genuine  occurrences. 

Two  species  which  have  occurred  in  Yorkshire — the 
Cuneate-tailed  Gull,  and  Bulwer's  Petrel — have  not  been 
known  to  visit  any  other  British  locality,  and  the  one  last 
named,  until  the  year  1903,  had  not  even  occurred  elsewhere 
in  Europe. 

The  Cuneate-tailed  Gull  is  specially  interesting  from  its 
extreme  rarity ;  and  although  there  is  a  discrepancy  of 
dates  in  the  two  versions  published  at  the  time  of  the  occur- 
rence, there  is  no  ground  for  doubting  its  genuineness. 

[The  Blue-tailed  Bee-eater,  hitherto  recorded  as  a  Durham 
specimen,  actually  occurred  in  Yorkshire  ;  no  other  instance 
is  known  of  its  appearance  in  Europe.]  & 

Amongst  the  species  which  have  occurred  in  this  county, 
of  which  very  few  British  examples  are  known,  may  be  cited 
the  Rock-Thrush,  Orphean  Warbler,  White-spotted  Blue- 
throat,  Lesser  Grey  Shrike,  Tawny  Pipit,  Pine  Grosbeak, 
White-winged  Crossbill,  Eagle  Owl,  American  Bittern,  Red- 
breasted  Goose,  Ruddy  Sheld-duck,  Buffel-headed  Duck, 
KingEider,  Steller's  Duck,  Broad-billed  Sandpiper,  Gull- 
billed  Tern,  and  White- winged  Black  Tern. 

Treating  of  Yorkshire  birds  generally,  it  may  be  remarked 
that  many  resident  birds  are  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  migra- 
tory, shifting  their  quarters  from  one  locality  to  another 
according  to  the  season,  as  for  example  the  Curlew,  which 
breeds  on  the  high  moors  in  the  summer  and  retires  to  the 
shores  during  the  winter,  while  the  Thrush,  Pied  Wagtail,  and 
others  remain  through  that  season  in  much  reduced  numbers. 
Such  a  circumstance,  however,  would  not  in  the  least  militate 
against  the  claim  of  the  species  to  be  considered  as  resident. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  are  species — true  winter  visitants, 


INTRODUCTION.  xliii 

though  ranked  in  some  county  lists  as  residents — of  which 
a  few  are  found  in  the  district  throughout  the  year,  but  they 
cannot  be  regarded  as  "  residents  "  in  the  true  sense  of  the 
term,  for  the  individuals  remaining  through  the  summer 
are  immature  and  non-breeding  birds.  These  remarks  are 
applicable  to  (amongst  other  species)  the  Turnstone  (of  which 
about  a  score  remain  at  Spurn  and  Teesmouth  throughout 
the  summer),  Common  Scoter,  Common  Gull,  and  Red- 
throated  Diver,  all  of  which  are  to  be  found  in  more  or  less 
numbers  on  or  off  the  coast  at  all  seasons.  The  fact  of  indi- 
viduals remaining  in  this  way  is  but  an  exceptional  one, 
not  affecting  the  faunistic  location  of  the  species. 

In  addition  to  the  species  at  the  present  time  regularly 
breeding  in  the  county,  others  must  be  mentioned  as  having 
formerly  nested  annually,  but  which  are  now  entirely  banished 
in  consequence  of  persecution,  or  of  the  great  changes  wrought 
in  their  former  haunts ;  and  instead  of  being  claimable  as 
members  of  the  two  classes  which  furnish  the  breeding  species, 
they  can  now  only  be  ranked  as  Occasional  or  as  Accidental 
Visitants,  of  more  or  less  rare  occurrence. 

Such  species  include  the  Kite,  which  there  can  be  no  doubt 
was  once  very  abundant,  but  of  whose  breeding  the  information 
is  so  meagre  that  only  two  actual  instances  can  be  cited. 
The  three  Harriers,  though  local,  were  once  fairly  abundant, 
the  Hen  Harrier  perhaps,  being  the  least  so,  though  it  is 
now  the  most  frequent  as  a  casual  visitant.  The  Marsh 
Harrier,  on  the  contrary,  is  now  one  of  the  rarest,  whilst 
Montagu's  Harrier  was  the  most  widely  distributed  and  the 
last  to  linger  on  the  Yorkshire  Heaths.  The  Hobby,  earlier 
in  the  past  century,  was  regarded  as  far  from  uncommon 
in  South  Yorkshire,  but  it  is  now  seldom  seen,  and  only  three 
instances  of  its  breeding  in  the  county  can  be  cited.  Although 
the  Bittern  was  formerly  abundant,  and  doubtless  bred  in 
the  county,  there  is  no  positive  record  in  existence  of  a  nest 
or  eggs  having  been  found.  Regarding  the  Bustard,  which 
formerly  had  its  most  northern  residence  in  Britain  on  the 
Wolds  of  Eastern  Yorkshire,  all  the  information  obtainable 
has  been  amassed.  The  Shag,  though  now  quite  unknown 


xliv  INTRODUCTION. 

even  as  a  casual  breeder,  once  nested  in  some  abundance 
on  the  cliffs  at  Flamborough.  It  is  satisfactory  to  have 
information  so  interesting  on  the  high  authority  of  Arthur 
Strickland.  The  former  breeding  of  such  birds  as  the  Black 
Guillemot,  Grey-lag  Goose,  Avocet,  Ruff,  Black-tailed  Godwit, 
and  Black  Tern,  is  mentioned  under  the  head  of  the  respective 
species. 

Such  are  the  principal  losses  which  Yorkshire  has  sustained 
in  breeding  birds,  the  result  chiefly  of  the  changes  which  have 
taken  place  in  the  physical  aspect  of  the  county. 

To  all  rules  there  are,  of  course,  exceptions  ;  and  it  is 
therefore  not  surprising  to  find  that  winter  visitants,  like 
the  Short-eared  Owl,  Hooded  Crow,  and  Tufted  Duck ; 
casual  visitants,  as  the  Bearded  Reedling,  Siskin,  Crossbill, 
Cirl  Bunting,  and  Goshawk,  have  occasionally,  and  in  isolated 
instances,  remained  to  breed. 

With  respect  to  migratory  species,  the  dates  of  arrival 
and  departure  quoted  are  mainly  those  observed  on  the  coast, 
as  more  likely  to  be  reliable  than  observations  made  in  inland 
localities. 

It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  in  addition  to  the  Cuneate- 
tailed  Gull,  and  Bulwer's  Petrel — which  are  unique  as  British 
specimens — there  are  several  other  species  whose  first  men- 
tioned occurrence  in  Britain  was  in  this  county.  Amongst 
these  are  the  Waxwing  (1681),  Red-breasted  Goose  (1766, 
one  also  occurring  near  London  about  the  same  time),  Scops 
Owl  (1805),  Red-footed  Falcon  (April  1830),  Orphean  Warbler 
(1849),  anc*  Lesser  Kestrel  (1867) ;  and  probably  also  the 
Eagle  Owl,  mentioned  by  Pennant  in  1768  as  having  once 
been  shot  in  Yorkshire. 

The  species  added  to  the  Yorkshire  list  in  recent  years 
are  the  Desert  Wheatear,  Barred  Warbler,  Yellow-browed 
Warbler,  Icterine  Warbler,  Blue-headed  Wagtail,  Blue- 
headed  Yellow  Wagtail,  Lesser  Grey  Shrike,  Red-breasted 
Flycatcher,  Serin,  Coues'  Redpoll,  Greenland  Redpoll, 
Northern  or  Russian  Bullfinch,  Siberian  Meadow  Bunting, 
[Blue-tailed  Bee-eater],  Snow  Goose,  American  Wigeon,  Red- 
crested  Pochard,  Rufous  Turtle  Dove,  Capercaillie,  McQueen's 


INTRODUCTION.  xlv 

Bustard,  Red-breasted  Snipe,  Whiskered  Tern,  Mediterranean 
Black-headed  Gull,  Brunnich's  Guillemot,  White-billed 
Northern  Diver,  Levantine  Shearwater.  It  may  also  be 
remarked  of  Tengmalm's  Owl  that  out  of  the  twenty  known 
British  specimens  no  fewer  than  twelve  have  occurred  in  this 
county,  and  three  of  these  Mr.  Clarke  has  had  the  personal 
pleasure  of  adding  on  the  most  unquestionable  authority.  In 
addition  to  this,  numerous  occurrences  of  rare  species — which 
have  hitherto  remained  unpublished — now  appear  for  the 
first  time  in  print. 


THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 


MISTLE-THRUSH. 
Turdus  viscivorus  (Z.). 


Common  resident,  generally  distributed.  An  influx  of  arrivals  from 
the  north  occurs  in  autumn,  some  of  which  move  further  south,  while- 
others  winter. 


The  earliest  mention  of  this  as  a  Yorkshire  bird  is  con- 
tained in  the  Appendix  to  the  Rev.  John  Graves's  "  History 
of  Cleveland,"  dated  1808. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  his  "  Report  on  the  Birds  of  Yorkshire,"" 
prepared  for  the  York  Meeting  of  the  British  Association, 
in  1844,  wrote  of  this  species  as  follows  : — 

Turdus  viscivorus. — Missel  Thrush — Common  over  the  county. 

In  addition  to  being  a  very  generally  distributed  and 
abundant  resident,  flocks  of  immigrant  Mistle-Thrushes 
arrive  on  our  coasts  in  the  autumn  from  Northern  Europe, 
where  the  bird  is  to  some  extent  a  summer  visitant ;:  »tl*U£ 
at  Redcar  on  4th  October  1884,  at  8  a.m.,  flocks*  were 
"  coming  in,"  the  wind  being  N.W.  and  fresh  (Sixtfi  I^igfcaiipii 
Report,  p.  41)  ;  and  on  nth  October  1885,  there*  occurred 
a  great  "  rush  "  at  Teesmouth  (Seventh  Migration  Report, 
p.  38).  They  are  less  noticed  at  the  Light  Stations  than 
any  other  of  the  genus,  being  frequently  confounded  with 
Fieldfares,  and  both  species  indifferently  designated  as  "  large 
grey  thrushes."  Some  of  these  immigrants  no  doubt  remain 
with  us  during  the  winter  months,  and  may  leave  us  for  a 
more  southerly  clime  on  the  first  really  severe  weather. 

VOL  i.  •  B 


2  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Our  indigenous  birds  however  seem  to  be  of  a  strictly  resident 
turn,  frequenting  as  a  rule  the  vicinity  of  their  chosen  haunts, 
except  in  very  severe  seasons,  when  they  are  compelled  to 
migrate  southward.  In  the  exceptional  winters  of  1878-79 
and  1879-80,  their  numbers  were  very  materially  reduced, 
and  for  the  following  year  or  two  their  diminished  ranks 
were  the  theme  of  many  notes.  They  quickly  recovered, 
however,  and  in  two  or  three  years'  time  were  again  plentiful. 
Again  in  1894-95  they  perished  in  thousands,  and  were  almost 
exterminated  in  the  East  Riding.  Now  they  are  quite  as 
numerous  as  ever. 

This  bird  nests  in  a  variety  of  situations,  being  equally 
at  home  and  well-known  in  the  more  secluded  gardens  around 
our  large  towns,  in  orchards  and  woodlands,  in  the  alders 
bordering  our  upland  streams,  in  the  fir  plantations  which 
so  frequently  fringe  the  moors,  while  in  some  instances  nests 
have  been  found  on  the  very  moorlands  themselves,  occupying 
a  place  in  a  stone  fence  (Nat.  1888,  p.  264,  and  1889,  p.  52). 
In  May  1903,  Mr.  James  Backhouse  noted  a  nest  on  Penyghent 
at  1350  feet  elevation,  and  on  the  I4th  of  the  same  month, 
Mr.  H.  Lazenby  reported  one  on  the  ground  on  a  Wensley- 
dale  fell  side ;  on  6th  April  1897,  I  saw  one  containing  three 
eggs,  in  a  low  branch  of  a  holly  tree  at  Potto  Grange,  in 
Cleveland,  within  five  feet  of  the  ground  ;  in  1903  a  nest, 
with  young,  was  found  in  a  standard  plum  tree  in  the  Harrogate 
Hydro  gardens,  four  feet  from  the  ground ;  several  were 
'spenf  in: that  locality,  and  also  at  Beverley,  in  even  lower 
,s,ituatipnsr,.some  being  at  no  greater  elevation  than  two  feet. 
rfb.e:  Species  is  certainly  double  brooded,  and,  in  an  orchard 
at  Beverley,  the  same  nest  has  been  used  for  both  broods  ; 
in  the  last  week  of  March  1871,  an  old  bird  was  found  sitting 
on  four  eggs,  which  hatched  early  in  April,  and  on  the  igth 
of  May  the  nest  again  contained  four  more  young  birds. 
The  earliest  nest  known  to  me  had  eggs  in  the  first  week  of 
March,  though  at  Beverley  a  hen  bird  was  sitting  on  eggs  on 
27th  February  1903. 

The  gizzards  of  young  birds  examined  by  Mr.   George 


SONG  THRUSH.  3 

Roberts  of  Lofthouse,  near  Wakefield,  contained  caterpillars, 
flies,  elytra  of  beetles,  and  numerous  "  minute  white  round 
bodies  resembling  the  eggs  of  insects."  After  the  breeding 
season  the  birds  pack,  and  on  the  occasion  of  the  Hawes 
Meeting  of  the  Yorkshire  Naturalists'  Union  on  28th  June 
1884,  a  large  party  was  observed  swooping  down  the  fell 
side,  uttering  their  characteristic  "  churring  "  note.  These 
gatherings  have,  in  not  a  few  instances,  no  doubt  been  reported 
a~.  early  Fieldfares. 

A  variety  obtained  near  Patrington,  some  few  years  ago, 
formerly  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Philip  W.  Loten,  and  now 
in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Marshall  of  Taunton,  has  the  ground 
colour  of  the  feathers  white,  while  the  spots  and  other  mark- 
ings are  of  the  usual  tint. 

This  bird  is  very  generally  known  as  the  Storm-cock,  or 
Stormy.  In  Cleveland,  from  its  early  song,  it  is  dubbed 
Jeremy  Joy  (January  Joy),  and  in  some  parts  Wood  Throstle, 
Rattle  Thrush,  and  Golden  Thrush ;  in  parts  of  the  East 
Riding  it  is  Charlie  Cock ;  in  Craven  it  is  called  Churcock 
and  Charlie  Cock ;  at  Sedbergh,  Shercock  ;  and  in  Teesdale, 
Pickie.  Old  Yorkshire  names  are  Hollin  Cock  (Zool.  1848, 
p.  2290),  and  Norman  Thrush  (Swainson). 


SONG     TH  RUSH. 
Turdus  musicus  (/.)• 


Resident,  common,  generally  distributed  ;  less  numerous  in  winter. 
In  autumn  there  is  an  influx  of  migrants  from  the  Continent,  some  of 
which  move  southward  later. 


Probably  the  earliest  mention  of  the  Thrush,  as  a  York- 
shire bird,  was  made  by  Marmaduke  Tunstall,  F.R.S.,  a 
Yorkshireman  and  an  ornithologist  of  repute,  who  resided 
at  Wycliffe-on-the-Tees,  in  the  i8th  century  (1743-1790),  and 


4  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

who  mentioned  this  species  as  "  singing  in  the  north  in 
December." 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Turdus  tmisicus. — Song  Thrush — Generally  diffused. 

The  Thrush  is  a  resident  species,  abundant  in  most  districts 
in  the  summer  months,  quite  the  reverse  during  the  winter, 
and  though  the  numbers  were  markedly  reduced  by  the 
Arctic  winters  of  1878-79,  and  1879-80,  and  again  in  1894-95, 
it  is  now  quite  as  numerous  as  before.  In  the  wilder  portions 
of  the  county  it  becomes  scarcer,  and  while  it  is  almost  un- 
known on  the  moorlands,  its  occurrence  in  Nidderdale  has 
been  recorded  up  to  at  least  twelve  hundred  feet.  The  York- 
shire Thrushes  are  partially  migratory ;  on  the  approach 
of  autumn  the  great  majority  move  south,  many,  however, 
stay  with  us  during  the  drear  months,  along  with  immigrants 
from  the  north.  The  resident  birds  enliven  us  by  their  cheery 
song  during  the  finer  days  of  winter,  and  until  the  main 
body  returns  in  the  earliest  days  of  spring. 

This  bird,  being  a  summer  visitant  to  Scandinavia r 
migrants  from  the  north,  as  we  might  naturally  expect, 
arrive  on  our  shores  during  October  and  November  (see 
British  Association  Report),  along  with  Fieldfares  and  Red- 
wings. Two  were  captured  on  a  vessel,  fourteen  miles  off 
Whitby,  on  7th  October  1833  (Edward  Blyth).  The  British 
Association  Migration  Reports  contain  many  entries,  too- 
numerous  for  recapitulation  here,  respecting  this  autumn 
movement,  from  which  it  may  be  gathered  that  the  great 
"  rushes "  of  these  birds  occur  in  October,  and  generally 
about  the  middle  of  that  month.  At  this  season  they  are 
sometimes  found  dead  below  the  lighthouses ;  several  were 
killed  against  Flamborough  light  in  the  autumn  of  1888. 
The  winter  migration,  due  to  the  severity  of  the  weather, 
occasionally  extends  beyond  the  usual  period,  and  almost 
overlaps  the  return  passage  ;  thus  in  1892  I  noticed  Thrushes 
migrating  from  N.E.  on  the  24th  of  January.  In  the  spring 
these  hyperborean  Thrushes  again  visit  us  on  their  north- 
ward passage,  and  at  Flamborough  Lighthouse,  on  the  early 


Mistle  Thrush  at  Nest,  feeding  young. 

H.  Lazenby. 
See  page  3. 


SONG  THRUSH.  5 

morning  of  I2th  March  1877,  the  weather  being  hazy,  several 
struck  the  lantern  ;  again  on  27th  April  1883,  one  was  killed  ; 
on  the  7th  May  of  the  same  season  four  more  were  immolated, 
while  on  7-8 th  February  1899,  many  perished  at  the  same 
light  station.* 

Nidification  commences  early,  for  it  is  not  an  uncommon 
event  to  find  young  birds  some  days  old  early  in  April,  and 
nests  and  eggs  have  been  seen  in  the  county  much  earlier, 
while  during  the  abnormally  mild  winter  of  1843,  a  nest  with 
three  eggs  was  found  near  Campsall,  in  South  Yorkshire,  on 
Christmas  Day  (Schroeder's  "  Annals  of  Yorkshire,"  1851,  p. 
350)  ;  in  1900,  one  with  two  eggs  was  recorded  at  Pannal, 
near  Harrogate,  on  I7th  December  ;  and  another,  containing 
a  complement  of  four,  was  discovered  at  Yearby,  near  Redcar, 
on  i8th  February  1904.  The  latest  date  known  to  me  for 
eggs  is  the  27th  July  ;  though  young  ones,  about  ten  days 
old,  were  noted  near  Bradford  on  28th  August  1905.  Occa- 
sionally eggs  marked  with  large  red  spots,  or  rather  blotches, 
are  obtained  ;  spotless  examples  are  frequently  found,  and 
a  clutch  of  the  unusual  number  of  eight,  was  described  by 
Mr.  Leonard  Gaunt  of  Farsley  (in  Hit.  2ist  April  1901). 

The  Throstle,  as  it  is  locally  called,  is  double-brooded, 
and  sometimes  rears  both  broods  in  the  same  home.  This 
species,  like  the  Blackbird,  has  been  known  to  nest  on  the 
ground,  and  several  instances  of  this  departure  from  its 
usual  habit  are  known  in  Yorkshire  ;  a  most  unusual  number 
was  found  in  the  spring  of  1903,  the  long  continuance  of 
gales  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  having  probably  induced 
the  birds  to  select  low  situations.  A  curious  nesting  site 
is  described  in  the  Naturalist  (1876,  p.  155),  an  old  tea-kettle 
hung  on  a  branch  in  a  plantation  near  Huddersfield  having 
been  selected  ;  but  a  yet  more  unusual  position  was  chosen 
at  Netherton,  near  Huddersfield,  on  a  ledge  of  an  iron  pillar, 


*  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  has  published  a  very  complete  account  of  the 
migration  of  this  species  in  the  Report  of  the  British  Association  for 
,900,  pp.  404-409. 


6  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

in  the  front  of  the  Station,  where  trains  and  passengers  were 
continually  moving  by ;  here  a  brood  was  reared  in  1900. 
and  the  birds  built  again  in  the  following  year,  and  succeeded 
in  again  rearing  young  (op.  cit.  1900,  pp.  164,  240,  and  1901, 
p.  352).  The  late  Canon  J.  C.  Atkinson  of  Danby,  gave 
an  instance  in  the  Zoologist  (1875,  p.  4456),  of  a  Thrush's 
nest  lined  like  that  of  a  Blackbird. 

A  variety  obtained  in  Holderness  had  the  markings  normal, 
but  the  general  colour  of  a  "  rusty-buff  or  yellowish  sandy 
hue  throughout "  (op.  cit.  1877,  p.  256)  ;  and  in  the  Burton 
Agnes  collection  there  is  a  similarly  coloured  example  shot 
by  Sir  H.  Boynton  at  Barmston,  in  1876. 

The  local  names  are  not  many  or  varied — Throlly,  Throstle, 
Thrushie,  and  Mavis  being  the  only  ones  in  use. 


REDWING. 
Turdus  iliacus  (/-). 


Regular  winter  visitant,  but  variable  in  numbers  ;   generally  arrives 
from  early  in  October  to  the  end  of  November. 


The  earliest  mention  of  this  species,  as  a  Yorkshire  bird, 
appears  to  be  in  1791,  in  the  Allan  MS.  in  connection  with 
the  Tunstall  Museum,  where  it  is  stated  that  Wind  Thrush  is 
a  name  given  to  the  bird  in  this  county.  ("  Fox's  Synopsis," 

p.  63.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Turdus  iliacus. — Redwing — Frequent  in  winter. 

Though  there  are  not  a  few  records  of  parties  of  Redwings 
arriving  in  the  county  during  the  latter  days  of  September. 
the  early  part  or  middle  of  the  following  month  must  be 
regarded  as  the  usual  date  for  its  advent ;  many  appear 
in  October  and  in  November,  along  with  Fieldfares  ;  later 
in  the  year,  owing  to  adverse  climatic  conditions,  emigra- 
tions take  place  in  December  and  in  January.  On  the  7th 


REDWING.  7 

of  the  latter  month,  in  1892,  I  noticed  a  passage  of  Redwings 
at  Redcar,  during  a  north-east  gale,  with  heavy  snow,  and 
many  were  reported  at  Flamborough  light  on  the  7th  and 
8th  February  1899.  In  I^79  ^he  various  migrations  of  the 
Redwing  extended  on  the  east  coast  over  65  days,  from  the 
nth  September  to  the  2nd  December ;  in  1880,  from  the 
6th  September  to  the  29th  October  54  days ;  and  in  1881 
it  extended  over  three  months.  There  were  great  flights 
with  other  small  birds  in  October  1882,  but  in  the  year  1885 
the  greatest  "  rush  "  ever  known  occurred.  It  took  place 
in  two  flights,  from  the  I5th  to  the  I7th  October,  night  and 
day,  and  again  from  the  7th  to  the  I7th  November  (Sixth 
Migration  Report).  At  Redcar,  on  2ist  to  23rd  October 
1884,  there  was  an  incessant  day  and  night  migration.  I 
heard  flocks  passing  overhead  during  the  small  hours  of 
morning  on  each  of  these  dates,  and  saw  many  crossing 
between  9  a.m.  and  dusk.  Rushes  took  place  also  at  Spurn 
and  Flamborough  in  October  1896  and  1898.  Like  others 
of  their  genus,  they  are  sometimes  killed  by  striking  against 
the  lanterns  at  the  lighthouses.  After  their  arrival  they 
become  generally  distributed  and  common  over  the  county 
throughout  the  winter,  save  in  very  severe  seasons,  when 
they  either  move  further  south  or  perish  in  great  numbers — 
this  species  being  the  first  to  feel  the  pangs  of  hunger — 
and  become  conspicuous  by  their  absence. 

During  the  excessively  severe  weather  in  December  1878, 
there  was  an  immense  migration  of  these  birds  on  the  Cleve- 
land coast.  A  heavy  snowstorm,  with  a  gale  from  the  north- 
east, commenced  on  the  9th,  and  flocks  of  Redwings,  with 
a  few  Fieldfares  and  other  small  birds,  passed  over  all  day, 
going  north-west,  both  along  shore  and  over  the  sand-hills. 
This  passage  continued  almost  without  intermission,  while 
daylight  prevailed,  until  the  I2th,  when  the  Redwings  became 
fewer,  and  Fieldfares  predominated  until  the  2ist,  then 
the  migration  ceased.  Thousands  succumbed,  or  were  so 
pinched  by  hunger  that  they  actually  entered  the  busy 
thoroughfares  of  Leeds  and  other  towns  in  search  of  food. 


8  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

At  Flamborough  they  were  noticed  daily  resorting  to  the 
shore  at  low  water  to  search  for  food  among  the  seaweed 
and  refuse  fish,  and  when  the  tide  rose  they  sought  shelter  at 
the  base  of  the  cliffs,  where  scores  perished. 

Their  sojourn  extends  until  April,  and  the  27th  of  that 
month  is  my  latest  date  for  their  departure.  The  Redwing 
is  reported  to  have  nested  in  the  county  on  several  occasions, 
and  although  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  evidence  is  not 
conclusive,  it  is  yet  of  such  a  nature  as  to  be  worthy  of 
recapitulation.  John  Hogg,  in  his  "  Catalogue  of  Birds  of 
N.W.  Cleveland  and  S.E.  Durham"  (Zool.  1845,  p.  1056), 
stated,  "  Mr.  J.  W.  Ord  has  informed  me  that  a  Redwing's 
nest  with  four  eggs  was  found  at  Kildale  in  1840.  John  Bell, 
Esq.,  M.P.,  has  two  of  those  eggs,  and  the  other  two  are  at 
Kildale  Hall,  in  the  possession  of  E.  H.  Turton,  Esq." 

Under  the  heading  of  "  Nesting  of  the  Redwing  in  North 
Yorkshire,"  Major  H.  W.  Feilden  wrote  (op.  cit.  1873,  pp. 
3411-12)  :  "  The  following  note  to  an  article  on  Natural 
History,  by  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Atkinson,  appears  in  the  People's 
Magazine  for  December  1872,  p.  379 :  '  I  obtained  four 
eggs  about  ten  years  ago  from  a  nest  in  Commondale  (North 
Yorkshire),  about  which,  from  the  circumstances  connected 
with  bird,  nest,  and  eggs,  there  could  be  no  reasonable  ground 
of  doubt  as  to  their  origin.  Only  I  did  not  see  the  bird  myself  * 
I  received  the  eggs  and  the  account  from  a  person  whose  father 
had  been  a  gamekeeper,  and  whose  own  habits  have  led 
him  to  act  often  as  amateur  keeper,  and  had  made  him 
familiar  with  various  birds  and  animals.  Hence  the  eggs, 
when  shown  to  some  metropolitan  egg  authorities,  were 
pronounced  not  Redwing's  but  Ring  Ouzel's  eggs.  However, 
during  the  past  spring  a  Redwing's  nest  and  eggs,  together 
with  the  parent  bird  herself,  have  been  obtained  at  Glaisdale, 
another  district  (originally  of  the  same  parish  to  which  the 
Commondale  mentioned  above  belongs)  ;  the  person  meeting 
with  them  being  a  very  competent  ornithologist  and  ex- 

*  The  italics  are  ours. 


FIELDFARE.  9 

perienced  egg-collector.  The  fact  that  the  Redwing  does 
occasionally  breed  in  North  Yorkshire,  and  I  think  not  so 
very  unfrequently,  is  an  interesting  one,  and  therefore  not 
unworthy  of  record  here.'  " 

A  buff  variety,  with  light  grey  markings,  and  the  red 
patch  of  a  paler  shade,  was  procured  by  Mr.  Alwin  S.  Bell, 
near  Scarborough,  about  1855  (Zool.  1870,  p.  2343),  a  white 
one,  with  red  flanks  and  axillaries,  about  1891-92,  is  recorded 
at  Ackworth ;  a  pied  specimen  at  Monckton  (Nidd.),  and  a 
white  one  in  the  Beverley  district  in  October  1903. 

In  Cleveland  it  is  locally  known  as  Swinepipe,  from  its 
note.  Wind  Thrush  is  a  Yorkshire  name  given  by  Allan  in 
1791  (Fox's  "  Synopsis,"  p.  63) ;  in  the  Western  Ainsty 
Redwing  Felfer  is  in  use  ;  and  Felfer  at  Ackworth  and  Scar- 
borough, being,  doubtless,  confused  with  the  Fieldfare.  In 
Staithes  and  Loftus  district  it  is  called  Redwing  Throlly. 


FIELDFARE. 
Turdus  pilaris  (£.)• 

Winter  visitant,  common  ;  generally  arrives  in  October  and  Novem- 
ber, and  remains  in  spring  until  April,  or,  occasionally,  the  middle  of 
May.  Its  numbers  vary  greatly  in  different  seasons. 


Historically,  as  a  Yorkshire  bird,  the  Fieldfare  claims 
ancestry  of  great  antiquity,  for  we  find  in  the  ordinances 
as  to  the  price  of  food  in  the  city  of  York  in  the  year  1393 — 
the  i6th  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Richard  the  Second— that 
the  "  price  for  twelve  Fieldfares  be  twopence." 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Turdus  pilaris.— Fieldfare— W.  Eddison  says  :  "  I  am  well  assured 
that  both  this  winter  visitant  and  Iliacus  very  frequently  stay  the  year 
round  in  several  places  near  Huddersfield,  and  that  he  has  many  times 
seen  them  in  the  summer  months  ;  mention  is  also  made  of  its  breed- 
ing in  Yorkshire  by  W.  Yarrell.  It  bred  last  year  at  Lepton,  near 
Huddersfield." 


io  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  remark  that  there  is  not  a 
particle  of  evidence  as  to  the  Fieldfare  ever  having  nested 
in  the  county ;  indeed,  all  we  know  on  the  subject  is 
contained  in  Allis's  statements,  quoted  above ;  so  that 
what  Tunstall  said  of  this  species  one  hundred  and  twenty 
years  ago  is  true  to-day — namely,  "  I  have  known  them 
in  the  north  as  far  as  the  latter  end  of  March,  yet 
never  heard  them  sing,  or  that  they  built  there  "  (Tunst. 
MS.  1784,  p.  63). 

As  an  abundant  and  widely  distributed  winter  visitant, 
it  arrives  in  flocks,  usually  during  the  latter  half  of  October 
and  in  November,  and  remains  until  April.  The  young  of 
the  year  come  first,  the  old  birds  in  separate  flocks,  and 
later  in  the  season.  In  some  years  the  autumn  immigration 
commences  as  early  as  the  end  of  September,  as  in  1875 
for  instance,  and  occasionally  odd  birds  are  noted  early  in 
that  month.  In  1903  I  saw  one  crossing  the  Tees  Break- 
water on  the  22nd  September,  while  Mr.  Boyes  has  seen  one 
in  summer,  though  this  was  probably  a  bird  unable  to  migrate 
with  its  fellows  in  spring.  Passages  southward  in  search  of 
retreats  from  severe  cold  take  place  in  December,  January, 
and  even  in  February.  On  24th  January  1880,  numbers 
arrived  on  the  Holderness  coast ;  nor  was  this  late  movement 
confined  to  the  east  coast  of  Britain,  for  Herr  Gatke  informed 
Mr.  Cordeaux  that  from  the  2ist  to  the  24th  of  that  month 
quantities  crossed  Heligoland  from  the  east.  Like  its  con- 
geners, those  which  remain  with  us  over  severe  seasons  suffer 
much,  and  during  the  winter  of  1879-80  it  was  very  scarce 
after  the  Arctic  weather  of  the  preceding  year,  when  there 
occurred  a  most  extensive  immigration  from  more  northern 
latitudes,  which  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  witness.  It 
commenced  on  9th  December,  with  a  snowstorm  and  N.E. 
gale  of  exceptional  severity  ;  a  few  flocks  of  Fieldfares  passed 
with  Redwings  (see  p.  6),  and  increased  in  numbers  day  by 
day,  until  the  I2th,  when  the  Redwings  became  fewer  and 
the  Fieldfares  predominated ;  this  movement  along  shore 
and  over  the  sand-hills  continued  daily,  and  all  day,  gradually 


FIELDFARE.  n 

becoming  less,  until  the  2ist,  when  the  immigration  ceased 
(Zool.  1879,  P-  212). 

Several  references  to  this  bird  are  contained  in  the  Migration 
Reports  which  need  not  be  enumerated  here,  though  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  in  1880  migration  extended  over  eighty 
days,  from  Qth  September  to  27th  November,  and  in  the 
following  year  from  I4th  September  to  30th  November. 
Extraordinary  "  rushes  "  took  place  on  I5th  to  i6th  October 
and  8th  to  I2th  November  1885  ;  27th  to  28th  October  1891, 
both  at  Spurn  and  Flamborough  ;  on  loth  November  1899 
at  Redcar  and  Flamborough,  when  hundreds  of  thousands 
came  in  large  flocks ;  and  I4th  November  1900.  Late 
movements,  since  1880,  were  noted  on  nth  to  I4th  December 
1882  ;  I3th  to  I5th  January  1883 ;  4th  February  1893, 
when  they  swarmed  at  night  round  the  lantern  at  Flam- 
borough  ;  January  1894 ;  and,  on  23rd  December  1900, 
there  was  an  enormous  immigration  at  Redcar,  in  flocks 
of  from  five  to  eight  in  number,  with  a  strong  S.W.  wind 
and  keen  frost ;  they  were  passing  from  daylight  to  dark, 
evidently  fleeing  before  a  severe  snowstorm,  which  broke 
over  Cleveland  the  same  night.* 

Prior  to  leaving  for  its  breeding  haunts,  the  Fieldfare 
in  some  districts  assembles  in  great  numbers,  and  there  is 
a  small  plantation  bordering  the  stream  traversing  a  secluded 
dell  in  Washburndale  where  in  mid-April  Mr.  W.  Eagle 
Clarke  has  seen  hundreds,  and  heard  them  incessantly  chatter- 
ing for  several  days  before  departure.  During  this  conclave 
they  are  very  restless,  taking  short  flights  en  masse,  but 
returning  after  a  short  absence.  There  are  many  instances 
of  this  bird's  stay  during  May,  some  up  to  the  middle  of 
that  month. 

In  hard  winters  this  species  feeds  on  Swede  turnips  on  the 
high  Wolds  of  the  East  Riding. 

Several    records    exist    of    pied    specimens    having    been 


*  A  very  complete  history  of  the  Fieldfare's  migratory  movements 
is  written  by  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  (see  Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.,  1902). 


12  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

seen  or  captured  in  the  county.  A  light  buff  variety  at 
Wakefield  was  noted  by  the  late  William  Talbot  in  1873, 
and  an  example  of  a  mottled  plumage,  as  though  sprinkled 
with  snow,  was  obtained  at  Easington,  Holderness,  in 
December  1894. 

A  general  vernacular  name  is  Fellfer,  Felfer,  or  Fellfor  ; 
on  the  East  Riding  Wolds  it  is  Blueback  ;  in  Teesdale,  Feldy  ; 
at  Sedbergh,  Felfit ;  in  Cleveland,  Fenty,  or  Felty  Fare  ; 
at  Redcar  it  is  known  as  Tom  Piper ;  in  Staithes  and  Loftus 
district  it  is  Slate-backed  Throstle  ;  while  Bluetail  is  a  local 
name  in  vogue  in  several  west  and  North  Riding  districts  ; 
Bluerump  about  Doncaster  ;  and  Chucker  is  a  term  applied 
to  it  in  Nidderdale. 


WHITE'S     THRUSH. 

Turdus  varius  (Pallas). 


Accidental  visitant  from  Eastern  Asia,  of  extremely  rare  occurrence. 


The  peregrinations  by  which  this  species  reaches  Britain 
are  very  remarkable.  A  summer  visitant  to,  and  breeding 
in,  Central  and  Eastern  Siberia  and  Northern  China,  White's 
Thrush  winters  in  South- Western  China,  Southern  Japan, 
and  the  Philippine  Islands.  And  since  wre  have  chiefly 
authentic  evidence  of  its  occurrence  in  Yorkshire  in  the  fall 
and  winter,  we  may  conclude  that  this  species  has  journeyed 
very  far  west  during  the  autumn  passage,  crossing  half  Asia 
and  the  whole  of  Europe,  instead  of  undertaking  the  normal 
and  much  shorter  south-east  route. 

This  bird  has  been  recorded  to  have  occurred  on  six 
occasions  in  Yorkshire.  One  of  these  is  considered  to  be 
open  to  doubt — namely,  that  mentioned  by  the  late  Canon 


WHITE'S  THRUSH.  13 

Atkinson  as  observed  in  the  spring  of  1870  on  his. lawn  at 
Danby-in-Cleveland,  which  he  carefully  examined  on  two 
occasions  with  a  binocular  glass,  and  mentioned  in  the  Zoologist 
(1870,  p.  2142),  and  at  greater  length  in  "  Forty  Years  in  a 
Moorland  Parish  "  (p.  328),  as  this  species.  We  may,  how- 
ever, agree  with  Professor  Newton  in  his  opinion  (Yarrell — 
"  British  Birds,"  i.  p.  252),  that  "  this  well-known  observer 
is  hardly  likely  to  have  been  mistaken." 

There  is  evidence  that  an  example,  said  to  have  been 
shot  at  Almondbury  Bank,  near  Huddersfield,  in  1864,  was 
not  a  genuine  Yorkshire  bird. 

In  the  latter  part  of  November  1878,  the  late  Martin 
Simpson,  curator  of  the  Whitby  Museum,  received  a  bird  of 
this  species,  which  had  been  killed  by  coming  in  contact 
with  the  telegraph  wires  near  that  town  (ZooL  1880,  p.  68). 
The  specimen  is  now  in  the  Whitby  Museum,  where  I  have 
seen  it. 

During  the  first  week  in  November  1881,  a  White's  Thrush 
was  shot  at  Rimswell,  near  Withernsea,  in  Holderness,  by 
Mr.  W.  J.  Tuton,  who  mistook  it  for  a  Woodcock  as  it  rose 
from  a  low,  thick  hedge  close  to  him.  This  individual  was 
formerly  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  R.  T.  Burnham  of  Rimswell, 
who  supplied  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  with  these  particulars, 
and  gave  him  several  opportunities  of  examining  his  beautiful 
specimen,  which  is  now  in  the  York  Museum. 

One  was  obtained  at  Waplington  Manor,  near  Pocklington, 
early  in  January  1882,  by  Mr.  Frank  Leeman,  in  whose 
possession  it  is,  being  recorded  by  Mr.  J.  Backhouse  (Field, 
1882,  p.  201,  and  ZooL  1882,  p.  74). 

Finally,  on  the  iSth  December  1902,  one  was  taken  at 
Luddenden  Dean,  Halifax,  and  brought  in  the  flesh  to  the 
curator  of  the  Belle  Vue  Museum,  the  late  Mr.  J.  Cunningham, 
whose  opinion  as  to  its  identity  was  confirmed  by  Mr.  A. 
Crabtree,  F.L.S.,  and  the  particulars  thereof  communicated 
by  him  to  the  Halifax  Naturalist,  February  1903.  The  speci- 
men is  now  in  the  Halifax  Museum. 

A  peculiarity  of  this  species  which  may  serve  to  distinguish 


I4  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

it  from  other  allied  forms,  is  that  it  possesses  fourteen  tail 
feathers,  instead  of  twelve,  which  is  the  normal  number  in 
birds  of  this  genus. 


BLACKBIRD. 

Turdus  merula  (Z.). 


Resident,  common,  generally  distributed.     An  influx  of  immigrant? 
o:curs  in  autumn. 


The  first  allusion  to  this  species  in  Yorkshire  is  by  the 
celebrated  Marmaduke  Tunstall  (1783),  who  referred  to  pied 
specimens  of  Blackbirds  in  his  possession.  (See  varieties  at 
end  of  this  chapter.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Turdus  merula.— Blackbird — Equally  common  with  the  above 
(Song  Thrush).  A  male  Blackbird  paired  this  season  with  a  female 
Thrush  in  my  own  aviary  (York).  The  Thrush  built  the  nest  and  laid 

0  le  egg,  when  things  were  put  a  stop  to  by  a  Wood  Pigeon,  which  had 
formerly  built  its  nest  in  precisely  the  same  place. 

The  Blackbird  is  a  common  and  generally  distributed 
resident,  occurring  at  a  considerable  elevation  in  the  moorland 
and  fell  districts.  The  late  Canon  J.  C.  Atkinson  observed 
that  foraging  parties  of  these  birds  go  up  from  the  dales  to 
the  moors  in  autumn,  and  picnic  there  for  ten  days  or  a 
fortnight,  while  the  bilberries  are  ripe  ("  Moorland  Parish," 
p.  321).  In  addition  to  this  it  is  a  winter  visitant,  or  an 
autumn  bird  of  passage,  immigrant  Blackbirds  arriving  on 
our  coast  at  dates  varying  from  late  September  to  the  end 
of  November ;  but  they  are  usually  most  abundant  during 
the  last  fortnight  of  October,  when,  along  with  Fieldfares 
and  Redwings,  they  frequently  perish  during  fog  at  the 

1  -.uterus  of  our  sea-marks,  for  their  migrations  are  chiefly 


BLACKBIRD.  15 


undertaken  during  the  hours  of  darkness,  though,  on 
October  1903,  a  continuous  passage  took  place  from  daylight 
to  dusk,  the  birds  coming  direct  from  the  north-east.  The 
great  majority  of  these  migratory  birds  are  young  males  of 
the  year,  with  dark  coloured  bills,  but  on  24th  January  1880, 
there  arrived  on  the  Holderness  coast  many  fine  old  cocks, 
with  great  numbers  of  Fieldfares,  probably  from  Northern 
Europe.  After  their  arrival,  these  birds  appear  to  be  much 
more  fatigued  by  their  passage  than  their  congeners,  and 
shooters  on  the  coast  have  on  several  occasions  had  to  avoid 
treading  them  under  foot.  On  their  return  passage  in  the 
spring  they  are  not  often  reported,  but  during  the  early  morn- 
ing of  I2th  March  1877,  a  few  were  killed  against  the  Flam- 
borough  Beacon,  together  with  several  Fieldfares.  These  birds 
had,  no  doubt,  wintered  to  the  southward  of  these  Islands, 
and  were  on  migration  to  their  native  haunts  ;  the  evidence 
in  favour  of  this  supposition  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that 
every  spring  a  similar  movement  is  observed  in  the  Teesmouth 
area  early  in  March  ;  on  the  I5th  of  that  month,  1904,  a 
cock  Blackbird  came  in  from  eastward  at  Redcar,  early 
in  the  morning,  whistling  merrily  as  he  flew,  and  examples 
are  occasionally  picked  up  dead  on  the  beach,  having  probably 
perished  at  sea  and  been  washed  ashore.  Observations  from 
the  East  Coast,  communicated  to  the  British  Association  Migra- 
tion Committee,  prove  that  unusual  "  rushes  "  took  place  in 
1880,  on  20th  November  ;  in  1883,  on  2ist  September,  28th 
to  3  ist  October,  and  2nd  to  8th  November  ;  and  in  1886,  on 
4th  to  8th  November.  In  addition  to  these,  I  noticed  in  1889 
a  constant  stream  of  immigrants  passing  Redcar  from  mid- 
October  to  mid-November,  and  great  numbers  arrived  in 
October  1895,  1898,  and  1903,  in  the  last  instance  coming 
directly  off  the  sea.  Other  evidence  indicates  that  they 
usually  leave  us  during  February  and  March. 

In  the  exceptionally  severe  winters  of  1878-79,  1879-80, 
and  in  1894-95,  their  ranks  were  greatly  thinned,  thousands 
perishing  of  hunger,  and  in  the  springs  succeeding  these 
years  the  absence  of  Blackbirds  from  their  usual  haunts 


16  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

was  very  noticeable.     They  quickly  recovered,  however,  and 
are  now  quite  plentiful  again. 

An  interesting  note  on  the  nidification  of  this  bird  appears 
in  Neville  Wood's  Naturalist  (1837,  "•  P-  X66),  where  a  pair 
is  recorded  as  having  the  nest  beneath  the  leaves  of  a  large 
brocoli  in  the  garden  at  Wentworth  Castle,  near  Barnsley.  This 
nest  was  completely  buried  by  the  snow,  which  fell  during 
the  first  week  of  April  1837,  but  the  parent  birds  formed 
a  tunnel  beneath  the  snow  over  two  feet  in  length,  and  through 
this  gained  access  to  their  young.  A  nest  at  Masham,  in  1883, 
was  found  in  a  tuft  of  grass  in  a  boggy  field,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1903  an  unusual  number  of  nests  of  both  this  bird  and 
the  Song  Thrush  were  built  on  the  ground,  a  probable  explana- 
tion being  that,  owing  to  the  gales  which  prevailed  in  March, 
the  birds  sought  low  situations.  Many  other  instances  of 
extraordinary  breeding  sites  might  be  quoted,  this  species 
being  of  an  aberrant  nature  as  regards  nesting  ;  but  perhaps 
of  more  interest  is  a  case  of  dual  occupation  at  Firby,  near 
Kirkham  Abbey,  where  a  Blackbird  was  discovered  sitting 
on  four  of  her  own  eggs  and  three  belonging  to  a  Thrush 
(Field,  nth  May  1901).  A  yet  more  extraordinary  departure 
from  the  ordinary  nesting  habits  is  related  by  the  late  Canon 
Atkinson,  who  found  a  nest,  which  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
was  that  of  a  Thrush,  with  eggs  of  an  undoubted  Blackbird 
type,  and  it  was  not  till  the  fourth  egg  was  laid  that  the 
mother  bird  began  to  line  the  nest,  that  then  became  typical 
of  its  owner  ("  Moorland  Parish,"  p.  342).  In  the  last  week  of 
December,  in  the  unusually  mild  season  of  1854,  a  nest  with 
four  eggs  was  found  at  Sneaton  Thorpe,  near  Whitby  ;  and 
curiously  enough,  at  Loftus-in-Cleveland,  a  nest  and  three 
young  were  seen  on  Christmas  Eve,  1865  ;  while  near  Hawsker, 
in  the  last  week  of  December  1902,  a  Blackbird  was  disturbed 
while  incubating  three  eggs  ;  both  these  latter  places  being 
in  the  vicinity  of  Whitby,  one  on  the  north  and  the  other  to 
the  south.  Spotless  eggs  and  others  of  a  very  pale  colour 
are  sometimes  noted,  and  a  clutch  resembling  those  of  a 
Song  Thrush  was  discovered  at  Danby  (torn.  cit.  p.  343) ; 


RING  OUZEL.  17 

two  in  my  collection  are  heavily  marked  with  a  zone  of  blotches 
at  the  broad  end,  the  remainder  of  the  shell  being  almost 
without  spots. 

The  records  relating  to  pied  Blackbirds  are  very  numerous, 
this  species  being  more  subject  to  variation  of  plumage  than 
almost  any  other  British  bird  except  the  House-sparrow. 
Marmaduke  Tunstall  of  Wycliffe,  in  the  North  Riding,  writing 
in  1783,  remarked  :  "  Have  had  many  pied  Blackbirds,  which 
seemed  healthy,  stout  birds,  and  sung  lavishly ;  had  once 
one  quite  white,  but  always  appeared  sickly  and  cramped, 
and  lived  not  long  ;  have  it  now  set  up."  Albinos  are  reported 
at  Sedbergh  in  1900,  and  at  Harrogate  on  2nd  June  1890  ; 
white  examples  at  York  in  October  1882,  and  at  Pateley  on 
2nd  October  1886 ;  a  perfectly  white  specimen  was  seen 
at  large  at  Harewood,  near  Leeds,  in  November  1885  ;  while 
one  observed  on  Strensall  Common,  near  York,  in  April  1880, 
had  a  creamy  white  head,  which  was  sharply  denned  from  the 
remaining  black  plumage  j  and  lastly,  I  examined  a  peculiar 
cinnamon-coloured  bird,  caught  near  Yarm  on  6th  January 
1903. 

Local  names  :  Ouzell  or  Ouizle  (West  Riding) ;  Black 
Ouzel  (Craven) ;  Black  Uzzle  (Cleveland) ;  Blackie  (general 
among  schoolboys). 

There  is  a  saying  among  Cleveland  folk  that  "  Cleveland 
Blackies  are  the  best  in  Yorkshire." 


RING    OUZEL. 

Turdus  torquatus  (L.). 

Summer  visitant,   locally  distributed  ;    also  a   transient  visitant 
in  spring  and  autumn. 


Historically  speaking,  the  earliest  reference  to  this  species 
was  made  by  the  erudite  Martin  Lister  of  York,  who  wrote 

VOL.  I.  c 


i8  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

to  his  celebrated  friend,  John  Ray,  under  date  of  2nd  July 
1676,  as  follows  :  "  As  to  that  question  of  a  Heath  Throstle, 
I  find  that  the  Ring  Ouzel  is  so  called  with  us  in  Craven, 
where  there  is  everywhere  on  the  moors  plenty  of  them." 
("  Correspondence  of  John  Ray,"  p.  125.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  his  Report,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Turdus  torguatus. — Ring  Ouzel — Common  on  high  moorlands  ; 
according  to  Dr.  Farrar,  they  are  sometimes  met  with  in  the  more 
frequented  lowlands.  R.  Leyland  on  one  occasion  saw  a  flock  of  more 
than  twenty  feeding  on  the  berries  of  a  mountain  ash,  in  a  garden  near 
Halifax,  in  the  month  of  September.  Arthur  Strickland  has  once  or 
twice  met  with  considerable  flights  of  this  bird  when  shooting  in  turnips 
in  the  autumn,  probably  collecting  for  emigration,  and  apparently 
consisting  for  the  most  part  of  birds  of  imperfect  plumage,  probably 
birds  of  the  year. 

In  addition  to  being  a  summer  visitant  to  the  broad  belt 
of  moorland  and  the  heather-clad  fells  which  range  along  the 
entire  west  of  the  county  and  to  the  Cleveland  moors,  the 
Ring  Ouzel  occurs  with  great  regularity  as  a  transient  visitor 
in  the  autumn,  from  Northern  Europe,  when  on  its  way 
to  more  southern  winter  quarters,  and  again  in  the  spring 
on  its  return  journey,  but  its  movements  at  the  latter  season 
are  much  mixed  up  with  those  of  our  immigrant  summer 
visitants. 

It  occurs  nearly  every  autumn,  together  with  the  migrant 
Blackbirds,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Beverley,  sometimes 
coming  into  the  gardens,  but  makes  only  a  short  stay,  and, 
after  a  few  days,  passes  on  southward.  It  is  much  rarer  as 
a  spring  migrant,  the  males  at  this  period  singing  loudly 
from  the  bare  ash  trees. 

A  considerable  flight  which  arrived  at  Spurn  on  6th  May 
1888  may  have  been  referable  to  the  Northern  race.  They 
are  occasionally  at  this  season  noted  at  other  coast  stations, 
and  are  sometimes  killed  by  striking  against  the  lanterns  of 
our  lighthouses ;  one  met  its  death  at  Spurn  on  7th  May 
1883,  and  at  Flamborough,  on  20th  April  1897,  another  was 
immolated.  The  information  supplied  to  the  British  Associa- 
tion Migration  Committee  shews  that  in  1882  there  were 


RING  OUZEL.  19 

"  rushes "  on  I2th-I3th  October,  between  Teesmouth  and 
Spurn,  during  a  N.E.  wind,  with  fog  ;  at  Redcar  they  were 
associated  with  Thrushes  and  other  small  birds,  and  again, 
in  1885,  on  6th  October  ;  while  later  observations  prove  that 
large  flights  occurred  in  1889,  on  23rd  October,  and  in  1891 
and  1893  in  the  middle  of  that  month. 

As  a  summer  visitant  in  the  wide  area  occupied  by  its 
habitat,  it  is  as  numerous  as  it  was  two  centuries  ago,  at  the 
time  when  Martin  Lister  wrote  (ante).  It  is  perhaps  most 
abundant  on  the  rolling  heather-lands  of  the  south-west, 
where  the  late  William  Talbot  found  no  fewer  than  thirteen 
nests  during  a  walk  from  Hebden  Bridge  to  Todmorden, 
a  distance  of  but  little  over  two  miles. 

The  Ring  Ouzel  has  on  two  occasions  been  observed  as 
early  as  25th  February ;  in  1893,  at  Kilnsea,  and  in  1901, 
when  Mr.  C.  E.  Milburn  saw  one  on  the  lawn  of  Marton  Hall, 
Cleveland,  and  watched  it  for  half-an-hour.  It  arrives  at 
some  of  its  breeding  haunts  during  the  latter  part  of  March ; 
at  Fewston  it  has  been  known  as  early  as  the  I5th,  but  is 
usually  seen  between  the  I7th  and  the  23rd  of  that  month ; 
in  many  parts  it  does  not  appear  till  the  first  week  in  April, 
sometimes  in  flocks ;  the  cock  is  then  very  noisy,  and  is 
heard  pouring  forth  vehemently  his  stunted  song  from  every 
prominent  crag  or  other  coign  of  vantage. 

These  summer  visitants  quit  the  moors  in  September, 
even  early  in  that  month  visiting  the  lowlands  and  the  coast, 
and,  as  a  rule,  they  leave  the  country  before  October,  though 
a  pair  was  observed  at  Arthington,  in  Wharfedale,  on  2nd 
November  1884. 

In  the  late  autumn,  usually  during  the  closing  days  of 
October,  considerable  numbers  of  these  birds  arrive  on  the 
coast,  and  linger  in  its  immediate  vicinity  for  some  days 
(in  1882  a  couple  of  weeks),  frequenting  tall  old  hedgerows 
of  whitethorn,  where  they  feast  upon  the  haws,  the  gizzards 
of  those  examined  containing  no  other  food.  The  late  J. 
Cordeaux  stated  that  they  are  also  very  partial  to  the  acid 
fruit  of  the  sea-buckthorn,  a  shrub  which  grows  plentifully 


20  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

at  Spurn  ;  and  the  late  Canon  Atkinson  frequently  observed 
large  numbers  in  autumn,  after  bilberries  on  the  moors  are 
exhausted,  come  into  his  garden  at  Danby  to  feed  on  what 
fruit  may  be  available  ("  Moorland  Parish,"  p.  321). 

The  majority  of  the  earlier  immigrants  are  young  of  both 
sexes  and  old  females — these  are  often  difficult  to  distinguish 
amongst  a  hedgeful  of  Blackbirds,  except  by  their  note  and 
greyer  look — the  old  cocks  generally  come  later,  at  the  end  of 
October.  The  numerous  specimens  then  obtained  and 
examined  have  been  in  winter  plumage,  the  males,  which 
largely  predominate,  having  the  gorget  dull  white,  the 
feathers  of  the  throat,  breast,  and  abdomen  edged  with 
greyish  white. 

On  several  occasions  single  birds  have  been  obtained  in 
the  county  in  mid-winter,  namely,  at  Holmfirth  on  25th 
December  1855  (Morris's  Nat.  1856,  iv.  p.  93)  ;  at  Oxenhope, 
near  Keighley,  on  2nd  February  1856  (torn.  cit.  p.  92) ;  at 
Leeds,  in  December  1881,  and  Mr.  Smurthwaite  of  Richmond, 
stated  (op.  cit.  1854,  iy-  P-  81)  that  it  is  sometimes  obtained 
in  December  and  January.  I  have  once  met  with  it  on 
the  Bilsdale  Moors  as  late  as  25th  October  in  1886.  Regarding 
these  birds,  it  would  seem  most  probable  that  they  are  autumn 
visitants  attempting  to  winter  with  us,  rather  than  laggard 
summer  visitants  or  their  young. 

Towards  the  end  of  April  the  nest  may  be  found  either 
on  the  ground  on  a  flat  expanse  or  sloping  bank  of  heather, 
or  else  in  the  heather  fringing  the  brink  of  a  dell  or  moorland 
beck,  or  concealed  in  a  solitary  tuft  on  a  rocky  hill  side,  and 
it  has  also  been  found  placed  between  the  stem  of  a  whin  bush 
and  the  face  of  the  crag.  Clutches,  consisting  of  five  eggs, 
are  occasionally  met  with,  but  four  seems  to  be  the  usual 
number.  The  bird  has  nested  under  Cross  Fell,  in  Cumberland, 
at  2000  feet  elevation,  and  in  Wilsden  district  nests  have  been 
known  placed  upon  the  lateral  branches  of  firs,  and  also  in 
the  face  of  stone  walls  at  the  edge  of  the  moors.  A  Ring 
Ouzel  was  recorded  by  John  Heppenstall  (Zool.  1843,  p.  144), 
to  have  nested  on  the  bank  of  a  peat  drain  on  Thorne  Waste, 


ROCK  THRUSH.  21 

a  low-lying  tract  of  heath  on  the  Lincolnshire  border  of  the 
county,  and  only  a  few  feet  above  sea  level ;  but  the  reported 
instance  of  its  nesting  near  Beverley  (op.  cit.  1865,  p.  9592), 
is  not  to  be  accepted. 

The  Ring  Ouzel  is  not  subject  to  great  variation  in  plumage, 
the  only  instance  of  which  I  am  aware  being  a  beautifully 
marked  specimen  variegated  with  white,  grey  and  black, 
noted  on  the  moors  near  Whitby  on  I3th  August  1889  (Field, 
17  th  August  1889). 

Local  names  are  as  follows  : — Heath  Throstle  (Craven 
1676) ;  Moor  Thrush  (Sedbergh)  ;  Crag  Ouzel  (Craven) ; 
Moor  Blackbird  (Sheffield,  Craven,  and  Scarborough) ; 
Mountain  Blackbird  and  Fell  Blackie  (Sedbergh) ;  Ring 
Uzzle  and  Moor  Blackie  (Cleveland) ;  Collared  Blackie 
(Staithes) ;  Rock  Ouzel  and  Ring  Whistle  (Teesdale). 


ROCK      THRUSH. 
Monticola  saxatilis  (Z.). 


Accidental  visitant  from  Central  or  Southern  Europe. 


This  species  is  a  summer  visitant  to  the  mountainous 
districts  of  Central  and  Southern  Europe,  and  winters  in 
Arabia  and  Africa.  As  a  straggler  it  has  occurred  at  Heligo- 
land, and,  perhaps  on  three  occasions,  in  Britain,  once  in 
our  county. 

Regarding  its  occurrence  near  Whitby,  Mr.  Thomas 
Bedlington  of  Middlesbrough,  writes  as  follows  in  Morris's 
Nat.  for  1856,  p.  21  :  "  In  June  1852  I  saw  a  bird  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Robin  Hood's  Bay  that  I  was  not  acquainted 
with.  I  followed  it  for  about  two  miles,  and  often  got  within 


22  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

a  dozen  yards  of  it  by  creeping  behind  hedges.  In  its  move- 
ments it  was  very  like  a  Thrush,  but  it  was  rather  smaller 
in  size.  I  had  no  gun  with  me,  or  I  could  very  easily  have 
shot  it.  The  bird  got  very  shy  at  last,  I  having  followed 
it  up  very  closely.  It  finally  disappeared  in  a  plantation. 
The  bird  was  a  Rock  Thrush.  I  was  able  to  identify  the 
species  in  a  moment  after  seeing  the  coloured  figure  in  Morris — 
1  British  Birds.'  " 

The  specimen  figured  by  Morris  is  an  adult  male,  a  bird 
which  is,  perhaps,  the  most  unmistakable  from  its  being 
the  most  showy  of  European  species,  and  thus  it  appears 
there  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt  as  to  Mr.  Bedlington's 
identification  of  it. 


WHEATEAR. 
Saxicola  oenanthe  (/A 


Regular  and  early  spring  migrant  ;    fairly  common  where  it  occurs. 
A  great  influx  from  the  north  takes  places  in  autumn. 


The  earliest  published  reference  to  this,  as  a  Yorkshire 
species,  is  by  Ed.  Blyth,  who  stated  (Rennie's  Field  Nat., 
Nov.  1837,  P-  4^7),  that  when  on  the  voyage  from  London, 
northward,  and  about  ten  or  twelve  miles  from  Redcliff, 
on  the  coast  of  Yorkshire,  on  I7th  September,  several  Wheat- 
ears  (with  other  small  birds)  alighted  on  the  vessel,  and  they 
all  left  on  the  first  night  after  their  appearance. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Saxicola  tsnanthe. — Wheatear — One  of  our  earlier  summer  visitants  ; 
common  about  Halifax  ;  and  is  met  with  in  exposed  situations  in  most 
parts  of  the  county,  but  is  becoming  scarcer  than  it  was  formerly. 

The  Wheatear  is  one  of  the  earliest  spring  migrants,  the 
first  comers  generally  arriving  in  March  or  early  April ;  in 


WHEATEAR.  23 

the  south  of  the  county  the  28th  of  March  is  the  average  date 
of  its  first  appearance  ;  in  Cleveland  and  the  north  it  arrives 
about  the  end  of  the  month  or  the  first  week  in  April.  In 
the  year  1870  it  was  reported  as  early  as  6th  March  ;  in  1882 
several  were  at  Spurn  on  the  igth ;  some  arrived  at  Redcar 
on  the  23rd,  and  on  the  same  date  in  1890 ;  in  1893  it  was 
noted  on  the  igth,  and  in  1902  on  8th  March.  There  is  a 
second,  or  supplementary,  arrival  in  May,  usually  in  the 
first  or  second  week,  and  very  noticeable  on  the  coast-line. 

This  lively  bird  is  essentially  an  inhabitant  of  the  wilds, 
and  as  regards  its  distribution  may  be  described  as  somewhat 
local,  being  chiefly  confined  to  the  open  downs,  moors,  com- 
mons, and  other  barren  and  uncultivated  tracts,  although  at 
the  migratory  period  it  is  observed  in  most  parts  of  the  county. 
On  the  sea-coast  it  is  found  among  the  sand-hills  and  rough 
banks,  a  few  pairs  remaining  to  nest ;  in  the  dales  and  on  the 
moorlands  it  is  fairly  common,  ascending  to  the  summits 
of  the  highest  hill,  where  it  breeds,  as,  for  instance,  at  an 
elevation  of  1200  feet,  on  Mickle  Fell.  It  occasionally  nests 
in  the  low  country,  and  has  been  met  with  near  Skelmanthorpe, 
York,  and  at  Eccup,  near  Leeds  (Nat.  1900,  p.  224).  There 
is  a  large  race  or  variety,  of  a  richer  buff  colour  and  with  longer 
legs,  which  is  more  arboreal  in  its  habits  than  the  ordinary 
form,  that  occasionally  passes  through  in  spring ;  it  was 
noticed  in  great  numbers  both  at  Spurn  and  Flamborough 
in  1893,  and  Mr.  E.  P.  Butterfield  has  seen  it  on  the  high 
moors  near  Bradford  after  the  nesting  birds  arrive. 

About  the  middle  of  August  the  return  migration  from 
the  north  commences.  For  many  seasons  I  have  seen  im- 
mense numbers  travelling  along  the  coast  in  this  month 
and  in  September,  when  they  are  often  associated  with 
Redstarts,  and  the  sand-dunes  both  at  the  Tees  and  Humber 
estuaries  are  sometimes  swarming  with  them,  whilst  a  few 
occasionally  linger  until  the  end  of  October ;  at  Spurn,  in 
1880,  one  was  seen  as  late  as  the  27th,  and  in  1883  the  last 
is  recorded  on  the  23rd  of  that  month.  For  greater  know- 
ledge of  its  movements  we  are  indebted  to  the  researches  of 


24  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

the  Migration  Committee,  whose  reports  furnish  abundant 
evidence  of  the  frequency  of  this  bird's  presence  at  the  Light 
stations,  where  it  often  figures  amongst  the  casualities  ;  great 
influxes  have  been  recorded  at  Flamborough,  both  in  spring 
and  autumn,  and  these  "  rushes  "  have  taken  place  in  nine 
different  years  since  1879. 

Although  not  generally  credited  with  imitative  powers 
the  Wheatear  has,  according  to  Saxby  ("  Birds  of  Shetland," 
p.  68),  and  Mr.  J.  E.  Harting  (Field,  2nd  April  1898),  been 
known  to  imitate  the  songs  of  other  birds,  and  in  Yorkshire 
it  has  been  detected  in  the  act  of  mimicing  the  song  of  a 
Skylark,  near  Wilsden  (E.  P.  Butterfield,  in  litt.  and  Field, 
loth  May  1902). 

Sometimes  a  curious  position  is  chosen  for  the  nesting 
site  where  it  would  scarcely  be  suspected.  Among  these 
may  be  mentioned  one  in  the  rough  slag  forming  the  sloping 
front  of  the  sea-wall  opposite  my  house  at  Redcar,  where 
many  people  passed  to  and  fro  daily ;  one  in  Teesdale,  in  a 
hole  on  a  hillside,  whence  four  eggs  of  a  Wheatear  and  one 
of  a  Cuckoo  were  taken ;  another  in  a  hole  in  a  bank  over- 
looking a  stream  at  Adel,  the  hole  being  the  nesting-place  of 
a  Sand  Martin  (Zool.  1880,  p.  301)  ;  and  lastly,  one  found 
in  1886  by  Mr.  R.  Fortune,  placed  two  or  three  feet  below  a 
Peregrine's  eyrie  in  north-west  Yorkshire. 

Of  variations  in  plumage  there  are  several  instances, 
but  it  is  unnecessary  to  cite  more  than  the  following  :  One 
at  Filey,  with  back,  shoulders,  neck,  and  top  of  head  white, 
here  and  there  speckled  with  minute  grey  spots  (op.  cit.  1883, 
p.  79).  Near  Hariogate,  on  i6th  April  1900,  Mr.  K.  McLean 
saw  one  all  white,  except  the  shoulders,  which  were  terra-cotta 
coloured ;  and  near  Settle,  as  Mr.  F.  Atkinson  informs  me, 
there  were,  in  June  1896,  four  albinos  out  of  a  brood  of  five, 
with  whitish  yellow  legs  and  feet,  the  hairs  around  the  mouth 
black,  and  the  bills  yellowish ;  the  feathers  which  are  white 
in  normal  examples,  were  brown,  as  also  were  the  tips  of  the 
primaries. 

This  species  is  the  object  of  various  superstitious  ideas. 


DESERT  WHEATEAR.  25 

and  bears  a  bad  reputation  in  the  North  of  England ;  to 
hear  its  note  is  a  token  of  approaching  death,  the  bird's 
habit  of  frequenting  old  churchyards,  ruins,  and  sepulchral 
cairns  may  be  the  origin  of  this  superstition  (op.  cit.  1867, 
p.  1007).  Its  presence  is  considered  in  some  localities  to 
foretell  the  death  of  the  spectator  ;  in  others  the  evil  fortune 
is  only  considered  likely  to  ensue  if  the  bird  be  first  seen 
on  a  stone ;  but  should  its  appearance  be  first  observed 
whilst  sitting  on  turf  or  grass  good  luck  may  be  expected 
(Swainson). 

The  vernacular  names  are  : — Stonechat,  in  general  use ; 
Chetstone,  Chatty,  Barrow-chat,  used  in  Cleveland ;  Stone- 
chopper,  in  Teesdale ;  White-rump,  at  Barnsley,  Doncaster, 
Sedbergh,  and  in  Cleveland  ;  Wall-chat,  in  the  West  Riding  ; 
Stoney-crop,  at  Barnsley ;  and  Walley  is  given  in  "  Billy 
Roberts's  "  Leeds  list. 


DESERT  WHEATEAR. 

Saxicola  desert!  (Temm). 


Accidental  visitant  in  autumn  from  Northern  Africa,  of  extremely 
rare  occurrence. 


As  its  name  indicates,  this  Wheatear,  also  called  the 
Desert  Chat,  is  found  in  dry,  sandy  regions  ;  Northern  Africa, 
Persia,  Afghanistan,  and  the  plains  of  Turkistan  and  Kashmir 
are  its  summer  haunts,  and  in  winter  it  migrates  to  North- 
West  India,  Scinde,  Beluchistan,  and,  according  to  Mr.  (now 
Sir)  A.  E.  Pease,  Somaliland  and  Abyssinia. 

The  only  Yorkshire  specimen  is  also  the  second  British 
example  :  it  was  obtained  between  Easington  and  Kilnsea 
on  i7th  October  1885,  and  was  sent  to  Mr.  Wm.  Eagle  Clarke 
for  identification.  Mr.  Dresser  afterwards  exhibited  it  at 
the  Zoological  Society's  meeting,  and  stated  that  it  was 


26  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

a  female  (P.Z.S.  1885,  pp.  835-6 ;  Ibis,  1886,  p.  100 ;  Zocl. 
1885,  p.  479 ;  Field,  28th  November  1885 ;  Nat.  1885, 
p.  387  ;  1897,  p.  201).  This  bird  is  now  in  the  collection 
of  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney. 

[The  late  J.  Cordeaux  stated  that  he  was  of  opinion  Mr. 
H.  B.  Hewetson  saw  an  example  of  the  Black-throated 
Wheatear  (5.  stapazina)  at  Spurn  on  i8th  September  1892 
(Zool.  1892,  p.  424 ;  1895,  p.  57  ;  Nat.  1893,  p.  7  ;  1897, 
p.  201  ;  "  Birds  of  Humber  District,"  1899,  p.  2).  This 
record  is  merely  quoted  for  what  it  is  worth.] 


WHINCHAT. 
Pratincola  rubetra  (Z.). 

Summer  visitant,  common  and  generally  distributed. 

The  first  reference  to  this  species  as  a  county  bird  is, 
apparently,  that  given  by  Tunstall  under  the  heading  of 
"  Stonechat."  "It  builds  in  whins,  and  is  perpetually 
flying  up  and  down  when  anyone  approaches,  repeating  a  cry 
like  '  Eutic,'  by  which  I  judged  it  to  be  the  Whin  Chat " 
(Tunst.  MS.  1784,  p.  74). 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Saxicola  rubetra. — Whinchat — One  of  the  most  common  summer 
visitants. 

The  earliest  date  for  the  appearance  of  the  Whinchat 
of  which  I  am  aware,  is  the  28th  March  1906,  when  I 
saw  two  on  the  Redcar  sand-hills.  The  average  for  the 
south  of  the  county  is  given  as  the  20th  April,  and, 
generally  speaking,  from  that  date  until  the  end  of  the 
month  may  be  considered  the  usual  time  for  its  arrival, 
and  it  is  often  the  first  week  in  May  before  it  makes  its 
appearance  in  Cleveland.  It  leaves  again  in  September  or 


WH INC HAT.  27 

October,  the  young  departing  before  the  old  ones,  a  few 
of  which  linger  until  the  end  of  the  latter  month. 

It  is  distributed  generally  and  abundantly  in  rough 
pastures,  meadows,  railway  banks,  and  hillsides  up  to  the 
very  edge  of  the  moors  ;  in  Nidderdale  it  reaches  an  altitude 
of  1000  feet,  in  Teesdale  it  nests  at  1200  feet  elevation, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  characteristic  birds  of  the  roadsides  and 
grasslands  in  the  dales,  its  familiar  cry  of  "  Yewtic  "  being 
heard  the  summer  through.  Near  the  large  towns  it  is  less 
numerous,  though  the  nest  has  been  seen  within  the  city 
boundaries  of  Leeds.  In  the  Beverley  district,  where  the 
species  is  unaccountably  becoming  scarce,  the  males  arrive 
first  in  spring,  mount  the  tallest  trees,  and  sing  until  the 
arrival  of  the  females. 

As  a  migrant,  it  does  not  appear  to  be  often  recognized 
by  the  light-keepers,  being  referred  to  only  once  in  the 
Migration  Reports,  viz.,  in  1882,  "  Spurn,  October  I5th, 
All  day."  It  has  been  noticed  on  arrival  at  Flamborough 
in  the  spring  migration,  and  towards  the  end  of  August,  or 
early  in  September,  there  is  a  large  influx,  on  the  return 
journey,  of  immature  birds,  with  occasionally  a  few  old 
females  ;  the  adults  generally  appear  later,  early  in  October, 
but  seldom  remain  more  than  a  few  days. 

An  early  reference  to  the  autumn  movements  of  the 
Whinchat  is  that  of  Edward  Blyth,  who  remarked  (Rennie's 
Field  Nat.,  November  1833,  p.  467),  that  when  on  the  voyage 
from  London,  northward,  on  the  i6th  of  September,  off 
the  coast  of  Yorkshire,  and  about  ten  or  twelve  miles  from 
Redcliff,  several  birds,  amongst  which  were  Whinchats, 
alighted  on  the  vessel. 

The  imitative  powers  of  this  bird  have  been  noticed  by 
Mr.  E.  P.  Butterfield,  who  detected  one  in  the  act  of  mimicing 
the  Wren,  Song  Thrush,  Chaffinch,  Corn  Bunting,  Tree  Pipit, 
Greenfinch,  Ray's  Wagtail,  and  other  birds ;  and  on  a 
recent  occasion  he  heard  one  imitate  the  Blackcap.  The 
songster,  which  was  perched  on  an  old  wall,  allowed  an 
approach  within  a  few  yards,  and  continued  for  some  time 


28  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

to  pour  out  such  a  flood  of  song  as  to  entrance  the  listener. 
The  attitude  of  the  bird  whilst  singing,  every  muscle  indicating 
intense  excitement,  was  no  less  strange  than  its  song  (Zool. 
1889,  p.  369  ;  and  in  Hit.  1902). 

The  vernacular  names  are  : — Whinchacker,  used  in  Craven 
and  Cleveland  ;  Bush-chat  in  the  West  Riding  ;  Grass-chat 
and  Hay-chat  in  the  North  and  West  Ridings ;  Hay-bird 
in  Ryedale  ;  Stone-chat  in  the  Nidd  Valley  ;  and  Utic  or 
Yewtic  (from  its  call)  in  the  East  and  West  Ridings. 


STONECHAT. 
Pratincola  rubicola  (Z.). 


Resident ;  also  summer  visitant ;  locally  distributed.     The  majority 
leave  in  autumn,  only  a  few  remaining,  chiefly  near  the  sea-coast. 


The  earliest  reference  to  this  as  a  Yorkshire  bird,  is, 
apparently,  that  in  Part  2  of  Willughby's  "  Ornithology," 
1678,  where  it  is  called  "  Stone  smich." 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Saxicola  rubicola. — Stonechat — Occurs,  but  not  numerously,  on 
the  moors  and  high  lands  in  most  parts  of  the  county  ;  it  is  much 
scarcer  than  in  some  of  the  more  southern  counties. 

The  Stonechat  is  frequently  spoken  of  as  a  common 
Yorkshire  bird,  though  it  cannot  be  considered  as  abundant 
anywhere,  and  in  its  distribution  is  an  eccentric  and  puzzling 
species,  being  very  local  and  often  absent  from  the  very 
places  where  its  presence  might  confidently  be  expected ; 
its  history,  therefore,  requires  careful  treatment,  for  in  some 
parts  where  it  was  formerly  met  with  it  has  now  become 
extremely  rare,  or  died  out,  as  a  breeding  species.  Com- 
mencing with  the  extreme  south  of  the  West  Riding,  it  used, 


STONECHAT.  29 

until  1880,  to  breed  annually  near  Sheffield  on  the  wild  wastes 
and  commons  bordering  the  moors,  though  only  one  or  two 
pairs  were  to  be  seen  in  a  large  tract  of  country,  and  recent 
information  tends  to  prove  that  it  has  ceased  to  frequent 
the  neighbourhood ;  near  Barnsley  and  Wakefield  it  is  an 
occasional  visitor  on  passage  through  the  district,  and  has 
been  known  to  nest  on  one  occasion  ;  in  the  Huddersfield 
area  it  remains  during  the  year  near  the  moorlands,  but  is 
evidently  far  from  common  ;  at  Almondbury  a  pair  was 
seen  in  1887,  and  one  was  shot  the  following  year ;  near 
Skelmanthorpe  it  is  reported  as  nesting,  and  has  been  seen 
in  winter  at  Ingbirchworth ;  in  the  Wilsden  locality  there 
are  two  instances  of  its  breeding  many  years  ago,  and  none 
for  more  than  thirty  years  past,  which  is  strange,  as  gorse 
flourishes  up  to  a  thousand  feet  elevation ;  a  reported 
instance  of  the  finding  of  a  nest  near  Halifax  is  doubtful ; 
at  Hebden  Bridge  and  Keighley  it  is  a  rare  spring  migrant ; 
at  Saltaire  the  old  and  young  have  been  once  discovered, 
and  near  Liversedge  a  small  family  party  was  noticed  on 
5th  October  1899. 

In  the  extreme  north-west  it  is  met  with  frequently  in 
Craven,  and  at  Settle  the  nest  has  been  found  so  recently 
as  1900,  also  at  Malham ;  further  north,  near  Clapham,  the 
bird  is  a  fairly  common  summer  visitant ;  in  Upper  Wharfe- 
dale  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  noted  one  at  Grassington,  and  lower 
down  the  Valley,  at  Ilkley,  in  May  1871,  he  found  three 
nests  with  eggs  on  the  banks  of  the  Wharfe,  but  diligent 
search  failed  to  reveal  either  nests  or  birds  there  since  that 
year,  though  in  1886  he  observed  two  at  Lint  on  ;  near  Leeds 
it  is  scarce,  but  is  said  to  have  bred  occasionally,  once  at 
Adel  Moor,  where  a  pair  with  food  in  their  bills  was  seen  in 
1900  and  1901  ;  it  has  also  been  noticed  on  the  Otley  Road 
within  a  mile  of  the  city,  and  near  Headingly  one  was  seen 
on  24th  February  1890  ;  it  is  a  rare  species  in  Nidderdale, 
but  two  instances  are  known  of  its  nesting  in  the  upper  portions 
of  the  dale,  at  Guyscliffe  in  1884  and  at  Fellbeck  in  1885  ; 
it  formerly  bred  in  the  Washburn  Valley,  but  is  now  only  a 


30  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

casual  visitant ;  near  Harrogate  it  is  very  scarce,  and  the 
same  remark  applies  to  its  status  at  Staveley  and  Ripon  ; 
at  Selby  and  at  Hatfield  it  occasionally  occurs,  and  the  late 
J .  Cordeaux  found  a  nest  on  Thorne  Waste  ;  it  is  also  recorded 
from  the  neighbourhood  of  Goole,  and  is  a  summer  visitant  in 
Ackworth  district,  breeding  in  limited  numbers. 

In  the  East  Riding  it  has  been  more  frequently  noticed 
on  migration  than  as  a  nester,  and  more  particularly  on  the 
Spurn  promontory  and  at  Flamborough  than  elsewhere ; 
it  was  reported  to  the  late  J.  Cordeaux  as  nesting  at  Kilnsea 
in  1888  ;  it  is  occasionally  met  with  at  Aldborough ;  near 
Beverley  it  is  scarce,  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton  mentioning 
one  instance  only  of  its  having  come  under  his  observation, 
and  recent  information  stating  that  it  was  never  plentiful 
and  is  fast  dying  out ;  it  was  always  a  scarce  and  local  bird 
and  nested  only  in  one  or  two  localities  ;  at  Market  Weighton 
and  Bridlington  it  has  only  been  observed  as  a  straggler, 
also  at  Fraisthorpe,  but  at  Flamborough  it  is  resident,  though 
not  plentiful,  except  on  the  spring  and  autumn  passages  ; 
it  has  been  noticed  migrating  as  early  as  February,  and 
there  was  a  great  rush  in  May  1891  ;  it  has  been  observed 
in  the  breeding  season  on  the  cliff  tops  at  Reighton, 
Bempton,  and  Speeton,  and  was  found  by  Mr.  R.  Fortune 
to  be  nesting  there  in  June  1905  ;  at  Knapton  it  is  a  scarce 
breeding  bird,  and  a  nest  near  Pocklington  "  a  few  years 
ago  "  is  reported. 

In  the  North  Riding  the  Stonechat  is  alluded  to  as  early 
as  the  year  1791,  in  the  Allan  MS.  of  the  Tunstall  Museum 
(Fox's  "  Synopsis,"  p.  207),  where  it  is  described  as  "  Common 

in  summer  on  the  heaths  ;    in  winter  in  the  marshes 

Makes  nest  early,  at  foot  of  some  low  bush."  The  nest  is 
recorded  in  recent  years  at  Hackness  and  Scalby,  near  Scar- 
borough, in  which  locality  the  bird  is  rare  and  oftener  met 
with  in  winter  than  in  summer  ;  at  Whitby  a  few  odd  pairs 
are  scattered  along  the  cliffs,  and  one  instance,  at  least,  is 
on  record  of  its  nesting  in  1872  near  Upgang ;  at  Goathland 
the  nest  and  young  have  been  found  near  the  moors  ;  it  is 


STONECHAT.  31 

rare  at  Helmsley,  though  numerous  in  a  certain  valley  seven 
or  eight  miles  west  of  that  place,  where  it  breeds,  and  it 
occasionally  occurs  near  Pickering  ;  at  Hovingham  it  is  noted, 
and  also  from  the  York  district,  where  it  was  known  to  nest 
up  to  early  in  the  "  eighties  "  ;  in  Wensleydale  it  is  scarce, 
and  has  been  observed  very  rarely  at  Ley  burn  Shawl,  and 
in  Bedale  neighbourhood,  while  one  instance  is  known  of  the 
nest  being  reported  at  Northallerton,  in  May  1882  ;  it  is 
fairly  abundant  at  Hawes  ;  it  nests  regularly  near  Sedbergh, 
but  is  seldom  seen  near  Richmond  and  Thirsk.  In  Upper 
Teesdale  it  is  a  scarce  species,  though  it  has  nested  on 
Crossthwaite,  and  odd  birds  remain  in  winter,  one  so  recently 
as  February  1901.  In  Cleveland,  John  Hogg  in  his  list  (Zool. 
1845,  p.  1058),  remarked  that  it  is  local  and  somewhat  rare. 
I  formerly  observed  it  almost  annually,  and  often  on  the 
sea  banks  during  the  migratory  period  in  spring,  but  it  is 
now  extremely  scarce  as  a  resident ;  it  breeds  sparingly  in 
several  localities  on  the  Cleveland  hills,  where,  after  patient 
watching,  the  nest  was  found  in  gorse  bushes  ;  it  is,  however, 
not  uncommon  in  some  years  on  the  southward  passage  in 
autumn ;  it  is  perhaps  more  abundant  in  the  Staithes  and 
Loftus  districts  than  in  other  parts  of  Cleveland,  and  has 
frequently  been  noticed  on  the  sea-cliffs  in  the  breeding 
season  ;  nests  have  been  found  on  the  edge  of  the  Waupley 
and  Lingdale  Moors,  and  at  Ugthorpe  it  also  receives  a  place 
in  the  list  of  local  birds. 

From  the  information  supplied  to  the  British  Association 
Migration  Committee  we  obtain  abundant  evidence  as  to 
the  spring  and  autumn  movements  of  the  Stonechat ;  at  the 
latter  period  young  birds  are  usually  reported,  occasionally 
an  old  female,  but  adult  males  are  always  scarce  and  are 
more  frequently  met  with  in  October  than  at  other  times  ; 
it  was  very  plentiful  at  Spurn  in  1880,  and  there  was  a  con- 
siderable immigration  of  immature  birds  at  the  latter  end 
of  August  1884 ;  in  1886  it  was  quite  numerous  at  Spurn 
on  28th  August,  and  for  ten  days  afterwards,  parties  of  six 
being  often  seen  together ;  it  was  common  in  the  autumn  of 


32  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

1888,  and  both  old  and  young  birds  were  noted  in  October 
1892,  and  again  in  1894.  The  most  recent  migration  of  this 
species  which  calls  for  special  comment  occurred  between 
the  20th  and  23rd  September  1903,  when  it  was  very  plentiful 
at  the  Teesmouth,  and  all  along  the  Yorkshire  coast,  in  com- 
pany with  Pied  Flycatchers,  Wheatears,  Redstarts,  Gold- 
crests,  and  Pipits  ;  the  slag  walls  and  sand  banks  at  the 
Tees  Breakwater  were  swarming  with  small  immigrants,  at 
this  time,  Stonechats  being  unusually  abundant,  and  they 
had  all  moved  on  by  the  24th  of  the  month.  An  early  refer- 
ence to  this  bird's  migration  is  mentioned  by  Edward  Blyth 
(Rennie's  Field  Nat.,  November  1837,  p.  467),  to  the  effect 
that  during  a  voyage  from  London,  and  when  about  ten 
or  twelve  miles  from  Redcliff  on  the  Yorkshire  coast,  on 
1 6th  September,  several  migrants  came  on  board  the  vessel, 
amongst  them  being  one  Stonechat. 

In  the  breeding  season  it  frequents,  as  a  rule,  the  rough 
wastes  on  the  edges  of  moorlands  of  low  altitude,  and  par- 
ticularly affects  gorse  covers,  though  sometimes  the  nest 
is  met  with  almost  on  the  sea  level ;  near  Whitby  one  was 
found  amongst  long  benty  grass  in  a  cliff  side  and  built 
of  dried  grass,  moss,  wool,  feathers,  etc.,  lined  with  hair  ;  it 
contained  four  eggs,  one  nearly  white,  the  others  normal. 

The  vernacular  names  are  many  and  varied,  though  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  in  many  parts  of  the  county 
the  Wheatear  is  known  as  Stonechat  and  Stone-chatter. 
Stone  smich  is  used  by  Willughby ;  Stone-smith,  Stone- 
smick,  Stone-chatter,  Stone-clink,  and  Stone-chack  are  all 
used  in  Cleveland ;  Stone-chacker  in  Cleveland  and  Craven  ; 
Stone-check  near  Sedbergh ;  Chick-stone  in  Cleveland ; 
Whin-chat  near  Doncaster ;  Black-cap  at  Sedbergh  and  in 
Cleveland  ;  Moor  Titling  and  Moor  Tit  in  Cleveland ;  and 
Red-breasted  Moor  Tit  in  East  Cleveland. 


s 


33 

REDSTART. 
Ruticilla  phoenicurus 


Regular  summer  visitant,  somewhat  locally  and  thinly  distributed. 
Great  numbers  observed  in  autumn  passing  southward  on  migration. 


This  bird's  earliest  association  with  Yorkshire  history 
is  contained  in  Marmaduke  Tunstall's  MS.,  1783,  thus  : — 
"  Redstart,  pretty  common  here  [Wy cliff e-on-Tees].  I  never 
could  get  any  to  live  in  a  cage  for  any  time,  though  I  have 
tried  both  old  and  young."  (Fox's  "  Synopsis,"  p.  72.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Ph&nicurus  ruticilla. — Redstart — Appears  to  be  general,  though 
much  fewer  in  numbers  than  in  the  South  of  England. 

This  is  decidedly  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  summer 
migrants  which  visit  our  shores  ;  its  boldly  marked  plumage 
and  red  tail  render  it  a  conspicuous  object  as  it  darts  out 
in  front  of  the  intruder  on  its  domains,  whisking  along  and 
flirting  its  tail  as  if  in  defiance. 

The  middle  of  April  is  the  usual  time  for  its  arrival  in 
this  county,  at  Hovingham  it  has  been  noted  as  early  as  the 
6th,  while  in  Cleveland  it  may  be  expected  about  the  22nd 
of  the  month  ;  and  the  time  of  its  departure  is  stated  to  be 
the  20th  September.  The  Redstart  is  generally  distributed, 
though  as  a  rule  only  in  small  numbers,  or  scattered  pairs, 
where  suitable  localities  are  existing,  such  as  the  banks  of 
country  lanes,  gardens,  orchards,  the  edges  of  large  woods, 
ivy-clad  ruins,  and  dry  stone  walls  on  the  borders  of  moorlands. 
Though  a  constant  and  characteristic  bird  in  the  dales  of  the 
north  and  north-west,  it  is  usually  absent  from  the  barren 
and  desolate  tracts  ;  it  is  frequent  in  Craven,  Nidderdale, 
ascending  to  an  elevation  of  1000  feet ;  and  to  1150  feet 
at  Buckden  in  Wharfedale ;  Swaledale ;  Wensleydale ;  Rye- 
dale,  and  Teesdale,  where  it  is  found  to  800  feet  elevation, 
and  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Plain  of  Ycrk,  and  in  the  fir 

VOL.  I.  D 


34  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

woods  of  the  oolite  hills  in  the  East  Riding.  In  Cleveland 
it  is  not  to  be  called  an  abundant  species  ;  the  late  Canon 
Atkinson  ("British  Birds'  Eggs,"  1861,  p.  54),  deplored 
its  decrease  in  the  Danby  district,  still  in  favourable  situations 
it  may  always  be  found  in  summer  if  looked  for,  and  it  is 
particularly  numerous  in  Bilsdale  and  the  neighbouring 
valleys ;  its  numbers,  however,  have  decreased  of  late  years, 
especially  in  the  vicinity  of  the  large  towns ;  it  appears 
to  be  much  scarcer  than  formerly  in  Holderness,  though 
more  have  nested  in  Boynton  Park  than  in  an  equal  area 
anywhere  else  in  the  county. 

During  the  vernal  migration  it  frequently  arrives  in 
company  with  Pied  Flycatchers,  as  at  Flamborough  on  3rd 
May  1885,  and  26th  April,  and  I3th  to  I5th  May  1886 
(Seventh  and  Eighth  Migration  Reports,  pp.  41  and  31) ;  it 
is  also  recorded  so  long  ago  as  1877  amongst  those  birds  that 
are  killed  by  striking  against  the  lantern,  and  other  cases 
have  occurred  since  that  year.  But,  although  the  Redstart 
is  well  known  as  a  regular  spring  migrant  and  is  often  seen 
at  the  light-stations  in  large  numbers  at  that  season,  it  is 
only  the  close  attention  paid  to  migration  in  recent  years 
that  has  been  the  means  of  making  us  acquainted,  in  common 
with  many  hitherto  unknown  phases  of  bird  life,  with  its 
annual  autumnal  movements,  and  as  is  shewn,  it  comes  in 
August,  September,  and  October  from  more  northerly  latitudes 
on  its  passage  southward  to  Africa,  being  then  associated  with 
the  Wheatear  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is  difficult  to  disconnect 
the  two.  Probably  the  earliest  mention  of  its  autumn  migra- 
tion was  recorded  by  Edward  Blyth  in  Rennie's  Field 
Naturalist  (November  1833),  and  referred  to  one  of  these 
birds  coming  on  board  ship  whilst  off  the  Yorkshire  coast, 
ten  or  twelve  miles  from  Redcliff. 

The  Reports  issued  by  the  British  Association  Migration 
Committee  contain  numerous  entries  connected  with  the 
Redstart's  autumnal  passage ;  the  first  of  these  is  from 
Redcar,  dated  I5th  September  1880,  when  I  noted  great 
numbers  at  the  Tees  Breakwater,  and  remarked  that  the 


REDSTART.  35 

bird  was  not  previously  reported  from  that  locality ;  at 
Flamborough  and  Spurn  great  flights  were  seen  at  the  same 
time.  In  the  following  year  at  the  Humber  and  Tees  estuaries 
a  great  "  rush "  was  reported  early  in  September,  which 
continued  up  to  the  25th  of  that  month,  and  I  saw  a  single 
bird  during  a  gale  as  late  as  the  24th  October  ;  similar  flights 
also  occurred  in  September  1884,  at  intervals  from  the  4th 
to  the  I7th ;  and  on  many  occasions  between  this  date  and 
1887  Redstarts  and  Wheatears  were  recorded  as  migrating 
in  company,  the  entries  covering  the  months  of  August, 
September,  and  October  ;  large  arrivals  were  seen  at  Spurn 
and  Flamborough  in  September  and  October  1889,  and 
again  at  Spurn  on  22nd  September  1892,  whilst  at  the  latter 
place,  in  September  1901,  every  hedge  was  swarming  with 
them ;  in  the  same  month  of  the  year  1903  many  were 
observed  at  the  Teesmouth,  and  along  the  sea-board  to 
Spurn,  associated  with  Wheatears,  Pied  Flycatchers,  Stone- 
chats,  and  other  small  migrants.  It  has  been  remarked 
that  larger  numbers  land  annually  at  Flamborough  Head 
than  elsewhere. 

At  Linton-upon-Ouse  a  pair  of  these  birds  was  kept  under 
observation  while  the  young  required  their  attention,  when 
it  was  calculated  they  destroyed  at  least  six  hundred  grubs 
and  caterpillars  for  food  in  one  day  (Zool.  1863,  p.  8680). 
The  colour  of  the  throat  in  the  adult  male  Redstart,  while 
living,  is  of  a  deep,  dark  blue,  which  changes  after  death  to 
black.  A  female  assuming  the  plumage  of  the  male,  was 
caught  while  sitting  upon  her  eggs,  by  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke 
at  Wike,  near  Leeds,  in  June  1886  (J.  H.  Gurney,  Ibis,  1888, 
p.  229). 

Occasionally  a  departure  from  the  customary  nesting  site 
is  made,  and  instances  are  known  where  the  bird  has  chosen 
the  branch  of  a  trained  pear  tree  (Zool.  1869,  P-  1801),  an 
inverted  flower  pot,  and  even  a  depression  under  a  sleeper  on 
a  railway  ;  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton  also  recorded  a  nest  in 
Beverley  Minster,  to  which  the  bird  gained  access  through 
a  broken  pane  of  glass  (op.  cit.  1865,  p.  9527). 


36  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

The  local  names  are  numerous  : — Redster,  Red-tail,  Fire- 
tail,  are  in  general  use ;  Redstare  at  Skelmanthorpe,  near 
Huddersfield  ;  Wrenny  in  the  Nidd  Valley  ;  Wrenny  Red-tail 
in  the  Nidd  Valley  and  in  Wharf edale  ;  Jenny  Redtail  about 
York  and  in  the  North  Riding  ;  Jenny  Wrentail  about  York  ; 
Nanny  Redtail  in  Cleveland  ;  Fanny  Redtail  near  Doncaster  ; 
Red-rump  in  East  Cleveland  ;  Flirt-tail  at  Ackworth  ;  Brand- 
tail  about  York  and  in  the  North  Riding ;  and  White-cap 
at  Farnley,  Leeds  ("  Billy  Roberts's  List  "). 


BLACK    REDSTART. 

Ruticilla  titys  (Scopoli). 


Irregular  visitant  on  the  coast  in  spring  and  autumn  ;  very  rare  indeed. 


Thomas  Allis,  in  his  Report  on  the  Birds  of  Yorkshire r 
1844,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Phcenicura  tithys. — Black  Redstart — The  only  notice  of  this  bird  in 
Yorkshire  is  from  my  friend  H.  Denny,  who  informs  me  that  two  or  three 
were  caught  by  some  bird-catchers  last  year  at  Osmondthcrpe. 

The  reference  here  given  by  Allis  is  the  first  mention  of 
the  Black  Redstart  in  connection  with  the  county,  and  to 
him  is  accorded  the  honour  of  having  made  this  addition  to 
the  avifauna  of  Yorkshire. 

The  Black  Redstart  is  usually  considered  to  be  an  irregular 
winter  visitant,  though  it  is  now  known  as  being  chiefly 
observed  on  migration  in  spring  and  autumn  ;  Mr.  M. 
Bailey  drew  attention  to  its  visits  to  the  Headland  of 
Flamborough  in  April  and  May,  when  he  has  often  observed 
it,  and  has  noted  it  amongst  those  species  which  strike  the 
lantern  in  thick,  foggy  weather,  with  the  wind  at  north- 


BLACK  REDSTART.  37 

east ;  he  has  also  reported  it  in  September,  and  again  when 
the  Woodcock  make  their  appearance  in  October  and 
November. 

As  it  is  mainly  confined  to  the  coast-line,  its  distribution 
may  best  be  denned  as  limited  to  that  area  ;  it  is  not  recorded 
from  the  Yorkshire  side  of  the  Teesmouth,  but  Mr.  C.  Milburn 
shewed  me  an  immature  male  example  which  he  shot  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  river  on  28th  October  1903  ;  it  has  twice 
been  reported  at  Loftus- in- Cleveland — once  in  winter,  and 
once  in  spring — (Nat.  1899,  p.  132)  ;  at  Scarborough  it  has 
occurred  at  intervals  :  several  were  on  the  rocks  at  low  tide 
in  autumn  1879  5  on  Christmas  Day,  1888,  one  was  shot  in 
Cayton  Bay ;  on  I2th  December  1899,  one  was  seen  on  the 
sill  of  a  window  at  the  Alexandra  Hotel,  and  another  was 
observed  in  September  1903.  Further  south  it  has  been 
recorded  from  Filey  in  October  1853 ;  from  Flamborough  there 
have  been  frequent  records  since  1878 — when  some  were  noted 
on  the  I7th  April — down  to  the  present  time  ;  in  1891  they 
were  first  seen  on  the  6th  April,  and  on  May  loth  and  nth 
there  was  a  great  "  rush,"  described  as  "  something  astonish- 
ing "  (op.  cit.  1891,  p.  82  ;  Zool.  1893,  p.  224)  ;  at  Spurn  also, 
there  have  been  many  instances  of  its  occurrence,  both  in 
spring  and  autumn,  too  numerous  to  mention  in  detail ; 
Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  obtained  an  example  in  October  1883,  and 
it  may  probably  be  a  regular  visitant,  though  overlooked 
amongst  the  crowds  of  small  birds  which  are  in  movement 
at  the  migration  seasons. 

Inland  it  is  extremely  rare,  but  has  been  recorded  from  the 
neighbourhood  of  Leeds,  at  Osmondthorpe  in  1843  (Allis), 
also  at  Bingley  in  May  1877  (Vaiiey  MS.). 


38 

WHITE-SPOTTED    BLUETHROAT. 
Cyanecula  leucocyana  (Brchni). 


Accidental  visitant  from  Central  and  Western  Europe,  of  extremely 
rare  occurrence. 


This  species  breeds  in  France,  Belgium,  Holland,  North 
Germany,  and  so  throughout  temperate  Europe  as  far  as 
the  west  of  Russia.  Its  winter  quarters  are  in  the  western 
and  northern  parts  of  Africa,  Armenia,  and  southwards  to 
Afghanistan. 

The  first  known  instance  of  the  visitation  of  this  rare 
migrant  to  Yorkshire,  and  to  Britain,  is  that  communicated 
by  the  late  Afred  Roberts  of  Scarborough.  Writing  to  Mr. 
W.  Eagle  Clarke  on  1st  January  1880,  he  stated  that  "  a  fine 
female  specimen  of  the  Blue-throated  Warbler  was  found 
dead  under  the  telegraph  wires,  near  Scarborough,  by  the 
late  John  Young,  gamekeeper  to  Lord  Londesborough  (April 
1876).  The  ovary  contained  eggs  in  a  forward  state.  It 
had  a  white  satiny  spot  in  the  centre  of  the  blue  throat.  The 
specimen  is  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Young." 

This  example  was  recorded  at  the  time  by  the  Rev.  Julian 
G.  Tuck  (Zoo/.  1876,  p.  4956;  and  Field,  6th  May  1876), 
thus  :  "I  have  much  pleasure  in  recording  for  the  first  time 
in  Yorkshire,  the  occurrence  of  the  Bluethroat,  or  Blue- 
throated  Warbler.  A  specimen  of  this  rare  little  bird,  which 
had  been  picked  up  dead  under  the  telegraph  wires  at  Seamer, 
near  Scarborough,  was  taken  to  Mr.  Roberts  of  Scarborough, 
on  the  I2th  April.  Its  head  and  neck  had  been  consideraby 
damaged  from  coming  in  contact  with  the  wires  ;  in  addition 
to  which,  the  man  who  found  it  kept  it  several  days,  and 
then  carried  it  to  Scarborough  in  his  pocket.  Mr.  Roberts 
thought,  when  he  first  saw  it,  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  mount  it,  but  with  skilful  handling  and  great  patience 
he  has  now  managed  to  make  it  into  a  very  presentable 


RED-SPOTTED  BLUETHROAT.  39 

specimen.  It  is  a  female  bird,  in  good  plumage,  and  Mr. 
Roberts  told  me  it  contained  well-developed  eggs.  The 
occurrence  of  this  specimen  is  the  more  interesting  as  it  is  an 
example  of  the  type  which  possesses  a  white  spot  in  the  centre 
of  the  blue  on  the  throat."  (Cf.  Yarrell,  "  Brit.  Birds,"  4th 
Ed.  Vol.  I.  p.  323.) 

This  interesting  record  has  been  overlooked  by  the  authors 
of  the  various  recent  treatises  on  British  ornithology ;  why, 
it  is  difficult  to  comprehend.  The  account  furnished  to  Mr. 
W.  Eagle  Clarke  by  Mr.  Roberts  leaves,  however,  no  doubt 
as  to  the  identification  of  the  species  nor  as  to  the  authenticity 
of  the  record. 

More  recent  investigation  has  resulted  in  my  obtaining 
further  confirmatory  evidence  with  regard  to  this  specimen, 
which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  D.  Young  (son  of  the 
original  owner  of  the  bird),  gamekeeper  to  the  Earl  of 
Londesborough,  at  Blankney,  Lines.,  who  describes  the 
specimen  as  having  "  a  white  spot  on  the  breast,  extending 
about  half  an  inch  in  length."  (Cf.  Zool.  1902,  p.  464  ;  1903, 
pp.  23,  431,  455  ;  1904,  pp.  31,  263.) 


RED-SPOTTED   BLUETHROAT. 
Cyanecula  suecica  (Z.). 

Rare  visitant  on  migration  in  autumn  irom  Northern  Europe. 


This  bird  nests  in  the  northern  portions  of  Scandinavia 
and  the  Russian  Empire,  and  from  there  to  the  far  east  of 
Siberia  and  Kamchatka.  In  winter  it  migrates  to  India 
and  the  north-east  of  Africa  as  far  as  Abyssinia ;  it  also 
occurs  throughout  China. 


40  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

The  Spurn  promontory  appears  to  be  the  only  district 
where  the  Red-spotted  or  Arctic,  Bluethroat  can  be  said 
to  have  been  actually  obtained,  and  there  no  fewer  than 
six  examples  have  been  procured,  whilst  several  others  were 
identified ;  it  will  be  noticed  that  the  majority  of  these 
appeared  in  the  month  of  September.  The  situation  of 
the  headland  of  Spurn  is  well  adapted  for  attracting  the 
small  over-sea  migrants,  and  the  wonder  is  that  this  rare 
warbler  has  for  so  long  escaped  detection. 

The  credit  for  first  recording  its  occurrence  belongs  to 
my  esteemed  friend,  and  predecessor  in  this  work,  Mr.  W. 
Eagle  Clarke,  who  saw  two  near  the  Spurn  Lighthouse  on 
the  nth  September  1882.  One  of  these  was  shot  in  Mr. 
Clarke's  presence,  and  was  sent  to  the  late  Henry  Seebohm, 
who  declared  it  to  be  a  bird  of  the  year,  of  this  species,  just 
moulted  out  of  the  young  into  first  plumage,  and  probably  a 
female  (Fourth  Migration  Report,  p.  31,  and  Zool.  1884, 
p.  174). 

The  other  instances  are  : — Spurn — One  in  the  second 
week  of  September  1883  (Thos.  Winson  in  litt.,  and  Fifth 
Migration  Report,  p.  38).  Spurn — Two  seen,  adult  and 
immature  one  obtained  on  I5th  September  1884  ;  on  the 
i8th  three  more  were  procured  (and  others  seen),  one  a  male 
of  the  second  year,  the  other  two  birds  of  the  year.  "  These 
were  all  feeding  on  insects  amongst  the  bent  grass  covering 
the  headland.  They  could  hop  very  fast.  I  sometimes  put 
them  up  thirty  or  forty  yards  away  from  the  spot  where  I 
had  marked  them  down."  (Theo.  Fisher,  Zool.  1884,  p.  430, 
and  Sixth  Migration  Report,  p.  44.)  Spurn — One  in  the 
autumn  of  1892  (Cordeaux,  Nat.  1893,  p.  9). 

From  the  Migration  Reports  the  following  additional 
entries  are  extracted  : — 

1885.  Spurn,  October  7th.     Two  (Red-spotted  Bluethroats)  (p.  41). 

1886.  Spurn,  September  I4th.     One  young  bird  (Bluethroat).     This 

was  seen  by  Mr.  Winson,  who  knows  the  bird  well  (p.  31). 
(See  also  Zool.  1891,  p.  362). 

Easington — One  on  loth  September  1901.    Seen  by  the 


REDBREAST.  41 

late  G.  W.  Jalland ;  it  was  on  a  hedge,  and  the  observer 
approached  to  within  two  or  three  yards'  distance  (Jalland, 
in  lift.). 

Kilnsea,  8th  October  1903 — A  young  male  example  was 
"  telegraphed,"  and  taken  to  Mr.  P.  Loten,  in  whose  posses- 
sion I  saw  it  a  few  days  afterwards ;  on  the  same  day  Mr. 
Badcock,  of  the  Spurn  Lighthouse,  informed  me  he  saw  one 
in  the  garden  at  Spurn.  The  Kilnsea  specimen  is  now  in 
the  York  Museum. 

The  only  other  part  of  the  county  which  can  lay  claim  to 
this  species  figuring  in  its  list,  is  the  low-lying  tract  between 
the  Teesmouth  and  Redcar,  where  I  have  positive  information 
as  to  its  occurrence  on  more  than  one  occasion  in  the  month 
of  September ;  I  noted  one  on  the  Breakwater  at  the  Tees- 
mouth  on  20th  September  1883  (this  is  mentioned  by  Mr. 
J.  H.  Gurney,  Transactions  of  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Naturalists 
Society,  1884,  iii.  579-601,  and  Fifth  Migration  Report,  p.  38). 

It  is  quite  possible,  even  probable,  that  this  Bluethroat 
may  be  a  regular  autumn  migrant  to  our  shores  when  on 
passage  from  its  summer  haunts  in  Scandinavia,  though 
often  overlooked  in  the  crowds  of  other  birds  which  pass 
along  the  coast,  or  mistaken,  from  its  red  tail,  for  a  Redstart, 
a  species  which  it  closely  resembles  in  habits  as  well  as  plumage. 
It  has  hitherto  escaped  notice  in  the  spring  on  its  return  to 
its  breeding  quarters  in  N.W.  Europe. 

Herr  Gatke  stated  that  it  is  common  on  Heligoland,  both 
in  spring  and  autumn.  The  White-spotted  form  "  comes 
very  rarely  so  far  north,  and  when  it  turns  up  it  always  does 
so  four  to  six  weeks  earlier  than  the  suecica  in  the  spring." 


42 

REDBREAST. 
Erithacus  rubecula  (£.). 


Resident,  widely  distributed  and  abundant.     A  regular  spring  and 
autumn  migrant. 


Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 
Erithaca  rubicwla. — Redbreast. 

The  earliest  reference  to  the  Redbreast  as  a  county  bird 
is,  perhaps,  contained  in  the  following  interesting  letter  from 
Dr.  Martin  Lister  to  the  renowned  John  Ray.  This  epistle 
is  indited  from  York,  and  is  dated  8th  of  February  1675, 
running  as  follows  : — "  Dear  Sir,  ....  the  Robin  Redbreast 
will  not  touch  a  hairy  caterpillar,  but  will  gladly  take  and 
eat  any  sort  of  smooth  one  that  I  have  given  to  him,  and 
there  is  no  better  way  speedily  to  tame  or  make  wild  birds 
sing  than  to  give  them  a  pleasing  insect  or  two  daily  ;  neither 
this  nor  the  thick-billed  birds  but  will  gladly  eat  spiders  as 
I  have  experienced  in  some  kinds." 

Though  generally  distributed  in  the  county,  the  Robin  is, 
in  the  dale  and  moorland  districts,  much  less  abundant, 
though  by  no  means  absent,  save  in  the  wilder  and  uninhabited 
localities  where  suitable  haunts  do  not  exist.  In  the  populous 
manufacturing  towns  its  presence  is  most  familiar  in  the 
autumn  and  winter,  for  during  the  spring  and  summer  months 
many  retire  to  nest  in  the  more  secluded  parts  of  their  im- 
mediate neighbourhood.  Usually  described  and  considered 
a  resident  species,  this  bird  can  only  partially  be  considered 
as  such.  True  it  is  that  we  always  have  it  with  us,  but  the 
increased  attention  paid  to  that  interesting  and  important 
branch  of  ornithology — migration — has  made  us  aware  of 
the  fact  that  the  Redbreast  is  undoubtedly  a  migrant  to  and 
from  our  shores.  In  the  autumn  months,  from  August  to 
November,  many  migratory  Robins  are  observed  on  our 


REDBREAST.  43 

coast  line,  and  often  in  very  large  numbers.  As  the  bird 
is  strictly  a  summer  visitant  to  northern  Europe,  as  well  as 
migratory  in  the  central  countries  of  the  Continent,  no  doubt 
these  immigrants  are  continental  birds  en  route  to  their 
accustomed  winter  quarters,  some  of  them  probably  remaining 
with  us  until  the  spring.  It  is  not  unlikely,  however,  that 
many  of  these  migrants  among  the  Robins  are  home-bred 
birds  on  the  move  to  more  genial  climes,  whose  absence  we 
scarcely  notice,  since  their  places  are  soon  afterwards  filled 
by  the  arrival  of  individuals  from  more  northern  British  and, 
as  stated,  continental  localities.  In  fact,  the  Robin  is  to  a 
greater  or  lesser  degree  a  summer  and  winter  migrant. 

In  connection  with  the  migratory  movements  of  this  species 
on  the  Yorkshire  coast,  the  following  remarks,  by  Ed.  Blyth, 
from  Rennie's  Field  Naturalist  (November  1833,  p.  467),  may 
be  quoted  : — "  On  the  voyage  from  London  northward,  on  the 
i6th  of  September,  when  off  the  coast  of  Yorkshire,  and  about 
ten  or  twelve  miles  from  Redcliff,  several  small  birds  alighted 
on  the  vessel ;  they  were  of  different  species.  On  the  following 
day  others  made  their  appearance,  several  ....  Robins, 
all  ....  left  the  vessel  on  the  first  night  after  their  appear- 
ance, except  two  Robins,  which  remained  for  some  time, 
and  which,  with  the  characteristic  effrontery  of  their  species, 
stationed  themselves,  the  one  on  the  front  of  the  vessel  and 
the  other  at  the  stern,  and  fought  at  the  least  intrusion  into 
each  other's  territory." 

Mr.  F.  Boyes,  writing  in  the  Zoologist  for  February  1877 
(p.  42),  remarked  on  the  great  number  of  Robins  at  Spurn 
on  October  23rd  1876 ;  he  noticed  several  hundreds  of  new 
arrivals  amongst  the  long  grass  and  on  the  sands,  and  in  all 
the  ditches  and  hedgerows  away  from  the  coast.  He  states 
that  "  this  migration  of  the  Robin  is  not  new,  but,  I  believe, 
an  annual  occurrence  ;  last  year  at  this  spot  they  were  even 
more  numerous." 

It  may  be  useful  here  to  detail  the  information  respecting 
this  bird  which  is  furnished  by  the  various  Migration  Reports 
issued  by  the  British  Association  Committee  : — 


44  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

1879.  Very  numerous  at  Spurn  on  October  3Oth,  wind  blowing  very 

fresh  from  N.E.  (p.  176). 

1880.  March  ist.     At  Whitby  L.H.,  daylight,  a  flock  of  Robins. 
September  27th.     At  Whitby  L.H.,  at  10  a.m.,  "  a  large  flock 

of  small  birds  containing  many  Robins,  remained  a  few  hours 
and  then  went  south  "  (pp.  27  and  37). 

1 88 1.  March  5th.     Whitby  L.H.,  at  daybreak,  many  Redbreasts. 
October  2nd  to  8th.     At  Spurn  head  in  large  numbers  ;   on  the 

3rd,  so  worn  out  by  a  N.E.  gale  that  they  might  be  caught 
by  the  hand  (p.  20). 

1882.  October  6th   to   25th.     Between   the  Longstone  L.H.    (Fame 

Islands)  and  the  East  Goodwin  L.V.  in  great  numbers  (p.  30). 

1883.  September    loth   to   October    i4th.     Occurred   on   the   "  main 

migration  "  covering  the  entire  [east  of  England]  coast  line  ; 
rushes  on  September  2ist  and  3Oth,  October  6th  and  7th 
(P-  38). 

1884.  Autumn.     At  stations  between  the  Fames  and  the  mouth  of  the 

Thames  ;  first  at  Shipwash  L.V.  [Essex]  on  the  i4th  August, 
in  large  numbers,  at  noon  ;  lastly  at  the  Hasborough  L.V., 
November  i2th,  "one  at  night  on  deck"  (p.  44). 

1885.  Autumn.     Considerable  immigration  between  the  Fame  Islands 

and  Guernsey,  from  September  8th  to  November  I2th  ;  rush 
on  October  i6th  observed  at  Spurn  L.H.,  Lincolnshire  coast 
(very  large  numbers)  and  other  stations  to  south  (p.  41). 

1886.  Autumn.     First  at  Whitby  L.H.,  August  i6th  .  .  .  .  a  heavy 

rush  is  indicated  between  the  3rd  and  7th  of  October  at 
Teesmouth  and  Spurn  ;  again  on  the  i6th  at  Teesmouth,  and 
1 8th  and  I9th  at  Spurn  (p.  31). 

1887.  March  26th.     Whitby  L.H.,   Robins,    10  a.m. 
April  5th.     Spurn  L.H.  four  Redbreasts,  9  a.m. 
September  i6th.     Spurn,  several  Redbreasts,  9  a.m. 
September  29th.     Spurn  L.H.,  great  migration  of  Redbreasts. 
November  6th.     Spurn  L.H.,  Redbreasts,  9  a.m.  (pp.  22-50). 

I  have  for  many  years  known  the  Robin  as  a  regular 
autumn  migrant  between  September  and  November  to  the 
Teesmouth  district ;  at  Redcar  I  noted  a  considerable  number 
in  mid-October,  and  again  in  mid-November  1887,  in  com- 
pany  with  a  constant  stream  of  other  migrants,  and  many 
were  also  observed  in  the  autumns  of  1896  and  1898.  In 
the  Naturalist  for  1893  (p.  9),  the  late  J.  Cordeaux,  in  his 
notes  from  the  Humber,  wrote,  "  Robin,  October  I4th,  I5th, 
i6th.  An  immense  arrival  in  the  Spurn  district.  Thousands 


REDBREAST.  45 

in  the  hedges  and  gardens.  I  counted  up  to  fifty  in  one  part 
of  the  Warren  House  garden.  Many  dropped  in  the  long  sea- 
grass  on  the  sand-hills,  and  some  caution  was  necessary 
to  avoid  stepping  on  them,  so  reluctant  were  they  to  move. 
The  movement  extended  also  to  Lincolnshire  and  Norfolk. 
The  arrivals  on  the  Holderness  coast  had  all  of  them  very 
pale  coloured  breasts.  From  Heligoland  Herr  Gatke  also 
reported  a  great  migration."  Mr.  Cordeaux  further  wrote 
(MS.)  :  "  At  Spurn  Point  I  have  watched  them  coming  in 
direct  from  the  sea,  on  a  bright  sunny  day,  their  red  breasts 
being  very  conspicuous  as  they  passed  overhead.  Along 
with  other  small  migrants  Robins  frequently  strike  the 
lanterns  of  our  light-vessels  and  lighthouses  during  the  night, 
or  alighting  on  the  former,  leave  again  after  a  few  hours' 
rest.  They  cross  Heligoland  also  by  thousands  in  the  autumn 
and  again  in  the  spring ;  this  return  migration  in  the  spring 
is  early,  compared  with  that  of  some  other  birds,  commencing 
by  the  first  week  in  March."  The  vernal  passage  is  not  so 
pronounced  as  that  in  autumn  ;  a  bird  seen  at  the  Teesmouth 
on  25th  April  1902  was  evidently  a  returning  migrant. 

On  the  coast,  during  the  autum  migratory  period,  Mr. 
W.  Eagle  Clarke  has  frequently  observed  this  bird  in  con- 
siderable numbers  in  the  most  unsuitable  localities,  such  as 
sand-hills,  where  food  of  a  congenial  nature  is  almost  un- 
procurable, and  it  often  has  to  resort  to  a  marine  "  omnium 
gatherum  "  at  high-water  mark  in  search  of  a  meal.  In 
such  places  and  at  such  times  if  often  falls  a  prey  to  the 
marauding  Great  Grey  Shrike,  which  seems  to  have  a  penchant 
for  a  dish  of  Redbreast. 

There  are  very  many  recorded  instances  of  this  bird 
selecting  unusual,  nay  extraordinary,  nesting  sites  within 
the  county,  but  I  will  allude  to  only  two  of  these  : — One, 
in  which  the  nest,  of  the  usual  materials,  was  placed  in  the 
curtains  of  the  drawing-room  at  Gilling  Castle,  where  three 
eggs  were  laid  and  one  young  bird  reared  (Land  and  Water, 
25th  May  1878,  p.  478).  The  other  is  recorded  in  the  Field 
for  I7th  May  1884,  and  refers  to  a  nest  built  in  a  pot  of  maiden- 


46  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

hair  fern  in  a  conservatory  at  Hull.  Early  nesting,  too, 
is  very  frequent  in  this  species,  but  a  single  instance  only  need 
be  mentioned,  the  earliest  I  find  noted,  namely,  a  nest  with 
five  eggs  near  York,  on  i8th  January  1848  (Zool.  1848,  p. 
2019).  Mid-March  is  the  usual  period  on  which  nidification 
may  be  said  to  commence,  and  occasionally  unspotted  eggs 
are  recorded. 

The  tameness,  or  sociability,  of  the  Robin  is  proverbial, 
and  I  may  here  be  permitted  to  recall  an  incident  which 
occurred  when  I  was  out  in  a  N.E.  gale,  during  the  autumn 
migration,  waiting  for  wildfowl  on  the  sand-hills  near  Redcar, 
of  a  Robin,  doubtless  a  migrant,  perching  on  the  end  of  my 
gun  barrels  and  remaining  there  for  nearly  a  minute.  Mr. 
P.  Loten  of  Easington  had  a  brood  reared  in  his  garden  which 
would  follow  him  about. 

Of  interesting  Yorkshire  varieties  the  following  may  be 
mentioned  : — A  white  one  in  the  Tunstall  Museum  (Fox's 
"  Synopsis,"  p.  206) ;  one,  a  bird  of  the  year,  procured  on 
5th  October  1848,  near  Knaresborough,  which  had  the  whole 
of  the  primaries  and  secondaries  white,  and  the  whole  of  the 
tail  feathers  the  same  with  the  exception  of  the  tips,  which 
were  dirty  grey  or  smoke  colour  (Zool.  1848,  p.  2298) ;  a 
pale  rufous  example  at  Beverley  (op.  cit.  1877,  P-  256)>  and 
another,  a  female,  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  P.  Loten,  of  a 
light  fawn  colour,  with  a  breast  a  shade  lighter  than  usual, 
obtained  near  Patrington  on  27th  February  1884.  Other 
varieties  in  Yorkshire  include  a  pied  example  at  Easington, 
at  the  latter  end  of  1884,  also  in  Mr.  Loten's  collection,  and 
another  at  Harrogate  (Nat.  1887,  p.  78).  An  albino  specimen, 
captured  at  Sedbergh  in  1897,  was  kept  alive  for  two  years. 
White,  or  creamy  white,  examples  were  noted  at  Malton 
on  5th  January  1885  ;  Egton  Bridge,  near  Whitby,  December 
1895  ;  Selby,  1897 ;  and  a  tame  one  in  the  gardens  at  Cliffe 
Castle,  Keighley,  which  paired  with  a  bird  of  the  normal 
colour  (Yorkshire  Weekly  Post,  ijih  December  1903). 

Various  superstitions  are  prevalent  among  country  farm 
folks  in  some  parts  of  Yorkshire  as  regards  this  bird ;  the 


NIGHTINGALE.  47 

strangest  being  that  if  a  Robin  is  killed  one  of  the  cows  belong- 
ing to  the  person  guilty  of  the  offence  will  give  bloody  milk. 
At  Staveley,  near  Knaresborough,  a  saying  goes  that  "  when 
a  Robin  sings  on  the  ridge  of  a  roof  it  foretells  fine  weather." 
This  idea  exists  also  in  the  East  Riding,  with  the  additional 
notion  that  if  the  bird  chirps  mournfully  the  weather  will 
be  wet.  In  Cleveland  it  is  considered  to  be  unlucky  to  take 
the  eggs  from  a  Robin's  nest,  a  distich  in  common  use  running, 
"  Rob  a  Robin,  go  a  sobbing  "  ;  and  in  the  East  Riding 
the  following  couplet  is  called  out  against  nest-robbers : — 
"  Robin  takker,  Robin  takker,  Sin,  Sin,  Sin  !  "  At  Skelman- 
thorpe  the  idea  was  formerly  prevalent  that  young  Robins, 
as  soon  as  they  are  able  to  fly,  will  peck  their  parents  to  death. 
In  some  parts  of  mid- Yorkshire  it  was  supposed  that  the 
Robin  loses  his  red  breast  when  he  retires  for  the  summer, 
and  regains  it  before  returning  to  his  winter  quarters.  In 
the  North  Riding  it  is  said  that  to  cast  your  eye  upon  the 
first  Robin  through  glass,  after  the  winter  quarter  has  set 
in,  is  unlucky. 

Local  names  : — Robin  ;  Robin  Redbreast  (general),  Rud- 
dock in  North  and  mid- Yorkshire,  and  Ploughman's  Bird 
(Lofthouse,  near  Wakefield)  are  the  only  vernacular  appella- 
tions known. 


NIGHTINGALE. 

Philomela  luscinia  (/.)• 


Summer  visitor,  local  in  its  distribution,  and  entirely  absent  from 
the  western  side  of  the  county. 


The  earliest  allusion  to  this  species,  as  a  Yorkshire  bird, 
with  which  I  am  acquainted  is  the  one  made  by  Pennant  in 


48  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

1766,  where  he  tells  us  "  it  is  not  found  in  North  Wales,  or 
in  any  of  the  English  counties  north  of  it,  except  Yorkshire, 
where  they  are  met  with  in  great  plenty  about  Doncaster." 
("  Br.  Zool."  ist  Ed.,  1766,  p.  100.) 

Thomas  Allis  reported  as  follows  in  1844  : — 

Philomela  luscinia. — Nightingale — was  heard  in  the  immediate 
suburbs  of  York  last  spring  ;  has  been  met  with  at  Skelton  about  five 
miles  north  of  the  city  some  years  ago  ;  it  breeds  every  year  in  the  wood 
at  Cawood,  near  York  ;  near  Huddersfield  ;  at  Cinderfield  Dyke  Wood 
in  Bradley  ;  a  few  pairs  are  met  with  near  Barnsley  every  year,  where, 
as  in  some  other  places,  they  soon  fall  a  prey  to  the  bird-catchers  ;  it  is 
occasionally  heard  near  Sheffield  ;  it  occurs  at  Walton  Hall  and  Bram- 
ham  Park  ;  and  near  Doncaster  is  common  in  Edlington  and  other 
woods. 

The  Nightingale  as  a  Yorkshire  bird  has  peculiar  attrac- 
tions. To  the  ornithologist  it  possesses  special  interest,  since 
it  attains  in  the  county  the  northernmost  limit  of  its  British 
range  ;  while  to  the  public  generally  quite  a  halo  of  romance 
surrounds  the  bird,  probably  because  to  many  localities  its 
visits  are  like  those  of  the  proverbial  angels,  few  and  far 
between. 

In  the  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  in  the 
earlier  decades  of  the  one  just  passed  away  (the  nineteenth), 
Doncaster  was  regarded  by  the  recognised  writers  on  British 
ornithology  as  the  most  northern  locality  visited  in  England. 
In  1844,  Thomas  Allis,  in  his  oft  alluded-to  report,  stated 
that  it  occurred  with  some  regularity  much  further  north, 
and  informed  the  naturalists  of  his  day  that  it  had  been 
heard  in  the  suburbs  of  York  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  and 
that  it  had  been  met  with  at  Skelton,  about  five  miles  north 
of  that  city — a  statement  that  has  been  reproduced  in  almost 
every  book  treating  on  British  birds  down  to  the  present 
time. 

In  1881,  when  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  came  to  investigate 
the  dates  and  make  further  inquiries  regarding  the  haunts  of 
this  species  for  the  bird  portion  of  Mr.  Roebuck's  and  his 
joint  work  on  the  Yorkshire  Vertebrata,  he  found  that  there 
was  evidence  of  its  occurrence  and  breeding  in  localities 


NIGHTINGALE.  49 

considerably  further  north  of  the  ancient  city  referred  to. 
This  led  to  the  supposition  that  this  species  may  be  regarded  as 
one  of  those  which  has  gradually  extended  its  range  north- 
ward in  the  county  during  the  past  hundred  years.  Further 
research,  however,  into  Yorkshire  ornithology  made  known 
that  such  has  really  not  been  the  case,  as  may  be  gathered 
from  the  statement,  made  at  least  a  century  ago,  of  Marmaduke 
Tunstall,  F.R.S. — a  Yorkshire  naturalist  and  one  of  the 
best  ornithologists  of  his  day — which  appears  for  some  not 
easily  explainable  reason  to  have  escaped  notice.  Writing  to 
Dr.  Latham,  presumably  about  the  year  1783,  Tunstall 
remarked  that  "  The  Nightingale  is  never  heard  or  seen  here 
[Wy cliff e-on-the-Tees].  It  is  frequently  heard  near  Borough- 
bridge*  about  37  miles  farther  south  ;  and  a  few  miles  farther, 
near  Abberford,  particularly  at  Hazlewood,  the  seat  of  Sir 
Walter  Vavasour,  is  extremely  lavish  in  song.  ..."  This 
statement  of  Tunstall's  is  true  to-day,  for  the  Rev.  E.  P. 
Knubley,  M.A.,  late  rector  of  Staveley,  near  Boroughbridge, 
stated  that  a  pair  nested  in  Gibbet  Wood,  two  miles  from 
Staveley,  in  1870  ;  that  in  1881  a  pair  nested  and  reared 
its  young  in  his  rectory  garden  ;  and  that  he  was  told  on 
reliable  authority  that  a  pair  nested  in  Loftus  Fox  Cover 
in  the  parish,  a  mile  from  his  house,  in  1883.  Boroughbridge, 
it  may  be  remarked,  is  ten  miles  north  of  the  latitude  of  York, 
and  lies  sixteen  miles  north-west  of  that  city. 

In  occasional  instances,  however,  it  has  been  known  to 
visit  during  recent  years  slightly  more  hyperborean  districts, 
but  it  is  possible,  and  even  probable,  that  these  exceptional 
visits  were  also  made  in  the  far  past,  when,  as  it  is  important 
to  remember,  ornithology  was  not  the  popular  study  it  now  is, 
and  when,  too,  there  did  not  exist  the  numerous  natural 
history  journals  wherein  to  record  observations  and  hand 
down  to  us  much  information  which  would  now  be  invaluable, 
and  enable  us  to  make  more  just  comparisons  between  our 
present  knowledge  and  that  of  the  past. 

*  The  italics  are  ours. 
VOL.  I.  E 


50  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Within  the  area  of  its  regular  summer  range  in  the  county, 
the  Nightingale  usually  occurs  in  limited  numbers  only. 
Indeed  it  is  only  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Doncaster  and 
on  the  southern  fringe  of  the  county  bordering  Nottingham- 
shire that  it  can  be  described  as  fairly  abundant.  To  certain 
secluded  but  more  or  less  smoke-begrimed  woodlands  of  the 
Yorkshire  Coalfield,  in  some  instances  scarcely  beyond  the 
hum  and  "  racket  "  of  the  pit-bank,  as  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Barnsley,  Wakefield,  and  Ackworth,  this  bird  is  an  annual 
visitant ;  as  also  to  pleasanter  habitats  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  picturesque  Abbey  of  Roche.  In  the  central  plain 
it  is  regularly  noted  in  the  districts  of  Selby,  Goole,  York, 
Harrogate,  and  Boroughbridge ;  and  in  Holderness  in 
localities  between  Patrington  and  the  Humber  northward 
and  eastward  to  Beverley. 

Thus  a  line  passing  north  by  Rotherham  and  Barnsley, 
and  east  of  Wakefield,  Leeds,  and  Harrogate  to  near  Borough- 
bridge,  and  then  east  through  Skelton  (five  miles  north  of 
York),  and  sweeping  round  the  southern  spur  of  the  Wolds 
up  to  Beverley,  and  finally  reaching  the  North  Sea  about 
Hornsea,  circumscribes  the  portion  of  the  county  within 
which  the  Nightingale  is  an  annual  summer  visitor,  while  an 
outer  line  from  Sheffield,  by  Huddersfield,  Bradford,  Otley, 
Ripon,  and  Thirsk,  to  Normanby-in-Cleveland,  thence  south* 
east  to  Scarborough,  includes  all  the  localities  for  which 
there  is  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  bird's  ever  having  bred 
or  occurred;  and,  moreover,  accurately  defines,  according 
to  our  present  knowledge,  the  extreme  northern  and  north* 
western  boundary  of  its  distribution  in  the  British  Isles. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  whole  Yorkshire  distribu- 
tion of  the  Nightingale  lies  strictly  within  the  lowlands, 
and  nowhere  exceeds  250  feet  above  sea-level,  except  in 
the  single  instance  of  its  breeding  in  the  Spa  Gardens  at 
Harrogate.  Indeed,  the  foot-hills  of  the  Pennine  Range, 
of  the  Cleveland  Hills,  and  even  those  of  the  Chalk  Wolds> 
form  fringing  barriers  of  the  bird's  range,  and  this,  perhaps, 
accounts  for  its  rarity  about  Sheffield.  These  facts  in  the 


•a 
s 

<4H 
O 


NIGHTINGALE.  51 

Yorkshire  distribution  of  the  Nightingale  may  throw  some 
light  on  the  conditions  which  determine  the  singular  range 
of  the  bird  in  England. 

On  the  fringe  of  its  range  in  Yorkshire,  the  Nightingale 
is  not  at  all  constant  to  one  particular  haunt,  but  would  seem 
to  divide  its  affections  between  several  in  the  neighbourhood, 
and  this,  too,  when  it  has  succeeded  in  rearing  its  young  in 
safety,  and  without  receiving  that  undesirable  attention  from 
the  "  madding  crowd  "  so  often  attracted  by  its  song.  In 
some  seasons  it  is  more  abundant  in  Yorkshire  than 
in  others.  Thus  in  1876  it  was  noted  as  absent  from  its 
accustomed  haunts  in  the  East  Riding  ;  while  in  1879  it 
was  particularly  abundant  in  the  county.  This  varying 
abundance  may  to  some  extent  account  for  its  intermittent 
appearance  in  the  more  northern  and  outlying  districts 
within  its  range. 

Regarding  the  dates  of  the  bird's  arrival  and  departure  in 
the  county,  we  have  but  few  reliable  data,  for  the  species  has 
hitherto  escaped  notice  during  the  periods  of  its  migrations. 
Its  appearance  may  be  expected  in  the  last  week  in  April,  but 
the  average  date  of  arrival  for  South  Yorkshire  has  been 
given  as  the  8th  of  May.  A  pair  nesting  at  Brough,  in  1880, 
departed  with  its  young  in  August. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  discuss  the  distribution  of  the 
Nightingale  in  the  county,  historically  and  in  detail,  com- 
mencing with  the  localities  on  the  Yorkshire  Coalfield.  In 
the  Barnsley  district,  Thomas  Allis  mentioned,  in  his  report 
already  quoted,  that  a  few  pairs  are  met  with  every  year ; 
and  Thomas  Lister  wrote  :  "I  scarcely  remember  a  year 
since  1842  that  I  have  not  heard  one  or  two  pairs  of  Nightin- 
gales. In  the  valleys  of  Dearne  and  Dove,  in  Cliff  Wood, 
Day  House,  and  Keresforth  Woods — all  three  within  a  mile 
of  Barnsley — they  have  been  heard  in  various  years." 
He  also  mentioned  Oscar  Wood,  Cobcar  Wood,  Kitroyd 
Jump,  Ethersley  Wood,  Needle  Eye  Wood,  Dodwoth 
Bottom,  Sunny  Bank,  New  Hall,  Dark  Lane,  and  Tivy 
Dale  at  Cawthorne,  Norroyd  and  Thornhill,  as  localities 


52  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

in  the  neighbourhood  where  he  had  noted  the  bird  from 
time  to  time. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  Wakefield,  Neville  Wood 
mentioned  it  (Nat.  1838,  p.  437),  on  the  authority  of  Charles 
Waterton,  as  an  annual  visitor  to  Walton  Hall,  a  statement 
that  has  been  repeated  by  various  writers  to  the  present 
date.  William  Talbot,  in  his  "  Birds  of  Wakefield,"  tells 
us  he  first  made  its  acquaintance  in  1841  at  Burnt  Wood, 
about  ten  miles  from  Wakefield  ;  and  he  noted  it  in  1870 
at  Coxley  Valley ;  in  1871  at  New  Park  Spring,  Great 
Houghton,  where  they  were  nesting ;  in  may  1873  a  pair 
made  its  appearance  at  Haw  Park,  but  unfortunately  its 
career  was  cut  short ;  in  1874  two  others  visited  this  neighbour- 
hood, and  in  May  1875  he  heard  three  singing  within  eight 
miles  of  Wakefield.  About  Lofthouse,  George  Roberts 
stated  that  one  was  heard  about  the  year  1836,  and  again  in 
1869,  none  occurring  to  his  knowledge  between  these  dates. 
In  1884  one  appeared  at  Stanley. 

Regarding  the  Leeds  district,  the  occurrence  of  a  specimen 
is  recorded  (Morris's  Nat.,  1851,  i.  46),  at  Killingbeck,  near 
Leeds,  early  in  May  1849,  which  was,  at  that  time,  in  the 
possession  of  Thomas  Russell  of  York  Road,  Leeds.  In  1879 
a  Nightingale  was  heard  singing  in  Mosley  Wood,  Horsforth, 
some  ten  or  twelve  years  before  ;  it  was  shot  by  the  keeper 
a  short  time  after.  Mr.  W.  C.  Horsfall  of  Horsforth  stated 
in  1866  that  "  The  Nightingale  visits  us,  but  only  at  intervals  ; 
I  know  of  only  four  instances  of  its  having  done  so  in  fifteen 
years."  In  the  Zoologist  (1879,  p.  413),  Mr.  Joseph  Lucas 
wrote  as  follows  :  "I  venture  to  record  two  localities  in  which 
I  have  seen  these  birds — Esholt  Woods,  in  Airedale,  in  the 
summer  of  1868,  and  on  May  the  8th  in  Jonas  Wood,  near 
Farnley  Hall,  Wharf edale."  In  the  same  periodical  (1869, 
pp.  1800-1),  Geo.  Roberts  observed  that  "  on  the  I3th  of  May 
one  commenced  singing  in  a  small  wood  called  Bushy  Cliff, 
situate  about  five  miles  south-east  of  Leeds  ....  and 
began  to  sing  each  evening  about  half-past  ten,  and  continued 
in  song  till  four  in  the  morning.  I,  along  with  several  others, 


NIGHTINGALE.  53 

walked  about  in  the  adjacent  meadows  most  of  the  nights  of 
the  I5th  and  i6th  listening  to  it.  ...  I  was  somewhat 
surprised  at  its  tameness  ;  on  the  third  evening  many  boys 
and  young  men  from  villages  round  about  assembled,  and 
created  some  uproar,  without,  however,  disturbing  it  from  its 
perch,  and  the  game-watchers  got  within  a  few  yards  of  it. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  17th,  four  days  after  its  appearance, 
it  was  captured  with  limed  twigs  by  two  Leeds  bird  fanciers  : 
a  few  meal-worms  were  thrown  down  among  the  twigs,  and 
in  less  than  five  minutes  after  the  bait  was  laid,  the  bird  was 
secured." 

At  Shipley,  near  Bradford,  in  1850,  one  was  reported 
(Morris's  Nat.  1851,  p.  165),  singing  last  season  in  a  wood 
about  one  mile  from  Shipley.  It  is  said  to  have  occurred  at 
Apperley  Bridge. 

In  the  Huddersfield  district,  Allis  (1844)  quoted  Cinderfield 
Dyke  Wood  in  Bradley  as  a  locality  for  it.  We  are  told  in 
Hobkirk's  "  Hist,  and  Nat.  Hist,  of  Huddersfield,"  1859,  that 
two  of  these  birds  were  noticed  at  the  Grove,  Dalton,  in  1846. 
One  commenced  to  sing  in  Mollicar  Wood,  Huddersfield,  on 
5th  May  1875,  and  continued  until  June  5th  (Varley,  Nat. 
1875,  p.  52  ;  Palmer,  Zool.  1875,  p.  4499).  The  late  James 
Varley  only  knew  of  three  occurrences  in  this  district,  one  in 
Lockwood,  and  those  at  Grove  and  Mollicar  Woods  above 
mentioned. 

Mr.  S.  L.  Mosley  (Nat.  1889,  p.  225),  mentions  that  his 
daughter  and  he  had  heard  a  nightingale  singing  near  Anston 
Stones,  adding  that  they  "  had  heard  one  on  a  previous  visit, 
and  were  told  that  it  is  a  regular  visitor." 

It  appears  regularly  within  a  few  miles  of  Ackworth  ; 
and  has  frequently  been  heard  to  sing  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
town  ;  it  has  bred  on  the  Stapleton  estate  since  1870  ;  since 
1890  it  has  regularly  bred  at  Brock-o'-dale  ;  as  many  as 
six  pairs  were  there  in  1892.  It  has  also  been  heard  at  Upton 
Beacon.  A  pair  bred  at  Hogg  Wood  in  1891,  and  the  bird 
has  nested  there  every  year  since.  In  1895  a  pair  nested  in 
Bingley  Spring  Wood.  It  also  bred  at  Ackworth  Moor  top 


54  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

in  1862.  Its  song  was  heard  for  a  few  evenings  at  Castle 
Syke  Hill  in  1868,  the  bird  being  eventually  captured  by  a 
bird-catcher,  who  used  a  glow-worm  as  bait.  In  the 
Rotherham  district  it  occurs  in  all  the  woods,  and  is 
far  from  uncommon  in  the  delightful  vicinity  of  Roche 
Abbey,  which  is  just  on  the  fringe  of  the  Coalfield,  and 
only  a  few  miles  from  the  Nottinghamshire  border  of  the 
county. 

Around  Sheffield,  Allis  reported  in  1844  that  it  was  occa- 
sionally heard  near  the  town,  and  Mr.  J.  J.  Baldwin  Young, 
writing  from  Richmond  Park,  Sheffield,  on  3oth  December 
1900,  states  that  "  Two  or  three  pairs  usually  nest  every  year 
near,  and  there  are  other  pairs  in  the  same  district.  This 
bird  is  extending  its  range  northward." 

In  the  Halifax  district  it  is  said  to  have  formerly  visited 
Elland  Woods,  while  in  Ainley  Wood,  one  was  said  to  have 
occurred  in  1845. 

It  has  not  been  recorded  to  my  knowledge  from  elsewhere 
on  the  Coalfield  save  in  the  columns  of  the  daily  press,  which, 
in  matters  of  this  kind,  cannot  be  regarded  as  reliable. 

In  the  Central  Plain,  about  York  and  district,  Allis 
reported  in  1844  that  it  "  was  heard  in  the  immediate  suburbs 
of  York  last  spring ;  has  been  met  with  at  Skelton,  about 
five  miles  north  of  the  city,  some  years  ago  ;  it  breeds  every 
year  in  the  wood  at  Caywood  ....  it  occurs  at  .... 
Bramham  Park."  Regarding  its  occurrence  within  the  city, 
my  friend,  Mr.  James  Backhouse,  informs  me  that  it  has 
nested  once  in  his  garden  at  Holgate.  The  Rev.  F.  \\\ 
Hayden  writes  in  1880  that  "the  Nightingale  is  plentiful, 
comparatively  speaking,  in  Skelton.  I  possess  several  eggs  of 
that  species  taken  here,  and  have  had  nests  in  my  hand,  but, 
as  I  have  made  no  record,  I  can  give  no  dates.  ...  I  know 
that  it  resorts  to  Mr.  Dawnay's  wood,  called  Skelton  Springs, 
half  a  mile  from  my  house  on  the  north,  and  to  a  wood  called 
Nova  Scotia  in  this  parish,  one  mile  to  the  east  of  my  house. 
....  The  Nightingale  has  been  noticed  in  Skelton  from  of 
old.  I  have  no  reason  to  believe  otherwise  than  that  it 


NIGHTINGALE.  55 

is  of  annual  occurrence.  I  only  once  knew  of  two  pair>  at 
the  same  time,  but  I  have  not  sought  for  them."  To  the 
Hon.  Pay  an  Dawnay  we  are  indebted  for  the  following 
interesting  communication  relating  to  the  Nightingale  at 
Beningborough  and  other  places  in  the  neighbourhood; 
writing  in  November  1880,  he  says  "  I  have  not  heard  a 
Nightingale  at  Beningborough  [eight  miles  N.W.  of  York] 
for  some  years.  The  instance  of  one  being  heard  for  two 
years  here,  some  few  years  ago,  arose  from  one  being  caught 
in  a  small  wood  close  to  the  railroad  near  Shipton,  and  being 
brought  to  me  as  an  unknown  bird  by  the  captor  ;  I  found  it 
answered  the  description  of  a  Nightingale,  and  turned  it  out 
into  the  garden  [at  Beningborough].  The  next  year  [1867], 
one  of  the  last  days  of  May,  28th  or  2Qth,  I  forget  which,  I 
heard  a  Nightingale  singing  in  a  plantation  about  300  yards 
from  the  place  I  turned  out  the  one  brought  to  me  the  year 
previous.  This  bird  continued  singing  in  June,  for  part  of 
that  month ;  other  people  heard  it  as  well  as  myself.  The 
next  year  [1868]  after  this  I  heard  a  Nightingale  in  a  small 
wood,  perhaps  100  yards  from  the  place  it  sang  in  the  year 
before,  but  it  did  not  sing  long,  or  was  taken  or  frightened.. 
This  shows  that  they  come  to  the  same  place  again  if  it  suits 
them.  One  year  we  had  three  Nightingales  singing,  two  in 
Skelton  Spring,  and  one  in  Overton  Wood,  but  I  have  not 

heard  of  any  lately I  find  out  on  inquiry  that  the 

Nightingale  was  brought  to  me  in  1866,  and  was  heard  the 
two  following  years,  but  never  since  that  I  am  aware  of  close 

to  this  place There  was  one  at  Clifton,  a  suburb  of 

York,  in  Mrs.  Cattle's  garden  somewhat  about  the  same 
time,  and  she  was  so  annoyed  at  the  lot  of  people  who  came 
late  to  hear  it,  that  she  got  some  birdcatcher  to  take  it ;  at 
least  this  is  what  I  was  told  ;  I  cannot  say  whether  it  is  true 
or  not.  The  Rev.  J.  Overton  told  me  of  one  in  Sessay  Wood 
[eighteen  miles  N.W.  of  York],  a  few  years  ago  [1875],  that 
people  went  to  hear  in  the  evening  from  Easingwold  and 
the  neighbourhood.  Mr.  Overton  is  now  dead,  so  he  cannot 
be  appealed  to,  but  he  knew  the  note  of  the  Nightingale  well, 


56  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

and  was  a  very  fair  ornithologist.  Sessay  is  five  miles  south 
of  Thirsk.  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  a  few  Nightingales 
come  north  more  frequently  than  is  thought  to  be  the  case, 
but  so  many  don't  know  the  note,  and  if  they  did,  do  not 
care."  In  Gill's  "  Vallis  Eboracensis,"  published  in  1852, 
p.  412,  the  occurrence  of  the  Nightingale  near  Easingwold 
is  thus  alluded  to  :  "  About  half-a-mile  from  Huby,  near  the 
road  leading  to  Tollerton,  are  the  fragments  of  a  ruined 
mansion  or  monastery,  called  the  Mote,  presenting  an  area 
of  about  600  square  yards,  surrounded  by  a  deep  dyke  or 
fosse,  twelve  feet  in  width  and  seven  feet  deep.  It  is  now 
overgrown  with  Oak  and  Ash,  and  for  the  last  four  years 
has  been  the  solitary  but  favourite  retreat,  where,  in  summer 
evenings  the  Nightingale 

'  Sings  darkling  ;    and  in  shadiest  covert  hid, 
Tunes  her  nocturnal  note.'  " 

The  following  information  relating  to  the  districts  of 
Wetherby  and  Boston  Spa  was  supplied  by  the  late  Rev.  J. 
W.  Chaloner  of  Newton  Kyme,  who  wrote  in  1886  :  "As  far 
as  I  can  remember — and  that  is  sixty  years  ago — the  appear- 
ance of  the  Nightingale  in  this  district  is  very  rare  ;  the  first 
was  at  Woodhall  many  years  ago,  the  next  time  was  at 
Stockeld  Park.  In  1846,  one  at  Colonel  Gunter's,  Wetherby 
Grange,  where,  alas,  I  saw  a  blackguard  at  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning  with  a  cage,  and  two  or  three  nights  afterwards 
its  song  ceased,  so  I  presume  he  caught  it.  The  next  I  heard 
here  was  in  1866.  The  last  here  this  spring."  A  pair  was 
reported  to  have  built  in  the  vicarage  hedge  at  Thorparch 
a  number  of  years  ago,  but  the  nest  was  taken.  Its  nesting 
near  Bramham  has  already  been  alluded  to  prior  to  1844, 
and  in  more  recent  years  it  has  been  known  to  resort  to  that 
place,  and  to  Skewkirk.  Tunstall,  one  hundred  years  ago, 
informed  Latham  that  "  near  Abberford,  particularly  near 
Hazlewood,  the  seat  of  Sir  Walter  Vavasour,  it  is  extremely 
lavish  in  song." 

Near   Harrogate,   the  Nightingale  was   first  noticed   on 


NIGHTINGALE.  57 

2ist  April  1883,  and  for  three  consecutive  years  it  made 
its  appearance  in  the  same  copse  in  which  it  first  nested. 
The  same  pair  of  birds  was  believed  to  come  back  year  after 
year.  The  nest,  a  remarkably  flimsy  structure,  was  built  in 
a  tuft  of  nettles,  and  contained  four  eggs.  The  young  were 
fully  fledged  on  the  i6th  of  June,  and  left  the  nest  the  next 
day,  one  egg  remaining  unhatched.  Some  days  before  they 
left  the  nest,  the  notes  of  the  male  bird  were  changed  into 
a  call-note,  and  an  angry  jarring  croak,  which  it  uttered 
on  a  near  approach.  The  next  year  (1884)  they  appeared 
again  on  the  20th  April ;  this  year  they  were  evidently 
disturbed  in  their  nesting  operations  by  the  crowds  of  people 
that  visited  the  copse  nightly.  In  1885  the  male  bird  only 
was  seen,  and  he  disappeared  early  in  June.  In  1886  no 
Nightingale  appeared,  nor  was  any  heard  in  the  neighbourhood. 
In  1882  a  pair  attempted  to  nest  in  the  Spa  grounds  in  Harro- 
gate,  and  attracted  much  attention.  Its  fate  is  shrouded 
in  mystery. 

In  1887  two  pairs  of  Nightingales  appeared  at  Knares- 
borough,  about  two  miles  from  Harrogate,  during  the  month 
of  April.  They  were  first  heard  about  the  28th,  and  took  up 
their  summer  home  at  Scriven  Park,  and  on  the  banks  of 
the  River  Nidd.  The  estate  belongs  to  Capt.  Slingsby.  So 
far  as  was  ascertained,  this  was  their  first  visit  to  Knares- 
borough. 

In  the  Naturalist  (1889,  p.  356),  corroborative  evidence 
of  the  appearance  of  the  songsters  at  Knaresborough  in 
1889,  is  given  as  follows  :  "I  have  pleasure  in  being  able 
to  put  on  record  the  occurrence  and  nesting  of  two  pairs 
of  Nightingales  in  some  woods  within  a  short  distance  of 
Knaresborough.  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  be  more  precise 
as  to  the  locality,  as  I  have  given  an  undertaking  not  to 
do  so." 

The  latest  information  I  have  been  able  to  procure  as  to 
the  Knaresborough  district  is  dated  2ist  February  1901  ; 
"  A  pair  of  Nightingales  was  here  in  the  summer  of  1892 
or  1893.  They  settled  in  a  bank  of  blackthorn  and  garden 


53  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

orchards  below  St.  Robert's  Chapel,  on  the  banks  of  the 
River  Nidd.  Numbers  of  people  went  out  at  night  to  hear 
the  male  bird  sing ;  I  went  one  night.  ...  A  number  of 
rough  lads  then  threw  stones  at  the  birds,  and  they  dis- 
appeared." A  male  was  heard  singing  on  the  banks  of  the 
Nidd,  half-a-mile  below  Knaresborough,  in  May  1902,  and 
in  1903  it  was  reported  near  the  Crimple,  where  a  nest  was 
found. 

At  Ripley,  two  or  three  miles  N.W.  of  Knaresborough, 
a  Nightingale  was  heard  singing  in  1889. 

In  the  district  about  Staveley,  I  have  already  quoted 
the  evidence  bearing  upon  the  three  occurrences  which 
have  come  under  notice  ;  and  Tunstall  has  told  us  that 
in  his  day  it  was  "  frequently  heard  near  Boroughbridge," 
but  a  more  recent  record  is  the  following :  "In  the 
spring  of  1889  a  pair  of  Nightingales  took  up  their 
residence  in  a  small  wood  about  a  mile  from  the  village 
of  Staveley.  The  song  could  be  heard  on  a  still  evening 
when  more  than  half-a-mile  from  the  bird's  haunt " 
(Nat.  1889,  p.  176). 

Near  Ripon,  Mr.  J.  F.  Pratt  has  in  his  collection  an  egg 
of  this  species  which  was  taken  at  Bishopton,  about  a  mile 
[west]  from  Ripon,  on  May  22nd  1878,  and  was  brought 
him  by  some  lads  who  wished  to  know  what  kind  of  eggs  they 
were.  The  nest  was  built  in  a  bush  about  two  or  three  feet 
from  the  ground,  and  at  the  first  glance  had  the  appearance 
of  an  untidy  Blackbird's. 

The  Nightingale  has,  however,  occurred  and  bred  more 
than  once  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Thirsk,  the  most  northern 
limit  of  its  range,  save  one,  or  perhaps  two,  exceptional 
instances  to  which  allusion  will  be  duly  made. 

Regarding  its  occurrence  at  Baldersby  Park,  the  Hon. 
Francis  H.  Dawnay  says  that  in  the  summer  of  1868  a 
Nightingale  was  constantly  heard  to  sing,  and  attracted 
a  large  number  of  people  in  the  evenings,  some  driving  many 
miles  to  hear  it.  It  always  sang  in  the  same  part  of  the 
woods,  and  it  is  thought  it  had  a  nest  near.  But  this  gentle- 


NIGHTINGALE.  59 

man  says  this  is  not  the  first  time  he  has  heard  of  its  appear* 
ance  here.  In  May  and  June  1881  one  frequented  a  wood 
near  Bagby,  about  three  miles  from  Thirsk. 

Sir  Ralph  Payne  Gallwey,  Bart.,  observes  that  a  Nightin- 
gale frequented  the  home  wood  at  Thirkleby  Park  about 
1874.  He  heard  it  himself,  and  the  fact  is  particularly 
impressed  upon  his  memory,  for  the  people  from  Thirsk, 
three-and-a-half  miles  distant,  used  to  make  excursions 
to  hear  the  bird. 

An  instance  of  a  pair  of  these  birds  nesting  at  Normanby 
House  in  Cleveland,  some  seven  miles  west  of  Redcar,  in 
a  locality  much  further  north  (indeed,  in  almost  the  extreme 
N.E.  corner  of  the  county)  than  any  recorded  at  the  period 
referred  to  by  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke,  has  been  known  to  me  for 
some  time ;  I  am  indebted  to  the  well-known  veteran 
Yorkshire  sportsman,  Mr.  Thomas  Parrington,  for  a  cir* 
cumstantial  account  of  the  occurrence,  which  was  in  the 
early  "  forties." 

The  supposed  instance  of  a  Nightingale  at  Tollesby,  in 
Cleveland  (op.  cit,  1890,  p.  271),  is  doubtful.  A  closer  in- 
vestigation of  the  subject  shews  that,  although  Mr.  Emerson 
frequently  heard  the  bird  sing  after  dark  in  a  high  thorn 
hedge,  and  had  little  doubt  in  his  own  mind  as  to  its  identity, 
he  never  obtained  a  view  of  it.  I  cannot,  therefore,  accept 
it  as  a  true  record. 

In  the  extreme  southern-eastern  position  of  the  Central 
Plain,  at  the  foot  of  the  Wolds  at  Market  Weighton,  in  June 
1880,  one  had  been  singing  every  night  in  the  wood  at  Harswell 
Rectory  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  which  was  an  unusual  occur- 
rence so  far  north,  though  not  without  precedent  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood. This  last  remark  is  correct,  for  the  Hon.  Francis 
H.  Dawnay  communicated  the  information  that  one  was  heard 
at  Everingham  Park,  the  seat  of  Lord  Herries,  a  few  years 
before  1880  ;  while  at  Brough  in  1880  a  pair  nested,  brought 
up  their  young  safely,  and  left  in  August.  Near  the  same  place 
a  pair  bred  for  four  years  previous  to  1900.  The  nest  was 
found  on  two  occasions,  and  Mr.  L.  West  shewed  me  an  egg 


6o  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

which  had  been  taken.  At  North  Cave,  the  Nightingale 
appeared  in  1896,  and  in  1897  was  heard  on  the  i6th  April, 
and  the  young  were  seen  on  the  2nd  June  in  a  large  bush 
near  the  ground.  In  1898  it  was  again  heard,  on  April  the 
2gth.  At  South  Cave  a  Nightingale  was  heard  singing  in 
the  Vicarage  grounds. 

The  bird  is  only  an  irregular  visitant  to  the  eastern  part 
of  central  Yorkshire,  and  I  am  only  acquainted  with  the 
following  instances  : — One  was  heard  at  Castle  Howard  on  the 
I3th  May  1875,  and  at  Stillingfleet  about  the  same  date. 
The  Rev.  F.  O.  Morris  (Nat.  1851,  p.  216),  said  he  "plainly 
heard  it,  '  ni  fallor '  about  a  mile  south  of  Malton,  namely, 
seventeen  miles  north-east  of  York.  It  was  about  eight 
years  ago,  when  I  was  walking  home  one  moonlight  night." 
There  is  most  satisfactory  evidence  of  its  occurrence  at  Scar- 
borough, the  most  northern  record,  within  recent  years, 
for  Britain.  Mr.  William  Robinson  of  West  Bank,  Scarborough 
writes  as  follows  in  the  Naturalist  (1882,  p.  185)  :  "It  will 
interest  ornithologists  in  Yorkshire  to  hear  that  we  really 
have  the  Nightingale  at  Scarborough  this  year.  On  the 
loth  and  nth  of  May,  near  Oliver's  Mount,  I  listened  to  its 
unmistakable  '  jug,  jug/  and  piping  and  other  liquid  notes 
for  about  half-an-hour  between  n  p.m.  and  midnight. 
I  lived  many  years  ago,  in  Surrey,  and  became  very 
familiar  with  these  notes,  so  can  speak  with  confidence 
as  to  its  not  being  a  '  peggy '  this  time."  A  later  record 
for  this  district  is  that  on  May  the  8th  1896,  in  Rain- 
cliffe  Wood,  it  was  heard  on  the  I3th,  near  Throxenby 
Mere ;  and  it  was  also  seen  and  heard  up  to  the  29th 
of  the  month,  on  which  day  it  was  reported  to  have 
been  shot  (Zool.  1896,  p.  304). 

The  late  John  Cordeaux  mentioned  (op.  cit.  1897,  p. 
332,  and  Nat.  1897,  p.  240),  that  he  saw  a  Nightingale,  in 
the  second  week  of  June  1897,  within  two  miles  of  Filey,  in 
a  thicket  near  the  roadside  with  a  caterpillar  in  its  beak, 
and,  within  a  few  feet,  a  bird  of  the  year. 

Passing  now  to  the  southern  portion  of  central  York- 


NIGHTINGALE.  61 

shire,  Pennant's  remarks  have  been  already  quoted  at  the 
commencement  of  this  chapter.  Miller,  in  his  "  History  of 
Doncaster "  (1804),  remarked  that  this  "  most  delightful 
songster  visits  us  about  the  middle  of  May."  Allis,  and 
others  down  to  the  present  time,  mentioned  it  as  common 
in  Edlington  and  other  woods,  and  in  the  neighbourhood 
north  of  this  town  the  editor  of  Nevile  Wood's  Naturalist 
(1838,  p.  437),  said  :  "  We  have  ourselves  heard  it  near 
Campsall,  and  in  a  wood  adjoining  Owston  Hall.  .... 
Wm.  H.  Rudston  Read,  Esq.,  of  Frickley  Hall,  ....  informs 
us  that  several  of  these  nocturnal  choristers  visit  Hooton 
Pagnall  Common." 

One  was  recorded  as  singing  in  Regent  Square,  Doncaster 
(Nat.  1899,  p.  292). 

About  Goole  it  has  been  repeatedly  heard  in  the  district ; 
at  Cowick  in  1879,  and  at  Rawcliffe  in  1880  and  1881  ;  it 
appeared  again  at  Rawcliffe  in  1888  and  1889  ;  also  at  Hook 
in  1893  and  1894. 

In  Holderness,  in  the  southern  portion  near  the  Humber 
estuary,  it  occurs  annually,  but  in  varying  numbers.  The 
Rev.  H.  C.  Casson  (Field,  2ist  June  1879),  writes  as  follows 
on  the  extension  of  the  range  of  this  species  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Patrington,  and  tells  us  that  "  Last  Monday  night, 
June  gth,  I  sat  on  a  gate  listening  to  four  Nightingales  at  once, 
which  sang  against  one  another  continuously  during  that  time  ; 
and  during  a  walk  of  a  mile  I  heard  three  other  Nightingales 
singing,  besides  the  four  together.  Two  years  ago  a  single 
Nightingale  was  heard  in  the  same  lane,  but  none  was  noticed 
last  year."  Mr.  Casson,  in  reply  to  inquiries  in  1881,  kindly 
communicated  the  following  additional  and  interesting  in- 
formation :  "On  24th  May  1880,  and  again  on  the  27th  of 
the  same  month,  I  heard  (on  each  occasion),  two  Nightingales 
singing  in  pretty  much  the  same  spot  each  evening.  The 
evenings  were  both  warm  ones.  On  several  other  occasions 
I  listened  for  them,  but  never  heard  them  except  on  the 
nights  mentioned.  However,  I  have  often  noticed,  when 
I  lived  in  Cambridgeshire,  where  Nightingales  are  very 


62  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

plentiful,  that  when  the  wind  was  in  a  cold  quarter  I  seldom 
heard  their  song,  and  when  I  did  so,  it  was  rather  to  be  called 
a  chirping  and  twittering  than  a  song.  And  here  in  Yorkshire, 
both  last  year  and  this,  when  I  have  heard  the  song  it  has  been 
on  an  exceptionally  warm  evening,  for  here  we  have  seldom 
any  wind  but  an  E.  or  N.E.  from  the  first  of  April  to  the 
middle  of  June.  I  am  inclined  to  think,  therefore,  that  the 
Nightingale  may  be  much  more  common  in  these  parts  than 
is  usually  supposed,  but  that  the  evenings  are  rarely  warm 
enough  to  induce  them  to  sing  before  the  beginning  or  middle 
of  June,  by  which  time  I  imagine  they  have  young,  and 
the  parents  have  ceased  singing.  I  was  struck  with  this 
idea  especially  one  evening  in  June  1879.  I  heard,  about 
9  p.m.,  a  Nightingale  singing  very  clearly  in  a  tree  by 
the  road  side,  and  listened  to  it  for  some  ten  minutes  ; 
I  then  went  to  a  friend's  house  in  order  to  bring  other 
persons  to  listen  to  it ;  however,  I  stayed  in  the  friend's 
house  about  an  hour  or  more  before  we  set  off  to  listen 
to  our  songster,  and  by  this  time,  i.e.  n  or  11-30  p.m., 
the  wind  had  changed  into  a  cold  quarter,  and  not  even  a 
chirp  or  a  twitter  could  we  hear." 

In  mid-Holderness,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Beverley, 
Beverley  R.  Morris,  writing  in  the  Zoologist  (1846,  p.  1298), 
stated,  on  the  authority  of  a  friend,  that  five  or  six  years 
before  (about  1840),  some  half-a-dozen  specimens  were  shot 
or  trapped  in  a  thickety  wood  near  this  town,  called  Burton 
Bushes.  There  could  be  no  doubt  about  the  identity  of  the 
species,  as  the  birds  were  heard  singing  when  alive,  and 
examined  when  dead,  by  persons  well  acquainted  with  them. 
The  recorder  concluded  with  the  remark,  "  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
it  has  never,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  appeared  here  since." 
Mr.  F.  Boyes  has  furnished  the  following  interesting  notes 
on  its  occurrence  in  the  Beverley  district.  "  The  Nighingale, 
as  you  know,  is  an  irregular  summer  visitor  to  this  part  of 
the  county,  in  some  years  spread  over  a  considerable  area, 
and  at  other  times  entirely  absent.  I  scarcely  know  how 
to  account  for  this  uncertainty  in  occupying  its  previous 


NIGHTINGALE.  63 

haunts,  unless  it  be  that,  as  we  are  on  the  extreme  limit  of 
its  northern  range,  we  are  dependent  on  the  weather  in  tha 
spring  whether  we  have  them  or  not.  Should  the  spring  be 
mild  and  genial  at  the  time  of  their  migration,  they  probably 
push  further  north,  whilst  should  the  weather  at  that  time 
be  cold  and  cheerless,  they  are  kept  more  within  their  ordinary 
limits.  We  know  the  mildness  or  severity  of  the  seasons 
has  much  to  do  with  the  movements  of  birds.  The  Nightin- 
gale has  visited  this  district  as  far  back  as  anyone  can  re- 
member, but  always  has  been  looked  on  as  a  rarity,  often  two, 
but  seldom  more,  within  the  precincts  of  this  borough.  The 
first  note  I  can  find  is  in  1868,  where  I  have  put  down  that  I 
went  to  hear  a  Nightingale  sing  on  ist  May.  In  1874  I  have 
a  note  that  two  sang  nightly  in  our  public  common,  where 
they  bred,  and  I  was  told  a  pair  of  old  ones  and  the  young 
were  taken.  In  1875  one  bird  came  to  the  same  common 
(but  not  exactly  to  the  same  place),  where  it  also  bred,  as  I 
saw  the  old  bird  on  the  nest  myself,  which  had  five  eggs. 
It  was  afterwards  taken.  It  has  appeared  at  uncertain 
intervals  since,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  my  note 
books.  It  has  visited  many  places  in  the  Riding,  but  I 
believe  always  singly,  and  generally  uncertainly.  At  North 
Cliff  e,  Market  Weight  on,  I  was  told  by  old  Reynolds 
that  it  had  appeared  there  several  years  in  succession, 
and  he  pointed  out  to  me  the  particular  wood  where 
it  came." 

With  regard  to  the  present  status  of  the  species,  Mr. 
Boyes*  opinion,  as  expressed  to  me  at  Beverley,  in  March 
1901,  may  be  summed  up  in  these  words  : — "  Time  was 
when  the  Nightingale  was  pretty  well  known  as  a  summer 
visitor  to  Beverley,  but  I  fear  the  bird-catchers  gave  them 
very  little  peace ;  of  late  years  its  visits  have  been  few  and 
far  between,  and  always  intermittent.  I  have  known  some 
instances  of  the  birds  taking  up  their  quarters  in  copses,  etc., 
where  they  have  not  been  molested,  and  yet  have  not  returned 
to  them  in  the  following  summer  ,  in  fact,  I  never  once  knew 
a  Nightingale  to  come  the  following  year  to  a  spot  which 


64  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

had  been  occupied  by  one  the  previous  season.  This  is 
strange  when  we  remember  that  many  birds  return  to  their 
old  haunts.  In  some  seasons  I  have  heard  Nightingales  sing 
for  an  evening  or  two  in  a  particular  spot,  and  then  never 
be  heard  again  ;  not  having  found  mates,  they  have  gone 
elsewhere  probably." 

Other  instances  in  the  Beverley  district  are  at  Cherry 
Burton  in  1889 ;  at  Walkington  in  1892  ;  at  Middleton  in 
1898,  and  at  Boynton  in  1890. 

In  the  extreme  north  of  Holderness,  at  the  foot  almost  of 
the  Wolds,  a  pair  nested  at  Littlethorpe,  in  1876,  in  a  plantation 
on  the  farm  of  Mr.  W.  F.  Forster,  and  not  one  hundred  yards 
from  his  house.  The  nest  was  taken  on  the  26th  of  May, 
and  an  egg  kindly  sent  for  inspection.  The  birds  built  a 
second  time  in  the  same  wood,  but  the  nest  was  unfortunately 
destroyed.  The  male  used  to  sing  in  Mr.  Forster's  garden 
continually,  and  was  both  seen  and  heard  by  him  and  his 
friends.  Mr.  Forster's  son  afterwards  lived  at  High  Cay- 
thorpe,  near  Bridlington,  and  he  found  a  Nightingale's  nest 
in  the  garden  hedge  there  in  1887. 

There  is  no  satisfactory  evidence  regarding  the  occurrence 
of  the  Nightingale  in  north-west  Yorkshire,  but  the  following 
references  to  it  for  the  district  may  be  quoted  as  being  on 
record.  "  The  Nightingale  is  a  very  rare  visitor  in  Wharf edale, 
for  I  have  constantly  asked  this  question.  A  woodman 
told  me  that  he  once  heard  one  when  working  at  Grassington 
Wood,  it  was  towards  evening,  and  many  years  since." — 
F.  Montagu,  "  Gleanings  in  Craven,"  1838,  p.  57).  From 
"Whitaker's  Craven"  (2nd  Ed.,  1812,  footnote  p.  491),  I 
transcribe  the  following  passage,  which  is  perhaps  worthy  of 
quotation  here  :  "  As  a  trait  of  old  ornithology,  I  must  inform 
the  reader  that  Craven  had  formerly  two  very  different  birds, 
long  since  extinct,  the  Eagle  and  the  Nightingale.  The 
existence  of  the  first  ....  is  proved  by  ....  that  of  the 
latter,  in  Ribblesdale,  by  Nichtgaleriding,  the  name  of  a 
place  in  the  parish  of  Bolt  on,  mentioned  in  the  Coucher 
'  Book  of  Sallay.'  " 


WHITETHROAT.  65 

The  Nightingale  has,  within  recent  years,  been  reported 
at  Welbeck  Wath  in  Yorkshire  (Nat.  1899,  p.  279). 


WHITETHROAT. 
Sylvia  cinerea  (Bechsfein). 

Summer  visitant,  common,  and  generally  distributed. 


The  earliest  known  reference  to  the  Whitethroat's  con- 
nection with  Yorkshire  was  made  by  R.  Johnson  of  Brignall, 
near  Greta  Bridge,  in  a  letter  to  John  Ray,  dated  29th  March 
1672  : — "  Honoured  Sir  ....  It  is  like  enough  our  White- 
throat  (curruca  cinerea)  is  of  the  Ficedulae,  for  it  is  her  manner 
with  us  to  fall  upon  a  fair  and  ripe  cherry,  whose  skin  when 
she  hath  broken  with  a  chirp  she  invites  her  young  brood, 
who  devour  it  in  a  moment  "  ("  Correspondence  of  John  Ray," 
p.  96). 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Currucca  cinerea. — Whitethroat — Abundant  in   most   districts. 

This  species  arrives  about  the  middle  of  April,  sometimes 
in  the  third  week  :  the  mean  date  for  ten  years  at  Barnsley 
was  the  25th,  though  in  1883  it  was  recorded  as  early  as  the 
i6th,  and  in  1901  it  was  noted  at  Newsome  on  the  3rd.  It 
takes  its  departure  in  September. 

In  all  the  wooded  and  cultivated  districts  it  is  commonly 
met  with,  and  has  occasionally  nested  on  the  moors  ;  at 
Buckden,  in  Upper  Wharf edale,  it  was  found  at  an  elevation 
of  1000  feet  in  Raikes'  Wood.  In  the  East  Riding  it  is 
frequent  in  the  lanes  and  by-ways  of  the  higher  ground,  such 

VOL.  I.  F 


66  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

as  Bempton  and  Flamborough,  as  also  in  the  woods  and  in  the 
low  country. 

As  a  migrant  at  the  light-stations  it  figures  in  the  Reports 
on  several  occasions,  and  appears  in  the  list  of  birds  killed  by 
flying  against  the  Flamborough  lighthouse,  at  which  place 
it  is  recorded  as  of  annual  occurrence  ;  there  was  a  "  rush  " 
on  28th  April  1893,  and  on  igth  April  1894  it  was  plentiful 
at  both  Flamborough  and  Spurn,  as  again  in  the  same  month 
in  1897. 

The  pink  variety  of  egg  is  occasionally  found  in  Yorkshire  ; 
my  collection  contains  one  of  a  clutch  of  seven  taken  in  June 
1894  by  Mr.  C.  Milburn,  and  a  clutch  of  a  similar  character 
is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  W.  Gyngell  of  Scarborough,  found 
by  him  near  that  place. 

In  1877  a  brood  was  reared  near  Masham  in  the  nest  of 
a  Sedge  Warbler,  after  the  latter  bird  had  brought  off  its 
young. 

Its  vernacular  names  are  varied  and  numerous ;  Greater 
Prettychaps  and  White-throated  Fauvet  are  fancy  book 
names  used  in  Neville  Wood's  Naturalist,  1837  >  Winnel 
or  Windle  Straw,  Peggy,  Peggy  Whitethroat,  and  Nettle 
Creeper  are  in  general  use ;  Small-Straw  at  Huddersfield 
and  in  the  West  Riding,  and  Straw-Small  at  Wilsden  and 
in  the  West  Riding  are  terms  applied  to  the  nest ;  Muggie 
or  Meggie,  and  Nettle  Monger  are  used  in  the  North  Riding ; 
Big  Peggy  and  Big  Peggy  Whitethroat  in  Nidderdale  ;  Peggy 
Chatter  in  the  East  Riding  ;  and  Nettle  Wren  in  East  Cleve- 
land ;  while  Mock  Nightingale  is  a  name  formerly  used  at 
Redcar. 


bo 

.2 
"S 
•s 


67 

LESSER  WHITETHROAT. 
Sylvia  curruca  (Z.). 


Summer  visitant,  generally  but  thinly  distributed  ;  not  so  abundant 
as  the  preceding  species. 


The  first  mention  of  this  as  a  Yorkshire  bird  is,  apparently, 
in  London's  Magazine  for  July  1832,  where  it  is  chronicled 
as  occurring  in  Wensleydale  in  1831. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Curruca  garrula. — Lesser  Whitethroat.  Met  with  near  Doncaster, 
Huddersfield,  Hebden  Bridge,  and  Halifax,  and  is  common  near  Sheffield 
and  York  ;  is  seldom  seen  near  Bridlington,  and  then  only  in  spring 
and  autumn  ;  it  is  not  known  to  breed  there.* 

The  general  time  for  the  appearance  of  the  Lesser  White- 
throat  is  about  the  end  of  April  or  early  in  May  ;  at  Barnsley 
the  average  date,  calculated  over  a  period  of  twenty  years 
between  1854  and  J874,  was  the  28th  April ;  and  for  ten 
years  afterwards  it  was  the  4th  May.  The  earliest  recorded 
arrival  was  at  Halifax,  where  one  was  noted  on  the  lyth  April, 
and  in  1883,  at  Barnsley,  it  was  seen  on  the  i8th  of  that 
month. 

It  usually  leaves  in  September,  occasionally  lingering 
until  late  in  the  succeeding  month  :  the  latest  occurrence 
noted  at  Spurn  is  I7th  October  1896. 

It  is  more  locally  and  thinly  distributed  than  its  congener, 
though  it  may  be  met  with  in  most  localities  suitable  to  its 
requirements  ;  it  has  not  been  noticed  in  the  Sheffield  district, 
though  it  breeds  regularly  near  Halifax  ;  and  in  the  Wilsden 
neighbourhood  there  are  only  two  instances  of  its  occurrence  ; 
it  is  not  uncommon  near  Ackworth ;  at  Spofforth  and 
Wetherby  it  is  fairly  numerous ;  and  at  Beverley  it  is 
moderately,  and  in  some  seasons  plentifully,  distributed ; 
while  near  York  it  is  more  abundant  than  S.  cinerea.  Though 
not  a  common  species  in  the  central  and  north-western  dales, 
yet  it  may  be  overlooked  owing  to  its  skulking  habits  ;  it 

*  Allis  was  misinformed  as  regards  its  presence  near  Bridlington. 


68  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

is,  however,  fairly  abundant  near  Bedale  ;  it  nests  near 
Malham  ;  and  in  the  Nidd  Valley  it  is  found  to  1,000  feet 
elevation  and  up  to  the  borders  of  the  moors  ;  it  occurs 
also  in  Lower  Swaledale,  and  is  a  regular  visitant  at  North 
Stainley  and  Ripon. 

On  the  coast  line  it  is  known  chiefly  as  a  spring  and 
autumn  migrant,  but  nests  sparingly  in  suitable  localities 
in  the  Esk  Valley  and  in  Cleveland.  It  visits  Holder- 
ness  regularly,  but  not  in  great  numbers,  as  a  nester, 
and  more  frequently  on  both  the  spring  and  autumn 
migration. 

It  has  often  been  reported  from  Flamborough  at  the 
period  of  the  vernal  passage,  and  in  1877  one  was  killed 
by  flying  against  the  lantern  of  the  lighthouse.  The  Migration 
Reports  contain  only  the  following  entries,  all  of  which  refer 
to  the  autumnal  movement : — 

"  1881.     September   3rd.      Spurn.      Lesser  Whitethroats 

abounded. 

September  22nd.     At  Teesmouth — Several. 
1887.     September  2ist.     Spurn.     Lesser  Whitethroat." 

Its  local  names  are  :  Small  Straw  in  Nidderdale  and  the 
West  Riding  ;  Whitestraw  at  Ackworth,  and  Mealymouth 
at  Helmsley  and  Thirsk  in  the  North  Riding.  The  name 
Lesser  Pettychaps  has  been  conferred  on  it  by  some  of  the 
old  writers,  but  it  is  confused  with  other  small  warblers, 
such  as  the  Chiff-chaff.  The  title  of  Beam  Bird  (Latham 
Syn.  p.  413),  is  also  a  mistake  ;  see  Garden  Warbler. 


ORPHEAN  WARBLER. 
Sylvia  orphea  (Temm.). 

Accidental  visitant  from  Central  and  Southern  Europe,  and  Northern 
Africa,  of  extremely  rare  occurrence. 


This  warbler  nests  freely  in  France  and  the  south-west 
of  Europe,  and  occurs  regularly  along  the  eastern  seaboard 


Nest  of  Nightingale,  near  Harrogate.  X.  Fortune. 

See  page  57. 


Nest  of  Lesser  Whitethroat,  near  Ripon.          R.  Fortune. 
See  page  68. 


ORPHEAN  WARBLER.  69 

of  the  Mediterranean  as  far  as  Turkey  ;  in  winter  it  migrates 
to  Egypt  and  Nubia. 

There  are  but  two  authenticated  records  of  its  occurrence 
in  the  British  Islands,  the  first  being  in  this  county,  where 
one,  out  of  two  seen,  was  killed  on  6th  July  1848,  and  came 
into  the  possession  of  the  late  Sir  Wm.  Milner,  who  stated 
that  "  it  was  shot  in  a  small  plantation  near  Wetherby, 
and  was,  unfortunately,  very  ill  set  up  by  the  man  who 
obtained  it ;  it  had  the  appearance  of  having  been  engaged 
in  incubation  from  the  state  of  its  plumage.  Mr.  Graham, 
my  bird-stuffer  at  York,  having  heard  that  a  very  uncommon 
bird  had  been  shot,  went  over  to  Wetherby  and,  fortunately, 
obtained  the  specimen  for  my  collection.  It  has  the  beak 
black  and  very  strong,  eight  lines  in  length,  the  upper  mandible 
very  much  grooved.  The  whole  upper  part  of  the  plumage 
dark  ash-coloured  brown.  The  outer  feather  of  the  tail 
white,  the  rest  of  a  brownish  black.  Chin  dirty  white  ;  throat 
and  belly  brownish  white  ;  under  surface  of  the  wings  and 
vent  light  brown.  Legs  very  strong  ;  toes  and  claws  black. 
Total  length  6  inches  3  lines."  (Milner,  Zool.  1849,  P-  25$8  ; 
1851,  pp.  3107,  3111.  YarrelTs  "  British  Birds,"  Vol.  I. 
p.  343  ;  Dresser,  Vol.  II.  p.  412.) 

This  specimen,  on  the  strength  of  which  the  species 
was  admitted  to  the  British  list,  is  now  in  the  Milner  collection 
in  the  Leeds  Museum. 

The  nest  and  eggs  of  the  Orphean  Warbler  are  said  to 
have  been  taken  at  two  localities  in  Yorkshire,  viz.  :  Penny 
Spring  Wood,  near  Almondbury,  in  June  1856  (Varley  MS., 
gth  November  1879),  and  Notton  Wood,  Wakefield,  in  June 
1864  (Harting's  Handbook,  2nd  Ed.,  p.  356),  but,  as  the 
birds  were  not  identified  in  either  case,  these  records  cannot 
be  accepted  as  reliable. 


70 

BLACKCAP. 
Sylvia  atricapilla  (Z.). 


Summer  visitant,  somewhat  irregularly  distributed,  and  not  very 
numerous.     Has  occasionally  occurred  in  winter. 


The  earliest  allusion  to  this  species  as  a  Yorkshire  bird 
is,  apparently,  that  contained  in  the  Rev.  J.  Graves's  "  History 
of  Cleveland,"  1808,  where  it  is  styled  "  Motacilla  alricapilla' 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

C"*ruca  atricapilla. — Blackcap  Warbler.  Is  frequently  met  with 
in  most  parts  of  the  county  ;  not  very  common  near  Huddersfield, 
where  it  is  stated  to  remain  the  year  through. 

This  charming  songster  arrives  late  in  April,  the  average 
date  in  the  south  of  the  county  being  the  22nd,  and  the 
i8th  in  the  central  plain  ;  an  early  date  is  noted  at  North 
Stainley,  near  Ripon,  where  two  were  seen  on  3ist  March 
1892,  and  at  Masham  it  has  been  reported  as  early  as  the  Qth 
of  April.  The  time  for  its  departure  is  September  or  early 
October ;  at  Barnsley  the  approximate  date  is  the  loth 
of  the  latter  month,  though  it  has  been  known  to  occur  in 
mid-winter  at  the  following  places  :  Almondbury,  on  26th 
January  1866  ;  near  Holmfirth  Reservoir,  on  2Qth  November 
1873  ;  and  near  Sheffield  on  3rd  December  1882. 

The  Blackcap  is  a  bird  of  rather  irregular  and  local 
distribution,  and  appears  to  be  more  frequent  in  the  south 
than  in  the  north,  but  it  varies  in  numbers  in  different  years. 
In  the  Sheffield  district  it  is  tolerably  common ;  about 
Halifax  it  has  been  found  nesting  ;  and  in  the  north-west 
and  most  other  parts  of  the  West  Riding  it  may  be  considered 
as  a  regular  but,  generally  speaking,  not  abundant  visitant, 
though  in  localities  where  there  is  plenty  of  cover,  thick 
hedgerows,  gardens  or  plantations,  it  may  usually  be  met 
with.  Allis's  Report  requires  some  modification  as  regards 
Huddersfield,  for  various  observers  state  the  Blackcap  is 
not  uncommon  in  that  district,  and  the  remark  respecting 
its  wintering  may  be  qualified  by  the  use  of  the  adverb 


BLACKCAP.  71 

"  occasionally  "  before  "  remain."  In  the  East  Riding  it 
is  fairly  distributed  in  suitable  places,  woods,  copses,  and 
gardens,  where  its  loud  song  is  to  be  heard  all  day  long, 
and  in  the  autumn  it  comes  to  feed  on  the  soft  fruits.  In 
the  North  Riding  it  is  a  regular,  but  cannot  be  described  as 
a  very  numerous,  visitant.  J.  Hogg  (Zool.  1845,  p.  1058), 
remarked  that  "it  is  the  best  and  most  melodious  of  our 
northern  songsters,  as  the  Nightingale  is  unknown  here 
[Cleveland] ;  it  is  not  infrequent  in  the  gardens  and  plantations 
where  it  nidificates." 

During  the  migration  periods  it  has  been  reported  on 
several  occasions  at  the  light  stations  on  the  coast ;  it  occurs 
pretty  regularly  at  Spurn  in  spring,  and  is  not  uncommon 
in  September  and  early  in  October  amongst  the  crowds  of 
warblers  then  passing  southward.  The  information  supplied 
to  the  British  Association  Migration  Committee  shows  that 
there  was  a  "  rush  "  on  3rd  September  1881,  and  several 
were  noticed  at  Redcar  on  the  22nd  ;  one  was  killed  at  Spurn 
on  igth  October  1886,  whilst  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  shot  a 
female  at  Kilnsea  as  late  as  28th  October,  1880. 

The  late  P.  Inchbald  (Zool.  1850,  p.  2849),  noted  the 
powers  of  mimicry  possessed  by  this  bird,  which  he  heard 
giving  accurate  imitations  of  the  alarm  notes  of  the  Blackbird 
and  Robin  ;  and  Mr.  E.  L.  Gill  (in  litt.}  informs  me  he  has 
heard  it  mimicing  the  Garden  Warbler  (op.  cit.  1901,  p.  450). 

The  scarce  pink  variety  of  the  Blackcap's  egg  has  occasion- 
ally been  taken  in  Yorkshire  ;  my  collection  contains  a  clutch 
of  four,  found  near  Whitby,  in  the  "  sixties,"  and  formerly 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  Braim  ;  a  similar  clutch  was  reported 
on  i8th  May  1894,  at  Boston  Spa,  by  Mr.  Stevens.  In  June 
1876,  a  nest  was  found  suspended  after  the  manner  of  a 
Goldcrest's,  in  a  fir  tree  near  Beverley  (op.  cit.  1877,  p.  258). 

The  local  names  are  :  Peggy  in  the  Barnsley  district ; 
Black-capped  Peggy  near  Doncaster  ;  and  Coal  Hoodie  in 
the  North  Riding  (Swainson).  At  Wilsderi  the  nest  is  called 
Straw  small. 


72 

GARDEN   WARBLER. 

Sylvia  hortensis  (Bechstein). 


Summer  visitant  ;  generally  distributed  ;  more  abundant  in  the 
south  and  middle  of  the  county  than  further  north. 

This  species  was  first  made  known  as  a  British  bird  by 
Willughby,  to  whom  a  specimen  was  sent  from  Yorkshire 
by  Mr.  Jessop,  Broom  Hall,  Sheffield,  who  called  it 
41  Pettychaps  "  (Will.  "Orn.,"  1676,  p.  26). 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Curruca  hortensis. — Garden  Warbler.  Met  with  near  Huddersfield 
and  Hebden  Bridge  ;  frequent  in  gardens  and  shrubberies  near  Halifax  ; 
more  frequent  than  atricapilla  near  Sheffield  ;  and  less  so  near  Leeds 
and  York.  In  the  East  Riding  in  its  [passage]  in  the  spring,  but 
seldom  breed  there.* 

This  sober  plumaged  warbler  arrives  late  in  April  or  early 
in  May,  generally  in  the  first  week  of  the  latter  month,  its 
earliest  appearance  being  in  1885,  when  one  was  noted  on 
28th  April,  at  Scarborough.  It  usually  takes  its  departure 
in  August  or  September,  at  which  period  a  coast  migration 
is  sometimes  noticed  passing  south. 

Where  its  favourite  gardens  and  copses  are  to  be  found 
it  is  pretty  generally  distributed,  most  abundantly  in  the 
south  and  south-west,  and  it  may  be  described  as  fairly 
common  in  the  Central  Plain,  but  further  to  the  north-west 
it  is  somewhat  scarce,  yet  not  infrequent  in  the  Forest  of 
Bowland,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Lower  Wharfe 
and  Nidd  districts. 

It  is  moderately,  still  not  uncommonly,  diffused  in  the 
East  Riding,  and  is  more  frequently  observed  on  its  passage 
in  spring  and  autumn  than  as  a  nesting  species,  though  it 
breeds  in  several  localities,  noticeably  about  Beverley.  Near 
Scarborough  it  is  fairly  abundant,  and  so  up  the  coast  to 
Whitby,  Loftus,  and  in  Cleveland ;  the  same  remark  may 
also  be  applied  to  its  status  in  Teesdale. 

*  Allis  was  misinformed  as  to  its  status  in  the  East  Riding. 


GARDEN  WARBLER.  73 

This  species  does  not  figure  in  the  Migration  Reports 
on  its  spring  passage,  nor  has  it  been  noted  in  autumn  so 
often  as  the  Blackcap.  The  only  entries  are  : — 

1881,  p.  20.  At  Spurn,  3rd  September,  and  at  Redcar  on 
22nd  September,  several  were  noted. 

1884,  p.  44.     At  Spurn,  I7th  September,  one  struck  the 

lantern  and  was  killed,  and  several  were  seen 
on  the  following  day. 

1885,  p.  42.     At  Spurn,  22nd  August,  one  recorded. 
The   Garden   Warbler's   partiality   for   the   fruit   of  the 

•cherry  is  alluded  to  in  Rennie's  Field  Naturalist  (February 
1833)  as  follows  : — "  I  have  never  seen  the  Pettychaps  in 
Yorkshire  until  the  cherries  are  ripe,  when  they  immediately 
make  their  appearance  and  attack  the  Kentish  cherry 
particularly,  being  so  greedy  that  I  have  often  taken  them 
with  a  fishing  rod  tipped  with  birdlime  while  they  were 
pulling  at  the  fruit.  The  moment  they  have  finished  the 
last  Kentish  cherries  they  disappear  for  the  season.  If 
they  finish  the  cherries  in  the  morning  they  are  gone  before 
noon  ....  in  Yorkshire  they  do  not  even  wait  for  the 
later  cherries.  The  number  of  these  visitants  depends  upon 
the  crop  of  early  cherries.  This  year  the  crop  having  nearly 
failed,  I  saw  but  two  of  them,  which  appeared  on  the  I5th 
of  July,  and  were  not  seen  after  the  i7th." 

A  departure  from  the  usual  choice  of  a  nesting  site  has 
been  reported  on  several  occasions,  amongst  the  places  selected 
being  the  centre  of  a  large  fern  ;  a  pear-tree  ten  feet  above 
the  ground,  at  Beverley,  in  1903  ;  and  in  Bolton  Woods  a  nest 
was  found  on  Whit  Monday  1876,  within  four  feet  of  a  road. 

The  vernacular  names  are  :  Small  Straw  in  the  West 
Riding  ;  and  Straw  Small  at  Wilsden  ;  Nettle  Creeper  in 
•Craven;  Peggy  near  Barnsley  and  in  the  West  Riding ;  Hair- tail 
in  the  Nidd  Valley.  Great  Pettychaps  is  given  by  Swainson  ; 
Willughby  called  it  Pettyehaps  and  Beccafigo,  or  Fig-eater. 

Pennant  ("British  Zoology,"  vol.  ii.  p.  264,  ist  Ed.)  said 
this  is  called  in  Yorkshire  Beambird,  but  he  was  evidently 
mistaken  (cf.  Montagu's  "  Ornithological  Dictionary,"  p.  234, 
and  Yarrell's  "  Brit.  Birds,"  4th  Ed.,  Vol.  i.  p.  415). 


74 

BARRED    WARBLER. 
Sylvia  nisoria  (Bcchstetn) 


Rare  autumn  visitant  on  migration  southward,  from  North-west 
Europe. 

The  Barred  Warbler  nests  in  the  north-west  provinces  of 
the  Continent,  as  also  in  central  Europe,  Turkey,  South 
Russia,  Persia,  and  Turkestan,  where  it  attains  an  altitude 
of  10,000  feet.  It  winters  in  Central  and  North-east  Africa. 

Of  the  twelve  examples  of  this  rare  visitant  which  have 
been  recorded  in  the  British  Islands,  four  are  from  East 
Yorkshire,  and  that  portion,  between  Hull  and  the  promontory 
of  Spurn,  is  the  only  district  in  the  county  which  can  lay  claim 
to  its  occurrence. 

The  first  Yorkshire  specimen  was  a  female  in  immature 
plumage,  obtained  at  Spurn  by  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Slater,  on 
28th  August  1884,  in  an  elder  hedge  by  a  potato  garden 
on  the  sand-hills,  where  it  was  very  shy  and  difficult  to 
observe.  This  bird  was  exhibited  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Zoological  Society  on  the  4th  November  following  (P.Z.S. 
1884,  p.  447  ;  Zool.  1884,  p.  489  ;  Nat.  1884,  p.  91). 

The  second  example,  also  from  Spurn,  was  shot  on  igth 
October  1892,  by  the  late  G.  W.  Jalland  of  Hull,  who  thought 
it  might  be  a  Bluethroat ;  it  was  afterwards  acquired  by  Mr. 
W.  Eagle  Clarke  for  the  Royal  Scottish  Museum  (A.  Newton, 
P.Z.S.  ist  November  1892  ;  J.  Cordeaux,  Zool.  1892,  p.  424  ; 
Nat.  1893,  p.  14). 

The  third  occurrence  was  at  Kilnsea,  near  Spurn,  where 
one  was  taken  by  G.  E.  Clubly  on  i3th  November  1893 
(J.  E.  Harting,  Zool.  1894,  p.  58  ;  Nat.  1894,  p.  15).  This 
specimen  is  in  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney's  collection. 

And  the  fourth,  an  immature  female,  was  shot  by  Mr. 
Darley  of  Hull,  in  his  garden  at  Skirlaugh,  on  3rd  September 
1894  ;  his  attention  was  first  called  to  it  by  his  wife,  who 
noticed  it  was  a  strange  bird.  (F.  Boyes,  Field  t  29th 
December  1894 ;  Zool.  1895,  p.  57  ;  Nat.  1896,  p.  196  ; 


GOLDEN-CRESTED  WREN  75 

1897,  p.  201).  This  specimen  is  now  in  the  York  Museum.* 
Mr.  L.  Harwood,  the  naturalist  who  accompanied  Mr. 
(now  Sir)  A.  E.  Pease  on  his  Abyssinian  expedition  in  1900-01, 
has  kindly  shewn  me  a  skin  of  a  male  Barred  Warbler,  which 
he  shot  on  4th  March  1901,  at  Taddasha  Malka,  Abyssini  , 
the  most  southern  limit  of  its  range  as  at  present  ascertainea, 
in  stony,  hilly  country,  the  only  vegetation  being  tall  grass 
and  mimosa  bush,  on  which  it  was  actively  searching,  always 
on  the  outer  twigs  ;  the  colour  of  its  eyes,  a  bright  yellow, 
was  quite  noticeable  at  twenty-five  yards'  distance. 


GOLDEN-CRESTED  WREN. 
Regulus  cristatus  (Koch.) 

Resident  ;     generally   distributed   in   suitable   localities.     A   great 
influx  of  winter  visitants  and  birds  of  passage  in  autumn. 


The  first  mention  of  the  Golden-crested  Wren  as  a  York- 
shire bird  is  contained  in  Ray's  "  Synopsis,"  dated  1713,  p.  19, 
where  it  is  alluded  to  in  a  few  words  thus  : — "  Regulus  cristatus 
— Mr.  Francis  Jessop  [found  it]  in  Yorkshire."  An  early  refer- 
ence is  also  found  in  a  communication  from  Dr.  Sherard  of 
North  Bierley  (a  celebrated  botanist  and  a  correspondent  of 
John  Ray)  to  Walter  Moyle,  dated  London,  Jan.  I2th  17^*, 
which  is  as  follows  : — "  I  carry'd  him  two  Birds  he  had  not 
before,  sent  me  out  of  Yorkshire  by  Dr.  Richardson  .... 
and  Regulus  Christatus,  well  preserv'd  "  (Works  of  Walter 
Moyle,  Esqre.,  London  1726).  (Dr.  Richardson's  observation 
in  Philosophical  Transactions  1713,  on  the  alleged  nest  of  a 
Goldcrest,  is  evidently  a  mistake,  and  is  referable  to  the 
Long-tailed  Tit.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Regulus  vulgaris. — Golden-crested  Regulus.  Frequent  in  most  of 
the  wooded  districts  ;  it  breeds  and  remains  throughout  the  year. 

This,  the  smallest  of  our  British  birds,  is  resident  where 

*  See  Nat.,  1888,  p.  i,  for  comparison  between  England  and 
Heligoland  as  regards  migration. 


76  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

it  can  find  suitable  nesting  haunts  ;  it  breeds  in  most  of  the 
wooded  dales  even  up  to  the  edge  of  the  moorlands,  as  well 
as  in  the  low  country,  where  fir  plantations  exist,  also 
occasionally  in  shrubberies  and  gardens,  and  in  some  cases 
its  nest  may  be  found  within  a  mile  or  two  of  our  largest 
manufacturing  towns. 

The  tiny  Goldcrest  is  one  of  the  best  known  migrants 
at  the  light  stations  on  the  coast,  and  in  the  autumn  incredible 
numbers  of  these  fragile  looking  voyagers  brave  the  dangers 
of  the  North  Sea  to  land  on  our  shores  during  the  early 
part  of  October ;  they  generally  arrive  simultaneously  with 
the  Short-eared  Owl  and  Woodcock,  hence  one  of  their 
local  names — "  Woodcock  Pilot."  In  1881  these  three 
species  appeared  about  the  5th  September,  fully  a  month 
in  advance  of  the  time  when  they  may  usually  be  expected, 
being  observed  at  Spurn  and  also  at  Redcar,  where  they 
sometimes  come  into  the  fishermen's  cottages,  and  remain 
as  long  as  there  are  sufficient  flies  to  support  them.  The 
Humber  fishermen  have  remarked  that  at  this  season  they 
frequently  alight  on  the  smacks  in  the  North  Sea,  and  in 
thick  foggy  weather  hundreds  perish ;  as  they  become 
quite  bewildered,  their  instinct  apparently  forsaking  them, 
they  do  not  know  what  direction  to  take  ;  they  often  rest 
on  larger  vessels  also,  and  so  long  ago  as  1833  Edward  Blyth 
wrote  that  on  the  7th  October,  when  fourteen  miles  off 
Whitby  on  the  voyage  to  London,  a  flock  of  Goldcrests 
settled  on  the  ship's  tackle  (Rennie's  Field  Naturalist, 
November  1833).  They  have  been  seen  on  the  sand-hills 
at  Spurn  in  hundreds  about  the  middle  of  October,  and  so 
exhausted  that  they  could  have  been  easily  caught  in  a 
butterfly  net.  If  the  records  relating  to  migration  are 
searched  it  will  be  found  that,  since  Selby's  time  down  to 
the  present  date,  the  Goldcrest  has  attracted  the  attention 
of  naturalists  ;  in  some  years  it  has  arrived  in  what  are 
termed  "  rushes,"  and  in  other  seasons  in  only  small  numbers  ; 
Selby  recorded  a  great  flight  on  24th  and  25th  October  1822, 
covering  the  coast  from  Berwick  to  Whitby  ;  in  1864  there 
were  great  numbers  at  Spurn  and  in  Holderness  ;  in  1875 


GOLDEN-CRESTED  WREN.  77 

a  large  flight  was  reported  at  Flamborough  and  Scarborough 
(Zool.  1876,  pp.  4778,  4923),  and  the  following  year  at  Spurn 
(op.  cit.  1877,  p.  42),  at  the  same  time  many  large  flocks  were 
seen  at   Redcar  ;   immense  quantities  were  noted  at  Spurn 
again   on    i6th   October  1878  (op.  cit.  1879,  p.  43)  ;    then, 
coming  to  the  period  when  the  British  Association  Migration 
Committee  commenced  its  work,  numerous  entries  are  noted 
in  the  Reports,  which  are  too  voluminous  for  recapitulation, 
but  the  great  rush  of  1882  may  be  alluded  to  when  "  they 
covered  the  entire  length  of  the  east  coast  and  the  migration 
extended  over  ninety-two  days,   commencing  6th  August ; 
near  Redcar  on  the  I3th  of  that  month  about  fifty  were  seen 
at   the   Teesmouth ;     they   arrived   somewhat   sparingly   in 
August   and   September,    and   day   after   day   in   enormous 
numbers  in  October  :    in  this  month  they  are  recorded  at 
twenty-one  stations  between  the  Fame  Islands  and  Guernsey  ; 
two  great  rushes  took  place,  one  on  the  7th  and  8th  October, 
and  again  on  the  I2th  and  I3th,  the  latter  with  Woodcock, 
and  great  numbers  are  supposed  to  have  perished  on  passage." 
(Fourth  Report,  p.  32.)     They  arrived  at  Spurn  daily  during 
October  until  all  the  hedges  and  the  grass  on  the  sand-dunes 
positively  swarmed  with  them  ;  on  the  sand-hills  near  Redcar 
a  huge  flock,  like  a  swarm  of  bees,  came  directly  off  the  sea 
and  settled  amongst  the  hedgerows  near  where  I  was  watching 
for  wildfowl ;   one  of  the  oldest  fishermen  remarked  to  me  on 
the  I3th  October  that  he  had  "  never  seen  so  many  humming- 
birds "   (as  they  are  locally  termed).     The  years  1886  and 
1889  were  also  noticeable  for  unusually  large  numbers  on  mi- 
gration.    Subsequent  to  the  Reports  of  the  Migration  Com- 
mittee, rushes  occurred  in  1892,  on  the  I4th  to  i6th  October, 
at   Spurn   and  Flamborough,  and   again   in   1898   from  the 
6th  to  the  i5th  October,  and  in  1906  at  the  end  of  October. 
The  vernal  passage  takes  place  in  March  or  April  when 
they    are    seen    near   the    coast    in    small    parties    and    are 
occasionally  killed  by  striking  against  the  lighthouses  ;    two 
met  their  death  in  this  manner  at  Flamborough  on  4th  April 
1899,  and,  on  30th  March  1890,  a  swarm  was  observed  in  the 
hedges  near  the  lighthouse.     In   1898   some  were  seen  at 


78  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Spurn  on  the  return  migration  as  early  as  the  i6th  March, 
and  in  1891  they  were  noticed  on  the  nth  April. 

A  very  remarkable  incident  connected  with  this  little 
bird's  migratory  habits  occurred  near  Redcar  some  years  ago, 
the  facts  of  which  were  communicated  to  me  at  the  time  by 
the  late  J.  Wilson,  contractor  for  the  work  of  constructing 
the  Tees  Breakwater.  He  was  at  the  end  of  the  "  gare  " 
on  the  morning  of  i6th  October  1881,  when  he  saw  a  Short- 
eared  Owl  "  flopping  "  across  the  sea,  and  noticed,  as  it  drew 
near,  that  there  was  some  small  object  between  its  shoulders  ; 
it  alighted  on  the  Breakwater  close  to  where  he  was  standing 
and  immediately  a  little  bird  flew  off  its  back ;  one  of  his 
men  and  he  followed  it  up  and  caught  it,  when  it  was  found 
to  be  a  Goldcrest,  as  I  had  ocular  proof.  The  fact  of  "  small 
birds  being  assisted  on  migration  by  larger  ones  "  has  long 
been  known  to  travellers,  both  in  the  East  and  also  in  America, 
and  most  important  corroborative  evidence  was  unexpectedly 
supplied  by  Mr.  Thos.  Gibbons  of  Liverpool,  a  ship  captain, 
who,  in  going  up  the  Mediterranean  for  the  Straits  of 
Gibraltar,  sighted  a  flock  of  birds  crossing  from  the  European 
to  the  African  shore  ;  they  were  accompanied  by  smaller 
birds  which  frequently  settled  on  the  backs  of  the  large  ones 
and,  with  the  aid  of  marine  glasses,  could  easily  be  distinguished 
nestling  in  between  the  shoulders  of  those  on  the  wing ; 
occasionally  the  small  birds  would  start  up  from  their  resting 
places,  and  stretch  their  wings  for  a  short  distance.  (See  Zool. 
1882,  pp.  72,  73  ;  and  Field,  3ist  March  1888.) 

A  departure  from  the  ordinary  nidification  habits  of  this 
bird  is  sometimes  made  ;  the  nest  has  been  met  with  at 
Danby  on  the  top  of  a  branch  (not  underneath)  where  it 
emerged  from  the  trunk  (Zool.  1863,  p.  8680)  ;  Mr.  W.  Eagle 
Clarke  found  one  in  a  whin  bush  in  Pollard's  Woods,  near 
Leeds,  and  Mr.  F.  Boyes  has  seen  the  nests  amongst  the  ivy 
on  trees  in  woods  where  there  were  no  spruce  or  firs. 

Three  Goldcrests,  shot  in  February  1882,  weighed  exactly 
sixty  grains  each. 

The  vernacular  names  in  use  are  numerous.  Golden 
Crested  Kinglet  is  used  at  Sheffield ;  Fire  Crown  at  Thirsk 


FIRE-CRESTED  WREN.  79 

and  in  the  North  Riding ;  Jinny  Wren  in  Teesdale  ;  Woodcock 
Pilot  at  Flamborough ;  Herring  Spink  at  Filey  and  Flam- 
borough  ;  Humming  Bird  at  Redcar  ;  Little  Wren  at  Loftus- 
in-Cleveland ;  and  Tot-o'er-seas  is  a  term  placed  on  record 
by  Swainson. 


FIRE-CRESTED    WREN. 

Regulus  ignicapillus  (Brehm). 


Rare  autumn  visitant,  on  migration  southward. 


The  range  of  the  Fire-crested  Wren  is  less  extended  than 
that  of  its  congener,  the  Goldcrest ;  it  is  unknown  in 
Scandinavia,  and  to  the  north-east  of  the  Baltic  Provinces  of 
Germany ;  it  breeds  in  the  southern  countries  of  Europe, 
in  some  of  which,  as  also  the  forest  region  of  Algeria,  it  is 
a  resident  throughout  the  year. 

Its  first  appearance  in  the  county  was  noted  by  Thomas 
Allis,  who,  in  his  Report  on  Yorkshire  Birds,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Regulus  ignicapillus. — Fire-crested  Regulus.  Bartholomew  Smith 
reports  its  occurrence  at  Woodend,  near  Thirsk. 

It  may  be  well  to  place  on  record  the  individual  instances 
of  its  occurrence,  as  it  is  but  a  casual  visitant  in  autumn 
to  this  country,  and  is  frequently  confounded  with  its  near 
relation,  the  Goldcrest,  from  which,  however,  it  may  be 
distinguished  by  the  black  streak  in  which  the  eye  is  placed, 
and  which  is  lacking  in  the  latter  species. 

The  first  is  that  referred  to  in  Allis's  Report,  at  Woodend, 
near  Thirsk,  and  quoted  above. 

One  was  found  in  an  exhausted  state  in  a  planting  at 
Armitage  Bridge,  near  Huddersfield,  on  3rd  September  1874 
(J.  Varley,  in  litt.  2oth  November  1879). 

One  was  obtained  at  Endcliff  Woods,  near  Sheffield,  in 
1878,  as  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  A.  S.  Hutchinson  of  Derby, 
who  preserved  the  specimen. 

*  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney's  article  in  the  Zoologist  (1889,  p.  172),  may  be 
usefully  consulted  by  those  who  are  interested  in  this  species  as  a 
British  bird. 


80  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

At  Clifton,  near  York,  a  pair  were  reported,  and  one 
shot  in  December  1880  (W.  Hewett,  Zool.  1882,  p.  268). 

On  4th  November  1889,  an  adult  male  was  killed  by  a 
boy  at  Easington  ;  this  specimen  was  acquired  by  the  late 
J.  Cordeaux  (Nat.  1890,  p.  n). 

Another,  probably  an  adult  male,  was  seen  by  Cordeaux: 
at  Spurn  on  I5th  October  1892  (Zool.  1892,  p.  418  ;  Nat.. 
1893,  p.  ii). 

The  following  records  are  unreliable  and  are,  doubtless,, 
referable  to  R.  cristatus  : — 

One  at  Whitby  (Zool.  1850,  p.  2699). 

One  in  Whitby  local  collection  (Vertebrate  Fauna  of 
Yorkshire,  p.  22). 

One  at  Flamborough  (Cordeaux,  Zool.  1891,  p.  n). 


YELLOW-BROWED   WARBLER. 

Phylloscopus  superciliosus  (Gmelin). 


Accidental  visitant  in  autumn  from  Asia,  of  rare  occurrence. 


This  little  wanderer  has  its  summer  home  in  north-east 
Siberia,  and  migrates  in  winter  to  southern  China,  Assam, 
Burma,  and  north-east  India. 

It  has  been  but  seldom  noticed  in  the  British  Islands,  and 
was  first  reported  by  the  late  J .  Hancock,  who  shot  an  example 
which  is  now  in  the  Newcastle  Museum.  In  this  county 
one  is  said  to  have  been  seen  by  the  late  H.  B.  Hewetson 
at  Easington,  near  Spurn,  in  October  1889  (Cordeaux,  Nat. 
1890,  p.  38),  though  considerable  doubt  exists  as  to  the 
reliability  of  this  record  ;  whilst  three  were  obtained  by  Mr, 
Swailes  at  Beverley  on  the  2ist  October  and  following  days,, 
1894.  One  of  these  specimens  is  now  in  the  Royal  Scottish 
Museum  (Boyes,  Zool.  1894,  p.  459  ;  1895,  p.  58  ;  Fieldy 
27th  October  1894).  Mr.  Boyes  believes  this  bird  is  not  so 
very  uncommon  on  migration  during  easterly  winds  ;  he 
has  several  times  noticed  it  in  his  garden  at  Beverley,  being 
attracted  to  it  by  the  note. 


8i 
CHIFF  CHAFF. 

Phylloscopus  rufus  (Bechstein). 


Summer  visitant  ;  common,  and  generally  distributed  in  wooded 
localities  of  the  central  and  eastern  districts  ;  less  numerous  in  the 
south-west,  and  rare  or  exceptional  in  the  north-west. 


The^earliest  mention  of  the  Chiff:  Chaff  as  a  Yorkshire 
bird  is  contained  in  a  communication  to  William  Fothergill, 
dated  i6th  August  1799,  from  Charles  Fothergill,  stating 
that  he  had  seen  several  Willow  Wrens  in  Askham  Bogs, 
near  York,  and  on  shooting  some  discovered  he  had  procured 
all  three  species;  the  ''large,"  "middle,"  and  "small" 
Willow  Wrens  of  Gilbert  White  [Wood  Wren,  Willow  Wren, 
and  Chiff  Chaff].  (Morris's  Nat.  1854,  iv.,  p.  167.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Sylvia  hippolais. — Chiff  Chaff — Rather  scarce  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Halifax,  Huddersfield,  and  Hebden  Bridge  ;  common  in  most 
other  parts. 

One  of  the  very  earliest  of  our  summer  migrants,  the 
Chiff  Chaff  arrives  about  the  same  time  as  the  Wheatear, 
viz.  :  from  the  middle  to  the  end  of  March  or  the  first  week 
in  April,  and  generally  appears  in  the  southern  and  central 
portions  of  the  county  a  few  days  before  it  is  noted  in  the 
north.  It  has,  however,  been  heard  and  seen  much  earlier 
in  isolated  cases  :  on  7th  March  1866,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Don  as  recorded  by  P.  Inchbald ;  at  Barnsley  on  the  I2th 
of  the  same  month  in  1882  ;  at  Hovingham  on  I4th  March 
1872  ;  on  the  same  date  in  1880  at  Barnsley  and  Ripon  ; 
and  at  Meanwood,  near  Leeds,  on  23rd  March  1879  »  ^ne 
earliest  known  in  Cleveland  was  on  28th  March  1902,  and  in 
the  East  Riding  on  the  nth.  Its  time  of  departure  is  from 
the  end  of  September  to  early  October,  though  it  sometimes 
lingers  until  late  in  the  latter  month. 

This  species  is  peculiar  in  its  distribution  in  Yorkshire, 
being  somewhat  uncommon  in  the  extreme  south  about 
Sheffield,  Wakefield,  and  in  the  Aire  Valley,  though  a  few 

VOL.  I.  G 


82  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

pairs  are  found  in  wooded  districts,  and  for  a  few  miles  round 
Huddersfield  it  is  moderately  distributed  ;  but  on  approaching 
the  north-west  it  is  decidedly  rare,  if  not  altogether  absent, 
in  most  places  :  then,  coming  to  the  Central  Plain,  it  is  more 
common  ;  it  is  very  numerous  near  Ackworth,  at  Knares- 
borough,  and  in  the  lower  Wharfe  and  Nidd  Valleys,  while  at 
Ripon  it  is  extremely  abundant  in  the  woodlands,  more  so 
than  the  Willow  Wren.  In  the  East  Riding  it  is  rather  local, 
not  a  very  plentiful  species,  and  variable  in  numbers  in 
different  years  ;  unlike  the  Willow  Warbler,  seldom  found 
away  from  woods  or  trees  ;  its  notes,  uttered  from  the  top 
of  some  tall  tree,  are  unmistakeable  and  cannot  be  associated 
with  any  other  species. 

In  the  North  Riding,  from  York  onward  to  Thirsk  and 
Northallerton,  it  is  quite  common  in  some  seasons  ;  moderately 
abundant  at  Scarborough  and  northward  up  the  coast,  and 
in  the  little  wooded  valleys  in  Cleveland  ;  rare  and  uncertain 
in  Wensleydale  and  Teesdale,  but  not  uncommon  in  Swaledale  ; 
and  it  breeds  sparingly  in  the  Sedbergh  district. 

On  its  southward  passage  in  autumn  the  Chiff  Chaff 
does  not  appear  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  light-keepers 
to  the  same  extent  as  the  Willow  Warbler,  or  possibly  it  may 
be  confused  with  that  species  ;  the  Migration  Reports  contain 
but  four  entries  concerning  it,  all  of  which  are  from  Spurn, 
two  of  these  being  on  the  2ist  and  the  2Qth  March,  and 
the  other  two  in  August ;  it  has  also  been  noticed  at  Redcar 
on  its  autumn  passage  in  September.  In  connection  with 
the  migration  of  this  bird  the  following  observation  by  Ed. 
Blyth  is  of  interest  : — "  When  off  Whitby,  about  fourteen 
miles  from  land,  on  the  7th  October,  a  Chiff  Chaff  came  on 
board  with  some  Goldcrests.  It  was  attempted  to  keep 
them  alive,  but  they  died  on  the  passage."  (Rennie's  Field 
Naturalist,  November  1833.) 

The  Chiff  Chaff  ceases  to  sing  late  in  May  or  early  in 
June,  and  in  the  autumn  migration  appears  in  gardens  and 
orchards,  having  then  resumed  its  song.  One  was  heard 
in  Claremont  Road,  Leeds,  on  igth  September  1886,  and 
several  instances  of  its  late  singing  are  reported  in  different 


-o 

GO 


I 

=1 


I 


WILLOW  WARBLER.  83 

parts  of  the  county  :  at  Hovingham  on  the  26th  October, 
and  at  Danby  on  the  2ist  of  the  same  month  in  1879  >  at 
Ripon  on  yih  October  1881  ;  at  Richmond  Park,  Sheffield, 
on  3rd  September  1900  ;  and  as  late  as  3rd  October  1879, 
and  4th  October  1895,  at  Ackworth  (Zool.  1901,  p.  452). 
Mr.  J.  Ranson  (Nat.  1864,  p.  87),  comments  on  the  partiality 
of  this  species  for  the  fruit  of  the  cherry  and  currant. 

Numerous  instances  in  Yorkshire  are  known  where  the 
nest  has  been  met  with  in  elevated  situations  ;  of  these  the 
following  may  be  cited  : — one  at  York  at  the  end  of  a  branch 
of  an  Austrian  pine  nine  feet  from  the  ground,  and  another 
in  a  clump  of  pinks  (Zool.  1892,  p.  150),  and  one  at  Masham 
in  a  yew  tree  four  feet  above  the  ground.  Spotless  eggs  are 
occasionally  found. 

Of  vernacular  names  Featherpoke  is  general ;  Peggy  is 
a  West  Riding  appellation  ;  Jim  Jam  is  used  in  the  Nidd 
Valley ;  Ground  Wren,  Grass  Wren,  Grass  Warbler,  in 
east  Cleveland,  are  used  for  both  the  Willow  Warbler  and 
this  bird  ;  while  Miller's  Thumb  is,  in  some  parts,  as  at 
Sedbergh,  applied  indiscriminately  to  the  Chiff  Chaff,  Willow 
Warbler,  and  Wood  Warbler.  In  Cleveland  the  nest  is  called 
Tom  Tit's  nest.  Lesser  Pettychaps  and  Least  Willow 
Wren  are  old  book-names  used  by  Tunstall. 

Several  examples  of  the  Chiff  Chaff  shot  at  Easington, 
near  Spurn,  on  I7th  October  1896,  have  been  referred  by  Mr. 
Dresser  to  an  eastern  form  known  as  P.  brehmi  (Nat.  1897, 
p.  17). 


WILLOW  WARBLER. 
Phylloscopus  trochilus  (L.). 


Summer   visitant  ;     abundant,    and   generally   distributed. 

The  earliest  mention  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species 
in  Yorkshire  is  contained  in  a  communication,  dated  i6th 
August  1799,  from  Charles  Fothergill  to  William  Fothergill, 
to  the  effect  that  he  had  seen  and  shot  several  Willow  Wrens 


84  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

in   Askham   Bogs,    near   York.     (Morris's   Naturalist,    1854,. 
iv.,  p.  167.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  his  Report  on  Yorkshire  Birds,  1844,. 
wrote  as  follows  : — 

Sylvia  trochilus. — Willow  Warbler — Abundant.  J.  Heppenstall 
remarks  that  the  eggs  of  this  bird  are  liable  to  vary,  some  specimens- 
being  very  beautifully  marked. 

The  arrival  of  this  little  songster  may  be  expected  from 
the  first  to  the  second  week  in  April ;  in  some  districts  of  the 
south  and  central  portions  it  is  noticed  earlier  than  in  the 
north,  though,  generally  speaking,  it  is  not  observed  until  the 
time  first  stated  ;  exceptionally  early  records  are  2gth  March 
1880,  at  Hovingham  ;  the  nth  of  the  same  month  1894, 
at  Middlesbrough  ;  2nd  April  1886,  at  Masham,  and  the  same 
date  in  1887  at  Harrogate  ;  while  what  may  be  termed  an 
example  wintering  in  the  county  is  mentioned  from  Grinkle, 
where  one  was  shot  in  January  1878.  As  it  is  one  of  the  first 
to  arrive  so  it  is  amongst  the  latest  in  leaving  us,  and  departs 
in  late  August  or  September,  often  lingering  into  October, 
those  observed  at  the  latter  period  being  in  all  probability 
migrants  from  more  northerly  latitudes. 

It  is  the  most  numerous  and  generally  distributed  of  all 
our  summer  warblers  ;  its  cheery  song  is  heard  throughout 
the  whole  summer,  "  from  early  morn  to  dewy  eve,"  and 
it  is  ever  on  the  move  searching  for  food,  the  attitudes  it 
assumes  when  stretching  upward  to  pick  off  an  aphis  insect 
or  larva  being  most  graceful,  and  all  the  while  it  is  incessantly 
singing.  In  the  dales  it  often  ascends  to  the  borders  of  the 
moors  ;  in  Nidderdale  to  a  height  of  1200  feet  ;  in  Wharf edale 
and  Wensleydale  to  1000  feet,  and  in  Teesdale  to  1500  feet 
elevation,  while  it  has  been  found  breeding  on  the  moors 
in  the  Sheffield  neighbourhood. 

On  its  migratory  passage  southward  it  has  frequently 
been  reported  from  the  light  stations  on  the  coast  and, 
according  to  the  information  supplied  to  the  British  Association 
Migration  Committee,  the  greatest  numbers  are  observed  in 
August  and  September ;  it  was  unusually  abundant  at 
Spurn  during  the  last  week  in  August  1881,  in  the  autumn 


WILLOW  WARBLER.  85 

of  1886,  and  on  the  I4th  and  I5th  October  1892  ;  in  1886 
.a  final  "  rush  "  occurred  as  late  as  the  i9th  October,  and  in 
1892  it  was  associated  with  Goldcrests,  Redstarts,  Grey 
Shrikes,  and  other  small  migrants.  At  Flamborough  one 
was  caught  on  the  morning  after  the  great  storm  of  28th 
October  1880,  while  in  1893  an  example  was  seen  at  the 
same  station  as  late  as  the  27th  November  ;  at  Spurn  this 
species  has  been  noted  in  company  with  Goldcrests  in  the 
buckthorn  hedges  during  the  last  week  in  October,  while  so 
long  ago  as  1833  this  little  warbler  was  the  subject  of  notice 
by  Ed.  Blyth,  who  stated  that  one  came  on  board  ship  off 
the  Yorkshire  coast,  in  company  with  Pipits,  Wheatears,  and 
•other  small  birds.  (Rennie's  Field  Naturalist,  November  1833.) 

The  Willow  Warbler  has  occasionally  been  observed 
hanging  under  boughs  of  trees  when  searching  for  food  ; 
and  the  fact  of  one  of  these  birds  singing  as  late  as  8-20  p.m. 
is  reported  from  Sedbergh  ;  one  was  heard  about  the  same 
hour  in  the  Washburn  Valley  on  2ist  May  1887  ;  and  at 
Ackworth  it  has  been  heard  singing  during  the  day,  in  a  hot 
autumn,  right  up  to  the  end  of  September.  (Zool.  1901,  p.  452.) 

An  instance  of  early  nidification  is  communicated  from 
Aysgarth,  where  eggs  were  found  on  30th  April  1887.  The 
site  chosen  for  the  nest  is  usually  on  the  ground,  though 
many  departures  from  this  habit  are  known,  and  a  varied 
selection  of  such  places  might  be  cited,  but  it  is  not  necessary 
to  make  more  than  a  casual  reference  to  these,  viz.  : — 

One  built  three  feet  above  the  ground  and  placed  between 
two  rocks  at  an  angle  of  40°  from  each  other,  near  Wilsden  ; 
one  in  a  clump  of  whins,  in  the  Goit  Stock  Valley,  two  feet 
from  the  ground  ;  another  in  a  thick  thorn  bush  at  four 
feet  elevation  in  thick  underwood,  near  Masham ;  one 
built  on  the  top  of  a  newly  completed  Flycatcher's  nest, 
four  feet  above  the  ground,  in  the  ivy  on  a  wall,  near  Settle 
{Nat.  1896,  p.  37)  ;  another  in  the  ivy  covering  of  a  post 
used  as  a  stretcher  for  fruit  trees  in  a  garden,  at  Beverley  ; 
and  yet  another  built  against  the  bole  of  a  tree,  at  a  height 
of  six  feet,  in  Cottingley  Wood  (E.  P.  Butterfield,  in  lilt. 
1901). 


86  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Mr.  Milne-Redhead  of  Bolton-by-Bowland,  states  that 
this  bird  is  very  partial  to  currants,  and  comes  into  his 
garden  in  autumn  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  on  fruit. 

Variation  in  plumage  is  not  often  met  with,  the  only 
example  being  a  pied  specimen  recorded  by  the  late  P. 
Inchbald,  who  saw  it  at  Fulwith,  near  Harrogate,  in  1887. 

The  vernacular  names  by  which  the  Willow  Warbler 
is  known  are  numerous  ;  and  as  this  species,  the  Wood  Wren, 
and  Chiff  Chaff,  are  frequently  confused  by  local  folk,  the 
same  names  are  in  some  districts  applied  to  all  three.  Willow 
Wren  is  used  at  Ackworth,  Sheffield,  and  other  parts  of  the 
West  Riding  ;  Yellow  Wren  at  Scarcroft,  Huddersfield,  and 
other  West  Riding  districts  ;  Peggy  and  Peggy  Whitethroat 
are  West  Riding  terms,  though  probably  mistaken  for  the 
Whitethroat ;  Bank  Wren  is  used  in  southern  Holderness  ; 
Featherpoke  in  the  North  and  West  Ridings,  and  Ground 
Featherpoke  at  Doncaster  ;  Grass  Warbler,  Grass  Wren,  and 
Ground  Wren  in  eastern  Cleveland  ;  Mealymouth  at  Danby-in- 
Cleveland  and  in  Craven ;  Miller's  Thumb  (in  some  places,  as 
at  Sedbergh,  where  it  is  also  used  for  Wood  Wren  and  Chiff 
Chaff)  ;  and  Tom  Tit's  is  applied  to  the  nest  in  Cleveland. 
Willow  Sparrow  is  mentioned  by  Swainson  as  a  West 
Riding  term. 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  saw  what  at  the  time  he  supposed 
to  be  an  example  of  the  Siberian  Willow  Warbler  (Phylloscopus 
borealis)  at  Flamborough  on  2ist  November  1894  (Zool.  1894, 
p.  125  ;  1895,  p.  58)  ;  though,  in  a  later  communication 
(Nat.  1897,  p.  201),  he  threw  a  doubt  on  this,  and  thought 
it  mav  have  been  referable  to  some  other  leaf  warbler. 


WOOD  WARBLER. 

Phylloscopus  sibilatrix  (Bechslein). 


Summer  visitant  ;    local,  but  not  uncommon  in  suitable  localities. 


The  first  mention  of  the  Wood  Wren  as  a  Yorkshire  bird 
is  contained  in  the  "  Ornithology  "  of  Francis  Willughby, 
as  follows  — 


Wood  Warbler's  Nest. 


.   Fortune. 


See  page  87. 


WOOD  WARBLER.  87 

"  A  little  yellowish  bird  without  name,  called  by 
Aldrovandus,  Regulus  non  cristatus,  perchance  the  Asilus 
of  Ballonius,  or  the  Luteola  of  Turner." 

"  This  is  equal  to,  or  somewhat  bigger  than,  the  Crested 
Wren.  ...  It  sings  like  a  grasshopper  and  doth  much  frequent 
willow  trees.  Mr.  Jessop  sent  us  a  bird  [presumably  from 
Sheffield]  in  all  points  exactly  like  that  here  described,  and 
whose  note  resembled  the  noise  of  a  grasshopper,  but  twice 
as  big."  (Will.  "  Orn."  1676,  p.  228.)  See  also  Montagu's 
"  Ornithological  Dictionary. " 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Sylvia  sibillatrix. — Wood  Warbler — Not  infrequent  in  most  districts. 

In  the  south  of  the  county  this  little  warbler  generally 
arrives  about  the  third  or  fourth  week  in  April,  the  average 
date  being  the  30th  ;  though  in  Cleveland,  the  north  and 
north-west  portions  of  the  shire,  it  is  not  noted  until  the 
first  week  in  May.  Exceptionally  early  instances  are  8th 
April  1879,  at  Barnsley,  and  in  1880  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke 
heard  its  note  at  Spurn  on  the  gth.  As  it  is  often  silent  on 
first  arrival  it  may  well  be  that  its  presence  is  not  remarked 
for  a  few  days  :  it  first  utters  its  single  note  "  twee,"  and 
afterwards  greets  us  with  its  cricket-like  shivering  trill. 

It  departs  on  its  southward  journey  in  August. 

It  is  somewhat  local  in  its  distribution,  but  its  presence 
may  be  expected  in  those  districts  where  there  are  woods 
and  copses  suited  to  its  requirements.  In  many  localities 
it  affects  old  woods  and  forest  trees,  one  of  its  favourite 
haunts  being  Rudding  Park  ;  it  is  rather  scarce  in  Lower 
Wharfedale,  though  fairly  common  in  most  of  the  sheltered 
valleys,  in  the  woods  on  the  fell  sides,  and  up  to  the  edge 
of  the  moors  ;  in  Nidderdale  it  is  met  with  to  an  elevation 
of  1000  feet,  and  in  the  woods  about  Sedbergh,  Rowland, 
and  Malham  ;  at  the  latter  place  as  high  as  1350  feet  elevation. 

In  the  East  Riding  it  is  common  in  a  few  places,  but 
always  local ;  it  comes  annually  to  certain  woods  of  a  dry 
peaty  or  sandy  nature  where  the  common  bracken  flourishes. 

The  only  entry  in  the  Migration  Reports  in  connection 
with  its  autumn  movements  is  one  in  1885,  p.  42,  when  it 


88  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

was  reported  from  Spurn  on  August  i4th,  though  it  is  possible 
it  may  be  confused  with  the  Willow  Wren  by  the  light-keepers. 

The  Wood  Wren  is  sometimes  accused  of  stealing  fruit, 
and  was  observed  by  Mr.  J.  Ranson  coming  into  his  garden 
at  Linton-on-Ouse  for  the  purpose  of  tasting  the  cherries 
and  currants. 

Local  names  :  Wood  Wren  is  general ;  Yellow  Wren 
is  used  at  Linton-on-Ouse  (J.  Ranson,  1864)  >  other  names 
are  Yellow  Warbler  and  Twittering  Wren  ;  Small  Straw  is 
in  use  at  Huddersfield,  in  the  Nidd  Valley,  and  other  parts 
of  the  West  Riding,  and  Hay-bird  is  given  as  a  West  Riding 
name  by  Swainson.  In  some  districts,  as  at  Sedbergh,  it  is, 
together  with  the  Willow  Warbler  and  Chiff  Chaff,  known 
as  Miller's  Thumb. 


ICTERINE    WARBLER. 
Hypolais  icterina  ( Vieillot), 

Extremely  rare  summer  visitant  from  Continental  Europe. 

The  Icterine  Warbler  nests  in  Central  and  Northern  Europe, 
being  very  abundant  in  north-east  France  ;  it  occurs  regularly 
in  the  Baltic  Provinces  and  as  far  north  as  the  Arctic  Circle 
in  Norway,  while  to  the  eastward  the  Ural  Valley  is  its  limit. 
In  winter  it  migrates  as  far  as  25°  south  latitude. 

There  are  but  eight  instances  of  its  capture  chronicled 
within  the  British  Islands,  one  of  these  being  at  Easington, 
near  Spurn,  as  mentioned  by  the  late  J.  Cordeaux,  who 
informed  me  that  Mr.  P.  Loten  of  Easington  sent  him  an 
adult  male  example  which  had  been  killed  with  a  catapult, 
and  was  brought  in  by  some  boys,  on  28th  May  1891.  Mr. 
Loten  skinned  it,  thinking  it  might  be  a  Wood  Wren,  but 
with  grave  doubts  on  the  subject.  The  specimen  was  after- 
wards sent  to  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke,  and  was  purchased  for  the 
Royal  Scottish  Museum.  (Zool.  1891,  p.  308  ;  Nat.  1891, 
p.  241 ;  1897,  p.  201.) 


Reed  Warbler's  nest,  Hornsca  Mere.  R.  Fortune. 


See  page  90. 


REED  WARBLER.  89 

Messrs.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  and  T.  Laidlaw  watched  an 
undoubted  example  of  this  species  for  some  time,  at  only 
a  few  yards'  distance,  in  the  garden  at  Kilnsea  Warren,  in 
September  1897. 


REED  WARBLER. 
Acrocephalus  streperus  (Vieillot}. 


Summer   visitant  ;     very  locally   distributed. 


Thomas  Allis's  Report  on  Yorkshire  Birds,  1844,  contains 
the  first  known  county  reference  to  this  species,  thus  : — 

Salicaria  arundinacea. — Reed  Warbler.  Arthur  Strickland  says  : 
"  I  have  no  doubt  this  species  would  be  found  in  this  [the  East]  Riding 
if  properly  sought,  but  I  am  not  aware  I  ever  did  see  it  here  ;  but  in 
the  West  Riding  I  found  it  many  years  ago  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Ripon.  I  have  still  in  my  collection  a  nest  from  that  neighbourhood, 
in  which  a  young  Cuckoo  was  brought  up."  Wm.  Eddison  remarks 
that  it  is  occasionally  met  with  near  Huddersfield,  though  but  little 
is  known  of  its  history  ;  B.  Smith  informs  me  that  it  is  found  near 
Thirsk. 

This  warbler's  northern  range  was,  like  that  of  the 
Nightingale,  until  recently  considered  to  be  bounded  by  the 
line  dividing  the  West  and  East  Ridings  of  Yorkshire  from 
the  North,  and  its  occurrence  north  of  the  county  is  not 
proven.  A  summer  visitant,  it  arrives  early  in  May,  and 
owing  to  the  peculiar  nature  of  its  habitat,  is  very  local 
in  its  distribution,  so  that  only  patient  and  persistent 
investigation  reveals  its  whereabouts,  and  it  is  to  be  feared 
its  numbers  are  decreasing,  owing  chiefly  to  the  drainage 
of  its  accustomed  haunts.  In  the  West  Riding  it  is  not 
very  numerous  in  any  locality,  though  it  is  met  with  near 
Sheffield,  Wakefield,  the  Craven  district,  Doncaster,  Ackworth, 
Askern,  Goole,  along  the  drain  channels  at  Swinefleet,  and 
other  suitable  places,  and  it  also  occurs,  but  less  abundantly, 
in  Lower  Wharfedale  and  the  Washburn  and  Nidd  Valleys  ; 
near  Knaresborough  it  was  formerly  plentiful,  but  is  now 


90  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

only  occasionally  found  ;  it  is  fairly  common  near  Staveley, 
and  nests  sparingly  near  Harrogate  and  Ripon.  In  June 
1880,  it  was  .  found  particularly  abundant  at  a  place  just 
outside  the  City  boundary  of  Leeds,  no  less  than  seven  nests 
containing  eggs  being  discovered  (W.  Eagle  Clarke,  Zool.  1880, 
p.  444).  Dr.  Steward  of  Harrogate  tells  me  (1904)  that 
this  place  is  now  protected,  and  the  bird  still  nests  there. 

In  the  East  Riding  it  is  perhaps  more  numerous  than 
elsewhere  in  the  county,  the  presence  of  its  favourite  reed-beds 
conducing  to  its  protection  ;  at  Pocklington  it  is  common 
and  breeds  annually  ;  near  Hull  it  was  formerly  plentiful 
as  a  nesting  species  (op.  cit.  1861,  p.  7643-4),  and  it  is  found 
there  where  the  conditions  are  suitable  ;  at  Hornsea  Mere 
it  is  numerous  ;  in  the  Beverley  district  it  has  been  met  with, 
breeding  in  gardens,  the  nest  being  placed  in  lilac  bushes 
and  snowberry,  and  also  in  some  numbers  in  the  osier-beds 
in  the  Drimeld  trout-streams  and  in  the  reeds  bordering 
on  the  River  Hull ;  the  nest  is  also  reported  from  Scampston, 
Knapton,  and  near  Bridlington,  though  only  rarely.  In 
the  North  Riding  it  was  fairly  abundant  at  Castle  Howard, 
but  has  greatly  decreased  there  of  late  years,  and  it 
occasionally  occurs  at  Malton  ;  it  was  formerly  frequent 
on  the  Mere  at  Scarborough  before  the  place  was  drained ; 
now  it  is  seldom  found  there,  and  the  same  remark  may  be 
applied  to  the  north  part  of  the  county,  though  it  is  noted 
as  nesting  near  Whitby  and  Grinkle.  In  Cleveland  I  have 
for  some  years  been  aware  of  its  existence  as  a  nesting  species 
at  a  locality  a  few  miles  distant  from  Redcar,  where  it  breeds 
annually,  and  I  have  an  egg  taken  there  in  1896  by  Mr. 
C.  Milburn  of  Middlesbrough  ;  it  is  scarce  near  Bedale,  and 
has  once  been  reported  from  Carperby  in  Wensleydale. 

Though  the  Reed  Warbler  is  occasionally  noticed  on 
migration  it  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Reports  from  the  light 
stations  excepting  in  the  year  1881,  when  two  were  killed 
by  striking  against  the  Spurn  lantern  on  the  29th  May,  at 
ii  p.m.,  and  on  the  2oth  August  in  the  same  year  three  old 
males  were  killed.  (Fourth  Report,  p.  33.) 

In  its  nidification  the  bird  sometimes  departs  from  its 


Reed  Warbler's  nest,  Hornsea  Mere. 


R.  Fortune, 


.See  page  9  ] , 


SEDGE  WARBLER.  91 

usual  custom  and  builds  in  extraordinary  situations,  such 
as  in  a  yew  tree  at  Malton,  presumably  its  first  nest  had 
been  destroyed  (J.  E.  Harting's  Summer  Migrants,  p.  85)  ; 
the  late  Col.  Haworth-Booth  found  one  in  a  black-currant 
bush  at  Hullbank  House,  near  Hull  (Nat.  1896,  p.  24)  ;  and 
in  the  Washburn  Valley  a  nest  and  young  were  noted  on  the 
bank  of  a  reservoir  in  long  grass  (op.  cit.  1888,  p.  330). 

In  the  report  of  its  nesting  near  Leeds,  above  referred  to, 
it  is  stated  that  four  nests  were  amongst  willow  bushes  and 
were  placed  at  heights  varying  from  five  to  seven  and  a 
half  feet  above  the  ground,  whilst  others  were  hidden  amongst 
nettles,  about  two  feet  from  the  ground,  and  supported  by 
their  stems  and  dead  twigs  of  willows  ;  the  eggs  were  unlike 
the  ordinary  type,  being  white  with  markings  of  a  clear 
greenish  grey  tint.  The  young  have  been  seen  on  the  I2th 
of  June,  which  is  an  exceptionally  early  date. 

The  late  G.  Roberts  of  Lofthouse,  near  Wakefield,  writing 
in  1886,  stated  that  a  specimen  of  the  Great  Reed  Warbler 
(Acrocephalus  turdoides,  Meyer),  a  species  that  is  common 
on  the  Continent  of  Europe,  is  in  the  possession  of  J.  Ward 
of  Lofthouse,  which  G.  Lumb  got  "  a  good  many  years  since  " 
from  someone  at  Wakefield.  "  It  is  said  to  have  been  found 
dead  at  Methley." 


SEDGE  WARBLER. 

Acrocephalus  phragmitis  (Bechstein). 


Summer  visitant  ;     common,    and   generally   distributed. 


The  first  reference  to  this  bird  in  Yorkshire  is  contained  in 
the  Rev.  John  Graves's  "  History  of  Cleveland,"  1808,  where 
it  is  mentioned  under  the  name  of  "  Sedge  Bird  (Motacilla 
salicaria}"  and  enumerated  amongst  the  migrants. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Salicaria  phragmitis. — Sedge  Warbler — is  met  with  near  Doncaster 
and  Barnsley  ;  it  is  scarce  near  Huddersfield,  and  not  numerous  at 
Halifax  ;  near  Sheffield  and  at  Hobmoor,  York,  it  is  frequent  ;  it  also 
occurs  at  Swillington  and  Brotherton. 


92  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

This  merry  little  warbler  arrives  about  the  latter  end 
of  April  or  early  in  May  ;  the  average  date  in  the  south  of 
the  county  is  the  24th  of  April ;  at  Lofthouse,  near  Wakefield, 
the  2nd  of  May,  and  near  Halifax  a  week  later  ;  in  mid- 
Yorkshire  and  in  the  Spurn  district  it  may  be  looked  for 
in  the  first  week  of  May,  while  in  Cleveland  I  have  taken  the 
mean  date  as  the  29th  of  April ;  in  1883  it  was  reported 
on  the  1 8th  of  April  at  Barnsley,  which  is  earlier  than  usual, 
and  in  1869  on  the  igth  of  the  same  month  at  Tadcaster. 
The  majority  take  their  departure  in  September,  a  few 
stragglers  lingering  until  early  in  the  following  month. 

It  is,  as  a  rule,  commonly  distributed  in  localities  suitable 
to  its  requirements,  viz.  :  gardens,  copses,  hedgerows,  willow- 
beds,  and  the  margins  of  streams,  and  is  also  frequently  met 
with  in  places  far  removed  from  the  vicinity  of  water  ;  it 
is  fairly  abundant  in  most  parts  of  the  county  except  on 
the  moorlands  and  waste  tracts,  though  it  has  been  found 
near  the  edge  of  the  moors,  and  it  is  frequent  on  the  East 
Riding  Wolds.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  some  of  the  large 
manufacturing  towns,  and  within  the  City  boundaries  of 
Sheffield  and  Leeds,  the  nest  has  been  recorded.  Strange 
to  say  it  is  a  scarce  species  near  Wilsden,  and  is  not  common 
in  the  Forest  of  Bowland,  although  the  surroundings  are 
eminently  suited  to  its  habits. 

It  has  been  noticed  at  the  light-stations  on  the  coast  on 
several  occasions  whilst  on  passage,  as  is  recorded  in  the 
Migration  Reports,  and  individuals  have  been  killed  by 
striking  against  the  lanterns  at  Spurn  and  Withernsea. 

The  Sedge  Warbler  has  been  heard  to  imitate  the  mewing 
of  a  cat  (Birds  of  Ackworth,  p.  50)  ;  it  is  also  well  known 
as  a  mimic  of  other  birds,  and  as  it  often  sings  late  at  night 
it  is  mistaken  for  the  queen  of  songsters,  the  Nightingale  ; 
doubtless  many  of  the  reported  occurrences  of  the  latter 
bird  which  appear  in  provincial  papers  may  be  referable 
to  the  species  under  notice.  The  Rev.  E.  Peake,  late  of 
Settle,  relates  an  amusing  anecdote  of  the  local  folk  in  Craven 
being  deceived  by  this  bird's  late  singing  :  crowds  of  people 
went  nightly  to  hear  the  sweet  strains,  and  imagined  they 


& 


GRASSHOPPER  WARBLER.  93 

were  listening  to  a  Nightingale,  until  a  local  naturalist 
scathingly  remarked  "  It  were  nobbut  a  bothering  Betty  !  " 

The  sites  chosen  for  the  nest  are  as  frequently  removed 
from,  as  in  the  neighbourhood  of,  water  :  I  have  found  it 
in  hedges  and  shrubs  several  feet  above  the  ground,  while 
there  :s  one  instance  of  a  nest  at  an  elevation  of  ten  feet, 
and  the  experience  of  other  county  naturalists  is  similar  ; 
eggs  at  Bempton  have  been  reported  as  late  as  August ;  and 
a  nest  at  Harome,  near  Helmsley,  contained  young  on  the 
4th  August  1888.  In  the  Natural  History  Journal  1877, 
there  is  mention  of  a  nest  in  a  long  swinging  piece  of  bramble, 
far  from  any  water  ;  in  the  same  Journal  a  clutch  of  eggs 
is  described,  three  being  white  with  scarcely  traceable  black 
spots,  and  a  fourth  much  paler  than  usual.  Mr.  Harold 
Watson  of  Redcar  has  a  clutch  of  the  scarce  salmon  pink 
variety,  found  in  the  Esk  Valley  in  the  first  week  of  June  1892. 

The  vernacular  names  are  numerous  :  Seg  Bird  in  the 
Huddersfield  neighbourhood  (Zool.  1848,  p.  2290)  ;  Sedge 
Bird  in  Cleveland  (Graves,  1808)  ;  Sedge  Chat,  Sedgechatter, 
and  Windlestraw,  at  Ackworth ;  Willow  Wren  at  Huddersfield ; 
Willow  Sparrow  at  Wilsden  and  in  the  West  Riding  ;  Grey 
Bird  in  Arkengarthdale  ;  Betty  near  Settle  ;  Nightsinger 
near  Sedbergh ;  Mock  Nightingale  in  Cleveland  and  the 
North  Riding  ;  Thorn  Warbler  in  east  Cleveland  ;  Willow 
Chit  in  the  western  Ainsty  ;  Chitty  Prat  in  southern  Holder- 
ness.  While  Small  Straw  at  Skelmanthorpe,  Huddersfield, 
and  Straw  Small  at  Wilsden  and  in  the  Aire  Valley,  are  terms 
applied  to  the  nest. 


GRASSHOPPER   WARBLER. 

Locu stella  naevia  (Boddaerf). 


Summer    visitant  ;     local ;     thinly    distributed,    and    varying    in 
numbers  in  different  years. 


In    considering    the    question    of   the    earliest    reference 
to  the  Grasshopper  Warbler  as  a  county  bird,  priority  of 


94  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

claim  is  to  be  accorded  to  Willughby's  description  contained 
in  a  communication,  dated  1672,  from  R.  Johnson  to  the 
renowned  John  Ray,  which  is  as  follows  : — 

"  The  Titlark  that  sings  like  a  Grasshopper — Locus tella. 
D.  Johnson." 

"  It  is  lesser  than  the  regulus  non  cristatus,  hath  a  pretty 
long  straight  bill,  yet  having  a  little  declivity  above,  the 
upper  chap  black,  the  nether  of  a  horn  colour.  The  upper  side 
of  the  body  is  of  a  dusky  yellow,  besprinkled  with  blackish 
spots,  the  under  side  of  a  pale  yellow.  The  tail  is  of  the 
longest,  of  a  brown  or  dusky  colour,  when  spread  ending 
in  a  circular  circumference.  On  the  lower  Belly,  the  Thighs, 
and  under  the  Tail  it  hath  brown  spots  tending  downwards. 
It  hath  long  slender  dusky  coloured  Legs,  crooked  claws 
and  a  very  long  spur,  or  heel.  It  feeds  upon  flies  ;  it  hath 
a  note  like  a  Grasshopper,  but  louder  and  shriller.  When 
it  sings  it  commonly  sits  upon  a  bush,  with  its  mouth  open, 
and  straight  (sic)  up  and  its  wings  dishevelled."  (Will.  "  Orn." 
1676,  p.  207.) 

In  connection  with  this  matter  Professor  Newton  remarks 
(Yarrell's  "British  Birds," 4th  Ed.,  Vol.  i.,  p.  386),  that  Gilbert 
White  asserted  Ray  had  no  personal  knowledge  of  this  bird, 
and  Mr.  Johnson's  specimen  was  referable  to  the  Wood  Wren. 
There  can  be  no  question,  however,  that  the  description 
given  agrees  with  that  of  the  Grasshopper  Warbler  and 
is  totally  unlike  the  Wood  Wren. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Salicaria  locust ella. — Grasshopper  Warbler.  I  have  heard  of  but 
one  specimen  from  near  Barnsley,  shot  by  Dr.  Farrar,  now  of  Bradford. 
At  Hebden  Bridge  it  is  met  with  rarely  ;  it  is  frequent  about  Sheffield, 
and  sings  between  eleven  and  twelve  at  night,  as  mentioned  by  my 
Friend,  J.  Heppenstall.  Near  Halifax  a  few  pairs  breed  every  summer  ; 
it  is  rather  rare  near  Leeds  ;  it  breeds  in  several  localities  near 
Doncaster,  as  at  Wadsworth,  Hutmoor,  and  Rossington.  Near 
Bridlington  it  breeds  in  a  few  favoured  localities,  and  near  York  it 
is  found  in  Buttercrambe  Woods,  and  in  the  woods  at  Langwith. 

This  species  arrives  from  about  the  middle  to  the  third 
week  of  April,  although  instances  are  known  of  its  appearance 
a  few  days  earlier  ;  at  Barnsley  the  mean  date  of  arrival, 


GRASSHOPPER  WARBLER.  95 

calculated  from  a  series  of  ten  years'  records,  was  the  3oth 
of  April,  but  in  the  Knaresborough  and  Harrogate  district 
the  average  time  is  the  i8th  ;  in  Cleveland  it  does  not,  as 
a  rule,  makes  its  presence  known  until  the  end  of  the  month. 
It  departs  in  August  and  onward  to  mid-September. 

It  is  thinly  distributed,  local,  and  varying  in  numbers 
in  different  seasons.  Near  Sheffield  there  are  generally 
a  few  pairs  in  the  wooded  districts  ;  in  the  Barnsley  area 
it  occurs  regularly,  and  nests  annually  within  seven  or  eight 
miles  of  Halifax  ;  at  Liversedge  it  has  been  noted  twice, 
in  1895  and  1896  ;  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Huddersfield 
it  breeds  in  several  localities,  and  is  fairly  common  at  Storthes 
Hall  and  Skelmanthorpe  ;  at  Almondbury  it  is  not  numerous, 
yet  a  regular  visitant ;  near  Wakefield  there  are  one  or  two 
places  where  it  is  found  nesting  ;  in  the  Aire  Valley  it  has 
bred  near  Leeds,  at  Roundhay  Park,  and  at  Adel,  though 
the  bird  is  scarce  and  irregular  in  its  visits,  as  it  also  is  near 
Doncaster,  Selby,  and  Goole  ;  at  Ackworth  and  Hemsworth 
it  has  frequently  been  known  to  nest.  In  the  north-west 
it  is  reported  at  Skipton-in-Craven,  and  in  small  numbers 
near  Settle,  where  the  eggs  were  taken  on  a  moor  in  1896  ; 
in  Nidderdale  it  occurs  sparingly,  as  also  in  the  Washburn 
Valley,  and  in  Upper  Wharfedale,  being  occasionally  met 
with  to  an  altitude  of  1000  feet  on  the  Ilkley  Moors  ;  near 
Pateley  Bridge  it  has  twice  occurred,  the  last  occasion  being 
in  1886  ;  in  the  Harrogate  district  it  was  not  uncommon 
(1879-1885),  though  it  is  now  very  irregular  and  uncertain  ; 
the  same  remark  is  applicable  to  the  Wetherby,  Boston  Spa, 
Ripon  and  Eavestone  districts,  but  at  Cowthorpe,  Wilstrop, 
and  Askham  Bogs  it  is  fairly  numerous.  In  the  East  Riding 
it  is  reported  from  near  Hull  and  Sproatley  in  South  Holder- 
ness  ;  it  is  scarce  and  uncertain  at  Beverley,  and  has  occurred 
a  good  many  times,  but  irregularly  ;  it  is  rare  at  Flamborough 
where  one  was  killed  against  the  lantern  during  the  night 
migration  in  1877,  and  a  nest  has  been  found  on  the  cliff 
tops.  It  occurs  in  most  districts  of  the  North  Riding,  not 
a  common  nesting  species,  yet  hardly  to  be  considered  very 
rare ;  near  Pickering  it  is  perhaps  most  abundant,  and 


96  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

is  fairly  common  at  Malton  ;  near  Bedale  it  was  formerly 
numerous,  but  has  decreased  during  the  past  two  or  three 
years,  and  this  state  of  things  obtains  in  some  other  places  ; 
one  or  two  pairs  nest  in  the  Sedbergh  district,  on  the  moor 
edges  ;  in  the  Scarborough  neighbourhood  it  is  moderately 
plentiful,  and  a  few  pairs  breed  near  Whitby  ;  in  Cleve- 
land it  nests  scatteringly  in  a  good  many  localities  and 
has  been  found  within  two  or  three  miles  of  the  town  of 
Middlesbrough  ;  formerly  it  was  frequently  heard  along  the 
hedgerows  bordering  the  sand-hills  near  Redcar  ;  of  late, 
however,  it  appears  to  have  discontinued  its  visits  to  that 
part  and  has  not  been  noted  for  several  years  past.  In 
Tunstall's  time  it  was  known  at  Wycliffe-on-Tees,  for  he 
states  (MS.  p.  107),  "  This  bird  is  sometimes  found  in  this 
neighbourhood."  £&|  i  ^ 

The  Reports  of  the  British  Association  Migration  Committee 
do  not  furnish  much  information  respecting  the  movements 
of  this  species,  the  only  entry  referring  to  this  county  being 
the  following  : — 

"  On  1 2th  September  1881,  two  were  killed  in  the  night 

against    the    lantern    of    Spurn    Lighthouse." 

(Fourth  Report,  p.  33.) 

The  nest  of  the  Grasshopper  Warbler  is  generally  most 
craftily  concealed  and  difficult  to  discover,  so  that  perhaps 
it  may  be  commoner  than  is  supposed  to  be  the  case  ;  the  late 
W.  Talbot  found  one  on  the  ground  amongst  rough  grass,  the 
tops  of  which  were  drawn  together  so  as  to  form  a  dome, 
with  an  arched  passage  leading  to  the  nest,  and  he  states 
that  the  bird  ran  amongst  the  grass  like  a  rat.  On  6th  August 
1884,  a  nest  was  discovered  with  four  eggs,  evidently  a 
second  clutch,  in  a  tuft  of  tussock  grass,  overshadowed  with 
bracken  fern  which  hid  it  entirely  from  view,  and  the  owner 
threaded  its  way  in  and  out  in  a  similar  manner  to  that 
described  by  Talbot.  In  Wensleydale  it  has  been  found 
on  the  moors  near  Carperby,  and,  as  stated  above,  it  has 
been  met  with  on  the  Ilkley  and  Sedbergh  Moors. 

There  do  not  appear  to  be  any  truly  vernacular  names 
used  in  Yorkshire,  and  the  term,  Sibilous  Brakehopper, 


HEDGE  ACCENTOR.  97 

said  to  be  used  at  Doncaster  (Neville  Wood's  Naturalist,  1837), 
is  but  one  of  that  author's  fancy  book-names. 

[DARTFORD  WARBLER.     Sylvia  undata  (Boddaerf). 

In  Thomas  Allis's  Report,  1844,  the  following  occurs  : — 

Melizophilus  provincialis — Dartford  Warbler.     Said  by  W.  Edison 
to  occur  near  Huddersfield,  the  only  Yorkshire  locality. 
(But  it  is  crossed  out.) 

No  faith  is  to  be  placed  in  the  record  of  this  species  in 
the  Rivelin  Valley  by  Dixon,  quoted  in  the  "  Handbook  of 
Yorkshire  Vertebrata,"  p.  21  ;  and  the  alleged  discovery  of 
a  nest  and  eggs  in  Cleveland  (Nat.  1896,  p.  240),  is,  as  Mr. 
Charles  Milburn  tells  me,  open  to  the  very  gravest  doubt ; 
therefore,  until  more  satisfactory  evidence  is  forthcoming, 
the  bird  must  be  expunged  from  the  Yorkshire  list.] 


HEDGE    ACCENTOR. 
Accentor  tnodularis  (Z.). 


Resident  ;  generally  distributed,  there  not  being  a  district  in  the 
county  from  which  it  is  not  reported  ;  common,  except  in  moorland 
localities.  A  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 


An  early  allusion,  perhaps  the  earliest,  to  this  species  as 
a  Yorkshire  bird  is  contained  in  the  communication  addressed 
by  Dr.  Martin  Lister  to  John  Ray  and  dated  York,  February 
8th  1675,  where  it  is  thus  alluded  to  :  "  The  Currucca  or 
Hedge  Sparrow,  which  I  have  often  seen,  lays  sea-green 
or  pale  blue  eggs,  which  neatly  emptied  and  wired,  fair 
ladies  wear  at  their  ears  for  pendants."  ("  Correspondence 
of  John  Ray,"  p.  117.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Accentor  tnodularis. — Hedge  Sparrow. 

As  an  abundant  and  familiar  resident,  the  Hedge  Sparrow, 
for  as  such  it  is  best  known  to  Yorkshiremen,  demands 
but  little  attention.  It  is  common  or  general  in  the  wide- 
spread localities  affording  the  usual  simple  haunts  of  the 
bird,  namely  gardens,  shrubberies,  and  hedgerows  ;  though 

VOL.   I.  H 


98  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

in  the  dale  and  moorland  districts  of  the  county,  where 
stone  walls  are  in  vogue,  and  the  habitations  of  man  are 
few  and  far  between,  it  is  not  very  abundant ;  but  it  is 
usually  to  be  found  where  its  requirements  are  existing  ; 
a  great  increase  has  been  noted  south  of  Sheffield  during 
the  last  few  years. 

As  an  immigrant  from  the  Continent,  however,  it  is 
worthy  of  further  consideration  at  our  hands.  A  summer 
visitant  to  northern  Europe,  seeking  a  southern  winter  abode, 
the  bird  occurs,  though  in  varying  numbers,  on  our  sea-board 
in  the  autumn  season,  remaining  through  the  winter,  thus 
making  it  much  more  numerous  in  localities  near  the  coast 
during  these  seasons  than  at  other  times. 

In  autumn  it  is  often  very  common  in  the  bean  and  turnip 
fields  near  the  coast ;  sometimes  solitary  or  in  pairs,  but 
more  frequently  in  small  parties  of  twenty  to  thirty  together. 
Respecting  the  migratory  movements  of  this  species  I  feel 
I  cannot  do  better  than  quote  the  information  bearing 
thereon  contained  in  the  Reports  of  the  Migration  Committee 
of  the  British  Association  : — 

1880.     October  i7th.  Very  abundant  at  Spurn  Head  (p.  37) 
1882.     At  Spurn  and  in  east  Lincolnshire  great  numbers 
were    observed    during    the    first    fortnight    of 
September. 

Spurn,  October  8th.  Most  abundant  and  on  the 
Lincolnshire  coast  at  the  same  date  in  extra- 
ordinary numbers.  ...  It  may  be  stated  that 
their  extraordinary  abundance  at  Spurn  and 
in  east  Lincolnshire  on  October  8th  corresponds 
with  the  enormous  flights  which  crossed 
Heligoland  at  the  same  period,  October  6th, 
7th,  and  8th,  as  reported  to  Mr.  Cordeaux  by 
Herr  Gatke  (p.  33). 

1884.  Spurn,  August  2Oth  and  through  September. 
Abundant  at  intervals.  Tees  L.V.,  2ist  August. 
Two,  with  a  Linnet,  Redbreast,  and  Titlark,  on 
board  ;  leaving  to  N.W.  at  7  a.m.  Spurn  and 
Great  Cotes  25th  and  26th.  Swarming  (p.  46). 


HEDGE  ACCENTOR.  99 

Further  observations  indicate  that  in  the  years  1892, 
1894,  and  1898  great  numbers  were  noted  on  migration. 

From  the  above  records  it  is  to  be  inferred  that  the  move- 
ments of  this  species,  both  as  regards  numbers  and  constancy, 
are  somewhat  irregular  ;  it  is  possible,  however,  that  on 
some  occasions  this  unobtrusive  bird  may  escape  observation  ; 
but  that  it  varies  considerably  numerically  is  beyond  question. 
A  return  passage  is  sometimes  observed  in  March. 

The  ordinary  period  of  nidification  in  Yorkshire  usually 
commences  early  in  April,  and  the  young  are  hatched  before 
the  end  of  that  month.     Instances  are  recorded  of  the  nest 
and  eggs  being  found  in  December  and  January,  the  earliest 
being  on  the  I2th  December  1879,  near  Stokesley,  as  noted 
by  Mr.  H.  Kerr.     A  nest  at  Beverley  (Zool.  1863,  p.  8445), 
contained  four  eggs  on  4th  January  1863.     Mr.  W.  Eagle 
Clarke  has  found  eggs  on  the  i5th  of  March,  and  a  nest  with 
eggs  on  the  point  of  hatching  on  the  7th  of  April  came  under 
his  notice.     There  are  also  other  instances  in  which  singularly 
early  nests  have  been  found  in  exceptionally  mild  seasons. 
Although  four  to  five  is  the  usual  number  of  eggs,  Mr.  Baldwin 
Young  states  (in  litt.)  it  only  lays  three  to  four  in  his  district 
(Richmond  Park,  Sheffield),  five  very  rarely.     In  the  spring 
of  1886  a  nest  with  three  partly  incubated  eggs  was  found 
at  Masham,  the  paucity  of  numbers  being  attributed  to  the 
inclement  weather.     Mr.   J.   Ranson   (Zool.   1864,  p.   9036), 
states  that  he  took  eighteen  eggs  from  a  Hedge  Sparrow's 
nest,  by  one  at  a  time,  always  leaving  a  nest  egg,  and  then 
the  nest  was  destroyed.     An  unusual  locale  for  a  colony, 
if  it  may  be  so  termed,  of  Hedge  Sparrows,  is  amongst  stacks 
of  pig-iron  at  Connel's  Stores,  Middlesbrough.     There  several 
pairs  of  birds  are  established  and  nest  in  security.     Colourless 
examples  of  the  eggs  have  occasionally  been  noticed. 

Pale  rufous  varieties  of  the  bird  are  on  record,  as  observed 
or  captured  in  the  county  (op.  cit.  1865,  p.  9491  ;  1866,  p.  29  ; 
1877,  p.  256).  In  the  Leeds  Museum  is  included  an  albino 
specimen,  found  near  that  town  in  the  winter  of  1884  or  1885, 
and  the  late  J.  Varley  possessed  an  entirely  black  example 
obtained  at  Almondbury  Bank,  near  Huddersfield,  on  I4th 


100  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

May  1865.  Cream  coloured  specimens  are  noted  at  Scar- 
borough (op.  cit.  1883,  p.  79),  and  Selby,  on  3oth  January  1897  ; 
and  white  ones  at  Selby,  1890,  and  Beverley,  1900. 

The  Hedge  Accentor  is  one  of  the  best  known  foster 
parents  of  the  Cuckoo,  the  colour  of  whose  eggs  is  occasionally 
assimilated  to  that  of  the  fosterer  ;  and  Mr.  T.  Stephenson, 
of  Whitby,  informed  me  that  he  once  found  a  Hedge  Sparrow's 
nest  containing  four  of  her  own  eggs  and  a  cuckoo's,  which 
latter  was  a  little  larger  and  nearly  the  same  colour  as  the 
fosterer's. 

I  have  observed  that  this  bird  will  occasionally  eat 
grain  scattered  in  a  garden  for  the  feeding  of  poultry, 
and  on  these  occasions  is  inclined  to  be  very  pugnacious, 
sometimes  driving  away  a  bantam  which  disputed  its  right 
to  a  meal. 

Local  names :  Hedge  Sparrow ;  Dunnock ;  Dicky 
Dunnock,  general ;  Cuddy,  general  among  schoolboys  ;  Billy 
or  Billy  Hedge  Sparrow,  Doncaster  ;  Hedge  Creeper,  Thirsk 
and  Cleveland ;  Shuffle  Wings,  Cleveland  and  Craven  ;  it 
is  also  locally  termed  Hedge  Warbler  or  Hedge  Chanter  ; 
Cuddy  Whooper  is  a  name  I  have  heard  near  Redcar,  and 
Hempie  is  a  term  mentioned  by  Swainson  as  used  in  Yorkshire. 


ALPINE    ACCENTOR. 
Accentor  collaris  (Scopoli). 


Accidental  visitant  from  Central  or  Southern  Europe. 


Like  the  Rock  Thrush,  this  bird  affects  the  mountainous 
districts  of  central  and  southern  Europe,  where  it  is,  however, 
a  resident  and  only  to  be  considered  migratory  in  so  far 
as  it  passes  the  summer  at  considerable  elevations  and 
descends  into  the  valleys  for  the  winter.  From  some  cause 
or  another  the  Alpine  Accentor  occasionally  finds  its  way 
into  Western  Europe,  and  has  on  several  occasions  occurred 
in  the  British  Isles,  and  once  in  Yorkshire. 


Nest  of  Hedge  Accentor  with  a  Cuckoo's  Egg  (top  on  left), 

near  Harrogate. 

R.  Fortune. 

See  page   100. 


DIPPER.  101 

The  claim  of  this  species  to  our  attention  as  a  York- 
shire bird  is  in  virtue  of  an  occurrence  at  Scarborough, 
during  the  winter  of  1862-3.  This  specimen  now  forms  part 
of  the  collection  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney  of  Keswick  Hall,  Norwich, 
where  Mr.  Wm.  Eagle  Clarke  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  it. 

It  formerly  had  a  place  in  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton's  collec- 
tion at  Beverley  ;  and  that  gentleman  communicated  the 
following  account  of  it  to  the  Zoologist  (1863,  p.  8766)  :  "On 
the  22nd  of  August,  at  Mr.  Roberts',  bird  stuff er,  Scarborough, 
I  saw  a  fine  female  specimen  of  the  Alpine  Accentor  which  had 
been  shot  near  Scarborough.  Last  winter  (1862-3)  a  Poor 
man  offered  for  sale  to  Mr.  Roberts  a  string  of  larks  and  small 
birds  he  had  shot.  Mr.  R.  bought  them  and  found  this  bird 
amongst  the  number.  I  purchased  it  and  it  is  now  in  my 
collection." 

I  am  informed  by  Mr.  George  Steels  of  Pocklington  (1902), 
that  he  stuffed  an  Alpine  Accentor  "  many  years  ago,"  for 
a  gamekeeper  named  Wetherill,  who  had  shot  it  at  Waplington, 
but  my  informant  could  not  ascertain  where  the  specimen 
is  now. 


DIPPER. 

Cinclus  aquaticus  (Bechst.). 


Resident  ;   local ;   common  in  the  south-west  and  north-west,    and 
also  in  Cleveland  ;    rare  in  the  East  Riding.       •    •  .    . , 


Historically,   so  far  as  we  know,  ?  theA oldest  °  yt>rk§ltH-fc  :  /. 
Water  Ouzel  is  the  one  described  by  JomV'Ka'jV  wffichSteS  ' 3 " 
shot  on  the  River  Rivelin,  near  Sheffield  (Will.  "  Orn."  1678, 
p.  149). 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Cinclus  aquaticus. — Common  Dipper — Rarely  met  with  in  the  East 
Riding,  frequently  seen  on  the  mountain  streams  of  the  North  and 
West  Ridings. 

The  Dipper  is  a  common  resident  on  the  mountain  becks 
and  rivers  which  abound  in  or  traverse  the  Fell  district  of 


102  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

north-western  Yorkshire  ;  it  also  occurs,  but  less  numerouslyr 
on  the  streams  of  the  south-western  moorlands,  and  is  fairly 
common  in  suitable  haunts  among  the  hills  of  Cleveland. 
It  breeds  regularly  by  the  side  of  streams  near  the  coast 
between  Loftus  and  Staithes,  and  in  severe  weather  has 
been  seen  among  the  rocks  on  the  sea-shore.  In  these 
extensive  habitats  the  three  hundred  feet  contour  line  may 
be  taken  as  defining  the  lower  limit  of  the  bird's  distribution 
in  any  considerable  abundance,  while  below  this  elevation 
it  is  sporadic  down  to  as  low  as  one  hundred  feet.  It  is  a 
strictly  sedentary  species,  but  when  frost  of  unusual  severity 
and  long  duration  render  its  subalpine  home  untenable, 
owing  to  the  ice-bound  streams  no  longer  affording  food, 
the  Dipper  descends  to  the  lower  reaches,  and  even  then 
seldom  indeed  moves  further  than  necessary,  though  it  has 
once  or  twice  been  known  to  visit  the  polluted  waters  of  the 
manufacturing  districts. 

In  the  East  Riding  it  is  a  very  scarce  species  and  is  known 
only  in  one  or  two  localities  ;  it  has  bred  at  Stamford  Bridge, 
and  has  been  met  with  near  Pocklington,  while  a  pair  have 
nested  near  Scampston  annually  for  several  years.  The  Rev. 
F.  O.  Morris  shot  a  bird  at  Nunburnholme  on  the  loth  of 
January  1856,  which  may  have  belonged  to  the  Scandinavian 
form,  next  to  be  described,  but  it  was  not  preserved. 

Amongst  curious  facts  in  the  nidification  of  this  species  the 

following  is  related  by  Mr.  Henry  Smurthwaite  of  Richmond 

',\Zi)ol.  1859;  P't  fe^1;)-     "  The  nest  was  placed  at  the  extreme 

erid  of  a  *Sah(i  Martin's  hole,  which  extended  two  feet  in  a 

;  ^apKiov^rJiangin^^a  stream,  and  the  old  bird  was  captured 

'  on  the  nest,'  which'  contained  five  fresh  eggs.     Subsequently 

it  was  dug  out  and  was  found  to  resemble  much  in  shape 

that  of  a  Blackbird,  but,  as  usual,  was  composed  of  moss 

thickly  lined  with   oak   leaves,    the   dome,   however,   being 

entirely  wanting."     Another  remarkable  case,  where  a  pair 

of  Sand  Martins  usurped  the  nest  of  a  Dipper,  is  vouched 

for  by  Mr.  Thomas  Altham  of  Bashall  Hall  (see  Sand  Martin). 

A  nest  is  described  (Morris's  Nat.  1855,  p.  268-9),  which  was 

placed  under  a  small  railway  bridge.     Here  five  nests  were 


Dipper's  nest,  in  usual  situation.  R.  Fortune. 


See  page  102. 


BLACK-BELLIED  DIPPER.  103 

constructed  by  the  same  pair  of  birds  in  the  spring  of  1855, 
from  which  no  less  than  twenty-three  eggs  had  been  taken, 
and  on  May  the  I5th  the  old  bird  was  sitting  on  two  more 
eggs.  A  boulder  in  a  stream  has  been  utilised  for  a  nesting 
site ;  another  was  between  two  beams  of  a  sluice  near 
Masham  (Zool.  1885,  p.  25)  ;  and  in  1901  a  nest  was  built 
behind  the  Dropping  Well  at  Knaresborough,  where  every 
time  the  old  birds  left  or  returned  to  their  home  they  had  to 
fly  through  the  falling  water.  Mr.  G.  A.  Widdas  found  a 
nest  at  Malham  in  1903  placed  in  the  centre  of  a  small  thorn 
bush  about  two  or  three  yards  from  the  water's  edge.  At 
Hartforth  Hall,  near  Richmond,  a  Dipper  was  in  the  habit  of 
roosting  nightly  for  several  weeks  on  a  window  sill  (Field, 
2oth  October  1900).  A  nest  of  this  species  at  Sedbergh 
was  ready  for  occupation  on  the  26th  of  February  ;  one  at 
Richmond  contained  three  eggs  as  early  as  March  the  I5th, 
and  the  earliest  Yorkshire  record  for  young  birds  is  the  6th 
of  April,  on  Hambleton. 

There  are  various  local  vernacular  names.  In  Teesdale 
it  is  Willy  Fisher  ;  at  Harewood  the  Water  Drill ;  at  Settle 
it  is  called  Douk  (whence  no  doubt  the  use  of  the  word 
in  place-names)  ;  and  at  Loftus-in-Cleveland  it  is  the  White- 
breasted  Ouzel,  and  Water  Blacky.  Water  Crow  is  a  term 
in  general  use,  while  Water  Crake  is  the  one  used  in 
Willughby's  "  Ornithology,"  p.  149. 


BLACK-BELLIED  DIPPER. 

Cinclus    melanogaster    (C.    L.    Brehm). 

It  is  not  within  the  province  of  this  work  to  debate  the 
claims  of  this  bird  to  specific  rank.  This  much,  however, 
must  be  said  for  it,  that  it  is  a  well  marked  climatic  race — 
one  of  those  birds  to  which  might  be  applied  the  trinomial 
system  of  nomenclature  so  usefully  employed  by  American 
ornithologists  for  similar  birds  in  North  America,  and  by 
whom  this  form  would  be  styled  Cinclus  aquaticus  melanogaster. 


104  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

The  Black-bellied  Dipper  is  a  common  Scandinavian  and 
North  Russian  bird,  and  seems  occasionally  to  wander  across 
the  waters  of  the  North  Sea  to  eastern  England.  In  our 
own  county  it  has  hitherto  only,  and  perhaps,  obviously, 
been  noted  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast,  where  in  the  East 
Riding  it  has  been  obtained  on  four  occasions  ;  twice  during 
the  period  of  the  autumn  migration.  Three  of  these  birds 
have  passed  into  the  hands  of  ornithologists,  and,  it  is  worthy 
of  note,  have  been  examined  by  experts,  and  pronounced 
to  be  true  melanogaster.  The  following  are  the  particulars 
of  the  occurrences  : — 

One  procured  on  a  drain  at  Welwick  on  the  24th  of  October 
1874,  was  recorded  by  Mr.  F.  Boyes  (Zool.  1877,  p.  53)  ;  this 
specimen  is  now  in  the  York  Museum. 

In  the  same  journal  (1876,  p.  4871),  Mr.  F.  Boyes  again 
records  as  a  Black-bellied  Dipper  one  obtained  by  a  man 
named  Priestman  on  the  River  Hull  at  Beverley,  on  the  2Qth 
of  October  1875. 

The  Rev.  Julian  G.  Tuck  mentions  in  the  Field  (January 
1876,  p.  22)  one  taken  at  Flotmanby,  near  Filey,  on  the  8th 
of  December  1875. 

In  the  collection  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney  is  a  specimen  which 
occurred  near  Bridlington,  and  was  purchased  by  him  of  the 
late  Mr.  Jones,  taxidermist,  of  Bridlington  Quay. 


BEARDED  TITMOUSE. 
Panurus  biarmicus  (/-.)• 


Casual  visitant  ;    of  very  rare  occurrence. 


The  Bearded  Tit  or  Reedling,  as  it  is  usually  designated, 
is  resident  on  the  broads  of  Norfolk,  the  nearest  locality  to 
Yorkshire  where  it  is  to  be  met  with,  and  it  is  not  uncommon 
on  the  reed-beds  of  Holland  and  other  portions  of  the 
Continent,  but  as  it  is  a  sedentary  species  it  is  most  likely 
that  the  stragglers,  reported  in  parts  of  England  other  than 


§ 

43- 

1 

A 

s 

I 

a 

• 

•3 


BEARDED  TITMOUSE.  105 

the  neighbourhood  of  its  nesting  haunts,  are  native  birds 
and  not  migrants.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  of  the 
earlier  records  of  this  species  appertaining  to  Yorkshire  no 
example  has  actually  been  obtained,  and,  owing  to  this  unsatis- 
factory condition  of  affairs,  its  status  is  of  a  very  uncertain 
character. 

Thomas  Allis,  in   1844,   wrote  : — 

Calamophilus  biarmicus. — Bearded  Tit — The  only  notice  I  have  of 
this  bird  is  from  Wm.  Eddison  who  says,  '  It  is  not  very  common  near 
Huddersfield.  I  do  not  recollect  to  have  seen  more  than  three  or 
four  living  specimens.  I  had  a  dispute  with  a  collector,  who  asserted 
they  were  common,  but  those  he  saw  proved  to  be  the  long-tailed 
and  not  the  bearded." 

Mr.  Mark  Booth  of  Killerby  recorded  (Zool.  1845,  p.  1135) 
that  he  "  observed  a  fine  male  close  to  Kirkleatham  Hospital, 
three  or  four  years  ago." 

"  A  more  interesting  statement  was  made  by  Charles 
Waterton,  who  informed  Mr.  A.  J.  More  that  a  pair  once 
built  by  the  side  of  the  lake  at  Walton  Hall  (Ibis,  1865)  ; 
and  it  is  also  reported  to  have  occurred  at  Scarthingwell 
(J.  Chaloner  MS.  1880). 

Of  these  three  occurrences  Waterton' s  is  the  only  one 
on  which  any  reliance  can  be  placed,  and  his  residence,  Walton 
Hall,  is  the  most  northerly  point  in  the  British  Isles  at  which 
this  species  can  with  certainty  be  said  to  have  occurred. 

Mr.  Kenneth  McLean  sends  the  following  report  to  the 
Naturalist  (1901,  p.  230)  : — "  On  28th  June  1901,  by  the 
side  of  Hornsea  Mere,  my  attention  was  attracted  by  a  soft 
musical  '  tweet '  amongst  the  rushes,  which  was  new  to  me. 
....  Eventually  I  climbed  into  a  stunted  tree,  and,  after 
remaining  perfectly  still  for  some  time,  was  rewarded  by 
seeing  a  pair  of  old  Bearded  Reedlings  and  at  least  three 
young  ones.  ...  I  watched  them  for  ten  minutes  or  more, 
the  soft  rich  colouring,  especially  of  the  old  male,  blending 
beautifully  with  the  light  green  of  the  reeds  and  grasses  by 
which  they  were  surrounded.  They  were  shy,  retiring  quickly 
down  amongst  the  plants  when  alarmed,  but  still  they  did  not 
seem  to  be  particularly  wild,  as  they  came  quite  near  to  me." 


io6 
LONG-TAILED  TITMOUSE. 

Acredula  caudata  (L.). 


Resident  ;  generally  distributed  ;  fairly  common.     More  frequently 
in  evidence  in  autumn  and  winter. 


There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  nest  described  in  1713 
by  Dr.  Richardson  of  North  Bierley  in  Yorkshire,  as  that  of 
the  Goldcrest,  was  referable  to  the  Long-tailed  Tit,  and 
consequently  this  may  be  taken  as  the  first  reference  to  this 
bird's  connection  with  the  county.  ("  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions," Vol.  xxviii.,  p.  167.) 

Thomas  A  His,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Parus  caudatus. — Long-tailed  Tit — Frequent  in  most  parts  of  the 
county.  R.  Leyland  observes  that  on  the  ist  January  1837,  a  small 
flock  was  observed  in  one  of  the  streets  in  Halifax,  the  weather  being 
intensely  cold. 

During  the  breeding  season,  which  lasts  from  March  to 
July,  the  Long- tailed  Titmouse  is  rather  locally  distributed, 
being  then  usually  found  in  the  old  wooded  districts  ;  if  the 
Marsh  Tit  be  excepted,  it  is  perhaps  the  rarest  of  the  family 
which  breeds  with  us,  and  it  appears  to  be  decreasing  in  the 
East  Riding.  Throughout  the  rest  of  the  year  it  is  more 
widely  diffused,  owing  to  its  wandering  proclivities,  and 
may  be  met  with  in  localities  where  it  is  unknown  as  a  breeder, 
while  there  seems  to  be  an  influx  of  new  comers  from  the 
north  of  our  islands  in  October,  which  makes  the  species 
more  common  in  the  winter  months.  Although  at  times 
it  may  be  seen  among  the  roaming  flocks  of  other  Tits, 
Creepers,  and  small  birds,  in  autumn  and  winter,  most 
observers  agree  that  they  explore  the  woods  in  family 
parties,  or  sometimes  in  flocks  ;  I  noticed  very  large 
numbers  while  shooting  in  Grinkle  Woods  in  January  1902. 
The  instance  mentioned  by  Thomas  Allis  (see  above),  of 
a  -party  of  these  birds  being  met  with  in  the  streets  of 
Halifax  is  not  unique,  as,  during  the  winter  of  1854-55,  a 
flock  of  nine  was  seen  flying  through  the  streets  of 


fao 

I 


I 


r 
i 


! 

J! 


LONG-TAILED  TITMOUSE.  107 

Middlesbrough,   an  event  extremely  unlikely  to  happen  at 
the  present  time. 

The  earliest  date  on  which  nidification  has  commenced 
in  the  county  is  the  I4th  of  March,  when  a  nest  ready  for 
eggs  was  found  at  Hovingham  in  1872.  A  nest  at  Roche 
Abbey  in  1879  was  placed  inside  an  old  home  of  a  Magpie, 
which  the  Tits  had  lined  with  moss  and  lichens.  The  nesting 
eccentricities  of  the  Paridae  are  well  known,  and  this  bird's 
peculiarity  lies  in  the  direction  of  an  occasional  departure 
from  the  regular  habit  which  apportions  one  pair  of  birds 
to  one  home.  The  late  James  Carter  mentioned  the  finding  of 
a  nest  at  Masham,  in  April  1876,  containing  three  inmates, 
all  old  birds,  which  he  had  considerable  difficulty  in  ejecting 
in  order  to  count  the  eggs,  fifteen  in  number.  As  early  as 
1829  (Loudon's  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  1830,  p.  568), 
there  is  an  account  of  a  Long- tailed  Tit's  nest  with  young, 
near  Clitheroe,  which  had  no  less  than  seven  old  birds  in 
attendance  ;  and  in  the  Zoologist  (1849,  P-  2567),  Mr.  H. 
Horsfall  mentioned  a  similar  instance.  In  each  case  nearly 
all  the  birds  were  captured,  and  died  in  confinement,  except- 
ing one  that  was  released  and  returned  to  rear  the  brood. 
Mr.  Horsfall  also  recorded  (torn,  cit.}  another  occurrence  where 
nine  birds  assisted  to  build  a  nest,  while  two  used  to  sit 
upon  the  eggs. 

The  local  names  are  :  Bottle  Tit,  general ;  Bottle  Jug, 
North  and  East  Ridings;  Miller's  Thumb,  Nidd  Valley; 
Mealy  Miller's  Thumb,  Lower  Wharfe  ;  Long-tailed  Tom 
and  Long-tailed  Pie,  Loftus-in-Cleveland  ;  Tom  Piper, 
central  Ryedale  ;  Featherpoke,  North  and  East  Ridings  ; 
Feathersack,  Northallerton  ;  and  Hedge  Featherpoke,  Don- 
caster,  1848. 

An  example  of  the  white-headed,  or  Continental  form  of 
the  Long- tailed  Tit  is  reported  as  having  been  seen,  in  company 
with  birds  of  the  ordinary  British  type,  on  March  i8th  1905, 
near  Kirkham  Abbey  (op.  cit.  1906,  p.  149). 


io8 

GREAT   TITMOUSE. 
Parus  major  (Z.). 


^Resident  ;     commonly  distributed.     Autumn  migrant,  sometimes 
in  considerable  numbers. 


The  earliest  published  Yorkshire  reference  to  the  Great 
Tit  is  contained  in  Graves's  "  Cleveland,"  1808,  where  it  is 
enumerated  in  the  list  of  resident  birds. 

Thomas  Allis  wrote  in  1844  : — 

Parus  major. — Great  Titmouse — Common  in  most  districts. 

Second  in  numbers  only  to  the  Blue  Tit,  this  species  is 
one  of  the  most  abundant  and  familiar  inhabitants  of  the 
woods  and  gardens  ;  except  in  the  bleak  moorland  districts 
it  is  found  in  every  locality  affording  the  requirements  for 
its  existence,  and,  consequently,  does  not  require  further 
notice  as  to  its  distribution. 

As  a  migrant,  however,  it  deserves  more  attention,  for 
in  the  autumn  there  is  occasionally  a  considerable  arrival 
on  the  east  coast,  and  this  was  noticeably  the  case  during 
the  latter  part  of  October  in  1878,  at  which  time  most 
unusual  numbers  appeared,  and  it  was  very  abundant  after 
a  severe  storm  on  October  the  3oth,  in  company  with  Blue 
Tits  and  Wrens,  both  at  Spurn  and  Teesmouth,  this  movement 
corresponding  with  a  similar  migration  at  Heligoland  ;  a 
distinct  increase  on  the  coast  line  was  observable  also  in  1883, 
1884,  1886,  and  1889.  In  the  Migration  Reports  there  is 
only  one  entry  relating  to  its  appearance  at  the  light  stations, 
viz. : — 1886,  November  ist,  "  Spurn,  P.  major,  very  common  " 
(p.  32).  At  Redcar  I  have  often  seen  these  little  birds  newly 
arrived ;  a  large  flight  occurred  in  September  1889,  and 
another  on  I4th  September  1901,  though  not  in  such  numbers 
as  in  1878.  At  Spurn  they  are  frequently  noted  in  autumn, 
usually  in  mid-September  and  October,  and  the  birds  seen 
then  are  cleaner  and  brighter  looking  than  residents  ;  both 
this  and  the  Blue  Tit  have  been  known  to  alight  on  vessels 
in  the  North  Sea  during  migration. 

This  species  is  insectivorous  and  a  well-known  enemy  of 


Great  Tit's  in  old  wall. 


7?.  Fortune, 


See  page  108. 


COAL  TITMOUSE.  109 

the  apiculturalist ;  Mr.  F.  Boyes  narrates  a  rather  peculiar 
instance  of  one  being  killed  by  the  bees  whose  hive  it  had 
visited  once  too  often,  on  bee-murder  intent ;  a  trap  being 
set,  it  was  caught  by  the  leg,  and  the  infuriated  inhabitants 
of  the  hive  revenged  themselves  by  stinging  it  to  death  before 
Mr.  Boyes  could  effect  its  rescue.  In  the  Rectory  garden  at 
Ripley,  in  1902,  the  Rev.  W.  T.  Travis  shewed  me  some 
hives  where  the  Great  Tits  had  actually  broken  their  way 
in  to  feed  on  the  inmates.  These  birds  have  been  known  also 
to  attack  wasps  and  destroy  their  nest.  (Nat.  1889,  p.  333.) 

Like  its  Blue  cousin,  this  bird  sometimes  makes  use  of 
curious  nesting  sites,  and  of  these  one  or  two  examples  will 
suffice  to  illustrate  this  phase  in  its  character.  One,  recorded 
by  Mr.  W.  H.  St.  Quintin  at  Scampston,  was  in  the  cup  of 
a  deserted  Blackbird's  nest ;  another  was  found  near  York 
under  a  flower-pot  on  the  carcases  of  a  rat  and  a  hedgehog 
(Zool.  1882,  p.  353)  ;  and  I  am  enabled  to  figure  one  superposed 
on  the  nest  of  a  Thrush  built  in  a  cluster  of  honeysuckle,  at 
Bilton  Banks,  near  Harrogate,  in  1902,  and  photographed 
by  Mr.  R.  Fortune. 

Local  names  :  Greater  Tit,  Tom  Tit,  Billy  Biter,  Oxeye, 
and  Blackcap  are  in  general  use  ;  it  is  Black-capped  Billy 
in  the  West  Riding  ;  and  Greater  Billy  Bluecap  in  Nidderdale  ; 
Saw-whetter  at  Ackworth ;  and  Saw-whet  at  Eavestone, 
near  Ripon. 


COAL  TITMOUSE. 
Parus  ater  (Z.). 


Resident  ;     common,    generally   distributed   in   suitable  localities, 
except  in  West  Yorkshire,  where  it  is  local  in  summer. 


The  earliest  allusion  to  the  Coal  Tit  in  connection  with 
this  county  is  found  in  a  communication  from  Dr.  Sherard, 
the  eminent  botanist,  to  Walter  Moyle,  a  Cornishman  and 
ornithologist  of  eminence.  It  is  dated  "  London,  May  10, 
1720,"  and  runs  as  follows  : — "  Sir,  ....  Having  received 
a  letter  from  my  old  friend,  Dr.  Richardson  of  North  Bierley 


no  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

in  Yorkshire  ....  He  sent  me  also  Pants  ater,  as  generally 
thought,  tho'  it  does  not  agree  with  Gesner's  short  description." 
(The  Works  of  Walter  Moyle,  Esq.,  1726.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  :— 

Parus  ater. — Cole  Tit — It  is  not  infrequent  in  most  woody  districts. 

Although  not  so  numerous  as  the  Great  and  Blue  Tit, 
the  present  species  is,  on  the  whole,  fairly  common  and 
generally  met  with,  except  in  remote  south-west  and  north- 
west portions  of  the  West  Riding,  where  it  is  to  a  certain 
extent  local  during  the  breeding  season,  though  more 
generally  distributed,  or  perhaps  more  in  evidence,  during 
the  autumn  and  winter,  when  it  consorts  with  other  small 
birds  which  rove  through  the  woods  in  search  of  food. 

The  favourite  haunts  of  this  bird  are  fir  plantations, 
and  in  both  summer  and  winter  it  is  almost  always  to  be  found 
in  these  localities,  even  in  the  highest  situations. 

Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  suitable  nesting  holes  in  the 
pine  and  fir  woods  in  north-west  Cleveland  I  have  noticed 
that  it  occasionally  excavates  a  hollow  in  the  old  nests  of 
Magpies  or  Squirrels  and,  lining  the  inside  with  wool,  hair,  and 
other  nesting  materials,  utilises  the  lofty  site  for  its  home.  In 
woods  at  a  lower  elevation  a  hole  in  a  tree,  in  a  rotten  stump, 
or  in  the  ground,  is  usually  selected,  but  this  Tit,  like  the 
others  of  its  family,  often  resorts  to  peculiar  dwelling  places. 

The  two  extreme  varieties  of  this  bird  have  been  accorded 
specific  rank  by  some  systematists  of  the  present  day ;  the 
olive-brown  backed  form  being  styled  P.  britanniciis  (Sharpe 
and  Dresser),  while  the  continental  race,  with  slate-grey  back, 
retains  the  name  bestowed  on  the  species  by  Linnaeus,  viz., 
P.  ater  ;  but,  as  gradations  between  these  two  forms  occur 
in  the  British  Isles,  I  consider  the  best  course  is  to  treat 
our  bird  as  an  insular  form  of  the  continental  species. 

The  latter  is  said  by  the  late  J.  Cordeaux  to  be  an 
occasional  straggler  to  our  coast  in  autumn  (Cordeaux  MS. 
Nat.  1896,  p.  8  ;  1899,  p.  24),  but  I  am  not  aware  of  any 
evidence  in  support  of  this  statement. 

Its  local  names  are  Blackcap,  or  Little  Blackcap,  and 
Tom  Tit,  in  use  in  the  North  and  West  Ridings. 


Open  nest  of  Great  Tit,  built  on  an  old  Song  Thrush's  nest  in  a 
clump  of  woodbine. 

R.  Fortune. 


See  page  109. 


Ill 

MARSH   TITMOUSE. 
Parus  palustris  (£.). 


Resident;    fairly  numerous,  but  rather  locally  distributed. 


Probably  the  first  mention  of  this  bird  in  Yorkshire  is 
contained  in  the  appendix  to  Graves' s  "  History  of  Cleveland  " 
(1808),  in  which  it  is  enumerated  in  the  list  of  birds. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Parus  palustris. — Marsh  Tit.  Wm.  Eddison  states  this  to  be 
migratory  near  Huddersfield,  and  not  very  common  ;  it  is  frequently 
met  with  in  most  parts  of  the  county,  though  less  common  than  the 
three  preceding  species  (Great,  Blue,*  and  Coal  Tits). 

Generally  speaking  the  Marsh  Titmouse  is  scarcer  and 
more  locally  distributed  than  the  preceding  species.  It  is 
more  retiring  than  its  congeners  in  its  habits  during  the 
nesting  season,  and  seems  partial  to  the  combination  of 
woodlands  and  water,  particularly  in  river  valleys  and  places 
where  brushwood  is  found,  and  low  growing  trees  afford 
suitable  sites  for  the  nest. 

There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  instance  of  the  Marsh 
Titmouse  as  an  immigrant  at  the  coast,  and  the  accession 
to  its  numbers,  usually  noted  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  is 
probably  caused  by  birds  roaming  further  afield  in  search 
of  food  during  the  autumn  and  winter  months. 

Though  generally  speaking  an  insect  feeder  it  has  a 
"  penchant  "  for  Indian  corn  when  obtainable.  At  Burton 
House,  Masham,  a  bird  of  this  species  used  to  feed  almost 
wholly  on  this  grain,  which  was  thrown  out  for  the  poultry 
during  the  winter  of  1883,  and  would  fly  down  from  a  tree, 
select  a  piece  and  return  to  its  perch,  then,  after  biting  out 
the  softer  centre  of  the  corn,  drop  the  remainder.  In  time 
the  ground  beneath  the  tree  became  quite  strewn  with  the 


*  In  the  order  observed  by  the  B.O.U.  list,  and  followed  in  this  work, 
the  Blue  Tit  is  placed  after  the  Marsh  Tit,  and  does  not  precede  it  as 
in  Allis's  list. 


H2  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

discarded  fragments  (James  Carter  MS.).  At  Kirkleatham, 
near  Redcar,  during  the  winter  of  1901-2,  three  Marsh  Tits 
used  to  feed  with  the  Pheasants  upon  the  corn  thrown  out 
in  front  of  the  keeper's  lodge.  (See  also  Mr.  F.  Boyes's 
remarks  on  a  similar  habit  observed  in  connection  with  the 
Blue  Tit,  p.  in.) 

Local  names  are  : — Blackcap  and  Tom  Tit  (general)  ;  and 
Blackcap  Titmouse  (Hinderwell's  "Scarborough"). 


BLUE   TITMOUSE. 
Parus  caeruleus  (Z.). 


Resident;  generally  distributed;  common.  Regular  autumn  migrant. 

The  first  allusion  to  this  bird  in  Yorkshire  is  contained  in 
the  Tunstall  MS.  : — "  We  have  plenty  of  the  others  (Titmice), 
particularly  the  Blue."  (Fox's  "  Synopsis/'  p.  75.) 

Thomas  Allis,   1844,  wrote  : — 

Parus  cesruleus. — Blue  Tit — Also  common. 

This  familiar  species,  the  commonest  of  its  family,  is 
generally  distributed  in  the  woodlands,  fields,  and  hedgerows, 
and,  as  may  be  expected,  is  most  abundant  in  the  more 
wooded  portions  of  the  county,  but  even  in  the  higher  moorland 
districts  it  is  by  no  means  uncommon  in  the  fall  of  the  year, 
as  the  wandering  parties  of  this  and  other  small  birds  visit 
almost  every  hedge,  wood,  and  town  and  city  garden  in  the 
autumn  and  winter  months,  although  they  may  be  absent 
in  the  nesting  season. 

Great  arrivals  take  place  on  the  east  coast  in  the  autumn, 
generally  accompanied  by  their  larger  relative,  the  Great  Tit, 
and  at  the  times  of  migration,  from  mid-September  to  mid- 
November,  the  hedgerows  near  the  coast  swarm  with  these 
little  clean-coloured  individuals.  In  1878  there  was  a  great 
influx  during  the  last  fortnight  in  October,  which  corresponded 
with  a  similar  "  rush  "  at  Heligoland  (Zool.  1879,  p.  44)  ; 


•••  JE, 


I 


BLUE  TITMOUSE.  113 

another  heavy  migration  took  place  in  1889  ;  and  on  I4th 
September  1901,  there  was  a  great  arrival  at  Redcar,  where 
I  have  noticed  it  in  most  seasons  in  autumn,  though  not  in 
such  abundance  as  in  1878. 

The  Migration  Reports  contain  entries  from  Spurn, 
Flamborough,  Whitby,  and  Teesmouth,  relating  to  its 
occurrence  in  October,  while  in  the  Report  for  1883  (p.  40) 
one  is  noted  as  having  struck  the  glass  at  Flamborough 
Lighthouse  on  April  3rd. 

Inland  the  Blue  Tit  has  been  seen  settled  on  such  unusual 
places  as  house  tops  in  the  centre  of  large  towns  during  the 
early  mornings  in  October,  which  is  significant  of  its  being 
newly  arrived,  and  at  this  period  it  may  also  be  frequently 
observed  in  the  trees  right  in  the  heart  of  our  busiest  towns. 

This  species  is  classed  by  fruit-growers  among  the 
"  undesirables "  in  a  garden  at  the  time  of  harvest,  and 
the  damage  caused  by  it,  particularly  to  the  best  varieties 
of  pears,  is  too  often  beyond  computation.  Mr.  F.  Boyes 
bears  eloquent  testimony  to  the  destruction  wrought  by  these 
little  creatures  to  the  choicest  kinds  of  pears  in  his  garden 
at  Beverley,  and  the  same  observer,  so  long  ago  as  1877, 
records  the  propensity  of  this  bird  for  feeding  on  Indian  corn 
in  a  similar  manner  to  the  Marsh  Tit,  described  by  the  late 
James  Carter  under  the  heading  of  the  latter  species.  (See 
Zool.  1875,  p.  4298.) 

The  peculiar  situations  chosen  for  nesting  purposes  have 
brought  this  bird  into  prominence  in  this  respect,  beyond 
any  other  British  species  ;  a  hole  in  a  tree  trunk  or  branch 
is  the  most  usual  site,  but  often  they  make  use  of  holes  in 
walls,  railings,  or  gate-posts,  street  lamps,  pumps,  and  letter- 
boxes, and  the  newspapers  every  year  contain  paragraphs 
recording  "  Tom  Tits "  nesting  in  these  odd  places.  At 
Gunnergate,  near  Middlesbrough,  a  Blue  Tit  laid  nine  eggs  in  a 
Blackbird's  nest  placed  high  up  in  a  spruce  fir,  in  May  1901 ; 
the  Blackbird's  eggs  had  been  taken  a  week  or  two  previously, 
and  the  Tits  had  lined  the  nest  with  wool  and  hair  before 
laying.  At  Kirkleatham,  near  Redcar,  a  nest  was  found 
in  1902  containing  twenty-four  eggs,  and  in  this  instance 
VOL.  i.  i 


114  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

also  the  birds  had  utilised  an  old  nest  placed  at  the  foot 
of  a  tree.  Yet  another  strange  site  was  a  crevice  in  the 
jaw-bone  of  a  whale  used  as  a  gate-post  on  the  road  leading 
from  Bempton  village  to  the  cliffs,  a  road  traversed  by 
ornithologists  from  all  over  the  country ;  here  a  brood  was 
hatched  in  1901,  ere  the  nest  was  discovered,  and  in  1902 
I  found  the  owner  of  the  gateway  had  sawn  down  the  bone 
arch  (Nat.  1901,  p.  256). 

An  instance  of  three  old  birds  feeding  a  brood  of  young 
at  Boroughbridge  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Holtby  (torn.  cit.  p.  282) 

The  only  recorded  example  of  a  departure  from  the 
ordinary  plumage  was  mentioned  by  the  late  Rev.  J.  Chaloner 
of  Newton  Kyme,  who  saw  one  in  1892  "  coloured  as  yellow 
as  a  canary  "  (op.  cit.  1892,  p.  215). 

Of  local  names  Blue  Cap,  Tom  Tit,  Billy  Biter,  Billy  Blue 
Cap,  and  Jacky  Blue  Cap  are  general ;  Little  Billy  Bluecap 
and  Blue  Bonnet  are  used  in  the  West  Riding  ;  Bluey  at 
Scarborough  ;  Twitty  Blue  in  Wharf edale  ;  Jenny  Wren  in 
Craven  ;  and  Titinaup  in  the  Aire  Valley  (fifty  years  ago). 


CRESTED  TITMOUSE. 
Parus  cristatus  (/>.). 


Accidental  visitant,  of  very  rare  occurrence. 

In  Great  Britain  the  Crested  Tit  is  confined  to  the  woods 
on  Speyside,  Scotland  ;  it  breeds  in  the  low  country  of  Holland 
and  elsewhere  on  the  Continent. 

It  is  of  very  rare  occurrence  in  this  county,  though  an 
early  reference  is  made  to  it  by  that  old  ornithologist,  W. 
Lewin,  who  remarked  so  long  ago  as  1797,  "  It  has  been 
killed  in  Scotland  and  also  in  Yorkshire."  ("  Brit.  Birds," 
Vol.  iv.,  p.  46.) 

Thomas  Allis  thus  alluded  to  it  in  1844  : — 

Parus  cristatus. — Crested  Tit.  My  friend  J.  Heppenstall  states 
that  one  was  seen  in  a  garden  at  Thorne. 

In  addition  to  the  occurrences  mentioned  by  Lewin  and 


I 

48 


NUTHATCH.  115 

Allis  (above),  four  examples  are  said  to  have  been  actually 
obtained,  and  if  this  be  correct  these  birds  must  either 
have  been  wanderers  from  the  Scottish  forests,  or,  what  is 
more  probable,  individuals  which  have  straggled  across  the 
North  Sea  from  the  Continent,  with  other  small  migrants. 
The  particulars  relating  to  those  which  have  been  preserved, 
so  far  as  it  is  possible  to  obtain  details,  are  : — 

Whitby,  one,  March  1872,  on  the  Newton  House  estate, 
and  now  in  the  Whitby  local  museum.  Mr.  T.  Stephenson 
states  that  Parker  (formerly  the  keeper  at  Newton  House, 
where  larch  plantations  are  plentiful)  saw  the  bird  in  both 
summer  and  winter.  (Stephenson,  MS.  and  ZooL  1872, 
p.  3021). 

Thirsk,  one  taken  to  Mr.  Robert  Lee,  who  preserved  it 
41  many  years  ago."  (Lee,  MS.  1880.) 

It  is  unfortunate  that  full  details  respecting  these 
specimens  are  not  available. 

The  reported  occurrences  of  this  bird  in  March  1870, 
and  August  1887,  near  Bradford  and  Keighley,  mentioned 
in  the  "  Vertebrate  Fauna  of  Yorkshire  "  (p.  24),  and  in  the 
Naturalist  (1888,  p.  15),  are,  as  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  E.  P. 
Butterfield,  not  authenticated  by  subsequent  investigation.* 


NUTHATCH. 
Sitta  caesia  ( Wolf). 


Resident  ;    local ;    not  at  all  numerous  ;    chiefly  confined  to  old 
timbered  parks. 


The  earliest  reference  to  this  bird  in  connection  with  York- 
shire is  contained  in  a  communication  from  Ralph  Johnson 
of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge,  to  John  Ray,  in  1678,  thus  : — 

"  The  Nuthatch  or  Nut- Jobber — Picus  cinereus — She  hath 

*  Those  interested  in  the  occasional  appearance  in  England  of  the 
Crested  Tit  would  do  well  to  peruse  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney's  article  on  this 
subject  in  the  Zoologist  (1890,  p.  210),  and  Naturalist  (1891,  p.  116). 


u6  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

not  a  long  tongue  as  the  other  [the  Woodpecker  kind]  because 
she  feeds  not  on  Cossi  as  they  do,  but  on  other  insects,  and 
especially  on  nut-kernels.  It  is  a  pretty  sight  to  see  her 
fetch  a  nut  out  of  her  hoard,  place  it  in  a  chink  and  then 
stand  over  it  with  her  head  downward,  strike  it  with  all  her 
might,  and  breaking  the  shell,  catch  up  the  kernel.  The 
feathers  of  her  tail  are  not  stiff  and  pointed,  because  her 
motion  is  rather  down  than  up  trees  ;  nor  hath  she  two 
hind  toes,  but  the  inner  toe  is  separated  a  little  from  the 
middle,  and  falls  somewhat  across  (as  in  the  Owl  kind) 
whereby  she  can  support  herself  in  any  motion.  Her  voice 
is  very  shrill.  Mr.  Johnson."  (Willughby  "  Orn."  1678,  p.  23.) 
Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Sitta  europaea. — European  Nuthatch — By  no  means  common. 
J.  and  W.  Tuke  report  that  it  breeds  at  Castle  Howard  ;  scarce  near 
Leeds,  but  is  met  with  at  Scarcroft  and  Harewood  Bridge  ;  it  is  rare 
at  Sheffield  ;  it  occurs  near  Doncaster,  and  is  frequently  met  with  in 
the  Stainborough  Woods  at  Wentworth  Castle,  the  seat  of  Thos.  T.  V. 
Wentworth,  Esq. 

This  interesting  little  bird  is  very  local,  somewhat  irregular 
in  its  distribution,  and  nowhere  very  common.  In  the 
southern  portions  of  the  county  it  is  a  scarce  species,  though 
formerly  abundant  in  Stainborough  Park,  near  Barnsley, 
where  it  is  still  known.  Near  Sheffield,  Doncaster,  Ackworth, 
and  several  other  localities  it  is  occasionally  met  with 
and  nests  very  sparingly.  In  the  central  districts  it  has 
undoubtedly  increased  in  numbers  and  become  more  widely 
distributed  in  recent  years  ;  it  nests  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Leeds,  and  in  the  valleys  of  the  Nidd  and  Lower  Wharfe 
it  is  fairly  numerous  ;  it  breeds  annually  at  Plump  ton, 
Newton  Kyme,  Allerton  Park,  Rudding  Park,  Ribston 
Park,  Knaresborough,  Harrogate,  Ripley,  Harewood,  the 
Washburn  valley,  and  other  well  timbered  districts,  where 
it  can  obtain  suitable  nesting  trees  ;  it  is  also  found  at 
Eavestone  and  at  Studley  Park.  In  the  north-west  it  is 
extremely  rare,  though  it  has  been  noticed  at  Bolton-by- 
Bowland. 

It  occurs  fairly  regularly  round  York,  as  at  Moreby  and 


Whale's  Jaw-bones  near  Bempton,  nesting  >placd  of  Blue  Tit., 

,».     ,     -,      •*•»••«•  5  •* 

After  a  Drawing  by  W.  Woodhouse,  from  $  Photo,  by  £.*<?.» 7^*f^»,  -, 


See  page  \  1 4. 


NUTHATCH.  117 

Skelton,  breeding  most  years.  At  Creyke  there  were  a  few 
pairs  ten  or  twelve  years  ago  and  probably  are  still.  Mr. 
J.  Backhouse  has  once  observed  it  in  the  York  nurseries. 
One  of  its  headquarters  in  the  North  Riding  used  to  be 
Castle  Howard,  where  it  was  an  abundant  nester,  though 
now  it  is  not  so  common  there  ;  it  is  frequent  at  Hovingham, 
and  in  the  valley  of  the  Rye,  near  Helmsley,  Rievaulx,  and 
Hawnby,  also  at  Leckby  Carr  and  Masham,  in  Wensleydale, 
Bedale,  Copgrove,  and  Bolton  Woods,  though  scarce  near 
Richmond,  Thirsk,  and  Northallerton.  In  Cleveland  it  nests 
in  several  of  the  preserved  woods  and  parks,  notably 
at  Wilton  and  Saltburn  ;  a  few  years  ago  it  was  fairly 
numerous  at  Crinkle  Park,  but  has  greatly  decreased  in 
numbers.  It  has  occurred  at  Whitby,  and  is  a  rare  resident 
near  Scarborough. 

So  long  ago  as  1780  Tunstall  mentioned  a  specimen  taken 
in  a  little  wood  near  his  house  at  Wycliffe-on-Tees,  where 
he  stated  they  were  very  frequent.  (Tunst.  MS.  p.  61.) 

It  is  of  very  rare  occurrence  in  the  East  Riding  and  is 
restricted  to  one  or  two  localities.  In  Scampston  Park 
there  were  six  pairs  until  1894-5,  and  for  several  years  two 
pairs  breeding ;  until  1890  they  nested  in  an  elm  tree,  and 
the  last  time  they  were  observed  they  were  building  in  a  beech 
tree  on  the  lawn.  At  Kirby  Underdale,  near  Pocklington, 
a  pair  bred  a  few  years  ago,  the  male  bird  being  afterwards 
shot  and  preserved. 

A  very  interesting  reference  to  the  Nuthatch  is  mentioned 
in  a  letter  entitled  "  General  Observations  in  Natural  History, 
made  at  North  Bierley  in  Yorkshire,  by  Dr.  R.  Richardson," 
as  follows  : — "  The  Nuthatch  or  Nut- jobber  is  not  frequently 
to  be  met  with  in  the  South,  yet  is  so  common  with  us  that 
I  have  sometimes  seen  six  or  seven  of  them  in  one  day  in  my 
own  woods.  ...  I  have  with  much  pleasure  often  observed 
these  Birds  to  crack  nuts,  which  they  do  with  very  great 
dexterity.  I  ordered  one  of  my  servants  that  was  with 
me  in  a  wood  last  Christmas  to  observe  from  whence  she 
fetched  her  provision ;  which  he  soon  discovered  in  a  hollow 
tree,  and  cutting  the  place  open,  brought  from  thence 


n8  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

several  pints  of  very  choice  nuts."     (Phil.  Trans.  Vol.  xxviii., 
1713,  p.  167.) 

The  only  names  other  than  its  ordinary  appellation  are 
Wood  Cracker,  at  Doncaster,  and  Nut  Jobber  at  North 
Bierley  (1678). 


WREN. 
Troglodytes  parvulus  (Koch). 


Resident  ;    common  ;    generally  distributed.     Spring  and  autumn 
migrant. 


The  earliest  published  reference  to  this  bird  is  in  a  letter 
from  Dr.  Richardson,  about  the  year  1713,  entitled  "  Several 
Observations  in  Natural  History,  made  at  North  Bierley  in 
Yorkshire,"  which  contains  an  allusion  to  the  Common  Wren, 
("  Phil.  Trans."  Vol.  xxviii.,  p.  167.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  reported  as  follows  : — 

Troglodytes  vulgaris. — The  Wren — Common  in  most  districts, 
though  near  Huddersfield  Wm.  Eddison  states  that  it  is  not  so  frequent 
as  in  lower  and  warmer  districts. 

This  familiar  and  favourite  little  bird  is  found  more  or 
less  commonly  in  every  locality  where  its  simple  requirements 
are  met  with,  from  the  dwellings  of  civilized  beings  to  the 
opposite  extreme,  in  the  high  moorland  districts,  where  it 
has  been  known  to  nest  to  an  elevation  of  noo  feet,  and 
its  loud  notes  may  even  be  heard  right  out  on  the  bleak  moors. 

Although  for  the  most  part  resident,  considerable  numbers 
migrate  to  our  shores  in  autumn,  especially  at  Spurn,  where 
they  were  very  abundant  in  October  1870,  and  they  usually 
arrive  in  that  month  with  easterly  winds,  but  in  some  years 
they  are  later  and  do  not  put  in  an  appearance  until  November 
or  December  ;  in  1881  the  migration  extended  over  eighty 
days,  from  July  the  I7th,  at  Flamborough,  where  several 
remained  round  the  lantern  during  the  night,  to  October 
the  4th. 

At  the  Teesmouth  they  are  sometimes  seen  on  migration, 


WREN.  119 

though  never  in  large  numbers,  with  the  exception  of  October 
1899,  when  they  swarmed  on  the  sand-hills  and  sea-walls 
for  a  day  or  two,  but,  like  other  small  migrants,  they  remain 
only  a  short  time,  being  here  one  day  and  gone  the  next. 
(See  Migration  Reports.)  At  the  light  stations  they  are 
regular  visitors  in  autumn,  and  on  the  vernal  passage  are 
observed  from  March  until  May,  but  with  less  frequency 
and  in  much  smaller  numbers  at  the  latter  period ;  their 
occurrence  on  vessels  in  the  North  Sea  is  by  no  means 
uncommon. 

Although  March  to  April  is  the  usual  time  for  nesting, 
the  eggs  have  been  found  as  early  as  February  the  gth,  in 
1874,  at  Barnsley,  and  a  late  date  is  noted  at  Beverley,  where 
newly  hatched  young  were  seen  on  October  gth  1902.  Very 
odd  sites  are  often  chosen  for  the  nest :  Charles  Waterton 
in  1847  recorded  one  in  the  coils  of  a  rope  hung  up  against  a 
tree  in  Walton  Park  ;  one  made  within  the  nest  of  a  Swallow 
is  mentioned  in  Neville  Wood's  Naturalist,  in  1837  5  an(^ 
at  Fewston  in  May  1903,  I  saw  a  similar  case  of  usurpation, 
a  pair  of  Wrens  having  built  for  two  years  in  succession  and 
reared  their  young  in  a  shed  where  they  utilised  a  Swallow's 
nest  which  they  domed  over ;  but  the  most  curious  building 
place  I  have  known  of  was  in  the  carcass  of  a  Crow,  hung  up 
on  a  keeper's  museum  near  Winestead,  in  Holderness,  where 
the  parent  bird  was  sitting  on  three  eggs  when  discovered  by 
Mr.  Potter  on  igth  May  1902. 

The  confiding  nature  of  our  little  bird  ensures  its  protection, 
as  it  does  that  of  the  equally  well-known  and  homely  Red- 
breast, and  Yorkshire  folk-lore  associates  the  two  in  story 
and  verse,  as  exemplified  by  the  familiar  couplets  : — 

"The  Robin  and  the  Wren 

Are   God   Almighty's  Cock  and   Hen, 

Him  that  harries  their  nest 

Never  shall  his  soul  have  rest ;  " 

a  similar  idea  of  sacredness  being  felt  for  the  species  under 
notice  as  for  her  supposed  mate. 

It  has  been  observed  that  the  individuals  seen  on  the 
coast  in  October  appear  to  belong  to  a  slightly  larger  race 


120  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

than  the  bird  of  our  gardens,  and  Mr.  E.  P.  Butterfield 
informs  me  that  he  has  on  one  or  two  occasions  observed  this 
large  form  in  autumn,  on  the  moors  near  Bingly. 

Its  local  names  are  somewhat  numerous  :  Jenny  Wren, 
Tom  Tit,  and  Kitty  are  general ;  Jenner  Hen  is  given  as 
general  by  Johnson  (Zool.  1848)  ;  the  name  is  pronounced 
Jenny  Wa-ren  about  Doncaster  (Hawley,  op.  cit.  1849)  '•>  Jinties 
is  used  at  Barnsley  ;  Tommy  Tit  and  Tricker  at  Thirsk  ; 
Tommy  in  the  Nidd  Valley  ;  Peggy  about  Huddersfield  ; 
Stump-tail  about  Staithes  and  Loftus-in-Cleveland;  Chitty  at 
Sedbergh  ;  and  Runt  at  Skelmanthorpe,  near  Huddersfield. 


CREEPER. 
Certhia  familiaris  (L). 


Resident  ;    generally  distributed  in  woodland  localities,  parks,  and 
orchards,  but  nowhere  very  numerous. 


The  first  published  mention  of  this  bird  in  Yorkshire 
is  contained  in  Graves's  "  Cleveland  "  (1808),  where  it  is 
enumerated  amongst  the  residents. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Certhia  familiaris. — The  Common  Creeper — Met  with  in  most  parts 
of  the  county,  though  not  very  numerous  anywhere.  R.  Leyland 
remarks  that  the  old  walls  so  frequent  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Halifax 
as  fences  form,  in  the  absence  of  hollow  trees,  convenient  building  places 
for  this  species. 

The  above  account  of  the  Creeper  as  given  by  Allis  in 
1844  holds  good  at  the  present  time,  and  from  every  part 
of  the  county  it  is  reported  as  being  found  in  the  wooded 
portions,  but  nowhere  abundantly.  Being  a  bird  of  the 
woodlands  it  is,  of  course,  uncommon  in  the  higher  moorland 
districts,  although  it  breeds  in  all  the  upper  dales  where 
suitable  woods  exist.  After  the  nesting  season,  and  during 
the  winter  months,  it  is  more  in  evidence,  as  it  commonly 
associates  with  the  roaming  bands  of  Titmice  and  Goldcrests 
in  their  search  for  food  through  hedgerow  and  wood,  when 
its  mouse-like  appearance  as  it  runs  up  the  trees  may  be 


PIED  WAGTAIL.  121 

more  conveniently  observed  than  in  the  summer  months 
when  the  foliage  screens  it  from  view. 

Although  not  classed  among  the  regular  migrants  it  is 
not  improbable  that  this  species  does  occasionally  cross  the 
North  Sea  in  autumn  ;  an  entry  relating  to  its  occurrence 
at  Spurn  on  August  I4th  1885  appears  in  the  Seventh 
Migration  Report,  p.  42,  and  on  the  ist  November  1889, 
two  examples,  male  and  female,  were  shot  at  Easington 
Lane  End,  where  it  meets  the  coast  line.  (Nat.  1890,  p.  10.) 

Of  local  names,  the  book-name,  Tree  Creeper,  is  in  general 
use  ;  at  Barnsley  it  is  recorded  as  being  named  Creepy-tree, 
and  as  Jinties  (Nat.  1853,  p.  201)  ;  at  Marton-in-Cleveland 
it  is  called  Little  Woodpecker. 


PIED  WAGTAIL. 

Motacilla  lugubris  (Temminck.). 


Resident  in  small  numbers,  also  summer  visitant  ;  generally 
distributed  and  common  from  March  to  September.  Occurs  in  great 
numbers  on  the  coast  in  spring  and  autumn. 

The  first  allusion  to  this  Wagtail  as  a  Yorkshire  bird  is 
a  quotation  in  Willughby's  "  Ornithology  "  from  Ralph 
Johnson  of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge  (a  friend  and  correspon- 
dent of  the  celebrated  John  Ray),  under  the  heading  of  "  White 
Wagtail,"  but  it  is  evident  that  the  pied  kind  is  meant : — 

"  Water  Wagtails.  The  White,  Motacilla  alba.  This  comes 
every  seed  time  and  follows  the  plowman,  and  is  therefore  by 
him  called  the  Seed  Bird.  Mr.  Johnson."  (Will.  "  Orn."  1678, 
pp.  7,  237.)  See  also  Montagu's  Ornithological  Dictionary, 
p.  361. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Motacilla  yavvellii, — Common  Wagtail — Common  in  most  parts. 
Few  remain  during  winter. 

H  It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  avoid  controversy  in  defining 
the  faunistic  status  of  this  bird  ;  perhaps  it  may  be  best 
described  as  a  summer  visitor,  with  the  adjoin der  that  in 
the  more  sheltered  parts  a  small  proportion  remain  throughout 


122  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

winter.  That  accomplished  ornithologist  and  Yorkshireman, 
Marmaduke  Tunstall,  made  an  early  reference  to  its  wintering 
in  the  county,  thus  : — "  Have  seen  not  unfrequently  in  the 
north  of  Yorkshire,  in  the  middle  of  winter,  as  well  as  the 
Grey.  Saw  one  this  year  January  8th,  in  a  very  hard  frost 
and  snow."  (Tunst.  MS.  1783,  p.  71.) 

During  the  summer  months  it  is  a  common  and  generally 
distributed  bird,  being  the  most  widely  diffused  of  our 
Motacillidae,  but  in  the  higher  portions  of  the  Shire,  and 
particularly  in  the  west  and  north-west,  it  is  generally  reported 
as  being  absent  in  winter.  Even  in  the  low-lying  districts, 
and  at  the  coast-line,  the  numbers  met  with  between  November 
and  February  are  very  few  in  comparison  with  the  hosts 
which  come  in  March  and  April,  and  depart  in  August  and 
September.  Very  noticeable  features  of  our  coast  migration 
are  the  vernal  and  autumnal  movements  of  this  bird  ;  in 
late  February  or  early  March,  the  first  arrivals  take  place,* 
in  pairs  or  small  parties,  and  up  to  the  latter  part  of  April 
the  migration  of  Pied  Wagtails  is  an  ordinary  event  to  be 
looked  for  in  an  early  morning's  walk  along  the  shore.  A  large 
migratory  flock  was  observed  in  Wharf edale  in  March  1879. 
In  August  and  September  the  return  passage  commences, 
and  at  the  estuaries  of  the  Tees  and  Humber  large  assemblies 
are  daily  to  be  seen  in  readiness  to  depart.  Should  the  wind 
be  favourable,  by  noon  the  greater  portion  have  passed  on. 
The  Migration  Reports  contain  frequent  entries,  too  numerous 
for  mention  in  detail,  of  its  appearance,  in  both  spring  and 
autumn,  at  all  the  Yorkshire  coast  stations. 

Nidification  in  the  higher  localities  commences  a  little 
later  than  in  the  lowlands,  and  not  infrequently  the  birds 
make  choice  of  peculiar  situations  for  the  nest  ;  amongst 
these  may  be  mentioned  a  railway  truck,  a  cowshed,  and  a 
hollow  can,  while  a  most  curious  instance  is  mentioned  in 
the  Zoologist  (1863,  p.  8844),  of  a  pair  near  York  usurping 
a  nest  in  an  unused  chimney  that  had  been  occupied  for 

*  So  regular  is  their  return  in  spring,  when  bean-sowing  commences, 
as  to  give  rise  to  a  local  proverb  in  North  Yorkshire,  "  Sow  beans  when 
the  Wagtail  returns." 


WHITE  WAGTAIL. 

some  years  by  a  pair  of  Swallows,  and  in  spite  of  endeavours 
to  dislodge  them  they  retained  possession  and  reared  their 
young.  On  the  Wolds  of  the  East  Riding  a  favourite  site 
for  nesting  is  in  the  chalk-pits. 

Vernacular  names  are — Water  Wagtail  and  Black  and 
White  Wagtail  (general) ;  Seed  Bird  (Willughby,  1678  ;  and 
in  Wharfedale)  ;  Watterty  or  Watterty-wag  (Huddersfield 
district)  ;  Willy  Wagtail  (Thirsk  and  East  Riding)  ;  Water 
Waggy  (Cleveland) ;  Peggy  Dish-wash  (North  Riding)  ; 
Bessie  Ducker  (Huddersfield). 


WHITE    WAGTAIL. 
Motacilla  alba    £.• 


Bird  of  passage  in  spring,  of  uncommon  occurrence. 


The  first  published  reference  to  the  White  Wagtail  in 
Yorkshire  is  contained  in  the  Zoologist  (1848,  p.  2229),  where 
J.  S.  Webb  recorded  having  seen  a  single  bird  close  to  York 
on  July  the  I3th  of  that  year. 

Although  there  are  comparatively  few  early  records  of 
this  bird,  which  is  the  Continental  form  of  our  common 
Pied  species,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  it  has  been 
overlooked,  and  is  a  regular  though  scarce  visitor  on  spring 
migration,  its  appearance  usually  coinciding  with  the  arrival 
of  the  bulk  of  the  Pied  Wagtails  in  April.  The  first  Yorkshire 
notice  is  that  by  J.  S.  Webb  quoted  above.  Seven  years 
subsequently  the  late  Alfred  Roberts  (op.  cit.  1855,  p.  4631) 
reported  one  shot  at  Deepdale  near  Scarborough  on  23rd 
January  1855,  which,  if  correct,  is  the  only  winter  occurrence 
that  I  am  aware  of.  In  1866  a  pair  were  noticed  in  company 
with  Pied  Wagtails  on  the  banks  of  the  Calder,  on  March 
the  25th,  while  a  second  pair  were  met  with  on  Brierly  Common 
where  the  nest  is  said  to  have  been  found  ("  Birds  of  Wake- 
field,"  1876)  ;  and  Thos.  Lister  recorded  an  example  in  May 
1874,  near  Huddersfield.  On  the  river  Wharfe,  near  Bolton 
Abbey,  the  White  Wagtail  was  noted  on  I2th  April  1879, 


124  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

and  in  the  Aire  Valley  on  the  gth  of  the  same  month  in  1905. 
One  was  caught  near  Leeds  about  1880,  and  it  is  recorded 
from  Gisburn  on  i8th  April  1881  (Vertebrate  Fauna  of 
Yorkshire,  p.  25).  In  more  recent  years  it  has  been  met 
with  near  Pontefract  on  3rd  June  1893  ;  it  is  also  reported 
to  be  a  summer  visitor  in  the  Wakefield  district.  Near 
Huddersfield  it  has  been  noticed  occasionally  near  the  Kilner 
Bank  ;  at  Harrogate  in  the  spring  of  1900  ;  and  several  were 
observed  in  the  Sedbergh  neighbourhood.  Mr.  Wm.  Morris 
informs  me  that  a  pair  bred  in  a  quarry  in  May,  while  the 
late  James  Carter  noted  it  at  Masham. 

The  neighbourhood  of  the  coast  is  more  favoured  by  the 
White  Wagtail's  appearance,  and  it  is  reported  as  a  rare 
summer  visitor  (non-breeding)  to  the  Humber  and  coast.  At 
the  Teesmouth  it  appears  every  spring,  usually  in  April 
and  May,  the  black  cap  contrasting  strongly  with  the  pearl 
grey  back,  and  giving  it  a  more  delicate  appearance  than  the 
Pied  Wagtail,  with  which  it  is  certainly  attracted  here  on 
migration  ;  the  call  note  also  seems  different  from  our  English 
bird,  being  softer  in  tone. 

In  1899  a  male  was  seen  on  April  the  27th,  near  a  slag 
heap  by  the  Tees  side,  and  a  week  later  it  was  joined  by  a 
female.  The  pair  were  kept  under  observation  up  to  the 
end  of  June,  when  they  were  accompanied  by  five  young  not 
long  out  of  the  nest.  The  slag  heaps  of  Cleveland  are  strong- 
holds of  the  Pied  species,  and  there  seems  no  reason  why  some 
of  the  White  Wagtails  which  are  noticed  every  year  on 
migration  should  not  remain  to  breed. 

The  date  of  its  arrival  at  Teesmouth  in  1900  was  May  the 
6th ;  in  1901  April  the  gih  ;  and  on  the  3rd  of  that  month 
in  1902,  another  bird  was  seen  at  Ingleby  Greenhow  in 
Cleveland  on  the  20th  of  April ;  and  in  1903  one  was  noted 
on  the  7th  of  May  on  the  reclaimed  land  at  Tod  Point. 
Singular  to  relate,  this  bird  has  so  far  entirely  escaped  observa- 
tion during  the  autumn  southward  movement.* 

*  Those  interested  in  migration  would  do  well  to  peruse  Mr.  W. 
Eagle  Clarke's  very  concise  account  of  this  bird's  movements,  contained 
in  the  Report  of  the  British  Association  Bradford  meeting,  1900. 


ho 

a 

I 


125 

GREY    WAGTAIL. 
Motacilla  melanope  (Pallas). 

Resident  ;  chiefly  confined  in  summer  to  the  moorland  streams  of 
the  west,  from  Sheffield  northward,  and  Cleveland  ;  autumnal  migrant 
in  small  numbers  ;  more  generally  distributed  in  winter. 

Willughby,  in  1676,  was  the  first  to  make  reference  to 
the  Grey  Wagtail  as  a  British  bird,  thus  : — "  The  Grey  Wagtail 
— Motacilla  cinerea,  an  ftava  alter  a  Aldrov  ?  .  .  .  .  The 
description  of  this  bird  was  communicated  to  us  by  Mr. 
Johnson  of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge,  in  Yorkshire."  (Will. 
"  Orn."  pp.  24,  238.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Motacilla  boarula. — Grey  Wagtail — Frequently  breeds  on  the  moor 
streams  near  Sheffield,  and  visits  the  neighbourhood  of  the  town  in 
winter  ;  the  neighbourhood  of  Luddenden  near  Halifax  has  been  a 
favourite  breeding  place  of  this  species,  but  the  same  bird-stuffers 
that  have  persecuted  the  Pied  Flycatcher  make  a  point  of  shooting  all 
the  males.  It  is  common  in  most  parts,  though  not  very  frequent  near 
Huddersfield. 

A  characteristic  bird  of  the  rocky  and  moorland  streams 
of  Yorkshire,  the  Grey  Wagtail  is,  during  the  breeding  season, 
practically  confined  to  the  upper  reaches  of  our  rivers  from 
Sheffield  northward,  including  the  dales  of  the  north-west 
and  the  Cleveland  district,  where,  in  the  most  elevated  parts 
of  the  county,  it  is  fairly  abundant.  In  autumn  the  birds 
descend  to  the  lower  lands  and  become  more  general  in  their 
distribution,  remaining  until  the  following  spring  when  they 
depart  for  their  breeding  places. 

Although  a  sedentary  species  with  us  it  is  regularly  noted 
as  an  autumnal  immigrant  on  the  coast  in  small  numbers, 
and  usually  during  the  first  fortnight  in  September  ;  at  the 
Teesmouth  I  have  noticed  that,  although  the  call  of  this 
bird  may  frequently  be  heard  among  those  of  the  hosts  of 
migrants  which  are  coming  in  before  daybreak,  very  few  are 
actually  seen  at  the  coast  line.  We  always  have  a  few 
"  tired  out "  individuals  on  the  beach  in  the  early  mornings 


126  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

during  September,  but  the  bulk  move  inland  ere  daybreak. 
At  the  Humber  mouth,  young  birds,  often  in  considerable 
numbers,  pass  through  the  district  early  in  September, 
while  the  adults  which  spend  the  winter  in  the  east 
coast  districts  do  not  arrive  before  October,  leaving 
again  in  March.  It  is  common  around  Beverley  in  winter, 
frequenting  running  streams  and  ditches,  and  seems  especially 
fond  of  sewers  and  sewerage  beds.  At  Flamborough  the 
Grey  Wagtail  has  been  shot  in  autumn  when  taking  its 
departure.  The  observations  communicated  to  the  British 
Association  Migration  Committee  contain  but  two  references 
to  this  bird,  viz.  : — "  Spurn,  September  7th,  Grey  Wagtail, 
several "  (Fourth  Report,  p.  34)  ;  and  "  A  few  during 
September  "  (Sixth  Report,  p.  47). 

Its  local  names  are  : — Winter  Wagtail  at  Barnsley  and 
Beverley ;  Yellow  Wagtail  along  the  Lower  Wharfe  and  at 
Middlesbrough  in  winter  ;  Yellow  Water  Waggy  at  Staithes 
and  Loftus-in-Cleveland ;  Waggy  Wagtail  at  Fewston, 
Washburndale ;  and  Washtail  at  Sedbergh. 


BLUE-HEADED  WAGTAIL. 
Motacilla  flava  (/..) 

Casual  visitant  during  the  spring  and  autumn  migrations,  of  rare 
occurrence. 

When  we  consider  that  the  Blue-headed  Wagtail  breeds 
at  no  greater  distance  from  us  than  the  opposite  shores  of 
the  Continent  from  Norway  to  the  Mediterranean,  there  is 
every  reason  to  believe  that  the  bird  visits  us  in  the  spring 
and  autumn  much  more  frequently  than  the  appended  records 
would  lead  us  to  suppose.  Careful  observation  of  the  flocks 
of  newly  arrived  Yellow  Wagtails  in  spring,  especially  at 
the  coast,  may  shew  that  this  darker,  and  slightly  larger, 
Continental  form  occurs  in  their  company  from  time  to  time. 

The  instances  of  its  appearance,  so  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  ascertain,  are  as  follows  : — 


GREY-HEADED  YELLOW  WAGTAIL.  127 

In  the  spring  of  1879  an  example  was  obtained  by  the 
late  James  Cunningham,  on  the  side  of  a  small  pond  at 
Fern  Hill,  near  Warley,  in  the  Borough  of  Halifax  ;  it  was 
recorded  at  the  time,  but  disputed,  and  sank  into  oblivion 
until  re-discovered  by  Mr.  A.  Crabtree,  F.L.S.,  who  kindly 
submitted  the  specimen  to  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  and  myself. 

Another  occurred  on  the  2Qth  March  1892,  on  the  banks 
of  a  small  stream  intersecting  the  sand-hills  between  Redcar 
and  Marske  ;  it  was  brought  in  the  flesh  to  me,  and  is  now  in 
my  possession. 

Other  reported  occurrences  are  : — 

At  Ackworth,  where  one  was  observed  on  ist  May  1891, 
in  a  flock  of  Yellow  Wagtails,  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Fryer  (Major 
Arundel  MS.). 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  mentioned  an  example  at  Easington 
on  I7th  April  1897,  following  the  plough,  "  seen  by  a  com- 
petent observer."  (Nat.  1898,  p.  237.) 

And  on  6th  May  1900,  three  individuals  were  noted  at 
the  Teesmouth,  consorting  with  a  flock  of  Yellow  Wagtails. 
(C.  Milburn  MS.) 


GREY-HEADED  YELLOW  WAGTAIL. 

Motacilla  borealis  (Sundevall). 

Accidental  visitant  from  northern  Europe  and  Siberia,  of  extremely 
rare  occurrence. 


This  species,  which  inhabits  northern  Europe  and  Siberia, 
migrating  in  winter  to  Africa  and  India,  had  not  been  recorded 
in  Great  Britain  until  the  20th  of  May  1903,  when  a  Yorkshire 
example  was  exhibited  on  behalf  of  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  and 
myself  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Ornithologist'  Club,* 
and  the  following  details  supplied  by  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  : — 

"  This   specimen   was    submitted    for    determination    by 

*At  the  same  meeting  of  the  B.O.Club  Mr.  W.  R.  Butterfield 
exhibited  two  male  examples  of  this  bird  procured  on  I3th  May  1903, 
near  Willingdon,  Sussex. 


128  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

my  friend  Mr.  T.  H.  Nelson.  It  was  captured  in  a  lark-net 
at  Halifax  in  the  spring  of  1901,  and  is  now  in  the  collection 
of  Mr.  Arthur  Crabtree  of  that  town,  who  obtained  it  from 
a  friend  who  saw  the  specimen  in  the  flesh.  It  is  very 
surprising  that  this  species  is  not  somewhat  more  frequent 
in  its  visits  to  our  shores,  when  on  passage  to  and  from  its 
Scandinavian  summer  haunts,  and  yet  I  believe  this  to  be 
the  first  really  authentic  record  of  its  occurrence  in  the 
British  Isles."  (Bulletin  of  the  Brit.  Orn.  Club.  No.  98.) 

I  here  beg  to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  Mr. 
Crabtree  for  his  courtesy  in  forwarding  the  specimen  and 
giving  the  information  concerning  its  capture. 


YELLOW    WAGTAIL. 

Motacilla  raii  (Bonaparte). 

Summer  visitant,  generally  distributed,  but  in  varying  numbers 
arrives  in  mid-April,  leaving  again  in  September. 


Historically,  the  earliest  reference  to  this  species  in  York- 
shire is  found  in  Willughby's  "Ornithology"  (1678),  thus:— 
"  The  Common  Yellow — Motacilla  flava.  The  other  Yellow 
— M.  flava  alter  a.  This  was  observed  in  the  north  by  Mr. 
Johnson  (of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge),  and  the  description 
thereof  communicated  to  us." 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Motacilla  rayi. — Yellow  Wagtail — Common  in  sandy  districts  near 
York,  and  not  abundant  in  the  East  Riding. 

On  the  whole  a  fairly  abundant  summer  visitor,  the  Yellow 
Wagtail,  the  most  elegant  and  delicate  looking  of  the  genus, 
usually  arrives  about  the  middle  of  April,  the  approximate 
date  in  the  south  of  the  county  being  the  I3th  for  the  first 
comers.  At  the  Humber  mouth  it  may  be  expected  in  the 
middle  of  the  month,  but  at  the  Tees  the  bulk  do  not  appear 
till  the  third  week,  when  at  times  the  neighbourhood  swarms 


YELLOW  WAGTAIL.  129 

with  the  newly  arrived  birds  ;  in  the  higher  lying  districts 
it  is  a  few  days  later  in  arriving.  The  first  immigrants  are 
generally  male  birds  only ;  later  both  sexes  are  met  with 
in  about  equal  proportions.  Although  it  has  been  stated 
that  this  species  is  found  in  the  north  of  England  in  March, 
these  early  arrivals  are  extremely  rare,  and  I  am  not  aware 
of  any  authentic  instance  in  this  county. 

As  a  breeding  species  it  is  rather  local,  and  nowhere  in 
Yorkshire  is  it  so  abundant  as  in  the  high  moorland  dales 
of  the  north-west ;  the  upper  valleys  of  the  Tees,  Swale,  and 
Ure,  and  the  lower  reaches  of  the  Nidd  being  favourite 
localities  for  its  nesting  quarters  ;  and  up  to  1300  feet  elevation 
the  bird  commonly  haunts  the  fields  and  pastures  bordering 
the  rivers  and  their  tributaries.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  the 
central  parts  of  the  West  Riding,  but  in  the  North  and  East 
Ridings  it  is  more  frequently  seen  on  passage  than  as  a 
nester,  though  in  the  Beverley  district  it  is  generally 
distributed. 

In  late  July  and  August  both  old  and  young  assemble 
in  small  flocks  in  readiness  to  depart,  and  by  the  third  week 
in  September  the  Yellow  Wagtails  almost  to  a  bird  have 
left  us  ;  indeed  I  have  no  note  of  its  being  obtained  in  October. 
At  the  coast  large  numbers  of  migrating  birds  are  to  be  met 
with  during  the  latter  half  of  August  and  the  first  fortnight 
of  September,  and  at  the  Tees  and  Humber  estuaries  the 
fields,  sand-hills,  and  beaches  in  the  early  mornings  are  often 
swarming  with  them,  though  by  mid-day  they  have  usually 
passed  on.  One  extract  from  many,  collected  by  the  British 
Association  Migration  Committee,  will  serve  as  an  illustration 
of  this  movement.  "  Spurn,  August  I4th,  a  few  immature 
Yellow  Wagtails  ;  23rd,  thousands,  the  whole  district  ablaze 
with  them  ;  24th,  less  numbers."  (Seventh  Report  (1885), 
P-  43-) 

The  Yellow  Wagtail  breeds  commonly  in  clover,  tare,  and 
wheat  fields,  preferring  thick  herbage  to  conceal  its  nest, 
which  is  always  very  difficult  to  find ;  after  the  young  can 
fly  they  are  brought  on  to  the  mown  meadows,  fields,  and 
commons  to  feed. 

VOL.  I.  K 


130  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

A  white  variety,  having  a  faint  tinge  of  yellow  on  the 
rump,  was  shot  by  Capt.  Turton  on  the  loth  of  September 
1827,  at  Rampton,  in  the  North  Riding. 

Local  names  are  Cow  Bird  at  Sedbergh  ;  Ray's  Wagtail 
at  Ackworth ;  Water  Wagtail  at  Doncaster  (Zool.  1849, 
p.  2325)  ;  Yellow  Water  Waggy  at  Staithes  and  Loftus-in- 
Cleveland ;  Spring  Wagtail  in  south-west  Yorkshire  ;  and 
Barley  Seed  Bird  in  Craven  (Carr's  "  Craven  Dialect,"  1828). 


TREE  PIPIT. 

Anthus  trivialis  (Z.). 

Summer    visitant  ;     generally    distributed    in    wooded    localities  ; 
arrives  in  mid-April,  and  leaves  in  September. 


The  first  published  reference  to  the  Tree  Pipit  is  in 
Willughby's  "  Ornithology,"  under  the  heading  of  The 
Lesser  Crested  Lark,  Alauda  cristata  minor.  This  last  we  have 
not  yet  seen.  Mr.  Johnson  (of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge) 
found  and  described  it  in  the  north  of  England."  (Will. 
"  Orn."  1678,  pp.  24  and  209.)  According  to  Montagu's 
"  Ornithological  Dictionary  "  this  is  the  Tree  Pipit.  See  also 
YarrelTs  "  British  Birds,"  4th  ed.,  Vol.  i.,  p.  571. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Anthus   arbor eus. — Tree   Pipit — Common. 

This  species,  which  is  our  only  true  summer  visitor  of 
the  Pipit  family,  usually  arrives  about  the  middle  of  April. 
From  a  long  series  of  observations,  extending  over  half  a 
century,  the  average  taken  gives  April  the  I5th  as  the 
approximate  date,  while  the  earliest  note  of  its  appearance, 
so  far  as  I  am  aware,  is  the  i8th  of  March  1894,  when  Mr.  R. 
Fortune  observed  several  near  Harrogate. 

During  its  sojourn  with  us  it  is  generally  diffused,  commonly 
frequenting  the  outskirts  of  woods  and  plantations,  and,  in 
more  open  country,  the  scattered  timber  on  the  borders  of 
fields  and  streams.  Altitude  does  not  seem  to  affect  its 


„...  ^ 

" - 


I 


TREE  PIPIT.  131 

distribution,  for  in  the  higher  dales  affording  the  necessary 
woody  environment  it  is  quite  as  common  as  in  the  low 
cultivated  districts. 

The  average  date  of  its  departure  from  south  Yorkshire 
was  calculated  by  the  late  Thomas  Lister  to  be  the 
22nd  of  September,  and  the  late  J.  Cordeaux  stated  (MS.), 
"  After  the  nesting  season  they  congregate  into  small  flocks, 
leaving  in  August  and  September,  occasionally  migrating 
with  Meadow  Pipits."  The  observations  communicated  to 
the  British  Association  Migration  Committee  do  not  afford 
much  information  as  to  this  movement,  which  takes  place 
quietly  and  unobtrusively,  this  bird  being  not  easily 
distinguished  by  the  light-keepers  from  others  of  its  genus. 
The  only  entries  relating  to  it  are  : — "  Spurn,  August  20th 
to  September  loth,  Common  "  (Sixth  Report,  p.  47)  ;  and 
"  Spurn,  September  I4th,  Tree  Pipits,  etc."  (Seventh  Report, 
p.  32).  An  unusually  late  date  for  its  autumn  passage 
was  mentioned  by  Edward  Blyth,  who  recorded  in  Rennie's 
"  Field  Naturalist  "  (1833,  p.  466),  the  capture  of  Tree  Pipits, 
among  other  species,  on  board  a  vessel  when  fourteen  miles 
off  Whitby,  on  the  7th  of  October  1833. 

In  reference  to  the  great  diversity  of  colouring  in  this 
bird's  eggs,  I  have  noticed  that  the  red  and  pink  types  much 
outnumber  the  other  variable  colours  met  with,  though  the 
reverse  is  considered  to  be  the  case  in  Holderness.  Instances 
of  six  eggs  in  a  clutch  are  not  uncommon,  and  Mr.  F.  Graves 
found  one  in  the  Sedbergh  district  containing  the  unusual 
number  of  seven. 

This  bird,  as  stated  above,  is  the  Lesser  Crested  Lark 
of  Willughby.  Local  Yorkshire  names  are  Tree  Lark  and 
Titlark,  used  generally.  Bulking  Lark  is  a  term  applied  to 
it  at  Thirsk  (Morris's  Nat.  1854,  P-  I05)>  while  Wood  Lark  and 
Bank  Lark  are  in  use  in  Cleveland  and  Ribblesdale.  It  may, 
however,  be  observed  that  it  is  not  usually  distinguished 
from  the  Meadow  Pipit  which  frequently  alights  on  trees. 


MEADOW     PIPIT. 
Anthus  pratensis  (£.). 


Resident  ;  generally  distributed  ;  abundant  in  summer,  especially 
in  moorland  and  marshy  districts.  A  regular  spring  and  autumn 
migrant. 


Historically  the  earliest  allusion  to  this  bird  in  Yorkshire 
is  made  in  a  communication,  dated  1678,  from  Ralph 
Johnson,  of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge,  a  friend  and 
correspondent  of  John  Ray,  in  the  following  terms  : — 

"  Honoured  Sir,  ....  I  have  only  observed  this  change 
from  proper  colours  to  white  ....  to  be  very  usual  in 
'  Titlarks,'  which  I  have  seen  on  our  moors/1  (Corres.  of 
John  Ray,  p.  96,  1848.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Anthus  pratensis. — Titlark  or  Meadow  Pipit — Frequent  in  most 
parts  ;  breeds  abundantly  on  the  moors. 

One  of  our  commonest  birds,  the  Meadow  Pipit  is  found 
breeding  from  the  low-lying  marshes  near  the  coast  up  to  the 
highest  moorland  districts,  where  at  both  extremes  it  is  most 
abundant.  In  more  highly  cultivated  parts,  though  by  no 
means  uncommon,  it  is  not  so  much  in  evidence,  for  this  species 
loves  open  uninclosed  tracts  ;  being  a  common  and  generally 
diffused  bird  of  the  fields,  commons,  moors,  and  marshes 
it  requires  no  further  notice  as  regards  its  distribution.  During 
the  winter  months  the  Titlark,  as  it  is  best  known  to  Yorkshire- 
men,  is  reported  as  being  scarce  or  altogether  absent  from 
every  part  of  the  county  above  300  feet  elevation,  while  even 
in  more  congenial  localities  it  is  much  scarcer  at  this  season 
than  in  summer,  and  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  bulk 
of  our  breeding  birds  are  summer  visitors. 

The  migration  of  the  Meadow  Pipit  at  the  coast  is  a  very 
noticeable  feature  of  bird  life  and,  as  a  rule,  it  makes  its 
appearance  a  little  earlier  than  the  Pied  Wagtail ;  the  first 
comers  in  the  latter  part  of  February,  but  the  main  body 
in  the  middle  of  March,  and  at  this  period,  at  the  Tees  and 


a 
£ 

o 


I 


MEADOW  PIPIT.  133 

Humber  estuaries  particularly,  the  sand-hills,  marshes,  and 
fields  are  absolutely  swarming  with  the  light  clean- coloured 
immigrants.  An  enormous  influx  took  place  at  the  Tees- 
mouth  during  the  third  week  in  March  1903,  when  I  noted 
many  crossing  at  Redcar,  against  a  strong  north-west  gale, 
and  apparently  completely  exhausted  with  their  long  journey. 
In  the  autumn  immense  flocks  pass  south  from  August  to 
mid-October,  our  departing  home-bred  birds  being  augmented 
in  numbers  by  individuals  from  higher  latitudes.  At  the 
Tees  and  Humber  there  is  frequently  a  great  arrival  of  these 
Pipits  coming  in  direct  from  seaward,  the  majority  of  which 
move  on  after  a  short  stay.  The  British  Association  Migration 
Reports  contain  many  entries,  too  voluminous  for  recapitula- 
tion, concerning  this  species,  quantities  of  which  are  immolated 
against  the  lanterns  of  the  coast  beacons  during  the  night 
in  both  spring  and  autumn. 

In  Yorkshire  the  nest  of  the  Meadow  Pipit  is  most 
frequently  chosen  by  the  Cuckoo  for  the  deposition  of  its 
parasitic  egg.  A  late  date  for  nidification  was  noted  at  the 
Teesmouth  in  1902,  when  a  nest  with  newly  hatched  young 
was  discovered  on  the  3rd  of  August. 

White  varieties  are  mentioned  by  Ray's  correspondent 
so  long  ago  as  1678  (see  above),  and  a  pied  specimen  is 
recorded  at  Dalton,  near  Huddersfield  (S.  L.  Mosley  MS.). 

Local  names  :  Titlark  is  in  general  use  throughout  the 
county  ;  terms  of  more  restricted  use  are  Chit  Lark  at 
Skelmanthorpe  ;  Ground  Lark  at  Loftus-in-Cleveland  ;  Ling 
Bird  at  Sedbergh  ;  Ditch  Lark  near  Skipton,  where  the  eggs 
are  reddish  coloured ;  Ground  Laverick  in  Upper  Teesdale ; 
Ling  Tit  and  Titling  in  Nidderdale  ;  Titty  at  the  Teesmouth  ; 
Bank  Lark  in  Cleveland ;  Heather  Lintie  in  the  North 
Riding ;  and  Moor  Tit  in  the  Wilsden  district. 


134 
TAWNY  PIPIT. 

Anthus  campestris  (/>.). 

Accidental  visitant   from  Continental  Europe,  of  extremely  rare 
occurrence. 


The  Tawny  Pipit  is  found  in  the  western  and  southern 
portions  of  the  Continent,  migrating  in  winter  to  Africa 
and  Asia  Minor. 

The  only  Yorkshire  example,  a  male,  was  found  at 
Barmston  in  Holderness,  on  the  2oth  of  November  1869, 
by  Mr.  Thomas  Boynton,  and  is  preserved  in  his  collection 
at  Bridlington,  where  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  examining 
it.  (See  Zool.  1870,  pp.  2021,  2068,  2100.) 

[A  specimen  of  Richard's  Pipit,  Anthus  richardi  (Vieill.) 
is  said,  on  the  authority  of  the  late  David  Graham  of  York, 
to  have  occurred  on  the  coast  in  1849  (Zool.  1849,  p.  2569), 
but  the  circumstances  connec.ted  with  its  occurrence  are  not 
of  a  sufficiently  reliable  nature  to  warrant  its  inclusion  in 
the  Yorkshire  list.] 


ROCK  PIPIT. 
Anthus  obscurus  (Latham}. 


Resident,  local ;  confined  to,  and  generally  distributed  on,  the 
coast.  A  regular  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

The  first  allusion  to  the  Rock  Pipit,  as  being  a  native 
of  Yorkshire,  is  contained  in  Thomas  Allis's  oft-mentioned 
Report  of  1844,  as  follows  : — 

Anthus  obscurus. — Rock  Pipit.  Arthur  Strickland  observes  that 
the  Pipit  or  Rock  Lark  is  general  all  along  the  coast,  confining  itself  to 
the  sea  shore  and  cliffs  adjoining  ;  this  species,  which  frequents  this 
country  and  the  northern  shores  of  Europe,  is  to  be  designated  obscurus 
and  is  the  "  Dusky  Lark  "  of  Pennant  and  Lewin.  The  aquaticus 
is  ascertained  to  be  a  distinct  species,  and  frequents  a  more  southern 
range  than  the  last. 


ROCK  PIPIT.  135 

As  may  be  expected  this  bird  is  strictly  limited  to  the 
coast  line,  and  from  no  inland  locality  is  there  any  report 
of  its  occurrence.  As  a  nester  it  is  more  local  than  at  any 
other  time  of  the  year,  the  cliffs  at  and  near  Flamborough 
being  its  chief  breeding  quarters.  The  nest  has  been  found 
in  the  Scarborough  and  Whitby  districts,  and  I  have  also 
seen  considerable  numbers  of  the  birds,  in  pairs,  on  the  Staithes, 
Boulby,  and  Saltburn  cliffs  in  spring  and  summer,  so  that  there 
can  be  little  doubt  that  it  breeds — sparingly,  perhaps — 
along  the  whole  line  of  cliffs  on  the  coast.  On  the  low-lying 
parts  of  the  seaboard  it  is  rare  in  the  breeding  season,  although 
the  late  J.  Cordeaux  stated  that  at  Spurn  he  noted 
old  birds  with  young.  I  have  no  conclusive  evidence  as  to 
its  breeding  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tees,  but  the  nest  and  eggs 
have  been  taken  a  few  miles  to  the  northward  on  the  Durham 
coast. 

In  the  autumn  and  winter,  from  September  to  April, 
it  is  frequently  found  along  the  seaboard  from  the  Tees  to 
the  Humber,  being  most  numerous  during  September  and 
October.  In  the  early  part  of  the  former  month  the  autumn 
migration  commences,  usually  continuing  to  the  first  half 
of  November,  and  at  this  period  the  bird  may  be  commonly 
met  with  ;  at  the  Teesmouth  I  have  not  infrequently  seen 
small  flocks  consisting  of  from  twelve  to  fourteen  individuals. 
The  spring  migration  takes  place  in  March  and  April,  but 
is  not  so  pronounced  as  that  of  the  autumn. 

Concerning  the  nidification  habits  of  the  Rock  Pipit, 
it  may  be  of  interest  to  state  that  near  Scarborough  on  I2th 
June  1 88 1,  a  nest  was  found  containing  a  Cuckoo's  egg 
besides  those  of  the  lawful  owners  ;  the  only  recorded 
Yorkshire  instance  of  this  bird  acting  as  the  Cuckoo's  fosterer. 
At  Whitby  a  pair  of  these  birds  have,  since  1902,  chosen  a 
crevice  in  the  stone  pier  in  which  to  build  their  nest,  and 
there  they  annually  succeed  in  bringing  off  their  young  in 
safety.  Another  unusual  building  site  is  reported  from 
Bridlington,  on  i6th  May  1879,  by  Mr.  Major  Lawson,  who 
discovered  a  nest  amongst  the  herbage  growing  on  the  clay 
cliff,  and  within  four  feet  of  high-water  mark. 


136  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

The  food  of  an  example  shot  at  Hornsea  consisted  almost 
entirely  of  beetles,  the  particulars  being  communicated  to 
the  Field  of  2Qth  November  1890. 

In  mid-autumn  a  race,  having  a  light  brown  back  with 
rich  buff  or  cinnamon-coloured  breast,  very  lightly  streaked 
with  a  darker  hue,  is  found  equally  as  common  as  the  dark 
resident  bird.  These  light  coloured  individuals  do  not 
stay  with  us,  but  pass  on  in  their  journey  southward,  and 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  they  belong  to  the  Scandinavian 
race  which  has  been  named  Anthus  rupestris  (Nillson),  by 
some  authors,  but,  in  the  opinion  of  other  ornithologists, 
is  not  considered  specifically  distinct  from  the  ordinary 
A.  obscurus.  No  record  occurs  of  the  light-coloured  form 
in  large  numbers  on  the  return  passage  in  spring. 

The  only  local  names  are  Sea-beach  Pipit,  mentioned  by 
J.  Hogg  (Zoo/.  1845,  p.  1061),  and  Rock  Lark  and  Sand  Lark, 
used  at  Bridlington  ;  though  it  is  sometimes  called  Titlark, 
in  the  belief  that  it  is  the  common  Meadow  Pipit. 


GOLDEN    ORIOLE. 
Oriolus  galbula  (Z.) 


Accidental  visitant,  of  very  rare  occurrence  during  the  spring 
and  autumn  migration. 

This  beautiful  species,  which  nests  on  the  European 
Continent  and  in  north  Africa,  can  only  be  regarded  as  a  rare 
straggler  in  Yorkshire  at  the  periods  of  its  spring  and  autumn 
movements,  when  the  few  specimens  observed  have,  doubt- 
less, accidentally  deviated  from  their  accustomed  line 
of  migration. 

The  earliest  Yorkshire  reference  to  this  bird  is  contained 
in  Allis's  report,  1844,  as  follows  : — 

Oriolus  galbula. — Golden  Oriole — A  fine  female  was  killed  in 
spring  of  1834  near  the  Spurn  Point  lighthouse,  and  is  in  the  possession 


GOLDEN  ORIOLE.  137 

of  Arthur   Strickland,    Esq.,   which   appears   to  be   the   only   known 
Yorkshire  specimen. 

The  specimen  mentioned  by  Allis  is  now  in  the  York 
Museum. 

One  which  occurred  at  Boat  Bottom  near  Wakefield 
during  the  first  week  of  August  1856,  was  seen  in  the  flesh 
by  the  late  Wm.  Talbot  and  described  as  being  in  splendid 
plumage  (Talbot  MS.). 

In  May  1859,  tne  ^ate  Alfred  Roberts  of  Scarborough 
had  brought  to  him  for  preservation  a  male  in  the  finest 
adult  plumage,  which  had  been  killed  on  Admiral  Mitford's 
estate  at  Hunmanby  (Zool.  1859,  P-  6561).  Mr.  Roberts 
further  stated  (MS.)  that  a  specimen  in  the  museum  at 
Scarborough,  and  another  in  a  private  collection,  are  said 
to  have  been  obtained  near  that  town. 

The  late  Rev.  J.  W.  Chaloner  of  Newton  Kyme  observed 
on  28th  April  1870,  a  male  Golden  Oriole  whilst  driving  on 
the  North  Road,  a  short  distance  out  of  Doncaster,  the  bird 
flying  between  the  conveyance  and  the  roadside  hedge  for  a 
distance  of  two  hundred  yards.  About  the  same  date  one 
was  observed  in  Grimston  Park  near  Tadcaster,  by  Hamer 
the  keeper  (Chaloner  MS.). 

At  Swinton  Park,  Masham,  one  was  seen  in  May  1870 
(James  Carter  MS.). 

Regarding  the  occurrence  of  an  example  near  Bingley, 
about  the  end  of  August  or  the  beginning  of  September  1875, 
Mr.  E.  P.  P.  Butterfield  writes  that  a  gamekeeper,  on  whose 
veracity  he  can  rely,  gave  him  a  description  of  a  bird  which 
was  no  doubt  a  Golden  Oriole.  It  was  flying  in  company 
with  some  Thrushes.  (See  also  Zool.  1875,  p.  4623.) 

The  Hull  Museum  Guide  (1860)  informs  us  that  "  speci- 
mens have  been  seen  near  Hull,"  and  the  late  J.  Cordeaux, 
in  his  "  Birds  of  the  Humber  District,"  (1872),  mentioned 
that  a  pair  in  the  collection  of  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton  are 
said  to  have  been  shot  on  the  east  coast ;  Mr.  Boulton  con- 
sidering the  authority  a  fairly  reliable  one. 

A  female  example  was  found  dead,  on  3rd  May  1888,  at 
Hob  Green  near  Ripon,  and  was  examined  by  the  late  J. 


THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Carter,  who  stated  it  was  in  good  plumage  (Field,  igth 
May  1888).  And  the  latest  notice  of  its  occurrence  was 
communicated  to  me  by  Mr.  Thomas  Machen  of  Bridlington, 
who  had  sent  to  him  for  identification  a  female  specimen 
caught  in  June  1903,  near  Boynton. 


GREAT  GREY  SHRIKE. 
Lanius  excubitor 


Winter  visitant,   in  limited  numbers,   chiefly  on   the  coast  line  ; 
remains  through  winter,  departing  in  spring. 


Probably  the  first  mention  of  this  bird  in  connection 
with  Yorkshire  is  contained  in  Ray's  "  Synopsis,"  1713,  where 
it  is  referred  to  under  the  name  of  "  The  Greater  Butcher 
Bird,  or  Mattagasse,  Eboracensibus."  The  earliest  known 
Yorkshire  specimen  that  I  am  aware  of  is  a  female  in  the 
Burton  Agnes  collection,  shot  near  Malton  in  1836. 

Thomas  Allis,   1844,   wrote  : — 

Lanius  excubitor. — Great  Grey  Shrike — Is  not  uncommon  near 
Doncaster  in  winter  ;  several  specimens  have  been  obtained  near 
Sheffield  ;  it  is  occasionally  met  with  near  Huddersfield  and  York  ; 
it  is  rare  in  most  other  districts,  one  specimen  only  being  known  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Barnsley  and  of  Burlington. 

Allis's  remarks  as  regards  the  scarcity  of  this  species  at 
Burlington  (Bridlington)  were  probably  due  to  the  paucity 
of  observers  in  his  day.  At  the  present  time  on  the  coast, 
and  especially  in  Holderness,  the  Great  Grey  Shrike  is  observed 
almost  annually  as  an  autumn  immigrant,  arriving  as  a  rule 
during  the  latter  days  of  October  ;  in  some  years  it  may 
almost  be  called  common,  such  being  the  case  in  1880,  as 
evidenced  by  the  observations  of  the  British  Association 
Migration  Committee,  while  in  1892  no  less  than  twenty  were 
seen  near  Kilnsea  on  the  i5th  of  October,  and  seven  were 
noticed  the  next  day.  Off  Scarborough  one  was  taken  on 
board  a  smack  in  October  1889,  and  I  have  a  specimen  in 
my  collection  which  was  brought  in  on  25th  October  1891, 


GREAT  GREY  SHRIKE.  139 

by  a  pilot  who  captured  it  three  miles  out  at  sea  while  resting 
on  the  "  sheet  "  of  his  coble  ;  it  lived  for  several  days,  feeding 
on  small  birds.  The  adult  males  with  pure  white  under 
parts  are  seldom  seen,  the  bulk  of  the  immigrants  being 
young  birds  or  females  ;  they  linger  near  the  coast  for  a  few 
days,  and  then  gradually  spread  over  the  country. 

The  occurrence  of  quite  a  young  bird  of  the  year  at  Kilnsea 
in  the  East  Riding,  on  26th  August  1877,  recorded  in  the 
Field  (1877,  p.  281),  is  unprecedentedly  early.  Remaining 
throughout  the  winter,  it  has  at  that  season  occurred  in 
most  parts  of  the  county,  but  cannot  be  said  to  frequent 
any  locality  regularly,  though  the  list  of  recorded  occurrences 
is  very  voluminous.  Taking  its  departure  on  the  advent 
of  spring,  we  must  look  upon  the  shooting  of  one  at  York, 
whilst  in  the  pursuit  of  Fieldfares,  on  i8th  April  1849  (Zool. 
1849,  P-  2452)>  as  a  la*6  record.  It  has  occurred  on  the 
coast  on  the  return  journey  as  late  as  the  3rd  of  May,  and 
six  were  noted  as  being  seen  near  Spurn  Lighthouse  on 
I7th  February  1881,  doubtless  preparing  to  brave  the  dangers 
of  the  North  Sea  passage. 

As  regards  the  habits  of  this  bird  the  late  J.  Cordeaux 
remarked  (MS.)  "  I  have  known  one  to  hover  in  the  air 
for  a  few  minutes,  Kestrel-like,  as  if  uncertain  whether 
to  make  a  swoop  on  its  quarry  ;  the  small  immigrants  on 
first  arrival  in  autumn  offer  an  easy  prey  to  this  marauder, 
and  both  the  Redbreast  and  the  Wren  fall  victims  to  the 
cunning  Shrike,  who  will  carry  off  one  of  these  birds  in  his 
beak  with  the  greatest  ease.  The  Grey  Shrike  has  great 
power  of  concealment,  and  if  shot  at  and  only  wounded, 
where  there  is  any  cover  as  long  as  sea  grass,  is  almost  certain 
to  escape  detection,  however  carefully  the  ground  is  looked 
over."  The  same  observer  saw  a  Great  Grey  Shrike  impale 
a  Goldcrest  on  the  spikes  of  a  wire  fence,  and  one  was  noticed 
at  Flamborough  that  had  three  mice  gibbeted  on  a  thorn  hedge. 

A  curious  example,  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  P.  Loten  of 
Easington,  that  was  procured  at  Spurn,  had  the  upper  parts 
dark-plumbeous,  the  head  the  darkest ;  it  was  first  thought 
to  be  the  southern  L.  meridionalis  of  Temminck,  but  sub- 


140  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

sequent  examination,  and  comparison  with  skins  in  Mr. 
Dresser's  collection,  proved  that  it  cannot  be  referred  to  that 
form,  and  that  it  is  probably  a  melanism  of  L.  excubitor, 
and  as  such  is  a  most  interesting  variety. 

The  only  vernacular  appellation  is  the  well-known  one 
of  Butcher  Bird. 


LESSER    GREY    SHRIKE. 

Lanius  minor  (J.  F.   Gmelin). 


Accidental  visitant,  of  very  rare  occurrence. 

The  Lesser  Grey  Shrike  is  a  summer  visitor  to  southern 
and  central  Europe,  wintering  in  South  Africa,  and  is  but 
a  rare  accidental  straggler  to  the  British  Isles,  the  instances 
of  its  occurrence,  as  previously  chronicled,  being  eight  in 
number  and  all  confined  to  the  southern  or  south-eastern 
counties  of  England. 

Mr.  Thomas  Stephenson  of  Whitby  reports  a  ninth 
example,  which  is  the  first  known  for  the  North  of  England, 
and  a  new  species  to  Yorkshire.  The  individual  in  question 
was  shot  at  Sleights,  near  Whitby,  on  the  2oth  September 
1905,  and  was  forwarded  to  Mr.  Stephenson  for  identification 
to  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke,  who  pronounces  it  to  be  an  immature 
bird,  in  first  plumage,  and  a  most  interesting  addition  to  the 
avi-fauna  of  the  county  (see  Naturalist,  March,  1906,  p.  70). 

The  specimen  is  now  in  the  Whitby  local  museum. 


RED-BACKED    SHRIKE. 
Lanius  collurio  (L.}. 


Bird  of  passage,  of  rare  occurrence  ;  has  occasionally  remained 
to  nest.  

Apparently  the  earliest  local  reference  to  the  Red- 
backed  Shrike  is  contained  in  the  second  book  of  Willughby's 
"Ornithology,"  1678,  where  it  is  stated  that  in  Yorkshire  it 
is  called  "  Flusher." 


Nest  of  Red-backed  Shrike  in  north-west  Yorkshire. 


7?.  Fortune. 


See  page  141. 


RED-BACKED  SHRIKE.  141 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Lanius  collurio. — Red-backed  Shrike — Not  very  uncommon  near 
Sheffield  and  Doncaster  ;  it  breeds  occasionally  near  Halifax,  but  is 
becoming  scarce  ;  it  is  met  with  occasionally  near  Huddersfield  and 
York,  but  is  not  known  in  the  East  Riding. 

This  bird  is  of  much  less  frequent  occurrence  in  the  county 
than  the  Great  Grey  Shrike.  It  has  been  chronicled  as 
breeding  in  a  few  instances,  but  does  not  now,  so  far  as  my 
knowledge  extends,  repair  annually  to  any  locality,  with 
the  exception  of  Sedbergh,  where  it  is  a  fairly  regular  nester, 
though  formerly  it  seems  to  have  ranked  as  a  somewhat 
constant  visitor,  for  the  late  Henry  Denny,  who  was  an 
excellent  naturalist,  in  his  Leeds  Catalogue,  1840,  cited  this 
species  as  not  uncommon  in  several  localities  near  Leeds. 
Allis's  statement,  quoted  above,  refers  to  its  occurrence  in 
the  West  Riding ;  though,  as  regards  Huddersfield,  the  late 
J.  Varley  stated  he  could  well  remember  it  as  an  almost  annual 
visitor  in  that  neighbourhood,  where  he  had  himself  taken 
both  the  nest  and  eggs  ;  the  remarks  respecting  East  Yorkshire 
must,  also,  be  modified.  When  on  its  migration  it  has  been 
observed  both  in  the  spring  and  autumn,  but  its  visits  then 
are  few  and  far  between,  and,  generally  speaking,  it  may  now 
be  ranked  as  a  bird  of  passage,  occasionally  remaining  to  breed. 

The  following  are  the  occasions  on  which  it  has  nested 
in  the  county  : — Dr.  Farrar  of  Barnsley  obtained  a  pair  of 
old  birds,  which  were  snared  on  their  nest,  in  Cliff  Wood 
near  that  town  in  the  year  1826.  Mr.  H.  Smurthwaite  of 
Richmond,  in  Morris's  "  Naturalist  "  (1854,  P-  8l)>  mentioned 
that  eggs  in  the  collection  of  his  friend  Mr.  Wood  were  taken 
from  a  nest  near  that  place.  Dr.  Hall  communicated  to 
the  Field  (1869,  p.  435),  a  note  that  a  nest  with  four  young 
birds  had  been  taken  within  a  mile  of  the  town  of  Sheffield 
in  the  early  summer  of  1868. 

Regarding  the  nesting  of  this  bird  at  Beverley  in  1876, 
Mr.  F.  Boyes  communicated  the  following  particulars  to  the 
Zoologist  (1877,  P-  I57)  : — "  The  Red-backed  Shrike  is  a 
very  rare  bird  here,  and  I  cannot  hear  that  one  has  been 
seen  for  fifteen  years.  On  May  the  27th  a  hen  bird  of  this 


142  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

species  was  shot,  and  on  the  following  day  a  pair  were 
obtained.  A  circumstance  occurred  in  connection  with  the 
capture  of  these  birds  that  is  perhaps  interesting  ;  it  appears 
the  male  and  female  were  both  sitting  on  a  dead  branch 
near  each  other  when  the  female  was  shot.  The  person  who 
shot  it  repaired  to  the  same  place  early  the  following  day 
to  shoot  the  male,  when  he  found  a  second  female  ;  this  he 
shot,  and  later  in  the  day  shot  the  male.  Is  it  possible 
that  the  male  had  two  wives  ?  It  is  scarcely  reasonable 
that  he  could  have  picked  up  another  mate  in  so  short  a  time 
in  a  part  of  the  country  where  these  birds  are  so  rare.  I 
ought  to  mention  that  the  first  female  was  laying,  and  had  an 
egg  fully  developed  in  the  ovary.  A  search  was  afterwards 
made,  and  the  nest,  containing  one  egg,  found  near  the 
spot  where  all  three  birds  were  shot.  The  second  female 
was  a  younger  bird,  and  showed  no  signs  of  breeding,  the  eggs 
in  the  ovary  being  very  small." 

At  Swillington  Hall  a  female  and  young  one,  thought  to 
have  been  bred  there,  were  obtained  on  2nd  July  1881,  as 
communicated  by  the  late  J.  Tennant.  A  nest  and  eggs  were 
found  on  Oliver's  Mount,  Scarborough,  3rd  July  1889 
(W.  Gyngell  MS.)  ;  in  the  north-west  Mr.  W.  Morris  states 
that  he  has  taken  the  nest  in  a  thick  thorn  bush,  and  I  am 
aware  of  several  instances  of  this  bird  breeding  in  Cleveland  ; 
twice  near  Redcar,  about  1870,  when  both  nest  and  young 
were  found,  and  in  June  1898,  when  a  nest  and  two  eggs 
were  discovered  in  a  thorn  bush  at  Gunnergate.  Lastly, 
the  late  J.  Cordeaux  recorded  (Nat.  1895,  p.  i),  the  nesting  of 
a  pair  at  Winsetts,  a  farm  between  SkefHing  and  Easington, 
in  the  summer  of  1894  ;  five  young  got  off  in  the  third  week 
of  July,  but  unfortunately  the  parent  birds  and  two  young 
were  killed,  the  latter  having  apparently  just  left  the  nest. 

Concerning  the  reported  nesting  of  this  species  at  Silsden 
in  Airedale  ("  Vertebrate  Fauna  of  Yorkshire,"  p.  27),  the 
evidence  is  not  considered  to  be  of  a  satisfactory  character. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  Red-backed  Shrike  has  been 
observed  on  the  undermentioned  occasions.  In  some  of  these 
instances  the  dates  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  species 


RED-BACKED  SHRIKE.  143 

had  nested  in  the  locality,  but  the  majority  of  the  occurrences, 
were  doubtless  birds  on  their  spring  or  autumn  migrations. 

Prior  to  1845  one  occurred  near  Guisborough,  and  another 
was  observed  near  Hull  (Zool.  1845,  pp.  1055,  1023).  One 
was  taken  in  a  trap  baited  with  young  Thrushes  at  Ackworth 
in  the  summer  of  1856  (Morris's  Nat.  1857,  p.  198).  In  April 
1864,  one  was  obtained  in  Ribblesdale  (Nat.  1896,  p.  39)  ;  on 
26th  September  1866,  a  fine  female  was  found  at  Flanshaw 
near  Wakefield,  and  preserved  by  the  late  Wm.  Talbot. 

On  ist  July  1879,  Mr.  J.  Lucas  observed  a  Red-backed 
Shrike  chattering  and  making  a  great  noise  in  a  dell  known  as 
Hole  Bottom,  in  Nidderdale  ;  adding  that  it  is  there  a  rare 
bird,  and  that  he  had  no  other  record  of  its  occurrence  in  that 
part  of  Yorkshire  (Zool.  1879,  p.  404).  On  i8th  May  1872, 
one  occurred  at  Clayton  West,  and  about  1876  a  mature  bird 
was  obtained  near  Richmond.  Mr.  M.  Bailey  of  Flamborough 
has  in  his  collection  a  fine  male,  which  I  have  seen,  that  was 
brought  to  him  in  the  flesh  by  a  fisherman,  who  had  captured 
it  on  the  sheet  of  his  boat  when  seven  miles  at  sea  off  the 
headland,  on  8th  May  1877.  An  adult  male  was  shot  at 
Addingham  in  July  1879,  as  mentioned  by  Mr.  Stuart  of 
Skipton  (MS.).  Near  Scarborough  the  late  A.  Roberts 
reported  it  as  rare,  but  he  had  known  of  one  being  killed 
while  sticking  caterpillars  and  humble  bees  on  the  thorns 
of  an  old  hedge.  A  male  was  reported  near  Carperby,  in 
Wensleydale,  in  1872,  and  a  pair  were  seen  near  Eastholme 
Bridge  in  1882.  Mr.  G.  Steels  of  Pocklington  has  once  had 
an  example  brought  to  him.  At  Spurn  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke 
saw  a  pair  on  28th  May  1882,  and  he  surmised  that  they  were 
fresh  arrivals  from  over-sea.  On  igth  August  1884,  an 
immature  bird  occurred  in  Holderness  (Sixth  Migration 
Report,  p.  48),  and  in  1885  two  or  three  were  seen  at  Spurn 
in  August  and  September  (Seventh  Migration  Report,  p.  43). 
One  obtained  near  York  is  now  in  the  Bluecoat  Boys'  School 
collection  in  that  city  (Nat.  1886,  p.  308).  Mr.  Harper 
records  the  occurrence  of  an  individual  near  Scarborough 
in  1889  (Zool.  1889,  p.  150).  At  Whitby  one  was  procured 
on^ioth  September  1891 ;  Messrs.  Hewett  and  Potter  saw 


144  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

one  sitting  on  the  telegraph  wires  at  Spurn  on  26th  May 
1895,  and  another  at  Everingham  on  22nd  May  1898.  At 
Aldborough  in  South  Holderness  Mr.  T.  Fetch  noted  one  on 
4th  May  1898  ;  and  lastly,  in  1899,  an  example  was  observed 
on  the  I5th  of  May,  near  Scarborough,  by  Mr.  W.  Roberts. 
Vernacular  names  of  this  species  are  obviously  few ; 
Butcher  Bird  is  generally  applied  to  the  genus.  An  old 
Yorkshire  name  now  obsolete  is  "  Weirangle  "  or  "  Wariangle  " 
(Cf.  "  Wiirgengel,"  Germany)  i.e.,  "  Worrying  or  Destroying 
Angel  "  ;  called  also  "  Wiirger  "  or  "  Worrier,"  "  Throttler." 
Another  obsolete  name  is  Flasher  or  Flusher  (Yorkshire, 
Willughby),  derived  from  the  ruddy  colour  of  its  plumage, 
or  perhaps  from  Flesher,  i.e.,  Butcher  Bird  (Swainson). 


WOODCHAT    SHRIKE. 

Lanius  pomeranus  (Sparrman). 

Accidental  summer  visitant  from  central  and  southern  Europe 
and  northern  Africa. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Lanius  rufus. — Woodchat  Shrike — I  find  only  one  Yorkshire  speci- 
men recorded,  which  was  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Leadbitter.  See 
Yarrell's  "  British  Birds." 

This  species,  which  breeds  freely  on  the  Continent,  winter- 
ing in  southern  Africa,  has  occurred  in  Yorkshire — so  far  as 
I  have  been  able  to  ascertain — on  six  occasions  only,  and  I 
greatly  regret  my  inability  to  give  full  particulars  of  them, 
for  details  respecting  so  rare  a  visitant  to  Britain,  and  so 
fine  a  species,  would  be  most  acceptable  to  all  interested 
in  Yorkshire  ornithology. 

W.  Yarrell  in  the  first  edition  of  his  "  British  Birds  " 
(vol.  i.,  p.  161),  published  in  1843,  stated  that  "  A  few  years 
ago  Mr.  Leadbitter  received  a  specimen  which  had  been 
killed  in  Yorkshire."  Professor  Newton  in  his  edition  of 
that  work  (1871)  mentions  its  having  been  met  with  in 
Yorkshire,  no  doubt  referring  to  the  same  specimen. 

According  to  the  late  A.  Roberts  of  Scarborough,  Mr.  Alwin 


WAXWING.  145 

S.  Bell  obtained  two  young  birds  in  the  Castle  Holmes,  Scar- 
borough, in  the  year  1860  or  1861,  but  he  (Mr.  Bell)  only 
succeeded  in  preserving  one  of  them,  owing  to  their  being 
so  very  fat. 

The  late  J.  Varley,  of  Almondbury,  near  Huddersfield, 
reported  in  1879  tnat  when  he  was  a  bird-nester  he  saw  two 
Woodchats  brought  in  to  be  preserved  by  a  bird-stuff er. 

An  adult  male,  shot  at  Hackness,  near  Scarborough,  in 
June  1881,  is  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  R.  Chase  of  Birmingham 
(Zool.  1892,  p.  347). 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  mentioned  (Nat.  1897,  p.  15),  that 
the  late  H.  B.  Hewetson  informed  him  that  he  saw  two  at 
Easington,  near  Spurn,  on  8th  September  1896.  Mr.  Cor- 
deaux added  that  his  informant  knew  the  bird  well,  having 
frequently  seen  it  in  Morocco. 

And  the  latest  information  with  reference  to  this  species 
is  imparted  by  Mr.  C.  G.  Danford  of  Reighton  Hall,  who 
informed  me  on  28th  May  1903,  that  on  the  9th  of  that  month, 
when  on  the  middle  cliff  at  Reighton,  he  distinctly  saw  a 
male  Woodchat  alight  on  a  furze  bush  within  a  few  yards 
of  where  he  was  sitting,  and  he  watched  it  at  close  quarters 
for  some  minutes.  Mr.  Danford  is  familiar  with  the  bird, 
and  has  often  seen  it  in  Hungary.  (Nat.  1903,  p.  262.) 


WAXWING. 
Ampelis  garrulus  (Z.). 


Accidental  visitant,  appearing  at  irregular  intervals  during  winter  ; 
absent  some  years,  plentiful  in  others. 

The  first  record  of  the  appearance  of  the  Waxwing  in  the 
British  Isles  was  by  the  celebrated  Dr.  Martin  Lister,  F.R.S., 
who  in  a  letter  to  John  Ray  ("  Phil.  Trans."  1685,  No.  175, 
p.  1161,  fig.  9)  said  "  One  or  two  were  shot  at  York  in  January 
1680  (or,  to  use  the  new  style,  1681).  His  figure,  though  rude, 
sufficiently  shews  the  species,  to  which  he  gave  the  English 

VOL.  I.  L 


146  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

name  of  Silk-tail."  Other  early  notices  were  by  Ralph 
Johnson,  who,  writing  to  Ray  from  Brignall,  near  Greta 
Bridge,  May  7th  1686,  described  two  which  had  been  killed 
in  the  preceding  March,  saying  "  They  came  near  us  in  great 
flocks,  like  Fieldfares,  and  fed  upon  haws  as  they  do." 

Thoresby,  in  a  letter  to  Ray,  dated  Leeds,  April  27th,  1703, 
mentioned  a  third  visitation,  and  said  "  I  am  tempted  that 
the  German  Silk-tail  is  become  natural  to  us,  there  being  no 
less  than  three  killed  nigh  this  town  the  last  winter." 

Tunstall,  according  to  Latham  in  Pennant's  "  British 
Zoology,"  recorded  "  Many  seen  in  Yorkshire  (1787),  and 
a  large  flock  at  Wycliffe  [on  Tees].  Many  taken  alive,  but 
they  did  not  thrive.  They  fed  on  dog-berries."  (See  also 
Yarrell's  "  British  Birds,"  4th  Ed.,  i.,  p.  525). 

Thomas  Allis's  account,  1844,  is  as  follows  : — 

Bombycilla  garrula. — Bohemian  Waxwing — Obtained  near  Sheffield 
most  seasons  ;  rare  near  Halifax  and  Hebden  Bridge,  though  occasion- 
ally met  with  ;  a  large  flock  was  seen  about  Storrs  Hall  and  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Kirkburton  about  ten  years  ago  in  the  company 
of  Fieldfares  and  Redwings  ;  another  large  flock  was  seen  in  the  same 
locality  about  four  years  back  [i.e.,  1840]  from  which  Wm.  Eddison 
obtained  seven  or  eight  specimens  ;  it  is  only  in  severe  winters  that 
they  resort  there  ;  they  are  occasionally  met  with  in  hard  winters 
near  Doncaster,  York,  and  Bridlington.  It  is  a  very  rare  visitant 
near  Barnsley  ;  John  Spencer  Stanhope,  Esq.,  of  Cannon  Hall,  has  a 
couple  of  specimens  which  his  keeper  shot  in  his  immediate  neighbour- 
hood, and  Dr.  Farrar  has  a  pair  shot  at  Carr  Green,  July  ist  1832  ; 
several  specimens  have  been  shot  near  Thirsk. 

This  peculiar  looking  bird  is  an  inhabitant  of  northern 
Europe,  and  an  erratic,  casual  visitant  to  Yorkshire,  as  to 
the  British  Isles  in  general,  being  what  may  be  termed  a 
gypsy  migrant ;  in  some  years  appearing  in  considerable 
numbers,  and  scarce  or  altogether  absent  in  others,  whilst, 
between  the  years  of  plenty,  odd  flocks  or  occasional 
stragglers  are  met  with  at  irregular  intervals. 

It  was  abundant  in  1828-29,  according  to  writers  in 
Loudon's  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  and  very  numerous 
in  the  winters  of  1834-5  and  1849-50,  when  it  was  noted  in 
all  the  three  Ridings,  as  evidenced  by  the  records  in  the 
Zoologist  for  1850,  the  pages  of  which  contain  numerous 


WAXWING.  147 

references  to  its  occurrence  all  over  the  county.     Another 
visitation  was  in  November  1863  and  the  early  part  of  1864, 
large  nights  appearing,  particularly  near  the  coast ;    a  flock 
of  about  forty  was  seen  at  Acklam  near  Middlesbrough,  eleven 
being  procured  by  G.  Mussell,  who  ate  the  bodies,  which 
he  found  to  be  excellent  food.     (See  also  Zool.  1864.)     The 
next  great  arrival  took  place  in  December  1866,  and  January 
1867,    the   neighbourhood    of   the    coast   again   being   most 
favoured,  though  numbers  were  seen  and  shot  inland.     In 
Holderness,  at  Whitby,  and  at  Scarborough  a  good  many 
were  obtained,  one  of  those  killed  near  the  latter  place  having 
the  waxen  appendages  on  all  the  tail  feathers  as  well  as  on 
the  secondaries  and  tertiaries.    From  Sheffield  Henry  Seebohm 
mentioned    meeting    with    a    flock    in   Glossop  Road,    and 
recorded  others  shot  in  the  county  ("British  Birds,"  Vol.  ii., 
p.  4).     Large  parties  were  also  noticed,  and  examples  killed, 
in  Arkengarthdale,  Wensleydale,  and  other  remote  districts. 
In  1870  the  West  Riding  was  visited  by  several  flocks,  and 
sixteen   were    obtained   near   Doncaster.     A   few   stragglers 
occurred  in  1872,  1879,  and  1881  (Nat.  1881,  p.  82),  and  in 
January  1883  some  were  noted  in  the  North  and  East  Ridings 
within  short  distance  of  the  sea. 

An  interval  of  ten  years  then  elapsed  before  any  consider- 
able flight  again  occurred,  and  in  February  1893,  small  parties 
were  reported,  chiefly  on  or  near  the  sea-board  ;  one  obtained 
at  Beverley  had  eight  tips  to  each  wing  ;  a  specimen  shot  at 
the  Te3smouth  in  October,  was  sitting  on  a  slag  ball  on  the 
reclaiming  wall.  Another  visitation  was  in  1897,  when  many 
were  killed,  principally  in  the  North  Riding,  in  Cleveland, 
and  near  Scarborough  ;  and  the  most  recent  flight  occurred 
in  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1903,  when  they  appeared 
in  small  numbers  in  many  parts  of  the  county,  but  most 
frequently  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  coast. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  time  of  arrival  of  the  Waxwing 
is  generally  from  October  to  February,  but  an  unusually  late 
date  was  mentioned  by  Allis,  viz.,  July  the  ist  1832  ;  an 
additional  July  record  is  given  by  Mr.  Foster  of  Bridlington, 
who  procured  an  example  at  Sewerby  in  that  month  in  the 


148  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

year  1890  ;    another  specimen,  one  of  two  seen,  was  taken 
near  Patrington  in  Holderness  on  April  the  23rd  1894. 

There  are,  as  might  be  expected  in  the  case  of  a  casual 
visitant,  no  vernacular  names  in  use,  but,  in  addition  to 
its  ordinary  book-name,  it  has  been  mentioned  by  the  names 
of  Silk-tail  (Thoresby  and  Hogg),  Waxwing  or  Waxen 
Chatterer,  and  Bohemian  Waxwing. 


SPOTTED   FLYCATCHER. 

Muscicapa  grisola  (Z.). 


Summer  visitant,   common,   and  generally  distributed. 


The  "  Beam  Bird  "  of  Pennant  (Vol.  ii.,  p.  263,  1766), 
quoted  by  that  old  writer  as  obtained  by  Willughby  in 
1678,  and  "  known  in  that  county  (Yorkshire)  by  the  name 
of  Beam  Bird,  because  it  nestles  under  the  ends  of  beams 
on  outbuildings,  etc.,"  is  probably  to  be  referred  to  the 
species  under  notice,  and  as  such  is  the  earliest  mention 
of  its  connection  with  the  county. 

Thomas  Allis  wrote  as  follows,  in  1844  : — 

Muscicapa  grisola. — Spotted  Flycatcher — Less  frequently  met  with 
than  in  the  south  of  England,  though  obtained  in  most  localities, 
and,  like  most  of  the  migratory  birds,  returns  to  the  same  locality 
year  after  year  ;  it  is  remarkable  above  all  other  birds  for  the  exposed 
situations  it  frequently  chooses  for  its  nest. 

The  Spotted  Flycatcher  is  a  common  and  generally 
distributed  species,  annually  arriving  during  the  first  fortnight 
in  May.  An  unprecedentedly  early  record  is  the  gth  of  April y 
at  Skipton,  where  one  perched  close  to  the  observer,  who 
was  perfectly  satisfied  as  to  its  identity.  It  departs  again 
in  September,  very  few  remaining  beyond  the  third  week 
in  that  month. 

This  is  one  of  the  few  birds  to  be  found  in  our  town  gardens, 
and  has  been  alleged  to  be  guilty  of  destroying  honey  bees 
(Nat.  1886,  p.  277),  a  practice,  however,  which  does  not 
appear  to  be  general.  It  is  well  known  for  its  habit  of  return- 


Spotted  Flycatcher  on  Nest. 


H.  Lazenby. 


See  page  149. 


PIED  FLYCATCHER.  149 

ing  to  its  favourite  breeding  haunts,  and  for  the  frequency 
with  which  it  makes  choice  of  curious  sites  for  its  nest.  The 
records  of  these  are  too  voluminous  for  more  than  one  or  two 
instances  to  be  cited,  viz.  : — one  mentioned  by  John  Atkinson 
{"Compendium  of  Ornithology,"  1820),  built  on  the  angle 
of  a  lamp-post  in  one  of  the  streets  in  Leeds,  where  young 
were  brought  off ;  and  in  the  spring  of  1880,  a  pair  nested 
on  the  hinge  of  a  door  in  constant  use  opening  into  a  tennis- 
court  at  Masham,  but  in  spite  of  disturbance  the  birds 
contrived  to  hatch  five  eggs  and  rear  their  brood  in  safety. 
Near  Harrogate  a  nest  described  by  Mr.  R.  Fortune,  was 
built  of  strips  of  paper,  and  lined  in  the  usual  manner. 

A  variety  of  this  species  obtained  near  Wath-upon-Dearne 
in  August  1870,  is  described  by  Dr.  H.  Payne  as  having 
41  the  upper  plumage  and  tail  whitish  fawn,  the  under  parts 
nearly  white."  At  Croft-on-Tees  a  clutch  of  unspotted  eggs 
was  found  in  1890. 

The  vernacular  names  at  present  in  use  are  Grey 
Flycatcher,  Bee-bird,  and  Wall-chat,  the  latter  term  known 
in  north  Yorkshire.  The  old  and  now  obsolete  names 
which  were  applied  to  it  by  old  writers  were  Wall-bird  or 
Beam-bird,  and  Rafter  or  Rafter-bird  (Swainson). 


PIED    FLYCATCHER. 

Muscicapa  atricapilla  (L,). 


Summer  visitant  ;  very  local  in  its  distribution  ;  fairly  numerous 
'ii  some  districts  ;  is  noticed  on  the  coast  on  both  the  vernal  and 
autumnal  migrations.  

Thomas  Allis's  Report,  written  in  1844,  contains  the 
first  allusion  to  this  as  a  county  species  : — 

Muscicapa  arctuosa. — Pied  Flycatcher — Dr.  Farrar  says  this 
species  is  one  of  our  latest  summer  visitants,  and  quite  local  in  its 
habitat.  The  Stainborough  Woods  are  a  very  favourite  resort, 
especially  frequenting  the  lofty  oaks  with  which  these  woods  abound, 
but  I  never  saw  it  without  the  Park  enclosure.  It  has  bred  at  Danby 
near  Middleham  ;  2,  Wharncliffe,  3,  Ovenden,  Harewood,  and  Studley. 
W.  Eddison  says  it  bred  at  Dalton  for  several  successive  years,  when 


150  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

it  disappeared,  probably  destroyed  by  some  collector  ;  R.  Leyland 
says  that  a  few  years  ago  it  was  frequently  found  breeding  at  Luddenden 
Dean  in  the  Parish  of  Halifax,  but  that  one  or  two  bird-stuffers  have 
nearly  extirpated  it  ;  it  is  very  rarely  seen  in  the  East  Riding  or  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  York. 

Of  this  conspicuous  bird,  whose  distribution  in  Britain 
as  a  summer  resident  is  exceedingly  limited,  Yorkshire  is 
one  of  the  chief  headquarters,  and  perhaps  the  most  southern 
county  in  which  its  occurrence  in  any  numbers  can  be 
considered  regular.  Although  single  individuals  are  occasion- 
ally observed  in  April,  yet  the  usual  time  for  its  appearance 
is  from  the  first  to  the  second  week  in  May ;  the  earliest 
record  is  the  I2th  of  April  1878,  at  Barnsley  ;  at  Masham 
one  was  seen  in  1882  on  the  22nd  of  the  same  month  ;  on 
the  24th  of  April  1893,  I  watched  a  male  bird  for  some  time 
in  Borrow  Greens  Wood,  Easby-in-Cleveland,  and  five  days 
subsequently  one  was  caught  asleep,  soon  after  daylight, 
on  a  garden  hedge  behind  Redcar  sandhills.  On  their  first 
arrival  in  spring  I  have  noticed  the  birds  in  considerable 
numbers  in  the  fishermen's  garden  plots,  and  on  the  loth  of 
May  1899,  I  saw  one  sitting  on  a  post  within  a  few  yards  of 
my  smoke-room  window.  They  only  remain  to  rest  for  a 
few  hours  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast,  soon  dispersing  inland 
to  their  breeding  haunts. 

The  choice  of  localities  in  which  this  species  annually 
breeds  shows  a  strong  predilection  for  the  combination  of 
woodland  and  water,  preferring  as  it  does  either  deeply 
wooded  river  valleys,  or  woods  in  close  proximity  to  extensive 
sheets  of  water.  In  the  North  Riding  it  nests  annually 
on  the  Yorkshire  side  of  the  Tees  near  Barnard  Castle,  and 
also  higher  up  the  dale ;  on  the  banks  of  the  Lure  near 
Sedbergh ;  by  the  river  Wiske  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Northallerton  ;  in  the  woods  at  Castle  Howard ;  and  at 
Buncombe  Park,  Helmsley,  and  Hovingham  in  Ryedale  ; 
near  Easby  and  Ingleby  in  Cleveland  ;  in  the  Esk  valley 
and  the  small  dales  branching  therefrom  ;  Mulgrave  Woods  ; 
and  also  at  Haxby,  Hambleton,  Coxwold,  Swainby,  Loftus- 
in-Cleveland,  Whitby,  and  Scarborough.  In  Wensleydale  it 


See  page  151. 


Pied  Flycatcher  taking  food  to  young. 

T.  A.  Metcalfe. 


PIED  FLYCATCHER.  151 

is  known  to  breed  on  the  banks  of  the  lire  near  Masham — 
but  decreasing  in  numbers — at  Danby,  Hackfall,  and  Caperby. 

The  West  Riding  contains,  perhaps,  the  chief  resorts 
of  this  interesting  species,  which  nests  in  Bolton  Woods  in 
Wharfedale ;  in  Nidderdale  it  visits  the  woods  near  Harro- 
gate,  Knaresborough,  Fewston,  Brimham,  Guyscliffe,  Loft- 
house,  Bewerley,  and  Harefield,  being  scarcer  near  Pateley 
Bridge  (in  which  locality  two  broods  were  hatched  in  1869, 
the  second  being  on  the  15 th  of  July).  Other  localities 
annually  resorted  to  in  the  West  Riding  are  Stainborough 
Woods,  and  those  at  Cannon  Hall,  both  near  Barnsley. 
It  has  also  been  reported  as  breeding  occasionally,  and 
singly,  near  Halifax,  Sheffield,  Huddersfield,  Hebden  Bridge, 
Gisburn,  Skelmanthorpe,  Ripon,  and  in  1904  Mr.  James 
Moore  of  Morecambe  informed  me  a  pair  nested  near  Ben- 
tham,  close  to  the  Westmorland  border.  In  1811  the  Rev. 
James  Dalton,  a  noted  naturalist  in  his  time,  found  it 
breeding  at  Copgrove  (near  Boroughbridge)  ;  and  in  1844 
Ovenden  (near  Halifax),  Harewood,  and  Studley  were  quoted 
as  breeding  stations  by  Thomas  Allis.  I  have  no  informa- 
tion of  their  now  being  frequented,  with  the  exception  of 
Studley,  and  there  it  only  nests  irregularly. 

In  the  East  Riding  it  is  more  frequently  observed  on 
passage  than  as  a  breeding  species ;  the  only  districts  from 
which  its  nest  is  recorded  being  Heslington,  Pocklington, 
and  in  Holderness,  where  the  late  Colonel  B.  B.  Haworth- 
Booth  informed  me  he  found  one  in  a  yew  tree  in  June  1895. 

On  the  coast  it  occurs  regularly  at  the  periods  cf  the 
vernal  and  autumnal  migrations,  in  some  seasons  in  consider- 
able numbers.  An  interesting  and  unusual  occurrence  took 
place  at  Flamborough  on  3rd  May  1866,  and  the  two  follow- 
ing days,  several  specimens  of  both  sexes  in  mature  and 
immature  plumage  being  shot  out  of  a  large  flock  by  Mr.  M. 
Bailey.  Another  very  remarkable  incident  which  occurred 
at  the  latter  end  of  April,  "  about  fifty  years  ago,"  has 
been  communicated  to  me  by  Mr.  J.  Braim,  formerly  of 
Sleights,  who  discovered  no  fewer  than  four  Pied  Flycatchers, 
one  male  and  three  females,  drowned  in  a  rain-water  tub, 


152  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

they  having,  presumably,  fallen  into  the  water  in  their  efforts 
to  procure  flies.  Mr.  Braim  has  obligingly  presented  me  with 
three  of  these  specimens. 

The  greatest  arrival  yet  known  took  place  from  the 
3rd  to  6th  May  1885,  and  was  very  pronounced  at  Spurn, 
Flamborough,  and  Redcar  (Seventh  Migration  Report,  p.  43). 
On  the  return  passage  in  autumn  they  are  reported  at  various 
stations  on  the  seaboard,  from  mid-August  to  the  end  of 
September,  and  have  been  observed  to  alight  on  a  vessel 
at  sea  on  passage  from  Sweden  to  Hull  (Nat.  1893,  p.  5). 

The  individuals  which  occur  on  the  East  Coast  during 
the  autumn  immigration  are  invariably  described  as  immature 
birds.  It  is  very  likely  that  observers  are  mistaken  in  this 
matter,  as  at  this  season  the  sexes,  both  mature  and  immature, 
are  hardly  distinguishable.  The  late  J.  Hancock  ("  Birds 
of  North'd.  and  D'm."  p.  79),  pointed  out  the  close  resemblance 
in  plumage  of  the  sexes  in  young  and  old  birds. 

This  species  affects  the  tops  of  the  highest  trees  as  its 
hunting  quarters,  while  its  nesting  holes  are  not  far  above 
the  ground.  Like  its  congener,  the  Spotted  Flycatcher,  it  has 
been  accused  of  killing  honey  bees,  and  at  Whitby  one  was 
shot  in  flagrante  delicto  (Nat.  1886,  p.  277). 

Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  had  examples,  obtained  at  Spurn  in 
autumn,  which  are  an  inch  less  in  total  length  than  the  average 
measurement. 


RED-BREASTED   FLYCATCHER. 

Muscicapa  parva  (Bechst.). 


Accidental  summer  visitant  from  the  European  Continent,  of 
extremely  rare  occurrence.  

This  species  nests  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  and  in 
Persia,  migrating  in  winter  to  northern  India  and  China. 
Its  claim  to  be  included  in  the  Yorkshire  avi-fauna  rests 
on  the  occurrence  of  one  immature  example  only,  which  is 
the  seventh  specimen  recorded  for  Britain,  and  was  obtained 
by  Mr.  John  Morley,  at  Scarborough,  on  the  23rd  of  October 


SWALLOW  153 

1889,  in  a  wood  amongst  beech  trees.  It  was  observed  to 
fly  from  its  perch  at  intervals  after  flies,  the  white  feathers 
in  its  tail  being  then  very  conspicuous.  The  wood  was 
swarming  with  Golden-crested  Wrens,  and  also  Woodcock, 
which  had  evidently  just  arrived. 

The  bird  was  sent  to  London  for  comparison,  and  its 
identity  fully  established,  as  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney  exhibited 
it  at  the  Zoological  Society's  meeting  for  that  purpose ; 
it  was  too  heavily  shot  for  the  sex  to  be  determined. 
(Gurney,  Nat.  1890,  p.  14 ;  Field,  i8th  January  1890  ;  Zool. 
1891,  pp.  362-3,  471.) 

The  specimen  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Sir  Vauncey 
Crewe  of  Calke  Abbey,  Derbyshire. 


SWALLOW. 
Hirundo  rustica  (£.). 

Summer  visitant,  generally  distributed,  abundant.  Arrives  in 
mid-April  and  departs  at  the  end  of  September,  a  few  remaining 
until  October.  

In  its  connection  with  Yorkshire  history,  the  earliest 
reference  to  the  Swallow,  of  which  I  am  aware,  is  contained 
in  a  letter  from  the  erudite  Dr.  Martin  Lister  to  the  celebrated 
John  Ray,  and  is  dated  York,  February  8th  1675,  thus  : — 

"  Dear  Sir,  ....  One  and  the  same  Swallow  [Hirundo 
rustica],  I  have  known,  by  the  abstracting  daily  of  her  eggs, 
to  have  laid  nineteen  successively,  and  then  to  have  given 
over."  ("  Correspondence  of  John  Ray,"  p.  117.) 

Thomas  Allis  wrote,  in  1844,  as  follows  : — 

Hirundo  rustica. — Chimney  Swallow, — Common,  Dr.  Farrar  remarks, 
respecting  the  whole  tribe,  that,  probably  the  same  cause,  or  causes, 
which  have  diminished  the  number  of  Cuckoos  this  season,  may  also 
have  had  their  influence  on  these  birds,  as  he  seldom  remembers  having 
seen  so  few  as  up  to  the  date  of  his  communication,  June  6th  1844 

One  of  our  familiar  and  most  eagerly  looked-for  summer 
visitants  is  the  Swallow,  which  usually  arrives  in  Yorkshire 
from  the  loth  to  the  middle  or  third  week  of  April,  varying 
slightly  as  the  season  is  early  or  late ;  in  the  south  of  the 


154  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

county  it  may  be  noticed  a  few  days  earlier  than  in  the 
middle  and  north  ;  Neville  Wood,  in  1837,  mentioned  the 
loth  as  the  average  date,  and  at  Barnsley  the  same  estimate 
was  arrived  at  after  an  analysis  of  many  years'  notes.  In 
the  central  and  northern  districts  its  appearance  may  be 
expected  in  mid-April,  and  so  far  back  as  1784  that  able 
Yorkshire  ornithologist,  Marmaduke  Tunstall,  writing  from 
Wycliffe-on-Tees,  calculated  its  arrival  at  this  period,  though 
it  does  not  reach  the  higher  dales  and  remote  upland  localities 
until  the  third  week  or  even  the  end  of  the  month.  Two 
authentic  instances  of  March  Swallows  are  reported  ;  one 
by  Thomas  Allis,  who  noticed  two  near  Pontefract  on  30th 
March  1830  ;  and,  in  more  recent  years,  Mr.  J.  J.  Emerson 
of  Easby-in-Cleveland,  saw  a  pair  on  the  25th  of  the  same 
month  in  1897.  Solitary  birds  have  not  infrequently  been 
recorded  from  various  parts  of  the  county  in  the  first  week 
in  April,  but  the  old  adage  "  one  Swallow  does  not  make  a 
summer  "  holds  good  in  Yorkshire  as  elsewhere,  and  these 
first  arrivals  are  merely  the  advance  guards  of  the  main  hosts 
that  follow  at  the  end  of  April  and  early  in  May. 

The  departure  of  the  main  body  takes  place  at  the  end  of 
August  and  throughout  September,  a  few  sometimes  remaining 
till  mid-October,  whilst  exceptional  cases  have  been  known 
of  odd  birds  being  observed  in  the  winter  months.  At  Spurn 
some  were  seen  on  8th  November  1891,  at  the  time  when  our 
winter  migrants,  the  Snow  Buntings,  were  coming ;  at 
Redcar  I  have  seen  individuals  as  late  as  the  22nd  of  November 
in  the  year  1891,  and  two  were  noted  there  on  3rd  December 
1846  (ZooL  1846,  p.  1368)  ;  three  were  noticed  at  Huddersfield 
on  i8th  January  1837  >  and  one  near  Halifax  on  4th  February 
1862  (See  J.  E.  Harting  on  "  Belated  Swallows,"  Field,  30th 
January  1892).  These  lingerers  probably  belong  to  late 
broods,  or  are  from  more  northern  regions.  The  first  birds 
moving  south  are  young  ones,  and  in  September  they  may 
be  seen  the  whole  day  passing  along  the  coast ;  on  the  3rd 
and  4th  September  1898,  there  were  continuous  flights 
passing  Redcar  to  the  south-east ;  and  at  Flamborough 
they  have  been  frequently  observed  in  mid-September 


SWALLOW.  155 

congregating  about  the  Headland  preparatory  to  their  long 
journey.* 

The  Swallow  is  generally  diffused  in  the  county  and  ascends 
into  the  highest  parts  of  the  dales,  being  known  to  breed 
in  Nidderdale  to  1150  feet,  and  to  2000  feet  elevation  in 
Teesdale  ;  in  Arkengarthdale  odd  pairs  nest  in  the  shepherds' 
huts  on  the  moors  ;  I  have  also  known  a  nest  in  the  shooting 
house  on  Swainby  Moor,  and,  while  grouse  shooting,  have 
seen  birds  hawking  for  insects  about  the  moors.  In  the 
Harrogate  neighbourhood  its  numbers  had  considerably 
decreased  a  few  years  ago,  but  it  appears  to  be  regaining 
ground,  though  it  is  to  be  feared  that,  generally  speaking, 
it  is  not  so  plentiful  in  the  county  as  formerly.  In  some 
seasons,  owing  probably  to  severe  weather,  it  is  less  abundant 
than  in  other  years  ;  this  was  the  case  in  1901,  as  testified 
by  several  writers,  notably  James  Carter  (Field,  25th  May 
1901),  and  on  I2th  and  I3th  May  1886,  after  the  bulk  of  the 
late  comers  had  appeared,  a  spell  of  cold  wintry  weather, 
with  heavy  snow  and  gales  of  wind,  caused  terrible  mortality 
amongst  their  ranks  ;  thousands  perished  of  cold  and  want 
of  food,  many  being  picked  up  in  a  famished  and  dying 
condition  (Nat.  1886,  p.  182). 

Swallows  have  often  been  observed  hawking  for  insects 
several  miles  distant  from  land,  both  off  the  Cleveland  coast 
and  in  the  Humber  district. 

The  ancient  myth  respecting  birds  of  this  family  hibernating 
at  the  bottom  of  ponds  and  rivers  dies  hard  in  the  remote 
dales,  but  Pennant  (Vol.  iv.,  pp.  13,  14),  related  an  instance 
of  probable  hibernation,  several  bushels — full  of  birds  in  a 
torpid  state  being  found  in  a  cliff  at  Whitby  while  digging 
out  a  fox ;  and  in  mid-winter,  about  1850,  some  twenty 
Swallows  were  discovered  inside  an  old  tree,  cracked  with 
age,  that  was  cut  down  on  Lord  Feversham's  estate  near 

*  In  this  connection  the  Migration  Reports  furnish  plenteous 
evidence  concerning  Yorkshire,  the  entries  being,  however,  too 
voluminous  to  be  given  in  detail ;  and  for  a  concise  account  of  the 
migration  of  the  Swallow  the  student  is  referred  to  Mr.  W.  Eagle 
Clarke's  report,  read  at  the  British  Association  meeting  at  Glasgow,  1901. 


156  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Helmsley  ;  only  one  of  the  birds  showed  signs  of  animation, 
and  it  soon  collapsed. 

During  the  whole  of  the  winter  of  1895  two  of  these 
birds  took  up  their  quarters  in  an  old  barn  at  Elton  Wold, 
near  Beverley,  and  remained  until  the  new-comers  in  spring 
had  appeared ;  but  a  most  circumstantial  statement  is 
given,  by  the  Rev.  T.  Powell,  of  two  wintering  at  Healey 
Vicarage,  near  Masham,  in  1895-6,  as  follows  : — 

"  They  were  members  of  a  very  late  brood  of  four  hatched 
in  a  nest  under  the  slates  inside  our  cowhouse.  I  may  here 
mention  that  a  pair  of  Swallows  nest  every  year  in  the  same 
place.  The  two  Swallows  in  question  were  seen  flying  about 
by  members  of  my  family  long  after  the  other  Swallows 
had  disappeared.  They  finally  lodged  above  the  lintel  of 
the  cowhouse  door,  squeezing  themselves  into  a  small  hole 
in  the  stonework,  and  thus  escaping  the  draught.  When 
I  saw  them  the  tail  was  the  only  part  of  their  bodies  that  was 
at  all  conspicuous.  My  eldest  son,  then  sixteen  years  old, 
had  them  both  in  his  hand  at  the  beginning  of  last  Christmas 
holidays.  They  were  in  a  drowsy  condition  and  did  not 
attempt  to  fly  when  he  gave  them  the  chance.  On  very  fine 
days,  as  he  informs  me,  he  saw  them  flying  for  about  two 
hours  in  the  middle  of  the  day  from  eleven  to  one  o'clock. 
One  of  the  Swallows  died  some  time  in  the  spring,  the  other 
left  its  winter  quarters  shortly  before  the  return  of  the 
Swallows  (in  April),  and  was  a  conspicuous  object  among 
its  fellows  during  spring  and  early  summer  through  having 
lost  one  of  the  forks  of  its  tail.  It  mated  with  another 
Swallow,  and  they  attempted  to  nest  in  the  pigsty,  which 
joins  the  cowhouse,  but  this  came  to  nothing — the  lowness 
of  the  roof  of  the  pigsty  most  likely  causing  them  to  desist 
from  the  attempt."  (Field,  2nd  January  1897.) 

The  selection  of  breeding  sites  of  this  bird  does  not  vary 
greatly,  though  at  Campsall  Hall  a  pair  for  several  years 
successively  attempted  to  build  in  the  upper  corner  of  the 
entrance  hall  (Neville  Wood's  Nat.  1837)  '>  another  pair  built 
a  nest,  in  June  1887,  and  reared  its  brood,  on  the  curtain 
pole  overhanging  a  staircase  window  of  a  country  house  near 


Swallow's  Nest. 


.  Fortune. 


See  page  156. 


Cup-shaped  Swallow's  nest,  near  Harrogate.. 


.  Fortune. 


SWALLOW.  157 

Cottingham  (Field,  8th  October  1887)  ;  and  at  Wilstrop  two 
nests  were  built  under  the  eaves  of  an  outhouse  against  a  wall, 
and  without  any  supporting  ledge  ;  whilst  at  the  same  place 
other  two  were  in  a  shed  built  against  the  inner  walls  and 
about  a  foot  below  the  angle  of  the  roof  (Nat.  1890,  p.  258). 

Late  nests  are  not  infrequent,  therefore  one  or  two 
instances  only  need  be  cited  ;  one  at  Starbeck  had  young 
in  October  1884,  the  old  birds  being  observed  feeding  them 
during  a  snowstorm  at  the  end  of  that  month  ;  and  in  the 
following  year  several  were  reported,  one,  near  Rotherham, 
having  young  as  late  as  the  loth  of  October. 

White  varieties  occur  almost  every  season  ;  of  Yorkshire 
examples  the  earliest  and  latest  known  may  suffice  : — One 
in  the  Tunstall  collection  was  shot  at  Bradford-on-Tees 
(Tunst.  MS.  p.  76),  and  the  latest  was  noted  at  Market 
Weight  on  in  1896.  A  dun  coloured  specimen  was  observed 
at  Beverley  in  1866,  and  at  King's  Mill,  near  Huddersfield, 
one  of  a  pale  drab  plumage  is  recorded. 

The  folk  lore  of  this  county  abounds  with  superstition 
connected  with  this  favourite  bird  ;  it  is  deemed  to  be  a 
very  good  omen  if  a  pair  take  possession  of  a  place  and  build 
a  nest  against  it,  while  it  is  unpropitious  for  them  to 
forsake  a  place  they  have  once  tenanted.  Terrible  penalties, 
we  are  told  in  the  North  Riding,  are  paid  by  the  rash  hand 
that  destroys  or  robs  a  Swallow's  nest ;  rain  will  continually 
descend  on  his  crops  for  a  month,  or  his  cows  will  cease  to 
give  milk,  or  else  give  it  mixed  with  blood.  In  the  West 
and  East  Ridings  punishment  is  considered  certain  to  follow 
the  ruthless  act  in  one  form  or  other,  either  death  or  some 
great  calamity  will  fall  upon  the  family.  A  farmer's  wife 
near  Hull  told  how  some  young  men,  sons  of  a  banker  in  that 
town,  pulled  down  some  Swallows'  nests  about  a  little  farm 
he  possessed.  "  The  bank  broke  soon  after,"  she  said, 
"  and,  poor  things,  the  family  have  had  nought  but  trouble 
since."  (Henderson's  Folk-lore.)  The  descent  of  a  Swallow 
down  a  chimney,  as  in  the  case  of  a  Jackdaw,  portends  the 
speedy  decease  of  the  inmates  of  the  house. 

A  country  rhyme  runs  : — 


158  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

"  The  Martin  and  the  Swallow, 
Are  God  Almighty's  bow  and  arrow." 

The    only    vernacular    names    are    Fork- tailed    Swallow, 
Chimney  Swallow,  and  Barn  Swallow. 


HOUSE    MARTIN. 

Chelidon  urbica  (/>.). 


Summer  visitant,  abundant,  generally  distributed.  Arrives  late 
in  April  and  leaves  in  September,  stragglers  occasionally  remaining 
until  November  or  December. 


The  first  reference  to  this  species  as  a  county  bird  is 
contained  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Bolton,  near  Halifax,  dated 
30th  August  1794,  and  runs  as  follows  : — 

"  In  the  latter  end  of  August  1779,  some  boys  beat  down 
a  Martin's  nest,  with  young.  The  birds  built  anew  for 
another  brood,  which  had  but  just  learned  the  use  of  their 
wings,  when  their  congeners  took  leave.  Several  times  in 
the  course  of  the  winter  I  have  seen  sometimes  one,  sometimes 
two,  flying  about,  the  weather  was  mild,  and  the  sun  shined 
warm  ;  and  after  the  25th  of  March  they  were  constantly 
to  be  seen  on  fine  days."  (Latham,  "  Gen.  Hist.  Birds,"  1823,' 
vii.,  note  to  p.  278.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Hirundo  urbica. — The  Martin — Common  in  most  districts,  but 
Arthur  Strickland  remarks  "  There  seem  few  birds  less  disturbed 
in  their  nidification  than  this,  notwithstanding  it  appears  to  me  to  have 
greatly  diminished  in  numbers  of  late  years  ;  many  houses  I  remember 
annually  abounding  with  their  nests  now  hardly  possess  more  than  two 
or  three."  I  think  the  same  remark  applies  to  the  neighbourhood 
of  York. 

The  House  Martin  arrives  a  little  later  in  spring  than  the 
Swallow  and,  as  a  general  rule,  in  the  third  week  of  April ; 
in  the  south  of  the  county  it  is  somewhat  earlier,  the  I4th 
of  April  being  the  average  date  of  its  appearance,  but  in  most 


HOUSE  MARTIN.  159 

parts  of  Yorkshire  its  presence  does  not  become  apparent 
until  the  third  or  last  week  of  the  month.  In  1877  it  was 
noted  in  Wensleydale  on  the  6th  of  March,  which  is  remarkably 
early ;  in  Cleveland  the  earliest  arrival  of  which  I  have  a 
note  is  the  4th  of  April  1901,  when  one  was  seen  at  Marton. 

During  August  and  September  most  of  the  House 
Martins  leave  us,  but  a  few  linger  until  October  almost 
every  year,  while  some  stay  into  November.  Two  records 
are  known  of  its  being  seen  in  December :  one  at  Whitby  in 
1888,  on  the  4th  of  the  month,  and  another  which  came  under 
my  notice  at  Redcar  in  1900,  on  the  I4th ;  the  bird  was 
afterwards  repeatedly  seen  flying  in  front  of  my  house  until 
the  2oth,  when  from  n  a.m.  until  2  p.m.  I  had  it  under 
observation  for  the  last  time.  An  instance  of  this  species 
wintering  in  the  county  is  given  by  Latham's  correspondent, 
as  mentioned  above  in  the  first  Yorkshire  reference  to  this 
bird.* 

Though  generally  distributed,  and  common  in  most 
localities,  the  House  Martin  is,  unfortunately,  decreasing 
in  numbers  in  the  manufacturing  districts  and  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  many  large  towns,  where  whole  colonies 
have  deserted  their  breeding  places  owing  to  the  prevalence 
of  smoke  and  the  destruction  and  usurpation  of  their  nests 
by  the  ubiquitious  House  Sparrow.  This  decrease  appears 
to  be  noticed  also  in  many  other  parts,  although  in  some 
places,  and  particularly  at  Harrogate,  the  reverse  is  happily 
the  case.  In  the  west  and  north-west  portions  of  the  county 
the  bird  is  found  up  to  1150  feet  elevation,  at  which  altitude 
it  breeds  in  Teesdale  and  Nidderdale,  and  I  have  often  met 
with  it  hawking  for  insects  on  the  Cleveland  moors  in  August, 
whilst  grouse- driving  operations  were  in  progress.  Great 
mortality  amongst  the  Swallow  tribe  was  caused  by  the 
severe  weather  in  May  1886,  and  this  species  suffered  equally 
with  its  congeners  (cf.  Swallow,  p.  155,  and  Nat.  1886,  p.  182). 

Along  the  sea-cliffs   a  great  number  of  Martins  breed 

*  (cf.  J.  E.  Harting  on  "  Belated  Swallows."  Field,  3Oth  January 
$892  ;  and  Nat.  1901,  p.  74.) 


160  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

annually,  placing  their  nests  under  the  ledges,  and  colonies 
exist  in  these  situations  at  Saltburn,  Boulby,  Whitby,  Scar- 
borough, and  the  famed  Flamborough  range.  In  a  few  in- 
land localities  it  also  breeds  in  cliffs,  as  at  Malham  Cove,  where 
the  nests  are  lower  down  than  those  of  the  Swifts  ;  in  a  quarry 
between  Kirkby-in-Cleveland  and  Bilsdale,  and  at  Kilnsey 
Crag  in  Wharfedale.  In  some  colonies  many  nests  are  found 
in  close  proximity  to  each  other  ;  in  Nidderdale  forty-six 
were  built  within  a  space  of  nine  yards,  and  at  Battersby-in- 
Cleveland  I  counted  fifty-two  on  a  small  row  of  railway 
cottages.  A  curious  site  was  chosen  by  a  pair  of  these  birds 
at  Sedbergh  in  1885,  where  a  nest  was  noticed  fixed  on  the 
face  of  the  station  clock  ;  at  Malham  Cove  a  nest  was  built 
on  a  wall  instead  of  under  the  eaves,  and  was  domed  over, 
with  the  entrance  at  the  side. 

Mr.  Wm.  Storey  of  Fewston  informs  me  that,  in  1893, 
he  caught  a  pair  of  Martins,  which  had  built  under  the  eaves 
of  his  house,  put  a  split  ring  on  the  leg  of  each  and  liberated 
them.  Next  year,  on  the  20 th  of  June,  the  birds  returned 
with  the  rings  on  their  legs.  They  again  nested  in  1895, 
but  the  male  was,  unfortunately,  killed  by  flying  against  the 
telegraph  wires,  the  ring  still  remaining  on  its  leg,  and  so 
proving  its  identity. 

Late  nesting  with  this  species  is  noted  almost  annually  ; 
three  instances  were  reported  at  Beverley  in  October  1885, 
one  with  young  still  unfledged  on  the  igth  of  the  month  ;  and 
the  late  P.  Inchbald  mentioned,  in  the  Field  of  5th  November 
1887,  a  nest  and  young  at  Hornsea  on  the  7th  of  October. 
A  few  days  later  he  was  told  the  nest  had  been  taken  down,  in 
consequence  of  the  warblings  of  the  birds  being  considered 
tokens  of  ill  omen  at  so  late  a  period  of  the  year.  At  High 
Harrogate,  in  the  year  1905,  I  saw  Martins  feeding  their 
young  in  the  nest  as  late  as  the  nth  of  October  ;  on  the 
I2th  the  young  had  flown,  though  it  is  doubtful  whether 
they  would  be  able  to  migrate,  as  a  spell  of  severe  cold 
weather  immediately  ensued. 

White  and  parti-coloured  varieties  are  not  uncommon  ; 
Marmaduke  Tunstall  mentioned  one  of  the  former  in  August 


o     - 


SAND  MARTIN.  161 

1781  (Tunst.  MS.  1784,  p.  76),  and  a  pure  albino,  with  pink 
eyes,  was  noted  at  Patrington  on  26th  September  1880. 

The  local  names  in  general  use  are :  Swallow,  House  Swallow, 
Window  Swallow,  and  Martin  ;  while  Eaves  or  Easin  Swallow 
is  a  name  applied  to  the  bird  in  the  Craven  district. 

[An  American  Purple  Martin  (Progne  purpurea,  L.)  was 
shot  at  Colne  Bridge  near  Huddersfield  in  1854  (Hobkirk's 
Huddersfield,  1859,  P-  J44)»  but,  at  this  distance  of  time,  it 
is  not  possible  to  investigate  the  circumstance,  and  the 
record  is  to  be  considered  unreliable.] 


SAND    MARTIN. 
Cotile  riparia  (L.). 

Summer  visitant,  abundant  in  suitable  localities. 


Probably  the  first  notice  of  this  species  in  the  county  is 
found  in  Graves's  "History  of  Cleveland  "  (1808),  where  it  is 
enumerated  in  the  list  of  migrants. 

Thomas  A  His,  in  1844,  referred  to  it  thus  : — 

Hirundo  riparia. — Sand  Martin — Common  near  Doncaster  ;  a 
few  pairs  are  occasionally  met  with  near  Sheffield  ;  pretty  frequent  in 
favourable  localities  in  other  districts. 

The  Sand  Martin  arrives  from  early  in  April  to  the  middle 
of  the  month ;  in  the  south  of  the  county,  at  Barnsley, 
the  gth  is  computed,  from  an  analysis  of  many  years'  records, 
to  be  the  average  date  ;  in  central  and  north  Yorkshire 
it  does  not  make  its  appearance  till  a  few  days  later,  though, 
as  in  the  case  of  its  congeners,  stragglers  are  occasionally 
noted  much  earlier,  as  at  Otley  where  one  was  recorded  on 
2Qth  February  1886  (Field,  3rd  April  1886),  and  at  Ackworth 
a  pair  were  seen  on  28th  March  1897.  This  species  felt  the 
ill-effects  of  the  storm  that  proved  so  disastrous  to  the  Swallow 
tribe  on  the  I2th  and  I3th  of  May  1886,  many  being  picked 
up  dead  or  starving  (Nat.  1886,  p.  182 ;  see  also  Swallow,  p.  155). 

VOL.  I.  M 


162  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

It  departs  a  little  earlier  than  the  Swallow  and  House  Martin, 
though  small  parties  sometimes  linger  until  late  in  October ; 
the  late  Wm.  Talbot,  in  his  "  Birds  of  Wakefield,"  1877, 
recorded  one  as  late  as  the  I4th,  and  on  the  20th  of  the  same 
month,  in  1880,  about  twenty  were  observed  in  Flamborough 
village,  hawking  for  insects. 

This  bird,  the  least  of  the  genus,  is  abundant  in  those 
localities  where  suitable  situations  for  its  nesting  galleries 
are  met  with,  such  as  the  sandy  banksides  of  rivers,  sand 
quarries,  and  the  face  of  precipitous  cliffs  both  inland  and 
on  the  sea-coast.  In  some  districts  it  is  more  numerous  than 
the  two  preceding  species,  this  being  the  case  at  Pateley 
Bridge ;  but  it  is  necessarily  a  local  bird,  its  numbers  depending 
on  the  presence  of  available  nesting  quarters  ;  on  the  east 
Wolds  and  in  the  higher  reaches  of  some  of  the  dales,  such 
as  Swaledale  and  Arkengarthdale,  it  is,  for  lack  of  them, 
rather  rare.  In  Teesdale  a  colony  is  established  about  two 
miles  above  Middleton,  and  in  Nidderdale  it  is  met  with 
to  1400  feet  elevation,  and  is  not  infrequent  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  large  reservoirs  in  the  West  Riding  dales.  On 
the  sea-cliffs  of  Boulby  in  the  North  Riding,  and  at 
Flamborough  in  the  East,  several  large  colonies  are  found, 
those  at  the  latter  place  being  in  the  sand  veins  in  the  upper 
cliff,  between  the  chalk  and  the  boulder  clay  on  the  south 
beach.  Twenty  or  thirty  years  ago  they  were  very  common 
on  the  sandhills  between  Redcar  and  Saltburn,  where  they 
had  nesting  galleries  in  the  steep  sides  of  the  banks  facing  the 
sea,  but,  erosion  of  the  coast  having  destroyed  the  holes, 
they  have  deserted  the  place  and  are  now  quite  scarce.  At 
Thorne  Waste,  near  Goole,  the  Sand  Martins  excavate  holes, 
drilling  the  peaty  sides  of  the  trenches  cut  for  the  drainage 
of  the  moss  ;  this  is  a  departure  from  the  ordinary  habits 
of  the  birds,  though  a  more  unusual  nesting  place  was  utilised 
by  several  pairs,  which  bred  in  the  markers'  huts  on  Strensall 
Common,  in  1881 ;  and  a  still  more  curious  locality  was 
mentioned  by  the  late  E.  Tindall  of  Knapton,  who  found 
a  pair  nesting  in  the  north  end  of  an  old  haystack  ;  the  eggs 
were  on  the  point  of  hatching  when  they  were,  unfortunately, 


GREENFINCH.  163 

destroyed  by  some  boys.  Numbers  of  these  birds  nest  in 
the  heaps  of  rejected  lime  at  the  whiting  works  near  Beverley. 

A  bird  so  weak  and  frail  as  this  species  is  not  considered 
to  be  of  a  quarrelsome  nature,  but  a  rather  remarkable 
instance  occurred  in  1901,  near  Bashall  Hall  on  the  Lancashire 
border,  where  a  pair  of  Sand  Martins  dispossessed  a  Dipper, 
which  had  reared  a  brood,  and  the  Martins  afterwards  hatched 
two  broods  in  the  same  nest  (T.  Altham,  in  litt.  I3th 
February  1902). 

There  are  several  Yorkshire  records  of  white  or  parti- 
coloured specimens ;  one  with  silvery  plumage  is  mentioned  in 
Neville  Wood's  Naturalist,  1837  '•>  tne  RCV-  F-  O-  Morris  noted 
one  at  Doncaster  in  the  same  year  with  a  white  breast  and 
a  white  band  round  the  nape  of  the  neck  ;  a  white  variety 
was  seen  near  Wilsden,  and  one  at  the  same  place,  in  1877, 
with  the  upper  plumage  bluish  white,  and  the  lower  parts 
glossy  white.  An  example  near  Settle,  in  1895,  had  white 
wings  ;  and,  finally,  an  albino  is  recorded  from  Killinghall, 
near  Harrogate,  in  1898. 

The  local  names  are  not  very  numerous,  and  have  all 
reference  to  the  situations  in  which  it  nests  :  Bank  Martin 
is  general ;  and  Bank  Swallow  a  West  Riding  term ;  it  is 
Pit  Martin  in  Craven  ;  Sandy  in  Teesdale  ;  and  Sand  or  River 
Swallow  is  given  by  Swainson,  1886. 


GREENFINCH. 

Ligurinus   chloris    (Z.). 


Resident,    common,    generally    and    abundantly    distributed.     A 
great  influx  of  migrants  in  autumn. 


Probably  the  earliest  Yorkshire  reference  to  this  species 
is  given  byTunstall  (MS.  1783,  p.  66)  thus:  "  Loxia  Chloris. — 
Green  Grosbeak.  Heard  from  pretty  good  authority,  that 
there  had  been  a  mongrel  between  this  bird  and  the  canary." 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 


164  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Coccothraustes    chloris. — Green    Finch — Abundant    everywhere. 

One  of  our  commonest  residents  is  the  Greenfinch,  which 
is  found  wherever  it  meets  with  suitable  conditions  for  its 
existence,  and  in  the  dales  it  has  occurred  to  an  elevation 
of  1000  feet.  It  congregates  in  vast  numbers  in  autumn, 
at  which  period  large  flocks  of  immigrants  cross  the  North 
Sea  in  October  and  November,  and  resort  to  the  stubbles  to 
feed  in  company  with  other  Finches  and  Linnets  ;  the  old 
males  migrate  separately  from  the  females  and  young.  It 
has  also  been  occasionally  noticed  during  the  vernal  migration. 

In  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1881  an  immense  concourse 
of  these  birds  gathered  in  the  stubble  fields  near  the  coast, 
attracted  by  the  grain  that  had  been  scattered  by  a  storm 
during  harvest  time  ;  the  year  1883  witnessed  another  great 
arrival,  with  Linnets,  in  October,  and  in  the  same  month  of 
1887  many  were  seen  at  the  Teesmouth.  Several  "  rushes  " 
are  recorded  in  the  Migration  Reports,  while  in  October  1901, 
a  strong  migration  from  the  north  took  place  at  Redcar, 
accompanied  by  Linnets,  Siskins,  and  other  small  birds. 
On  the  Cleveland  coast  the  flocks  generally  arrive  from  about 
east  or  north-east,  in  foggy  weather  being  often  so  greatly 
exhausted  as  to  drop  on  the  rocks,  or  on  the  sands,  directly 
they  "  make  the  land."  During  the  spring  passage  in  1901, 
there  was  a  great  influx  at  Redcar  on  the  ist  of  May,  with 
Siskins  ;  they  came  from  due  east,  early  in  the  morning, 
which  was  misty,  with  a  light  easterly  breeze,  and  many  were 
seen  sitting  on  the  hedgerows  and  in  the  gardens  ;  in  all  prob- 
ability these  birds  were  on  their  passage  further  northward. 

An  exceptionally  late  nest,  containing  young,  was  reported 
at  Patrington  on  August  30th  1857.  At  Redcar,  in  1902, 
a  pair  of  Greenfinches  built  a  nest,  and  reared  their  young 
brood  in  a  garden,  close  to  the  entrance  gate,  and  within  three 
feet  of  the  footpath. 

An  instance  of  variation  from  the  ordinary  plumage  is 
that  of  a  white  example,  seen  near  Bradford,  on  nth  April 
1890  (Nat.  1890,  p.  335),  while  specimens  almost  as  yellow 
as  canaries  have  occurred  at  Beverley. 

As  regards  varieties  of  the  eggs,  the  late  Canon  Atkinson 


Greenfinch's  Nest. 


.    Fortune. 


See  page  164. 


HAWFINCH.  165 

mentioned  a  clutch  at  Danby,  in  1863,  of  a  warm  shade  of 
white,  resembling  the  hue  of  Dippers'  or  Sand  Martins'  eggs. 

Of  local  names,  Green  Linnet  and  Green  Lenny  are  general ; 
Greeny  is  in  use  in  Cleveland  and  the  East  Riding ;  Green 
Grosbeak  was  the  name  used  by  Tunstall  in  1783 ;  Featherpoke 
has  been  noted  at  Newsome,  near  Huddersfield  ;  and  Bighead 
at  Beverley. 


HAWFINCH. 

Coccothraustes  vulgaris  (Pallas). 


Resident,  local ;  breeds  regularly  in  some  parts.     Greatly  increasing 
in  numbers  and  extending  its  northward  range. 


The  earliest  Yorkshire  reference  to  this  species  appears 
to  be  in  Leyland's  Halifax  Catalogue,  1828,  where  it  is  stated 
to  be  "  very  rare." 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  of  it  thus  : — 

Coccothraustes  vulgaris. — Hawfinch — Is  a  rare  winter  visitant  near 
Sheffield  ;  one  or  two  have  been  taken  near  Halifax  ;  it  occurs  rarely 
at  Killingbeck  near  Leeds,  and  near  York,  as  well  as  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Barnsley,  and  is  very  rare  about  Huddersfield  ;  eight 
specimens  were  shot  near  Doncaster  in  1843,  and  are  now  all  in  the 
possession  of  Hugh  Reid,  bird-stuffer  of  that  place.  Arthur  Strick- 
land observes  that  a  few  of  these  birds  are  generally  killed  every 
winter  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bridlington,  but  they  have  not  been 
known  to  remain  over  the  summer  in  that  district. 

Although  formerly  considered  to  be  rather  rare,  the 
Hawfinch,  while  somewhat  local,  has  vastly  increased  of  late 
years  and  extended  its  range  northward.  Whatever  may 
be  the  cause  of  this  increase,  whether  it  is  to  be  attributed 
to  the  protection  afforded  by  law,  or  due  solely  to  natural 
causes,  the  fact  remains  that  the  bird  is  now  resident  in  many 
places  where  it  used  to  be  merely  a  winter  visitant,  or  perhaps 
its  presence  was  unsuspected  or  overlooked,  possibly  the 
latter  in  some  cases,  for  it  is  of  a  shy  disposition,  and  may  be 
existent  in  a  locality,  without  being  known,  until  close 


166  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

investigation  reveals  its  loosely  made  nest,  and  it  is  more 
likely  to  be  noticed  in  autumn,  when  the  young  are  out  and 
feeding  in  vegetable  gardens. 

In  the  south  of  the  county  it  was  rare  up  to  the 
"sixties"  ;  it  now  breeds  regularly,  yet  not  numerously,  near 
Sheffield,  Halifax,  and  Barnsley  ;  it  is  fairly  abundant  and 
has  greatly  increased  in  the  Aire  Valley,  where  it  was  first 
noted  as  a  nester  in  1878  ;  near  Wakefield  it  bred  in  several 
places  in  1876  and  continues  to  do  so  annually ;  it  has  increased 
in  the  Huddersfield  neighbourhood,  where  a  few  nests  have 
been  known  of  recent  years  ;  at  Hebden  Bridge  the  eggs 
were  found  in  1883  ;  it  is  rare  near  Selby  and  Askern  ;  at 
Doncaster  it  is  resident,  though  the  fact  of  a  nest  being 
discovered  in  1863  was  considered  worthy  of  record  in  the 
Ibis  (1865)  ;  the  young  were  found  at  Ackworth  in  1881, 
and  up  to  1889  it  had  nested  regularly  for  several  years  in 
the  Pontefract  district,  but  it  is  still  a  rare  species  near 
Goole.  In  the  Leeds  area  one  or  two  localities  are  occasionally 
favoured,  as  also  are  Otley  and  Staveley  ;  it  is  rather  scarce 
in  lower  Wharfedale,  though  some  breed  near  Boston  Spa 
and  other  suitable  places  ;  it  has  also  been  recorded  from 
Ben  Rhydding  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  valley,  and  at 
Fewston  in  the  Washburn  valley ;  Nidderdale  claims  it  now 
as  an  annual  breeder,  yet  it  was  only  detected  there  in  1886  ; 
along  the  lower  reaches  of  the  stream  it  has  increased,  and 
breeds  near  Harrogate,  Ripley,  Rudding  Park,  Knaresborough, 
and  Ribston  Park.  In  the  Ripon  district  it  is  fairly  common 
and  increasing  as  a  nesting  species  near  the  city  and  at  Studley 
Park  ;  it  has  also  occurred  at  North  Stainley.  It  is  rare 
generally  in  the  north-west,  but  is  now  numerous  at  Bolton 
Abbey  and  Bolton-by-Bowland,  where  it  has  been  caught  in 
gardens  and  orchards  when  attacking  the  pea  crops. 

In  East  Yorkshire  the  Hawfinch  is  a  fairly  abundant  species 
near  Pocklington,  Warter,  and  Nunburnholme ;  at  Scampston 
it  has  only  been  identified  within  the  past  ten  or  twelve  years, 
but  nests  annually,  and  the  late  Col.  B.  B.  Haworth-Booth 
recorded  nests  at  Hullbank  House  in  1893  and  1895  ;  in 
the  Beverley  district,  where  it  may  be  described  as  nesting  in 


HAWFINCH.  167 

some  numbers,  it  has  been  overlooked,  having  been  common 
and  an  annual  nester  in  the  Public  Pasture  for  the  past 
forty  years,  and  it  has  also  occurred  in  flocks  in  the  winter  ;  it 
breeds  at  Brough-on-Humber,  and  has  been  observed  near 
Hedon  in  the  nesting  season. 

Coming  to  the  North  Riding,  where  it  was  but  a  winter 
visitant,  or  an  uncommon  breeding  species,  it  is  noticeable  that, 
within  the  past  ten  or  fifteen  years,  it  has  become  much  more 
numerous  ;  one  or  two  pairs  nest  at  Castle  Howard  ;  near 
Bedale  several  broods  are  reared  every  year,  and  at  Richmond, 
Thirsk,  and  Helmsley  its  nest  has  been  found.  At  Staithes, 
Whitby,  and  Scarborough  it  nests  sparingly,  and  in  upper 
Teesdale  an  odd  pair  or  two  have  bred  on  the  Yorkshire  side 
of  the  river  since  1897  ;  near  Sedbergh,  in  the  extreme  north- 
west, it  is  a  scarce  winter  visitant,  as  also  in  Arkengarth- 
dale  and  Swaledale.  The  increase  of  this  bird  in  Cleveland 
is  very  remarkable  ;  so  recently  as  the  year  1890  it  was 
considered  rare,  but  at  the  present  time  it  is  not  by  any  means 
uncommon  ;  it  occurs  as  a  winter  visitant  in  most  places 
in  the  district,  and  nests  more  or  less  frequently  all  over  the 
division,  from  Loftus  on  the  south-east  to  Yarm  on  the 
north-west,  at  which  latter  place  there  has  been  a  small 
colony  for  the  past  ten  years  ;  it  also  breeds  in  the  dales 
on  the  south  and  south-west  almost  up  to  the  moor  edges, 
as  at  Danby  and  Swainby. 

The  Migration  Reports  do  not  contain  any  reference 
to  the  Hawfinch  at  the  Yorkshire  stations,  though  a  striking 
feature  in  its  increase  is  that,  in  1902,  an  example  was  reported 
from  one  of  the  Yorkshire  lighthouses,  and  it  would  thus  appear 
that  it  may  now  be  looked  for  as  a  migrant  on  our  coast. 

The  nest  is  usually  in  low  situations,  such  as  fruit  trees  in 
orchards,  low  growing  oaks,  or  thorn  bushes  ;  in  Wharf edale 
Mr.  E.  P.  Butterfield  states  the  birds  are  not  at  all  shy  and 
have  to  be  frightened  off  their  nests,  but  this  is  contrary  to 
the  general  experience,  which  is  that  they  are  of  the  shyest 
nature  and  forsake  their  nests  on  the  very  slightest  interference, 
though  in  a  few  instances  I  have  known  them  exhibit  the 
trait  Mr.  Butterfield  refers  to. 


168  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Since  1897  there  has  been  a  large  colony  in  Cleveland 
(the  precise  locality  of  which  it  would  be  unwise  to  indicate), 
where  some  twenty  to  thirty  pairs  breed  in  comparative 
security ;  the  first  year  or  two  the  nests  were  on  low  and 
easily  accessible  trees,  some  not  more  than  five  feet  above 
the  ground,  but,  after  being  disturbed,  they  changed  their 
places  of  abode,  and  for  the  past  three  years  most  of  the 
nests  have  been  built  on  the  extremities  of  branches  of  oak 
trees  in  a  plantation,  and  are  not  discoverable  until  the  fall 
of  the  leaves  in  autumn.  The  usual  time  for  nesting  is  the 
third  week  in  May,  though  a  full  clutch  of  eggs  has  been 
found  on  the  I3th  of  that  month.  In  the  early  days  of  this 
colony  the  nests  were  mere  platforms  of  twigs  and  a  few  roots  ; 
afterwards  more  elaborate  structures  were  built,  with  cup- 
shaped  nests  on  the  platforms,  made  of  roots  or  pieces  of 
fibrous  bark,  and  lined  with  grass  and  hair.  In  the  year  1902, 
although  it  was  known  that  nearly  thirty  pairs  were  in  the 
locality,  only  two  nests  were  discovered,  the  remainder 
being  hidden  by  the  thick  foliage  on  the  trees  ;  consequently 
a  swarm  of  young  birds  made  their  appearance  in  the 
neighbouring  gardens,  and  commenced  an  onslaught  upon 
the  pea  crops  as  soon  as  the  pods  began  to  fill.  The  irate 
owners,  whose  property  was  thus  destroyed,  waged  war  on 
the  plunderers,  with  the  result  that,  up  to  the  middle  of 
September,  no  fewer  than  thirty-five,  young  and  old,  were 
killed  by  means  of  traps,  guns,  and  bird-lime.  On  the  9th 
of  September  I  saw  whole  rows  of  peas  that  had  been 
demolished  by  the  powerful  beaks  of  the  Hawfinches,  instru- 
ments well  adapted  for  such  purposes. 

A  departure  from  the  usual  type  of  egg  is  occasionally 
met  with,  and  some  of  a  bluish  colour  have  been  found  in 
the  Masham  neighbourhood. 

The  local  names  are  few : — Grosbeak  is  of  general  use, 
and  Cherry  Finch  is  applied  to  it  at  Upsall,  Swaledale. 


w 


i6g 
GOLDFINCH. 

Carduelis  elegans  (S/eph.). 

^K^^  ,      l 

Resident,  local,  not  common,  decreasing  in  numbers ;  a  few 
migrants  in  autumn. 

This  species  was  first  alluded  to  as  a  native  of  Yorkshire 
by  Marmaduke  Tunstall,  in  1783,  thus  : — "  Goldfinch. — 
Called  in  the  north  of  England  Redcap  and  Gold  Linnet." 
(Tunst.  MS.  p.  68.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  of  it  as  follows  : — 

Carduelis  elegans. — Goldfinch — Common  at  Doncaster  and  Hebden 
Bridge  ;  formerly  by  no  means  uncommon  near  Halifax,  now  nearly 
extinct  ;  it  is  met  with  near  Leeds  ;  is  not  very  common  about 
Huddersfield  ;  it  is  very  plentiful  in  the  moorland  districts  near 
Barnsley  ;  it  is  rarely  seen  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  York, 
though  pretty  abundant  a  few  miles  to  the  east  of  the  city  ;  it  is 
obtained  about  Thirsk. 

This  charming  little  finch,  which  was  formerly  abundant 
in  most  cultivated  districts,  is  becoming  extremely  rare,  its 
decrease  in  highly  farmed  neighbourhoods  being  attributable 
to  the  destruction  of  those  plants  on  whose  seeds  it  usually 
feeds  ;  in  some  places  linseed  and  flax  were  extensively 
cultivated  for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  in  harvest  time 
the  birds  were  attracted  to  the  ripening  seeds  ;  this  industry 
has  almost  died  out,  and,  with  its  decline,  a  corresponding 
decrease  in  the  number  of  Goldfinches  has  taken  place. 
The  professional  bird  catchers  are  also  partly  responsible 
for  their  scarcity,  as  many  used  to  be  snared  in  autumn 
to  sell  for  cage  birds,  and  so  recently  as  1904  no  fewer  than 
seventeen  were  captured  near  Knaresborough ;  the  result 
is  that  in  only  few  places  can  it,  at  the  present  time,  be  found 
nesting  in  a  wild  state.  In  the  south,  south-west,  and  south- 
east portions  of  the  West  Riding  it  is  almost  extinct  as  a 
nester,  though  it  was  formerly  plentiful  in  suitable  localities ; 
odd  pairs  still  breed  near  Wakefield,  and  about  Ackworth 
it  is  slightly  increasing.  In  the  Leeds  area  it  used  to  be 
frequent  near  Sherburn-in-Elmet  when  teazle  was  cultivated, 


170  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

and  it  fed  on  the  seeds  ;  in  1878  a  small  flock  was  observed 
in  a  market  garden  in  Meanwood  Road,  the  first  reported 
from  there.  In  Lower  Wharf edale  it  was  abundant  when 
flax  was  extensively  grown  ;  Oglethorpe  Whin  cover,  where 
it  still  nests  sparingly,  used  to  be  a  favourite  haunt.  In  the. 
Nidd  valley  it  continued  to  nest  up  to  1882,  as  also  in  the 
Washburn  valley  near  Fewston;  at  Staveley;  near  Ripon, 
and  in  the  north-west  of  the  county,  though  in  most  of  these 
districts  its  present  status,  generally  speaking,  is  that  of 
a  winter  visitant  in  small  numbers. 

Many  years  ago  Goldfinches  were  caught  in  the  Castle 
Yard  at  York  ;  as  breeding  birds  they  are  now  scarce  near 
the  city,  except  at  Sandhutton,  where  some  considerable- 
numbers  nest,  though  not  so  many  as  formerly ;  in  the 
central  valleys  of  the  North  Riding  it  is  extremely  scarce 
as  a  nesting  species,  but  it  bred  in  upper  Teesdale  in  1871. 
In  the  Scarborough  district  it  was  met  with  in  the  years 
1900  and  1901  ;  and  appears  to  be  slightly  increasing  there, 
several  nests  being  found  in  1905.  It  is  a  scarce  resident  near 
Whitby  ;  at  Loftus  it  is  frequent  in  winter,  though  it  rarely 
breeds  there.  It  used  to  be  plentiful  in  north-west  Cleveland 
about  the  "  sixties  "  when  linseed  was  freely  grown,  now  that 
the  cultivation  of  that  plant  is  discontinued  it  has  become 
very  rare  ;  it  is  generally  a  winter  visitant,  only  nesting 
sparingly  in  one  or  two  localities. 

In  the  East  Riding  it  is  not  uncommon  at  Pocklington 
and  within  a  radius  of  several  miles  in  the  surrounding  district, 
where  it  nests  annually  ;  it  is  occasionally  found  at  Market 
Weighton,  but  is  scarce  at  Knapton  and  Scampston,  and 
generally  noticed  only  in  winter.  It  bred  formerly  near 
Bridlington,  but  has  greatly  decreased  in  numbers,  while 
near  Flamborough  and  Spurn  it  is  only  a  winter  visitant  on 
migration.  In  the  Beverley  neighbourhood  it  is  scarce, 
and  as  soon  as  it  makes  its  appearance  it  is  eagerly  sought 
after  by  the  bird-catchers.  It  was  formerly  exceedingly 
numerous,  and  there  is  very  good  authority  for  stating 
that  no  less  than  four  hundred  were  captured  on  the  site  of 
the  present  Union  at  Beverley  in  a  few  days  ;  this  small 


GOLDFINCH.  171 

site,  at  that  time  being  a  waste  covered  with  thistles,  knap- 
weed, etc. ;  these  were  caught  by  a  famous  bird-catcher 
called  Greenhough,  and  large  numbers  were  taken  in  other 
years  by  him  and  other  well-known  bird-snarers.  More 
recently  these  birds  have  been  regularly  sought  for  in  the 
autumn  ;  the  bird-catchers  traverse  the  country  in  all 
directions  with  a  Goldfinch  in  a  small  cage,  which,  on  hearing 
its  wild  relatives,  immediately  gives  warning  ;  the  men,  from 
long  experience,  know  all  the  likely  localities,  such  as 
commons,  where  the  knapweed  is  seeding  freely,  and  bits 
of  uncultivated,  or  waste,  land,  where  thistles  are  allowed  to 
seed.  In  the  early  autumn  the  old  birds  and  their  broods 
usually  keep  together,  and  the  young  are  easily  caught, 
the  old  birds  falling  victims  later.  It  still  nests  in  a  few 
localities  in  Holderness,  especially  in  plantations  of  old  Scotch 
firs,  and  in  spring  it  feeds  on  the  seeds  of  the  fir  cones.  It 
has  also  nested  sparingly  near  Hedon  and  Aldborough. 

As  a  migrant  the  Goldfinch  occurs  regularly  on  the  coast 
in  October,  but  never  in  large  numbers,  although  it  was 
fairly  plentiful  in  1880.  The  returns  from  the  light  stations 
afford  but  slight  information  respecting  its  occurrence,  and 
there  is  only  one  entry  referring  to  its  spring  passage.  The 
following  items  are  extracted  from  the  Migration  Reports : — 
"  1881.  A  few  seen  at  Spurn  on  October  27th. 

1882.  At  Spurn,  on  April  20th,  six  from  south,  remaining 

all  day. 
,,        At  Spurn  in  autumn.     Some  in  October. 

1883.  November  22nd.     Tees  L.V.     One  on  board." 

In  the  year  1898  there  were  several  noted  on  the  sand- 
dunes  at  Spurn  on  the  iQth  of  November,  and  in  1901  I 
noticed  an  arrival  at  the  Teesmouth  on  the  4th  of  November. 

There  is  a  common  belief  amongst  bird-fanciers  in 
Yorkshire  that  the  Goldfinches  obtained  from  pear-trees 
and  sloe-bushes  are  better  singers  than  those  reared  from 
other  trees  ;  the  former  are  synonymous  with  the  "  Cheverel  " 
or  "  Chevil "  ;  in  some  parts  this  is  termed  the  pear-tree 
Goldfinch,  while  the  other  so-called  variety  is  the  apple-tree 
Goldfinch,  though,  technically  speaking,  there  is  only  one  true 


172  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

species  (See  Yarrell's  "  British  Birds,"  Ed.  4,  Vol.  ii.,  p.  124). 
The  provincial  names  by  which  the  Goldfinch  is  known 
are : — Goldie  and  Gold  Spink,  given  by  Swainson  as  in  general 
use,  the  latter  term  being  dialectically  modified  in  Craven  to 
Gowd-Spink.  Tunstall,  in  1783,  mentioned  it  as  known  as 
Gold  Linnet  in  the  North  of  England,  pronounced  Gowd  Linnet 
in  the  North  Riding,  and  Gold  Lenny  in  Cleveland.  Redcap  is 
another  term  in  general  use,  and  King  Harry  or  King  Harry 
Redcap,  in  the  North  and  East  Ridings  ;  Thistle  Finch  is  a 
North  Riding  name,  and  Captain  a  West  Riding  one  ;  while 
Grey  Kate  or  Grey  Pate  are,  in  the  North  and  East  Ridings, 
applied  to  the  young. 


SISKIN. 
Carduelis  spinus  (Z.). 


Winter  visitant,  of  uncertain  appearance  and  in  varying  numbers. 

The  first  notice  of  the  Siskin  appertaining  to  Yorkshire 
appears  to  be  in  the  Allan  MS.,  1791,  of  the  Tunstall  Museum 
(p.  205  of  Fox's  "  Synopsis),"  where  it  is  stated  that  this  species 
"Visits  us  at  uncertain  times,  but  chiefly  in  winter,  and 
never  known  to  breed  here." 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  referred  to  it  thus : — 

Carduelis  spinus. — Siskin — Rather  common  near  Sheffield  some 
winters.  J.  Heppenstall  observes  "  Last  year  I  received  several 
which  were  shot  feeding  on  the  seeds  of  the  alder  ;  it  visits  our  gardens 
most  autumns  along  with  Fringilla  montefringilla,  the  attraction  seems 
to  be  the  seeds  of  the  sycamore  ;  I  was  informed  in  Hertfordshire 
that  they  had  large  flocks  last  winter  feeding  on  the  seeds  of  arbor- vitae." 
It  is  common  in  flocks  in  winter  near  Bridlington  ;  it  is  an  irregular 
visitant  near  Halifax,  but  was  very  abundant  in  the  winter  of  1835-6  ; 
it  is  not  infrequently  obtained  near  Doncaster,  in  April  1837  a  large 
flock  was  seen  in  Sandall  Beat  ;  it  is  met  with  rarely  near  York  and 
Barnsley  ;  it  is  common  near  Hebden  Bridge  in  some  seasons. 

Although  reported  to  have  bred  in  Yorkshire,  the  alleged 
instances  of  the  discovery  of  its  nest  are  so  few  that  the  Siskin 
cannot  accurately  be  described  as  a  resident  species,  and 
must  rank  as  a  winter  visitant,  irregular  in  numbers  and 


SISKIN.  173 

varying  greatly  in  different  years.  It  is  chiefly  noted  in 
situations  where  alders  grow,  those  trees  being  favourable 
for  the  production  of  its  favourite  food.  The  nest  is  said 
to  have  been  found  near  Halifax  about  1850  (F.  G.  S.  Rawson), 
Walton  Hall  (A.  G.  More,  Ibis,  1865,  p.  129),  and  at  Haxby 
near  York  (Zool.  1850,  p.  2676),  but  it  is  doubtful  if  these 
reported  discoveries  are  to  be  relied  upon,  except  in  the  case 
of  the  Walton  Hall  occurrence  which  was  vouched  for  by 
Charles  Waterton,  who  gave  the  particulars  to  Mr.  More. 
In  more  recent  years,  however,  one  or  two  pairs  have  nested 
near  Pickering. 

In  the  West  Riding  it  was  fairly  abundant  about  fifty 
years  ago,  much  more  so  than  at  the  present  time  ;  it  now 
only  appears  intermittently  and  in  small  numbers,  though 
it  was  unusually  numerous  near  Bingley,  in  Airedale,  in  the 
winters  of  1902-3  and  1905-6 ;  in  the  north-west  it  is  very 
scarce  and  is  only  occasionally  found  in  the  dales.  In  the 
East  Riding  it  is  not  a  common  visitant,  but  formerly  it 
was  frequent  near  Pocklington  and  was  often  brought  in 
by  bird-catchers  ;  at  Flamborough  it  is  only  seen  on  migra- 
tion in  autumn  ;  it  has  occurred  sparingly  at  Scamps  ton, 
Market  Weighton,  and  Beverley,  and  is  reported  at  Spurn 
on  its  passage  in  most  seasons.  In  north  Yorkshire  it  is  a 
fairly  regular  visitant,  and  when  away  from  the  coast  is 
generally  found  by  the  margins  of  streams,  and  frequently 
in  company  with  Redpolls ;  it  is  met  with  in  most  of 
the  valleys  in  the  central  portion  of  the  North  Riding, 
is  somewhat  scarce  in  the  north-west,  and  has  been  noted 
at  High  Force  in  upper  Teesdale.  As  early  as  1808  Graves 
mentioned  it  in  his  list  of  Cleveland  birds,  and  in  1844 
John  Hogg  stated  he  had  seen  a  few  ;  it  still  occurs  annually 
but  is  uncertain  as  to  numbers. 

As  a  migrant  at  the  light  stations  it  appears  regularly 
in  small  parties  between  Spurn  and  Easington  in  autumn, 
haunting  the  lanes  and  drain  banks,  feeding  on  seeds  of 
nettles  and  other  plants,  and  generally  so  tame  as  to  allow 
of  a  near  approach.  It  was  abundant  in  the  autumn  of  1881, 
in  October,  both  at  Spurn  and  at  the  Teesmouth,  in  flocks 


174  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

up  to  twenty,  but  more  generally  two  or  three  together  ; 
they  were  mostly  females  and  birds  of  the  year,  only  very  few 
being  old  males.  In  1889  there  were  several  at  Spurn 
associated  with  Mealy  Redpolls.  At  Flamborough  it  is  also 
seen  during  the  autumn  migration,  and  on  2ist  November 
1893,  three  were  reported  in  company  with  Snow  Buntings. 
On  the  Cleveland  coast  it  is  observed  on  both  the  spring 
and  autumn  passages  ;  at  the  former  period  very  irregularly 
and  only  in  small  numbers,  usually  at  the  end  of  April  or  early 
in  May  ;  on  ist  May  1901,  several  came  with  Greenfinches 
from  due  east  (see  Greenfinch).  In  the  autumn  migration 
it  is  in  greater  abundance  and  more  regular  in  its  appearance  ; 
on  23rd  September  1901,  there  was  a  large  arrival  at  the 
Teesmouth,  and  many  remained  for  several  days  feeding 
on  the  sand-dunes ;  they  were  also  observed  at  inland 
localities,  and  on  the  3Oth  of  October  there  was  a  great 
flight  from  due  north,  with  Larks,  Greenfinches,  and  Snow 
Buntings. 

A  variety  of  a  light  fawn  colour  was  noted  by  Mr.  W, 
Morris,  near  Sedbergh,  in  October  1905. 

The  only  local  name  given  by  Swainson  is  Aberdavine, 
which  he  interprets  to  mean  Alder  Finch  ;  this  is  not  now  in 
use  in  Yorkshire,  although  the  Siskin  was  well  known  to  old 
bird-catchers  about  Beverley  under  the  name  of  Aberdevine. 


SERIN. 
Serinus  hortulanus  (Koch). 

Accidental    visitant     from     the    Continent,     of    extremely    rare 
occurrence. 


This  Continental  species,  which  is  of  very  rare  occurrence 
in  England,  was  claimed  as  a  Yorkshire  bird  by  the  late  G.  C. 
Swailes  of  Beverley,  and  as  the  circumstances  are  exceptional 
it  may  be  desirable  to  give  his  account  verbatim,  as  follows  : — 

"  I  have  in  a  small  aviary  here  a  pair  of  Serin-finches 
which  have  this  season  nested  and  reared  a  brood  of  young. 


HOUSE  SPARROW.  175 

On  the  26th  ult.  I  was  surprised  to  see  near  the  aviary  a 
strange  male  Serin,  which  stayed  close  by  for  some  time, 
and  so  far  as  one  could  possibly  judge,  it  was  not  an  escaped 
bird.  During  the  afternoon  I  heard  it  singing  merrily  its 
trivial  song  in  the  top  of  some  tall  oaks  a  few  hundred  yards 
from  the  aviary."  (G.  C.  Swailes,  Field,  5th  June  1897.) 

Mr.    F.    Boyes    confirms    Mr.    Swailes's    statement,    and 
remarks  that  he  also  saw  and  heard  the  wild  bird. 


HOUSE    SPARROW. 

Passer  domesticus  (Z.). 


Resident,  general,  very  numerous  ;   partially  migratory  in  autumn. 


The  first  Yorkshire  allusion  to  the  Sparrow  is  in  a  com- 
munication from  Ralph  Johnson  of  Brignall,  near  Greta 
Bridge,  to  John  Ray,  bearing  date  2gth  March  1672  : — 

"  Honoured  Sir,  I  have  only  observed  this  change  from 
proper  colours  to  white  .  .  .  and  in  Sparrows  (P.  domesticus) 
which  is  usual.  .  .  ."  ("Correspondence  of  John  Ray,"  p. 96.) 

Thomas  A  His,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Passer  domesticus. — House  Sparrow — Abundant  everywhere. 

The  ubiquitous  Sparrow,  which  is  only  too  numerous  in 
this  as  in  other  counties,  flourishes  exceedingly  wherever 
there  are  human  habitations,  and  even  in  the  dales  up  to  an 
elevation  of  1000  feet ;  in  the  latter  situations  it  sometimes 
nests  in  rocks  with  Jackdaws  and  Starlings  away  from 
civilization. 

Common  as  this  bird  is,  however,  it  may  not  be  generally 
known  that  it  is  a  regular  migrant,  and  of  this  fact  there  is 
abundant  evidence  in  the  returns  sent  in  from  the  light 
stations  on  the  coast,  which  show  that  both  in  spring  and 
autumn  considerable  numbers  cross  the  North  Sea  ;  in  the 
latter  season  from  the  first  week  in  September  to  the  end 
of  the  year,  and  often  in  flocks  of  hundreds,  some  of  which 


176  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

rest  on  light-vessels,  and  resume  their  course  in  the  morning. 
At  Spurn  in  1880  an  immense  flock,  evidently  freshly  arrived, 
was  noticed  on  the  shore  ;  there  was  a  great  "  rush  "  from 
October  i4th  to  iQth  1884  ;  another  from  3rd  to  7th  October 
1886,  and  again  from  the  i8th  to  the  23rd.  Many  also  came 
in  from  2nd  to  6th  November  1895.  Large  flocks  of  clean 
looking  birds,  which  are  undoubtedly  migratory,  are  frequently 
noticed  at  the  Teesmouth  in  winter,  feeding  on  the  reclaimed 
lands. 

The  damage  caused  by  Sparrows  to  ripening  corn  has 
long  been  a  subject  of  complaint  and  led  to  the  customs, 
which  formerly  prevailed  in  many  villages,  of  paying  "  Sparrow 
money  "  for  their  destruction.  At  Palsgrave,  now  part  of 
Scarborough,  in  1809,  the  overseers  were  empowered  to  pay 
3d.  per  dozen  for  all  killed  and  brought  to  them,  and  id.  per 
dozen  for  their  eggs.  In  some  parishes  the  money  paid 
formed  an  important  amount,  as  at  Worsborough,  where  in 
1820  488  sparrows  were  paid  for  at  Jd.  each — £i  os.  4d. 
(Wilkinson's  Worsborough).  At  Patrington  the  prices  were 
for  two  Sparrows  Jd.,  four  unfledged  Jd.,  six  eggs  £d.  In 
various  other  Holderness  villages  similar  amounts  were  paid, 
and  this  custom  continued  until  about  1850,  the  village  boys 
thus  obtaining  a  good  supply  of  pocket  money.  In  the 
parishes  of  Micklefield  near  Leeds,  and  Wakefield,  a  premium 
was  offered  for  the  killing  of  Sparrows,  and  was  continued 
until  1872  :  for  every  old  or  fully  fledged  bird  Jd.,  for  two 
young  ones  Jd.,  for  four  eggs  Jd.  At  Linton-on-Ouse  the 
overseers  paid  id.  for  males  and  Jd.  for  females  ;  the  gunners 
used  to  shoot  the  male  of  a  pair,  the  hen  then  got  another 
mate,  and  no  less  than  seven  males  have  been  killed  in  one 
place  ;  that  is,  a  hen  has  had  seven  mates  before  she  was 
driven  away  (Zool.  1865,  p.  9711). 

In  connection  with  this  bird  there  is  a  proverbial  saying 
near  Hatfield,  "  There  are  no  Sparrows  in  Lindholme," 
which  has  arisen  from  the  circumstance  described  as  follows  : — 
"  Tom  o'  Lindholme,  being  left  at  home  to  protect  the  corn 
from  Sparrows,  to  save  trouble,  got  them  all  into  the  barn, 
put  a  harrow  into  the  window  to  keep  them  in,  and  starved 


HOUSE  SPARROW.  177 

them  to  death."     ("  Hatfield  Chase/')     Lindholme  is  about 
three  miles  from  Hatfield  (Notes  and  Queries,  Ser.  i.,  Vol.  viii., 

P-  532). 

The  choice  of  nesting  sites  is  occasionally  varied  from  the 
usual  one ;  near  Beverley  eggs  have  been  found  in  Sand 
Martins'  burrows,  and  in  Cleveland  I  have  seen  nests  placed 
beneath  those  of  Rooks  in  a  rookery.  Both  birds  and  eggs 
are  subject  to  great  variation  ;  of  the  latter  a  brown  coloured 
clutch,  resembling  those  of  a  Skylark,  found  at  Kirkleatham 
on  8th  June  1892,  is  one  of  the  most  unusual.  As  regards 
varieties  in  plumage,  there  used  to  be  a  black  breed  at  Leven 
near  Beverley ;  the  males  were  a  deep  blackish  brown,  so 
nearly  black  as  to  be  only  distinguishable  from  that  colour 
when  in  the  hand  ;  the  hens  a  shade  lighter,  and  the  young 
slaty  black.  The  late  W.  W.  Boulton  had  three  sent  in  1865, 
which  are  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  F.  Boyes  (Zool.  1865, 
p.  9531).  Albino,  white,  pied,  buff,  and  bluish  coloured 
examples  are  also  met  with,  and  are  rather  common  near 
Beverley ;  at  Northallerton  a  female,  perfectly  white,  had  a 
white  brood,  one  of  which  was  captured. 

Early  and  late  nesting  is  not  uncommon  with  such  a 
prolific  species,  but  one  or  two  examples  of  each  will  suffice. 
Eggs  were  found  on  27th  January  1874,  and  young  were 
recorded  on  2ist  February  1846,  near  Huddersfield ;  late  in 
the  year  the  eggs  have  been  seen  in  November  1874,  whilst 
on  I2th  December  1862  an  egg  was  picked  up  on  a  pavement 
in  Leeds. 

Local  vernacular  names : — Spadge  or  Spadger  are  in  general 
use  ;  Spuggy  is  a  Cleveland  term  ;  it  is  Tile  Sparrow  at  Don- 
caster,  and  Collier  at  Skelmanthorpe,  near  Huddersfield. 


VOL.  I. 


I78 

TREE    SPARROW. 
Passer  montanus    £.• 


Resident,  local ;    large  flocks  of  migrants  arrive  in  autumn. 


The  first  reference  to  this  species  is  contained  in  a 
communication  from  Dr.  Sherrard  (the  botanist  and  friend 
of  John  Ray)  to  Walter  Moyle,  and  is  dated  London,  May  loth 
1720.  It  reads  thus  : — 

"  Having  received  a  letter  from  my  old  friend  Dr. 
Richardson  of  North  Bierley  in  Yorkshire,  with  a  bird  he 
thinks  new,  I  wou'd  not  neglect  acquainting  you  of  it  and 
offering  you  it  if  you  have  it  not.  He  calls  it  Passer  domesticus 
minor,  torquatus,  vertice  cupreo ;  'tis  the  hen.  The  cock,  he 
writes  me,  has  a  much  fairer  ring  about  his  neck."  (The 
works  of  Walter  Moyle,  Esq.,  1726.  J.  E.  Harting,  in 
introduction  to  Rodd's  "  Birds  of  Cornwall.")  It  is  also 
referred  to  by  G.  Edwards,  who  had  a  specimen  sent  from 
Landesburg  in  Yorkshire.  ("Gleanings  of  Natural  History," 
1760,  Part  ii.,  p.  124.)  Pennant,  after  giving  a  description 
of  the  bird,  added  :  "  We  are  obliged  to  Mr.  Edwards  for 
this  description,  who  first  discovered  them  to  be  natives 
of  Yorkshire."  ("  Brit.  Zool.,"  1766  Ed.,  p.  109.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Passer  montana. — Tree  Sparrow — Near  Sheffield,  Halifax,  and 
Barnsley  this  bird  is  infrequent  ;  it  is  met  with  near  Leeds  and  Doncas- 
ter,  and  is  not  uncommon  in  the  vicinity  of  York.  Arthur  Strickland 
observes  "It  is  well  known  that  this  bird  usually  builds  in  hollow  trees, 
but,  as  a  proof  how  circumstances  alter  their  habits,  or  perhaps  they 
return  to  their  more  natural  ones,  at  Walton,  where  birds  are  protected 
from  injury,  it,  for  several  years,  built  in  a  clipped  hedge  near  the  house, 
making  a  nest  of  sticks  closed  in  on  all  sides  like  that  of  a  Magpie  ; 
unfortunately  the  hedge  was  cut  down  and  they  forsook  the  place." 

The  Tree  Sparrow  is  resident,  local,  and  rather  eccentric 
in  its  distribution,  though  during  the  past  twenty  years 
it  has  greatly  increased  and  multiplied  in  numbers ;  in 


TREE  SPARROW.  179 

some  districts  it  is  now  quite  common  and  nests  in  large 
colonies.  In  the  south  of  the  West  Riding  it  is  somewhat 
rare,  abundant  in  the  south-west  and  towards  the  central 
portions,  and  very  scarce  in  the  north-west  ;  it  is  not 
uncommon,  though  local  still,  in  the  lower  portions  of  the 
valleys  of  the  Nidd  and  Wharfe,  and  the  northern  parts  of 
the  Riding.  In  the  North  Riding,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
York,  it  is  a  plentiful  species,  as  also  near  Thirsk,  Pickering, 
Bedale,  Northallerton,  and  in  Swaledale  and  Teesdale.  In 
Cleveland  it  is  not  very  plentiful,  and  the  same  remark 
applies  to  the  Whitby  and  Scarborough  localities.  It  is  fairly 
numerous  in  some  parts  of  the  East  Riding,  as  at  Flam- 
borough  and  Bempton,  Lowthorpe,  Beverley,  and  other  places 
in  Holderness. 

Large  flocks  of  immigrants  arrive  on  the  coast  in  autumn, 
at  the  time  when  the  Greenfinches  are  migrating,  but  as  a 
rule  not  often  to  the  north  of  Flamborough.  The  Migration 
Reports  contain  only  two  references  to  its  occurrence  at 
this  season,  at  stations  north  of  that  headland,  viz.,  in  1884, 
on  the  gth  September,  "  One  at  Whitby  L.H.,"  and  in  1887, 
on  October  the  2nd,  "  One  at  the  Tees  L.V."  A  return  passage 
is  sometimes  observed  in  early  spring. 

In  winter  the  Tree  Sparrow  often  frequents  the  stack- 
yards and  feeds  in  company  with  Finches  and  other  small 
passerine  birds.  Up  to  1860  great  numbers  were  caught 
at  these  times  in  traps  and  sold  to  the  constable  at  Linton-on- 
Ouse  for  a  half-penny  each  (Zool.  1861,  p.  7818).  In  some 
localities  it  does  not  belie  its  name  and  builds  in  pollard 
and  decayed  trees  and  bushes,  though  it  departs  from  this 
habit,  in  many  instances  adapting  itself  to  its  surroundings, 
and  chooses  other  sites  for  its  nest ;  in  the  Aire  valley  it 
selects  crevices  in  canal  bridges ;  near  Wakefield,  stone 
quarries  ;  at  Wilstrop  it  prefers  holes  in  walls  and  in  stacks  ; 
near  Northallerton  a  colony  nested  in  the  thatched  roof  of 
a  farm  outbuilding  ;  at  Beverley  the  nest  has  been  found 
in  the  burrows  of  Sand  Martins,  and  commonly  in  chalk  pits 
and  pollard  willows  away  from  human  habitations,  where 
its  sharp  chirruping  cry  cannot  be  mistaken ;  and  at 


i8o  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Flamborough  it  breeds  in  the  upper  parts  of  the  cliffs,  and 
also  in  Lloyd's  signal  tower. 

At  Linton-on-Ouse,  in  1860,  J.  Ranson  had  upwards  of 
a  hundred  eggs  through  his  hands,  and  did  not  find  so  much 
dissimilarity  amongst  them  as  in  the  ordinary  House  Sparrow. 

The  local  names  recorded  are  : — Rock  Sparrow  at 
Halifax;  and  Red -headed  Sparrow  at  Linton-on-Ouse. 
Mountain  Sparrow  is  Pennant's  name  ;  and  Cuddy  was 
applied  to  it  in  the  North  Riding  by  Tunstall  (but  I  do  not 
find  mention  elsewhere  of  this  name  as  referring  to  the  Tree 
Sparrow.) 


CHAFFINCH. 
Fringilla  ccelebs  (Z.). 


Resident,    generally    distributed,    common.     A    great    influx    of 
migrants  takes  place  in  autumn. 


This  species  was  first  noticed  as  a  Yorkshire  bird  by 
Marmaduke  Tunstall,  in  1784,  thus  : — "The  Chaffinch — Frin- 
gilla  Calebs.  In  the  north  of  England  called  Spink  from  its 
cry,  as  is  probably  its  French  name  Pinion ;  also  White  Linnet 
and  sometimes  Flaxfinch."  (Tunst.  MS.  1784,  p.  67.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Fringilla  ccelebs. — Chaffinch — Very  common. 

The  well-known  and  favourite  "  Spink  "  of  birds'  nesting 
boys  is  abundantly  distributed  in  all  parts  of  the  county, 
excepting  the  moorlands,  ascending  the  dales  to  a  height  of 
1 100  feet,  at  which  elevation  it  has  nested  in  Teesdale  where 
it  replaces  the  House  Sparrow. 

During  the  autumn  migration  immense  numbers  arrive 
on  the  coast  from  mid-September  to  the  end  of  November, 
often  in  company  with  Larks,  Greenfinches,  and  other  small 
migrants,  the  first  flocks  usually  consisting  of  young  birds  ; 
the  adult  males,  in  comparatively  small  numbers,  coming 


CHAFFINCH.  181 

later.  Sometimes  they  alight  on  board  vessels  at  sea,  and 
as  early  as  1833  Ed.  Blyth  recorded  the  fact  of  two  female 
Chaffinches  coming  on  to  his  ship  off  Whitby  on  October  the 
7th  (Rennie's  Field  Naturalist,  1833).  The  Migration  Reports 
contain  frequent  interesting  entries  concerning  the  passage 
of  this  bird  ;  in  1879  migration  extended  over  seventy  days 
from  the  I7th  of  September  to  the  ist  of  December,  and 
extensive  flights  are  noted  almost  annually.  There  was  a 
great  "  rush  "  at  Redcar  on  20th  November  1884,  but  the 
heaviest  migration  ever  chronicled  was  in  1886,  and  was 
observed  along  the  whole  length  of  the  east  coast,  the  chief 
"  rush  "  being  between  the  3rd  and  the  6th  of  October ; 
on  23rd  December  1901,  several  small  flocks  passed  Redcar 
going  southward.  Late  in  spring  the  foreigners  congregate 
on  the  lands  bordering  the  coast,  preparatory  to  the  return 
journey  northward. 

The  habit  of  separation  of  the  sexes  in  winter  need  not 
be  commented  upon  here  further  than  by  stating  that  the 
hens  and  young  birds  assemble  in  the  low  country,  whilst 
old  cocks,  in  smaller  flocks,  keep  to  higher  ground. 

Instances  of  the  Chaffinch  singing  as  early  as  January 
or  February,  and  as  late  as  October,  have  been  known.  An 
example  of  exceptionally  early  breeding  took  place  in  1873 
at  Heckmondwike,  where  eggs  were  found  on  the  8th  of 
March  ;  and  amongst  the  numerous  cases  of  curious  localities 
chosen  for  building  sites  the  following  may  be  mentioned : 
a  nest  built  on  an  old  Swallow's  nest  which  had  been  placed 
on  a  beam,  in  a  field  shed  at  Scampston  ;  two  nests  built 
together,  one  on  top  of  the  other,  at  Linton-on-Ouse  in  1866  ; 
and  one  at  the  foot  of  a  large  oak  at  Hebden  Bridge.  A  nest 
at  Northallerton  was  found  on  loth  May  1882,  patched  all 
over  with  pieces  of  newspaper  in  lieu  of  lichens.  At  Beverley 
the  nest  and  eggs  have  been  found  built  inside  a  deserted  nest 
of  the  Mistle  Thrush. 

The  cock  bird  has  been  occasionally  noticed  sitting  on 
eggs,  one  such  instance  being  recorded  at  Settle,  though  it 
may  well  be  that  this  was  in  mistake  for  a  hen  in  male  plumage, 
an  example  of  which  was  shot  at  Chapeltown  near  Leeds, 


182  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

on  i6th  May  1887  ;  in  its  ovary  were  two  eggs,  one  of  which 
had  the  shell  partly  formed  and  the  yolk  perfect  (Ibis,  1888, 
p.  228).  Other  varieties  in  plumage,  albino,  white,  pied, 
and  cinnamon  coloured,  have  been  met  with,  and  Tunstall 
mentioned  a  light  coloured  specimen  given  to  him  "  by  the  Hon. 
Fred  Vane  of  Sellaby,  brother  of  Lord  Darlington,  taken  in 
this  neighbourhood  [Wy cliff e-on-Tees].  It  had  much  white, 
and  some  fine  yellow  feathers  on  the  back  and  shoulders. 
If  it  had  not  been  taken  in  a  wild  state,  should  have  almost 
judged  it  to  have  been  bred  between  a  Chaffinch  and  a  jonquil 
Canary  Bird."  (Tunst.  MS.,  p.  67.) 

Variations  from  the  ordinary  type  of  eggs,  entirely  of  a 
light  blue  colour,  like  those  of  the  Pied  Flycatcher,  are  not 
uncommon ;  and  the  late  Canon  Atkinson  mentioned  a  clutch 
of  very  pale  buff,  slightly  tinged  with  vinous  colour  ("Moor- 
land Parish,"  p.  342). 

Its  local  names  are  numerous.  Those  in  general  use  are 
Spink,  White  Linnet,  Spinky,  and  Bullspink  ;  Pink  is  used 
in  the  Nidd  valley ;  Bully  or  Bullie  in  the  North  Riding 
and  the  Nidd  valley ;  Shilfa,  Sheelfa,  or  Sheelie,  Wet  Bird, 
and  Scobby  or  Scobbie  in  the  North  Riding  ;  Weetie  in  central 
Yorkshire  to  the  coast ;  Wintie  in  the  East  Riding  ;  Chaffy 
in  Cleveland  ;  and  French  Linnet  and  Fleck  Linnet  in  southern 
Holderness  ;  whilst  Tunstall  called  it  Flaxfinch. 


BRAMBLING. 

Fringilla  montifringilla  (Z.). 


Regular  winter  visitant,   but  varying  in  numbers. 


The  earliest  reliable  notice  of  this  species  in  Yorkshire  is 
contained  in  Atkinson's  "  Compendium  of  British  Ornithology," 
1820,  p.  68,  where  it  is  stated  to  be  "  pretty  common  in 
Yorkshire." 


BR  AMBLING.  183 

The  Brambling,  or  Lesser  Mountain  Finch,  of  Willughby 
is  undoubtedly  the  Snow  Bunting. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Fringilla  montifringilla. — Mountain  Finch — A  few  met  with  in 
most  districts  every  winter  ;  occasionally  more  abundant. 

This  pretty  Finch  is  a  constant  winter  visitant,  but  irregu- 
lar in  numbers,  being  very  abundant  in  some  years  and 
comparatively  scarce  in  others.  It  may  generally  be  expected 
in  the  first  or  second  week  of  October,  though  an  exceptionally 
early  date  is  the  2nd  of  that  month  in  the  year  1901,  when 
several  were  noted  at  the  Teesmouth ;  it  was  also  recorded 
at  Wakefield  on  the  same  date  in  1883  ;  the  earliest  arrival 
at  Spurn  was  on  the  26th  September  1896.  It  is  fairly  well 
distributed,  and,  as  it  is  particularly  partial  to  beech  mast, 
the  woods  where  this  fruit  is  in  greatest  abundance  are  most 
favoured  by  its  attentions. 

In  1864  these  birds  were  very  numerous,  and  in  1898-9 
they  were  particularly  abundant,  thousands  being  seen  in 
the  beech  woods,  where  they  were  very  tame  and  allowed  a 
close  approach.  In  the  dales  it  is  sometimes  met  with  almost 
on  the  edges  of  the  moors  and  occasionally  remains  till  late 
in  spring  ;  one  or  two  were  seen  on  Bluberhouse  Moor  on  loth 
April  1887,  though  it  usually  takes  its  departure  before  this 
time.  The  latest  record  for  Spurn  is  the  9th  of  April,  when 
a  beautiful  male  in  breeding  plumage  was  observed. 

In  severe  winters,  when  frost  and  snow  cover  up  its 
ordinary  feeding  grounds,  it  betakes  itself  to  the  stack  yards, 
and  there  consorts  with  Chaffinches  and  other  small  birds, 
returning  to  the  fields  and  woods  with  milder  weather.  It 
was  unusually  plentiful  in  the  farm-steads  in  Cleveland 
during  the  hard  frost  of  January  and  February  1895,  and  in 
November  1896,  it  was  common  in  south  Holderness. 
Seebohm  stated  ("Br.  Birds,"  Vol.  ii.,  p.  98),  that  in  a 
"  Brambling  year"  great  numbers  resort  nightly  to  roost  in 
Meersbrook  Park  near  Sheffield,  in  company  with  Redwings. 

The  migration  in  autumn  commences  as  a  rule  in  October, 
and  continues  in  some  seasons  until  December  or  early  in 
January  of  the  following  year.  Late  in  autumn  flocks, 


184  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

often  of  great  size  and  entirely  composed  of  old  males,  occur 
on  the  coast,  and  the  stubble  fields  are  on  their  arrival  favourite 
localities  for  them.  When  migrating,  or  shifting  their  ground, 
they  fly  very  close  together  like  Knots  and  may  thus  be 
distinguished  from  other  small  birds  at  a  distance.  On  i8th 
October  1882,  an  immense  flock,  extending  over  two  hundred 
yards  in  length,  was  observed  at  Spurn,  and  on  the  I2th  and 
1 3th  of  the  same  month  there  was  a  considerable  arrival  at 
the  Teesmouth  in  company  with  Greenfinches,  Snow  Buntings, 
and  Linnets  ;  a  great  "  rush  "  was  also  recorded  in  October 
1895,  at  the  Humber  and  Tees  estuaries.  The  Brambling 
has  been  known  to  alight  on  vessels  at  sea,  and  as  early  as 
1855  three  were  brought  into  Middlesbrough,  having  been 
captured  in  an  exhausted  condition  on  board  a  ship,  as  it  was 
taking  the  Tees,  on  the  evening  of  the  I4th  of  October. 

The  late  Canon  Atkinson  wrote  a  circumstantial  account 
of  the  supposed  nesting  of  this  species  at  Baldersby  Park, 
near  Thirsk,  from  particulars  supplied  by  the  late  Hon. 
Guy  Dawnay,  who  forwarded  him  the  nest,  which  was 
constructed  of  moss,  wool,  and  grass  outwardly,  and  lined 
with  hair  and  fine  feathers,  containing  the  full  complement 
of  eggs,  and  had  been  found  on  the  side  shoot  of  an  oak 
about  six  feet  above  the  ground  (Zool.  1864,  p.  9210  ;  Ibis, 
1865  ;  Field  23rd  July  1864). 

Mr.  Dresser,  however,  considers  it  extremely  improbable 
that  the  nest  and  eggs  were  those  of  the  Brambling  ("  Birds 
of  Europe,"  Vol.  iv.,  p.  16). 

A  white  example  was  in  the  late  James  Carter's  possession 
at  Masham,  obtained  in  1881  ;  and  a  pied  specimen  has  been 
seen  at  Harrogate. 

The  vernacular  names  are  not  numerous.  Mountain 
Finch  and  Bramble  Finch  are  in  general  use  ;  French  Linnet 
or  French  Lenny  is  used  in  the  North  Riding  ;  and  Over-sea 
Lenny  at  Loftus  and  Staithes. 


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LINNET. 
Linota  cannabina  (L.). 


Resident,    common,    and    generally    distributed.     Large    numbers 
of  migrants  arrive  in  autumn. 


The  earliest  mention  of  the  Linnet  in  connection  with 
Yorkshire  is  found   in    the  following   communication    from 
Mr.  Jessop  of  Sheffield  to  the  well-known  John  Ray,  thus  : — 
"  Sir,  ...  I  have  gotten  a  black-legged  Linnet  (L.  cannabina). 
...  I  am,  .  .  .  Fra.  Jessop.      Broomhall,   November  25th 
1668."     ("  Correspondence  of  John  Ray,"  p.  33.) 
Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Linota  cannabina. — Common  Linnet — Frequent  in  most  districts, 
especially  the  moorlands. 

The  Common  Linnet  is  resident  and,  as  its  name  implies, 
common ;  it  is  generally  distributed,  particularly  on  moors 
or  waste  and  uninhabited  lands.  Like  its  more  handsome 
relative,  the  Goldfinch,  its  numbers  have  lessened  during  the 
past  few  years,  and  this  is  owing  to  the  same  causes  which 
have  led  to  the  decrease  of  the  former  species,  viz.,  high 
farming,  the  discontinuance  of  flax  cultivation,  and  the  wiles 
of  the  bird-catchers,  who  are  ever  on  the  look  out  to  entrap 
them  for  cage  birds.  It  is,  however,  still  common  where 
gorse  abounds  ;  on  the  cliff  tops  near  Flamborough  and 
Bempton  it  is  particularly  numerous  in  the  nesting  season 
amongst  the  whin  covers  and  in  the  bye-lanes  ;  in  the  Aire 
valley  it  frequently  nests  in  whitethorn  hedges  ;  and  at  Spurn, 
where  it  breeds  regularly  on  the  sand-dunes,  the  nests  are 
sometimes  lined  with  feathers  of  the  Lesser  Tern. 

During  the  autumn  large  migratory  flocks  arrive  from 
over-sea,  in  September  and  October,  and  occasionally  on  the 
return  passage  in  spring.  In  1884  from  the  gth  of  September 
to  the  end  of  October  great  numbers  were  reported,  and  also 
in  1887  from  the  8th  of  October  to  the  3rd  of  November  ; 
these  occurred  at  all  the  light  stations  between  Teesmouth 
and  Spurn,  and  on  the  i6th  of  April  1887,  many  were  seen 
at  the  Teesmouth  going  north-west.  In  the  autumn  of 


186  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

1898  thousands  were  noted  on  the  coast  between  Easington 
and  Kilnsea  (see  Migration  Reports).  On  their  arrival  they 
often  remain  for  some  time  on  the  sand-dunes  and  waste 
lands  near  the  coast,  afterwards  resorting  to  the  stubbles 
where  they  feed  in  company  with  Greenfinches  and  other 
small  birds,  and  it  is  at  these  times  that  large  numbers  fall 
victims  to  the  snares  of  the  bird-catchers. 

Instances  of  late  nesting  are  occasionally  met  with.  One 
such  is  reported  from  Kilnsea,  where  a  nest  with  callow  young 
was  found  on  ist  September  1886.  Spotless  eggs  are  occasion- 
ally reported  ;  a  clutch  in  my  collection  was  found  at  Malton 
by  Mr.  S.  H.  Smith  and  others  have  been  noted  at  Strensali 
and  Great  Ay  ton. 

As  regards  variation  in  plumage,  two  examples  of  an 
isabelline  type ;  one  with  white  primaries  and  tail  feathers, 
and  another  with  a  pure  white  head,  have  occurred  at  Beverley; 
one  at  Bawtry  had  a  white  ring  round  the  neck  (Neville  Wood's 
Nat.  1837),  and  an  albino  specimen  is  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Wm.  Morris  of  Sedbergh. 

Of  local  names,  we  have  Brownie  in  the  North  Riding  ; 
Grey  Linnet,  Red  Linnet,  and  Lemon  Bird,  applied  according 
to  the  stage  of  plumage  in  which  the  bird  appears  ;  Red  Lenn 
at  Huddersfield  ;  Robin  Linnet  in  Nidderdale  ;  Song  Linnet 
at  Ackworth  ;  Goss  [Gorse]  Linnet  near  Doncaster  ;  Whin 
Linnet  at  Sedbergh  and  in  the  East  Riding  ;  Thorn  Linnet 
in  Ribblesdale  ;  and  Bent  Linnet  at  Spurn  ;  while  the  term 
Brown  Linnet,  and  Lennert  or  Linnet,  are  of  general 
application. 


MEALY  REDPOLL. 
Linota  linaria  (Z.). 


Winter  visitant,   of  irregular  occurrence. 


Probably  the  earliest  notice  of  this  bird  is  contained  in 
Thomas  Allis's  oft-quoted  Report  of  1844  : — 

Linota  canescens. — Mealy  Redpoll — One  specimen  shot  in  the 
winter  of  1839  at  Sheffield  is  in  the  possession  of  John  Heppenstall. 


MEALY  REDPOLL.  187 

Of  the  different  races  of  Mealy  Redpoll,  as  classified  by 
modern  ornithologists,  three  have  occurred  in  Yorkshire, 
and  these  will  be  treated  separately  and  in  order.*  The 
one  to  be  first  considered  is  L.  linaria,  what  may  be  termed 
the  typical  form  ;  this  is  an  inhabitant  of  northern  Europe 
and  Asia,  and  an  uncertain  winter  visitant  to  this  county, 
some  years  being  comparatively  abundant,  while  perhaps 
several  seasons  may  intervene  between  its  visits. 

It  is  very  scarce  in  the  West  Riding,  though  a  large  number 
were  observed  in  the  Aire  valley  in  the  winter  of  1877-8, 
and  a  flock  was  seen  at  Kirkburton  in  1876  ;  it  has  also  been 
met  with  sparingly  in  other  localities  ;  several  were  shot  at 
Fewston  in  the  winter  of  1892  ;  it  has  been  once  reported 
from  Ackworth,  and  one  with  curved  mandibles  is  recorded 
at  Skipton  (Zool.  1883,  p.  259). 

In  the  East  and  North  Ridings  it  has  occurred  rarely 
at  a  few  inland  places  ;  there  was  a  flight  at  Beverley  some 
years  ago  ;  and  at  Market  Weighton,  Pocklington,  Richmond, 
and  Thirsk  it  has  been  noticed,  but  only  as  a  very  scarce 
winter  visitant. 

On  the  coast  line  it  appears  at  intervals  in  considerable 
flocks,  as  in  1855,  1861,  and  1876,  and  then  for  years  it  may  be 
absent  altogether.  A  large  arrival  took  place,  in  company 
with  Siskins,  in  October  1881  ;  at  Spurn  a  great  flight  arrived 
on  the  night  of  the  24th,  and  a  beautiful  adult  male  was 
caught  at  early  morning  of  the  25th,  fourteen  or  fifteen  more 
being  seen  in  a  garden.  They  were  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of 
Spurn,  Kilnsea,  and  Easington  from  the  25th  to  the  27th, 
in  small  parties  of  thirty  or  forty,  but  generally  three  or  four 
on  plants  of  Sea  Starwort.  Some  were  beautiful  old  birds, 
very  mealy,  and  besides  the  patch  of  blood  red  on  the  forehead, 
had  the  breast  and  rump  washed  with  delicate  crimson  rose. 
Out  of  twenty-four  obtained  from  various  flocks  all  but  two 
were  males,  either  old  or  young ;  the  stomachs  contained  seeds. 
There  was  a  marked  difference  in  the  length  and  depth  of 


*  See  Yarrell's  "  British  Birds,  '  4th  Ed.,  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  5-7  ;    and 
Saunders'  Manual,  2nd  Ed.,  p.  189. 


i88  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

the  bills,  and  this  in  examples  shot  from  the  same  flock, 
indicating  probably  that  the  migration  was  made  up  of  birds 
coming  from  widely  separated  districts  in  Scandinavia.  At 
Redcar,  on  the  24th  of  October  in  the  same  year,  five  alighted 
on  the  road  opposite  my  window,  at  10  a.m.  ;  two  were  seen 
in  a  garden,  and  several  others  came  on  to  the  Tees  Break- 
water ;  at  Spurn  in  1889  some  arrived  with  Siskins  from 
October  the  20th  to  the  24th ;  they  were  also  observed  in 
the  autumn  of  1891 ;  at  both  Spurn  and  Flamborough  in 
1893,  and  a  small  flight  appeared  in  1895. 


NORTHERN   MEALY  REDPOLL. 
Linota  exilipes  (Coues). 


An  extremely  rare  winter  visitant  from  northern  Europe,  Siberia, 
and  northern  America.  

The  breeding  range  of  Coues'  Redpoll,  which  is  the  second 
of  the  three  Yorkshire  species,  is  confined  to  the  north-eastern 
parts  of  the  Old  World,  including  northern  Scandinavia  and 
probably  the  Arctic  parts  of  North  America,  so  that  the 
bird  may  be  termed  circumpolar  during  the  nesting  season, 
migrating  south  on  the  approach  of  winter. 

The  first  instance  of  its  occurrence  in  this  county  was 
made  known  by  the  late  J.  Cordeaux,  who  had  an  example 
from  the  late  H.  B.  Hewetson  at  Easington  in  the  winter  of 
1893-4  (Nat.  1894,  p.  84).  Two  others  were  obtained  at 
SkefHing  on  the  3oth  of  December  1898  (op.  cit.  1899,  p.  80). 

Mr.  Cordeaux  expressed  his  firm  conviction  that  this  bird 
occurs  much  oftener  than  is  supposed,  and  he  has  occasionally 
obtained  Redpolls  which  are  referable  neither  to  L.  linaria 
nor  to  L.  rufescens,  but  which  resemble  the  former  so  far 
that  they  have  the  margin  of  the  body  feathers  more  or  less 
edged  with  a  grey  fringe,  a  seasonable  change  which  is  never 
seen  in  the  Redpoll  of  the  British  Isles.  (See  also  Yarrell, 
4th  Ed.,  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  5-7;  Saunders'  "Manual,"  2nd  Ed.,  p.  189; 
and  Harting's  "  Handbook,"  2nd  Ed.,  p.  376.) 


i89 

GREENLAND  MEALY  REDPOLL. 
Linota  hornemanni  (Holboell). 


An  extremely  rare  winter  visitant  from  Greenland,  Iceland,  and 
Spitzbergen. 

This,  the  third  of  the  Yorkshire  Mealy  Redpolls,  has  its 
habitat  within  the  Arctic  circle. 

Its  claim  to  rank  as  a  Yorkshire  species  is  founded  on  the 
fact  that  two  examples  were  obtained  at  Spurn,  one  in  October 
1883,  and  another  in  October  1893.  It  was  the  first  of  these 
specimens  and  not  L.  exilipes  which  was  figured  by  Lord 
Lilford  in  his  magnificent  work,  and  it  is  now  in  the  Royal 
Scottish  Museum.  (Lilford's  ".  Birds,"  Vol.  iv.,  pi.  29  ;  see 
also  Saunders'  "  Manual,"  2nd  Ed.,  p.  189  ;  and  Harting's 
"  Handbook,"  2nd  Ed.,  p.  376.) 


LESSER    REDPOLL. 
Linota  rufescens  (Vieillot). 


Resident,  generally  distributed,  common.     An  influx  of  migrants 
in  autumn. 


Probably  the  first  allusion  to  this  bird  in  connection 
with  the  county  of  York  is  the  statement  in  Montagu's 
"  Ornithological  Dictionary"  (1802),  to  the  effect  that  "  A  nest 
and  eggs  were  sent  by  Dr.  Latham  from  Yorkshire." 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Linota  linaria. — Lesser  Redpoll — Common  in  most  districts,  breeding 
near  Halifax  in  nearly  every  shrubbery  and  plantation. 

This,  the  smallest  British  Finch,  is  a  fairly  common  resident, 
though  somewhat  local,  and  breeds  in  most  districts  where 
it  can  find  conditions  suitable  for  its  requirements  ;  it  is  met 
with  sparingly  in  the  dales  to  a  considerable  elevation,  but 
of  late  years  its  numbers  have  decreased,  and  especially  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  large  towns,  where  it  is  becoming  scarce, 


190  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

yet  it  holds  its  own  in  localities  where  it  is  secure  from 
molestation  by  the  professional  bird-catchers.  In  the  East 
Riding  it  is  rare  as  a  resident,  and  best  known  as  a  spring 
migrant,  retiring  southward  in  autumn.  The  statement  in 
Yarrell's  "  British  Birds  "  (1849  Ed->  Vol.  i.,  p.  515)  that 
Halifax  is  the  limit  of  the  Redpoll's  southern  range  is 
inaccurate,  as  it  is  known  to  breed  in  the  midland  and 
southern  counties  of  England. 

Its  ranks  receive  considerable  additions  in  autumn  and 
winter  from  more  northern  latitudes  ;  at  the  migratory  season 
large  flocks  of  new  arrivals  may  be  observed  on  the  Cleveland 
sea-board,  also  at  Flamborough  and  Spurn,  generally  in 
October  when  the  main  stream  of  migration  is  flowing  ;  it 
was  especially  numerous  in  October  1882  ;  and  at  Flam- 
borough  in  December  1895,  and  January  1896,  there  were 
more  than  had  been  known  altogether  for  the  previous 
twenty  years  (Nat.  1890,  p.  84). 

An  albino  variety  was  reported  by  W.  Illingworth,  from 
Horbury  near  Wakefield  on  2ist  September  1872,  and  a 
white  one,  picked  up  at  Kirkheaton,  is  now  in  Mr.  Alfred 
Beaumont's  collection  at  Lewisham. 

Its  local  and  vernacular  names  are  : — Red  Linnet  in  the 
West  Riding ;  Rose  Linnet  about  York ;  Chivey  about 
Huddersfield ;  Chippet  Linnet  at  Doncaster  (1849)  '•>  and 
Redcap  at  Ackworth  ;  while  Chivey  or  Chevy  Linnet  and 
French  Linnet  are  in  general  use. 


TWITE. 
Linota  flavirostris  (Z.). 


Resident  ;  not  uncommonly  distributed  on  moorlands  of  the  West 
Riding,  more  sparingly  in  the  North  Riding.  An  influx  of  migrants 
in  autumn. 


The  earliest  published  reference  to  this  bird  as  occurring 
in  Yorkshire  is  a  description  of  an  example  obtained  near 


TWITE.  191 

Sheffield  and  sent  by  Mr.  F.  Jessop,  of  that  place,  to  Willughby. 
(Will.  "  Orn."  1676). 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Linota  montana. — The  Mountain  Linnet — Near  Halifax  it  breeds 
in  abundance  on  all  the  high  moors  ;  also  at  Thorne  Moor  ;  it  is 
met  with  near  Leeds,  Doncaster,  and  York. 

The  Mountain  Linnet,  as  it  is  called,  is  resident  and  not  at 
all  uncommon  on  some  of  the  high  moors  in  the  West  Riding  ; 
near  Sheffield  it  breeds  occasionally,  and  in  the  higher  reaches 
of  the  Aire  Valley  it  is  fairly  common,  though  slightly  decreas- 
ing of  late  years,  as  is  the  case  near  Halifax  and  Huddersfield  ; 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  latter  place  it  has  nested  at  the  low  end 
of  Crossland  Moor  close  to  the  town  ;  near  Wilsden  a  small 
colony  was  found,  with  several  nests  in  close  proximity  built 
on  the  ground  amongst  bracken,  and  in  a  much  frequented 
locality  (E.  P.  Butterfield,  in  Hit.  1903).  These  were 
erroneously  recorded  as  Lesser  Redpolls  (ZooL  1902,  p.  193). 
Round  Keighley  it  is  quite  abundant,  as  many  as  thirty  nests 
having  been  seen  in  a  single  season,  and  on  Adel  Moor  its 
eggs  have  been  found  several  times  ;  in  Upper  Wharfedale 
and  Nidderdale,  and  on  the  moors  round  Ripon,  it  also 
breeds  sparingly  ;  the  fells  of  the  north-west  claim  it  as  a 
nesting  species  in  small  numbers  ;  there  is  a  colony  in  Ribbles- 
dale  on  Swarth  Fell,  and  it  nests  in  places  near  the  Lancashire 
border.  In  the  south-west  it  was  noted  on  Thorne  Waste 
in  Allis's  time,  and  his  statement  is  confirmed  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Bunker,  who  found  the  nest  so  recently  as  1884.  It  is  scarcer 
in  the  North  than  in  the  West  Riding,  but  breeds  in  limited 
numbers  on  the  Cleveland  Hills,  on  the  moors  in  Arkengarth- 
dale  and  Swaledale,  commonly  in  Wensleydale,  occasionally 
on  the  moors  near  Bedale,  and  it  has  also  been  once  known 
at  Romanby  near  Northallerton  ;  Strensall  Common  used 
to  be  one  of  its  breeding  haunts,  though  it  appears  to  have 
deserted  that  neighbourhood  during  the  past  decade, 
and  a  few  pairs  nest  in  Teesdale  and  near  Sedbergh ; 
in  the  Whitby  district  it  nests  sparingly  on  the  moorlands 
south  of  the  town  and  also  towards  the  borders  of  Cleveland 
on  Crinkle  and  Waupley.  The  Rev.  H.  H.  Slater  and  the 


192  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Rev.  E.  P.  Knubley  found  several  pairs  breeding  on  Pilmoor 
(Nat.  1882,  p.  179),  which  is  only  eighty  feet  above  the  sea, 
though  in  this  fact  there  is  nothing  extraordinary,  as  I  have 
frequently  found  the  nest  in  the  Hebrides  almost  on  the 
sea-level. 

In  autumn  and  winter  the  Twite  descends  to  the  valleys 
and  low  grounds  and  is  then  seen  in  greater  numbers,  more 
generally  distributed,  and  is  occasionally  snared  in  the  nets 
of  the  professional  bird-catchers. 

A  considerable  influx  of  migrants  from  the  north  takes 
place  during  October  and  November,  associated  with 
Linnets  and  other  small  birds  ;  when  they  first  arrive  the 
Spurn  and  Kilnsea  districts  are  their  favourite  haunts,  and 
at  this  season  they  are  also  met  with  at  most  of  the  coast 
stations,  Flamborough,  Scarborough,  and  the  Teesmouth ; 
they  soon,  however,  distribute  themselves  over  the  county 
and  are  then  met  with  at  many  inland  localities,  though  not 
in  such  abundance  as  formerly.  The  return  migration  usually 
commences  in  March  or  April. 

Some  old  males  shot  in  October  1881,  from  a  flock  at  Spurn, 
had  the  colour  above  the  tail  almost  as  rich  as  in  the  breeding 
season. 

This  bird  nests  earlier  in  Yorkshire  than  in  Scotland, 
where  May  is  the  usual  month  for  nidification  ;  a  nest  and 
eggs  were  found  at  Romanby,  near  Northallerton,  on  the  20th 
of  April  1882,  and  Messrs.  Slater  and  Knubley  discovered 
them  on  Pilmoor  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month.  Though 
the  winter  assemblages  sometimes  do  not  break  up  till  late 
in  spring,  in  Swaledale,  in  1888,  they  were  still  to  be  seen 
in  flocks  on  the  20th  of  May. 

Several  instances  are  chronicled  of  white  varieties  being 
procured  :  two  at  Bewerley  near  Pateley  (Zool.  1850,  p.  2953)  ; 
one  at  Bedale  (James  Carter,  Field,  August  i8th  1877)  ;  one 
on  the  moors  near  Huddersfield  (S.  L.  Mosley  MS.). 

Of  local  names,  Swainson  gives  Twite  Finch  as  used  in 
the  North  Riding  ;  Mountain  Linnet  is  general ;  Twate  or 
Twate  Finch  appears  to  be  a  variant  of  the  usual  name ; 
Grey  Linnet  or  Grey  Lenny  is  used  in  Cleveland  and  in  the 


BULLFINCH.  193 

Wilsden  district,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  Brown  Linnet ; 
Little  Peewit,  used  in  north  Yorkshire,  is  evidently  adopted 
from  its  call  note  ;  and  Ling  Linnet,  in  Ribblesdale,  from 
its  frequenting  the  moorlands  ;  while  Thorny  Linnet  was 
stated  by  Pennant,  1798,  to  be  its  name  in  Yorkshire. 


BULLFINCH. 
Pyrrhula  europoea  (Vieillot). 


Resident  ;    locally  distributed,  and  not  very  numerous.     Migrants 
arrive  in  winter. 


The  first  Yorkshire  mention  of  the  Bullfinch  was  made 
by  Marmaduke  Tunstall  in  1786,  thus  : — "  Loxia  pyrrhula — 
Bullfinch.  Have  had  many  Bullfinches  black,  and  all  the 
intermediate  colours  between  that,  and  the  natural  ones, 

being  spotted  with  black,  etc They  are  very  plenty 

in  the  north  of  Yorkshire."  (Tunst.  MS.  p.  65.) 

Thomas  Allis,   1844,  wrote  : — 

Pyrrhula  vulgaris. — Bullfinch — Common  in  many  parts  ;  not  at 
all  common  near  Huddersfield  ;  R.  Leyland  says  "  Gardeners  and  bird 
fanciers  alike  persecute  this  beautiful  bird,  and  near  Halifax  it  is 
consequently  becoming  scarce." 

This  handsome  species  is  resident  and  generally  distributed 
where  it  it  can  find  situations,  such  as  gardens  and  woodland 
localities,  containing  food  suitable  for  its  habits,  but  it  is 
becoming  scarcer  in  most  districts  owing  to  the  persecution 
of  bird  catchers  and  the  animosity  of  gardeners  who  resent 
the  damage  done  to  fruit  buds ;  in  the  churchwardens' 
accounts  for  the  parish  of  Ecclesfield,  near  Sheffield,  an  entry 
occurs  proving  that  it  was  in  bad  repute  in  the  sixteenth 
century  :  "  1590,  Item  for  VIJ  bulspynke  heades,  VJd.," 
and  we  learn  by  three  old  acts  of  Elizabeth's  reign  that  power 
was  given  to  churchwardens  to  pay  "  for  the  head  of  every 
bulfinsh  or  other  bird  that  devoureth  the  blouthe  of  fruit — id." 
In  more  recent  times  as  many  as  three  hundred  were  killed 
in  the  "  eighties  "  in  one  year  at  Crinkle,  and  near  Harrogate 
VOL.  i.  o 


194  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

fifty  were  taken  by  one  man  in  a  week,  though,  where  any 
protection  is  afforded,  it  is  inclined  to  increase  in  numbers. 
In  autumn  it  is  more  frequently  observed,  as  then  the  old 
and  young  wander  about  in  search  of  food,  and  additions 
to  their  ranks  are  received  from  northern  migrants  ;  this 
was  especially  noticeable  in  1880  when  some  were  seen  at 
Spurn  late  in  November,  and  the  Migration  Reports  contain 
entries  in  1884,  1886,  and  1887  concerning  its  appearance 
at  the  light  stations  in  October  and  November.  It  has  also 
been  noted  during  the  return  passage  in  spring,  in  March 
and  April,  at  the  Tees  Lighthouse  (Sixth  Report ;  see  also 
Zool.  1881,  p.  133,  for  particulars  as  to  other  places). 

Melanic  varieties  of  plumage  frequently  occur  when  in 
captivity,  as  mentioned  by  Tunstall  (see  above),  and  other 
observers,  and  some  have  been  noticed  in  a  wild  state. 

Mr.  K.  Maclean  states  (MS.)  that  in  the  Staithes  and  Loftus 
districts,  when  a  boy,  he  frequently  caught  a  larger  form 
which  went  by  the  name  of  the  "  Russian  Bullfinch."  (See 
next  species.) 

The  local  names  include  Bullspink  and  Bully,  which  are 
in  general  use  ;  Bullflinch  at  Thirsk  ;  Bully  Black  Head  or 
Black-headed  Bully  at  Loftus-in- Cleveland ;  and  Thickbill 
at  Hebden  Bridge.  The  name  Bullfinch  Grosbeak,  given 
by  M.P.  in  a  Wensleydale  list  of  birds  (London's  Mag.  1832) 
is  merely  an  attempt  to  bestow  a  generic  and  specific  term  in 
English ;  and  Coal  Hood  and  Hedge  Coal  Hood,  given  in 
Doncaster  records  by  Neville  Wood,  are  not  local  names  at 
all,  but  merely  fanciful  appellations  given  by  that  author, 
and  used  by  no  one  else. 


NORTHERN  BULLFINCH. 

Pyrrhula  major  (Brehm\ 


Accidental  visitant  from  Northern  Europe ;    rare. 


This  large  form  of  the  Bullfinch,  which  is  separated  by 
Brehm  as  a  distinct  species,  is  found  in  Northern  Europe 


Nest  of  Bullfinch  in  fir  tree.  R.  Fortune. 


See  page   194. 


PINE  GROSBEAK.  195 

and  Northern  Asia,  and  has  occasionally  occurred  at  Heligoland 
on  migration. 

As  it  has  been  imported  into  this  country  as  a  cage  bird 
the  task  of  discriminating  between  "  escapes  "  and  wild  birds 
is  difficult,  but  one  shot  by  Mr.  Craggs  Clubley  of  Kilnsea, 
in  November  1894,  is,  in  all  probability,  a  genuine  migrant ; 
this  is  rendered  more  likely  from  the  fact  that  a  second 
specimen  was  obtained  in  the  same  month  and  year  at  Hun- 
manby,  and  came  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Brown  of  Filey. 

These  are  the  first  British  specimens,  and  were  both 
exhibited  by  Col.  Irby,  F.Z.S.,  at  the  Zoological  Society's 
meeting,  November  1895  (P.Z.S.  1895,  p.  681  ;  and  J. 
Cordeaux,  Nat.  1896,  p.  4). 

The  Hunmanby  bird,  which  is  a  male,  was  figured  by 
Lord  Lilford  (Vol.  iv.  pi.  34),  and  is  now  in  the  Royal  Scottish 
Museum.  The  Kilnsea  specimen  is  in  the  British  Museum  of 
Natural  History  at  South  Kensington.* 


PINE    GROSBEAK. 

Pinicola  enucleator  (L.). 


Rare  accidental  visitant  from  Northern  Europe  and  America. 


The  home  of  this  species  is  among  the  pine  forests  near 
the  Arctic  circle,  but  sometimes  it  extends  to  the  birch 

*  Until  the  present  year  these  were  the  only  recorded  instances 
of  this  bird's  appearance  in  Britain,  but  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  informs 
me  of  the  recent  occurrence  of  Bullfinches  in  Shetland,  which  he  had 
no  doubt  belonged  to  the  large  northern  form  ;  a  female  specimen, 
obtained  on  the  island  of  Fetlar  on  4th  November  1905,  was  forwarded 
for  his  inspection,  and  proved  to  be  an  undoubted  example  of  the 
race  named,  the  wing  measuring  3.67  inches.  During  the  past  autumn 
quite  a  number  of  these  birds  seem  to  have  arrived  in  Shetland,  and 
one  or  two  visited  Fair  Isle  in  November.  In  the  spring  of  1905  several 
Bullfinches  appeared  in  Unst,  most  probably  on  their  return  journey 
to  their  northern  summer  haunts.  Strange  to  say  they  seem  to  have 
escaped  detection  elsewhere  in  the  British  Islands,  for  none  have  been 
recorded  in  the  pages  of  the  serial  literature  devoted  to  natural  history 
subjects.  ("Ann.  Scot  Nat.  Hist."  1906,  pp.  50-51.) 


196  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

woods  as  far  as  70°  N.  lat.  Eastward  it  is  plentiful  in  North 
Russia,  Siberia  to  Kamchatka,  and  southward  to  Lake 
Baikal.  In  America  it  is  found  in  the  Arctic  and  sub-Arctic 
forests,  migrating  in  winter  to  California,  Colorado,  and  the 
Eastern  States. 

The  Local  Museum  at  Whitby  contains  a  specimen  of 
this  rare  Arctic  visitor,  shot  from  a  flock  at  Littlebeck,  four 
miles  distant  from  Whitby,  in  the  winter  of  (about)  i86ir 
by  G.  Kitching,  who  at  the  same  time  procured  four  others  ; 
these  were  made  into  skins,  but  have  been  lost  sight  of. 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney,  Messrs.  Stephenson 
and  Wilson  of  Whitby  compared  the  Whitby  Museum  example 
with  a  Swedish  skin  sent  by  Mr.  Gurney,  and,  writing  on  I3th 
February  1890,  Mr.  Stephenson  pronounced  the  two  to  be 
the  same  species,  though  differing  materially  in  colour  ; 
the  Whitby  specimen  being  of  a  dullish  carmine  red  colour 
on  the  head,  throat,  breast,  and  back  near  the  tail  where  the 
Swedish  bird  is  tinged  with  darkish  yellow,  the  lower  mandible 
is  lighter  in  colour  than  the  upper,  with  greyish  feathers  at 
the  base  and  cheeks,  which  are  afterwards  blended  or  mixed 
with  carmine  on  the  neck.  The  beak,  which  has  not  the 
least  tendency  to  cross,  and  the  legs  are  the  same  as  the 
Swedish  specimen.  The  secondary,  etc.,  wing  feathers 
edged  with  dirtyish  coloured  white,  producing  a  barred 
appearance  on  the  wings.  Length,  if  stretched  out,  would 
be  7§in.  to  7jin.  He  also  observed  that  the  red  colour  on 
the  back  near  the  tail  of  the  Whitby  specimen  is  slightly 
tinged  with  indistinct  yellow  towards  the  flanks,  and  that 
there  are  no  traces  of  its  being  in  confinement. 

Two  other  Yorkshire  examples  are  mentioned  in  the 
sale  catalogue  of  Mr.  Sealey  of  Cambridge,  thus  : — "  Lot  59, 
Pine  Grosbeaks,  three  in  a  case,  one  shot  at  Doncaster  and 
the  other  at  Sheffield."  See  J.  H.  Gurney,  Zool.  1877,  p.  242, 
and  1890,  p.  126,  as  to  the  authenticity  of  British  records 
of  this  bird. 


197 

COMMON  CROSSBILL. 
Loxia  curvirostra  (Z.). 


Autumn  and  winter  visitant  ;  somewhat  irregular.  Has  occasion- 
ally nested. 

Its  first  connection  with  Yorkshire  was  made  by  Mar- 
maduke  Tunstall,  thus  : — "  (Loxia  curvirostra  Linn  &  Ges.). 
Crossbill — Common.  A  person  who  was  here  in  July  last  and 
was  well  acquainted  with  their  cry,  was  persuaded  that  at 
that  time  he  heard  some  in  my  woods  (Wycliffe-on-Tees).  As 
they  have  never  been  known  to  breed  here  I  much  doubted  ; 
but  as  they  breed  very  early  it  was  possible."  (Tunst.  MS. 
1784.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Loxia  curvirostra. — Common  Crossbill — Periodically  common  in 
fir  plantations  near  Doncaster  ;  rare  about  Hebden  Bridge  ;  it  has  been 
frequently  obtained  near  Sheffield,  and  was  numerous  in  the  winter 
of  1837-8  ;  at  Halifax  an  irregular  visitant,  frequenting  the  gardens 
and  plantations  ;  occasionally  seen  near  Huddersfield  ;  a  large 
flock  was  seen  about  Whitley  Hall  a  few  years  ago  ;  sometimes  met 
with  near  Barnsley  in  1831-4  and  5,  also  in  the  vicinity  of  York. 
Arthur  Strickland  says  "  For  many  years  back  I  have  almost  annually 
noted  this  bird  in  small  flocks  about  August  in  the  grounds  about 
Boynton,  apparently  family  groups  returning  after  breeding,  and 
busy  feeding  on  the  larch  and  fir  cones  ;  on  one  occasion  I  detected 
it  breeding  there,  and  the  egg  figured  in  Mr.  Hewetson's  work  was 
from  that  locality  ;  much  doubt  has  existed  as  to  the  time  and  place 
of  nidification  of  this  species,  but  I  believe  the  whole  difficulty  arises 
from  making  their  nests  in  the  tops  of  very  high  larch  trees,  where 
it  is  extremely  difficult  to  detect  them  ;  I  see  it  mentioned  that  in 
lately  cutting  down  some  very  tall  larch  trees  in  Holt  Forest  this 
bird  was  found  to  have  bred  there,  a  circumstance  not  before  suspected. 
We  have,  besides,  occasionally  had  a  large  flock  of  them  in  winter, 
as  was  the  case  in  1829,  when  between  thirty  and  forty  were  killed, 
and  some  remained  till  spring."  Near  Leeds  they  have  been  met  with 
at  Killingbeck,  and  several  nests  were  found  in  Bramham  Park  in  1840  ; 
it  is  also  seen  about  Thirsk. 

This  un-English  looking  bird  is  a  native  of  the  pine  forests 
of  Europe,  from  Lapland  to  Spain  and  Greece,  the  mountain 


198  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

regions    of   north   Africa,    and    the    woods    of   Siberia    and 
Kamchatka,  wintering  as  far  east  as  China. 

It  has  nested  at  intervals  in  Yorkshire,  and  is  of  almost 
yearly  occurrence  in  one  district  or  another,  but  its  appear- 
ances are  so  erratic  and  uncertain  that  the  term  "  resident  " 
or  "  annual  visitant "  cannot  accurately  be  applied.  It 
has  been  met  with  irregularly  in  the  fir  plantations  of  the 
south,  the  first  being  noticed  near  Sheffield  in  1834,  and  at 
Barnsley  in  1831  ;  at  Storthes  Hall,  near  Wakefield,  there 
were  many  in  1863  and  in  1889  ;  in  the  valley  of  the  Hodder 
a  small  flock  was  seen  in  1878-9,  and  a  few  in  Ribblesdale  in 
January  1888  ;  near  Huddersfield  it  has  occurred  as  a  visitant 
in  late  autumn,  and  has  been  recorded  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Doncaster,  Selby,  and  Ackworth  since  1835.  In  Upper 
Wharfedale  it  occurs  in  the  fir  woods  in  winter,  sometimes 
in  large  flocks  ;  a  pair  were  observed  at  Grassington  in  the 
summer  of  1899  ;  it  bred  near  Fewston  in  1902,  and  has 
also  nested  at  Birstwith  ;  in  Nidderdale  it  is  a  fairly  regular 
visitant  in  winter  to  Pateley,  near  which  place  a  pair  nested 
and  brought  off  four  young  in  1876  ;  at  Knaresborough 
they  were  numerous  in  1838,  and  a  large  flock  was  observed 
in  1846  ;  it  has  also  been  occasionally  noted  near  Ripon. 
Turning  to  the  central  districts,  several  nests  were  found 
at  Bramham  Park  in  1840  ;  in  the  vicinity  of  York,  at  Kelfield, 
in  1855,  a  young  one  was  obtained  which  had  the  appearance 
of  being  bred  there  ;  sixty  or  seventy  examples  were  noted, 
and  a  nest  containing  four  eggs  was  found  near  Stockton-on- 
the-Forest  in  1872  (Zool.  1880,  pp.  403,  515)  ;  in  various 
other  localities  of  the  North  Riding  it  has  occurred  in  autumn 
and  winter,  being  abundant  in  Wensleydale  in  1867,  when 
thirty  were  killed  at  one  shot  at  Thornton  Rust.  It  is  an 
irregular  visitant  near  Richmond,  and  is  said  to  have  bred 
near  Gilling,  where  a  keeper  saw  young  birds  following  their 
parents.  At  Scarborough  it  has  been  met  with  on  many 
occasions ;  ten  were  obtained  in  1898,  and  on  7th  April 
1900,  Mr.  Walter  Gyngell  heard  one  singing  at  the  top  of 
a  Scotch  fir  at  Seamer  Carr.  In  the  Whitby  and  Grinkle 
woods  it  used  to  be  very  abundant  a  few  years  ago,  as  many 


COMMON  CROSSBILL.  199 

as  two  hundred  being  seen  in  a  flock,  and  it  is  also  reported 
to  have  nested  near  the  former  place.  In  the  Cleveland 
division  it  is  very  irregular  in  its  visits  ;  several  were  procured 
near  Swainby  and  Osmotherly  in  1869,  and  in  1894  large 
parties  were  in  the  woods  at  Swainby,  Ayton,  and  Easby 
in  November  and  December ;  the  Swainby  keeper  reported 
their  appearance  on  the  26th  of  March  following,  though 
a  diligent  search  through  the  woods,  made  by  Mr.  Emerson 
and  myself,  in  hope  of  finding  a  nest,  was  fruitless  ;  in  Teesdale 
and  the  extreme  north-west  it  occurs,  as  a  rare  visitant  only, 
in  winter. 

In  the  East  Riding  it  breeds  in  some  seasons  near 
Scampston,  where  small  flocks  were  observed  in  1864  and  1888  ; 
the  nest  is  also  reported  from  Market  Weighton,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1829  a  pair  bred  in  a  large  tree  in  Boynton  Woods 
(see  Allis).  A  flock  of  about  twenty  was  seen  in  Mr.  F.  Boyes's 
garden,  at  Beverley,  feeding  in  a  Scotch  fir  tree,  on  26th  June 
1903  ;  large  flocks  have  appeared  on  the  estate  of  Sir  Tatton 
Sykes  at  Sledmere,  and  it  has  probably  bred  in  the  larch 
and  fir  plantations  there.  It  has  also  occurred  irregularly 
at  Waplington,  Bridlington,  Beverley,  Flamborough,  Spurn, 
and  in  various  places  near  Hull,  sometimes  quite  close  to 
the  town. 

There  were  general  visitations  of  these  birds  in  1855, 
1863,  1867-68,  and,  in  1888,  as  the  pages  of  the  natural 
history  journals  testify,  they  were  common  in  many  counties, 
as  again  in  1894,  1898,  and  1903.  Although  the  Crossbill 
does  not  come  with  the  regularity  of  some  of  our  over-sea 
migrants,  yet  it  is  frequently  noticed  on  passage  ;  in  the 
autumn  of  1875,  when  the  Snow  Buntings  arrived  at  Flam- 
borough,  they  were  accompanied  by  Crossbills,  a  gale  from 
the  north-east  blowing  at  the  time  and  very  cold  ;  some  were 
also  reported  there  in  August  1889  ;  at  Spurn  in  1888  there 
was  an  arrival  in  summer,  and  on  July  the  I4th  and  I5th 
a  pair  that  were  examined  were  found  to  have  been  feeding 
on  the  nymph  of  the  "  Cuckoo-spit "  ;  one  was  also  caught 
alive  on  the  Bull  Lightship.  In  August  1894,  they  were 
observed  both  at  Spurn  and  Flamborough ;  and  in 


200  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

also  in  August,  a  considerable  number  were  seen  at  Spurn, 
several  being  brought  in  to  Philip  Loten  to  preserve ;  whilst 
on  the  20th  of  the  same  month  a  male  in  the  red  plumage 
came  on  board  a  fishing  smack  off  Scarborough.  Another 
extensive  incursion  took  place  in  the  autumn  of  1903,  and 
many  were  observed  in  the  woods  in  various  parts  of  the 
county.  These  three  last  migrations  extended  to  the  Cleveland 
coast ;  in  the  year  1898  a  red  male  was  picked  up  on  the 
6th  of  August,  on  Redcar  sands,  and  in  1894  large  flocks 
frequented  the  woods  in  the  north-western  portion  of  the 
district.  Again  on  i6th  June  1903,  another  male  in  very 
fine  red  plumage  was  killed  in  a  garden  at  Redcar,  and  con- 
siderable numbers  were  reported  during  July  and  August  on 
the  coast  line  southward  to  Spurn. 

In  connection  with  the  1894  influx  it  may  not  be  out  of 
place  to  mention  that,  on  the  gih  of  November,  when  shooting 
with  Mr.  Emerson  in  Colemire  Wood,  Swainby,  our  attention 
was  drawn  to  a  peculiar  noise,  exactly  similar  to  that  made 
by  Pheasants  when  rising  in  front  of  the  beaters,  but  the 
frequency  of  which  was  so  unusual  as  to  preclude  the  idea 
that  it  was  caused  by  those  birds.  My  companion  at  last 
located  the  sound  in  a  Scotch  fir  tree,  and  discovered  that 
it  was  caused  by  some  small  birds  ;  on  shooting  two  of  them 
they  proved  to  be  Crossbills,  and  the  following  day  we  saw 
two  very  large  flocks  feeding  on  the  fir  cones  ;  they  remained 
in  the  wood  until  the  succeeding  spring,  but,  so  far  as  we 
could  ascertain,  did  not  nest  there. 

[In  the  woods  of  Scandinavia  and  north  Russia  a  large, 
stout-billed  race  is  found,  formerly  known  as  the  Parrot 
Crossbill  (Loxia  pityopsittacus),  now  deemed  to  be  unworthy 
of  even  sub-specific  rank.  A  female  example  of  this  form 
was  procured  by  Mr.  M.  Bailey  of  Flamborough,  on  4th 
August  1866,  and  acquired  by  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton  of 
Beverley  (Zool.  1867,  p.  543)]. 


201 

TWO-BARRED    CROSSBILL. 

Loxia  bifasciata  (Brehm). 
Accidental  visitant  from  Northern  Europe,  of  very  rare  occurrence. 

This  species  is  a  dweller  in  the  forest  region  of  north 
Russia,  Siberia,  Kamchatka,  and  on  to  the  Pacific,  in  winter 
migrating  to  Sweden,  Germany,  and  the  west  of  Europe. 

There  are  but  few  instances  on  record  of  its  occurrence 
in  the  county,  the  first  being  from  the  neighbourhood  of 
Knaresborough,  where  one  was  shot  at  Plompton  in  1826. 
This  specimen  was  formerly  in  the  collection  of  the  late 
J.  C.  Garth  of  Knaresborough,  and,  at  the  dispersal  of  his 
effects  in  December  1904,  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Riley 
Fortune  of  Harrogate. 

On  27th  December  1845,  at  Cowick  near  Snaith,  in  Lord 
Downe's  Park,  a  flock  was  seen  from  which  two  males  and 
two  females  were  procured,  and  passed  into  the  possession  of 
Hugh  Reid  of  Doncaster. 

At  Easington  near  Spurn,  an  immature  example  was 
obtained  on  I2th  August  1889,  by  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Slater. 
(Nat.  1889,  p.  314  ;  Lord  Clifton,  Field,  7th  December  1889  > 
Zool.  1891,  p.  363.*) 

At  Flamborough  a  male,  which  I  have  seen  in  the  collection 
of  Mr.  Forster  of  Bridlington,  was  obtained  about  1898. 


CORN    BUNTING. 

Emberiza  miliaria  (Z.). 

Resident  ;  common,  but  rather  locally  distributed.     A  considerable 
influx  of  migrants  in  autumn. 


The  first  allusion  to  this  species  as  a  Yorkshire  bird  is 
in  a  communication  from  the  learned  Dr.  Martin  Lister  of 

*  It  was  reported  to  have  occurred  about  the  same  time  in  some 
numbers  on  Heligoland,  and  others  were  recorded  in  different  parts 
of  the  British  Islands. 


202  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

York,  to  John  Ray,  bearing  date  8th  February  1675,  as 
follows  : — "  The  Bunting  breaks  not  oats,  but  hulls  them 
dexterously,  as  I  observe,  having  of  them  by  me  at  the  present 
time  in  cages."  ("  Correspondence  of  John  Ray,"  p.  117.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Emberiza  miliaria. — Common  Bunting — Met  with  all  over  the 
county  ;  common  in  most  parts. 

Although  the  Corn  Bunting  is  on  the  whole  a  common 
species  in  Yorkshire,  some  districts  are  much  more  favoured 
than  others  with  its  presence,  owing  to  its  partiality  to  fields 
of  high  standing  herbage,  and  particularly  those  in  which 
grain,  vetches,  peas,  beans,  or  clover  are  grown.  In  the 
more  wild  and  moorland  tracts  the  bird  is  rather  scarce, 
though  in  the  cultivated  districts  of  the  north-west  it  is 
not  uncommon.  The  same  remark  applies  to  the  majority 
of  localities  where  crops  of  cereals  afford  the  concealment 
for  its  nesting  places  which  this  bird  loves,  though  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  seaboard  contains  its  chief  strongholds,  and 
in  the  fields  adjoining  the  coast  it  is  a  common  and  generally 
diffused  species.  During  the  winter  months,  though  not  entirely 
absent  from  its  summer  haunts,  it  is  much  scarcer  than  in  the 
breeding  season,  and  is  usually  to  be  found  frequenting  the 
vicinity  of  stackyards,  often  in  small  flocks  and  consorting 
with  other  small  birds  ;  it  also  affects  stubble  fields,  and 
congregates  at  dusk,  roosting  in  flocks  in  damp,  wet  pastures. 

As  an  immigrant  the  Corn  Bunting  is  regularly  met  with 
on  the  coast  in  October  and  November,  generally  in  little 
parties,  and  at  this  period  it  is  very  common  ;  it  is,  however, 
perhaps  less  frequently  reported  from  the  Lighthouses  than  any 
other  of  our  grain  eating  birds.  These  immigrants  appear  to  be 
overlooked  by  many  coast  observers,  probably  owing  to  their 
unobtrusive  habits,  which  do  not  as  a  rule  attract  attention. 

Two  broods  are  usually  reared,  the  second  set  of  eggs  being 
laid  in  August,  and  at  times  as  late  as  September.  An  instance 
is  recorded  of  two  pure  white  eggs  being  found  near  Wakefield. 

White,  pied,  and  cream  coloured  varieties  of  the  bird 
are  occasionally  met  with. 

The  vernacular  names  are  not  numerous.     Those  used  in 


ba 

.a 


M 


YELLOW  BUNTING.  203 

Yorkshire  are  : — Bunting,  Common  Bunting,  Big  Bunting, 
and  Corn  Bunting  (general)  ;  Ground  Lark  at  Doncaster ; 
Chub  Lark  along  the  Lower  Wharfe  and  in  the  Western  Ainsty ; 
and  Titlark  in  Holderness. 


YELLOW    BUNTING. 
Emberiza  citrinella  (Z.). 


Resident  ;     generally   distributed   and    abundant.     A   spring   and 
autumn  migrant. 


The  first  mention  of  the  Yellow  Bunting  as  a  Yorkshire 
bird  was  made  by  that  accomplished  naturalist  and 
Yorkshireman,  Marmaduke  Tunstall,  in  1874,  who  referred 
to  it  as  being  "  called  in  the  north  '  Goldspink,'  as  also  '  Yellow 
Yowley.'  "  (Tunst.  MS.  p.  68.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Emberiza  citrinella. — Yellow  Bunting — Rather  common  near 
Huddersfield  ;  very  common  in  other  districts. 

One  of  the  most  abundant  birds  of  our  hedgerows  and 
fields,  and  generally  familiar,  as  the  various  local  names 
testify,  the  Yellow  Bunting,  or  Yellow  Ammer,  is  found 
commonly  where  its  simple  requirements  exist,  from  the 
cultivated  parts  of  the  extreme  north  and  west  to  the  hedges 
near  the  seaboard.  During  the  autumn  and  winter  months 
the  bird  is  very  gregarious,  and  consorts  in  large  numbers 
with  finches  and  others  of  its  genus,  in  their  wanderings  in 
search  of  food.  It  is  also  a  common  immigrant  in  the  autumn 
in  October  and  November,  appearing  generally  at  the  same 
time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  the  preceding  species  ;  these 
newly  arrived  birds  after  a  short  rest  soon  make  their  way 
inland.  In  the  spring  a  return  movement  is  noticed,  and 
at  the  Humber  mouth  considerable  flocks  may  be  noted 
moving  leisurely  northward,  passing  through  the  district. 

In  the  Beverley  district  it  frequently  builds  in  spruce 
trees  in  young  plantations.  The  latest  nest  of  which  I  have 


204  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

had  personal  knowledge  was  noted  on  2ist  September  1902, 
at  Marton-in-Cleveland,  and  contained  four  much  incubated 
eggs,  although  Mr.  J.  Ranson  (Zool.  1865,  p.  9711),  mentioned 
the  finding  of  eggs  and  young  in  October  in  a  hedge  on  the 
high  moors  of  Yorkshire. 

A  variety  of  this  species  with  white  wing-bars  was  noted 
at  Aldborough  in  Holderness  (Nat.  1894,  p.  284) ;  a  pied 
specimen  was  obtained  near  Scarborough  in  August  1905  ; 
and  at  Redcar  on  i6th  June  1903,  I  procured  a  clutch  of 
three  eggs  which  were  perfectly  colourless. 

The  vernacular  local  names  are  numerous.  The  terms 
in  most  general  use  are  Yellow  Hammer  or  Yellow  Ammer  ; 
Yellow  Yowley,  noted  by  Tunstall  in  1784,  is  also  in  general 
use,  and  Yeldrock  is  a  Sedbergh  name.  A  West  Riding  term 
is  Yellow  Youldring  or  Yoldring,  with  the  variants  Goldring 
and  Youldring  (Zool.  1848,  p.  2290),  Yolering  at  Huddersfield, 
Yowlring  and  Yowley  at  Ackworth,, Yellow  Yowring  in  Craven 
and  Youldie  in  the  Western  Ainsty ;  of  close  affinity  to  these 
is  the  general  term  Goldie.  In  the  North  Riding  this  bird 
is  Goldfinch,  or  as  pronounced  Gowdspink.  In  1784  Tunstall 
called  it  Goldspink,  a  name  recorded  also  as  used  at  Thirsk 
in  1854.  In  Upper  Teesdale  it  is  simply  Spink ;  Bessy  at 
Sedbergh ;  Scribbler  in  Cleveland ;  Writing  Lark  and  Scrib- 
bling Lark  at  Harrogate  and  in  Craven  ;  Blakeling  in  Craven ; 
and  Gold  Lenny  or  Yellow  Lenny  at  Loftus-in-Cleveland. 


CIRL    BUNTING. 
Emberiza  cirlus  (£.). 

Resident ;     very   limited   both  in   numbers   and   distribution. 


The  first  mention  of  the  Cirl  Bunting  in  Yorkshire  was 
made  by  Neville  Wood,  who  recorded  that  a  fine  female,  in 
excellent  condition,  was  shot  at  Campsall,  seven  miles  to  the 
north  of  Doncaster,  on  25th  April  1837  (Neville  Wood's  Nat. 
June  1837). 


to 

1 


CIRL  BUNTING.  205 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Emberiza  cirlus. — Cirl  Bunting — Of  the  only  two  recorded  Yorkshire 
specimens  one  was  killed  near  Campsall  Hall,  Doncaster,  in  1837  (F.  O. 
Morris's  list  of  Yorkshire  Birds,  "  Doncaster  Journal,"  December  1840)  ; 
the  other  was  shot  near  York. 

This  very  distinct  species  has  been  usually  considered 
as  a  casual  visitant,  but  may  now  be  described  as  a  scarce 
resident,  and  has  nested  on  several  occasions,  though  very 
sparingly  distributed. 

One  was  taken  at  Bolton-on-Dearne  on  8th  January  1881  ; 
near  Huddersfield  a  pair  nested  at  Woodsome  in  1859  '•>  while 
at  Lofthouse,  near  Wakefield,  the  nest  and  eggs  have  twice 
been  found;  in  May  1882  and  1889  (J.  Ward,  Nat.  1890,  pp. 
148,  320).  From  Doncaster  it  was  reported  in  1837  (see 
above)  ;  two  were  noted  at  Norland  in  1864 ;  in  the 
Western  Ainsty  it  has  occurred  at  Wilstrop  and  at  Newton 
Kyme  (E.  R.  Waite,  op.  cit.  1891,  p.  94) ;  and,  in  the  year 
1903,  Mr.  R.  Fortune  discovered  a  nest  and  four  eggs  near 
Harrogate  ;  of  which  an  illustration  appears. 

In  the  North  Riding  it  is  reported  from  the  Richmond 
and  Bedale  districts  in  1840  and  1850  (R.  Strangwayes,  Zool. 
1851,  p.  3056)  ;  at  Carperby,  in  Wensleydale,  in  1870  and  in 
1883  ;  and  at  Masham  (where  one  was  procured  in  1851) 
the  late  James  Carter  turned  out  a  pair  in  1886,  they  nested, 
and  one  was  killed  in  the  following  year  ;  in  1891  a  young 
bird  was  taken  from  a  nest  found  on  the  24th  of  August,  in 
a  plantation  of  fir  and  spruce  trees  near  Mr.  Carter's  residence, 
and  was  forwarded  to  Mr.  Wm.  Eagle  Clarke  for  identification  ; 
and  in  July  1901,  another  young  one  was  seen  at  the  same 
place.  On  the  coast  the  only  record  is  from  Whitby,  where  a 
female,  one  of  three  seen,  was  obtained  at  Fen  Bog  on  28th 
February  1882,  and  is  now  in  the  local  museum. 


206 

ORTOLAN    BUNTING. 
Emberiza  hortulana  (Z.). 


Accidental  visitant,   of   extremely  rare   occurrence. 


This  Bunting,  which  in  summer  is  found  as  far  north  as 
the  Arctic  Circle  in  Scandinavia,  and  breeds  in  France, 
Flanders,  and  Dutch  Brabant,  is  only  known  in  Yorkshire 
as  a  rare  visitor  on  the  spring  and  autumn  migrations. 

The  first  Yorkshire  record  is  that  of  a  male,  now  in  the 
Newcastle  Museum,  which  was  caught  on  board  a  collier  off 
the  coast  in  May  1822,  and  was  figured  by  Bewick  for  his 
"  British  Birds  "  (Seebohm,  "  Brit.  Birds,"  Vol.  ii.  p.  153  ; 
Jardine,  "  Brit.  Birds,"  Vol.  ii.  p.  311). 

The  late  Canon  J.  C.  Atkinson  of  Danby  recorded  in  the 
Zoologist  (1863,  p.  8768),  having  seen  a  bird  of  this  species 
near  Guisbrough,  in  Cleveland,  on  i6th  August  1863,  and, 
writing  to  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  in  1880,  he  remarked,  "  I  saw 
three  specimens  near  Guisbrough  in  the  spring  fourteen  or 
fifteen  years  ago." 

Another  Yorkshire  specimen  was  obtained  by  the  late 
H.  B.  Hewetson  of  Leeds,  who,  on  nth  October  1889,  shot 
a  young  female  in  a  field  near  Easington  (Nat.  1890,  p.  8). 

A  skin  of  a  male  Ortolan,  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
S.  L.  Mosley  of  Huddersfield,  was  purchased  from  the 
executors  of  the  late  J.  Varley  of  that  town,  and  is  labelled 
"  Bedale,  Yorks.,  July  9th  1882  "  (op.  cit.  1892,  p.  3). 


SIBERIAN  MEADOW  BUNTING. 

Emberiza  cioides  (Brandt}. 


A  straggler  from  Siberia,  of  extremely  rare  occurrence. 


To  Yorkshire  belongs  the  honour  of  producing  the  only 
known  European  example  of  this  rare  inhabitant  of  Siberia 


See  page  207. 


Siberian  Meadow  Bunting. 

Reproduced  by  permission  of  the  Editors  of  the  Ibis, 


RUSTIC  BUNTING  207 

and  Mongolia.  It  was  caught  alive  in  November  1886,  during 
an  easterly  gale,  at  the  foot  of  Flamborough  cliffs,  south  of  the 
headland,  near  to  the  lighthouse,  by  Wm.  Gibbon,  fisherman, 
from  whom  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Matthew  Bailey,  the  well- 
known  naturalist  of  Flamborough.  In  June  1888,  Mr.  R.  W. 
Chase  of  Birmingham  saw  the  specimen  at  Mr.  Bailey's  house, 
bought  it  from  him,  and,  not  recognising  it  as  any  known 
British  bird,  forwarded  it  to  the  late  Canon  H.  B.  Tristram, 
who  identified  it  as  Emberiza  cioides,  a  species  new  to  Europe. 
It  was  afterwards  exhibited  by  Canon  Tristram  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Zoological  Society  on  i5th  January  1889,  and  was 
also  seen  by  Prof.  Newton. 

Seebohm  remarked  that  it  resembles  the  Chinese  sub-species 
E.  cioides  castaneiceps,  more  than  the  typical  Siberian  race. 
(See  W.  Eagle  Clarke,  Nat.  1889,  pp.  79,  113,  334,  356;  Proc. 
Zool.  Socy.  1889,  p.  6 ;  and  Ibis,  1889  PP-  293>  295-  The 
species  was  figured  for  the  first  time  in  the  latter  journal, 
plate  x.) 


RUSTIC    BUNTING. 

Emberiza  rustica  (Pallas). 


Accidental   visitant,    of   extremely   rare   occurrence. 

This  eastern  species,  which  in  summer  inhabits  northern 
Europe  and  Asia  from  Archangel  to  Kamchatka,  occurring 
annually  as  far  west  as  Finland,  and  has  a  winter  home  in 
China,  has  only  been  known  to  occur  four  times  in  the  British 
Islands,  one  of  these  being  in  Yorkshire,  on  I7th  September 
1881,  at  Easington  in  Holderness. 

The  bird  when  first  observed  was  on  the  beach  close  to 
the  sea,  and  on  being  followed  up,  took  a  short  flight,  alighting 
on  some  thistles  for  a  moment,  and  then  returned  to  the 
beach,  where  it  was  captured.  It  was  given  to  Mr.  P.  W.  Loten 
of  Easington,  who  set  it  up  for  his  collection,  but,  not  knowing 
the  value  of  the  capture,  failed  to  note  the  sex,  and  it  remained 
unnamed  until  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  identified  it  on  the  7th 


208  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

of  October  following.  Professor  Newton  confirmed  Mr. 
Eagle  Clarke's  opinion,  and  exhibited  the  specimen  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Zoological  Society  on  I5th  November  1881. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  on  the  same  date  that  the 
Yorkshire  Rustic  Bunting,  which  is  probably  a  young  female, 
was  procured,  a  fine  young  bird  was  obtained  on  Heligoland. 
The  Yorkshire  example  is  now  in  the  York  Museum.  (P.Z.S. 
1881,  p.  827  ;  Nat.  1881,  p.  57  ;  1888,  p.  I  ;  Zool.  1881, 
p.  465  ;  Ibis,  1882,  p.  181.) 

[An  alleged  occurrence  of  the  Little  Bunting,  Emberiza 
pusilla  (Pallas),  at  Yarm  on  ist  January  1900,  proved  on 
examination  to  be  an  error,  the  specimen  being  an  immature 
example  of  the  Reed  Bunting  (Field,  6th  January  and  3ist 
March  1900),  and  although  it  can  scarcely  be  said,  with  strict 
accuracy,  that  this  species,  which  is  a  native  of  northern 
Russia  and  Siberia,  and  a  straggler  to  western  Europe,  has 
actually  occurred  in  this  county,  yet  the  second  recorded 
British  example  was  met  with  on  the  Durham  side  of  the 
Teesmouth  under  circumstances  which  call  for  notice  at 
our  hands.  It  was  shot  by  the  late  C.  Braithwaite  on 
nth  October  1902,  near  Seaton  Snook,  during  an  easterly 
wind  which  had  prevailed  for  fully  a  week,  and,  as  the  river 
Tees  is  the  boundary  between  Durham  and  this  county, 
it  is  reasonable  to  assume  that  the  Little  Bunting  may  have 
come  within  the  Yorkshire  limits.  The  specimen  in  question 
was  exhibited  at  the  British  Ornithologists'  Club  on  22nd 
October  1902.  (Nat.  1902,  p.  353  ;  Zool.  1902,  p.  466  ;  Ibis, 
1903,  p.  139.)] 


REED  BUNTING. 
Emberiza  schoeniclus  (Z.). 


Resident  ;  common  in  most  marshy  districts.  Migrates  in  autumn, 
being  replaced  by  arrivals  from  the  north  ;  a  return  passage  takes 
place  early  in  April. 


The  earliest  reference  to  the  Reed  Bunting  as  a  Yorkshire 


REED  BUNTING.  209 

species  is  contained  in  the  Allan  MS.  of  the  Tunstall  Museum, 
1791  (Fox's  "  Synopsis,"  p.  206),  where  it  is  alluded  to  as 
being  called  the  "  Nettle  Monger." 
Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Embertza  schceniclus. — Black-headed  Bunting — Is  met  with  occa- 
sionally along  the  sedgy  margins  of  the  canals  and  old  brooks  near 
Barnsley,  and  seldom  more  than  a  few  pairs  ;  breeds  on  the  banks  of 
the  river  near  Halifax,  but  not  very  plentifully  ;  it  is  met  with  near 
Leeds,  and  is  pretty  common  near  Doncaster,  Sheffield,  and  York. 

Owing  to  its  partiality  to  the  vicinity  of  water  and  low- 
growing  vegetation  on  the  banks  of  rivers,  canals,  and  ponds, 
or  the  reedy  growth  on  a  marsh,  the  Reed  Bunting,  or  Black- 
headed  Bunting  as  it  is  often  termed,  is  local  in  its  distribution. 
It  is  found  in  most  parts  of  the  county  affording  situations 
suitable  for  its  requirements,  and,  as  may  be  expected,  the 
low-lying  parts  of  the  East  Riding,  and  the  inland  "  carrs," 
are  most  favoured  by  its  presence  ;  in  the  high  reaches  of 
the  dales  it  is  scarce  or  altogether  absent.  The  individuals 
that  breed  with  us  leave  in  autumn,  the  sudden  desertion  of 
their  favourite  summer  haunts  being  very  noticeable,  and 
their  places  are  filled  by  immigrants,  though  numerically 
the  bird  is  much  scarcer  during  the  cold  season.  About  the 
end  of  March,  or  the  beginning  of  April,  the  nesting  pairs 
return  to  their  breeding  quarters.  During  the  winter  months 
Reed  Buntings,  in  the  dull  winter  dress,  are  generally  found 
in  the  vicinity  of  stackyards  or  stubble  fields,  consorting  at 
times  with  the  common  finches  and  buntings,  or  are  to  be 
seen  in  small  flocks  frequenting  the  rank  vegetation  near  water. 

In  September  and  October  numbers  of  immigrants  appear 
on  our  coast,  these  movements  usually  corresponding  with 
"  rushes  "  at  Heligoland.  On  22nd  September  1881,  several 
were  recorded  on  migration,  in  conjunction  with  Chiffchaffs 
and  Whitethroats  (Third  Migration  Report,  p.  25). 

The  nests  in  the  Holderness  district  of  the  East  Riding 
are  often  built  in  the  lower  branches  of  hawthorn  bushes, 
or,  according  to  Mr.  T.  Fetch,  on  the  top  of  the  drain  banks, 
which  latter  is  a  departure  from  the  bird's  usual  nidification 
habits ;  and  Mr.  James  Backhouse  records  one  at  York 
VOL.  i.  p 


210  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

built  against  the  stem  of  an  Austrian  pine,  and  at  least  four 
feet  from  the  ground  (Nat.  1884,  p.  58). 

The  earliest  date  on  which  I  have  found  the  young  is  the 
I3th  of  May  in  the  year  1899,  at  the  Teesmouth. 

The  Reed  Bunting  has  quite  a  number  of  local  names  : 
the  terms  Black-headed  Bunting  and  Blackcap  are  in  pretty 
general  use.  At  Ackworth,  Sedbergh,  and  in  the  Nidd 
basin  Reed  Sparrow,  and,  at  Doncaster  and  Filey,  Carr 
Sparrow  are  in  use.  Seave-cap,  used  at  Thirsk  in  1854, 
is  intelligible  when  we  note  that  Seave  is  a  North  Riding 
synonym  for  Rush.  Water  Sparrow  and  Ring  Sparrow 
were  in  use  at  Linton-on-Ouse  (J.  Ranson,  1866)  ;  and  Willow 
Sparrow  and  Toad  Snatcher  presumably  near  Huddersfield 
(Zool.  1848,  p.  2290).  Nettle  Monger  is  a  term  given  for 
North  Yorkshire,  in  1791,  by  George  Allan  (Fox's  "  Synopsis," 
p.  206). 


LAPLAND    BUNTING. 

Calcarius  lapponicus  (/-.)• 


Accidental  visitant     from    northern    Europe,   Asia,  and  America, 
of  rare  occurrence. 


Although  the  Lapland  Bunting  is  one  of  the  most  abundant 
species  in  circumpolar  Europe,  Asia,  and  America  during 
the  breeding  season,  and  very  frequently  occurs  at  Heligoland 
at  the  periods  of  the  vernal  and  autumnal  migrations,  yet 
the  scarcity  of  Yorkshire  records  seems  to  point  out  the 
probability  of  its  being  overlooked.  The  inconspicuous 
plumage  of  the  old  birds  in  the  autumn  dress,  and  the  still 
duller  hues  of  the  young,  render  them  very  liable  to  be  passed 
by  among  the  swarms  of  Snow  Buntings  and  other  small 
immigrants  which  pour  into  our  coast  districts  in  October 
and  November.  That  we  are  not  entirely  out  of  the  line 
of  this  bird's  migrations  is  proved  by  its  occurrence  in  spring 
at  Flamborough.  Probably,  like  many  other  immigrants 


LAPLAND  BUNTING.  211 

coming  in  autumn  from  north  Scandinavia,  its  line  of 
flight  is  more  to  the  east  of  these  islands,  and  it  follows 
the  European  coast  line  southward ;  although  its  appearance 
in  considerable  numbers  in  Fair  Isle,  in  autumn,  would  lead 
us  to  suppose  it  might  be  of  more  frequent  occurrence  on  our 
shores. 

The  Yorkshire  records  are  not  numerous,  and  may  be 
given  in  extenso  : — 

One  was  caught  by  J.  Kitching,  in  Ruswarp  Fields,  about 
a  mile  from  Whitby,  in  the  spring  of  1870,  or  thereabouts, 
and  is  now  in  the  Whitby  Museum  (T.  Stephenson  MS.). 

At  Scarborough  one  was  netted  with  Skylarks,  on  6th 
January  1893  (W.  J.  Clarke  MS.). 

The  famous  headland  of  Flamborough  appears  to  be  more 
favoured  than  any  other  locality,  there  being  no  fewer  than 
three  successive  years  when  the  bird  was  noticed  there. 
On  nth  May  1893,  Messrs.  M.  Bailey  and  J.  Cordeaux  saw 
an  adult  male  close  to  the  edge  of  Bempton  Cliffs,  as  recorded 
in  the  Zoologist  (1893,  p.  225),  and  in  November  of  the  same 
year  Mr.  Bailey  sent  word  to  Mr.  Cordeaux  that  a  large 
flock  was  near  Flamborough  village.  Mr.  Cordeaux  proceeded 
to  the  place  on  the  2ist  of  the  month,  and  found  the  birds 
on  a  barley  stubble,  associating  with  Snow  Buntings,  Kedpolls, 
Siskins,  and  other  small  species.  It  was  estimated  that  the 
flock  comprised  some  one  hundred  and  twenty  individuals, 
and  the  observers  had  abundant  opportunities  of  inspecting 
them  at  close  quarters.  They  might  be  easily  passed  over 
for  Tree  Sparrows,  having  similar  habits  to  those  birds  of 
crowding  on  a  hedge-top  and  straggling  down  to  feed,  then 
flying  up  in  a  body  when  disturbed  (Nat.  1893,  p.  356,  and 
1894,  p.  39  ;  Zool.  1894,  p.  19). 

Mr.  Bailey  afterwards  gave  me  a  version  of  this  visitation 
confirming  in  every  detail  the  account  mentioned  above. 


212 

SNOW    BUNTING. 
PJectrophanes  nivalis  (/..)• 


Winter  visitant,  chiefly  to  the  coast  ;   very  numerous  in  most  years. 
Irregular  in  its  appearance  inland. 


The  earliest  reference  to  this  bird  in  relation  to  Yorkshire 
is  contained  in  Willughby's  "Ornithology,"  under  the  heading 
of  "The  great  pied  Mountain  Finch  or  Bramlin."  .  .  .  "Mr. 
Johnson  [of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge]  sent  us  the  Bird 
itself,  and  the  description  of  it  out  of  the  Northern  part  of 
Yorkshire."  "  The  same  Mr.  Johnson  sent  also  the  descrip- 
tion of  another  bird  of  this  kind,  by  the  name  of  The  lesser 
Mountain  Finch  or  Bramlin,  together  with  the  case  of  the 
Bird  :  which  by  the  case  I  took  to  be  only  the  female  of  the 
precedent,  he  from  its  difference  in  bigness,  place,  and  other 
accidents  rather  judges  it  a  distinct  species."  [Description 
follows.]  (Will.  "  Orn."  1676,  p.  255.)  These  are  the  old 
female  and  young  of  the  year  of  the  Snow  Bunting. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  of  this  species  thus  : — 

Plectrophanes  nivalis. — Snow  Bunting — Occurs  near  Doncaster  and 
Sheffield,  where  a  beautiful  specimen  was  shot  in  a  garden  close  to 
the  town  ;  is  met  with  near  Halifax  every  winter,  but  sometimes 
occurs  in  immense  flocks  ;  is  seen  in  hard  winters  about  Huddersfield, 
and  in  great  numbers  about  the  high  land  near  Pateley  Bridge  ;  it 
occurs  on  Hambleton  and  at  Bradford  in  severe  winters.  Arthur 
Strickland  reports  that  very  large  flocks  every  winter  frequent  some 
districts  on  the  edge  of  the  Wolds  near  Bridlington,  but  are  so  wary 
that  they  are  very  difficult  of  approach  ;  there  are  besides  generally 
single  birds  or  small  flocks  that  do  not  seem  to  join  the  large  ones 
and,  from  possessing  more  white  and  being  more  easily  approached, 
appear  to  come  from  a  more  northern  region. 

This  hardy  little  Arctic  bird  usually  arrives  about  the 
middle  or  end  of  October  or  early  in  November  ;  in  1879 
the  first  appeared  on  the  23rd  of  October,  and  arrivals 
continued  up  to  the  2Oth  of  December  ;  in  1880  there  was 
an  intermittent  stream  from  mid- October  till  the  following 
January ;  and  it  was  noted  in  1881  on  the  6th  of  October. 


SNOW  BUNTING.  213 

A  few  solitary  adult  birds  are  occasionally  seen  weeks  before 
the  main  bodies  put  in  an  appearance  ;  an  early  date  is  26th 
August  1888,  when  two  or  three  were  seen  at  Spurn  ;  on 
i6th  September  1889,  an  old  female  was  shot  at  the  Teesmouth, 
and  I  saw  an  adult  female  on  the  2Oth  of  the  same  month 
in  1883  near  Redcar,  and  procured  it  on  the  following  day. 
The  first  flocks  consist  chiefly  of  young  birds  and  a  few  females, 
rarely  any  old  ma>es,  though  as  the  season  advances  the 
proportion  of  adult  birds  increases.  Their  departure  takes 
place  early  in  spring,  a  few  sometimes  remaining  until  April 
and  occasionally  even  into  May ;  one  was  seen  on  the  3rd 
of  that  month  in  1899  at  Flamborough ;  and  in  1882  several 
lingered  on  the  sand-banks  near  the  Teesmouth  as  late  as 
the  iyth  of  May.  As  a  rule  they  prefer  the  coast  line,  and 
are  very  common  in  most  seasons  on  the  dunes  and  reclaimed 
lands  near  the  estuaries  of  the  Humber  and  Tees,  being 
also  found  in  more  or  less  numbers  along  most  of  the  seaboard 
between  those  two  places,  particularly  at  Scarborough, 
Flamborough,  Bridlington,  and  the  sand-hills  of  Holderness. 

The  distribution  of  the  Snow  Bunting  inland  is  very 
uncertain  and  irregular,  and,  contrary  to  what  is  the  case 
on  the  coast,  depends  greatly  on  the  character  of  the  season  ; 
in  severe  winters  it  is  found  fairly  frequently  in  several 
inland  districts,  in  other  years  being  extremely  rare.  It  has 
occurred  in  the  neighbourhood  of  some  of  the  large  towns 
in  most  unlikely  places ;  in  1878-9  a  flock  was  seen  within 
the  borough  of  Leeds,  in  one  of  the  busiest  parts,  and  in 
1 88 1  as  many  as  a  hundred  were  killed  near  Huddersfield. 
It  is  met  with  commonly  on  the  Wolds  in  the  East  Riding, 
feeding  on  the  stubbles  ;  occasionally  on  the  high  moorlands 
of  the  north  and  north-west,  and  in  the  valleys  of  the  central 
and  northern  parts  of  the  county.  An  early  record  for  the 
Tees  valley  is  given  by  Tunstall,  who  stated  that  he  had 
one  in  his  possession  "  killed  in  this  neighbourhood  "  [Wycliffe- 
on-Tees]  (Tunst.  MS.,  1783). 

This  species  figures  annually  in  all  the  Migration  Reports 
from  the  Yorkshire  light-stations,  in  numbers  varying  greatly 
from  year  to  year,  and  its  appearance  seems  to  be  influenced 


214  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

by  the  severity  of  the  weather  in  the  regions  whence  it  comes 
rather  than  by  that  in  this  country,  although  it  is  often  noticed 
that  a  great  influx  precedes  or  follows  gales  from  the  north. 
It  was  very  abundant  in  1860-61,  1869-70,  and  again 
in  1871,  a  mild  open  season  ;  in  1872,  1873,  and  1877-78. 
In  1881-82  one  of  the  heaviest  migrations  on  record  took 
place  ;  an  enormous  rush  extending  from  the  I4th  of  November 
until  the  end  of  December.  The  great  rush  at  the  Teesmouth 
was  from  the  23rd  to  the  25th  of  November,  and  again  from 
the  6th  to  the  loth  of  December,  many  thousands  remaining 
to  feed  on  the  adjoining  corn  stubbles.  Another  heavy  rush 
occurred  in  1882  at  the  Teesmouth  early  in  December, 
preceding  the  snowstorm  on  the  5th  of  that  month. 
I  have  frequently  observed  the  "  ower-sea  bird "  coming 
in  from  the  east-south-east,  and  sometimes  from  north-east ; 
and  when  off  at  sea  have  noticed  flocks  on  migration.  One 
of  the  latest  dates  was  on  2Qth  December  1883,  when  about 
twenty  passed  the  boat  at  1-30  p.m.,  flying  west-south-west. 
In  1892  there  were  more  recorded  from  Spurn  and  Easington 
than  were  ever  before  known,  and  the  same  winter  an  enormous 
flight  came  in  on  the  24th  of  November  at  Redcar  ;  they 
were  plentiful  also  in  1895-96.  On  3ist  October  1901,  an 
arrival  from  due  north  took  place  at  Redcar,  in  company 
with  Siskins,  Finches,  and  other  small  birds,  and  on  the 
22nd  of  November,  after  a  gale  from  the  north,  the  sand- 
hills at  the  Tees  Breakwater  were  swarming  with  new- 
comers, mostly  adults,  nearly  all  of  which  left  during  the 
next  few  days. 

On  first  arrival  these  Buntings  feed  on  the  seeds  of  salt- 
loving  plants,  and  are  capable  of  withstanding  more  cold  than 
most  other  small  birds  ;  even  in  the  severest  weather,  long 
after  our  resident  birds  are  starving  and  have  betaken  them- 
selves to  the  stackyards,  the  cheery  chirp  of  the  Snow  Bunting 
may  be  heard  as  it  flits  along  the  sand- banks  or  over  the 
hard  frozen  foreshore ;  at  these  times  it  often  resorts  to  the 
sands  below  high-water  mark  and  feeds  amongst  the  sea-coal 
and  other  debris  washed  up  by  the  tide.  Late  in  winter 
they  take  to  the  fields  and  stubbles,  and  are  frequently  found 


SNOW  BUNTING.  215 

in  the  marshes  bordering  the  coast.  At  the  end  of  March 
1902,  a  flock  of  forty,  some  of  which  were  adult  males  in  very 
fine  plumage,  was  feeding  in  the  fishermen's  gardens  near 
Redcar  on  ground  newly  sown  with  oats. 

There  are  several  vernacular  names  :  Snow-Flake  is  a 
general  term,  varied  dialectically  to  Snow-Fleck  in  Nidderdale. 
In  the  North  Riding  it  is  called  French  Sparrow ;  White  Lenny 
at  Loftus  and  Staithes  ;  Ower-sea  Bird  (over-sea-bird)  at 
Redcar  ;  and  Over-the-sea  Linnet  at  Kildale  and  Roxby. 
In  Arkengarthdale  it  is  called  Sleightholme  Throstle,  doubtless 
by  reason  of  making  its  appearance  from  that  direction,  N.E. 
Tawny  Bunting,  given  by  Tunstall  in  1783,  was  also  formerly 
used  in  Cleveland.  Mountain  Bunting,  used  by  Latham  in 
1822,  is  probably  only  a  book-name. 

[An  adult  male  example  of  the  White-throated  Bunt- 
ing (Zonatrichia  albicollis,  Gmelin),  a  native  of  North  America 
was  observed  by  the  late  G.  W.  Jalland  of  Holderness 
House,  Hull,  feeding  on  the  lawn  with  other  birds,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1893.  It  was  afterwards  shot  on 
the  I3th  of  February,  and  was  identified  as  the  above 
species  by  the  late  J.  Cordeaux  (Zool.  1893,  p.  149  ;  Nat. 
1893,  p.  113). 

This  was  probably  an  "  escape  "  from  some  ship  while 
being  conveyed  to  this  country  as  a  cage  bird.] 


STARLING. 
Sturnus  vulgaris 


Resident,  very  abundant,  generally  distributed.     Immense  flocks 
of  migrants  arrive  in  autumn,  departing  in  spring. 


The  first  Yorkshire  reference  to  the  Starling  is  a  quotation 
from  Ralph  Johnson,  of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge,  con- 
tained in  Willughby's  "  Ornithology"  :— 

"  The  Stare,  or  Starling,  which  saith  Mr.  Johnson  I  never 


2ib  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

saw  eat  berries,  whereas  all  the  rest  of  this  tribe,  except 
perhaps  the  Water-Ouzel,  are  bacinivorous."  (Will.  "  Orn." 
1678,  p.  24.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Sturnus  vulgaris. — Common  Starling — Universally  common. 

This  favourite  bird,  one  of  our  commonest  and  most 
generally  distributed  residents,  has  increased  enormously 
within  the  past  half-century,  particularly  in  the  valleys  of 
the  Wharfe,  Nidd,  and  Washburn,  and  in  Swaledale  and 
Arkengarthdale,  where  at  the  present  day  it  is  quite  an 
abundant  species,  being  even  found  to  an  elevation  of  1000 
feet,  and  known  to  nest  at  Malham.  Mr.  Ford,  of  Caistor, 
writing  in  the  Field,  20th  October  1888,  remarks  that  a  friend 
of  his  told  him  he  recollected  the  first  pair  of  Starlings  that 
came  to  Swaledale,  at  Low  Row  ;  a  few  years  after  they 
made  their  way  to  Summerside,  then  to  Muker,  Keld,  and 
the  head  of  the  dale. 

An  interesting  remark  in  connection  with  Yorkshire  is 
contained  in  a  letter  from  the  late  Duke  of  Argyll  to  Mr. 
Harvie-Brown,  as  follows  : — 

"  Inverary,  January  igth  1894. — Dear  Mr.  Harvie-Brown, 
I  never  saw  a  Starling  till  I  went  to  England  in  1836.  I 
still  recollect  the  great  interest  with  which  I  saw  the  bird 
for  the  first  time  at  the  Posting  Inn  at  Northallerton  in 
Yorkshire.  Argyll." 

The  immunity  from  persecution  which  it  enjoys,  and  its 
general  usefulness  and  popularity  have  served  it  in  good  stead; 
Thomas  Allis  observed  that  it  was  universally  common  in 
1844,  and  its  numbers  have,  subsequently  to  that  period, 
multiplied  almost  beyond  belief. 

This  species  ranks  numerically  next  to  the  Skylark  on 
migration,  and  is  often  associated  with  it  at  that  period, 
an  early  record  connected  with  this  phase  of  its  history  is 
dated  1834,  when  a  vast  number  were  taken  in  an  exhausted 
state  below  Scarborough  Castle ;  while  in  Rennie's  Field 
Naturalist,  1833,  mention  is  made  of  some  alighting  on 
board  ship  off  the  Yorkshire  coast  on  7th  October  1833. 
Enormous  flocks  arrive  from  the  Continent  in  autumn,  and  at 


STARLING.  217 

this  season,  after  stormy  weather,  they  have  been  found  killed 
beneath  the  lanterns  of  the  Spurn  and  Flamborough  light- 
houses. At  the  latter  place  in  October  1869,  a  flock  alighted 
during  a  foggy  night  on  the  dome  of  the  lantern,  where  they 
kept  up  a  continual  chattering,  and  on  I2th  March  1877, 
there  were  many  at  night  round  the  lantern  ;  as  also  at  Spurn 
in  November  1903.  They  arrive  from  mid-September  to  the 
end  of  October,  and  occasionally  later  in  the  year  in  November 
and  December,  sometimes  congregating  in  thousands  in  the 
fields  bordering  the  coast.  In  spring  they  reassemble  into 
flocks  previously  to  leaving  this  country.  The  vernal 
migration  takes  place  about  the  first  part,  or  the  middle,  of 
April  and  is  probably  carried  on  at  night ;  one  day  great 
flocks  may  be  seen  and  the  next  morning  not  a  single  migrant 
bird  will  be  visible.  In  cold  and  backward  seasons  they 
remain  until  late  in  April,  after  our  resident  birds  are  nesting, 
and  this  was  noticeably  the  case  in  1902.  On  2oth  April 
in  that  yea,r  an  arrival  took  place,  and  large  flocks  were 
in  evidence  on  the  Tees  Marshes  as  late  as  the  end  of  the 
month,  after  which  they  disappeared. 

The  Migration  Reports  contain  numerous  references  to  the 
passage  of  this  bird  which  occurs  in  "  rushes  "  almost  every 
autumn,  and  is  reported  from  the  Light  Stations  all  along 
the  east  coast.  On  4th  November  1881,  an  enormous 
flight,  estimated  to  contain  at  least  a  million  birds,  came  off 
the  sea  at  Redcar,  from  the  east,  extending  in  a  dense  mass 
for  over  two  miles,  making  a  noise  like  thunder,  and  darkening 
the  air.  They  all  flew  towards  the  north-west  and  went 
over  the  Teesmouth.  During  a  "  rush  "  on  I3th  October 
1902,  at  Kilnsea,  many  were  killed  against  the  telegraph 
wires.  These  immigrants  generally  belong  to  the  north 
European  form,  having  a  purplish  head  and  neck.* 

The  Starling  is  a  well-known  mimic  of  other  birds'  notes, 
amongst  which  are  the  Sparrow,  Yellow  Ammer,  Chaffinch, 


*  An  exhaustive  account  of  the  migration  of  the  Starling,  by  Mr. 
W.  Eagle  Clarke,  is  published  in  the  Report  of  the  British  Association 
Migration  Committee,  1903. 


218  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Robin,  Curlew,  Pheasant,  Green  Woodpecker,  Jackdaw,  and 
others,  varying  according  to  the  birds  of  the  locality,  and 
in  addition  may  be  included  a  note  not  belonging  to  a  feathered 
creature,  viz.,  a  dog  whistle  !  A  bird  which  bears  the  title  of 
""  Our  Whistling  Starling,"  has  been,  for  several  years,  in  the 
habit  of  saluting  the  dawn  by  a  low  melodious  whistle  on  the 
roof  of  my  house,  and  it  sometimes  gives  a  very  good  represen- 
tation of  a  Peewit's  call  and  the  Golden  Plover's  note. 

Starlings  have  of  late  years  been  observed  to  depart  from 
their  usual  method  of  feeding  and  have  developed  a  taste 
for  insect  food.  One  fine  warm  day  in  October  1901,  Mr.  E. 
B.  Emerson  saw  about  two  hundred,  hawking  insects,  in  the 
same  manner  as  Swallows  do,  over  a  field  at  Deighton,  near 
Northallerton  ;  and  in  the  autumn  of  1904  he  witnessed  a 
repetition  of  this  habit  in  Bilsdale.  I  have  observed  the 
same  trait  in  the  flocks  frequenting  the  flats  near  the  sea ; 
our  "  Whistling "  bird  constantly  practises  this  mode  of 
feeding  in  the  autumn,  and  at  Fewston  these  birds  have  been 
noticed  feeding  on  ants.  During  hard  frost  and  snow  they 
often  resort  to  the  rocks  to  feed  on  the  small  mussels  left 
bare  at  ebb-tide  ;  and  in  the  Beverley  district  they  have  been 
detected  devouring  garden  fruits. 

On  the  sea  coast  of  Cleveland  and  at  Flamborough  the 
Starling  breeds  in  large  numbers  in  the  cliffs,  and  also  resorts 
to  holes  in  rocks  in  many  inland  localities.  Amongst  curious 
nesting  situations  the  following  have  been  noted : — the 
crevice  in  a  crane  at  Bridlington  station,  in  May  1901  ;  the 
balls  of  a  water  tank  at  Thirsk,  where,  in  1875,  a  nest  was 
built  in  each  of  the  seven  balls  ;  and  the  cleft  of  an  ivy-clad 
tree  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  A  nest  is  recorded  at  Nun- 
appleton  built  of  pampas  grass  and  twigs,  lined  with  feathers 
and  placed  in  an  "  arbor vitae,"  and  resembling  the  nest  of 
a  Bearded  Tit  (Field,  26th  June  1876).  Though  not  its 
usual  practice,  instances  are  yet  known  when  this  bird  has 
shared  its  nesting  quarters  with  another  species.  In  May 
1878,  four  eggs  of  the  Starling  were  found,  in  the  hole  of  a 
tree,  with  two  belonging  to  the  Stock  Dove  ;  these  were 
taken,  and  about  three  weeks  or  a  month  later  three  more 


STARLING.  219 

Starling's  and  two  Stock  Dove's  eggs  were  in  the  nest.  The 
1 6th  of  February  is  given  as  an  exceptionally  early  date 
for  the  discovery  of  eggs. 

With  reference  to  the  vexed  question  of  the  Starling 
being  double  brooded,  it  is  undoubtedly  the  fact  that  in  some 
cases,  perhaps  exceptional  ones,  two  broods  are  raised.  In 
the  year  1902  a  pair  hatched  off  a  brood  in  May,  in  the 
chimney  adjoining  my  house  at  Redcar,  and  on  5th  July 
the  same  year  they  were  busy  attending  to  a  second  family. 


White  and  parti-coloured  varieties  are  not  uncommon. 
Mr.  W.  Morris,  of  Sedbergh,  had  an  albino  ;  another  was 
shot  on  the  Knavesmire,  York,  about  1884  ;  and  examples 
of  a  cream,  buff,  and  chestnut-brown  have  been  met  with. 
Two  birds  with  curiously  elongated  mandibles  were  seen  at 
Redcar  in  1897,  one  of  which  was  shot  and  afterwards  figured 
and  described,  in  the  Field  of  27 th  March  1897,  by  Mr.  W.  B. 
Tegetmeier,  by  permission  of  whom  I  am  enabled  to  produce 
Mr.  Frowhawk's  excellent  drawing  of  the  head  of  the  abnormal 
specimen,  and  also,  for  comparison,  a  normal  head.  Another 
example,  with  elongated  upper  mandible,  is  recorded  by 


220  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 


Hugh  Reid  of  Doncaster,  in  1837  J  an^  a  specimen  with 
crossed  mandibles  was  obtained  about  1888  in  the  vicinity 
of  Harrogate. 

As  to  vernacular  names,  the  word  Starling  is  itself  a 
diminutive  of  Stare,  as  used  by  Willughby  in  his  "  Ornithology," 
1678,  and  is  sometimes  transmuted  into  Starnil,  as  in  the 
Flamborough  district.  From  its  connection  with  sheep  it 
derives  the  name  Shepster,*  Shepstey,  Sheep-stare,  which 
are  in  general  use,  dialectically  modified  to  Shipster  in 
Cleveland  and  at  Sedbergh,  Shepstare  in  Craven,  and  Chepster 
in  the  North  Riding,  as  spelt  by  Tunstall,  who  also  used  the 
form  Chep-starling.  These  are  the  same  terms  as  the  Ship 
or  Ship-starling  of  the  North  Riding,  the  Shep-starling  of 
Craven  and  the  West  Riding,  and  the  Sheep-starling  of  the 
Nidd  valley.  Sheppy,  used  at  Ackworth,  and  Shep,  in 
the  West  and  North  Ridings,  are  possibly  contracted  forms 
of  the  same  appellation.  A  Cleveland  term  is  Gyp,  which 
becomes  Gypey  or  Gipey  at  Eavestone,  near  Ripon,  and 
about  York  ;  Gyp-starling  at  York,  and  Gyp-starnil  or  Gyp- 
starn'l  in  the  North  Riding.  Near  Beverley  it  is  sometimes 
called  Jacob. 

Mr.  James  Backhouse  of  York  mentions  in  the  Naturalist 
(1886,  p.  307),  the  occurrence  of  a  black  Starling,  which  he 
considered  to  be  5.  unicolor,  the  Sardinian  Starling.  It  is 
in  a  collection  belonging  to  the  York  Blue  Coat  Boys'  School, 
and,  according  to  the  label  on  the  case,  was  procured  at  Howden 
in  1840,  and  preserved  by  G.  Wright  of  Fossgate,  York. 

A  suggested  explanation  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney  (torn.  cit. 
p.  340),  is  that  the  bird  in  question  may  be  a  melanic  variety 
of  the  common  Starling,  but  Mr.  Backhouse  assured  me 
that  Mr.  H.  E.  Dresser  has  pronounced  it  to  be  the  Sardinian 
species. 

*  "  Shepster."  An  old  clergyman  who  had  never  heard  this  name 
applied  to  birds,  being  in  the  vestry  of  the  church,  the  clerk,  who  had 
noted  the  return  of  the  Starlings  to  nesting  operations,  said  to  the 
Vicar,  "  Please,  sir,  the  Shepsters  have  come."  The  old  clergyman 
answered  sharply,  "  Shew  them  into  a  pew  ;  shew  them  into  a  pew." 
(Nat.  1896,  p.  254.) 


ROSE  COLOURED  PASTOR.  221 

[The  Red- winged  Starling  (Agelaus  phcenicens  Z,.),  an 
inhabitant  of  America,  has  been  so  frequently  introduced 
into  this  country  that  it  is  considered  by  many  ornithologists 
to  be  unworthy  of  a  place  in  the  British  list.  A  male  example, 
found  on  3ist  March  1877,  under  the  telegraph  wires  by  the 
wayside  near  Ardwick-le- Street,  between  Askern  and  Barnsley 
(Zool.  1887,  p.  257  ;  Nat.  1877,  p.  53),  was  obviously  an  escaped 
bird.] 


ROSE    COLOURED    PASTOR. 
Pastor  roseus    Z.- 


Accidental    autumn    visitant,    of    uncommon    occurrence,    chiefly 
near  the  coast. 


The  first  reference  to  this  species  is  in  Denny's  Leeds 
Catalogue  of  1840,  which  also  appears  in  Allis's  Report, 
dated  1844  : — 

Pastor  roseus. — Rose-coloured  Pastor — Hugh  Reid  of  Doncaster 
reports  that  two  were  shot  by  Mr.  Beal  near  Bawtry,  one  is  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Lawton  of  Tickhill,  the  other  is  in  his  own  collection  ; 
F.  O.  Morris  mentions  one  from  Skinningrove,  and  another  from 
Thorne,  probably  the  specimen  next  alluded  to,  viz.  :  John  Heppenstall 
informs  me  that  one  was  shot  at  Thorne  about  ten  years  ago,  and 
was  obtained  for  his  father's  cabinet  ;  there  were  three  or  four 
individuals  with  this  bird  ;  another  was  killed  but  was  unfortunately 
lost.  H.  Denny  has  mentioned  two  specimens,  one  being  shot  at 
Ripley,  the  other  at  Farnley  Hall  in  1828  ;  one  of  these  birds  was 
killed  near  Beverley  about  four  years  ago  ;  and  Arthur  Strickland 
mentions  that  one  was  killed  while  feeding  on  the  ground  near  the 
house  at  Boynton  in  1829,  and  is  now  in  his  own  collection  ;  another 
was  killed  a  few  years  ago  at  North  Burton  near  that  place.* 

The  Rose  Coloured  Pastor,  or  Rose  Coloured  Starling 
as  it  is  sometimes  termed,  nests  in  south-east  Europe  and 
Asia  Minor,  migrating  in  winter  eastward  to  India.  It  is 
a  casual  visitant  to  Yorkshire,  chiefly  in  autumn,  and  at 

*  One  of  the  specimens  mentioned  by  Allis  was  sold  at  Steven's 
Rooms  in  London,  in  1890,  and  was  purchased  by  Mr.  J.  Whitaker  of 
Rain  worth  Lodge,  Mansfield. 


222  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

very  irregular  intervals ;  one  is  recorded  at  Ripley,  and 
another  at  Farnley  Hall  near  Otley,  in  1828.  These  are 
mentioned  in  Allis's  Report,  as  also  are  examples  at : — 

Boynton  in  1829,  in  A.  Strickland's  collection. 

Thorne  about  1834,  in  Heppenstall's  collection. 

North  Burton,  near  Boynton,  a  few  years  before  1844. 

Near  Beverley  about  1840. 

Near  Bawtry,  two,  before  1844.  (One  in  the  possession 
of  M.  Lawton  of  Tickhill,  the  other  in  H.  Reid's  collection.) 

Skinningrove,  before  1844. 

Additional  occurrences  are  : — 

Dunnington  near  York,  one  in  1850,  now  in  the  York 
Museum  (Nat.  1886,  p.  308). 

Coatham  Marsh,  one,  28th  August  i8$i(Zool.  1851,  p.  3277). 

Middlesbrough,  one,  I2th  August  1855  (Morris's  Nat.  1856). 

Wetherby,  one,  about  1855  (J.  Tennant  MS.). 

York,  one  in  1856  (Zool.  1856,  p.  525).  (Probably  Ranson's 
record,  op.  cit.  1868,  p.  1133,  refers  to  this  individual). 

Huddersfield,  one  at  Edgerton  in  1859  (Hobkirk's  "  Hud- 
dersfield," 1859). 

Easington,  one  in  1860  (in  the  Hull  Museum  :  see  Museum 
Guide). 

Withernwick,  near  Hull,  one  about  1862-3  ;  sn°t  by  J. 
Barley  (MS.  1901). 

Skinningrove,  several  in  1862-3  (Kenneth  McLean,  MS.)- 

Scarborough,  one,  a  fine  old  male,  July  1863  (Alfred 
Roberts,  MS.). 

Ingleborough,  one  in  1864;  described;  (Zool.  1865,  p.  9682). 

Cottingham,  East  Yorks.,  a  mature  male,  26th  August 
1865  (op.  cit.  1866,  p.  29  ;  and  MS.)  ;  now  in  Mr.  T.  Boynton's 
collection. 

Halifax,  one  in  Warley  Clough  in  1866  ;  in  the  Halifax 
Museum  (A.  Crabtree,  MS.). 

Huddersfield,  one,  in  Halifax  Road,  "  some  years  ago  " 
(J.  Varley,  MS.,  1881). 

Easington,  one,  a  male,  4th  November  1877  (Zool.  1878, 

P-  Si)- 

Spurn,  one,  an  old  female,  3oth  August  1884  ;  the  plumage 


CHOUGH.  223 

was  very  dusky,  like  a  Hooded  Crow  on  the  back  ;  another 
was  seen  (Sixth  Migration  Report,  p.  53). 

Redcar,  one,  23rd  November  1889  (Nat.  1890,  p.  100)  ;  in 
my  collection. 

Aldborough,  one  in  1894. 

Hull,  Rolleston  Hall,  one  seen,  November  1901  (Field, 
23rd  November  1901). 


CHOUGH. 

Pyrrhocorax  graculus  (L.). 

Accidental  visitant,  of  extremely  rare  occurrence. 

The  first  notice  of  this  species  in  Yorkshire  is  contained 
in  Allis's  Report,  1844  :— 

Fregilus  gractdus. — Chough — H.  Reid  informs  me  that  one  was  killed 
by  the  gamekeeper  of  Mr.  Randall  Gossip  at  Hatfield,  and  went  into 
the  possession  of  Mr.  Joseph  Cook  of  Rotherham.  F.  O.  Morris 
mentions  one  as  being  killed  near  Sheffield  and  preserved  by  H.  Reid 
of  Doncaster,  probably  the  last  mentioned  bird,  which  I  presume 
to  be  the  same  specimen  also  mentioned  by  my  friend  J.  Heppenstall. 

This  striking  looking  bird  is  resident  in  some  remote 
districts  in  the  British  Islands,  one  of  its  chief  strongholds 
being  on  the  wild  west  coast  of  Ireland  ;  another  colony  is 
established  on  one  of  the  islands  of  the  Inner  Hebrides,  and 
a  few  pairs  still  breed  on  the  Isle  of  Man  and  on  the  coast  of 
Wales,  but  in  Cornwall,  whence  it  derives  its  best  known 
name,  the  Cornish  Chough  has  been  reduced  to  very  limited 
numbers. 

In  Yorkshire  it  is  now  only  an  extremely  rare  and  casual 
wanderer,  though  the  probability  of  its  former  existence 
as  a  resident  is  inferred  from  the  discovery  of  an  ulna  in 
Kirkdale  Cave  preserved  in  the  British  Museum  (R.  Lydekker, 
Ibis,  July  1891,  p.  385).  Further  confirmatory  evidence 
respecting  its  history  in  this  county  is  supplied  by  Mr.  K. 
McLean,  who  states  that  an  old  man  who  worked,  in  the 


224  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

early  part  of  last  century,  in  the  alum  works  at  Boulby,  near 
Loftus-in-Cleveland,  remembered  what  he  called  "  Red-legged 
Daws  "  being  on  the  cliffs,  which  at  this  place  attain  an 
altitude  of  upwards  of  600  feet,  the  highest  point  on  the 
English  coast.  This  indicates  the  certainty  of  the  Chough 
breeding  there,  and  the  locality  would  be  a  most  suitable 
one  for  this  bird,  which  loves  high  inaccessible  sea-cliffs  for 
its  nesting  quarters. 

The  late  Canon  Atkinson  remarked  ("  Eggs  and  Nests," 
1861,  p.  85)  that  the  Chough  "  was  until  lately  (1861)  known 
to  breed  at  Flamborough "  ;  but  neither  Mr.  M.  Bailey 
nor  any  of  the  old  residents  of  that  neighbourhood  can 
remember  it,  although  their  records,  in  some  cases,  extend 
as  far  back  as  1837. 

One  is  recorded  at  Hatfield  by  Allis  in  1844,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1875  another  was  observed  near  Sheffield  (Charles 
Dixon,  MS.). 

The  most  recent  authentic  instance  of  its  appearance  was 
mentioned  by  the  late  James  Carter  of  Masham,  who  observed 
that  "  In  the  winter  of  1876  one  was  seen  by  Mr.  Wm.  Todd, 
taxidermist,  feeding  in  the  Marfield  in  company  with  some 
Rooks.  Its  red  legs  and  bill  shewed  plainly  against  the 
snow."  (Carter,  in  lift,  and  Nat.  1886,  p.  234.) 


NUTCRACKER. 
Nucifraga  caryocatactes  (Z.). 

Irregular    visitant    from    northern    Siberia,    of    extremely    rare 
occurrence. 


The  opinions  expressed  by  naturalists  as  to  the  form  of 
this  species  which  visits  the  British  Islands  is  given  in  favour 
of  the  Eastern  or  slender-billed  race.  This  bird,  called  the 
Siberian  Nutcracker,  is  found  from  the  Ob  and  Yenesei 
onwards. 


NUTCRACKER.  225 

In  this  county  it  is  a  rare  and  irregular  visitant,  only  five 
instances  of  its  capture  being  chronicled. 

At  Campsall,  near  Doncaster,  one  is  said  to  have  occurred, 
on  the  authority  of  Neville  Wood  (Lancaster's  "  Askern," 
1842,  p.  70). 

At  Wakefield  one  was  obtained  in  the  autumn  of  1865, 
and  was  purchased  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Harting  from  G.  Lumb, 
who  had  it  in  the  flesh  (Harting's  "  Handbook,"  2nd  Ed., 
p.  388). 

Mr.  T.  Boynton  of  Bridlington  has  a  specimen,  which 
he  informs  me  was  procured  in  Boynton  Woods,  and  was 
formerly  in  the  Bessingby  collection  belonging  to  the  late 
Harrington  Hudson. 

The  Rev.  G.  D.  Armitage  possesses  an  example  which 
was  killed  at  Dungeon  Wood,  Huddersfield,  in  1870,  and 
was  purchased  of  Mr.  S.  L.  Mosley  who  preserved  it  (Armitage, 
in  lift.). 

And  finally,  on  5th  January  1901,  one  was  killed  by  a 
keeper  at  Ilkley,  and  was  acquired  by  Mr.  A.  Page  on  the 
same  day  (Ibis,  1901,  p.  737). 


JAY. 

Garrulus  glandarius  (/..). 


Resident  ;  not  uncommon  in  some  wooded  districts,  though 
decreasing  owing  to  constant  persecution ;  occasionally  observed 
in  autumn  as  an  immigrant. 

The  earliest  allusion  to  this  species  in  Yorkshire  appears 
to  be  in  the  appendix  to  Graves' s  "  History  of  Cleveland," 
1808,  where  it  is  enumerated  in  the  list  of  birds. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Garrulus  glandartus. — Jay — Frequently  met  with  in  most  parts  ; 
rare  near  Hebden  Bridge,  and  stated  by  R.  Leyland  to  be  nearly 
extirpated  about  Halifax. 

This  handsome  woodland  bird  shares,  with  the  hawk  and 
crow  families,  the  unenviable  notoriety  of  figuring  on  the 

VOL.   I.  Q 


226  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

keeper's  "  Black  List,"  and  is  consequently  subject  to  incessant 
persecution  whenever  it  ventures  to  show  itself  in  a  game- 
preserving  neighbourhood.  A  few  years  ago  as  many  as 
twenty-four  were  procured  in  one  day  in  Bramham  Woods, 
and  in  addition  to  the  enmity  of  the  gamekeeper,  the  bird 
excites  the  anger  of  horticulturists  by  raiding  the  gardens 
when  peas  and  cherries  are  ripe  ;  it  is  not  surprising,  therefore, 
to  learn  that  it  has  become  scarce  in  most  parts  of  Yorkshire, 
especially  near  the  large  towns,  in  manufacturing  districts, 
and  where  game  is  strictly  preserved  ;  though,  in  spite  of 
its  enemies,  it  continues  to  nest  in  many  secluded  woods  and 
sparsely  populated  districts.  In  the  higher  dales  and  on  the 
moorlands  it  is  practically  absent.  It  has  now  ceased  to  exist 
in  some  places  where  it  was  formerly  a  frequent  species ; 
at  Lofthouse  near  Wakefield,  and  near  Halifax  it  was  numerous 
in  the  middle  of  last  century,  but  George  Roberts  in  1876 
says  it  was  then  extirpated  at  the  former  place.  In  1836 
Charles  Waterton  deplored  the  decrease  of  the  Jay,  even  in 
his  park,  where  all  feathered  creatures  enjoyed  complete 
immunity  from  harm,  and  there  only  two  or  three  nests  were 
annually  produced.  In  the  Crinkle  Woods  near  Whitby  it  is 
still  fairly  common,  though  decreasing  greatly  of  late  years  ; 
at  Bolton-in-Bowland,  in  West  Yorkshire,  it  altogether  dis- 
appeared in  1885,  then  reappeared  ten  years  later  and 
nested,  but  both  old  and  young  were  ruthlessly  destroyed, 
It  is  local  in  East  Yorkshire,  but  has  long  been  an  annual 
breeder  in  the  Market  Weighton  district,  where  it  was 
formerly  much  more  numerous  than  now.  In  1865  and  follow- 
ing years  it  was  an  autumn  visitor  in  some  numbers  to  the 
public  common  in  Beverley,  coming  with  the  Woodcock, 
Redwings,  and  Blackbirds,  and  at  Scampston  Park  it  was 
only  a  winter  visitor  until  recently,  but  is  now  a  nesting  species. 
Though  not  usually  classed  among  our  immigrants,  the 
Jay  is  known  to  cross  the  North  Sea  in  autumn,  as  evidenced 
by  the  entries  in  the  Third  Migration  Report  (1883)  p.  39, 
which  refer  to  the  great  abundance  of  the  bird  in  our  English 
woodlands  in  the  autumn  of  1882.  This  increase  was  very 
pronounced  in  most  parts  of  this  county  bordering  on  the 


JAY.  227 

coast,  and  was  very  decided  in  Cleveland  and  the  North 
Riding.*  An  influx  of  these  birds,  which  could  only  be 
attributed  to  migration,  was  also  observable  in  1880,  1890, 
and  1892  (See  Zool.  1877,  P-  I3»  and  1883,  p.  i). 

Of  Yorkshire  varieties  there  are  several  instances  on  record, 
the  most  numerous  being  white  examples,  and  of  these  one 
at  Woodlands,  near  Doncaster,  in  1837,  was  °f  a  m^k  white 
plumage  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  small  feathers  in 
the  wings  having  a  bluish  tinge.  An  albino,  with  white  legs, 
bill,  and  irides,  near  York  in  October  1876,  is  recorded  by 
R.  M.  Christy  (op.  cit.  1877,  p.  25) ;  another  albino  was  reported 
near  the  city  in  July  1900  (Nat.  1901,  p.  12)  ;  and  white,  or 
nearly  white,  specimens  have  occurred  at  Osgoodby,  near  Selby 
(Field,  29th  November  1890),  near  York  (Nat.  1892,  p.  308, 
and  1894,  p.  368). 

In  some  remote  Cleveland  dales  it  is  thought  by  the 
country  folk  to  be  advisable  to  make  the  best  terms  possible 
in  any  dispute  should  the  cry  of  the  Jay  be  heard  after  sunset, 
which  period  is  deemed  to  be  synchronic  with  "  after  the 
first  cry  of  the  Owl."  An  old  dalesman  is  reported  to  have 
remarked  to  a  friend  of  the  writer  : — "  Ah've  heeard  t'owld 
folk  say,  when  Ah  war  a  lad,  that  when  t'  Raven  and  t'  Jay 
call  after  t'  Ullot's  abroad,  them  tweea  be  hodding  crack  wi' 
t'  restless  deead." 

The  vernacular  names  of  the  Jay  in  the  North  and  West 
Ridings  are  Jenny  Jay,  or  Jinny  Jay  ;  at  Scarcroft  it  is  known 
as  Blue  Jay  ;  near  Loftus-in-Cleveland  it  is  called  Blue-wing  ; 
and  at  Sedbergh  Jay  Piet. 

*  Coincident  with  this  was  an  immense  migration  at  Heligoland 
from  the  6th  to  the  i$th  of  October  1882,  when  "  thousands  on 
thousands  like  a  continual  stream  "  were  reported  by  Herr  Gatke. 


228 

MAGPIE. 

Pica  rustica  (Scop.). 


Resident,  generally  distributed,  decreasing  in  numbers,  but  still 
fairly  common  in  spite  of  persecution. 


Probably  the  earliest  Yorkshire  mention  of  this  bird  is 
that  made  in  1808  by  the  Rev.  J.  Graves  in  his  "  History  of 
Cleveland,"  where  the  Magpie  is  enumerated  as  a  resident. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Pica    caudata. — Magpie — Common    everywhere. 

Notwithstanding  much  persecution  at  the  hands  of  game- 
keepers, this  species  continues  to  exist  in  the  county,  though 
its  ranks  are  greatly  reduced  in  comparison  with  its  standing 
of  thirty  or  forty  years  ago.  At  that  period  it  was  common 
in  the  southern  portions,  as  many  as  fifty  being  seen  in  one 
day  in  New  Spring  Wood,  near  Barnsley,  and  at  Charles 
Waterton's  residence,  Walton  Hall,  where  all  birds  were 
strictly  protected,  no  less  than  thirty-four  nests  of  this  bird, 
each  with  its  complement  of  young,  were  known  in  1835  ; 
at  Stocksmoor,  near  Huddersfield,  previous  to  1859,  large 
assemblies  were  observed  in  severe  weather  ;  since  that  date 
they  have  been  much  reduced  there  (Zool.  1862,  p.  7881), 
though  an  extraordinary  abundance  was  noted  in  1902. 
In  Craven  and  Upper  Wharfedale  also  it  was  an  abundant 
species  in  the  middle  of  the  past  (igth)  century.  At  the 
present  time  it  is  still  generally,  but  sparingly,  distributed 
where  conditions  favourable  to  its  existence  are  found ; 
woods  or  spinneys,  and  trees  growing  in  hedgerows  in  thinly 
populated  districts. 

In  most  parts  of  the  West  Riding,  removed  from  the 
neighbourhood  of  large  manufacturing  towns,  the  bird  is 
met  with,  though  its  numbers  are  kept  down  to  a  low  point ; 
in  some  places  it  nests  to  an 'elevation  of  upwards  of  1000 
feet,  but  in  the  highest  dales  and  moorland  districts  it  is 
very  scarce.  In  the  North  Riding,  where  are  many  sparsely 
inhabited  tracts  and  low-lying  dales,  it  used  to  be  fairly 


MAGPIE.  229 

abundant ;  here  again  the  attentions  of  the  keepers  have  led 
to  its  decrease,  still  it  holds  its  own  in  an  astonishing  manner 
considering  the  many  enemies  it  has  to  contend  against. 
A  correspondent  of  the  Field,  February  28th  1903,  remarks 
that  he  had  seen  a  flock,  numbering  twenty-seven  individuals, 
that  frequented  a  locality  near  York  for  some  time  previously 
to  the  date  of  his  communication.  It  is  pretty  generally 
distributed  in  the  East  Riding,  but  becoming  very  scarce 
in  those  localities  where  it  is  still  found,  except  perhaps  on 
one  or  two  estates  whose  owners  still  prefer  to  allow  nature's 
ways  to  remain  unchecked.  One  such  sanctuary  is  Scamp- 
ston  Park,  where  the  bird  is  slightly  on  the  increase.  It  is 
moderately  abundant  at  Market  Weighton ;  formerly  it 
nested  quite  close  to  the  town  of  Beverley,  though  now  it  is 
decreasing  in  that  district.  In  South  Holderness,  where 
if  was  formerly  plentiful,  it  now  breeds  in  small  numbers  only, 
convincing  proof  of  the  cause  of  its  decadence  being  afforded 
by  the  sight  of  sixteen  bodies  suspended  on  a  keeper's  museum, 
on  I5th  January  1901. 

Although  not  included  among  the  regular  migrants,  it 
would  appear  that  the  Magpie  does  in  some  seasons  wander 
considerable  distances  from  its  ordinary  haunts  ;  many  were 
noticed  in  Cleveland  in  1883,  and  several  were  seen  in  the 
Humber  district  after  the  gale  of  I4th  October  1887. 

In  addition  to  its  reprehensible  habit  of  plundering  game 
birds'  eggs,  the  Magpie  has  been  detected  in  the  act  of  destroy- 
ing domesticated  poultry ;  near  Barnsley,  in  1892,  one  was 
found  attacking  a  pigeon  (Field,  5th  November  1892). 

As  stated  above,  Charles  Waterton  protected  these  birds 
at  Walton  Park,  where  in  1833  he  took  the  Pie's  eggs  out  of 
a  nest,  substituting  those  of  a  Jackdaw,  which  the  Magpie 
hatched.  An  instance  of  a  female  being  induced,  by  repeated 
robberies,  to  lay  four  clutches  of  eggs,  viz.,  five,  seven,  five, 
and  six,  is  related  by  J.  Ranson  (ZooL  1864,  p.  9036).  Eggs 
have  been  found  in  the  North  Riding  as  early  as  the  22nd 
of  March. 

Variation  of  plumage  is  not  prevalent  in  this  species  to 
the  same  extent  as  in  some  others  of  the  genus,  and  Yorkshire 


230  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

records  are  but  few  in  number.  Some  white  young  ones 
were  observed  in  Eskdale  before  1817  (Young's  "  Whitby," 
1817) ;  one  with  pale  grey  on  those  parts  which  are  usually 
black  is  mentioned  by  S.  L.  Mosley  (Zool.  1885,  p.  437)  ; 
another  curious  variety  occurred  near  West  Burton  in  Wensley- 
dale,  in  1885,  which  had  feathers  of  a  faint  rusty  brown  colour 
instead  of  black  ;  and  an  albino  was  captured  at  Kirbymoorside 
on  4th  June  1904  (op.  cit.  1904,  p.  313). 

Few  birds  are  so  intimately  associated  with  folk-lore 
as  the  present  species,  which  figures  as  one  of  the  quarterings 
of  "  t'  Yorksherman's  coit  of  arms."  These  are — 

"A  flea,  a  fly, 

A  flitch  of  bacon, 

And  a  chattering  magpie  "  ; 

and  to  each  quartering  is  attached  a  distich,  the  allusion  to 
our  subject  running  : — 

"  A  Nanpie  '11  chatter 
Wi'  owt  er  wi'  nowt," 

or,  according  to  another  version  : — 

"  A  Magpie  can  talk  for  a  terrible  span, 
An'  so  an'   all  can  a  Yorksherman." 

The  following  examples  of  familiar  chants  by  village 
children  are  suggestive  of  the  bird's  chattering  propensities  :— 

"  Tell-pie-tit 

Laid  an  egg  an'  couldn't  sit." 
or, 

"  Tell-pie-tit,    thy   tongue   shall   be   split, 
An'  every  dog  i'  t'  town  shall  get  a  bit." 

Prognostications  of  misfortune  attributed  to  the  Magpie 
are  indicated  by  some  quaint  couplets  formerly  heard  in 
the  Cleveland  dales  : — 

"  S'u'd  ya  hear  a  Cuckoo,  then  a  Nanpie  see, 
Neea  luck  that  day  '11  come  ti'  thee." 

and 

"  S'u'd  a  Dove  thrice  call,  then  thoo  a  Nanpie  see, 
Thoo  mun  watch  thi'  love  wi'  a  jillous  e'e." 

The  accomplished  Yorkshire  naturalist,  Charles  Waterton, 
wrote  anent  the  superstitions  connected  with  this  bird  :  "  The 


MAGPIE.  231 

lower  orders  have  an  insurmountable  prejudice  against  it, 
on  the  score  of  its  supposed  knowledge  of  their  future  destiny. 
They  tell  you  that  when  four  of  these  ominous  birds  are  seen 
together,  it  is  a  sure  sign  that  ere  long  there  will  be  a  funeral 
in  the  village ;  and  that  nine  are  quite  a  horrible  sight.  I 
have  often  heard  countrymen  say  that  they  had  rather  see 
any  bird  than  a  Magpie,  but,  upon  my  asking  them  the  cause 
of  their  antipathy  to  the  bird,  all  the  answer  I  could  get  was 
that  they  knew  it  to  be  unlucky,  and  that  it  always  contrived 
to  know  what  was  going  to  take  place." 

A  rhyme  in  vogue  in  country  districts  runs  : — 

"  One  for  sorrow,  two  for  mirth, 
Three  a  wedding,  four  a  birth. 
Five  heaven,  six  hell, 
Seven   the  deil's  own  selV 

The  indications  vary  in  different  districts  :  '  Four  for  death, 
five  for  rain,'  being  substituted  in  some  places,  though  it 
appears  to  be  a  general  custom  to  endeavour  to  avert  the 
disaster  thus  liable  to  be  brought  by  making  as  many  crosses 
on  the  ground  as  there  are  birds  seen.  If  a  single  bird  crosses 
the  path  of  anyone  setting  out  on  a  journey  it  is  a  sure  sign 
of  ill-luck  for  the  day,  and  persons  have  been  known  to  turn 
back  from  a  contemplated  journey  for  this  reason  ;  but  to 
counteract  the  evil  influence  it  is  the  practice  in  North  Riding 
country  districts  to  make  a  cross  in  the  air,  or  to  take  off  the 
hat  and  make  a  polite  bow  ;  and  in  the  West  Riding  the 
custom  is  to  cross  the  thumbs,  in  addition  to  crossing  oneself, 
repeating  the  lines  : — 

"  I  cross  the  Magpie, 
The  Magpie  crosses  me, 
Bad  luck  to  the  Magpie, 
And  good  luck  to  me." 

The  vernacular  names  the  bird  is  known  by  shew  the 
"  familiarity  which  breeds  contempt "  in  the  mind  of  the 
juvenile  population.  Mag,  Maggie,  and  Nanpie  are  general ; 
Miggy  in  the  north  country  (Swainson) ;  Long-tailed  Nan 
and  Long-tailed  Mag  in  Cleveland ;  Swainson  gives  Pie, 
Pianate,  Pyenate  as  West  Riding  terms  ;  they  are  used  in 


232  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Hallamshire ;  variants  are  Pinot  at  Skelmanthorpe,  near 
Huddersfield ;  Pienet  at  Huddersfield,  Pynot  in  the  West 
Riding,  Piannot  in  Craven,  Pianet  in  Cleveland,  Pyannot 
and  Pyet  in  Swaledale,  and  Nan-pi annot  in  Craven  ;  other 
North  Riding  names  are  Tell-pie-tit,  Tell-piet,  Tell-pienot, 
Tell-pie,  or  Pie-nanny,  as  discussed  in  the  folk-lore  ;  while 
Pied  Margaret  is  a  Swaledale  term. 


JACKDAW. 

Corvus  monedula  (Z,.). 


Resident,   common  and  generally  distributed.     An  influx  of 
migrants  observed  in  autumn,  in  company  with  Rooks. 


An  early  allusion  to  this  bird  in  Yorkshire  was  made  by 
Pennant  in  his  account  of  Knaresborough  in  1773,  thus  : — 
"  Near  this  place  (Knaresborough)  the  vaste  precipitous  cliffs, 
darkened  with  the  ivy  that  spreads  over  their  sides,  exhibit 
a  most  magnificent  scenery.  Daws  inhabit  and  caw  far 
above  on  the  face  of  it  (the  rocks)."  (Pennant's  "  Tour  from 
Alston  Moor  to  Harrogate  and  Brimham  Crags,"  1804,  p.  104.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Corvus  monedula. — Jackdaw — Common  in  almost  every  district, 
but  stated  to  be  rare  at  Hebden  Bridge  and  Huddersfield  ;  the  number 
of  these  birds  is  reported  by  A.  Strickland  to  have  increased  con- 
siderably of  late  years  about  the  rocks  at  Flamborough. 

As  a  common  resident,  the  "  Jack  "  as  it  is  usually  known 
in  Yorkshire,  needs  but  little  notice ;  it  is  generally  diffused 
in  the  county  where  facilities  for  its  nesting  sites  are  found, 
and  is  absent  only  from  the  bleak  moorlands. 

As  a  migrant,  however,  the  bird  is  not  so  well  known, 
and  deserves  more  attention  in  that  connection,  and  here 
the  Migration  Reports  may  be  consulted  for  evidence  respecting 
its  occurrence  at  the  light  stations.  It  is  seen  to  cross  the 
North  Sea  in  autumn  often  in  great  numbers,  and  associated 


JACKDAW.  233 

with  Rooks,  though  not  as  a  rule  so  plentifully  north  of  Spurn 
as  to  the  south  of  that  point ;  it  has,  nevertheless,  been 
recorded  several  times  at  Teesmouth  and  at  Flamborough, 
On  I7th  October  1889,  a  "  rush  "  was  noted  at  the  latter  place, 
and  in  1894,  during  the  first  week  in  November,  an  extra- 
ordinary arrival  took  place  at  Easington,  in  Holderness, 
flocks  of  fifty  to  sixty  coming  in  for  three  or  four  days  in 
succession. 

Great  numbers  of  Jackdaws  nest  on  the  sea-cliffs,  especially 
on  the  Flamborough  range,  and  between  Staithes  and  Saltburn. 
At  the  former  place  they  commit  depredations  on  the 
Guillemots'  eggs,  their  modus  operandi  being  to  roll  the 
unprotected  eggs  off  the  ledges  on  to  the  rocks  below,  and 
then  fly  down  to  enjoy  the  feast ;  at  other  times  they  carry 
the  eggs  to  the  cliff  tops  and  devour  the  contents  on  the  grass. 
John  Hodgson  of  Bempton  says  he  has  known  a  Daw 
deliberately  roll  several  eggs  from  a  ledge  and  then  fly  down 
to  a  lower  projection  to  repeat  the  process,  always  keeping 
an  eye  on  the  descending  egg  to  mark  where  it  fell ;  the 
climbers  accordingly  consider  them  as  inimical  to  their  trade 
and  wage  war  against  them  whenever  possible.  In  addition 
to  plundering  eggs  this  species  has  been  detected  in  the  act 
of  killing  the  chicks  of  Pheasants  and  Partridges  near  Ripley 
(Field,  23rd  July  1892). 

Instances  have  been  known  where  Jackdaws  fought  with 
other  birds  for  the  occupancy  of  a  nesting  hole  in  a  tree ; 
at  Beverley  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  on  the  part 
of  a  pair  of  Daws  to  oust  Stock  Doves  from  their  nesting 
place  ;  and  near  Richmond,  in  1853,  a  Starling's  egg  was  found 
in  a  nest  with  four  eggs  of  a  Jackdaw,  an  instance,  evidently, 
of  dual  occupation.  At  Walton  Hall,  in  1835,  Charles 
Waterton  noted  that  Jackdaws,  to  obtain  possession  of  a 
nesting  site,  drove  away  a  pair  of  Tawny  Owls  which  had 
bred  for  many  years  in  a  sycamore  tree.  The  same  naturalist 
induced  a  Jackdaw  to  hatch  the  substituted  eggs  of  a  Magpie. 
At  Scampston,  in  1901,  several  pairs  built  huge  untidy  nests 
in  a  clump  of  spruce  firs,  and  similar  nests  have  been  observed 
at  Escrick,  Sedbergh,  and  other  places,  while  at  Beverley 


234  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

some  have  been  reported  built  on  the  top  of  wirework  fixed 
on  chimney-pots  with  the  object  of  preventing  the  birds 
building  inside  the  chimneys.  The  Jackdaw's  predilection 
for  utilising  church  towers  for  nesting  sites  is  proverbial, 
and  at  Calverley  Church  a  spiral  staircase  in  the  befry  tower 
was  blocked  up  by  an  accumulation  of  sticks  brought  there 
for  building  materials.  A  similar  case  occurred  in  one  of 
the  hollow  pinnacles  of  the  Beverley  Minster  ;  inside  this 
pinnacle  were  stone  steps  forming  a  ladder  to  the  top,  and 
the  Jackdaws  had  built  on  the  top  step,  but,  as  this  did  not 
form  a  sufficient  base  to  support  the  nest,  the  birds  had 
brought  great  quantities  of  sticks  and  filled  up  the  ladder- way. 

The  Jackdaw,  like  other  members  of  the  Crow  family, 
is  liable  to  variation  in  plumage  ;  pied  examples  are  not 
infrequently  met  with,  and  the  late  J.  C.  Garth's  collection 
contained  a  white  specimen,  probably  obtained  near  Knares- 
borough  ;  one  which  had  a  white  crescent  on  each  wing 
was  seen  at  Flamborough  in  June  1899  ;  a  curious  brown 
coloured  bird  was  observed  near  the  Crimple,  between 
Harrogate  and  Knaresborough,  on  I3th  May  1882  ;  Mr.  F. 
Boyes  has  seen  several  individuals  with  brown  wings  at 
Beverley,  and  one  such  specimen  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Stuart  of  that  place.  An  example  with  curved  mandibles 
was  found  near  Burton  Constable  ;  it  had  mandibles  closely 
resembling  those  of  a  Crossbill,  but  the  upper  was  more 
curved  and  worn  by  use,  the  lower,  which  grew  upwards, 
being  pointed  (Field,  7th  August  1897). 

Yorkshire  folk-lore  attributes  the  worst  of  ill-luck  as  likely 
to  follow  the  flight  of  a  Jackdaw  down  a  chimney,  the  death 
of  one  of  the  inmates  of  the  house  being  thus  foretold. 

Of  its  local  names,  Jack  and  Daw  are  general,  becoming 
Jacky  at  Ackworth ;  and  Caw  Daw  is  given  by  Swainson 
as  a  north  country  appellation. 


Raven's  Nest,  north-west  Yorkshire. 


*.   Fortune. 


See  page  236. 


235 

RAVEN. 
Corvus  corax  (L.). 

Resident,  but  restricted  now  to  one  or  two  pairs  in  the  north- 
western fells. 


The  earliest  recorded  mention  of  this  bird  in  connection 
with  Yorkshire  was  made  by  Marmaduke  Tunstall,  of  Wycliffe- 
on-Tees,  who  remarked  :  "  It  is  very  rarely  seen  in  these  parts, 
yet  one  made  its  nest  near  my  house  some  years  ago."  (Tunst. 
MS.  1783,  p.  56.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Corvus  corax. — Raven — F.  O.  Morris  observes  that  twenty-five 
years  ago  this  bird  was  common  in  most  parts,  but  has  since  been 
gradually  getting  scarce  ;  R.  Leyland  says  it  is  occasionally  seen 
on  the  moors  near  Halifax,  but  does  not  breed  there  ;  H.  Denny  reports 
it  as  rare,  though  occasionally  met  with,  at  Walton  Park  ;  rare  at 
Hebden  Bridge  ;  a  pair  breeds  annually  on  a  ledge  of  the  building  at 
the  Mausoleum,  Castle  Howard  ;  it  occurs  at  Hambleton,  and  is 
met  with  rarely  at  Wharncliffe  ;  it  breeds  annually  on  the  rocks 
at  Flamborough  and  some  other  places  in  the  neighbourhood. 

Rightly  designated  a  citizen  of  the  world,  the  Raven  is 
resident  in  Yorkshire,  though  now  reduced  to  small  numbers 
and  limited  to  very  few  localities  in  sparsely  populated  districts. 
Its  occupation  of  the  county  in  former  times  is  proved  by  the 
discovery  of  remains  in  Kirkdale  Cave,  and  the  old  records 
show  that  it  not  uncommonly  built  in  trees  and  woods  of  the 
West  Riding,  though  its  history  has  become  a  tradition. 
The  Rev.  J.  A.  Haydyn  of  Dent  Vicarage  has  obligingly 
supplied  me  with  some  important  and  interesting  evidence, 
taken  from  the  churchwardens'  account-books,  relating  to 
the  Raven  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  shewing 
that  payments  were  made  for  the  heads  of  these  birds  ;  thus 
in  1713  for  eight  Ravens'  heads  the  sum  of  is.  4d.  was  paid, 
and  for  five  Ravens'  heads  lod.  was  disbursed.  Between 
1713  and  1750  there  appears  something  of  the  kind  every  year, 
the  normal  price  being  2d.  per  head,  though  in  1726  there 
is  an  entry  thus: — For  8  Ravens'  heads.. 35.  od.  ;  and  in 
1737:  for  35  Ravens'  heads.. 53.  lod. 


236  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

At  Walton  Hall,  the  residence  of  Charles  Waterton,  the 
Raven  bred  in  the  park,  where  the  last  one  was  destroyed  in 
1813,  and  the  last  nesting  bird  in  the  Aire  valley  was  killed  in 
Trowler's  Gill  in  1837  I  near  Selby  a  pair,  taken  from  a  nest 
in  Bishop's  Wood,  were  kept  alive  for  many  years.  Other 
breeding  situations  were  in  the  upper  part  of  Nidderdale ; 
Hackfall ;  Raven's  Gill  near  Pateley,  the  last  nesting  bird 
being  shot  by  old  Jack  Sinclair,  a  celebrated  Pateley  character, 
who  died  in  1898,  aged  ninety-two  ;  Gordale  Scar  ;  and  Eave- 
stone  near  Ripon,  where  a  nest  was  destroyed  "  some  years 
ago  "  (Ingleby,  MS.,  1902).  In  Lower  Nidderdale,  in  1860,  the 
late  John  Harrison  of  Wilstrop  trapped  a  wild  bird  and  had  it 
for  some  time  ;  it  afterwards  left,  found  a  mate,  and  brought 
off  young  in  a  fir  tree  in  Allerton  Park  ;  but  there,  as  at  other 
of  its  old  haunts,  stragglers  only  are  now  seen  at  long  intervals. 
So  far  as  recent  information  can  be  relied  upon,  the  only 
district  in  this  Riding  where  it  occasionally  succeeds  in  nesting 
is  on  the  wild  fells  of  the  north-west,  the  exact  whereabouts 
of  which  it  would  be  unwise  to  indicate  ;  there  a  few  survive 
and  would  breed  if  allowed  to  remain  unmolested,  but  collectors 
are  on  the  qui  vive  to  secure  the  eggs  as  soon  as  laid,  while 
keepers  and  shepherds  combine  to  destroy  the  parent  birds, 
which,  like  Ishmael  of  old,  have  every  man's  hand  against 
them,  and  the  wonder  is  that  any  contrive  to  escape. 

Coming  now  to  the  North  Riding,  the  history  of  the  Raven 
is  almost  a  memory  of  the  past,  though  formerly  there  were 
numerous  places  which  could  claim  it  as  a  regular  breeder  ; 
one  of  these  was  the  Mausoleum  at  Castle  Howard,  where  a 
pair  occupied  a  conspicuous  position  up  to  the  year  1856 ; 
in  the  Helmsley  and  Riveaulx  district  up  to  1860  it  bred 
on  White  Mare  Cliff  and  Peake's  Scar,  and  also  in  an  ash  tree 
in  Gowerdale  ;  other  sites  were  at  Roulston  Scar,  Hood  Hill, 
and  in  Bilsdale ;  at  Danby  it  was  extirpated  in  Atkinson's 
time  ("  Moorland  Parish,"  p.  329),  but  in  Newton  Dale  near 
Pickering  there  was  always  a  brood,  till  about  1875,  in  a  crag 
known  as  Raven's  Cliff.  In  Cleveland,  until  so  recently  as 
1866,  a  pair  nested  near  Guisborough,  sometimes  in  Cass  Rock, 
and  at  others  on  Highcliff  near  the  Raven's  Well  (now  called 


' 


i 


RAVEN.  237 

the  Jackdaw's  Well) ;  five  young  were  taken  at  the  former 
place  about  1860,  and  a  single  bird  was  seen  on  Stape  Moor 
in  May  1893.  In  Wensleydale  it  is  known  at  Raven's  Scar, 
Walden  Head,  Cover  Head,  Ellerton,  and  Askrigg,  and,  in 
the  adjoining  valley  of  the  Swale,  an  old  inhabitant,  one 
Timothy  Hutton,  born  in  1779,  and  who  died  in  1863, 
remembered  Ravens  breeding  in  Hudswell  Scar ;  while  up 
to  1880  there  were  breeding  places  in  the  upper  dale  at  Swinner- 
gill,  Oxnop  Scar,  and  Raven's  Crag,  which  latter  place  is  said 
to  have  been  occupied  in  1884  ;  two  were  seen  at  Keld  in  1881, 
and  a  pair  in  Arkengarthdale  in  1882.  The  only  parts  of  the 
North  Riding  where  it  still  maintains  a  precarious  footing 
are  in  the  extreme  north-west,  in  Upper  Teesdale,  and  other 
two  localities  on  the  Westmorland  border ;  at  the  first  named 
place  a  pair  nested  on  Cronkley  Scar  until  quite  recently ;  eggs 
were  taken  in  1899  and  four  birds  were  seen  in  the  autumn  of 
1902.  In  the  year  1880  eleven  Ravens  were  killed  on  Bowes 
Moor,  where  I  saw  the  remains  of  seven  of  them  hanging  on 
the  walls  of  a  keeper's  cottage,  the  crime  alleged  against  them 
being  the  raiding  of  lambs.  On  the  borders  of  Westmorland 
in  1 88 1  a  remarkable  combat  took  place  between  a  Peregrine 
and  a  Raven,  in  which  the  black  bird  was  victorious,  the 
Falcon  being  afterwards  picked  up  dead  on  a  moor.  An 
odd  pair  of  birds  still  build  annually  on  the  rocky  sides  of 
the  fells  in  this  locality,  though,  as  they  are  generally  robbed 
of  their  eggs,  they  change  their  dwelling  places  from  year 
to  year.  In  1899  a  clutch  of  four  eggs  was  taken  and  the 
female  found  dead,  egg-bound ;  the  male  got  another  mate, 
built  a  nest  and  reared  a  brood  at  the  same  place,  while  in 
1903  two  pairs  attempted  to  nest,  but  were  driven  away  by 
the  Peregrine  Falcons,  and  in  1904  one  pair  nested  and  five 
eggs  were  produced. 

In  the  East  Riding  a  pair  bred  annually  in  Scampston 
deer-park  in  a  Scotch  fir ;  the  female  was  accidentally  killed 
by  the  keeper,  and  the  male  left  the  place  ;  this  was  sixty 
to  seventy  years  ago  as  related  by  G.  Petch  of  Lowthorpe, 
who  used  to  come  over  each  year  to  help  take  the  young 
birds ;  Petch  died  in  1886.  Ravens  nested  on  Beverley 


238  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Minster  up  to  1840,  and  the  young  were  annually  taken  by 
an  old  mason  named  Gray  ;  the  nest  was  on  the  southernmost 
of  the  two  west  towers,  and  could  be  reached  from  a  window 
near  with  a  landing-net  which  Gray  used  to  borrow  from  Mr. 
F.  Boyes's  father  for  the  purpose  ;  the  young  were  distributed 
to  the  hostelries  in  the  town.  It  has  been  stated  that  a  tree 
on  an  island  of  Hornsea  Mere  was  formerly  utilised  as  a  nesting 
site. 

On  the  sea-cliffs  it  was  noted  in  HinderweU's  "  Scar- 
borough "  (1830),  at  Flamborough  and  Speeton  ;  two  young 
were  taken  from  there  in  1844  and  kept  alive  at  Hedon  (ZooL 
1845,  p.  823).  The  site  of  the  nest  at  Flamborough  in  1837  was 
on  the  cliff  near  the  King  and  Queen  Rocks.  An  interesting 
piece  of  evidence  respecting  its  occupation  of  the  Flamborough 
cliffs  was  supplied  to  me  in  the  summer  of  1902  by  Henry 
Marr,  one  of  the  "  dimmers  "  at  Bempton,  who  stated  that 
his  uncle,  Richard  Marr  (who  died  in  1901  "  turned  eighty  "), 
was  "  top-man "  with  old  George  Londesborough,  and  re- 
membered Ravens  breeding  on  the  cliffs  ;  he  started  climbing 
at  the  age  of  thirty-five  (about  1855),  and  a  pair  of  birds  then 
nested  between  the  Danes'  Dyke  and  the  "  Dor  "  ;  one  was 
seen  on  the  cliffs  on  I3th  June  1889.*  Other  breeding  places 
were  to  the  north  of  Filey  Brigg  before  1858  (E.  Tindall,  MS.) ; 
the  Castle  Cliff,  Scarborough,where  Alfred  Roberts  remembered 
a  pair  about  1855  ;  Peak,  north  of  Scarborough  (Hinderwell, 
1830) ;  and  at  Hawsker  Bottoms,  near  Whitby,  where  it 
bred  about  1865,  and  is  reported  to  have  appeared  there 
again  in  1880.  On  the  Cleveland  coast  in  the  early  part  of 
the  last  century,  and,  as  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  W.  Cook, 
ex-keeper  of  Grinkle,  so  recently  as  1860,  the  high  crags  of 
Boulby  were  resorted  to ;  two  of  these  birds  were  seen  about 
1870  on  the  beach  near  there,  on  the  dead  body  of  a  sailor 
washed  ashore,  while  a  single  individual  was  noticed  in  the 
late  spring  of  1902.  It  is  enumerated  in  Graves's  "  History 

*  A  tragic  event  is  said  to  have  occurred  in  connection  with  the 
disappearance  of  the  last  pair  of  Ravens  on  the  East  Riding  cliffs, 
the  unfortunate  man  who  descended  to  the  nest  being  killed  by  the 
breaking  of  the  rope  on  his  ascent. 


g 
I 

bo 

S3 


RAVEN.  239 

of  Cleveland  "  (1808),  and,  according  to  J.  Hogg  (Zool  1845, 
p.  1106),  it  built  on  Huntcliffe  near  Saltburn. 

Many  pages  might  be  filled  with  stories  of  the  remarkable 
proclivities  of  this  "  uncanny  bird,"  and  anecdotes  relating 
to  Yorkshire  are  not  wanting.  A  tame  bird  at  Hedon  would 
repeat  the  notes  of  the  Cuckoo  ;  one  at  Skipton  used  to  throw 
money  out  in  exchange  for  meat,  and  the  late  John  Harrison 
of  Wilstrop  had  one  at  large  near  his  house,  which  climbed  into 
a  tree  near  a  rookery  and  terrified  its  neighbours  by  calling 
out  "  Hi,  Hi !  "  in  a  loud  voice.  A  bird  in  my  possession 
is  an  accomplished  linguist  and  very  expert  at  hiding  anything 
which  attracts  its  attention  ;  in  its  first  winter,  when  snow  fell, 
it  made  a  number  of  snowballs  which  it  hid  in  various  caches 
of  its  own,  but  looked  utterly  woebegone  when  it  went  to 
unearth  its  treasures  and  the  snow  had  melted. 

Perhaps  the  earliest  date  for  nidification  is  26th  February 
1902,  when  a  female  was  observed  sitting  upon  her  nest 
in  north-west  Yorkshire,  and  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month 
in  1895  a  full  clutch  of  eggs  was  taken  in  the  same  locality. 

Of  Yorkshire  varieties  there  is  a  pied  specimen,  captured 
in  Nidderdate  several  years  ago,  in  Bewerley  Hall  collection ; 
another,  of  similar  plumage,  occurred  at  Snailsworth ;  and 
one,  partly  pied,  was  observed  on  the  beach  near  Loftus- 
in-Cleveland,  on  the  body  of  a  drowned  sailor. 

The  Raven  figures  largely  in  the  folk-lore  of  Yorkshire, 
as  in  other  counties,  where  it  is  usually  considered  to  be  the 
bird  of  ill- omen,  and  its  presence  or  croaking  is  believed  to 
prognosticate  death  ;  while  several  place-names  indicate  that 
it  was  familiar  to  the  inhabitants  in  olden  days ;  thus  we 
find  Raven's  Roe,  a  rocky  promontory  near  Ingleton ;  Raven's 
Scar,  near  Great  Whernside ;  Raven's  Crag  or  Ravenseat, 
in  Swaledale;  and  Raven's  Gill,  Pateley.  A  relic  of  the 
connection  between  the  Raven  standard  and  the  Danes 
seems  to  exist  in  the  West  Riding,  where  naughty  children 
are  told  that  a  black  Raven  will  come  and  fetch  them ;  and 
Raven  Hill,  between  Whitby  and  Sandsend,  may  indicate 
the  spot  where  the  Danes  landed  on  their  invasion  of  that 
part  of  the  North  Riding.  At  Guisbrough  in  Cleveland, 


24o  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

there  was  a  legend  to  the  effect  that  a  hidden  box  of  treasure 
was  guarded  by  a  Raven,  which  assumed  gigantic  proportions 
if  anyone  attempted  to  rend  its  trust.  Another  item  of 
Cleveland  lore  was  that  "  When  t'  Raven  and  t'  Jay  call  after 
t5  Ullot's  abroad,  them  tweea  be  ho'dding  crack  wi'  t1  restless 
deead."  (See  Jay.) 

The  only  vernacular  names  are  Corbie,  used  at  Sedbergh 
and  in  north-west  Yorkshire ;  and  Croupy-Craw,  which 
Swainson  gives  as  used  in  the  "  North  of  England." 


CARRION    CROW. 
Corvus  corone  (Z,.). 


Resident,  generally  but  thinly  distributed  ;  scarce  in  the  manu- 
facturing districts,  and  decreasing  generally.  A  few  pairs  nest  on  the 
sea  cliffs. 


The  first  mention  of  this  species  in  connection  with  York- 
shire is  an  item  in  the  Churchwardens'  Accounts  in  the  parish  of 
Ecclesfield,  near  Sheffield,  in  payment  of  the  expenses  incurred 
in  the  destruction  of  vermin  : — "  1590.  Item  for  vj  crowe 
heades.  .jd."  This,  doubtless,  is  in  accordance  with  the  Act 
of  24  Henry  VIII.,  which  provided  for  the  extirpation  of 
Crows,  Rooks,  and  Choughs.  (Pennant,  Vol.  i.,  p.  168.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  of  it  thus  : — 

Corvus  corone. — Carrion  Crow — Common  near  Sheffield  ;  stated 
by  J.  Heppenstall  to  be  gregarious  in  severe  weather  ;  very  scarce 
near  Barnsley,  and,  when  met  with,  almost  always  in  solitary  pairs. 
Common  near  Huddersfield,  but  seldom  breeds  there  ;  not  mentioned 
as  occurring  near  Halifax,  though  common  near  Hebden  Bridge ; 
common  in  most  open  and  wooded  districts. 

The  Carrion  Crow  is  a  generally,  but  thinly,  distributed 
resident,  being  rare  in  the  neighbourhood  of  large  towns 
and  in  the  manufacturing  districts  ;  on  the  fells  of  the  north- 
west it  is  fairly  common,  as  many  as  twenty-nine  having  been 
seen  at  one  time,  and  in  the  dales  of  the  West  and  North 


CARRION  CROW.  241 

Ridings,  the  moorland  districts  where  cliffs  or  precipitous 
mountain  sides  afford  suitable  nesting  situations,  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  large  and  secluded  woods,  it  manages  to  survive, 
though  its  numbers  have  decreased,  especially  in  the  Wold 
district  of  the  East  Riding,  but  even  in  that  division  a  few 
pairs  build  in  isolated  spinneys  and  trees  in  hedgerows,  and 
one  or  two  pairs  nest  annually  on  the  high  cliffs  of  Flamborough 
and  Bempton.  Owing  to  its  predatory  habits,  inimical  to 
the  interests  of  game-preservers  and  poulty  farmers,  the  Crow 
leads  a  precarious  existence,  being  proscribed  and  persecuted 
without  mercy  by  gamekeepers,  who  destroy  the  old  birds, 
young,  or  eggs  whenever  an  opportunity  occurs.  As  illus- 
trating the  varied  character  of  its  menu,  the  particulars  of 
a  Crow's  larder  in  Ribblesdale  may  be  described  :  it  contained 
remains  of  eggs  of  Partridge,  Snipe,  Lapwing,  Sparrowhawk, 
Blackbird,  Thrush,  and  domestic  fowl,  in  addition  to 
several  rabbits'  skulls.  There  is  therefore  no  wonder  that 
the  bird  is  on  the  keeper's  "  Black  List,"  and  on  the 
high  moors  it  is  a  perfect  pest  to  the  shepherds  in 
lambing  time. 

As  an  immigrant  it  is  known  at  the  light  stations  on  the 
coast  in  autumn,  coming  in  with  Hooded  Crows  and  Rooks, 
and  occasionally  in  separate  flocks,  although  it  is  not  always 
possible  to  determine  if  this  species  is  meant  when  entries 
referring  to  "  Black  Crows  "  occur  in  the  Migration  Reports, 
and,  as  a  rule,  but  few  are  noted  at  the  stations  north  of  Spurn 
and  Flamborough.  One  was  killed  at  the  latter  place  coming 
in  off  the  sea,  on  2nd  October  1894,  with  a  piece  of  board 
tied  round  its  neck,  4in.  by  ijin.,  bearing  an  inscription, 
"  Leading  Star.  O.R.,"  indicating  that  the  bird  had  been 
caught  on  some  vessel  at  sea,  and  set  at  liberty  with  the 
message  fastened  to  it  (Nat.  1894,  p.  326). 

In  winter  both  Carrion  and  Hooded  Crows  assemble  on  the 
Humber  flats  to  feed  on  shell-fish  and  garbage  cast  up  on  the 
beach,  and  not  only  do  they  consort  together  at  that  season, 
but  an  instance  is  known  of  the  two  races  inter-breeding 
at  Scarborough,  where  a  Carrion  Crow  mated  with  a  female 
Hoodie  ;  the  male  was  shot,  and  next  year  the  Hoodie  brought 

VOL.    I.  R 


242  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

another  male  Carrion  Crow,  when  both  it  and  the  young  were 
destroyed  (Williamson's  Scarborough  list,  1836).  At  Langdon 
in  Rowland  and  in  Craven  the  nests  are  frequently  built  in  low 
stunted  bushes  on  the  fells.  The  earliest  reported  eggs,  a 
clutch  of  five,  were  found  near  Beverley  on  loth  April  1903. 

Of  interesting  Yorkshire  varieties  the  first  known  example 
was  mentioned  in  a  communication  from  Ralph  Johnson,  who, 
writing  to  John  Ray,  from  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge,  under 
date  2gth  March  1672,  said  :  "  Honoured  Sir,  I  have  only 
observed  this  change  from  proper  colours  to  white  .... 
in  Crows  (Corvus  corone),  whereof  there  is  one  now  in  Cliff  e 
Wood,  near  Pierce  Bridge  "  ("Correspondence  of  John  Ray," 
p.  96).  Another  white  variety  is  recorded  in  the  Field, 
30th  January  1875  ;  and  one  is  reported,  on  the  authority  of 
Mr.  Downs  of  Bolton  Abbey,  on  Barden  Fell  in  1906.  A 
peculiarly  plumaged  bird  was  seen  at  Settle  on  28th  October 
1885  ;  it  was  of  a  light  silvery  grey  colour,  with  a  slightly 
brindled  appearance ;  the  head  and  throat  darker  than  the 
back  and  under  surface,  the  tail  and  wings  lighter,  approach- 
ing a  dove  colour.  Yet  another  "  sport  "  of  a  pearl  grey  hue 
was  observed  in  Ribblesdale  in  1884  (Nat.  1896,  p.  41). 

Regarding  the  folk-lore  connected  with  this  species  there 
will  ever  be  an  uncertainty  as  to  whether  the  bird  meant 
was  a  Crow  or  a  Rook,  these  two  names  being  often  used 
indiscriminately,  and  the  Rook  superstitions  may  be  read 
conjointly  with  this ;  but  where  the  word  "  Daup "  or 
"  Daupee  "  is  given  there  can  be  no  doubt  the  Carrion  Crow 
is  meant.  A  saying  illustrative  of  this  is  shewn  in  the  Cleve- 
land dialect :  "  Ther's  bound  for  tae  be  a  lot  o'  Rooks  ti* 
year,  t'  Craws  is  building  strang,  an'  wa's  seean  hae  t'  Daupees 
at  wark."  Here  we  see  the  distinction  drawn ;  Rook  and 
Crow  apply  to  the  same  bird,  but  the  Carrion  Crow  (Daupee) 
builds  after  the  first-named  have  finished  their  nests.  Like 
its  larger  relative,  the  Raven,  it  is  deemed  to  be  a  bird  of 
ill-omen,  and  the  country  children  in  some  parts  cry  out  at 
its  appearance  : — 

"  Crow,  Crow,  get  out  of  my  sight, 
Or  else  I'll  eat  thy  liver  and  lights." 


! 


CARRION  CROW.  243 

If  a  person  falls  asleep  in  the  open  it  is  said  the  "  Craws 
will  peck  oot  his  een,"  and  in  the  rhyme  of  "  Lazy  Jim  " 
we  have  an  exemplification  of  this  supposition  : — 

Asleep,  lazy  Jim  ligg'd, 

Like  an  awd  tup  at's  rigg'd  ;    (on  its  back.) 

Bud  ther  cam'  by  what  wakkens  all  sleepers, 

An  awd  black  Daupee, 

Wheea  seean  oppen'd  his  e'e', 

Per  he  gav  him  a  peck  o'  baith  peepers. 

Jim  loup'd  tiv  his  feet, 

An'   sairly  did  greet, 

"If  Ah  catch  tha,  thoo  gray-heeaded  sinner, 

Thoo'll  nivver  mair  peck, 

Fer  Ah'll  wring  tha  thy  neck, 

An'  fling  tha  tea  t'  cat  fer  its  dinner  !  "* 

It  is  considered  very  unlucky  for  one  of  these  birds  to 
alight  on  outbuildings  ;  the  cattle  are  sure  to  die,  and  mis- 
fortune will  inevitably  follow.  It  is  also  supposed  that  if 
a  Crow  croaks  an  odd  number  of  times  in  the  morning  it  will 
be  a  wet  day,  if  an  even  number  it  will  be  fine. 

Of  Yorkshire  vernacular  names  the  terms  Craw,  Carrion- 
Craw,  and  Corbie-Craw  are  general ;  Car-Crow  is  used  in 
Craven,  and  Ket-Crow  in  the  West  Riding,  "  ket "  signifying 
carrion  ;  at  Sedbergh  this  bird  is  sometimes  called  the  Flesh 
Crow ;  in  Cleveland  it  is  the  Black-nebbed  Crow,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  the  White-nebbed  Crow  or  Rook  ;  Gor  Crow 
is  a  West  Riding  term,  Ger  Crow  a  Craven  one,  and  Cad  Crow 
one  used  in  the  East  Riding,  while  at  Flamborough  it  is  the 
Raven  Crow.  In  the  North  and  West  Ridings  are  used 
the  terms  Dob,  Doup,  or  Dowp,  in  Cleveland  Daupee,  and 
at  Eavestone  near  Ripon,  and  Nunnington,  the  bird  is  Daup 
Crow.  In  Teesdale  we  have  Dowk,  and  in  Craven  Midden 
Daup  applied  to  this  bird.  In  the  Langdon  Valley  in 
Bowland  the  shepherds  call  it  Raven ;  and  in  some  of 
the  remote  Cleveland  dales  it  is  ironically  termed  "  Black 
Pheasant." 

*  This  song  was  known  in  1790,  and  was  sung  at  "  Mell  Suppers  " 
so  recently  as  1838. 


244 

HOODED    CROW. 
Corvus  cornix  (Z.). 


Winter  visitant,  most  abundant  near  the  coast,  where  it  arrives 
in  October,  leaving  in  March  or  April.  Only  of  exceptional  occurrence 
in  some  inland  districts,  whilst  in  others  it  is  an  annual  visitor.  Has 
occasionally  remained  to  breed. 


For  the  earliest  local  reference  to  this  bird  the  observations 
of  Ralph  Johnson  are  quoted,  and,  although  he  wrote  of  the 
Durham  side  of  the  Tees,  his  remarks  apply  to  both  shores 
of  the  estuary  : — 

"  The  Royston  Crow — Mr.  Johnson  [of  Brignall,  near  Greta 
Bridge]  calls  it  Sea-Crow,  and  saith  it  is  frequent  about 
Stockton  in  the  Bishoprick  of  Durham,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  River  Tees."  (Will.  "  Orn."  1678,  p.  22.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  reported  as  follows  : — 

Corvus  cornix. — Hooded  Crow — Is  rarely  met  with  near  York  or 
Sheffield  ;  more  frequently  near  Doncaster  ;  my  friend  Samuel  Routh 
of  Exthorpe  has  a  single  individual  that  has  located  itself  on  his 
premises  for  twenty  winters  past  ;  it  is  more  frequently  met  with  at 
Thorne,  and  is  very  abundant  in  the  lowlands  not  far  from  the  coast  ; 
it  has  been  known  to  build  near  Scarborough.  (See  Yarrell's  "  British 
Birds,"  Vol.  ii.,  p.  86.) 

As  one  of  our  best  known  autumn  migrants,  the  Hooded 
Crow  makes  its  appearance  on  the  coast  with  remarkable 
regularity  in  the  first  week  of  October  ;  at  Spurn,  in  the 
extreme  south-eastern  point  of  the  county,  it  arrives  on  or 
about  the  7th  of  the  month  ;  my  observations  at  the  Tees- 
mouth,  on  the  opposite  end  of  the  seaboard,  show  that  the 
average  date  of  its  arrival  is  October  6th,  and  the  earliest 
noted  was  on  loth  September  1880.  Generally  speaking, 
from  the  3rd  to  the  7th  of  October  it  may  be  looked  for,  and, 
although  odd  birds  are  sometimes  seen  in  September,  the 
main  migration  does  not  take  place  until  mid- October  or 
November.  In  1902  the  earliest  arrival  was  on  the  ist  of 
October,  a  single  bird  mobbed  by  Starlings  ;  in  1904  the 
first  was  noted  on  the  25th  of  September. 

The  observations  communicated  to  the  British  Association 


HOODED  CROW.  245 

Migration  Committee  furnish  abundant  evidence  respecting  its 
appearance  annually  at  all  the  Yorkshire  Light  stations,  but 
the  instances  are  too  numerous  to  be  given  in  detail,  though 
it  may  be  mentioned  that  "  rushes  "  occurred  in  1879,  after 
the  "  Skua  gale,"  and  each  year  afterwards  in  October,  until 
1887,  also  in  1889,  1891,  1893,  and  1895.  It  sometimes 
begins  to  come  from  seaward  at  daylight  and  continues 
"dropping  in"  until  noon,  or  occasionally  later,  giving  rise 
to  the  opinion  that  it  migrates  by  both  day  and  night.  Off 
Flamborough  Head  a  long  straggling  flock  was  once  noticed 
two  miles  off  shore,  passing  over  at  a  great  height  and  descend- 
ing on  approaching  the  land  ;  and  when  out  at  sea  I  have 
often  observed  parties  coming  over  in  long,  irregular  lines, 
flying  very  slowly,  and  apparently  tired  out  with  the  long 
journey.  In  October  1881,  a  Hooded  Crow  alighted  on  a 
fishing-coble,  was  brought  ashore  and  put  up  for  auction 
at  the  fish-market  on  the  sands,  but  as  soon  as  its  captor 
placed  it  on  the  coble  seat  it  spread  its  wings  and  flew  off 
before  a  bid  was  offered,  greatly  to  the  amusement  of  the 
bystanders  ;  another  instance  is  recorded  of  one  coming  on 
board  a  ship  on  passage  from  Goteborg  to  Hull,  and  travelling 
by  it  to  the  Humber.  Most  of  these  immigrants  (pauper 
aliens  !)  disperse  over  the  country  soon  after  arrival,  although 
many  remain  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  coast,  where  they 
often  come  to  the  marshes,  and  at  low  tide  associate  with 
Carrion  Crows  to  feed  on  any  refuse  or  garbage  thrown  up 
on  the  shores  of  the  estuaries.  In  severe  winters  they  attack 
the  weakly  Thrushes,  Redwings,  and  other  small  birds  that 
are  reduced  to  starvation  point,  and  fall  an  easy  prey  to 
the  marauding  Crow.  It  is  a  rather  scarce  species  in  the 
West  Riding,  being  more  frequently  found  in  the  dales  and 
moorland  districts  than  in  the  flat  open  parts,  but  it  is  very 
common  in  the  East  and  North  Ridings  after  October.  As 
spring  approaches  it  receives  a  considerable  degree  of  attention 
from  the  gamekeepers,  especially  on  the  moors,  where  it 
plunders  the  eggs  of  Grouse,  or  any  other  birds  whose  nests 
are  accessible,  and  also  works  havoc  amongst  weakly  lambs 
and  ewes  in  the  fell  districts. 


246  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

The  departure  in  spring  usually  takes  place  from  March 
to  April ;  on  nth  April  1870,  a  flock  was  seen  to  leave  the 
coast  and  take  a  course  direct  for  the  Naze  ;  odd  birds  some- 
times remain  until  late  in  May,  and  on  the  iyth  of  that  month 
in  1902  I  saw  one  on  the  Tees  Marshes  ;  at  Spurn  they  have 
occasionally  been  observed  in  May  and  June,  and  near 
Pontefract  a  small  flock  was  seen  on  22nd  May  1870.  With 
reference  to  the  return  passage  the  Migration  Reports  contain 
much  information  ;  at  Flamborough  small  bodies  have  been 
noticed  hanging  about  the  Headland,  waiting  for  favourable 
winds  before  taking  their  departure ;  great  numbers  left 
on  30-3ist  March  1889,  but  on  the  5th  April  many  put  back 
on  account  of  stormy  weather  (M.  Bailey,  Nat.  1889,  p.  130). 
In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  learn  that  important 
testimony,  bearing  on  a  similar  occurrence  which  confirms 
Mr.  Bailey's  statement,  is  found  in  the  Annual  Register, 
1799,  where  under  date  of  April  4th  is  the  following  :— 

"  Some  hundreds  of  ....  Royston  Crows,  Lapwings, 
etc.,  were  cast  on  shore  on  the  Holderness  coast." 

Yorkshire  can  lay  claim  to  the  Hooded  Crow  as  a  nesting 
species,  irregular,  perhaps,  though  in  this  respect  the  Cliffs 
of  Flamborough  have  been  more  favoured  than  other 
localities.  A  pair  bred  there  in  1858,  1871,  1876,  and  so 
recently  as  1887,  when  a  brood  was  reared  near  the  lighthouse 
(Zool.  1858,  p.  6142,  and  M.  Bailey  MS.)  ;  odd  birds  have 
been  seen  in  other  years  in  the  nesting  season,  both  at  Flam- 
borough  and  in  South  Holderness,  and  a  flock  of  sixteen 
'  pensioners  "  remained  at  the  former  place  all  the  summer 
of  1891  (Bailey,  Nat.  1891,  p.  351).  Near  Scarborough  a 
female  paired  with  a  Carrion  Crow  at  Hackness,  where  they 
brought  off  young  in  a  large  tree ;  the  male  bird  was  shot, 
and  next  year  the  Hoodie  found  another  black  mate,  which, 
with  the  young  brood,  was  again  killed,  and  again  the  Hoodie, 
by  the  exercise  of  remarkable  cunning,  escaped  ;  a  third  time 
she  returned  with  a  fresh  partner,  and  on  this  occasion  she 
shared  the  fate  which  had  befallen  her  former  companions  ; 
the  young  varied  in  plumage,  some  resembling  the  male  bird, 
whilst  others  had  the  characteristics  of  the  Hooded  Crow. 


HOODED  CROW.  247 

The  female  is  now  in  the  Scarborough  Museum  (William- 
son's Scarborough  Catalogue,  1836).  Near  Beverley  a  pair 
bred  in  1876,  and  a  nest  with  young,  near  Easington  in 
Holderness,  was  recorded  by  the  late  J.  Cordeaux  in  the 
Naturalist  (1896,  p.  5).  In  the  north  of  the  county  a  pair 
nested  on  Hornby  Castle  estate,  where  the  female  was  trapped 
in  1865,  and  at  Clifton  Castle  a  pair  was  observed  all  the 
summer  of  the  year  1880  (James  Carter  MS.,  and  Field,  20th 
November  1880). 

The  members  of  the  Crow  family  are,  proverbially,  of  a 
rapacious  nature,  and  the  species  under  notice  is  in  this  respect 
equally  guilty  with  its  relations  ;  amongst  its  many  crimes 
may  be  catalogued  that  of  killing  and  eating  salmon  ;  the 
delinquents  in  this  case  were  seen  in  the  high  reaches  of  the 
river  Ure  at  Mickley,  on  26th  December  1888,  in  the  act  of 
devouring  the  fish  which  they  had  caught  on  the  shallow 
spawning  grounds  ;  two  Grey  Crows  were  noticed  chasing 
a  Black-headed  Gull  near  Beverley ;  and  the  late  Canon 
Atkinson  of  Danby  mentioned  in  the  Zoologist  (1875,  p.  4420), 
two  instances  of  these  birds  attacking  Partridges  on  the  wing. 

It  is  not  needful  here  to  enter  into  the  controversial 
question  as  to  whether  the  Hooded  and  Carrion  Crows  are  to 
be  considered  separate  species  ;  it  is  proved  that  they  inter- 
breed, and  that  the  progeny  are  fertile,  and  partake  of  the 
characters  of  both  parents.  In  the  Newcastle  Museum  is  a 
hybrid,  taken  near  Richmond,  whose  plumage  is  all  black, 
with  the  exception  of  a  grey  band  across  the  breast  ("  Birds 
of  Northd.  and  Dm."  p.  35).  The  only  other  Yorkshire  variety, 
at  present  recorded,  is  a  light-coloured  specimen  at  Coverhead, 
on  Qth  October  1884. 

Folk  lore  connected  with  this  species  is  not  voluminous, 
though  the  remnant  which  is  preserved  proves  that  the 
migratory  habit  of  the  bird  was  known  many  years  ago  to 
dwellers  in  the  Cleveland  dales,  who  used  to  work  a  charm 
invoking  the  aid  of  the  Hooded  Crow.  The  account  of  this 
quaint  ceremony  was  communicated  by  an  old  Cleveland 
woman,  who  remembered  it  being  commonly  resorted  to 
in  her  grandmother's  time,  and  who  had  herself  worked  it 


248  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

as  a  girl  in  the  early  years  of  the  past  century  ;  the  only  persons 
permitted  to  take  part  in  it  were  "  honest  wed  women  and 
true  maidens "  who,  with  hand  on  God's  word,  declared 
themselves  as  such.  According  to  the  version  given,  those 
who  had  a  wish  needing  the  help  of  the  fairies  and  other 
hidden  powers,  and  who  desired  likewise  to  baffle  the  evil 
aims  and  spells  of  witchcraft,  were  required  to  keep  a  sharp 
look  out  for  the  coming  of  the  Hooded  Crows  ;  on  hearing 
the  first  cry  of  the  birds,  and  immediately  after  seeing  them, 
two  women  were  to  go  indoors  and  prepare  a  dish  of  choice 
food,  to  be  mixed  and  made  into  balls,  the  herbs  and  other 
ingredients  for  which  were  laid  ready  to  hand,  and  the  twain 
about  to  work  the  charm  were  to  add  in  turn  one  thing  at  a 
time,  both  repeating  an  incantation,  until  all  should  be 
mixed  ;  the  balls,  to  the  number  of  nine,  each  tied  in  a  separate 
cloth,  were  then  to  be  dropped  into  a  pan,  ready  boiling  on 
the  fire,  the  last  to  be  dropped  in  as  the  last  line  of  the  in- 
cantation was  repeated,  both  holding  this  last  and  ninth  ball. 

THE  INCANTATION. 

Hooded  Craws  frev  ower  t'  sea, 

Ah  pray  o'  ye  ti  gracious  be, 

Sthrang  o'  wing,  an'  far  o'  fleeght, 

Ah  beg  a  favour  fra  yer  might. 

Byv  t'  blood  o'  t'  hawks,  'at  fouled  yer  nist, 

Byv  t'  ullot's1  blood  'at  brak  yer  rist, 

Byv  t'  blood  o'  t'  fox  'at  teeak2  yer  prey, 

An'  mair  an'  all  t'  egg  suckin'  jay, 

Ah  coss3  nut  yan,  bud  coss  'em  all, 

An'  pray  ill  luck  ti'  on  'em  fall. 

Wi'  wicken  thauvel,4  siller  speean,5 

Wi'  han's  held  cross'd  ;  an'  saut6  'at  t'  meean? 

Ez  leeghted8  on  three  waning  neeghts, 

Fra  wezzle's9  heart,  an*  wild  cat's  leeghts, 

Fra  nine  white  grubs  fra  fur  an'  rig,10 

Fra  flat  tailed  wo'ms  fra  mou'd  an'  mig,11 

Fra  chaffer12  grubs,  an'  deead  lambs'  een, 

1  Owls.  2  took.  3  curse.  4  "  Wicken  thauvel  " — a  wooden  implement 
used  for  turning  flat  cakes  on  a  "  girdle."  6  silver  spoon.  6  salt. 
7  moon.  8  lighted.  9  weazel's.  10  "  fur  an  rig — furrow  and  ridge  (of  a 
field).  n  "  mou'd  an  mig  " — mould  and  manure  heap.  12  cock-chafer. 


HOODED  CROW.  249 

Sike  teeasty  food  ez  ne'er  war  seen, 

Ah  beg  ya  sup  at  bre'k  o*  day, 

An'  deea  mah  bidding,  this  A  h  pray  ! 

When  cooked,  the  balls  were  laid  over  night  on  some  midden, 
or  well-known  feeding  place  generally  resorted  to  by  Crows,, 
and  if  consumed  by  the  morning  the  charm  had  worked  well, 
and  the  wish  would  be  duly  granted. 

The  vernacular  names  are  many  and  varied,  shewing  the 
peculiar  ideas  respecting  its  country  of  origin.  Hoodie, 
Royston  Crow,  and  Norway  Crow  are  general  terms,  as  also 
are  Grey  Crow,  Grey  Back,  or  Grey-backed  Crow  ;  in  Craven 
it  is  the  Northern  Crow,  or  Dun  Crow  ;  the  Blue-backed  Crow 
at  Thirsk  ;  the  Denmark  Crow  in  the  Humber  district ;  Garton 
Greyback,  or  Wetwang  Greyback,  according  to  its  haunts 
in  the  Wold  district ;  Moor  Crow  in  the  Nidd  Valley  ;  Dutch 
Crow  at  Ackworth ;  Coatham  Crow,  and  Woodcock  Crow  at 
Loftus  and  Staithes,  and  Black  Neb  in  Teesdale. 


ROOK. 
Corvus  trugllegus  (L.). 

Resident,  generally  distributed  and  very  abundant.     In  autumn 
large  numbers  of  immigrants  arrive  from  the  Continent. 


Probably  the  earliest  mention  of  the  Rook  in  connection 
with  Yorkshire  dates  back  to  about  1730,  and  relates  to  an 
incident  which  occurred  at  Bilton  near  Knaresborough, 
as  mentioned  in  the  life  of  John  Metcalf,  where  it  is  recorded 
that  Metcalf  [Blind  Jack  of  Knaresborough]  and  a  companion 
robbed  a  Rookery  at  dead  of  night,  bringing  away  seven 
dozen  and  a  half,  excepting  the  heads  which  they  left  under 
the  trees.  This  so  incensed  the  owner  that  he  sent  the  bellman 
round,  offering  a  reward  of  two  guineas  for  the  detection 
of  the  offenders.  (Yorkshire  Magazine,  15 th  April  1875, 
iv.,  p.  71.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  :— 

Corvus  frugilegus. — Rook — Common  in  most  parts.     R.  Leyland 


250  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

remarks  that  a  few  small  colonies  still  exist  near  Halifax  in  spite  of 
steam  engines  and  factories  ;  Samuel  Routh  gives  me  the  following 
information  respecting  the  practice  of  the  Rook  in  occasionally  rejecting 
indigestible  matter  from  the  stomach  like  the  Owls.  "  There  are  a 
number  of  fields  under  the  plough  opposite  to  my  house,  and  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  off,  some  of  which  are  wheat  in  their  regular  course 
of  cropping,  and  being  in  a  retired  part  they  are  much  infested  by 
Rooks  when  the  ear  is  filling.  Just  below  these  fields  are  some  large 
grass  closes  where  I  can  very  frequently  see  the  Rooks  settle  in  large 
numbers  ;  it  was,  I  think,  in  1835  or  6  I  had  noticed  them  making 
sad  havoc  among  the  wheat  just  then  filling  in  the  ear,  and  on  going 
over  a  part  of  a  grass  close,  where  I  had  the  evening  before  observed 
the  Rooks  congregated,  I  was  a  good  deal  puzzled  with  a  number 
(perhaps  six  or  seven)  of  singularly  shaped  pellets  about  the  thickness 
of  a  walnut  and  about  two  inches  long,  they  were  smaller  considerably 
at  one  end  than  the  other,  and  covered  with  a  dry  mucous  coating, 
very  thin.  On  breaking  them  I  found  them  composed  of  the  husks 
of  wheat  quite  free  from  moisture  or  kernel,  and  intermixed  throughout 
with  small  pieces  of  stone,  chiefly  lime,  and  one  or  two  little  bits  of 
brick.  It  very  soon  occurred  to  me,  from  seeing  the  Rooks  there 
previously  in  great  numbers,  and  having  seen  them  before  upon  the 
wheat,  then  in  a  milky  state  in  the  ear,  that  these  pellets  must  be 
ejected  by  them,  to  which  I  was  led  also  by  their  form.  I  mentioned 
the  circumstance  to  my  friend  Thos.  Gough  of  Kendal,  who  was  much 
interested  with  the  supposed  fact,  for  I  have  no  other  proof  that 
it  is  one.  After  a  good  deal  of  research  I  believe  he  has  found  the 
same  kind  of  pellets.  A  year  or  two  after  I  found  the  same  things 
again  in  the  same  field,  and  exactly  at  the  time  when  the  wheat  was 
in  a  milky  state  in  the  ear,  but  with  this  difference  ;  the  last  I  found, 
instead  of  the  chaff  being  mixed  all  through  the  pellet  with  portions 
of  lime  or  stone,  it  was  mixed  throughout  with  portions  of  a  wing  of 
a  kind  of  beetle,  the  wing  pieces  appeared  to  me  (not  being  an 
entomologist)  all  fo  one  kind  and  colour." 

The  Rook  is,  without  doubt,  the  most  abundant  of  our 
larger  inland  birds,  and  is  not  absent  even  from  the  desolate 
moorland  tracts,  for  in  the  dales  and  on  the  high  fells  of  the 
west  and  north-west  it  is  met  with  in  the  most  barren  situations 
while  on  foraging  expeditions.  In  timbered  districts  few 
country  residences  are  complete  without  a  "  Rookery "  ; 
there  is,  therefore,  no  necessity  to  enter  into  details  respecting 
the  distribution  of  such  a  common  species,  which  is  one  of 
the  most  familiar  birds  of  the  county. 

As  an  immigrant  from  the  Continent,  however,  it  is  not 


Nest  of  Rook. 


.  Fortune. 


See  page  251. 


ROOK.  25  J 

so  well  known,  and  requires  a  little  more  notice  at  our  hands. 
Immense  numbers  arrive  on  our  shores  every  year,  generally 
during  October  and  November,  when  I  have  observed  them 
coming  in  one  steady  stream,  from  early  morning  until  late 
afternoon,  and  often  in  company  with  Hooded  Crows,  Lap- 
wings, Starlings,  and  Skylarks.  The  Migration  Reports 
contain  many  references  to  the  autumnal  migration  of  Rooks, 
but  the  greater  portion  appear  to  land  from  Spurn  southward, 
though  the  Teesmouth  is  by  no  means  neglected  as  a  place  of 
arrival  for  these  immigrants,  and  "  rushes "  occur  almost 
annually.  In  the  autumn  of  1902  there  were  more  migrant 
Rooks  noted  than  I  have  previously  known,  and  similar 
reports  are  given  from  the  Lincolnshire  and  Norfolk  coasts. 
In  March  there  is  a  gathering  of  large  flocks  at  the  coast, 
which  seem  to  be  emigrants  about  to  depart  on  their  return 
journey.* 

After  the  breeding  season  both  old  and  young  collect 
in  dense  flocks,  and  in  the  late  afternoon  wing  their  flight 
to  a  chosen  roosting  place,  not,  as  a  rule,  a  Rookery,  although 
it  may  be  near  one.  The  members  of  several  colonies  often 
congregate,  accompanied  by  a  small  proportion  of  Jackdaws, 
forming  an  immense  swarm  of  birds,  which  on  reaching  the 
roost  make  a  considerable  commotion  and  breaking  of  twigs. 
Later  in  the  year  they  are  quieter  in  their  demeanour,  although 
I  am  not  aware  that  any  actual  Rookery  is  resorted  to  as  a 
roosting  place  in  winter  in  like  manner  as  in  the  nesting 
season.  The  late  P.  Inchbald,  writing  in  the  Zoologist  (1872, 
p.  3021),  recorded  the  dispersion  of  a  Rookery  by  a  small  band 
of  four  or  five  Carrion  Crows,  at  Hovingham  Lodge  near  York, 
and  at  Ripon  a  colony  was  broken  up  in  the  spring  of  1890 
owing  to  its  being  harried  by  the  same  mischievous  birds, 
while  at  Beverley  a  Rookery  was  abandoned  from  a  similar 
cause. 

It  is  now  a  well-established  fact  that  Rooks  do  immense 
harm  to  eggs  and  young  of  game,  poultry,  and  other  birds, 

*  In  the  Report,  issued  in  1903,  by  the  British  Association 
Migration  Committee,  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  gives  an  exhaustive  resume 
of  the  migration  of  this  species. 


252  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

particularly  in  dry  seasons  when  their  natural  food  is  difficult 
to  procure,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  this  "  petty  larceny  " 
habit  has  developed  owing  to  the  great  increase  of  the  birds, 
and  the  consequent  comparative  scarcity  of  food. 

Nidification,  as  a  rule,  commences  towards  the  end  of 
February  or  early  in  March,  and  eggs  are  met  with  in  the 
third  week  of  the  latter  month,  although  they  have  been 
noted  at  Giggleswick  as  early  as  the  gth.  Some  curious, 
indeed  remarkable,  situations  have  been  chosen  for  the  nests  : 
the  earliest  noted  being  at  Hull,  where  two  pairs  built  and 
reared  young  between  the  chimney  pots  of  two  houses  in 
George  Street,  the  full  particulars  being  set  forth  in  the 
Zoologist  (1846,  p.  1366).  At  Heworth  near  York  a  remarkable 
instance  occurred  in  1887,  when  a  pair  of  Rooks  built  in  a 
cage  near  the  weathercock,  at  a  height  of  120  feet,  on  Heworth 
Church,  but  were  not  successful  in  rearing  young  that  year 
nor  the  one  following ;  in  1889,  however,  two  young  were 
brought  off,  in  1890  three  were  reared,  and  the  parents  nested 
successfully  since  that  time  until  the  year  1903.  Near 
Beverley  nests  have  been  built  in  a  high  hedge,  also  in  poplar 
trees  and  willows,  whilst  some  birds,  whose  nesting  trees 
had  been  blown  down,  built  in  elder  bushes  within  eight  feet 
of  the  ground.  A  nest  is  also  reported  on  the  roof,  close  to 
the  chimney,  of  a  house  in  Scarborough.  At  Stokesley  in 
Cleveland  a  colony  of  fifty  pairs  build  in  low  saplings,  and 
many  nests  were,  in  1900,  not  more  than  ten  feet  above 
terra  fir  ma. 

There  are  numerous  instances  recorded  in  Yorkshire  of 
variation  in  plumage  of  this  species.  Two  examples  shot  at 
Pickering,  on  I3th  May  1896,  had  the  black  feathers  of  the 
dorsal  plumage  slightly  margined  with  grey,  giving  the  birds 
a  chequered  appearance  of  an  unsuual  character.  White, 
albino,  and  pied  varieties,  also  some  of  a  dun  or  chocolate  hue, 
are  known,  and  so  early  as  1805  a  white  Rook  was  recorded  at 
York,  while  Marmaduke  Tunstall  mentioned  a  pied  individual, 
also  a  brown  coloured  bird  with  white  eyes,  at  his  brother's 
residence  in  Holderness  (Tunst.  MS.,  1783,  p.  56). 

The  folk-lore  connected  with  the  Rook  in  Yorkshire  is 


An  Ancient  Domicile.      Rooks'  nests  near  Pannal. 


.  Fort  line. 


See  page  252. 


ROOK.  253 

very  voluminous  and  interesting ;  regarding  its  nidification 
a  rhyme  runs  : — 

On  the  first  of  March,  the  Crows  begin  to  search, 

On  the  first  of  April,  they  are  sitting  still, 

On  the  first  ot  May,  they're  a'  flown  away  ; 

Croupin'  greedy,  back  again,  wi'  October's  wind  and  rain. 

It  is  considered  to  be  unlucky  to  disturb  the  nests,  and 
in  some  parts  the  children  believe  that  if  they  climbed  the 
Rookery  trees  to  rob  the  eggs  the  old  birds  would  peck  out 
their  eyes,  and  if  there  were  young  in  the  nests  the  whole 
colony  would  attack  the  intruder.  In  Cleveland  the  village 
boys  imagine  that  if  they  call  out — 

"  Crow,   Crow,    thy  nest's  on  fire  !  " 

It'll  burn  the  steeple,  and  burn  the  spire  !  " 

any  passing  birds,  on  hearing  the  alarming  news,  fly  home- 
wards with  increased  speed ;  and  in  the  Craven  district, 
if  it  is  desired  to  frighten  away  Rooks  in  the  vicinity,  the 
following  couplet  is  shouted  at  them  : — 

"  Crow,  Crow,  get  out  of  my  sight, 
Or  else  I'll  eat  thy  liver  and  lights." 

In  many  districts  in  North  Yorkshire  it  is  a  regular  custom 
for  country  people  to  put  on  some  new  article  of  wearing 
apparel  on  Easter  Sunday  for  fear  of  offending  the  "  Crows," 
as  is  shewn  in  the  following  rhyme,  written  by  "  Florence 
Cleveland  "  :— 

"  On  Easter  Sunday 

An'  if  ya've  nowt  ta  put  on  new 
There  is  a  fine  ta  deea, 
For  t'  craws  is  seear  ta  finnd  it  oot, 
An'  soil  yer  awd  cleas  mair." 

Another  Easter  practice  was  to  watch  the  flight  of  Rooks 
carefully.  If  they  settled  near  home  instead  of  flying  far 
afield  to  feed,  the  farmer  shook  his  head,  believing  that  grub 
and  other  pests  would  afflict  his  crops  that  year.  If  a  "  Crow  " 
settled  on  a  house  or  outbuildings  misfortune  was  sure  to 
follow,  death  or  sickness  in  the  case  of  human  beings,  and 
disaster  to  stock  and  cattle  ;  if  the  bird  flew  round  the  house 
and  did  not  settle,  any  untoward  event  which  happened 


254  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

was  attributed  to  it,  but  to  see  a  flock  fly  over  was  a  sign  of 
good  luck.  To  find  a  dead  "  Crow "  is  unlucky.  When 
Rooks  congregate  on  the  dead  branches  of  trees  it  is  certain 
to  rain  before  night,  but  if  they  stand  on  the  live  boughs  the 
effect  is  to  the  contrary  ("  Notes  and  Queries,"  1880). 

At  Norton  Conyers  near  Ripon,  the  residence  of  Sir  Reginald 
Graham,  there  is  a  curious  legend  connected  with  the  Rookery, 
which,  tradition  says,  was  in  existence  300  years  ago.  Some 
Seer  or  Witch,  living  near  to  Skipton  Bridge,  foretold  that 
when  the  birds  forsook  their  building-place  then  sad  days  and 
death  would  visit  Norton  Conyers.  We  are  told  that  the 
year  before  the  rebellion  against  Queen  Elizabeth  by  the 
Earls  of  Northumberland  and  Westmorland,  which  Norton 
(the  then  owner)  and  his  eight  sons  joined,  and  which  lost 
them  their  heads  and  estate,  the  birds  fled  the  Rookery. 
A  like  occurrence  happened  when  Sir  R.  Graham  died  after 
Marston  Moor ;  legend  says  but  few  birds  built  that  year, 
and  their  cawing  was  so  mournful  to  listen  to,  that  all  knew 
sad  days  were  looming,  and  so  it  was,  for,  after  having 
received  twenty-six  wounds,  and  learning  the  battle  was 
lost,  the  Cavalier  baronet  left  the  field,  reached  home  that 
same  night,  and  died  an  hour  afterwards. 

Local  names  :  Crow  or  Craw  are  in  general  use.  A  common 
belief  is  that  the  Rook,  after  its  first  moult,  becomes  a  "  Crow  " 
proper,  and  only  a  bird  of  the  year  can  be  correctly  termed 
a  Rook.  Of  this  idea  I  had  oral  proof  from  the  wife  of  a 
country  gentleman  in  the  North  Riding,  who  remarked, 
in  driving  past  a  Rookery  late  in  the  year,  "  I  suppose  they 
will  soon  be  growing  into  Crows."  In  the  Craven  neighbour- 
hood the  young  birds  before  they  can  fly  are  called  Pearkers, 
and  Branchers  is  a  general  term  for  the  fledglings. 


255 
SKYLARK. 

Alauda  arvensis 


Resident.      Generally     and     abundantly     distributed.       Immense 
numbers  of  immigrants  arrive  from  the  Continent  in  autumn. 


Historically,  the  Skylark,  as  a  Yorkshire  bird,  can  claim 
ancestry  of  great  antiquity,  for  we  find  in  the  ordinances 
as  to  the  price  of  food  in  the  City  of  York,  in  1393,  in  the 
sixteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Richard  II.,  that  "  the 
price  for  12  larks  be  one  penny  "  ;  in  the  Northumberland 
Household  Book,  kept  at  the  Castles  of  Wressill  and  Lekinfield, 
in  1512,  the  value  of  "  Larkys  "  was  stated  to  be  "  12  for  2d."  ; 
and  in  1560,  at  Hull,  Larkes  were  quoted  at  4d.  per  dozen. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Alauda  arvensis. — Sky  Lark — Very  common.  A  bird  of  this 
species,  in  confinement  at  Halifax,  has  the  mandibles  greatly  produced 
and  crossed,  as  is  sometimes  met  with  in  different  species  of  birds 
in  a  state  of  nature  ;  it  takes  its  usual  food  with  ease. 

In  addition  to  being  a  widely  diffused  and  abundant 
resident  species,  enormous  bodies  of  immigrant  Skylarks 
arrive  on  the  east  coast  in  the  autumn,  individually  far  out- 
numbering any  other  migrant.  After  the  breeding  season 
the  bulk  of  our  home  bred  birds  move  towards  the  coast 
in  readiness  to  leave,  and  by  the  end  of  August  their  departure 
has  commenced.  Throughout  the  two  months  following, 
this  migration  is  at  its  height,  and  is  usually  carried  on 
from  daybreak  to  noon,  when  the  succession  of  straggling 
flocks  may  be  observed  moving  along  the  coast  line  in  a 
southerly  direction.  This  movement  would  be  much  more 
noticeable  were  it  not  for  the  tremendous  swarms  of  new 
comers  that  pour  in  from  the  Continent,  commencing  about 
the  end  of  August  and  continuing  for  several  months,  and 
even  into  the  following  year,  during  all  hours  of  the  day 
and  night  and  in  all  weathers.  When  the  atmosphere  is 
foggy,  or  during  heavy  storms  of  rain  and  snow,  Skylarks 
are  frequently  killed  against  the  lanterns  of  our  sea  marks,  the 


256  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

casualties  in  one  night  often  being  very  heavy.*  Occasionally 
the  two  distinct  movements  of  our  departing  birds  and  the 
immigrants  may  be  observed  simultaneously.  It  is  remark- 
able, as  shewn  by  the  returns  from  Light-stations  communi- 
cated to  the  Migration  Committee,  how  frequently  Larks  are 
associated  on  migration  with  Starlings,  either  in  separate 
flocks  or  together,  the  two  species  seem  to  be  inseparable 
in  the  autumn  passage,  usually  taking  a  course  from  east  to 
west. 

These  migrants  do  not  stay  long  with  us,  but  pass  inland, 
and  probably  move  further  southward  in  winter  on  the 
approach  of  severe  weather  ;  a  day  or  two  previous  to  any 
great  change  in  temperature  they  may  be  observed  to 
congregate  and,  on  the  outbreak  of  a  storm,  leave  the  district. 
The  occurrence  of  "  rushes  "  is  noticed  annually,  generally 
during  October  or  November;  (on  October  2i-23rd  1881, 
there  was  an  incessant  day  and  night  rush  at  Redcar),  but 
sometimes  later,  previous  to  the  advent  of  sudden  winter 
storms,  in  December,  or  even  in  January  and  February, 
and  at  times  in  astounding  numbers.  On  December  gth, 
and  following  days,  in  1878,  with  severe  gales  and  snow- 
storms, great  flights  passed  Redcar  from  eastward,  in  company 
with  Redwings  and  Fieldfares  ;  and  on  February  8th  1902, 
I  witnessed  an  extraordinary  migration,  preceding  a  fortnight's 
intensely  hard  frost.  From  early  morning  to  dusk  huge  flocks 
were,  with  slight  intermission  of  a  few  minutes,  flying  in  a 
direction  from  almost  due  north,  and,  as  there  was  no  per- 
ceptible increase  in  the  numbers  of  birds  in  the  fields  and 
marshes,  they  must  have  passed  on  without  stopping. 

About  the  end  of  February,  or  in  the  first  half  of  March, 


*  On  6th  November  1868,  at  Heligoland,  3400  Larks  were  captured 
at  the  lantern,  and  11,006  were  taken  in  nets,  making  a  total  of  15,000. 
Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  states,  in  the  British  Association  Report,  1901, 
that  the  Bell  Rock  Lighthouse,  on  2nd  December  1882,  was  visited  by 
the  greatest  multitude  of  Larks  ever  known  :  "  they  were  striking  hard 
for  a  couple  of  hours  like  a  shower  of  hail."  The  student  of  migration 
is  referred  to  this,  the  most  admirable  and  complete  history  of  the 
Skylark's  movements  which  has  ever  been  written. 


Skylark's  Nest. 


.  Fortune. 


Skylark  feeding  young. 


H.  Lazenby. 


See  page  256. 


WOOD  LARK.  257 

our  resident  birds  appear  in  their  old  haunts  and  quickly 
make  their  return  known  by  soaring  skywards  and  pouring 
forth  their  full  song,  very  different  from  the  half-hearted 
trillings  of  those  on  the  move. 

Three  or  four  eggs  usually  constitute  a  clutch,  and  when 
five  are  found  they  almost  invariably  belong  to  a  second  nest. 
At  the  Teesmouth  there  is  a  marked  diversity  of  colouring  in 
the  eggs  laid  on  the  marshes,  every  variation  being  found, 
from  an  almost  white  ground  clearly  mottled  with  reddish 
brown,  to  a  very  dark  or  almost  black  type. 

White  and  cream,  or  buff-coloured,  varieties  of  the  bird 
are  not  uncommon  in  Yorkshire ;  on  gth  October  1890,  I 
saw  a  white  one  in  a  migrating  flock  coming  in  from  seaward, 
and  a  pied  individual  was  secured  at  Scarborough,  as 
mentioned  in  the  Zoologist  for  1883,  p.  79. 

Of  local  names,  Lark  is  the  generally-used  term,  modified 
to  Song-Lark  at  Ackworth ;  Sky  alone  is  in  use  at  the  Tees- 
mouth.  In  1827  Laverack  was  noted  as  used  in  Craven, 
and  at  Sedbergh  this  becomes  Laverock. 


WOOD    LARK. 
Alauda  arborea  (/>.). 


Resident  ;     very   limited    both   in    numbers   and   distribution. 

The  first  published  record  of  this  species  in  Yorkshire 
is  in  Graves's  '  History  of  Cleveland,"  1808,  where  it  is 
enumerated  in  the  list  of  birds. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  his  Report  of  1844,  wrote  : — 

Alauda  arborea. — Woodlark — Is  met  with  near  Doncaster  ;  also 
occasionally  at  Killingbeck,  near  Leeds,  and  more  rarely  in  the  vicinities 
of  York  and  Sheffield,  and  it  is  now  very  rarely  seen  about  Barnsley  ; 
it  breeds  sparingly  at  Langwith,  and  Roans  near  York,  as  I  am  informed 
by  J.  and  W.  Tuke. 

The  Wood  Lark  is  resident  in  limited  numbers,  and  very 
sparingly  distributed.     It  has  been  reported  from  the  vicinity 
VOL.  i.  s 


258  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

of  Sheffield  in  End  Cliff  Woods  ;  near  Wakefield,  in  the  winter 
of  1856,  three  were  shot  in  company  with  Skylarks ;  one  is 
noted  at  Luddenden  in  1899  (A.  Crab  tree,  "  Halifax  Naturalist," 
1900) ;  and  from  Doncaster  it  was  recorded  so  long  ago  as 
1840,  as  also  at  Killingbeck  near  Leeds.  At  the  same  period 
it  bred  sparingly  at  Langwith  and  near  York  ;  in  connection 
with  the  latter  place,  Audubon  mentioned  that,  during  his 
second  visit  to  London  in  1828,  he  was  presented  with  a  pair 
of  Wood  Larks  by  Mr.  Backhouse  of  York  ("  Audubon  and 
his  Journals,"  Vol.  I.  pp.  284-5).  It  has  also  occurred  at 
Campsall,  Maltby,  and  Roche  Abbey  ;  and  it  is  reported  by 
Mr.  R.  Fortune  to  have  nested  on  Harlow  Moor,  Harrogate, 
in  1880.  In  the  north  portion  of  the  East  Riding  two  examples 
have  been  met  with  at  Pocklington ;  one  in  summer,  which 
points  to  the  probability  of  its  having  nested  there.  A 
female,  that  had  been  feeding  on  blades  of  grass,  was  noted 
in  the  North  Riding,  at  Hornby,  near  Catterick,  on  4th 
January  1864,  and  is  now  in  the  museum  at  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
On  the  coast  line  it  is  a  very  rare  migrant,  known  only  in 
two  or  three  places,  though  it  is  quite  possible  it  may  be 
overlooked  amongst  the  numbers  of  Larks  and  Pipits  frequent- 
ing the  rough  pastures  and  marshes  in  autumn  and  winter. 
In  the  Spurn  district  Mr.  F.  Boyes  once  saw  several  during 
hard  weather ;  one  was  obtained  in  October  1891,  and 
another  was  seen  at  Sproatley  on  28th  April  1900.  It  is 
mentioned  in  Hinderwell's  Scarborough  list  in  1832,  and  also 
by  the  late  Alfred  Roberts  in  1880,  but  does  not  appear  to 
have  occurred  there  of  late  years.  Near  Redcar  a  small 
flock  was  feeding  at  high-water  mark  on  the  sands  east  of 
the  town,  during  the  severe  weather  in  January  1891,  and  on 
the  i6th  of  that  month  I  obtained  four  of  them,  one  of  which 
is  now  in  the  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  whilst  two  more  were 
procured  by  a  fisherman  on  the  following  day  (Zool.  1891, 
p.  253  ;  Nat.  1891,  p.  123). 


259 
SHORE   LARK. 

Otocorys    alpestris  (L  ). 


Winter  visitant  to  the  coast  line,  irregular  in  numbers.  Occurs 
annually  at  the  estuary  of  the  Tees. 

The  honour  of  introducing  the  Shore  Lark  to  the  Yorkshire 
avi-fauna  is  due  to  Mr.  Thomas  Allis  who,  in  a  communication 
to  the  Zoologist  (1854,  P-  425I)>  dated  February  1854,  wrote  : — 

"  I  have  a  fine  specimen  of  this  rare  bird,  which  was 
shot  at  Filey,  on  the  Yorkshire  coast,  in  the  early  part  of 
March  1853  ;  a  second  was  seen  at  the  same  time  but  was 
not  obtained." 

Thanks  to  the  increased  attention  paid  to  ornithology, 
and  the  careful  investigations  made  by  a  few  latter  day 
coast  observers,  amongst  whom  may  be  mentioned  Messrs. 
Boyes,  Cordeaux,  and  Eagle  Clarke,  the  Shore  Lark  is  now 
known  to  be  a  winter  visitant  to  the  Yorkshire  coast  on 
migration  in  October  and  November,  and  also  later  in  the 
season  ;  the  numbers  fluctuate  in  different  years,  but  in  its 
favourite  haunts,  which  are  the  estuaries  of  the  Tees  and 
Humber,  and  Flamborough  Head,  the  bird  is  found  not 
infrequently,  and  at  the  Teesmouth  it  may  be  observed 
with  unfailing  regularity.  At  Filey,  Scarborough,  Whitby, 
and  other  parts  of  the  seaboard,  it  is  also  reported,  but  it 
is  not  met  with  annually  in  these  places  excepting  in  the 
Staithes  and  Loftus  district,  where  scores  are  sometimes  seen 
after  severe  weather. 

In  1879-80  a  large  flock  was  noticed  near  Kilnsea,  and 
twenty-three  specimens  were  obtained  during  the  winter ; 
since  then  the  Spurn  district  has  been  closely  worked  and  the 
occurrences  of  Shore  Larks  have  been  recorded  regularly 
in  the  columns  of  ornithological  journals,  with  the  result 
that  that  neighbourhood  is  regarded  as  the  chief  habitat  of 
the  bird  in  Yorkshire.  In  addition  to  the  season  mentioned 
—1879-80 — it  was  abundant  in  1883, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1894-5, 
and  1898-9  ;  and  the  time  when  it  is  most  frequently  noticed 


260  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

is  at  the  period  when  the  "  rush  "  of  winter  immigrants 
takes  place  in  October  and  November.  The  Teesmouth, 
however,  is  equally  favoured  by  its  visits,  as  my  observations 
made  during  the  past  few  years  tend  to  prove,  and  it  may  be 
met  with  every  winter  in  certain  localities  which  provide  it 
with  suitable  feeding  grounds.  In  1900  a  party  of  twelve 
appeared  on  the  I2th  of  October,  and  others  continued  to 
arrive  until  the  22nd  of  December,  while  a  flock  of  fully  two 
hundred  individuals  frequented  a  piece  of  reclaimed  land 
from  November  until  February  of  the  following  year. 

The  earliest  date  for  the  Shore  Lark's  arrival,  of  which  I 
am  aware,  is  i8th  September  1895,  when  two  were  killed  in 
my  presence  on  the  rocks  at  the  east  end  of  Redcar.  It 
has  been  known  to  prolong  its  stay  until  the  2oth  of  March, 
a  flock  numbering  about  twenty  individuals  being  noted  at 
Spurn  on  that  date  in  1880. 

There  are,  however,  few  species  that  are  more  overlooked 
by  the  sportsman  and  pseudo-naturalist  than  this  under 
notice,  and  our  earliest  apprisals  of  its  visits  are  chiefly  due 
to  speculative  shots  at  small  birds  on  the  coast,  which 
occasionally  result  in  the  Shore  Lark  falling  to  the  gun,  and 
being  duly  chronicled.  My  first  acquaintance  with  it  was  on 
2ist  November  1877,  when  I  procured  one  from  a  flock  of, 
what  I  imagined  to  be,  Skylarks  crossing  from  seaward  and 
flying  overhead.  At  the  Teesmouth  it  usually  haunts  the 
foot  of  the  sandhills  near  high-water  mark,  where  it  feeds 
among  the  debris  cast  up  by  the  tide,  or  on  the  short  herbage 
at  the  edges  of  the  tidal  pools.  In  habits  it  is  a  very  un- 
obtrusive species  and  runs  about  silently,  feeding  with  the 
assiduity  of  a  Starling,  but,  on  being  approached,  rises,  uttering 
a  peculiar  "  weet-you "  call  of  alarm.  Its  appearance  on 
the  ground  is  rather  deceptive,  as  the  yellow  and  black 
markings  of  the  head  and  throat  are  not  conspicuous,  and 
the  bird  appears  to  be  of  a  warm  brown  hue  on  the  back, 
and  light  coloured  underneath,  thus  resembling  the  plumage 
of  the  majority  of  the  Larks  and  Pipits.  Its  flight  may  best 
be  described  as  intermediate  between  that  of  a  Rock  Pipit 
and  a  Skylark. 


SWIFT.  261 

Although  many  of  the  migratory  flocks  are  seen  to  pass 
directly  inland,  the  only  note  of  its  occurrence,  except  at 
the  coast  line,  is  from  Harewood,  near  Leeds,  where  two 
were  shot  "  many  years  ago "  and  were  purchased  by  the 
late  Capt.  Turton  for  his  collection  at  Upsall  Castle  (Turton 
MS.,  1880). 

This  species  is  not  sufficiently  well  known  to  have  any 
vernacular  names,  though  Sea  Lark  is  a  term  occasionally 
used  in  Cleveland. 


SWIFT. 

Cypselus  apus  (L.). 

Summer  visitant,  generally  distributed  and  fairly  common,  except 
in  the  manufacturing  districts,  where  it  is  scarce.  Arrives  in  the 
first  week  in  May,  departing  in  August  and  September,  occasionally 
lingering  as  late  as  October. 

An  early  allusion,  perhaps  the  earliest,  to  this  bird,  is 
contained  in  the  Allan  MS.  (1791),  where  it  is  mentioned  as 
"  Black  Martin  or  Swift.  Largest  of  our  Swallows,  and  more 
on  the  wing.  .  .  .  Builds  in  high  places,  as  church  steeples, 
towers,  etc."  (Fox's  "  Synopsis  of  the  Tunstall  Museum," 

P.  76.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Cypselus  apus. — Common  Swift — Common  about  Doncaster.  J. 
Heppenstall  observes  that  it  has  been  more  common  about  the  town 
of  Sheffield  this  year  than  usual  though  evidently  decreasing  in  the 
country.  R.  Leyland  remarks  that  a  few  pairs  still  breed  in  the  vicinity 
of  Halifax,  but  that  they  have  completely  abandoned  the  streets 
where  formerly  they  might  be  seen  in  considerable  numbers  ;  W. 
Eddison  says  it  comes  every  summer  with  the  latest  visitants,  and 
leaves  early ;  it  seems  to  be  less  numerous  every  year,  which  he  attri- 
butes to  the  wantonly  cruel  pastime  of  shooting  them  for  practice  ; 
there  have  been  fewer  near  York  this  year  than  I  have  ever  before 
known  ;  in  other  districts  their  decrease  is  not  mentioned. 

This  species  arrives  later  than  the  Swallow  and  Martins, 
the  usual  time  for  its  appearance  being  the  first  or  second 


262  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

week  of  May,  though  occasional  stragglers  have  been  observed 
some  days  earlier  ;  on  5th  April  1887,  several  arrived  at 
Spurn  and  remained  all  night  on  the  Lighthouse  (Ninth 
Migration  Report),  nor  does  cold  always  retard  their  arrival, 
for  on  7th  May  1902,  although  a  bitter  east  wind  was  blowing, 
with  snow  showers,  I  saw  three  Swifts  at  Redcar  hawking 
for  several  hours  over  the  breakers  about  twenty  yards  from 
the  shore.  About  the  middle  or  third  week  of  August  they 
leave  for  their  winter  quarters,  some  remaining  until  September, 
and  late  birds  have  been  recorded  in  October  or  even  in 
November ;  the  latest  date  of  which  I  have  notice  is  i6th 
November  1901,  when  two  were  observed  at  Harrogate. 
An  individual  found  in  a  dormant  state  in  an  old  chimney 
at  Bolton  Hall,  in  mid-winter,  was  probably  a  weakly  bird 
unable  to  migrate  at  the  proper  season. 

It  is  generally,  but  somewhat  locally,  distributed,  and 
decreasing  in  some  localities,  particularly  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Beverley. 

The  information  concerning  the  Swift  supplied  to  the 
British  Association  Migration  Committee  indicates  that,  at 
the  Light  stations  on  the  coast,  it  is  noticed  both  in  spring 
and  autumn,  being  sometimes  observed  to  flock  round  the 
lanterns  and  remain  on  the  galleries  and  window-sills  all 
night.  Towards  the  end  of  June  a  north  to  south  movement 
takes  place  along  the  coast  line,  reaching  its  height  in  the  first 
half  of  July,  and  in  most  seasons  gradually  ceasing  about  the 
first  week  in  August.  At  the  Teesmouth  the  line  of  migration 
is  most  pronounced  ;  the  birds,  coming  from  the  direction 
of  West  Hartlepool,  pass  over,  or  close  by,  Seaton  Carew, 
cross  the  river  near  the  Snook  and,  striking  the  Yorkshire 
shore  near  Tod  Point,  take  the  direction  of  Wilton  and  Eston, 
missing  Redcar  entirely.  Curiously  enough  this  line  of  flight 
is  also  chosen  by  homing  pigeons  travelling  south  along  the 
coast.  A  south,  south-west,  or  south-east  wind  is  invariably 
used  by  the  migrating  Swifts,  and,  after  a  continuance  of 
adverse  weather  conditions  at  the  period  named,  great  "  rushes" 
occur  on  the  first  favourable  day.  With  steady  winds  in 
the  right  quarter  the  birds  travel  more  leisurely,  in  small 


SWIFT.  263 

parties  of  from  five  to  twenty,  but  during  "  rushes,"  such  as 
that  of  9th  July  1899,  6th  July  1901,  6th  July  1902,  and  30th 
June  1904,  flocks  of  from  twenty  to  two  hundred  were  noted 
passing  continually  from  early  morn  to  dark.  Occasionally 
there  is  an  arrival  of  Swifts  from  the  south-east  at  the  same 
time  that  the  southward  passage  is  in  progress,  two  distinct 
migrations  being  observable  at  one  time.  The  late  J. 
Cordeaux  referred  to  this  migratory  movement  in  his  "  Birds 
of  the  Humber  District,"  1899,  p.  14.  In  the  year  1879  an 
enormous  concourse  of  Swifts  was  observable  on  the  north- 
east coast ;  at  Redcar  on  the  20th  August  there  were  many 
thousands  between  the  Teesmouth  and  Saltburn,  flying  at 
various  altitudes  from  3  to  300  feet.  At  night  numbers  roosted 
on  the  window-sills  of  the  houses  on  the  sea  front,  and  some 
entered  in  at  bedroom  windows  which  had  been  left  open  ; 
next  day  all  but  two  or  three  had  departed  ;  they  then 
increased  again  until  the  27th,  when  they  were  more  numerous 
than  ever,  swarming  like  gnats  in  the  air,  and  exciting  con- 
siderable interest  in  the  town  as  they  flew  along  the  Esplanade 
and  in  the  streets,  where  boys  struck  them  down  with  whips 
and  sticks.  By  the  end  of  the  month  they  had  all  disappeared 
excepting  four  individuals  which  remained  two  or  three  days 
after  the  bulk  had  left  (Zool.  1879,  p.  423  ;  Field,  6th  and  I3th 
September  1879). 

In  the  upper  portions  of  some  of  the  dales  of  the  West 
and  North  Ridings  the  Swift  breeds  at  a  considerable  elevation  ; 
at  Malham  Cove  a  colony  have  nesting  holes  in  the  higher 
parts  of  the  cliff,  as  also  at  Kilnsey  Crag  in  Wharfedale, 
and  at  Kettlewell,  while  eggs  have  been  taken  from  a  nest 
in  an  old  shed  on  one  of  the  high  fells  of  the  north-west. 
In  some  places  the  Swifts  often  have  fierce  battles  with 
Starlings,  ousting  the  latter  birds  from  their  breeding  quarters. 
Several  small  colonies  are  found  in  the  high  sea-cliffs  extending 
from  Cleveland  to  Flamborough  Head.  In  June  1883,  I  dis- 
covered nests  under  the  tiles  in  quite  low  outbuildings  at 
Easterside  in  Ryedale.  After  the  breeding  season  both  old 
and  young  are  frequently  met  with  on  the  fell  tops,  and  have 
been  observed  as  high  as  Crossfell  in  Cumberland. 


264  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

A  singular  instance  with  reference  to  the  roosting  habits 
of  this  bird  is  related  by  Mr.  W.  Gyngell,  who  saw  one  near 
Scarborough  clinging  to  a  pendent  branch  in  a  tree  about 
twenty  feet  above  the  ground,  and  then  hanging  suspended 
vertically,  swaying  like  a  scarecrow  to  and  fro  in  the  breeze, 
and  evidently  settled  for  the  night  (Nat.  1897,  P-  29^  >  ZooL 
1897,  p.  468). 

The  vernacular  names  are  somewhat  numerous  and  varied. 
Its  cries  give  it  the  name  of  Screecher, — a  term  in  general 
use, — Devil  Screamer  and  Devil  Squeaker  in  the  North  and 
West  Ridings,  and  Devil  Shrieker  in  the  West  Riding.  These 
terms  become  Screw  and  Devil  Screw  at  Ackworth,  and  the 
diabolic  association  is  kept  up  in  the  West  Riding  term  of 
Devil-bird,  which  at  Skelmanthorpe,  near  Huddersfield,  be- 
comes Devil's  Bitch.  In  many  parts  of  the  North  and  West 
Ridings  it  is  known  as  Devilin  or  Dicky  Devilling ;  in  the 
East  Riding  it  is  Devilling,  which  at  Thirsk  is  transmuted 
into  Dibbling.*  In  Ryedale  and  Cleveland  it  is  designated 
Collier.  Swainson  gives  Whip  as  a  West  Riding  term ;  at 
Loftus-in-Cleveland  it  is  called  the  Tile  Swallow ;  and  the 
shepherds  on  Bowland  Fells  call  it  Longwings.  In  the  Allan 
MS.  (1791)  it  is  called  Black  Martin,  which  may  possibly 
be  merely  a  book  name. 


WHITE-BELLIED  SWIFT. 
Cypselus  melba  (Z.). 


Accidental  visitant  from  Central  and  Southern  Europe,  of  rare 
occurrence. 

A  summer  immigrant  to  Central  and  Southern  Europe, 
North  Africa,  and  Asia  Minor,  wintering  in  India,  Assam, 
and  South  Africa,  this  large  Swift  is  but  an  accidental  visitant 
to  Yorkshire,  having  occurred  on  seven  occasions  only. 

*A  North  Riding  superstition  carries  the  belief  that  to  see  two 
Devil-screamers  fighting  brings  ill-luck. 


NIGHTJAR.  265 

The  first  on  record  was  obtained  at  Oughtybridge  about 
the  year  1869,  as  I  am  informed,  by  Mr.  A.  E.  Hutchinson, 
of  Derby. 

One  was  observed  on  2nd  June  1870,  at  Hornsea  in  Holder- 
ness,  by  Mr.  F.  Boyes,  who  states  that  the  bird  came  within 
ten  yards  of  him. 

At  Ripponden,  near  Halifax,  an  example  was  caught  by 
the  late  Mr.  Priestley,  in  the  autumn  of  1872,  and  is  now 
in  his  widow's  possession  (F.  G.  S.  Rawson  MS.). 

At  Scarborough  one  was  seen  on  I7th  April  1800,  and 
afterwards  at  intervals  for  nearly  a  fortnight  (L.  West,  Zool. 
1880,  p.  407).  Mr.  West  has  so  accurately  described  the  bird 
to  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  and  myself  as  to  leave  no  doubt  as 
to  its  identification. 

Mr.  S.  L.  Mosley  states  (MS.),  that  at  Kirkburton,  near 
Huddersfield,  a  female  specimen  was  picked  up,  in  an  exhausted 
condition,  on  2nd  June  1881. 

In  the  autumn  of  1890,  one  was  observed  at  Scarborough, 
coming  from  seaward,  and,  as  it  reached  the  land,  it  dropped 
dead  on  the  Parade  near  Mr.  Marshall,  of  Stockton-on-Tees. 
It  was  taken  by  him  to  Mr.  J.  Morley,  who  identified  it  as 
the  species  under  notice  (Field,  i8th  October  1890). 

And,  lastly,  an  immature  male  was  taken  on  the  moors 
at  Langsett,  near  Penistone,  in  1892,  and  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  W.  E.  Brady,  and  presented  by  him  to  the  Barnsley 
Naturalists'  Society  on  I5th  May  1893  (E.  G.  Bayford,  in  litt.}. 


NIGHTJAR. 
Caprimulgus  europaeus  (L.). 


Summ  r  visitant,  local  in  its  distribution,  not  numerous,  preferring 
the  woodland,  moorland,  and  fell  districts. 


The  earliest  mention  of  this  species  was  made  by  Willughby, 
who  stated  that  "It  is  found  in  the  mountainous  woods  in 
....  Yorkshire."  (Will.  "  Orn."  1683,  p.  22.) 


266  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Caprimulgus  europceus. — The  Nightjar — This  bird  is  noticed  as 
becoming  more  rare  near  Halifax  and  Hebden  Bridge  ;  in  other  districts 
it  is  by  no  means  rare  in  favourable  localities  ;  on  two  occasions  I  have 
attempted  to  rear  the  young,  but,  though  I  kept  them  alive  for  several 
weeks,  feeding  them  on  moths,  beetles,  and  animal  food,  I  could  never 
get  them  to  pick  their  food,  but  was  always  obliged  to  open  their  mouths 
and  insert  it,  when  the  food  was  readily  swallowed, — their  habit  being 
to  take  food  on  the  wing,  they  seem  to  have  no  idea  of  picking  it  when 
at  rest.  W.  Eddison  says  he  has  a  nest  of  three  eggs  taken  from  a 
nest  of  four  found  near  West  Nab  ;  the  usual  number  of  eggs  is  con- 
sidered to  be  two  ;  I  have  never  found  the  nest  myself,  but  it  never 
occurred  to  me  to  see  more  than  a  pair  of  young  together. 

The  Nightjar  or,  as  it  is  commonly  called  in  Yorkshire, 
the  Goatsucker,  is  one  of  our  latest  summer  visitants,  seldom 
making  its  appearance  before  the  first  or,  more  often,  the 
second  week  of  May.  The  date  of  the  earliest  arrival  of  which 
I  am  aware  is  i6th  April  1883,  when  one  was  reported  by  Mr. 
J.  Lister  on  Langwith  Moor  in  the  south  of  the  county.  It 
leaves  in  September,  some  individuals  remaining  until  October  ; 
the  latest  lingerers  were  a  pair  at  Heslington  Hall,  near 
York,  one  of  which  was  picked  up  in  a  starved  condition  in 
the  third  week  of  November  1889. 

The  bird  is  nowhere  very  abundant,  and  is  decidedly  local 
in  its  choice  of  breeding  quarters.  The  situations  that  it 
chiefly  resorts  to  are  the  moor  edges  and  the  borders  of  wood- 
lands near  the  moors,  fir  woods,  and  the  fell  sides  of  the  North 
and  West  Ridings.  It  occurs  in  suitable  places  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Sheffield,  Barnsley,  Huddersfield,  Wakefield, 
Doncaster,  Otley,  Ripon,  and  the  upper  portions  of  the 
river  valleys  running  from  the  west  and  north-west  of  the 
county.  It  also  nests  annually  in  the  dales,  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  North  Riding  moors,  near  Scarborough,  Whitby, 
Pickering,  Wensleydale,  Teesdale,  Arkengarthdale,  Swaledale, 
and  Sedbergh,  the  wastes  and  commons  near  York,  and 
the  Cleveland  dales  ;  favourite  haunts,  where  I  have  found 
the  eggs,  being  Scotch  fir  woods  where  the  ground  is  over- 
grown with  short  heather.  On  20th  August  1901,  six  were 
seen  together  on  the  border  of  the  moor  at  Scarth  Nick  in 


NIGHTJAR.  267 

Cleveland.  It  is  scarce  as  a  nesting  species  in  the  East  Riding, 
though  it  breeds  annually  near  Market  Weight  on,  Cliff  Wood, 
Holme  on  Spalding  Moor,  and  Scampston. 

On  the  coast  the  Nightjar  is  observed  on  migration  in 
spring  and  autumn,  most  frequently  at  the  latter  season, 
but  individuals  are  met  with  annually  at  Spurn  in  May.  I 
have  noticed  it  on  its  first  arrival  at  Redcar,  generally  during 
the  prevalence  of  easterly  winds,  and  on  loth  May  1901, 
at  7  a.m.,  one  flew  into  the  garden  behind  my  house  ;  it 
has  also  been  seen  in  the  streets  of  Redcar ;  one  remained 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Teesmouth  for  several  days  in 
May  1902.  Two  examples,  noted  at  Spurn  on  28th  July 
1897,  may  have  been  birds  on  the  return  passage  unusually 
early. 

A  curious  instance  is  related  by  Ed.  Blyth  in  Rennie's 
"  Field  Naturalist,"  1833,  of  a  Nightjar  coming  on  board 
ship  when  fourteen  miles  off  Whitby,  on  7th  October  :  "  The 
bird  settled  upon  the  bowsprit,  panting  with  fatigue,  and 
presented  a  very  curious  and  interesting  spectacle."  The 
late  J.  Cordeaux  has  also  recorded  the  occurrence  of  a  female 
of  this  species  alighting  on  a  vessel  in  June  1897,  when  no 
miles  east  of  Spurn.  During  the  autumnal  or  return  passage 
southward,  this  bird  is  reported  in  September  and  October, 
at  this  period  being  not  uncommon  in  the  gardens  about 
the  town  of  Beverley ;  it  has  been  seen  assembling  at  Flam- 
borough  previous  to  migrating,  and  it  is  occasionally  immolated 
against  the  glass  of  the  lighthouses.  The  latest  date  recorded 
on  the  coast  is  23rd  October  1878,  when  one  was  observed 
at  Easington  near  Spurn  ;  while  the  latest  record  for  unfledged 
young  is  2nd  September  1889,  at  Thornthwaite  (Nat.  1889, 

P-  333). 

Superstitions  connected  with  this  strange  looking  bird 
are  very  prevalent  in  the  remote  Yorkshire  dales  ;  one  of 
these,  which  is  perhaps  of  old  Danish  origin,  and  was  believed 
in  by  the  dalesfolk  of  Cleveland,  describes  it  as  a  mysterious 
bird  with  large  glowing  eyes,  hooked  beak,  and  an  awful 
shriek,  which  accompanies,  or  is  heard  by,  the  death-doomed. 
In  Nidderdale  the  country  people  say  that  these  birds  embody 


268  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

the  souls  of  unbaptized  infants,  doomed  to  wander  for  ever 
in  the  air,  and  call  them  "  Gabble-ratchets/'  i.e.  corpse  hounds, 
a  name  which  is  equivalent  to  "  Gabriel-hounds  "  of  other 
localities,  the  unseen  pack  which  is  heard  by  night  baying 
in  the  air.*  This  "  Gabble-ratchet "  in  the  Otley  district 
is  the  only  one  by  which  the  country  folk  know  the  bird, 
thus  it  appears  the  superstition  is  fairly  rooted  there  ;  though 
a  different  version  of  the  origin  of  the  name  is  in  vogue  in 
Thirsk  district.  The  bird  is  "  Gabble-ratch "  because  it 
ratches  (hoots)  on  the  gables  of  houses.  The  jarring  cry 
is  supposed  to  be  a  harbinger  of  death,  and  we  find  this 
idea  prominent  in  an  old  Cleveland  dirge,  known  so  long  ago 
as  1750,  entitled  "  A  Dree  Neet,"  telling  how  "  t'  Squire 
lay  a  dying,"  then  how  "  t'  Gabriel  ratchets  yelp'd  aboon, 
a  gannin  sowl  ti  chill."  Mr.  F.  Lawton  of  Skelmanthorpe 
states  that  when  he  was  a  boy  he  has  heard  old  women  talk 
about  "  Gabbleratchers,"  and  tell  how  they  knew  a  certain 
person  was  going  to  die  "  because  Gabbleratchers  were  heard 
over  the  house  last  night ! "  Mr.  R.  Blakeborough  also 
informs  me  he  has  heard  a  similar  tale  told  by  a  Cleveland 
dalesman,  but  in  this  instance  the  bird  was  seen  and  did 
not  utter  a  sound.  Except  in  very  isolated  districts,  however, 
these  ideas  are  fast  dying  out.  In  concluding  the  folk-lore 
of  the  Nightjar  it  may  be  interesting  to  quote  a  verse  from 
another  old  Cleveland  poem,  "  Signs  o'  t'  Sea,"  bringing  in 
the  species  under  notice  : — 

"  When  a  sad  moan  fra  t'  beach  steals  t'  valley  throu', 
An'  t'  neeght-jar  wings  its  fleeght  i'  t'  raven's  track, 
Then  stitch  neea  shrood  byv  t'  rush  leeght  glow, 
For  t'  greedy  waves  '11  claim  what  t'  grave  weeant  tak'." 

The  vernacular  names  of  this  bird  are  many  and  varied. 
Goatsucker  is  a  general  and  well-known  one.  Churn  Owl  and 
Fern  Owl  are  used  in  Willughby's  "  Ornithology,"  1683, 
and  the  latter  name  is  still  occasionally  heard  in  the  Ripon 
neighbourhood ;  Night  Crow  a  north-west  Yorkshire  and 
also  a  Market  Weighton  term,  and  Night  Hawk  one  used  in 


*  See  Grey-lag  Goose  for  "  Gabriel-hounds." 


WRYNECK.  269 

both  the  North  and  West  Ridings.  West  Riding  names  are 
Wheel  Bird  and  Dor  Hawk.  This  last  is  said  to  be  derived 
from  an  old  word  signifying  buzzing,  but  may  not  this  be 
merely  at  second  hand,  and  the  idea  of  the  bird  preying 
upon  Dor  Beetles  be  intended  ?  Eve- jar,  used  in  Rennie's 
"  Field  Naturalist  "  in  1833,  appears  to  be  merely  a  pedantic 
variant  on  Night-jar.  Night  Churr,  Eve  Churr,  and  Jar 
Owl  are  names  given  by  Swainson  without  any  indication 
of  their  place  of  use.  Gabble-ratch,  Gabriel-ratch,  Gabble- 
ratchet,  Gaabr'l-ratchet,  or  Gabble-ratcher,  said  to  be  so 
called  because  it  hoots  on  gables  (Thirsk  district),  but  in 
other  localities  the  version  is  different  and  indicates  a  similar 
origin  to  Gabriel-hounds,  as  discussed  above  in  connection 
with  the  folk-lore. 


WRYNECK. 

Jynx  torquilla  (Z.). 

Summer  visitant,  extremely  local.  Is  occasionally  observed  near 
the  coast  during  the  spring  and  autumn  migrations.  Less  frequent 
than  formerly. 

Probably  the  earliest  published  mention  of  this,  as  a 
county  bird,  is  contained  in  the  writings  of  the  celebrated 
Marmaduke  Tunstall,  of  Wy cliff e-on-Tees,  who  stated  :— 

"  Had  once  a  nest  of  young  Wrynecks  brought  me,  which 
seemed  to  take  food  very  readily,  but  frequently  darted  out 
their  long  tongues  ;  they  all  died  the  next  day.  Sometimes 
called  in  the  north  the  Cuckoo's  Maiden  ;  as  they  are  supposed 
to  arrive  here  nearly  at  the  same  time  and  are  often  found 
together,  probably  as  agreed  in  the  same  table  of  food,  and 
coming  in  for  a  share."  (Tunst.  MS.,  1784). 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Yunx  torquilla. — The  Wryneck — Often  met  with  near  Doncaster  ; 
very  scarce  near  Sheffield  for  the  last  eight  or  ten  years  ;  becoming 
very  rare  near  Halifax  ;  seldom  met  with  near  Hebden  Bridge  ;  Dr. 
Farrar  has  met  with  but  one  solitary  specimen  near  Barnsley  ;  it  is 


270  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

occasionally,  though  very  rarely,  seen  near  York  ;  I  have  never  myself 
seen  it  in  Yorkshire.  Arthur  Strickland  observes  "  Being  well 
acquainted  with  the  note  of  this  bird,  I  have  once  or  twice  detected  it 
in  this  county,  but  it  is  evidently  out  of  its  usual  range." 

Although  the  Wryneck  is  not  a  common  species,  Yorkshire 
is  not  altogether  out  of  its  range,  as  stated  by  Allis's  friend 
Strickland.  The  bird  is  a  summer  visitant,  extremely  local 
in  its  distribution,  being  restricted  in  the  nesting  season 
almost  entirely  to  the  south  and  south-east  of  the  West 
Riding,  and  that  portion  of  the  East  Riding  which  is  adjacent, 
and  in  these  districts  it  is  very  sparingly  diffused,  chiefly  in 
old  timbered  parks  or  woods.  It  was  formerly  more  numerous 
than  it  is  at  the  present  time,  as  Denny  in  his  catalogue  (1840) 
described  it  as  fairly  abundant  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Leeds, 
and  near  Doncaster  Allis  stated  it  was  common  in  1844.  J. 
Heppenstall  wrote  of  it  (Zool.  1843,  p.  247),  as  an  annual 
visitant  in  spring  near  Sheffield,  arriving  on  igth  April  of 
that  year ;  and  at  the  famous  Charles  Waterton's  residence, 
Walton  Hall,  it  is  recorded  yearly.  One  was  shot  at  Honley, 
near  Huddersfield,  on  22nd  May  1864,  while  Talbot  reported 
one  in  May  1875,  in  Cannon  Hall  Park,  near  Wakefield. 
Thus  it  is  evident,  from  these  old  records,  that  the  bird  nested 
in  the  West  Riding. 

The  present  day  information  indicates  that  its  numbers 
are  much  fewer,  and  probably  the  causes  which  have  led  to 
the  decrease  of  the  Woodpeckers  are  responsible  for  the 
scarcity  of  the  Wryneck.  At  Fellbeck  in  Nidderdale  it  is 
recorded  in  spring  (Nat.  1886,  p.  188) ;  also  at  Harrogate,  Dean 
Hall  Wood,  near  Fewston,  Newton  Kyme,  and  Ackworth, 
but  it  is  everywhere  spoken  of  as  being  rare.  Those  old-time 
ornithologists,  Marmaduke  Tunstall  of  Wycliffe-on-Tees,  and 
George  Allan,  wrote  of  this  bird  as  being  a  regular  visitant  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  their  residences  (Tunst.  and  Allan  MS., 
1784) ;  it  is  mentioned  in  Graves's  "  History  of  Cleveland  "  in 
1808  ;  and,  in  his  "  Catalogue  of  Birds  of  Cleveland  and  S.E. 
Durham,"  1845,  J.  Hogg  described  it  as  migrating  early  in 
spring,  and  not  uncommon  in  the  district.  Now,  however, 
it  is  but  rarely  met  with  in  north-east  Yorkshire :  I  have 


WRYNECK.  271 

information  of  its  occurrence  in  the  woods  at  Easby-in- 
Cleveland ;  one  was  noted  at  Danby  in  the  breeding  season, 
and  another  lower  down  the  Esk  valley,  while,  in  the  extreme 
north-west  of  the  county,  it  has  been  reported  from  Sedbergh. 

As  a  rare  and  occasional  visitant  on  the  spring  and 
autumnal  migrations,  the  Wryneck  is  known  on  the  coast 
line,  and  has  been  announced  as  having  bred  near  Market 
Weighton  for  two  or  three  seasons,  where  Mr.  F.  Boyes  took  an 
egg  from  an  old  pollard  willow,  the  Wrynecks  being  dis- 
possessed by  Starlings.  On  the  Spurn  promontory  it  has  been 
met  with  on  25th  August  1873  (Zool.  1873,  p.  3781),  an  adult 
female  was  procured  by  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  on  3ist  August 
1886,  and  at  Easington  it  has  occurred  once  in  spring  and  on 
two  occasions  in  autumn.  In  other  parts  of  Holderness, 
and  at  Flamborough,  it  has  been  reported  at  these  periods 
as  a  very  rare  migrant.  In  the  Scarborough  Philosophical 
Society's  Report  for  1831,  is  a  record  of  one  taken  near  the 
Castle  that  year.  The  Whitby  Museum  possesses  a  specimen 
obtained  there  ;  at  Redcar  a  local  example  was  in  the  collection 
of  the  late  C.  C.  Oxley,  and  one  was  killed  by  coming  in 
contact  with  the  telegraph  wires  at  Middlesbrough  on  2nd 
September  1905. 

The  bird  described  by  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  at  Spurn, 
in  1886,  had  been  feeding  on  ants,  with  which  its  crop  was 
filled,  and  amongst  the  common  red  species  were  several 
Wood  Ants  quite  undigested,  proving  the  bird  had  just 
arrived,  since  this  insect  does  not  occur  near  Spurn. 

The  vernacular  names  are  peculiar,  and  well  adapted 
to  the  bird's  eccentricities.  According  to  Swainson  it  is 
called  Writhe  Neck,  Long  Tongue  or  Tongue  Bird,  Emmet 
Hunter,  Slab,  and  Cuckoo's  Messenger.  In  1784  Tunstall 
called  it  Cuckoo's  Maiden  ;  while  Cuckoo's  Mate  is  a  generally 
known  appellation. 


272 

GREEN    WOODPECKER. 

Gecinus  viridis  (Z.). 


Resident,  local,  but  fairly  common  where  it  occurs. 


Historically,  the  Green  Woodpecker,  as  a  Yorkshire  bird, 
is  of  ancient  standing,  being  referred  to  in  the  ballad  of  "  Robin 
Hood  and  Guy  of  Gisborne  "  ;  an  early  mention  of  it  was  also 
made  by  Willughby,  thus  : — 

"  This  bird  is  by  some  called  Hayhoe,  which  name  is,  I 
suppose,  corrupted  from  Hewhole,  as  Turner  saith  it  was 
called  in  English  in  his  time,  and  Mr.  Johnson  (of  Brignall, 
near  Greta  Bridge)  now."  (Will.  "  Orn."  1680,  p.  22.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Picus  viridis. — Green  Woodpecker — Common  about  Doncaster  ; 
occasionally  seen  near  Leeds  and  York  ;  not  common  near  Sheffield  ; 
nearly  extirpated  in  the  vicinity  of  Halifax  ;  rarely  met  with  at  Hebden 
Bridge  ;  very  rare  near  Huddersfield,  though  formerly  more  plentiful ; 
frequently  met  with  in  the  wooded  districts  near  Barnsley  ;  numerous 
near  Thirsk. 

This  beautiful  species  is  resident,  very  local  in  its  distribu- 
tion, and  most  numerous  in  the  Vale  of  York  (a  name  applied 
to  the  central  plain  of  the  county),  and  the  north-east  portion 
of  the  North  Riding,  which  may  be  included  between  two 
lines,  one  drawn  from  York,  by  Malton,  to  Scarborough, 
and  the  other  from  the  same  starting  point,  due  north  along 
the  western  base  of  the  Hambleton  Hills.  In  these  districts 
it  prefers  the  woods  bordering  the  highlands,  and  is  more 
partial  in  its  distribution  than  the  Spotted  species,  though 
fairly  numerous  in  the  localities  frequented  by  it.  The  Vale 
of  Pickering  is  one  of  its  chief  strongholds  ;  it  is  abundant 
also  in  the  woods  between  Whitby  and  the  Tees  Valley ;  the 
old  Yorkshire  ornithologist,  Marmaduke  Tunstall,  of  Wycliffe- 
on-Tees,  referring  to  it  in  1784  as  "  passing  the  winter  here 
in  the  north  "  (p.  60),  though,  owing  to  the  cutting  down 
of  timber  and  the  persecution  by  collectors,  it  is  not  so  abundant 
in  the  county  as  formerly.  Outside  the  area  indicated  it 
occurs  commonly  in  Wensleydale,  Baldersby,  Studley,  and 


Home  of  Green  Woodpecker. 


R.  Fortune. 


See  page  272. 


GREEN  WOODPECKER.  273 

Swinton  Parks,  and  in  Nidderdale,  especially  in  the  vicinity 
of  Harrogate.  In  other  parts  of  the  West  Riding  it  is  a  scarce 
bird,  and  almost  unknown  in  the  extreme  west  and  north-west 
divisions ;  though  a  pair  nested  at  Bolton  Abbey  in  1906, 
In  the  remoter  parts  of  the  North  Riding  it  has  occurred 
rarely  in  Upper  Teesdale  and  near  Sedbergh.  Perhaps  the 
most  singular  feature  in  its  distribution  is  its  entire  absence 
from  Bishop  Wood,  near  Selby,  the  oldest  and  largest  wood 
in  the  county. 

It  is  not  found  on  the  chalk  Wolds  or  clays  in  the  east, 
though  it  occurs  on  the  west  ridge  of  the  Wolds,  and  is  not 
uncommon  in  the  drier  sandy,  or  moory  situations,  where  it 
also  breeds ;  it  is  more  local  in  the  East  Riding  than  else- 
where ;  it  is  somewhat  rare  near  Beverley,  but  breeds  rather 
commonly  near  Market  Weighton,  and  not  uncommonly  at 
Scampston.  It  occurs  at  Pocklington,  and  has  been  noted 
once  in  November  1882,  at  Rimswell,  in  South  Holderness, 
while  at  Flamborough,  where  it  has  been  met  with  on  one  or 
two  occasions,  an  example  was  picked  up  in  an  exhausted 
state  near  the  Lighthouse  on  iyth  October  1894,  and  another 
was  found  in  the  autumn  of  1903,  which  would  seem  to  indicate 
that  they  were  migrants. 

In  regard  to  the  nidification  of  this  bird  a  singular  circum- 
stance was  brought  to  my  notice  in  the  spring  of  1902,  in 
Harrogate,  where  a  pair  of  Woodpeckers  commenced  building 
operations  in  a  tree  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  but,  unfortunately, 
they  were  not  allowed  to  continue  their  labours  undisturbed. 
Another  curious  nesting  incident  took  place  in  Cleveland 
in  1902.  On  the  I5th  of  May  I  went  with  a  friend  to  examine 
a  Woodpecker's  nest  in  an  ash  tree ;  a  hole  was  cut  below 
the  entrance,  but  the  site  was  apparently  deserted  ;  however, 
a  fortnight  later  we  found  the  old  birds  were  utilising  the 
new  aperture  and  were  excavating  the  interior  of  the  tree 
as  vigorously  as  before.  In  some  parts  of  the  Cleveland  dales 
I  have  known  nesting  trees  close  up  to  the  edge  of  the  moors, 
bordering  on  the  Ring  Ouzel's  territory.  This  species  is  also 
frequently  found  out  on  the  moors  far  from  trees  of  any  kind  ; 
it  dislodges  the  moss  on  the  boulders  for  grubs,  and  probably 
VOL.  i.  T 


274  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

finds  plenty  of  food  in  the  shape  of  ants  and  other  insects. 
Charles  Waterton  mentioned  the  fact  of  one  roosting  in  one 
of  the  galleries  of  a  bird  tower  at  Walton  Park. 

The  multiplicity  of  its  vernacular  names  denotes  that 
the  bird  must  have  been  numerous  in  former  days,  when  it 
was  known  as  Wood  Awl.  It  is  alluded  to,  in  the  ballad  of 
"  Robin  Hood  and  Guy  of  Gisborne,"  as  Wood  Weele ;  and 
Hayhoe,  or  Hewhole,  in  Willughby's  "  Ornithology,"  1680. 
Other  names  are  Cut  Bill ;  Heffald  (Scatcherd's  "  History  of 
Morley,"  1830) ;  Hefful  (Craven)  ;  Yaffle  (North  Riding) ; 
Yaffler  (East  Riding)  ;  Nickle  (Zool.  1848)  ;  Popinjay,  Rain 
Pie,  Rain  Bird,  Rain  Fowl  (Swainson) ;  Wood  Tapper, 
Wood  Borer,  and  Tree  Climber  (East  Cleveland). 


GREAT  SPOTTED  WOODPECKER. 
Dendrocopus  major  (Z.). 


Resident ;  local,  thinly  distributed,  though  more  general  than  the 
other  Yorkshire  species.  Observed  as  an  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast. 

Perhaps  the  first  Yorkshire  reference  to  this  species  is  in 
the  Rev.  J.  Graves's  "  History  of  Cleveland  "  (1808),  where 
it  is  enumerated  in  the  list  of  resident  birds. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Picus  major. — Great  Spotted  Woodpecker — Not  uncommon  near 
Sheffield  ;  very  rare  near  Leeds  ;  it  occurs  at  Plompton  Woods  near 
Harrogate  ;  is  rare  at  Hebden  Bridge  ;  not  infrequent  about  Barns- 
ley  ;  rare  near  Huddersfield,  but  a  nest  and  eggs  were  presented  to 
W.  Eddison  a  few  years  ago  by  Thos.  Dunderdale,  Esq.,  of  Whitley 
Hall,  for  the  Huddersfield  Museum.  Arthur  Strickland  has  met  with 
but  one  specimen  which  was  from  Boynton  ;  J.  and  W.  Tuke  inform 
me  that  it  is  said  to  breed  in  the  woods  at  Castle  Howard. 

In  addition  to  being  a  generally  distributed  bird  in  York- 
shire, the  Great  Spotted  Woodpecker  is  a  spring  and  autumn 
migrant,  and  is  perhaps  deemed  to  be  scarcer  than  really  is 
the  case,  as,  owing  to  its  shy  and  retiring  nature,  its  presence 
may  not  always  be  suspected  in  the  localities  that  it  haunts. 


i 


.3 


I 


GREAT  SPOTTED  WOODPECKER.    275 

Though  in  no  part  an  abundant  species,  it  breeds  in  most 
districts  where  suitable  conditions  are  found,  except  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  large  manufacturing  towns,  the  East  Riding 
Wolds,  and  the  moorland  tracts.  The  bird  is  extremely  partial 
to  the  woods  of  old  parks  and  timber  of  ancient  growth,  and 
in  some  of  the  dales  is  met  with  at  a  considerable  elevation, 
but  does  not  remain  after  the  nesting  season.  In  the  Central 
Plain,  the  Western  Ainsty,  and  the  Harrogate  neighbourhood 
it  is  more  frequently  reported  than  from  any  other  locality, 
though  it  is  to  be  feared  that  the  felling  of  old  timber  has 
led  to  its  decrease  in  some  parts  where  it  was  formerly  not 
uncommon  ;  it  has  increased  within  the  past  few  years  in 
the  Wilsden  district. 

On  the  seaboard  during  the  autumn  migration  this  Wood- 
pecker is  of  almost  annual  occurrence,  and  is  observed  from 
September  to  November.  It  is,  however,  referred  to  only 
once  in  the  British  Association  Migration  Reports,  "  At 
Spurn,  27th  October  1880"  (Second  Report).  At  that 
promontory  they  land  on  the  sandhills,  and,  as  there  are  no 
trees,  they  spend  their  short  stay  there  in  running  up  the 
pieces  of  drift  wood  used  as  fencing.  They  were  numerous 
on  the  coast  in  1886,  and  also  in  1889 ;  in  the  latter  year  at 
most  of  the  stations  between  Spurn  and  Teesmouth.  Two 
were  seen  in  October  in  the  fishermen's  gardens  at  Redcar, 
and  this  influx  was  coincident  with  a  great  migration  over 
Heligoland,  where,  according  to  the  late  Herr  Gatke,  "  more 
were  seen  than  ever  before."  Near  Beverley,  in  1898,  the 
bird  was  more  than  usually  common,  upwards  of  a  dozen 
being  reported,  and  in  the  winter  of  1901-2  a  large  migratory 
flight  appeared  in  Cleveland ;  my  taxidermist,  G.  Mussell, 
informed  me  he  had  more  in  to  preserve  during  that  winter 
than  in  all  his  past  experience,  extending  over  fifty  years. 
Two  examples  were  seen  close  to  Middlesbrough  Park,  one 
of  which  was  captured  and  brought  to  me  for  identification. 

In  the  Beverley  district  the  Great  Spotted  Woodpecker 
has  been  noticed  to  excavate  holes  in  rotton  trees  in  which 
to  sleep,  and  it  feeds  on  the  larvae  of  Sesia  apiformis,  the 
Poplar  Clearwing  Moth ;  below  the  poplar  trees  may  often 


276  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

be  seen  strips  which  the  bird  has  chipped  way  in  its  search 
for  the  grubs.  Mr.  Boyes  saw  one  in  his  garden  which  was  so 
tame  that  it  allowed  him  to  approach  within  fifteen  yards, 
and  watch  it  flying  from  branch  to  branch,  exactly  as  a  Thrush 
would  do,  and  sit  up  in  like  manner  across  the  branches, 
and  not  lengthwise,  which  is  unusual. 

[The  HAIRY  WOODPECKER,  (Dendrocopus  villosus,  £,.),  a 
North  American  species,  is  reported  as  having  occurred  in 
two  instances  in  Yorkshire,  but  the  circumstances  are  not 
sufficiently  trustworthy  to  justify  my  placing  thejrird  in  the 
county  list. 

Near  Brighouse,  a  pair  were  obtained  (upwards  of  a 
century  ago),  at  Kirklees  Hall,  and  passed  into  the  collection 
of  the  Duchess  of  Portland  (Latham,  "  Gen.  Syn."  II,.  p.  578). 

At  Whitby,  one  was  killed  early  in  1849  (Higgins,  Zool. 
1849,  P-  2496  ;  Bird,  torn.  cit.  2527  ;  Newman,  op.  cit.  1851, 
p.  2985  ;  Bird,  torn.  cit.  p.  3034).  This  specimen  is  in  the 
South  Kensington  Museum.] 


LESSER  SPOTTED  WOODPECKER. 
Dendrocopus  minor  (L.). 


Resident,  extremely  local  and  confined  to  thickly  wooded  localities. 
in  which  it  occurs  in  limited  numbers. 


Probably  the  earliest  reference  to  this  bird  in  Yorkshire 
is  in  Leyland's  Halifax  Catalogue,  1828,  where  it  is  described 
as  very  rare. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Picus  minor. — Lesser  Spotted  Woodpecker — Met  with  near  Don- 
caster  ;  a  few  specimens  have  been  obtained  near  Sheffield  ;  it  is 
rarely  seen  at  Hebden  Bridge  ;  a  nest  was  taken,  with  several  young, 
a  few  years  ago  by  a  son  of  Joseph  Cooper,  Botanical  Gardener  to  Earl 
Fitzwilliam,  in  the  woods  at  Wentworth  ;  it  is  also  met  with  in  the 
woods  at  Thirkleby  near  Thirsk. 

The  Lesser  Spotted  Woodpecker  is  rarer  in  Yorkshire 


Lesser  Spotted  Woodpecker  taking  food  to  its  young. 

T.  A.  Metcalfe. 
See  page  277. 


LESSER  SPOTTED  WOODPECKER.     277 

then  the  preceding  species,  while  its  diminutive  size  adds 
to  the  difficulty  of  detecting  it  in  its  woodland  haunts.  Like 
its  larger  relative  it  loves  the  seclusion  of  old  timbered  parks, 
and  has  been  recorded  as  nesting  in  various  parts  of  the 
West  Riding ;  at  or  near  Wakefield,  in  1858 ;  Huddersfield, 
in  1851 ;  Ackworth ;  once  in  Batley  Wood  (which  is  now  a 
Leeds  recreation  ground) ;  and  at  Eccup  near  Leeds ;  also 
in  the  lower  Nidd  Valley ;  in  the  Washburn  Valley,  near 
Fewston  ;  and  at  Studley.  After  the  breeding  season  the 
bird  is  more  widely  distributed,  and  more  frequently  observed, 
the  occurrences  being  too  numerous  for  mention  in  detail, 
though  it  may  be  remarked  that,  in  the  Wilsden  district, 
several  examples  have  been  noticed  recently,  and  it  may 
probably  be  nesting  there. 

Other  places  from  which  the  nest  has  been  recorded  are 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  York,  Escrick,  Allerthorpe  Common, 
and  Scampston  Park.  It  is  a  rare  bird  near  Beverley ;  one 
was  taken  in  1899,  a  second  in  1901,  which  I  had  an  opportunity 
of  examining ;  another  example  was  seen  in  the  winter  of 
1901-2,  and  a  male  was  killed  on  the  public  common  on  8th 
March  1903.  In  the  Burton  Agnes  collection  is  a  local 
specimen  which  was  shot  by  Sir  H.  Boynton.  This  species 
is  also  announced  to  have  nested  in  Mulgrave  Woods  near 
Whitby,  in  1893  ;  another  pair  bred  in  Crinkle  Woods  in 
1901,  and  they  succeeded  in  getting  the  young  away  a  few 
days  only  before  the  nesting  tree  was  felled.  It  has  been 
noted  in  Wensleydale ;  a  single  instance  is  reported  of  its 
breeding  near  Masham  in  1888  ;  in  Arncliffe  Woods  the  bird 
occurs,  but  I  have  no  information  of  its  nesting  there,  and 
the  same  remark  applies  to  localities  in  Cleveland,  near  Redcar, 
Marton,  and  Easby,  where  individuals  are  annually  noticed. 
At  one  of  these  places  four  "  Little  Woodpeckers,"  as  they 
are  termed,  frequented  a  wood  in  1898,  a  pair  were  noted 
in  1901,  while  another  pair  were  seen  in  a  spinney  near  Redcar 
during  the  winter  of  1901-2.  Near  Sedbergh  the  nest  has  been 
recorded  on  one  occasion  only. 

In  communicating  an  account  of  the  nidification  of  this 
bird  at  Scampston  Park,  Mr.  W.  H.  St.  Quintin  remarks 


278  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

that,  when  the  young  flew,  a  pair  of  the  Great  Spotted  Wood- 
peckers took  possession  of,  and  reared  a  brood  in,  the  same  tree. 

[Of  the  GREAT  BLACK  WOODPECKER  (Picus  martins,  L.),  a 
Continental  species,  Thomas  Allis  wrote,  in  1844,  as  follows  : — 

Picus  martins. — Great  Black  Woodpecker. — W.  Yarrell  reports  that 
two  specimens  were  killed  in  Yorkshire,  but,  falling  into  hands  not 
aware  of  their  ornithological  interest,  they  were  not  preserved  ("British 
Birds,"  Vol.  II.,  p.  128). 

Examples  are  said  to  have  occurred  in  the  following 
instances  (two  of  which  were  reported  by  Allis),  but  no  reliance 
is  to  be  placed  on  their  authenticity  : — 

Yorkshire,  once  (Fothergill,  "  Ornith.  Brit.,"  1799,  p.  3). 

Yorkshire,  one  (Yarrell,  1843,  II.  p.  128). 

Yarm,  two  seen  (Zool.  1845,  p.  1107). 

Ripley,  one  killed,  March  1846  (op.  cit.  1846,  p.  1298). 

Otley,  one,  on  8th  September  1897,  was  probably  one  of 
the  individuals  liberated  by  the  late  Lord  Lilford.  (See  also 
Harting's  "  Handbook,"  2nd  Ed.  p.  396.)] 


KINGFISHER. 
Alcedo  ispida  (Z.). 


Resident,   generally  but  sparsely  distributed.     Occurs  in  autumn 
as  a  migrant  on  the  coast. 


Probably  the  first  Yorkshire  reference  to  the  Kingfisher 
is  to  be  found  in  Miller's  "  History  of  Doncaster,"  in  which 
it  is  stated  that 

"  The  Kingfisher  conveys  the  small  fish  upon  which  it 
preys  to  a  place,  generally  the  deserted  hole  of  a  water  rat, 
where  it  dissects  the  flesh  from  the  bones  of  the  fish,  keeping 
them  together  to  form  its  nest  which  consists  of  many  thousand 
of  these  small  bones."  (Miller's  "  Doncaster,"  1804,  p.  17.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Alcedo  ispida. — Common  Kingfisher — W.  Eddison  says  they  breed 
near  Huddersfield,  and  used  to  be  very  common,  but  the  destructive 


KINGFISHER.  279 

plan  of  snaring  them,  or  catching  them  with  bird  lime,  will  shortly 
place  them  in  the  list  of  rare  birds  ;  Richard  Leyland  observes  "  An 
interesting  circumstance  connected  with  the  history  of  this  bird  has 
fallen  under  my  notice  ;  in  autumn  an  assemblage  of  them  in  some  of 
the  narrow  glens  (or  cloughs  as  they  are  called  about  Halifax)  takes 
place  ;  probably  the  river  swollen  by  the  autumnal  rains  renders  the 
acquisition  of  their  food  difficult,  and  consequently  compels  them  to 
seek  it  in  shallower  water. — A  bird  stuffer,  with  whom  I  was  well 
acquainted,  procured  in  one  season  more  than  fifty  specimens  by  placing 
a  net  across  the  bottom  of  the  clough,  and,  commencing  to  beat  the 
bushes  from  above,  drove  every  bird  into  the  net." 

In  spite  of  the  persecution  accorded  to  this  lovely  denizen 
of  our  river  banks,  whose  brilliant  plumage  attracts  the 
cupidity  of  collectors,  the  Kingfisher  is  still  found  on  nearly 
every  suitable  stream  in  the  county,  and  from  most  districts 
it  is  reported  as  either  breeding,  or  being  met  with  in  winter, 
with  more  or  less  frequency.  Owing  to  its  conservative 
habits  it  is  nowhere  abundant  during  the  nesting  season, 
as  each  pair  reserve  a  portion  of  their  favourite  stream  or 
rivulet  to  themselves,  and  when  the  young  are  fully  grown 
they  are  forthwith  banished  to  seek  fresh  quarters,  con- 
sequently the  species  is  much  less  local  in  the  non-breeding 
season,  and  at  this  period  is  frequently  reported  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  large  towns — usually  forming  the 
subject  of  an  obituary  notice  in  the  local  press. 

In  regard  to  the  West  Riding  it  is  gratifying  to  be  able 
to  state  that,  in  the  Lower  Wharfe  and  Nidd  Valleys,  the  bird 
is  not  uncommon,  and  is  probably  increasing  and  more 
abundant  than  in  most  parts  of  the  Shire.  Fairly  common 
about  Wilsden  and  Bingley  in  the  Aire  Valley,  Skelmanthorpe, 
and  in  the  valley  of  the  Hodder,  it  also  breeds  in  favourable 
places  near  Sheffield,  Wakefield,  Ackworth,  Fewston,  Bashall, 
Malham,  Langstrothdale,  and  along  the  Ribble ;  in  the 
vicinity  of  Liversedge,  Huddersfield,  Newsome,  Leeds,  and 
Eavestone  it  is  only  rarely  met  with,  and  has  decreased  in 
numbers  of  late  years.  Coming  to  the  North  Riding,  the 
Kingfisher  breeds  regularly  along  the  banks  of  the  Ouse 
and  its  affluents  in  the  neighbourhood  of  York,  while  in  winter 
no  fewer  than  sixteen  have  been  reported  in  one  season  from 


280  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

a  small  stream  within  two  miles  of  the  city,  no  more  than  two 
birds  being  observed  at  any  one  time.  Near  Thirsk  and 
Northallerton  it  breeds  occasionally,  while  near  Bedale  it 
is  not  uncommon.  In  Cleveland  it  is  found  from  Whitby 
almost  to  the  source  of  the  Esk,  and  in  the  flat  plain  from 
the  foot  of  the  Cleveland  Hills  to  the  coast  line  it  breeds  on 
every  suitable  beck,  though  not  commonly.  About  Loftus  and 
Staithes  it  nests  sparingly,  and  in  winter  it  has  been  observed 
in  severe  weather  amongst  the  boulders  strewn  at  the  foot 
of  the  sea  cliffs.  Along  the  banks  of  the  Tees  it  is  found 
breeding  up  to  Middleton-in-Teesdale  and  as  far  as  High 
Force,  while  in  Swaledale  it  is  reported  as  a  scarce  resident 
from  the  extremity  of  the  valley  at  Keld.  In  the  East  Riding, 
during  the  breeding  season,  a  pair  may  be  found  on  almost 
every  stream  and  brooklet,  which  affords  food  enough  and 
where  the  banks  are  sufficiently  high  for  nesting  purposes ; 
it  occasionally  nests  in  a  Sand  Martin's  hole  in  steep  banks 
bordering  a  stream. 

There  is  in  autumn  a  considerable  accession  to  the  numbers 
of  our  resident  birds,  chiefly  observable  in  August,  September, 
and  October  in  the  coast  districts  ;  this  was  particularly 
apparent  in  1863-4,  ^69,  1873,  1884,  1890,  and  1894  ;  the 
earliest  date  for  an  over-sea  migrant  is  4th  July  1905,  when 
one  was  observed,  about  two  miles  off  Redcar,  coming  from 
the  north-east  and  making  direct  for  the  land.  At  the 
Teesmouth  odd  birds  annually  appear  near  the  tidal  pools, 
on  the  marsh  "  stells,"  and  along  the  sea-walls,  from  July  to 
the  following  March,  in  which  month  the  return  migration 
takes  place. 

Broadly  speaking,  the  breeding  season  lasts  from  April, 
or  even  earlier,  until  August,  and  as  an  instance  of  an  early 
brood  may  be  mentioned  a  nest  with  half  grown  young  on  5th 
May  1897,  near  the  Albert  Park,  Middlesbrough ;  while  in 
the  other  extreme  eggs  were  found  near  Keighly  as  late  as 
August.  This  bird  is  very  partial  to  its  nesting  quarters, 
and  the  late  Alfred  Roberts  of  Scarborough  had  three  clutches 
of  eggs  from  one  nest  in  the  bank  of  Scalby  Beck,  in  the  same 
season,  1860  ;  the  first  containing  six  eggs  in  May,  the  second, 


:$: 
•'% 


M 

i 

iS 


iT 

I: 


ROLLER.  281 

also  numbering  six,  in  early  June,  and  the  last,  consisting  of 
five  eggs,  in  the  following  July.  In  the  severe  winter  of 
1878-79  a  Kingfisher  was  found  frozen  to  death  at  Wilstrop, 
on  the  iron  frame  of  a  sluice,  its  feet  fixed  and  body  leaning 
forward  in  the  act  of  taking  flight. 

The  folk-lore  connected  with  this  species  is  not  very 
voluminous,  the  only  item  known  to  me  being  that  the  dales- 
folk  in  some  remote  districts  of  Cleveland  consider  it  to  be 
unlucky  to  see  a  flight  of  three  Kingfishers  ;  a  sight,  however, 
which  is  probably  rarely  witnessed. 

The  only  vernacular  name,  other  than  its  ordinary  appella- 
tion, is  Fisher,  a  term  used  in  the  West  Riding. 


ROLLER, 
Coracias  garrulus  (L.). 


Casual  visitant,  of  uncommon  occurrence  in  summer. 

The  first  mention  of  this  species  occurs  in  R.  Leyland's 
list  of  1828,  whose  remarks  are  also  included  in  Allis's  Report, 
as  fellows  : — 

Coracias  garrulus. — Roller — R.  Leyland  informs  me  that  a  specimen 
shot  in  Fixby  Park  near  Huddersneld,  in  1824,  is  still  in  the  possession 
of  a  gentleman  at  Littleborough  ;  Hugh  Reid  reports  one  killed  at 
Hatfield,  which  went  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Joseph  Cook  of  Rother- 
ham.  F.  O.  Morris  mentions  the  Hatfield  specimen,  and  says  that  one 
was  shot  near  Halifax  about  the  same  time,  and  one  near  Scarborough 
in  1832,  now  in  the  Museum  there. 

The  wanderings  of  this  brightly  plumaged  bird  before 
reaching  this  country  are  many  and  devious.  It  migrates 
northward  in  spring,  and,  crossing  the  Mediterranean  Sea, 
occasionally  finds  its  way  to  the  British  Isles.  It  has  been 
recorded  in  Yorkshire  on  eighteen  different  occasions,  the 
particulars  being  as  follows  : — 

The  first  is  that  mentioned  by  Leyland,  and  quoted  above. 

At  Seamer,  near  Scarborough,  one,  killed  in  1832,   was 


282  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

purchased  for  the  Scarborough  Museum  (P.  Hawkridge,  in 
Neville  Wood's  Nat.  1838). 

Another  specimen,  obtained  at  Scarborough  in  1833,  is 
referred  to  in  the  P.Z.5.  of  that  year. 

Mr.  E.  R.  Turton,  writing  under  date  of  6th  March  1903, 
informs  me  that  an  example  of  this  species,  in  his  museum  at 
Upsall  Castle,  was  procured  near  Whitby  in  1839,  and  is 
probably  the  bird  referred  to  in  Ord's  "  History  of  Cleveland," 
"  Shot  near  Kildale,  by  John  Bell,  Esq.,  M.P.  In  the  collection 
at  Kildale  Hall."  There  is  no  collection  at  Kildale  now, 
the  late  Capt.  Turton  having  removed  it  to  Upsall. 

In  Dr.  Lankester's  "  Askern,"  p.  70,  two  Rollers  are  men- 
tioned as  being  obtained  in  1842.  The  next  instance  is 
that  of  an  example  which  flew  on  board  the  Hamburgh  steamer 
in  May  1843,  when  forty  miles  off  Flamborough  Head  (Denny, 
Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.). 

At  Hatfield  one  was  obtained  about  1844  (Allis),  and  about 
the  same  time  Morris  recorded  one  at  Halifax  ("  British  Birds  "). 

In  July  1847,  a  pair  was  seen  in  a  plantation  called 
"  Forty  Pence "  near  Skelton-in-Cleveland,  now  belonging 
to  Mr.  W.  H.  Wharton,  M.F.H.  One  of  these  was  afterwards 
killed,  and  proved  to  be  a  female  with  eggs  (Zool.  1848,  p.  1968). 
This  bird  was  eventually  acquired  by  the  late  J.  Hancock 
(see  "  Birds  of  Northd.  and  Dm."  p.  28). 

At  Whitby  a  specimen  was  obtained  in  1852  ;  and  in  1868 
Mr.  H.  Machen  of  Bridlington  shot  one,  but  it  was  not  found  at 
the  time,  and,  when  picked  up,  was  decomposed  (Machen  MS.). 

Mr.  T.  Boynton  of  Bridlington  has  a  specimen,  formerly 
in  the  collection  of  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton  of  Beverley. 

Mr.  E.  P.  Butterfield  possesses  an  example  from  near 
Bingley,  in  July  1872  (Zool.  1875,  p.  4623). 

At  Grosmont  one  was  taken  by  Mr.  R.  Hay,  on  "  the 
Haggs,"  in  June  1874  (Turton  MS.). 

Near  Richmond  a  specimen  was  reported  at  Marske  Hall, 
"  a  few  years  ago  "  (Wade  Dalton  MS.,  1880). 

At  Boltby,  near  Thirsk,  one,  obtained  on  5th  June  1880, 
was  preserved  by  Mr.  R.  Lee.  Its  last  meal  consisted  of  a 
mouse,  swallowed  whole,  and  several  beetles  (Lee  MS.). 


BEE-EATER.  283 

The  late  H.  T.  Archer  reported  seeing  a  Roller  on  the 
banks  of  the  Wharf e,  near  Ilkley,  at  the  end  of  July  1881 
(Field,  6th  August  1881,  and  MS.). 

And  lastly,  an  immature  female,  brought  from  Acklam-in- 
Cleveland  on  2ist  September  1901,  was  preserved  by  Mr. 
Geo.  Mussell  of  Middlesbrough,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for 
the  information,  and  for  an  opportunity  of  examining  the 
specimen. 


BEE-EATER. 
Merops  apiaster  (Z.). 


Accidental  visitant  from  Southern  Europe  and  Northern  Africa, 
of  very  rare  occurrence. 

This  beautiful  and  rare  visitant  migrates  northward  in 
spring,  from  its  winter  home  in  North  Western  India  and 
Africa,  to  the  European  Continent,  whence  a  few  stragglers 
have  found  their  way  to  our  country.  In  Yorkshire  it  is 
an  accidental  visitant,  and  has  been  met  with  on  five  occasions 
only : — 

The  first  of  these  was  at  Sheffield  about  1849  (Morris, 
"  British  Birds,"  Vol.  I.  p.  313). 

Mr.  T.  Stephenson  of  Whitby  states  (MS.  1880),  "  Wm. 
Lister  of  Glaisdale  says,  several  years  ago  a  stuffed  one  was 
in  possession  of  the  late  Wm.  Keld  Agar  in  Fryup." 

Near  Beverley  a  male  was  captured  on  5th  June  1880. 
Though  in  full  plumage,  it  was  in  very  poor  condition,  and 
it  would  seem  that  either  the  very  cold  weather,  or  its  passage, 
had  been  too  much  for  it  (F.  Boyes,  Field  t  3rd  July  1880). 

On  gth  June  1880,  the  late  R.  Richardson,  bird  stuffer, 
Beverley,  received  a  splendid  male  specimen  from  Filey, 
said  to  have  been  caught  alive  in  an  exhausted  state  (Richard- 
son MS.). 

And  for  an  account  of  the  most  recent  occurrence  I  am 
indebted  to  Mr.  G.  W.  Murdoch  of  Bentham,  who,  in  a  letter 


284  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

dated  I3th  September  1905,  kindly  supplies  the  following 
particulars  : — 

"  On  the  Qth  inst.  Mr.  James  Wilcock  of  Asperlands,  High 
Bentham,  informed  me  that  he  had  been  watching  three 
small  and  very  beautiful  birds,  which  were  quite  new  to 
him,  and  that  they  were  very  busy  eating  his  bees.  He 
described  how  one  of  the  birds  would  take  up  its  stand  just 
at  the  mouth  of  the  skep,  and  with  its  hard  bill  stab  a  bee 
as  it  emerged,  and  promptly  swallow  it.  He  saw  one  bird 
take  eight  bees  in  that  way,  and  at  least  other  two  birds 
of  a  precisely  similar  build  and  colouration  had  been  seen 
working  in  co-operation.  Finally,  he  managed  to  secure 
one,  caught  in  the  very  act  of  seizing  and  swallowing  bees. 
That  he  brought  to  me,  and  it  proved  to  be  a  male  Bee- 
eater." 

The  late  date  of  the  Bentham  record,  gth  September, 
and  the  statement  that  three  of  these  birds  had  been  seen 
working  together,  are  very  interesting  facts. 

[The  only  European  example  on  record  of  the  BLUE-TAILED 
BEE-EATER  (Merops  phillipensis,  L.)t  which  is  an  inhabitant 
of  India,  Burmah,  and  the  Islands  of  the  East,  is  the  one 
mentioned  by  the  late  John  Hancock  ("  Birds  of  Northd. 
and  Dm."  1874,  p.  28),  as  having  occurred  in  August  1862, 
near  Seaton  Snook,  a  place  on  the  Durham  side  of  the  Tees- 
mouth,  by  Thomas  Hann  of  Byers  Green.  This  passed 
into  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  T.  M.  Hick  of  Newburn. 
Whatever  may  be  the  facts  relating  to  this  episode,  the 
occurrence  is  quite  inexplicable.  The  locality  where  the  bird 
was  obtained  is,  however,  actually  on  the  Yorkshire  side 
of  the  river,  and  therefore  within  the  scope  of  the  present 
work.  Thomas  Hann  was  well  known  to  me,  and  to  George 
Mussell,  the  Middlesbrough  taxidermist.  He  called  at  Mussell's 
house  in  Middlesbrough  on  the  day  on  which  the  bird  was 
killed  and  detailed  to  him  how  he  had  been  to  the  "  Branch 
End,"  where  he  was  sitting  on  a  slag  ball  when  the  bird 
alighted  near  him  and  was  shot.  He  subsequently  told  Mussell 
that  he  came  by  train  from  Eston,  and  that  he  was  offered 


HOOPOE.  285 

twelve  shillings  and  sixpence  for  the  specimen  when  he  arrived 
at  Middlesbrough  station. 

The  mention  of  the  slag  proves  the  shooting  to  have  been 
on  the  Yorkshire  side,  as  that  on  the  north  side  of  the  river 
is  tipped  from  Messrs.  Bell  Bros/  Clarence  Works,  and  I 
learn  from  Sir  Hugh  Bell  that  the  tipping  did  not  commence 
(except  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  works)  until  1872 
or  1873,  and  there  was  no  slag  at  all  at  Seat  on  Snook  until 
well  on  into  the  "  seventies."  The  "  Branch  End  "  is  on  the 
Yorkshire  side,  near  Bolckow,  Vaughan  &  Co.'s  works,  where 
tipping  was  in  progress  before  1862.] 


HOOPOE. 

Upupa  epops  (Z.). 


Casual  visitant  from  Africa,  of  uncommon  occurrence  in  spring 
.-  nd  autumn,  chiefly  on  the  coast. 

The  earliest  mention  of  the  Hoopoe  in  Yorkshire  was  made 
by  Marmaduke  Tunstall,  thus  : — 

"  Many  Hoopoes  were  seen  in  Yorkshire  ....  in  the 
end  of  last  summer  ;  one  was  sent  me,  shot  within  a  few  miles 
of  this  place  (Wycliffe-on-Tees)  in  September ;  another, 
about  the  same  time,  from  Holderness,  where  many  were 
seen/'  (Tunst.  MS.  1784,  p.  61.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Upupa  epops. — Hoopoe — F.  O.  Morris,  in  his  Catalogue  of  Yorkshire 
Birds,  says  three  have  been  killed  near  Doncaster,  and  one  seen  in 
1836  in  Sir  W.  Cooke's  woods;  also  at  Coatham,  near  Redcar,  and 
near  Scarborough. — Hugh  Reid  of  Doncaster  says  one  was  killed 
at  Armthorpe  by  Capt.  Wilkinson,  probably  one  of  the  before  mentioned, 
and  another  at  Pontefract  by  Mr.  Hepworth  ;  H.  Denny  reports  one 
was  shot  by  the  Honble.  Edwin  Lascelles,  8th  October  1830,  at  Eccup, 
a  young  specimen  from  a  field  of  potatoes,  and  that  another  occurred 
at  Low  Moor.  R.  Leyland  mentions  one  shot  on  Skircoat  Moor,  3rd 
September  1840.  Dr.  Farrar  says  this  bird  is  certainly  one  of  our 
rarest  visitants  ;  I  was  informed  by  a  friend,  now  deceased,  that  the 
keepers  of  Henry  Wheat,  Esq.,  of  Norwood,  near  Sheffield,  had  seen 


286  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

a  pair  in  1832,  but  did  not  obtain  them  ;  my  register  of  this  bird  informs 
me  a  specimen  was  killed  at  the  Low  Moor  Iron  Works  near  Bradford 
(before  referred  to),  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  a  gentleman  at 
Leeds.  Another  was  killed  at  Skircoat  Moor,  near  Halifax,  in  1840 
(also  before  referred  to),  and  I  know  another  killed  at  Ecclesfield 
[Eccleshill  (?)]  near  Bradford,  by  Mr.  H.  Greaves,  pth  April  1840, 
the  last  a  female  specimen.  Arthur  Strickland  says  he  has  known 
several  instances  of  this  bird  being  killed  in  the  east  part  of  this  county  ; 
of  those  two  are  in  his  collection,  and  there  are  others  preserved  in  that 
neighbourhood  ;  one  was  taken  while  alighting  on  a  boat  in  the  Bay 
(Bridlington  Bay)  ;  he  has  no  doubt  this  bird  would  breed  in  this 
county,  but  it  is  too  conspicuous  and  attractive  to  escape  persecution 
on  arriving  here. 

This  illustrious  stranger  is  an  inhabitant  of  Asia  and 
northern  Africa,  migrating  from  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean 
into  Continental  Europe,  and  wandering  thence  to  this  country. 
It  has  occurred  in  Yorkshire  as  a  casual  visitant  in  spring 
and  autumn,  the  earliest  records  dating  back  to  1783.  From 
that  period  down  to  the  present  day  it  has  appeared  at 
irregular  intervals,  generally  singly,  and  chiefly  on  the  coast ; 
one  was  mentioned  by  Allis  as  being  taken  on  board  a  boat 
in  Bridlington  Bay,  though  numerous  instances  might  be 
cited  of  its  appearance  in  almost  every  district  of  the  county. 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  stated,  in  his  "  Birds  of  the  Humber 
District,'1  1899,  p.  16,  that  fifty  years  ago  it  was  known 
to  have  occurred  annually  at  Flamborough  in  spring. 

On  two  occasions  it  would  appear  that  a  small  flight  had 
arrived  on  our  shores,  viz.  in  1783  (Tunst.  MS.)  and,  in  1836, 
when  a  flock  was  noticed  at  Saltburn,  and  several  were 
obtained,  two  of  which  are  in  the  Upsall  collection  (Turton 
MS.). 

The  total  number  of  occurrences  as  chronicled,  or  otherwise 
brought  to  my  notice,  amount  to  fifty-eight,  representing, 
as  nearly  as  can  be  estimated  at  this  lapse  of  time,  at  least 
seventy  individuals  ;  too  great  a  number  to  particularise.* 

*  In' >the  Zoologist  (1850,  p.  2768),  J.  Gray  recorded  "a  consider- 
able number  of  Hoopoes,  during  a  winter  storm  at  the  Teesmouth, 
several  being  shot."  This  is,  doubtless,  a  mistake,  for  in  all  probability 
the  birds  were  Hoopers  (Whoopers)  or  Wild  Swans  ;  much  more  likely 
visitants,  than  Hoopoes,  to  the  Teesmouth,  during  a  winter  storm. 


Young  Cackoo  in  nest  of  Pied  Wagtail,  Sutton-on-Forest,  York. 

H.  Lazenby, 
See  page  289. 


CUCKOO.  287 

Mr.  W.  H.  St.  Quint  in  informs  me  (in  litt.)  that,  on  nth 
January  1896,  he  watched  for  some  time  a  Hoopoe  which 
had  been  a  week  or  more  on  a  farm  of  the  East  Riding  Wolds. 
It  was  very  tame  and  uttered  a  harsh  churring  call  note, 
at  the  same  time  raising  and  depressing  its  crest. 


CUCKOO. 

Cuculus  canoriis  (Z.). 

Summer  visitant,  generally  distributed,  common.  Arrives  about 
the  third  week  in  April,  departing  in  August,  young  birds  occasionally 
lingering  to  the  end  of  September  or  even  into  October. 


The  earliest  published  reference  to  the  Cuckoo,  in  connec- 
tion with  Yorkshire  history,  is  contained  in  a  communication 
from  Ralph  Johnson  of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge,  to 
John  Ray  : — 

"  The  Cuckoo,  Cuculus.  Who  because  he  preys  only  upon 
the  eggs  of  birds  (and  is  therefore  pursued,  not  attended, 
as  is  said,  by  the  Moor  Titling)  or  their  young  ones  in  the  nest, 
hath  small  and  weaker  Beak  and  Talons,  and  therefore  dis- 
appears in  winter,  when  such  food  is  not  to  be  had.  I  have 
known  one  kept  with  all  imaginable  care,  but  (whether  through 
alteration  of  food,  or  some  other  cause)  before  Winter  she  grew 
torpid,  broke  out  in  scabs,  and  died.  The  young  one  is 
curiously  spotted.  I  have  seen  one  in  Harvest  partly  spotted, 
partly  cinerous."  (Will.  "  Orn."  1683,  p.  22.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Cuculus  canorus. — Cuckoo — Common  in  most  parts  though  I  think 
less  so  near  York  than  was  formerly  the  case  ;  Dr.  Farrar  says  in  1 843 
most  abundant,  but  this  season,  1844,  little  heard,  probably  from  the 
unusually  long  continued  spring  rendering  its  food  less  abundant ;  W. 
Eddison  observes  that  it  breeds  very  numerously  on  the  moors  near 
Huddersfield  chiefly  in  the  nest  of  Titlarks  ;  its  stomach  often  con- 
tains very  curious  specimens  of  very  minute  land  shells.  The  instance 
before  recorded,  of  a  young  Cuckoo  being  brought  up  in  the  nest  of 
a  Reed  Warbler,  in  the  possession  of  Arthur  Strickland,  adds  a  new 


288  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Foster  Mother  to  the  long  list  before  recorded.  In  the  Museum  of  the 
Yorkshire  Philosophical  Society  there  is  the  egg  of  a  Cuckoo  appended 
to  the  skeleton  of  the  bird  from  which  it  was  extracted  after  death. 
(See  Reed  Warbler.) 

So  long  ago  as  1784  that  accomplished  Yorkshire  ornith- 
ologist, Marmaduke  Tunstall  of  Wycliffe-on-Tees,  writing 
of  this  generally  distributed  and  common  summer  visitant, 
which  shares  with  the  Swallow  the  title  of  "  harbinger  of 
spring,"  informed  the  naturalists  of  his  day  that  its  arrival 
in  the  county  may  be  expected  about  the  second  or  third 
week  of  April.  True  it  is  that  earlier  dates  are  recorded, 
one  of  these  being  the  4th  April  1904,  when  Mr.  S.  Elley, 
who  is  perfectly  familiar  with  the  bird,  saw  one,  within  a 
few  yards'  distance,  near  Saltburn  ;  and  on  the  same  date 
Mr.  E.  B.  Emerson  distinctly  saw  one  on  the  road,  while  driving 
between  Swainby  and  Deighton  ;  the  earliest  arrival  I  have 
had  ocular  proof  of  was  on  8th  April  1881,  at  Kirby-in- 
Cleveland ;  but,  generally  speaking,  what  was  correct  in 
Tuns  tail's  time  is  equally  so  at  the  present  day  ;  the  Yorkshire 
saying  goes  "  In  April  come  he  will,"  and  though  March 
Cuckoos  are  reported  from  time  to  time,  I  am  somewhat 
sceptical  as  to  their  authenticity. 

As  a  common  and  generally  distributed  species,  the  Cuckoo 
requires  little  notice ;  it  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the  county 
from  the  sea-coast  up  to  the  high  reaches  of  the  dales,  where 
it  is  met  with  at  1500  feet  elevation. 

Yorkshiremen  say  in  regard  to  its  departure,  "  In  August 
go  he  must "  ;  this  saying  also  holds  good,  for  the  majority 
leave  in  that  month  ;  a  few  remain  until  September,  and  late 
lingerers  even  into  October ;  the  latest  date  at  Spurn  is  the 
24th  of  the  latter  month,  1883,  though  a  record  is  communi- 
cated (in  litt.)  by  Mr.  R.  Butterfield,  of  an  example  being  killed 
on  5th  November  1902,  at  Horton,  near  Bradford. 

The  information  collected  by  the  British  Association  Migra- 
tion Committee  shews  that,  on  the  vernal  and  autumnal 
passages,  it  is  frequently  recorded  at  the  Light  stations  on 
the  coast,  and  is  sometimes  captured  at  the  lanterns  of  our 
sea  beacons.  I  have,  on  more  than  one  occasion  in  spring, 


I 


CUCKOO.  289 

noticed  an  influx  of  these  birds,  which  haunted  the  sandhills 
for  a  day  or  two  and  then  dispersed  inland  ;  and  they  have 
been  observed  assembling  at  Flamborough  in  autumn  prior 
to  departure.  The  most  important  references  to  the  autumn 
migration  are  : — 

"  1844.    28th    August.      Fifteen    observed,     apparently 
migrating  "  (Zool.  1845,  p.  821). 

"  1881.     Many  passed  Spurn  last  fortnight  in  September  " 
(Third  Migration  Report). 

"  1893.     June    25-26th.    Twenty    seen    near    Kilnsea " 
(Cordeaux  MS.). 

The  method  by  which  the  young  Cuckoo  ejects  the  young 
of  its  fosterers  has  been  observed  by  Mr.  Harper  of  Scar- 
borough (Zool.  1886,  p.  245),  and  if  proof  were  required  of  the 
old  Cuckoo  "  sucking  little  birds'  eggs  to  make  her  voice 
clear,"  a  Yorkshire  instance  may  be  quoted  from  Goathland, 
where,  in  June  1901,  a  female  bird  was  observed  hunting  the 
moor  near  a  Titlark's  nest  containing  one  egg ;  a  watch  was 
kept  on  its  movements  ;  it  was  seen  to  hover  in  the  vicinity 
for  some  time,  to  alight  near  the  nest,  and  then  fly  away 
carrying  some  small  object  in  its  bill ;  on  inspection  of  the 
nest  a  different  egg  to  what  it  had  contained  was  found, 
and  a  search  near  a  hedge  where  the  Cuckoo  had  flown  revealed 
the  broken  pieces  of  shell  of  the  Titlark's  egg.  The  Cuckoo 
had  carried  off  the  Titlark's  and  substituted  its  own  egg. 
The  late  J.  Tennant  of  Boston  Spa  mentioned  that  he  once 
saw  a  female  Cuckoo  killed,  which  had  in  its  bill  its  own 
broken  egg  that  it  was  apparently  going  to  place  in  a  Hedge 
Sparrow's  nest  near.  A  curious  depository  for  a  Cuckoo's 
egg  was  in  a  Wagtail's  nest,  built  in  a  waggon  of  coals  standing 
at  York  station,  when  the  coal  trade  was  greatly  depressed. 
The  egg  was  hatched  and  the  young  bird  reared  (York 
Herald,  I2th  July  1876).  Amongst  the  fosterer-Cuckoos 
found  in  Yorkshire  are  : — Meadow  Pipit,  Tree  Pipit,  Rock 
Pipit,  Redstart,  Whinchat,  Whitethroat,  Garden  Warbler, 
Sedge  Warbler,  Reed  Warbler  (Allis),  Hedge  Accentor,  Pied 
Wagtail,  Yellow  Wagtail,  Yellow  Bunting,  Reed  Bunting, 
Greenfinch,  Twite  (H.  B.  Booth  MS.),  Redbreast,  Skylark,  Song 
VOL.  i.  u 


290  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Thrush  (Eds.  Nat.  1876),  Swallow  (young  Cuckoo  reared  at 
Harswell  Rectory,  Field,  nth  August  1894),  and  Ring  Ouzel 
(Butterfield  MS.).  The  proportion  of  the  fosterers  in  Wilsden 
district  is  estimated  to  be  : — 

Meadow  Pipit 80  per  cent. 

Whinchat         5       ,, 

Various 15 

and  occasionally  two  Cuckoo's  eggs  are  laid  in  one  nest. 
Tunstall,  in  1784,  observed  that  he  had  kept  Cuckoos  in 
confinement,  but  they  always  died  with  the  advent  of  frost. 
Mr.  T.  Whitwell,  keeper,  of  Scugdale-in-Cleveland,  informed 
me,  in  July  1901,  that  he  had  just  seen  a  young  Cuckoo  sitting 
on  a  wall  behind  his  house,  which  is  on  the  edge  of  the  moor, 
and  an  old  Cuckoo  came  to  feed  it  several  times  while  it  was 
under  observation.  On  Strensall  Common  in  the  spring  of 
1894  one  was  heard  calling  on  the  wing,  and  uttering  a  chuckling 
sound  as  well  as  the  ordinary  note.  An  instance  of  a  female 
Cuckoo  shot  whilst  calling  on  the  wing  is  recounted  by  Mr. 
Butterfield,  thus  proving  that  it  is  not  only  the  male  which 
utters  its  note  while  flying  (Zool.  1899,  p.  322). 

Yorkshire  folk-lore  connected  with  this  favourite  bird 
indicates  the  interest  manifested  by  the  country  folk,  many 
of  whom  aver  that  it  changes  into  a  hawk  in  winter.  The 
rhyme  respecting  its  arrival  and  departure  runs  : — 

"  In  April  come  it  will, 
In  May  it  sings  all  day, 
In  June  it  changes  its  tune, 
In  July  it  begins  to  fly. 
In  August  go  it  must." 

And  in  Craven  district  the  proverb  is  : — 

"  In  the  month  of  Averil 
The  Gowk  comes  over  the  hill 
In  a  shower  of  rain." 

An  almost  universal  belief  prevails  that,  if  a  person  has 
money  in  his  pocket  on  first  hearing  the  Cuckoo,  he  will  never 
be  in  want  of  it  throughout  the  year,  but  to  be  without  money 
when  he  first  hears  the  bird  is  unlucky.  "  When  ya  heer  t' 
Cuckoo  shoot,  Torn  yer  money  reet  aboot."  To  send  a  person 


CUCKOO.  291 

on  a  fruitless  errand  on  the  ist  of  April,  is  called  a  "  Gowk's 
errand."  Sometimes  the  one  sent  is  the  bearer  of  a  missive 
containing  the  following  distich  : — 

"  The  first  and  second  day  of  Averil 
Hound  (hunt)  the  Gowk  another  mile." 

The  reply  of  persons  too  experienced  to  be  thus  deceived  is  : 

"  April  Gowks  are  past  and  gone. 
You're  a  fool  and  I  am  none." 

Another  rhyme  anent  the  bird's  habits,  which  may  serve 
as  answer  to  queries  sometimes  asked  in  newspapers,  is  as 
follows  : — 

"  The  Cuckoo  is  a  bonny  bird, 

She  sings  as  she  flies, 
She  brings  us  good  tidings, 

And  tells  us  no  lies  ; 
She  sucks  little  birds'  eggs, 
To  make  her  voice  clear, 
And  always  sings  '  Cuckoo  ' 
In  the  spring  of  the  year." 

Its  frequent  calling  is  said  to  prognosticate  rain,  and 
as  its  notes  are  less  distinct  before  it  migrates,  the  local  saying 
runs  :  "  Cuckoo'll  seean  be  gannin  ;  she  chatters  rarely." 

A  saying  in  the  Yorkshire  dales,  '  As  scabbed  as  a  Cuckoo," 
is  in  allusion  to  the  great  amount  of  scurf  which  comes  from 
the  young  ;  and,  in  conclusion,  I  may  refer  to  the  tales  told 
of  the  inhabitants  of  various  villages,  viz.,  Austwick,  Cowling- 
in-Craven,  Marsden  near  Huddersfield,  Stanbury  near  Heworth, 
Slaithwaite,  and  others,  who  are  the  laughing  stock  of  their 
neighbours  because  they  attempted  to  "  wall  in  the  Cuckoo," 
under  the  supposition  that,  if  they  could  keep  it,  they  would 
be  favoured  with  spring  and  summer  weather  all  the  year 
round. 

This  species  is  not  subject  to  great  variation  in  plumage, 
though  Marmaduke  Tunstall  recorded  one  "  with  much  white 
about  the  head  and  neck  "  (Tunst.  MS.  1784,  p.  59).  In  July 
1903  I  repeatedly  saw  one,  with  a  considerable  amount  of 
white  on  the  head,  which  visited  a  garden  in  Redcar,  and 
came  within  a  few  feet  of  the  onlookers.  A  specimen  with 


292  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

white  wings  and  tail  was  noted  near  Ripponden  in  1784, 
and  one  of  a  general  dark  cream  colour,  with  distinct  markings 
of  a  darker  shade  on  the  back,  was  in  the  collection  of  Hugh 
Reid  of  Doncaster. 

The  only  vernacular  name  in  use  is  Gowk  or  Gawk,  which 
is  applied  generally  in  country  districts. 

Blue  Pen  is  a  term  given  to  the  young  birds  when  first 
fledged. 


BARN    OWL. 
Strix  flammea  (/>.). 


Resident,   generally  distributed,   fairly  common  ;    most  numerous 
in  the  south  of  the  county. 


Historically,  the  oldest  reference  to  this  species  is  in 
Willughby's  "Ornithology"  (1678,  p.  21),  thus:— "This  Mr. 
Johnson  [of  Brignall,  near  Greta  Bridge],  calls  the  Church  Owl." 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Strix  flammea. — Barn  Owl — Becoming  scarce  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Halifax,  Huddersfield,  and  Hebclen  Bridge,  where  factories  and 
tall  chimnies  have  driven  them  from  their  former  haunts.  It  is  plenti- 
fully met  with  in  other  parts  of  the  county. 

This,  the  most  generally  distributed  of  the  Owls  in  York- 
shire, whilst  found  in  a  lesser  or  greater  degree  of  abundance 
in  all  districts,  appears  to  be  more  numerous  in  the  southern 
portion  of  the  county  than  elsewhere  ;  it  is  rare  in  the  high 
reaches  of  the  western  and  north-western  dales,  and  apparently 
these  districts  are  not  suitable  to  its  requirements.  Several 
pairs  were  turned  out  in  the  Hodder  Valley  a  few  years  ago  ; 
they  bred,  but  soon  disappeared  and  have  not  been  seen  since  ; 
near  Eavestone  this  bird  breeds  in  rocky  cliffs.  In  Wensley- 
dale,  and  in  some. other  localities,  the  decrease  of  this  useful 
and  interesting  bird  is  to  be  deplored,  though  it  is  a  pleasure 
to  state  that  numerous  correspondents  allude  to  its  receiving 
protection  from  the  farmers  ;  and  now  that  this  class  of 
the  community  has  learned  to  appreciate  the  services  rendered 
by  this  bird,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  before  many  more  years 


BARN  OWL. 


293 


the  game  preserver  may  be  as  fully  alive  to  the  equally  valuable 
services  of  the  woodland  species.* 

Though  not  the  most  numerous,  this  is  the  best  known 
of  all  the  Owls,  probably  from  the  fact  of  its  taking  up  its 
abode  in  close  proximity  to  the  haunts  of  man  and  frequenting 
the  towers  of  churches,  whence  it  has  acquired  a  kind  of 
ghostly  fame. 

The  Barn  Owl  is  occasionally  observed  as  an  immigrant 
on  the  coast  in  autumn  from  the  Continent,  but  in  limited 
numbers.  It  has  been  noticed  at  sea  and  several  were 
seen,  and  two  taken  alive,  tired  out,  at  Easington,  on  iyth 
October  1891  ;  whilst  in  the  Migration  Reports  there 
are  entries  recording  its  appearance  at  east  coast  Light 
stations.  I  have  noted  its  occurrence  at  Flamborough  and 
Redcar  in  October  and  November,  and  in  the  latter  month, 
in  1902,  one  was  captured  alive  in  a  house  on  the  sea-front, 
which  it  had  entered  during  the  night.  These  migrants  are 
usually  of  a  much  darker  and  redder  plumage  than  our 
resident  birds,  and  similar  to  the  description  given  of  Con- 
tinental examples.  In  the  collection  of  the  late  Edward 
Tindall  of  Knapton  Hall  is  a  fine  variety  obtained  at  Hackness, 
near  Scarborough,  in  December  1876.  This  specimen  has  the 
back  and  wings  of  a  rich  chestnut-brown,  the  wings  shaded 
with  mouse  colour,  the  usual  black  spots  being  absent ;  the 
facial  disks  a  light  buff  radiated  with  chestnut ;  the  breast 


*  No  apology  is  needed  for  introducing  the  following  analysis  of 
the  castings  of  our  three  most  abundant  species,  given  at  p.  148  of 
Newton's  Yarrell.  Such  evidence  cannot  be  too  widely  disseminated 
or  too  well  known. 


REMAINS  FOUND. 

No.  of 

v> 

it—  i 

IT.        '•"     W 

| 

Pellets 

rt 

to 

"rt 

8 

| 

£ 

II 

IS 

examined. 

PQ 

E 

> 

w 

a  p« 

Tawny  Owl  i         210 

6 

42 

296 

33 

48 

18 

48 

Long-eared  Owl. 

25 

6 

35 

2 

Barn  Owl     |         706 

16 

3 

237 

693 

1590 

22 

294  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

light  buff  and  unspotted.  Professor  Newton  (Yarrell's 
"  Birds,"  4th  ed.,  Vol.  I.  p.  198),  speaking  of  a  similar  variety, 
described  by  Mr.  Stevenson,  which  occurred  in  Norfolk, 
considers  it  to  be  of  foreign  origin  and  probably  an  accidental 
visitor  to  this  country,  and  remarks  that  Danish  examples 
in  particular  have  the  facial  disks  of  a  dark  rusty-red  colour. 

Charles  Waterton  induced  the  Barn  Owl  to  nest  in  the 
old  gateway  tower  at  Walton  Hall,  and  in  other  parts  of  his 
park  ;  a  late  brood  was  noticed  in  November  1828,  and  on 
ist  December  1823,  a  half-fledged  young  one  was  in  a  nest 
in  the  old  ruin  on  the  island.  We  have  it  on  the  authority 
of  Waterton  himself  that  this  species  will  occasionally  catch 
fish,  he  having  observed  one  in  the  act  of  taking  perch  from 
the  lake  ("  Essays  on  Nat.  Hist."  pp.  270-277). 

Yorkshire  folk-lore  connected  with  the  Owl  family  embraces 
some  curious  superstitions  formerly  prevalent  in  the  Cleveland 
dales,  though  at  the  present  day  these  ideas  are  almost  for- 
gotten and  exist  only  in  the  memories  of  the  oldest  dalespeople. 
The  concoction  called  "  Owl-broth  "  was  at  one  time  used 
medicinally  in  cases  of  palsy,  but  with  what  effect  it  would  be 
impossible  now  to  say.  A  quaint  belief  was  to  the  effect  that 
11  Should  an  Ullot  hoot  whilst  one  crosses  over  a  bridge,  the 
moon  then  being  at,  or  within  three  days  of,  full,  and  he 
or  she  be  yet  not  half  over  the  bridge,  to  such  it  be  truly  an 
ill  sign.  To  break  the  spell,  let  such  unlatch  their  shoon, 
toss  baith  beyond  the  brig-foot,  so  crossing  over  bare-foot." 
Another  ill-omen  was  "  An  Ullot's  cry  thrice  heard  after 
rush-light,  soon  followed  by  a  '  fire-flaught '  (a  hot  cinder 
flying  out  of  the  fire),  which  dies  before  the  one  nearest  the 
fire  can  cast  their  breath  upon  it,  is  a  sure  sign  beyond  all 
doubt  the  ill  one  shall  die.  If  there  be  no  ill  person  at  that 
time,  then  surely  shall  one  under  that  thack  (thatch)  fall 
suddenly  sick,  beyond  all  saving  help." 

Nuttall  declares  that  nurses  in  the  northern  counties  used 
to  believe  the  Owl  was  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh,  and  sang — 

'  Oh  !     o  o  o     o  o 

I  once  was  a  king's  daughter,  and  sat  at  my  father's  knee. 
But  now  I'm  a  poor  Hoolet,  and  hide  in  a  hollow  tree.' 


Barn  Owl's  nest  in  old  oak  tree. 


.    Fortune. 


See  page  294. 


LONG-EARED  OWL.  295 

A  similar  idea  was  prevalent  at  Charles  Waterton's  home, 
for  in  his  remarks  on  the  Barn  Owl  he  gave  two  stanzas  of 
an  ode  sung  by  the  nursery-maid  in  his  young  days,  as  follows  : 

'  Once  I  was  a  monarch's  daughter, 

And  sat  on  a  lady's  knee  ; 
But  am  now  a  nightly  rover, 

Banish'd  to  the  ivy-tree, 

Crying  hoo,   hoo,  hoo,  hoo,   hoo,  hoo, 
Hoo,  hoo,  hoo,  my  feet  are  cold  ! 

Pity  me,  for  here  you  see  me, 
Persecuted,  poor  and  old.' 

In  Cleveland  it  was  considered  equally  lucky  to  find  a 
dead  Owl,  Hawk,  Raven,  or  Carrion  Crow. 

The  provincial  names  by  which  it  is  known  are  : — Ullot, 
Ullat,  Jenny  Howlet,  Screech  Owl,  White  Hoolet,  White  Owl, 
and  Church  Owl  in  general  use  ;  Yellow  Owl  in  the  western 
Ainsty ;  Screaming  Owl  at  Loftus-in-Cleveland,  and  Hissing 
Owl. 


LONG-EARED  OWL. 

Asio  otus  (Z.). 

Resident,  local,  confined  to  wooded  districts ;  common  where 
found.  An  autumn  migrant  in  limited  numbers. 

Probably  the  earliest  reference  to  this,  as  a  Yorkshire 
species,  is  to  be  found  in  Willughby's  "Ornithology"  (1678, 
pp.  100-101),  where  that  celebrated  ornithologist  stated  that 
"  Francis  Jessop,  Esq.,  sent  it  to  us  out  of  Yorkshire." 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Otus  vulgaris. — Long-eared  Owl — Common  in  most  parts  of  the 
county,  though  reported  to  be  rare  in  the  district  about  Halifax,  and 
now  becoming  scarce  near  Huddersfield.  (W.  Eddison,  Esq.,  Rastrick, 
near  Huddersfield). 

This  species  is  to  be  found  in  suitable  localities,  in  varying 
numbers,  but  is  local,  inasmuch  as  it  occurs  only  in  wooded 
districts.  In  some  parts  of  the  West  Riding  it  appears  to 


296  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

be  slightly  on  the  increase,  and  in  the  East  and  North  Ridings 
it  is  more  numerous  than  the  Tawny  Owl.  As  an  immigrant, 
it  is  observed  annually  on  the  coast  in  the  vicinity  of  Spurn, 
and  at  the  Teesmouth,  but  in  very  limited  numbers,  and 
arrives  there  later  in  the  season  than  its  congener,  the  Short- 
eared  species,  usually  in  the  latter  days  of  November  or  in 
December,  although  I  have  observed  individuals  in  mid- 
October  at  Redcar  ;  it  is  annually  observed  migrating  across 
Heligoland. 

The  late  A.  Roberts  of  Scarborough  reported  the  following 
curious  incident  in  the  nidification  of  this  bird  :  "  Some 
years  ago,  a  friend  of  mine  observed  a  Long-eared  Owl  leave 
an  old  Crow's  nest  and,  on  climbing  the  tree,  found  the  nest 
empty.  Three  days  afterwards  he  again  saw  the  Owl  leave 
the  identical  nest ;  he  again  ascended,  and  found  three  eggs 
just  at  hatching.  The  only  way  in  which  this  can  be  accounted 
for  is  that,  disturbed  in  other  quarters,  the  Owls  must  have 
conveyed  their  eggs  to  this  nest.  Out  of  curiosity,  the  next 
time  I  had  one  of  these  birds  in  the  flesh  for  preservation 
I  found  that  the  mouth  was  quite  capable  of  containing  its  egg." 

This  Owl  is  gregarious  in  winter,  and  sometimes,  when  a 
wood  is  being  beaten  out  for  the  shooters,  several  of  these 
birds  may  be  seen  on  the  wing  together,  flying  out  into  the 
open  in  an  aimless  manner,  and  quite  dazed  by  the  light. 

The  only  local  names  are  Horned  Owl,  which  is  a  general 
term,  and  Long-horned  Ullat. 


SHORT-EARED    OWL. 

Asio  accipitrinus  (Pallas"). 


Winter  visitant ;   fairly  common  in  some  seasons.     Arrives  usually 
in  October  and  November.     Occasionally  nests  in  the  county. 


An  early  allusion,  perhaps  the  first,  to  this  species  is  found 
in  the  Allan  MS.  of  the  Tunstall  or  Wycliffe  Museum,  dated 
about  1791,  where  it  is  described  as  "A  bird  of  passage ; 


;3; 

>*r 


I 


SHORT-EARED  OWL.  297 

visits  us  in  October,  and  retires  early  in  the  spring,  like  the 
Woodcock.  .  .  .  Known  by  the  name  of  Mouse  Hawk  and 
Woodcock  Owl."     (Fox's  "Synopsis,"  p.  54.) 
Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Otus  brachyotus. — Short-eared  Owl — By  no  means  uncommon  in 
the  autumnal  months,  especially  in  cultivated  fields  ;  but  this  species  is 
also  rare  in  the  Halifax  district.  A.  Strickland  says  he  has  several 
times  met  with  this  bird  in  considerable  numbers  when  shooting  among 
turnips  in  autumn,  and  that  a  few  are  shot  every  year  at  that  season  ; 
from  being  met  with  in  autumn,  it  is  called  Woodcock  Owl,  under  the 
idea  that  it  comes  over  with  that  bird,  but,  as  they  are  found  to  breed 
on  the  moors  to  the  north,  and  are  not  observed  as  a  winter  resident, 
he  strongly  suspects  that  the  groups  met  with  in  autumn  are  in  the 
act  of  leaving  us,  and  not  arriving,  as  is  also  observed  with  the  Ring 
Ouzel.* 

The  Short-eared  Owl  is  an  annual  immigrant  from  the 
north,  arriving  on  our  coast  line  from  the  first  week  in  October 
to  the  middle  of  November  in  considerably  varying  numbers. 
The  earliest  recorded  arrival  was  on  6th  August  1892,  at  Spurn  ; 
at  Redcar  two  appeared  on  2ist  August  1884.  Occasionally 
individuals  are  known  to  occur  in  December,  and  even  in 
January ;  on  the  I4th  of  the  latter  month,  in  the  year  1879, 
one  was  seen  on  the  Tees  Breakwater.  These  immigrants 
after  a  short  rest  proceed  inland,  distributing  themselves 
generally  over  the  county,  where  specimens  are  to  be  observed 
during  the  winter  months. 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  contributed  a  most  interesting 
article  to  the  Zoologist  (1877,  p.  9),  on  the  exceptionally  large 
flight  which  visited  these  shores  during  the  autumn  of  1876, 
which,  whilst  giving  an  accurate  account  of  the  habits  of  this 
species  immediately  after  their  arrival,  also  records  some 
valuable  observations  on  their  habits  during  migration,  as 
follows  : — 

"  These  birds  arrived  on  the  night  of  the  23rd  of  October, 
at  least  I  first  found  them  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  crouched 
amid  patches  of  rough  sea-grass  on  the  embankment,  as  well 
as  further  inland  on  drain  sides  and  amidst  rough  grass  in 

*  Needless  to  remark  Strickland's  surmise  was  not  the  correct  one, 
this  Owl  being  a  winter  visitant. 


298  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

pastures.  This  autumn  unprecedented  numbers  came,  and 
I  have  heard  of  them  in  many  localities  on  this  coast.  It  is 
astonishing  any  are  left  to  migrate,  considering  the  number, 
year  after  year,  destroyed  on  their  first  arrival,  as  well  as 
many  which  figure  afterwards  amongst  the  "  sundries  "  of 
the  autumn  and  winter  shootings.  Mr.  Lewis,  the  Principal 
of  the  Spurn  Lighthouse,  says  he  has  never  known  them 
strike  the  glass  like  other  birds,  but  during  the  period  of 
migration  they  will  fly  round  and  round  the  lantern,  apparently 
not  incommoded  by  the  blaze  of  light,  and  take  off  small 
birds  that  are  fluttering  and  beating  themselves  to  death 
against  the  glass.  They  arrived  off  Flamborough  in  flocks 
of  from  ten  to  twenty.  The  Principal  has  never  known  them 
strike  the  glass,  but  has  twice  observed  them  perched  on  the 
gallery  rail  on  the  outside  of  the  lantern.  North  of  Flam- 
borough  they  appear  to  have  been  equally  numerous  along  the 
coast."  Great  numbers  also  arrived  at  the  same  time  at 
Redcar  and  the  Teesmouth  ;  I  saw  ten  on  the  rocks  at  low  tide 
on  I7th  October,  and  another  on  a  chimney-stack  in  the  town, 
while  many  were  noted  along  the  sand-banks. 

In  a  letter  received  from  Heligoland,  H.  Gatke  stated  : — 
"  The  Short-eared  Owls  pick  off  the  poor  birds  when  they 
are  dazzled  by  the  glare  of  the  lighthouse,  but  not  those 
fluttering  against  the  glass ;  but  thrushes  on  the  wing — 
constantly  one  hears  their  dying  cries  when  clutched  by  the 
nude  talons  of  an  Owl  that  has  just  flitted  like  a  phantom 
noiselessly  past  the  light." 

In  the  autumn  of  1879  these  birds  arrived  at  Spurn  at 
intervals  during  the  last  week  in  October,  being  most  numerous 
on  the  morning  of  the  30th  and  all  had  departed  by  the  next 
day.  During  the  January  of  1880,  when  many  migratory 
species  were  most  erratic  in  their  movements,  a  fresh  immigra- 
tion occurred  at  Spurn  on  the  30th.  In  1881  they  were  again 
abundant  at  the  Teesmouth,  as  also  in  October  1895,  as 
many  as  twenty  being  seen  together.  In  1896  numbers  were 
reported  both  at  the  Teesmouth  and  Spurn  ;  and  again  over 
the  whole  of  the  north-east  coast  district,  in  1903.  At  Redcar 
they  are  frequently  observed  coming  directly  off  the  sea, 


SHORT-EARED  OWL.  299 

sometimes  flying  at  a  considerable  elevation  and  on  approach- 
ing the  land  lowering  in  their  flight  and  alighting  on  the 
nearest  terra  firma.  During  a  north-east  wind  in  October  1881, 
while  out  wild-fowling,  I  noticed  an  Owl  falling  "out  of  space," 
like  a  collapsed  baloon,  over  the  sand-hillls.  A  sailor  who 
had  been  to  Norway  told  me  that  while  his  ship  was  in  port, 
about  the  time  of  full  moon,  he  saw  one  of  these  Owls  fly 
high  in  the  air  at  dusk  and  shape  a  course  which  would  land 
it  on  the  Yorkshire  coast.  Like  the  Woodcock,  and  many 
other  migrants,  these  birds  take  advantage  of  the  moon's 
light  for  their  journey  over-sea  ;  they  arrive  on  our  seaboard 
at  all  hours  of  the  day  from  early  morn  till  late  afternoon. 
Two  came  over  at  5-30  p.m.  on  22nd  September  1881,  and 
other  two  at  6-30  p.m.  on  the  following  day  ;  and  they  are 
met  with,  on  first  arrival,  in  most  unlikely  places.  On  30 th 
October  1902,  my  spaniel  flushed  one  from  underneath  a  boat 
standing  on  the  road  near  my  house,  and  within  twenty  yards 
of  the  front  door,  and  it  is  by  no  means  an  unusual  event 
in  an  east  coast  seaside  town  to  see  them  in  the  cottage 
gardens,  or  on  the  premises  adjoining  fishermen's  dwellings. 

The  Short-eared  Owl  is  seldom  reported  on  the  return 
passage  in  spring  ;  one  is  recorded  on  i6th  May  1843,  on  the 
sea  banks  near  Redcar ;  the  only  instance  of  its  occurrence 
at  this  period  which  has  come  under  my  observation  was  on 
the  I7th  of  the  same  month,  in  1882,  at  the  Tees  Breakwater, 
though  one  was  noted  at  Spurn  as  late  as  the  25th  of  May 
in  1881. 

As  a  resident,  this  species  is  either  overlooked,  or  rare. 
From  the  extensive  moors  of  north-west  Yorkshire,  which 
offer  every  attraction  as  breeding  haunts,  it  is  reported  as 
frequent  near  Carperby  in  Wensleydale,  among  the  heather 
in  the  breeding  season,  but  the  nest  has  not  been  seen  (Nat. 
1886,  p.  183)  ;  Mr.  T.  Whitwell,  keeper,  of  Swainby,  has  told 
me  that  when  he  was  keeper  at  Leyburn,  about  the  year  1890, 
he  found  three  nests  of  the  Short-eared  Owl,  one  containing 
twelve  eggs,  and  I  have  seen  a  pair  of  the  birds  which  were 
killed  there  in  the  breeding  season  ;  in  June  1903,  young 
ones  were  captured  near  Masham,  having  doubtless  been  bred 


300  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

on  the  moors  there.  In  Arkengarthdale  it  is  an  occasional 
breeder  (op.  cit.  1892,  p.  319),  and  in  the  Malham  neighbourhood 
the  nest  and  young  have  been  taken,  together  with  the  parent 
birds,  while  I  learn  on  good  authority  that  in  the  spring  of 
1894  a  keeper  in  that  district  shot  a  "  Moss  Owl "  as  she  rose 
from  her  nest,  and  afterwards  destroyed  the  eggs.  This  bird 
is  also  reported  as  nesting  on  several  of  the  moors  in  the 
extreme  north-west  of  the  county  ;  one  was  shot  near  Bentham 
on  I3th  June  1903,  and  in  all  probability  would  be  nesting 
on  the  moors  near  that  place.  Mr.  Thomas  Bunker  of  Goole 
tells  me  that  he  is  quite  confident  that  a  pair  bred  on  the  moors 
near  that  town  in  1879,  for  they  were  observed  there  during 
the  summer,  and  some  men  employed  in  draining  told  him 
that  on  one  occasion  they  must  have  been  in  close  proximity 
to  the  nest,  as  the  old  birds  swooped  at  them  ;  while,  in  1898, 
Mr.  Audas  had  a  young  Short-eared  Owl  brought  from  Thorne 
Waste,  where  he  has  frequently  noticed  the  adult  bird.  Other 
localities  in  which  it  is  said  to  have  bred  in  the  West  Riding 
are  on  the  Otley  Moors  and  near  Skipton. 

In  the  North  Riding  it  is  mentioned  in  A.  G.  More's  valuable 
paper  on  the  distribution  of  birds  during  the  breeding  season 
(Ibis.  1865),  as  frequenting  the  moors  near  Scarborough,  on 
the  authority  of  Mr.  A.  S.  Bell,  and  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  More 
for  a  copy  of  Mr.  Bell's  letter  to  him,  dated  i8th  November 
1862,  in  which  he  says  : — "  Another  nest  taken  this  year  in 
the  heath  on  the  moors  near  Scarborough.  The  eggs  were 
laid  in  a  hole  scratched  in  the  ground,  four  in  number.  In 
the  former  case  the  eggs  were  in  a  hole  in  a  bank  side  im- 
mediately under  the  root  of  a  tree."  So  recently  as  June 
1904,  the  young,  with  down  still  adhering  to  their  feathers, 
were  taken  on  a  moor  near  Scarborough,  where  as  many  as 
eleven  old  birds  had  been  seen  on  the  wing  at  one  time  in 
the  previous  April  (J.  Morley,  in  litt).  In  July  of  the  same 
year  Mr.  Zimmerman  of  York  discovered  a  nest,  containing 
three  young  ones,  at  Strensall  Common,  his  attention  being 
drawn  to  the  place  by  the  peculiar  clucking  call  of  the  parent 
birds  which  flew  around  him  at  close  quarters. 

The  late  William  Lister  saw  the  young  birds  taken  from  a 


TAWNY  OWL.  301 

nest  on  the  Egton  Moors,  near  Whitby,  about  the  year  1850, 
and  had  no  doubt  that,  within  recent  years,  they  occasionally 
bred  there.  On  the  Danby  Moors,  also  in  Cleveland,  Mr. 
W.  H.  Raw  has  found  at  least  four  nests,  all  of  which  con- 
tained young  birds,  and  were  placed  among  "  old  heather 
broken  down  and  dead  at  the  roots."  The  young  did  not 
in  any  instance  exceed  three  in  number.  Mr.  Raw  found 
the  last  nest  in  1882,  when  both  eggs  and  young  birds  were 
taken,  and  he  thinks  it  is  quite  possible  that  they  may  still 
breed  there. 

An  example  examined  by  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  at  Spurn 
in  October  1879,  is  in  the  Arctic  form  of  plumage  described 
by  Seebohm  ("  Brit.  Birds,"  Vol.  I.  p.  72). 

The  local  names  are  Woodcock  Owl  in  general  use,  so 
called  from  the  fact  that  its  arrival  is  coincident  with  that  of 
the  Woodcock ;  Moss  Owl  on  the  north-western  fells  ;  and 
Mouse  Hawk  is  a  term  applied  to  it  by  G.  Allan  in  1791. 

In  concluding  my  account  of  this  species,  mention  should 
be  made  of  the  fact  that  "  Hawk  Owl "  is  a  name  by  which 
it  is  known  in  some  parts  of  the  county ;  and  the  result  of 
my  inquiries  and  the  examination  of  specimens  has  been  to 
prove  that  the  "  Hawk  Owls  "  reported  to  have  occurred  in 
Yorkshire  have  in  every  instance  been  examples  of  the  Short- 
eared  Owl.  The  Hawk  Owl  (Surnia  funerea),  so  far  as  I  have 
been  able  to  ascertain,  has  never  occurred  in  this  county.* 


TAWNY     OWL. 
Strix  aluco  (Z.)- 


Resident,  generally  distributed  and  fairly  common  in  well  wooded 
districts.  

Probably  the  earliest  Yorkshire  reference  to  this  species 
is  made  by  Graves  in  his  "  History  of  Cleveland  "  (1808), 

*  For  particulars  of  an  Owl  carrying  a  Goldcrest  on  migration, 
see  the  latter  species  ;  and  Zool.  1882,  pp.  72-3,  also  Field,  3rd  March 
and  7th  April  1888. 


302  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

wherein  he  enumerated  it  in  his  list  under  the  name  of  "  Brown 
or  Wood  Owl." 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Syrnium  aluco. — Tawny  Owl — This  also  is  becoming  scarce  near 
Halifax  ;  is  not  met  with  at  Huddersfield  and  Hebden  Bridge,  but  not 
infrequently  met  with  in  other  parts  of  the  county. 

This  bird,  perhaps  the  most  abundant  of  the  Yorkshire 
Strigidae,  is  to  be  found  in  those  portions  of  the  county  where 
there  are  woods,  or  small  though  dense  fir  plantations.  It  is 
included  as  a  resident  in  most  of  the  reports  sent  to  me  from 
various  parts  of  the  county,  and  whilst  it  seems  to  be  especially 
abundant  in  the  Cleveland  district  and  the  neighbourhood  of 
Slingsby,  it  is  mentioned  as  being  only  of  occasional  occurrence 
in  the  Halifax  and  Keighley  districts,  is  rare  around  Sheffield 
and  Huddersfield,  not  very  common  in  Lower  Wharfedale, 
and  widely,  although  thinly,  distributed  in  the  East  Riding, 
where  it  has  increased  considerably  during  the  last  few  years, 
a  fact  which  may  be  due  to  the  Wild  Birds  Protection  Act, 
coupled  with  a  better  knowledge  of  the  bird's  usefulness  than 
was  formerly  entertained.  Most  of  the  reports  express  regret 
that  so  truly  useful  a  species  should  be  subject  to  persecution. 
It  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  that  abominable  instrument 
of  torture,  the  pole  trap,  which  was  frequently  the  means 
of  capturing  the  Tawny  Owl,  is  now  forbidden  by  statute. 

The  late  J.  Carter  of  Masham  wrote  (in  Hit.  1902),  that 
the  Tawny  Owls  had  become  so  abundant  near  his  residence 
as  to  sometimes  disturb  the  slumbers  of  his  household  by 
their  incessant  hooting ;  he  also  remarked  that  this  bird  can 
be  induced  to  answer  an  imitation  of  its  call  at  flight  time. 

This  Owl  nests  in  a  variety  of  situations,  hollow  trees  and 
ivy  being  perhaps  the  most  generally  selected,  whilst  the 
deserted  nest  of  a  Crow  or  Magpie  is  not  uncommonly  resorted 
to.  Mention  is  made  of  a  hole  in  a  quarry  being  used  near 
Scarborough,  in  which  was  found  one  young  bird,  one  egg, 
and  two  dead  rabbits.  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  found  the  eggs 
of  this  species  laid  in  a  depression  in  the  hay  in  a  barn.  In 
Swaledale  it  sometimes  nests  in  holes  in  rocks,  and  Mr.  C.  J. 
Lee  Warner,  writing  in  the  Field,  (i6th  August  1902),  says 


I 

•3 


TENGMALM'S  OWL.  303 

that  in  June  1897,  he  found  young  birds  on  some  hay  in  a 
barn  close  to  Ulladale  Force.  On  several  occasions  near 
Masham,  and  also  at  Sedbergh,  clutches  of  five  eggs  have  been 
found  in  a  nest,  which  is  an  unusual  number.  Mr.  S.  Hanna- 
ford  of  Kiveton  Park  related  that  a  pair  of  these  birds  kept 
their  young  well  supplied  with  young  rabbits,  which  they 
hung,  one  at  a  time,  on  a  branch  of  a  tree  near  the  nest,  so 
as  to  be  within  the  reach  of  their  young,  and  in  an  Owl's  larder 
near  a  stackyard  in  the  Masham  district  the  remains  of  twelve 
rats  were  discovered. 

A  rather  unusual  circumstance  in  regard  to  the  nidification 
of  the  Tawny  Owl  is  reported  in  the  Field,  May  1895,  where 
mention  is  made  of  a  Pheasant's  nest  at  Hambleton  containing 
five  eggs  of  the  rightful  owner  and  two  belonging  to  an  Owl. 
A  curious  anecdote  of  one  of  these  birds  laying  its  first  egg 
after  being  nearly  twenty  years  in  captivity  is  related  in  the 
Zoologist  (1855,  p.  4761),  by  Mr.  Henry  Spurr  of  Scarborough. 

Both  the  ruddy  and  grey  forms  are  met  with  in  Yorkshire, 
and  I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  the  latter  is  an  occasional 
immigrant  from  the  Continent  in  autumn. 

The  north  country  vernacular  names  are  applied  indis- 
criminately to  the  Owl  family  ;  Hullot,  Jinny  Hullut,  Howlet, 
Hoolet,  Ullat,  Jinny  Yewlatt,  Yoolat,  and  Jenny  Howlet  being 
in  general  use.  Swainson  gives  the  names  Brown  Owl  or 
Brown  Hoolet,  Beech  Owl  and  Ferny  Hoolet.  In  Craven  it 
is  known  as  Hoot  Owl.  Wood  Owl  or  Wood  Ullat  is  a  general 
name,  and  Ivy  Owl  is  also  sometimes  used. 


TENGMALM'S    OWL. 

Nyctala  tengmalmi  (J.  F.   Gmelhi}. 


Accidental    visitant    from    northern    Europe,    of    extremely    rare 
occurrence. 

In  his  second  edition  of  the  "  Manual  of  British  Birds," 
1899,  Mr.  Howard  Saunders  mentions  that  there  are  about 


304  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

twenty  instances  of  the  visits  of  this  little  Owl  to  England  ; 
of  these  twelve  belong  to  Yorkshire.  The  circumstances 
relating  to  the  first  occurrence  of  this  species  in  the  county 
were  obligingly  communicated  by  Mr.  Thos.  Stephenson  of 
Whitby,  who  states  (MS.)  that  the  late  Martin  Simpson, 
curator  of  the  Whitby  Museum,  informed  him  that  the  late 
Thos.  Richardson  had  a  specimen  from  Sleights  Moor,  about 
1840,  and  presented  it  to  the  Museum,  but,  being  imperfectly 
cured,  it  decayed. 

About  the  year  1847  an  Owl  of  this  species  was  shot  in 
the  woods  at  Hunmanby,  by  Admiral  Mitford's  keeper,  its 
occurrence  remaining  unknown  until  1849,  when  it  came 
under  the  notice  of  the  late  David  Graham  of  York.  The 
fact  was  afterwards  recorded  in  the  Zoologist  (1849,  p.  2649), 
by  Dr.  Morris. 

A  female  example,  killed  at  Lowthorpe  in  the  year  1860, 
is  in  the  Burton  Agnes  collection,  formed  by  the  late  Sir 
Henry  Boynton. 

The  late  W.  W.  Boulton  of  Beveiiey  and  Mr.  M.  Bailey 
of  Flamborough  kindly  gave  the  information  relating  to  the 
fourth  Yorkshire  occurrence,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
resume : — On  ist  October  1863,  after  a  severe  gale  from  the 
north-east,  a  splendid  specimen,  in  exquisite  plumage,  and 
supposed  from  its  size  to  be  a  mature  female,  was  captured 
at  Flamborough  in  the  day  time  by  a  man  who  ran  it  down 
in  a  field,  the  bird  being  dazzled  by  the  light  and  rendered 
almost  helpless.  It  was  taken  to  Mr.  Bailey  for  preser- 
vation, afterwards  formed  part  of  the  collection  of  John 
Stephenson  of  Beverley,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Boynton  of  Bridlington. 

An  example  of  this  interesting  little  Owl  was  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  late  William  Lister  of  Glaisdale,  who  obtained  it 
at  Egton,  near  Whitby,  on  igth  November  1872.  It  is  now 
in  the  Whitby  Museum.  Like  the  other  specimens,  this  also 
occurred  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  coast,  and  I  believe 
had  been  unrecorded  until  it  was  mentioned  by  Mr.  W.  Eagle 
Clarke  in  the  "  Handbook  of  the  Vertebrate  Fauna  of  York- 
shire.0 


TENGMALM'S  OWL.  305 

In  January  of  the  same  year  an  Owl,  trapped  by  Thos. 
Metcalf,  a  keeper  in  Handale  Woods,  near  Loftus-in-Cleve- 
land,  is  regarded  by  Mr.  K.  McLean  as  referable  to  this 
species  (Nat.  1899,  p.  139). 

A  third  occurrence  at  Whitby,  also  commp'iicated  by  Mr. 
Thos.  Stephenson,  was  on  3oth  Decembe"  A88o.  The  bird 
was  taken  at  Normanby,  above  Hawsker,  by  a  man  named 
Ventriss,  while  rabbit  shooting,  and  was  flushed  out  of  a 
patch  of  broom  intermixed  with  furze.  It  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Wilson  who  preserved  it,  and  who 
forwarded  it  to  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  for  identification  (Zool. 
1882,  p.  177). 

In  Holderness  an  adult  female  was  killed  at  Holmpton 
on  i8th  October  1884,  and  was  preserved  by  Mr.  P.  Loten 
of  Easington.  This  bird  was  recorded  in  the  Naturalist 
(1884,  p.  112),  and  Zoologist  (1891,  p.  364). 

Mr.  R.  P.  Harper  (op.  cit.  1886,  p.  214),  reports  that 
no  fewer  than  three  of  these  birds  were  procured  near  Scar- 
borough during  the  three  years  previous.  Unfortunately 
the  dates  were  not  observed.  The  first  came  on  board  a 
fishing  smack  at  sea,  and  was  identified  by  the  late  A. 
Roberts.  Another  was  caught  by  some  boys  in  an  old 
quarry  on  Oliver's  Mount  and  kept  alive  for  nearly  two 
years  ;  it  was  afterwards  preserved  by  Mr.  J.  Morley.  And 
the  third  was  trapped  at  Ayton  Moor,  four  miles  from 
Scarborough,  by  a  gamekeeper  some  time  in  1885,  and  is 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  D.  Young  of  Irton.  The  record  of 
Mr.  J.  Whitaker,  however  (op.  cit.  1885,  p.  349),  of  two 
Little  Owls  at  Scarborough,  suggests  the  possibility  of  a 
mistake  in  the  identity  of  these  two  individuals  (see  Little 
Owl,  p.  304). 

The  particulars  of  the  latest  occurrence  were  obligingly 
supplied  by  Mr.  R.  Fortune  of  Harrogate,  who  informs  me 
that  a  specimen  in  his  possession  was  captured  on  a  moor 
near  Bickley,  on  7th  November  1901. 

[The  only  information  obtainable  relating  to  the  supposed 
occurrence  of  the  ACADIAN  OWL  (Nyctala  acadica,  Gmelin), 
VOL.  i.  x 


3o6  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

a  common  North  American  species,  in  Europe*  is  contained 
in  the  subjoined  communication  to  the  Zoologist  (1860,  p. 
7104),  from  Sir  Wm.  M.  E.  Milner.  It  should  be  clearly  under- 
stood that  the  mere  fact  of  this  and  other  species  being  included 
in  this  work  is  not  in  any  way  intended  to  claim  for  them  a 
place  on  the  British  list ;  the  information  relating  to  such 
occurrences  being  simply  given  for  what  it  may  be  worth. 

Sir  Wm.  Milner's  words  are  : — "  I  do  not  recollect  ever 
mentioning  to  you  for  insertion  in  the  Zoologist  an  account 
of  my  having  received  from  a  young  clergyman,  a  son  of  Mr. 
Bury,  who  has  the  church  at  Osberton  (my  brother-in-law 
Mr.  Foljambe's  place)  who,  knowing  I  had  a  very  fine  collection 
of  British  birds,  sent  me  a  small  Owl  in  a  very  curious  case, 
which  was  shot  in  the  East  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  not  far 
from  Beverley,  by  a  keeper,  a  brother  of  Sir  Thomas  Which- 
cote's  keeper,  of  Aswarbey,  Lincolnshire.  He  sent  this  bird 
to  his  brother,  who  gave  it  to  Mr.  Bury,  from  whom  I  received 
it.  I  found  out  afterwards  from  looking  at  Audubon's  "  Birds 
of  America,"  that  it  was  the  Sparrow  Owl  (Strix  acadica),  which 
is  rather  common  in  some  parts  of  America,  but  totally 
unknown  in  this  country."] 


LITTLE   OWL. 
Athene  noctua  (Scopoli). 


Accidental  visitant   from  Continental   Europe,   of  extremely  rare 
occurrence. 


Not  merely  is  the  whole  of  the  information  relating  to  the 
occurrence  of  this  species  very  meagre,  but  unfortunately 
exceedingly  vague,  from  the  fact  that  in  most  instances 
there  is  an  entire  absence  of  details. 

*  Mr.  H.  E.  Dresser,  who  considers  that  this  Beverley  occurrence 
is  the  only  occasion  on  which  the  present  species  has  been  taken  in 
Europe,  does  not  feel  justified  in  admitting  it  into  his  work  on  the 
Birds  of  Europe. 


LITTLE  OWL.  307 

The  earliest  reference  to  this,  as  a  Yorkshire  bird,  is  made 
in  1768  in  Pennant's  "  British  Zoology  "  (i.  p.  160),  where  it 
is  said  to  be  "  very  rare  in  England  ;  it  is  sometimes  found 
in  Yorkshire."  I  suspect  this  is  the  authority  from  which 
Dr.  John  Berkenhout  obtained  the  information  for  his 
"  Synopsis  of  the  Natural  History  of  Great  Britain  "  (1778), 
in  which  this  species  is  described  as  having  occurred  in  York- 
shire. Doubtless  also  Pennant's  book  is  the  source  whence 
C.  Fothergill  derived  the  statement,  given  in  his  "  Ornithologia 
Britannica  "  (1799),  that  it  is  "  extremely  rare  in  this  kingdom, 
chiefly  found  in  Yorkshire," 

In  1828  R.  Leyland  of  Halifax  published  a  list  of  the  birds 
occurring  around  that  town,  wherein  he  mentioned  under  the 
head  of  Strix  passerina,  Little  Owl — "  I  have  reason  to  believe 
that  this  species  has  been  met  with  here  ;  it  has  not  however 
fallen  under  my  own  observation."  The  first  edition  of 
Yarrell's  unrivalled  work  on  British  Birds,  published  in 
1843,  contains  a  statement  that  the  Little  Owl  has  occurred 
in  Yorkshire,  and  this  is  reiterated  in  Prof.  Newton's  fourth 
edition. 

The  "  little  earless  owl "  is  included  in  a  list  of  the  birds 
which  had  been  observed  in  Walton  Park  by  the  late  Charles 
Water  ton,  and  published  in  1866,  after  his  death,  by  Dr. 
Hobson.  With  regard  to  this,  it  should  be  remembered  that 
in  the  year  1842  Water  ton  purchased  a  dozen  birds  of  this 
species  at  Rome  ;  five  of  them  survived  the  journey  and 
were  liberated  in  Walton  Park.*  In  more  recent  years  Mr. 
St.  Quintin  of  Scampston  Park,  Rillington,  has  set  at  large 
several  of  these  Little  Owls,  which  have  bred  in  the  county, 


*  Under  the  heading  of  "  Flight  of  '  Little  Owls  '  in  Yorkshire  " 
the  following  doubtful  record  appeared  in  Neville  Wood's  Naturalist 
(1838,  p.  1 68)  :  "  Mr.  Rudston  Read  informs  us  that,  some  time  since, 
from  twenty  to  thirty  '  Little  Owls  '  were  seen  in  a  gorse  cover  belonging 
to  P.  Davies  Cooke,  Esq.,  of  Owston  Hall,  near  Doncaster.  Mr.  Read's 
informant  was  well  acquainted  with  all  the  common  British  species 
of  Owl,  and  stated  positively  that  the  Owston  birds  belonged  to  none 
of  these.  Unfortunately  none  of  these  *  Little  Owls '  were  pre- 
served.— ED." 


308  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

and  others  have  been  introduced  into  various  parts  of  the 
kingdom,  thus  rendering  the  task  of  discrimination  between 
liberated  birds  and  genuine  migrants  an  extremely  difficult  one. 

The  following  occurrences  suggest  the  probability  of  their 
being  "  migratories  "  : — 

In  the  collection  at  Burton  Agnes,  formed  by  the  late  Sir 
Henry  Boynton,  is  a  female,  obtained  at  Flamborough  in 
1860,  by  R.  Barkley,  whose  brother,  Samuel  Barkley  of  Brid- 
lington,  told  me  it  was  observed  to  fly  into  a  thorn  bush  in 
a  small  ravine  running  up  from  the  beach,  whence  it  was 
flushed  and  killed. 

Mr.  J.  Whitaker  announced  in  the  Naturalist  (1884,  p.  336), 
and  Zoologist  (1885,  p.  349),  that  one  was  captured,  on  a 
fishing  boat  off  Scarborough,  in  November  1884,  and  taken 
to  A.  Roberts,  who  preserved  it  for  Mr.  Whitaker's  collection. 
About  six  months  later  another  was  trapped  at  Seamer, 
near  Scarborough,  and  the  recorder  appends  the  remark  that 
probably  they  had  come  over  together  from  the  Continent. 

The  Little  Owl  has  occurred  on  several  other  occasions 
in  Yorkshire.  One  in  Mr.  T.  Boynton's  possession  formerly 
formed  part  of  the  late  W.  W.  BoultonV  collection  at  Beverley. 

The  late  J.  Carter  of  Masham  informed  me  (in  Hit.  1902), 
that  one  was  taken  near  Kirby  Malzeard  "  many  years  ago." 

A  specimen  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  A.  Crabtree  in  the  "  Halifax 
Naturalist  "  (1900,  p.  86),  as  captured  at  Norland  Moor,  by  J. 
Cunningham,  but  no  date  is  given. 

At  Pocklington  a  specimen  is  reported  by  Mr.  G.  Steels 
(MS.  1902),  "  ten  years  since." 

And  in  the  Naturalist  (1897,  p.  76),  Mr.  J.  Backhouse 
mentions  an  adult  female,  procured  at  Escrick  on  24th 
December  1896,  and  preserved  by  Mr.  Ed.  Allan  of  York. 


309 

SNOWY    OWL. 
Nyctca  scandiaca  (L.). 

Accidental    visitant    from    northern    Europe    and    America,    oi 
extremely  rare  occurrence. 


The  earliest  allusion  to  this  as  a  Yorkshire  bird  is  found 
in  Thomas  Allis's  Report  in  1844,  thus  : — 

Surnia  nyctea. — Snowy  Owl — A  pair  were  observed  on  Barlow  Moor, 
near  Selby,  in  1837  ;  the  male  was  shot  the  i3th  of  that  month 
[February],  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  A.  Clapham,  Esq.,  of  Potter 
Newton.  (H.  Denny's  Sketch  of  the  Natural  History  of  Leeds  and 
its  vicinity  for  twenty  miles.  "Annals  of  Natural  History,"  Vol.  VII. 
p.  382,  and  Yarrell's  "  British  Birds.") 

In  one  instance  only  has  a  specimen  of  this  fine  species 
been  obtained  in  Yorkshire,  but  there  are  several  occasions 
on  which  it  has  been,  or  is  supposed  to  have  been,  observed 
in  the  county. 

Mr.  A.  Clapham  of  Scarborough  stated  that  he  has  in  his 
collection  one  which  was  taken  on  Barlow  Moor  (the  example 
referred  to  by  Allis).  At  that  date  the  moor  abounded  in 
rabbits  and  furze,  and  was  rented  by  his  father  for  sporting 
purposes.  The  bird  was  first  observed  by  the  miller  of  an 
adjoining  mill  on  the  I2th  and  mistaken  by  him  for  a  goose, 
but  seeing  it  still  there  the  next  day  he  shot  at  it,  just  tipping 
the  pinion.  On  an  attempt  being  made  to  capture  it,  the 
bird  threw  itself  on  its  back  and  offered  so  fierce  a  resistance 
that  it  was  secured  with  difficulty  and  afterwards  killed. 
This  bird  was  exhibited  during  the  year  1837  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Zoological  Society,  by  Mr.  A.  N.  Vigors,  F.R.S.  Mr. 
Clapham  said  that  the  Rev.  F.  O.  Morris's  statement  in  his 
"  British  Birds  "  (1851,  i.  195),  that  this  bird  was  accompanied 
by  another  of  the  same  species,  was  incorrect. 

Between  the  years  1849  and  *853»  during  the  winter  or 
early  spring  months,  Mr.  Clapham,  whilst  walking  at  Scar- 
borough, saw  a  large  white  bird  flying  towards  the  Castle, 
which,  from  its  size,  soft  steady  flight  and  broad  wings,  he 
concluded  was  N.  scandiaca.  This  impression  was  confirmed 


310  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

on  his  hearing  a  day  or  two  afterwards  that  a  Snowy  Owi 
had  been  shot  at  and  missed  from  the  Filey  Rocks. 

Regarding  a  possible  occurrence  of  this  species  at  Flam- 
borough  on  i4th  October  1867,  the  late  J.  Cordeaux  wrote 
as  follows  in  the  Zoologist  (1868,  p.  1026)  : — "  A  large  Owl 
chequered  all  over  black  and  white,  and,  as  the  man  said, 
'  as  large  as  a  great  black-backed  gull,'  was  seen  in  a  turnip 
field.  The  man  who  saw  it  went  home  instantly  for  his  gun  ; 
on  his  return,  however,  the  bird  had  disappeared.  Otherwise 
I  might  possibly  have  added  Surnia  nyctea  to  the  avifauna 
of  Flamborough." 

In  "  Land  and  Water "  for  27th  December  1879,  ^r- 
Edward  Thompson,  in  some  Scarborough  notes,  mentions  a 
Snowy  Owl  as  having  been  seen  near  that  town,  and  an 
unsuccessful  attempt  made  to  shoot  it.  Mr.  Thompson  after- 
wards stated  that  the  bird  frequented  the  New  Park  during 
the  month  of  December  and  was  frequently  seen. 

Mr.  Stuart  of  Skipton  (MS.  1880),  says  that  a  specimen 
was  obtained  near  the  Lancashire  border  in  the  year  named. 

The  following  record  is  less  satisfactory: — Messrs.  J. 
Cordeaux  and  H.  B.  Hewetson  had  an  opportunity  of  viewing 
a  fully  adult  example  in  a  field  near  Easington,  Spurn,  on 
27th  September  1891,  Mr.  Cordeaux  afterwards  reporting 
the  incident  (Field,  3rd  October  1891  ;  Nat.  1891,  p.  359  ; 
and  Zool.  1895,  p.  59). 


SCOPS   OWL. 

Scops  giu  (S co poll). 


Accidental  visitant,  from    southern    Europe  and  northern  Africa, 
of  extremely  rare  occurrence. 


The  first  instances  of  the  occurrence  of  this  beautiful  little 
Owl  in  Britain  were  announced  from  Yorkshire  by  Mr.  Fol- 
jambe  of  Osberton,  an  accurate  ornithologist,  who  assured 
Colonel  Montagu  that  a  specimen  in  his  possession  had,  he 


SCOPS  OWL.  311 

believed,  been  shot  in  this  county,  and  that  Charles  Fothergill 
of  York  had  another,  shot  in  the  spring  of  1805  near  Wetherby. 
Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  :— 

Scops  aldrovandi. — Scops-eared  Owl — F.  O.  Morris  mentions  this 
bird  as  having  been  met  with  at  Womersley  ;  two  pairs  have  been 
shot  at  Ripley,  near  Harrogate,  some  years  ago  ;  the  birds  shot  at 
Ripley  were  a  pair  of  old  and  a  pair  of  young  birds  ;  when  shot  they 
were  nailed  up  to  a  house,  and,  after  being  there  for  a  fortnight,  and 
spoiled,  were  seen  by  Mr.  Stubbs,  animal  preserver,  of  Ripon.  The 
gamekeeper  of  Matthew  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Eshton  Hall,  in  describing 
his  exploits  to  a  gentleman,  said  that  some  years  ago  he  shot  such 
a  thing  as  he  never  saw  before  or  since  ;  it  was  a  regular  formed  Hullet 
not  bigger  than  his  fist,  with  horns  above  its  eyes ;  this,  it  is  almost 
certain,  could  be  nothing  else  but  the  Scops.  Another  specimen  was 
shot  near  Drimeld  about  1839,  and  Arthur  Strickland  says  "  A  beautiful 
specimen  of  this  little  bird  appeared  in  July  1832,  in  the  grounds  at 
Boynton,  and,  from  its  loud  and  distinct  note,  attracted  general 
attention  ;  this  note  was  like  the  sound  of  a  single  note  on  a  musical 
instrument,  repeated  at  about  half  a  minute's  interval,  and  was  so 
loud  that  it  could  be  distinctly  heard  in  the  house  when  all  the  doors 
and  windows  were  shut,  and  the  curtains  drawn,  and  when  the  bird 
was  in  some  tall  trees  some  distance  from  the  house  ;  after  some  time 
it  was  shot  by  firing  at  the  sound,  as  it  was  too  dark  to  see  the  bird — 
it  is  now  in  my  collection."  Another  instance  has  been  mentioned 
to  me,  and,  from  the  description,  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  species  ;  it 
was  in  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Beaumont  of  Bossal,  near  Sand  Hutton, 
and  I  think  it  was  stated  to  have  been  heard  for  more  than  one  spring. 
Three  other  specimens  are  mentioned  in  Yarrell's  "  British  Birds  " 
as  having  been  obtained  in  Yorkshire.* 

Mr.  Thomas  Stephenson  of  Whitby  writes  that  the  late 
William  Lister  of  Glaisdale  had  not  the  least  doubt  that  this 
species  was  captured  on  the  Egton  estate  in  1865.  The  bird 
was  described  to  him  as  being  a  little  mottled  Owl,  only  half 
the  size  of  the  Short-eared  Owl,  and  having  longer  ears.  Mr. 
Lister  went  to  examine  this  bird,  but  unfortunately  it  had 
in  the  meantime  come  under  the  notice  of  a  stranger,  to  whom 
it  was  sold. 

A  pair  in  the  Hull  Museum  is  stated  to  be  well  authenti- 
cated as  having  been  obtained  at  Marton,  near  Bridlington. 

*  Two  specimens  in  the  York  Museum  are  from  the  Allis  and 
Strickland  collections. 


312  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

[It  is  supposed  that  the  LITTLE  SCREECH  OWL  (Scops  asio, 
L.),  which  is,  according  to  Audubon  ("  Orn.  Biog."),  a  some- 
what common  North  American  species,  has  occurred  on  two 
occasions  in  England,  in  the  counties  of  York  and  Norfolk 
(Stevenson's  "  Birds  of  Norfolk,"  Vol.  I.  p.  44) ;  but  the 
bird's  claim  to  a  place  on  the  British  list  is  not  admitted, 
and  Mr.  H.  E.  Dresser,  one  of  the  best  authorities  we  have 
on  the  avifauna  of  Europe,  states  that  it  has  not  been  reported 
from  any  part  of  the  Continent. 

The  information  relating  to  the  occurrence  in  which  we  are 
specially  interested  is,  along  with  an  etching  of  the  bird,  con- 
tained in  the  late  Dr.  Hobson's  communication  to  the  Naturalist 
of  1855  (p.  169),  from  which  the  following  is  abstracted  : — 

The  Owl  in  question  is  in  its  grey  plumage,  and  was  shot 
by  Joseph  Owen  in  the  breeding  season  of  1852  in  Hawksworth 
Cover,  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Cardigan,  half  a  mile  above 
Kirkstall  Abbey,  and  within  the  borough  of  Leeds.  At 
that  period  there  were  a  pair  of  Owls,  and  so  far  as  Owen  could 
judge  by  moonlight  they  appeared  to  be  similar  in  size,  colour, 
and  flight.  He  at  once  saw  that  these  birds  differed  materially 
from  our  Common  Screech  Owl,  and  was  therefore  extremely 
anxious  to  secure  them ;  and,  having  shot  one,  he  went  to 
their  haunt  night  after  night  to  obtain  the  other,  but  this 
unfortunately  he  could  never  accomplish.  Owen,  ignorant 
of  the  value  of  his  treasure,  gave  this  Owl,  in  the  flesh,  to  a 
bird-stuffer  in  Leeds,  called  Matthew  Smith,  who  immediately 
put  it  up  under  the  impression  that  it  was  a  "  Scops-eared 
Owl,"  and,  under  the  same  error  in  judgment,  sold  it  to 
Dr.  Hobson.]  

EAGLE    OWL. 

Bubo  ignavus  (T.  Forster}. 


Accidental  visitor,  from  Continental  Europe,  of  extremely  rare 
occurrence.  

The  earliest  allusion  to  this  species,  as  a  Yorkshire  bird,  is 
made  by  Pennant  in  1768  ("  British  Zoology,"  i.  p.  157), 
who  stated  that  it  had  once  been  shot  in  the  county. 


EAGLE  OWL.  3*3 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Bubo  maximus.— Eagle  Owl— One  of  these  magnificent  birds  was 
shot  at  Horton,  near  Bradford,  about  1824  (H.  Denny's  "  Catalogue 
of  Yorkshire  Birds  "  in  the  "  Annals  of  Natural  History,"  Vol.  VII. 
p.  388).  Another  was  taken  alive  in  a  wood  near  Harrogate,  in  the 
summer  of  1832,  and  was  purchased  by  George  Lane  Fox,  Esq.,  of 
Bramham,  and  is  now  at  York  in  the  Museum. 

There  are  several  other  instances  of  this  rare  visitor  to 
Britain  having  occurred  in  Yorkshire,  and  in  the  following 
enumeration  of  them,  Prof.  Newton's  remark  (Yarrell's 
"  Birds,"  4th  Ed.  p.  170),  as  to  the  probability  of  many  of 
the  British  examples  being  escapes  from  captivity,  is  par- 
ticularly applicable  to  those  specimens  which  have  occurred 
during  the  summer  months  ;  indeed  grave  doubts  may  be 
expressed  as  to  the  authenticity  of  most  of  these  Yorkshire 
records. 

One  at  Horton,  near  Bradford,  about  the  year  1824,  is 
mentioned  by  the  late  Henry  Denny  in  his  "  Catalogue  of 
Yorkshire  Birds  "  contributed  in  1840  to  the  "  Annals  of 
Natural  History  "  (Vol.  VII.),  and  is  referred  to  by  Allis,  as 
is  another  taken  near  Harrogate  in  1832. 

Patrick  Hawkridge  of  Scarborough  communicated  to 
Neville  Wood's  "  Naturalist "  (1838,  p.  155),  a  note  of  the 
capture  of  a  specimen  off  Flamborough  Head.  The  bird, 
after  alighting  upon  the  mast  of  a  sloop  sailing  by,  was  with 
difficulty  secured,  after  it  had  "  actually  pinned  down  with  its 
powerful  talons  the  cabin  boy,  who  had  been  sent  aloft  to 
seize  it." 

The  example  mentioned  by  the  Rev.  F.  O.  Morris  ("  Brit. 
Birds,"  1851,  Vol.  I.  p.  184),  as  shot  in  the  woods  at  Clifton 
Castle,  near  Bedale,  in  the  month  of  March  1845,  proved — 
as  the  result  of  inquiries  made  through  my  obliging  correspon- 
dent the  late  James  Carter  of  Masham — to  be  a  bird  escaped 
from  Hornby  Castle,  the  residence  of  the  Duke  of  Leeds. 
A  letter  from  Mr.  Wilie,  the  Duke's  agent,  describes  the  bird 
as  being  from  the  forest  at  Mar  Lodge,  N.B. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Hanson  of  Greetland,  near  Halifax,  stated  that, 
on  a  very  dark  day  in  November  1845,  he  snapped  an  old  flint 


314  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

gun  at  an  Eagle  Owl,  but  the  gun  missing  fire  as  usual,  the 
Owl  stared  at  him  for  a  moment  "  with  eyes  like  a  leopard," 
then  off  it  went.  Mr.  Hanson  had  approached  quite  close  by 
the  aid  of  an  intervening  stack. 

Mr.  Kenneth  McLean  has  in  his  possession  an  example 
obtained  by  himself  on  5th  November  1875,  on  the  banks 
at  Hummersea,  near  Loftus-in-Cleveland  (see  Nat.  1899,  p.  138, 
where  the  specimen  is  figured). 

In  July  1876,  an  Eagle  Owl  was  captured  on  Rombalds 
Moor,  above  Ilkley,  by  two  farm  servants  ;  it  was  probably 
an  escape,  the  bird  being  quite  unable  to  fly,  owing  to  its 
plumage  being  "  storm  soaked."  This  bird  was  kept  alive 
for  some  time  in  a  small  vivarium  at  Roundhay  Park,  Leeds, 
along  with  two  specimens  said  to  have  been  taken  from  a 
nest  near  Aberdeen  ! 

The  next  occurrence  was  at  Scarborough,  on  30th  October 
1879,  after  a  very  heavy  gale  from  the  north-east.  The  late 
A.  Roberts,  who  supplied  the  information,  was  on  his  way 
to  the  Museum  at  one  o'clock  p.m.,  when  he  was  startled 
by  seeing  a  very  large  Eagle  Owl  flying  quite  low  in  one  of 
the  back  streets,  which,  on  arriving  within  ten  yards  of  him, 
rose  with  difficulty  over  the  cottages  and  disappeared.  The 
bird  was  also  seen  immediately  afterwards  by  Mr.  Robert 
Champley  to  alight  in  Lord  Londesborough's  grounds. 

In  the  winter  of  1879-80,  as  recorded  by  the  late  J. 
Cordeaux  in  the  Zoologist  (1891,  p.  365),  one  was  seen  at 
Easington,  near  Spurn,  where  it  remained  all  night  in  a  tree 
in  a  cottage  garden. 

At  Fixby,  near  Huddersfield,  Mr.  C.  C.  Hanson  announced 
in  the  Naturalist  (1886,  p.  114),  that  a  male  was  killed  on 
ist  January  1885,  by  Mr.  Jos.  Firth  of  Fixby.  It  measured 
two  feet  in  extreme  length,  four  feet  four  inches  in  expanse 
of  wings,  and  weighed  a  little  over  four  pounds.  The  specimen 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Firth,  Shepherd's  Rest  Inn, 
Cowcliffe. 

With  reference  to  a  probable  occurrence  at  Spurn  the 
late  J.  Cordeaux  wrote  (op.  cit.  1889,  p.  2)  : — "  An  immense 
Owl,  presumably  of  this  species,  said  to  be  the  largest  ever 


MARSH  HARRIER.  315 

observed  at  Spurn,  was  reported  in  October  1888,  both  on 
the  sand-hills  and  in  the  warren  at  Kilnsea,  either  sitting  in 
the  bents  or  in  flight.  On  the  wing  it  was  described  as  looking 
as  big  as  one  of  the  large  gulls,  and  was  said  to  have  tufts  of 
feathers  on  the  head." 


MARSH     HARRIER. 
Circus  seruginosus  (Z.). 


Casual  visitant,  of  very  rare  occurrence.     Formerly  nested  in  one 
or  two  localities. 


Under  the  old  name  of  "  Moor  Buzzard  "  the  following 
mention  is  made  of  this  species  in  Miller's  "  History  of  Don- 
caster,"  published  in  1804  : — "  This  bird  is  very  common  in 
our  morasses,  moors,  etc.,  and  is  one  of  the  most  voracious 
of  its  tribe.  It  is  a  well  attested  fact  that  nine,  nearly  full 
grown,  moor  game  (Tetrix  and  Rubra)  were  taken  out  of  a 
nest  one  day  and  eight  the  next  morning." 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Circus  rufus. — Marsh  Harrier — Sometimes  visits  the  moors  near 
Sheffield  ;  not  uncommon  near  Doncaster.  About  forty  years  ago, 
H.  Reid  says  that  seven  or  eight  were  obtained  in  a  season  from  Hatfield 
Moor  and  Carr  side  ;  rarely  met  with  near  Hebden  Bridge.  Arthur 
Strickland  says  that  the  total  destruction  of  all  the  large  beds  of  whins 
in  his  neighbourhood  [Bridlington]  has  nearly  banished  this  bird, 
before  which  it  used  occasionally  to  breed  there.  He  says  "  Mr. 
Yarrell  appears  to  me  to  be  wrong  in  stating  that  the  young  bird  is 
without  the  yellow  caul  on  the  head  ;  all  that  I  have  seen,  even  from 
the  nest,  have  had  it  strongly  and  distinctly  marked,  even  more  so  than 
the  old  birds,  as  all  the  rest  of  the  plumage  is  a  dark  brown  and  much 
more  distinct  from  the  yellow  than  in  older  ones  ;  but  this  is  a  distinctly 
migratory  species,  and,  as  soon  as  the  breeding  season  is  over,  they 
quit  this  country  and  totally  lose  the  yellow  on  the  head  and  other 
parts  ;  in  this  state  it  is  of  very  rare  occurrence  in  this  country  ;  one 
specimen  in  my  collection,  killed  some  years  ago  in  Cambridgeshire, 
being  the  only  one  I  remember  ever  to  have  seen,  but  early  in  the  spring, 
when  they  first  come  over,  they  may  often  be  met  with  with  the  yellow 
caul  only  partly  developed,  which  soon  becomes  perfect,  and  in  old 
specimens  extends  over  the  breast,  shoulders,  and  parts  of  the  back. 


3i6  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Formerly  this  bird  bred  on  the  "  wastes  "  around  Don- 
caster  and  in  the  East  Riding,  but — compelled  to  retreat 
before  the  steady  march  of  agriculture  and  the  misplaced  zeal 
of  the  game-preserver — it  has  long  since  ceased  to  do  so, 
and  can  now  only  be  regarded  as  an  extremely  rare  visitor 
to  the  county. 

That  it  also  bred  on  the  moors  of  Cleveland  is  evidenced 
by  J.  Hogg,  who  in  his  "  Birds  of  N.W.  Cleveland  and  S.E. 
Durham  "  (Zool.  1845,  p.  1053),  remarked  of  this  species  : — 
"  Gamekeepers  on  some  of  our  moors  hunt  this  bird  with 
pointers  in  the  spring,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  its  nest ; 
having  marked  the  spot,  they  afterwards  shoot  the  old  birds, 
and  destroy  their  eggs  or  brood." 

At  first  glance  this  appears  doubtful,  and  more  applicable 
to  the  Hen  Harrier,  but  its  probability  seems  to  be  greater 
when  we  remember  that  the  late  John  Hancock  stated  that 
he  took  a  nest  and  four  eggs  of  this  species  on  the  Wemmergill 
Moors,  which  are  in  Yorkshire  ("  Birds  of  Northd.  and  Dm." 
p.  17),  and  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  W.  Walton  of  Middleton- 
in-Teesdale  that  his  grandfather  used  regularly  to  shoot 
Marsh  Harriers  on  the  moors  on  the  Yorkshire  side  of  the  dale. 

The  late  Alfred  Roberts  of  Scarborough  stated  (MS.), 
that  he  had  three  eggs  of  the  Marsh  Harrier  brought  to  him 
many  years  ago  that  had  been  taken  by  a  person  named  Elliot 
on  May  Moss,  a  swampy  place  on  the  moors  between  Scar- 
borough and  Whitby ;  the  nest  being  composed  of  heather, 
grass,  and  rushes. 

In  1808  the  species  was  cited  by  Graves  as  inhabiting  Cleve- 
land ;  R.  Leyland  in  1828  mentioned  it  in  his  list  of  Halifax 
birds  ;  in  1844  Allis,  in  his  Report,  gave  it  as  sometimes  visiting 
the  moors  in  the  West  Riding  ;  and  near  Sheffield  it  has 
been  reported  from  time  to  time. 

In  October  1849,  one  was  killed  at  Wassand,  near  Hornsea, 
by  the  keeper,  in  the  presence  of  Sir  Wm.  Milner,  Bart. ; 
recorded  by  Dr.  B.  R.  Morris  in  the  Zoologist  (1850,  p.  2649). 

One  was  obtained  on  Waupley  Moors,  in  east  Cleveland, 
in  1859. 

A  fine  female  is  said  by  Wm.  Talbot,  in  his  list  of  Wakefield 


MARSH  HARRIER.  317 

birds,  to  have  been  found  in  a  rabbit  trap  at  Cudworth,  near 
Barnsley,  in  April  1869  ;  this  he  saw  in  the  flesh. 

On  i3th  October  1871,  a  young  male  was  taken  near 
Beverley,  and  recorded  in  the  Zoologist  (1871,  p.  2847),  by 
Mr.  F.  Boyes,  with  the  remark  that  it  was  "  quite  a  rare  and 
unlocked  for  occurrence." 

Mr.  A.  Clapham  of  Scarborough  stated  that  he  possesses 
an  almost  black  specimen,  shot  at  Wassand  in  February  or 
March  1872,  and  that  he  saw  another  from  the  same  place,  a 
splendid  bird,  black  with  a  rufous  head. 

Mr.  A.  Young  of  Blankney  informs  me  he  has  an  example 
killed  at  Seamer  by  his  father,  the  late  J.  Young,  keeper  to 
Lord  Londesborough. 

In  September  1877  one  was  reported  near  Pocklington 
(Nat.  1878,  p.  112). 

An  immature  male  obtained  near  York  in  1875,  is  now  in 
the  Hull  Museum. 

Near  Barnsley  a  male,  taken  early  in  October  1883,  is 
recorded  in  the  Field  of  ist  December  for  that  year. 

In  1880  one  was  trapped  at  Oakdale,  in  the  Nidd  Valley 
(J.  Carter  MS.).  (This  bird  was  erroneously  recorded  in  the 
Field,  30th  October  1880,  as  a  Hen  Harrier.) 

At  Fewston  an  example  was  captured  in  autumn  1889 
(W.  Storey  MS.). 

And  finally,  in  the  Sheffield  "  Daily  Telegraph  "  of  igth 
September  1895,  one  is  recorded  from  Thornsetts  Moors, 
near  Bradfield. 

Provincial  names  for  this  species  in  the  north  of  England, 
as  mentioned  by  Swainson,  are  Marsh  or  Moor  Hawk,  and 
White-headed  Harpy.  Moor  Buzzard  was  the  name  in  general 
use,  and  J.  Hogg  gave  Duck  Hawk  for  the  Teesmouth  district. 


HEN     HARRIER. 

Circus  cyaneus  (L.). 


Bird  of  passage,  of  rare  occurrence.     Formerly  bred  in  the  county. 

Probably  the  earliest  record  for  this  bird  in  Yorkshire 
is  in  the  year  1823,  when  the  late  John  Hancock  took  the 
eggs,  four  in  number,  on  the  Wemmergill  Moors.*  ("  Birds 
of  Northd.  and  Dm."  p.  19.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Circus  cyaneus. — Hen  Harrier — Not  uncommon  in  the  low  grounds 
and  carrs  near  Doncaster  ;  now  seldom  met  with  in  the  East  Riding. 
Rare  near  Sheffield  and  Leeds  ;  still  breeds,  as  I  am  informed  by  my 
friends  J.  and  W.  Tuke,  on  Hambleton,  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Pickering,  and  is  not  infrequently  seen  scouring  the  hedgerows  in  the 
vicinity  of  Huddersfield. 

This  species  is  now  only  an  occasional  visitor  to  our 
extensive  moors  and  unenclosed  lands  ;  it  will  be  observed 
that  the  majority  of  occurrences  have  been  in  autumn  or 
winter,  when  the  birds  are  migrating  southward  from  their 
breeding  haunts  in  Scotland  or  northern  Europe,  though  it 
has  been  noted  on  rare  occasions  on  the  return  passage  in 
spring. 

The  Hen  Harrier  formerly  bred  annually  on  the  extensive 
and  wide  spreading  tracts  of  suitable  country  to  be  found 
in  the  North  and  West  Ridings,  yet  it  is  to  be  regretted  that 
the  ornithological  records  of  our  county  relating  to  that  period 
are  exceedingly  meagre  and  scarce,  the  following  being  all 
the  information  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  on  the  nidification 
of  the  species. 

As  to  its  formerly  nesting  in  north  Yorkshire,  see  above. 
In  the  East  Riding  J.  H.  Anderson  of  Kilham,  writing  in  1833, 
in  Rennie's  "  Field  Naturalist "  (January  1834),  stated  :— 
"  The  Hen  Harrier  breeds  among  our  furze  brakes,  and  a  few 
years  ago  I  shot  the  cock  bird  on  a  nest,  and  found  six  eggs 
under  him  ;  I  have  also  had  young  ones  more  than  once." 

P.  Hawkridge  of  Scarborough,  writing  in  Neville  Wood's 

*  Wemmergill  Moors  are  in  Yorkshire. 


HEN  HARRIER.  319 

"  Naturalist "  (1838,  p.  106),  under  date  of  7th  August  1837, 
observed  : — "  Specimens  are  repeatedly  shot  on  the  moors 
near  Scarborough.  They  also  breed  there."  In  1844  & 
still  bred  on  Hambleton  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Pickering 
(see  Allis's  Report,  and  Nat.  1889,  p.  330).  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Raw 
of  Lealholm  in  Cleveland,  in  speaking  of  a  pair  in  his  possession, 
says  : — "  They  were  shot  about  thirty  years  since  [about 
1850]  by  my  father  Robert  Raw,  near  Danby  Beacon,  where 
they  had  a  nest.  I  have  heard  my  father  say  that  at  that 
time  scarcely  a  year  passed  without  a  breed  of  these  Harriers 
somewhere  on  the  Danby  Moors ;  but  of  late  years  they  have 
been  very  scarce  and  rarely  seen."  These  specimens,  together 
with  an  egg  taken  from  the  nest,  are  now  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  W.  Raw  of  Ruswarp.  Mr.  R.  Standen,  late  of  Goosnargh, 
near  Preston  (now  of  the  Manchester  Museum),  states  (MS.), 
that  a  nest  supposed  to  have  been  of  this  species  was  found  in 
Langden  Fell,  on  the  borders  of  Lancashire,  by  a  shepherd 
lad  ;  it  contained  three  bluish-white  eggs.  The  lad  described 
both  the  nest  and  the  bird  pretty  plainly.  In  Mr.  J.  C. 
Stevens'  sale  catalogue  of  25th  April  1906,  is  a  "  lot  "  of  four 
eggs,  marked  "  Hen  Harrier,  Dentdale,  Yorks.,  28th  April 
1888."  From  inquiries  I  afterwards  made  of  the  late  owner 
of  the  eggs,  the  date  appears  to  be  perfectly  reliable. 

Writing  in  1828,  R.  Leyland  mentioned  it  as  rare  in  the 
Halifax  district ;  and  in  1840  H.  Denny  of  Leeds  described 
it  as  rare,  mentioning  Halifax,  Thorp  Arch,  and  Selby  as 
localities  in  which  it  had  occurred. 

In  1844  T.  Allis  reported  as  to  its  status  on  the  low  grounds 
and  carrs  near  Doncaster,  in  the  East  Riding,  near  Sheffield, 
and  near  Huddersfield. 

On  I4th  August  1834,  one,  now  in  Admiral  Oxley's  collec- 
tion at  Ripon,  was  shot  in  the  High  Street  at  Redcar. 

Two  fine  males  were  killed  near  Bridlington  in  the  winter 
of  1846-47,  as  recorded  by  the  Rev.  F.  O.  Morris  (Zool.  1847, 
p.  1692). 

Mr.  W.  Walton  of  Middleton-in-Teesdale,  writing  in  1903, 
says  his  grandfather  used  regularly  to  shoot  the  "  Ringtail," 
on  the  moors  on  the  Yorkshire  side  of  the  Tees. 


320  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

W.  M.  Morris  mentioned  in  the  Naturalist  (1853,  p.  60), 
one  killed  near  Stockton-on-Tees  on  nth  October  1852. 

A  pair  was  obtained  at  Grinkle  in  1865,  and  Mr.  K. 
McLean  has  seen  examples  nailed  up  on  the  walls  of 
keepers'  cottages  in  that  neighbourhood. 

George  Mussell,  taxidermist,  of  Middlesbrough,  informs 
me  that  he  had  several  specimens  sent  for  preservation  from 
Ugthorpe  in  the  "  seventies,"  by  the  late  Thomas  Vaughan. 

The  late  E.  Chapman  observed  (Nat.  1886,  p.  183),  that 
two  females  were  noted  in  Wensleydale  by  Capt.  Other ;  one 
in  1870,  at  Bolton  Gill,  and  the  second  about  the  same  time 
in  Howdah  Wood,  Bainbridge. 

In  the  Western  Ainsty,  Mr.  E.  R.  Waite  mentions  a  speci- 
men picked  up  dead  in  a  rookery  at  Thorp  Arch,  in  1874,  and 
another  at  Wetherby. 

The  late  T.  Lister  of  Barnsley  informed  Mr.  W.  Eagle 
Clarke  that  one  was  taken  in  December  1875  on  the  moors 
beyond  Penistone. 

On  30th  November  1876,  the  late  James  Varley  of  Hudders- 
field  saw  a  female  at  Hebden  Bridge. 

An  immature  specimen  was  obtained  near  Filey  early  in 
February  1877,  its  capture  being  communicated  to  the 
Zoologist  (1877,  P-  I79)»  by  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Tuck. 

Mr.  James  Backhouse  of  York  mentions  (Friends'  "  Nat. 
Hist.  Journal,"  1877,  p.  56),  that  he  saw  one  near  that  city 
about  March  I2th,  and  another  at  Askham  Bog  on  the  igth 
of  the  same  month,  1877. 

Mr.  R.  Standen  states  (MS.),  that  one  was  seen  near  the 
Sykes,  Bowland,  in  May  1877. 

The  Hull  Museum  contains  a  male  from  Rylston  Fell,  Skip- 
ton,  in  September  1878,  and  a  female  killed  on  the  river  Hull. 

A  young  male,  in  rich  immature  plumage,  was  captured 
on  the  warren  at  Kilnsea  in  Holderness  on  i6th  October  1879, 
and  was  forwarded  to  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  on  the  following  day. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  Mr.  R.  Lee  of  Thirsk  remarks 
that  it  has  been  reported  at  Knapton  ;  and  A.  Roberts  of 
Scarborough  said  it  sometimes  occurs  on  the  moors  near  that 
town.  Three  pairs  came  under  the  notice  of  the  late  G.  Page 


MONTAGU'S  HARRIER.  321 

of  Guisborough  between  1865  and  1880,  all  obtained  within 
ten  miles  of  that  town.  One,  formerly  in  the  possession  of  Wm. 
Lister,  was  procured  on  Egton  Moor  by  Mr.  Bennison.  Mr.  A. 
Crabtree,  F.L.S.,  mentions  in  the  "  Halifax  Naturalist " 
(1900,  p.  86),  one  at  Blackstone  Edge  in  1879. 

On  i6th  November  1883,  a  female  was  taken  on  Sniles- 
worth  Moor,  in  the  North  Riding,  and  was  recorded  by  Mr. 
R.  Lee,  in  the  Field  of  the  24th  of  the  same  month. 

At  the  latter  end  of  April  1887,  I  examined  a  female  ex- 
ample which  had  been  trapped  at  Egton  Bridge,  near  Whitby, 
and  sent  to  Geo.  Mussell  for  preservation. 

Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  picked  up  a  dead  specimen  during 
the  Y.N.U.  excursion  at  Hatfield  Chase,  in  September  1887. 

Near  Scarborough,  in  the  autumn  of  1888,  one  was  obtained, 
and  was  recorded  by  Mr.  R.  P.  Harper  in  the  Zoologist  (1889, 
p.  150). 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  mentioned  in  the  Naturalist  (1892,  p.3)r 
one  reported  as  seen  by  Mr.  P.  Loten  on  22nd  November  1891. 

An  occurrence  at  Scarborough  in  1897  is  referred  to  Mr. 
J.  Morley,  in  the  Field,  8th  June  1901. 

Mr.  Geo.  Steels  states  (MS.),  that  he  has  preserved  two 
examples  procured  near  Pocklington,  but  he  did  not  keep 
any  records  of  the  dates. 

This  species  is  known  to  keepers  as  the  Ringtail,  and  in 
Ryedale  it  was  formerly  called  the  Blue  Hawk.* 


MONTAGU'S     HARRIER. 

Circus  cineraceus  (Montagu). 


Casual  visitant,  of  rare  occurrence,  during  the  spring  and  autumn 
migrations.  Formerly  bred  in  the  county. 

The  first  records  of  this  species  connected  with  Yorkshire 
are  given  by  Thomas  Allis  in  his  oft-quoted  Report,  thus  : — 

*  The  record  in  the  Field,  3oth  October  1880,  of  a  female  taken  in  a 
trap  near  Lofthouse-in-Nidderdale  is,  as  the  late  J.  Carter  informed 
me  (in  litt.  1902),  an  error,  the  specimen  being  a  Marsh  Harrier. 

VOL.  I.  Y 


322  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Circus  cifieraceus. — Montagu's  Harrier — Arthur  Strickland  has 
procured  this  and  the  foregoing  species  [Hen  Harrier]  in  all  stages 
from  the  nest,  though  now  seldom  met  with.  Jno.  Heppenstall  has 
a  male  from  Thorne  Moor,  where  it  bred  ;  the  nest  was  placed  amongst 
the  long  heath  (Calluna  vulgaris),  which  grows  to  a  considerable  size 
on  the  borders  of  wet  places.  F.  O.  Morris  reports  two  pairs  being  shot 
near  Doncaster  in  1835  ;  and  H.  Reid  says  one  was  killed,  by  the 
late  Mr.  Brodrick's  gamekeeper,  about  ten  years  ago,  and  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  Rev.  R.  Lucas  of  Edith  Weston.  H.  Chapman  also 
reports  having  had  the  bird,  wh.ich.is,  nevertheless,  of  rare  occurrence. 

This  species  appears  formerly  to  have  been  more  widely 
distributed  in  this  county  than  either  of  its  congeners,  the 
Marsh  and  the  Hen  Harriers,  and  it  also  was  the  last  of  the 
genus  to  depart  from  its  former  haunts.  Even  yet  it  may 
occasionally  breed  on  some  of  the  less  frequented  moors,  as, 
indeed,  I  have  information  of  its  doing,  so  recently  as  the 
present  year,  1906.  The  species  can  now,  however,  only  be 
regarded  as  a  casual  visitor  to  the  county,  occurring  most 
probably  in  the  autumn,  at  which  season  it  is  observed  in 
limited  numbers  as  an  annual  migrant  in  the  eastern  counties. 

The  earliest  notices  are  given  in  Allis's  Report,  and  it  is 
also  reasonable  to  presume  that  the  bird  bred  in  the  carrs 
near  Doncaster,  where  two  pairs  were  shot  in  1835. 

Mr.  John  Braim  records  in  Morris's  "  Naturalist "  (1855, 
p.  214),  that  in  July  1854,  a  male  was  shot  on  the  moors  near 
Whitby,  the  female  being  seen,  and  three  eggs  taken  from  the 
nest.  One  of  the  eggs  and  the  head  of  the  bird  are  now  in 
my  possession. 

Mr.  A.  Clapham  of  Scarborough  observes  that  some  years 
ago — unfortunately  he  cannot  give  the  year — Mr.  Lloyd's 
keeper  brought  to  him  in  June  a  pair  of  these  Harriers  in  the 
flesh,  along  with  their  two  young  birds  in  down,  and  some 
addled  eggs,  obtained  as  Crosscliffe,  Hackness,  near  Scar- 
borough. The  plumage  of  both  the  old  birds  was  peculiar, 
being  of  a  "  dull  slaty  mixed  colour."  The  two  sexes  were 
very  similar  in  plumage  and  size ;  the  female  being  so 
diminutive  that  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  she  was  procured 
at  the  same  time  as  her  mate  and  the  young,  she  might  have 
been  mistaken  for  a  male  bird. 


MONTAGU'S  HARRIER.  323 

I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  E.  P.  Butterfield  of  Wilsden  for 
information  relating  to  a  pair  of  Montagu's  Harriers  and 
their  young,  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Dalton,  which  were 
obtained  from  a  nest  on  Barden  Moor,  in  Wharfedale,  on 
I2th  July  1860.  The  nest  was  placed  somewhere  on  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  reservoir  of  the  Bradford  Corpor- 
ation (see  also  Nat.  1905,  pp.  60-87). 

Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney  reported,  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Jones 
of  Bridlington  Quay,  that  a  pair  and  their  nestling  young 
were  captured  near  Bridlington  in  the  year  1871. 

The  nesting  of  this  species  at  Stockton-on-the-Forest, 
near  York,  is  announced  in  the  Zoologist  (1880,  pp.  362,  445, 
512).  A  bird,  supposed  to  be  a  Montagu's  Harrier,  was 
flushed  from  some  cover,  where  a  nest  containing  one  egg  was 
found  ;  the  egg  was  compared  with  others  and  pronounced 
to  be  that  of  C.  cineraceus. 

The  most  recent  instance  of  its  attempting  to  breed  in 
Yorkshire  occurred  in  the  present  year  (1906),  when  a  nest 
with  two  eggs  was  discovered  on  a  moor  in  the  extreme  south 
of  the  county  ;  the  female  bird  being,  unfortunately,  captured 
at  the  nest. 

As  a  casual  visitant  and  autumn  migrant,  I  have  been 
able  to  obtain  very  little  information  of  its  occurrence,  the 
following  being  all  that  has  been  placed  on  record  or  com- 
municated to  me  : — 

J.  Grey  recorded  in  the  Zoologist  (1845,  p.  1054),  a  Pau" 
near  Guisborough  in  1845,  which  passed  into  the  collection 
of  Mr.  C.  Newby  of  Stockton-on-Tees. 

An  adult  male,  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  A.  Clapham  of 
Scarborough,  was  killed  in  a  quarry  near  Garforth  at  Christmas 
1846  ;  and  he  has  had  sent  him  several  specimens  by  the 
gamekeeper  at  Skipwith  Manor,  near  York. 

One  at  Escrick,  about  the  I5th  October  1849,  was  recorded 
in  the  Zoologist  (1850,  p.  2649),  by  Dr.  Morris. 

A  fine  old  male  was  taken  near  Brompton,  Northallerton, 
in  the  year  1856  (op.  cit.  1856,  p.  5251). 

On  i gth  June  1867,  an  adult  female  was  obtained  on 
Kilnsea  Warren,  by  John  Clubley,  and  preserved  by  Mr. 


324  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Richardson  of  Beverley.  Mr.  F.  Boyes  examined  this 
specimen,  and  observed  that  the  appearance  of  the  breast 
feathers  seemed  to  imply  that  it  had  been  sitting. 

About  the  same  year,  one,  procured  at  Littlebeck,  was 
stuffed  by  Mr.  Kitching  of  Whitby. 

One,  formerly  in  the  possession  of  the  late  George  Brook, 
was  captured  in  Rash  Gill,  near  the  head  of  Swaledale,  in 
the  spring  of  1870. 

In  the  Burton  Agnes  Museum,  formed  by  the  late  Sir 
Hy.  Boynton,  is  a  specimen  taken  at  Sunderlandwick,  but 
the  date  is  not  given. 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  mentioned  in  his  "  Birds  of  the 
Humber  District "  that  "  Two  immature  females  in  Mr. 
Boulton's  collection  were  killed  of  late  years  in  Holderness." 

On  I4th  May  1875,  one  was  noted  at  Acaster  Malbis, 
near  York,  and  recorded  in  the  Naturalist  (1875,  p.  80). 

The  late  A.  Roberts  of  Scarborough  preserved  a  fine  male, 
trapped  on  Seamer  Moor  in  April  1880,  which  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  A.  Young,  keeper,  of  Blankney. 

Mr.  S.  L.  Mosley  of  Huddersfield  informs  me  a  young  male 
was  killed  near  Meltham,  about  1882. 

A  male  was  seen  by  the  late  J.  Harrison  at  Wilstrop,  on 
3rd  June  1886,  as  recorded  by  Mr.  E.  R.  Waite  (op.  cit.  1891, 
p.  98). 

Mr.  M.  Bailey  of  Flamborough  had  a  female  specimen, 
obtained  near  that  place,  in  the  late  autumn  of  1896.  The 
outer  web  of  the  fifth  primary  was  not  notched,  and  the 
inner  and  outer  notches  on  the  first  and  second  primaries 
were  one  inch  below  the  coverts  (op.  cit.  1897,  p.  237). 

At  Bickley,  near  Scarborough,  a  male  was  caught  in  a 
pole-trap  on  26th  April  1901,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  R.  Fortune  of  Harrogate,  who  kindly  supplied  the  par- 
ticulars of  its  capture,  and  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  examin- 
ing the  specimen. 

The  latest  winter  occurrence  of  which  I  am  aware  was 
at  Mulgrave,  near  Whitby,  in  October  1902,  and  was 
inadvertently  recorded  (op.  cit.  1903,  p.  29),  as  a  "  Black 
Kite."  Through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Thomas  Stephenson 


COMMON  BUZZARD.  325 

and  Mr.  J.  H.  Wilson  of  Whitby,  the  specimen  was  submitted 
for  examination  to  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  and  myself,  and  proved 
to  be  a  melanic  male  example  of  Montagu's  Harrier.  It  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  Marquis  of  Normanby  at  Mulgrave 
Castle. 


COMMON    BUZZARD. 

Buteo  vulgaris  (Leach.). 


Resident  ;    but  confined   to  one  or  perhaps   two  pairs  ;    also  an 
irregular  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 


The  earliest  reference  to  this  bird  in  Yorkshire  appears  to 
have  been  made  by  Chas.  Waterton  of  Walton  Hall,  the 
accomplished  and  celebrated  ornithologist,  who,  writing  in 
"  Loudon's  Magazine  "  (August  1835,  VIII.  p.  453),  stated  :— 
"In  1813  I  had  my  last  sight  of  the  Buzzard." 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Buteo  vulgaris. — Common  Buzzard — Met  with  occasionally  in  most 
parts  of  the  county  ;  frequently  near  Doncaster,  Huddersfield,  and 
Sheffield. 

This  species,  formerly  one  of  the  most  abundant  of  the 
larger  British  birds,  is  now  exceedingly  rare,  having  gradually 
become  scarcer  since  the  gun  came  into  general  use. 

About  the  year  1850  it  bred  at  Bishop's  Wood,  near  Selby, 
three  pairs  frequenting  the  wood  annually.  This  information 
was  given  by  the  late  keeper,  Mr.  Wm.  Harland,  who  used 
to  procure  the  young  birds  when  a  boy.  At  about  the  same 
time  it  was  abundant  among  the  fells  of  Upper  Wharfedale, 
where  the  young  and  eggs  were  by  no  means  rare.  It  has 
nested  near  the  summit  of  Great  Whernside,  from  whence  its 
eggs  have  been  procured  ;  and  in  1863  two  young  birds  were 
obtained  from  a  nest  in  the  vicinity  of  Kilnsey  in  the  same 
valley.  The  late  J.  Tennant,  in  a  MS.  list  supplied  in  the 
year  1880,  remarked  that  he  had  seen  a  Buzzard's  egg  taken 
at  Hebden  Bridge,  and,  further,  that  the  late  J.  Harrison  of 
Wilstrop  knew  of  four  nests  at  Merton  Farm  in  one  year. 


326  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Mr.  E.  R.  Waite,  in  the  Naturalist  (1891,  p.  98),  states  that 
Mr.  F.  G.  Binnie  of  Edinburgh  University  wrote  : — "  I  find 
in  my  diary-  27th  February  1868,  the  following  note  :  Mr. 
Simpson,  bird-stuffer,  York,  told  me  that  some  years  since 
he  had  bought  from  some  boys  at  Tadcaster  a  pair  of  young 
Hawks,  which,  on  rearing,  turned  out  to  be  of  this  species. 
The  old  birds  had  been  seen  several  times  afterwards."  From 
this  it  seems  probable  the  Buzzard  has  bred  in  the  district. 

Mr.  H.  Smurthwaite,  writing  in  Morris's  "  Naturalist " 
(^53^  P-  *o8),  recorded  its  breeding  near  Sedbergh  in  the 
summer  of  1852  ;  and  the  same  gentleman  in  the  same  journal 
mentions  its  nesting  in  Red  Crag,  Richmond,  where  five  young 
were  reared,  a  most  unusual  number,  for,  so  far  as  my  experi- 
ence goes,  two  to  three  is  the  most  frequent  number  of  eggs, 
but  I  have  known  of  a  clutch  of  four  taken  in  Westmorland 
in  the  spring  of  1900. 

There  is  authentic  evidence  of  a  pair  or  two  nesting  in  the 
unfrequented  mountainous  districts  of  north-west  Yorkshire 
in  1878,  when  the  eggs  were  taken  and  the  old  birds  shot  at, 
in  the  belief  that  they  were  Golden  Eagles,  but  I  am  not  at 
liberty  to  mention  the  exact  locality,  as  these  birds  continue 
to  maintain  a  precarious  existence  in  their  fastnesses,  where 
they  are  able  to  pass  undetected  and  undisturbed,  and,  so 
recently  as  the  year  1906,  succeeded  in  bringing  off  young  ones. 
The  late  James  Varley  observed  a  pair  flying  in  circles  over 
Gordale  Scar  on  6th  May  1877  ;  Mr.  F.  S.  Mitchell,  late  of 
Clitheroe,  states  that  it  is  noted  almost  every  year  on  the 
Fells  near  Slaidburn,  although  he  has  never  heard  of  its  breed- 
ing ;  and  Captain  Wade  Dalton  of  Hauxwell  Hall,  near  Bedale5 
remarks  that  it  occurs  in  the  winter  on  the  moors  but  is  by 
no  means  common.  No  doubt  at  this  season  it  descends  from 
the  higher  and  more  exposed  fells  lying  to  the  westward. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Tinkler  writes  in  the  Naturalist  (1892,  p.  319), 
that  up  to  1870  it  bred  on  Buzzard  Scar  in  Swinnergill.  Both 
Buzzards  and  Ravens  used  to  breed  in  Swaledale,  and  fierce 
contests  took  place  for  possession  of  the  nesting  sites.  It 
possibly  nested  in  Arkengarthdale  up  to  1850,  and  has  been 
obtained  in  several  localities  in  the  high  reaches  of  these  dales, 


Ancient  nesting  place  of  Buzzard,  in  north-west  Yorkshire. 


.   Fortune. 


See  page  326. 


COMMON  BUZZARD.  327 

at  Ellerton,  Scollit,  and  Keld,  and  a  pair  were  seen  at  Moss 
Farm,  Milker,  in  1898.  As  the  bird  still  nests  over  the 
Westmorland  border  it  is  not  improbable  that  these  in- 
dividuals may  have  strayed  from  their  breeding  quarters. 
The  late  James  Carter  (MS.  1902),  stated  that  he  had  heard 
of  them  nesting  on  Ash  Head  Moor,  near  Masham,  "  several 
years  ago  "  ;  and  he  had  a  specimen  which  was  captured 
in  that  locality. 

In  Wensleydale,  according  to  the  late  E.  Chapman,  the 
Common  Buzzard  did  not  belie  its  name  about  forty  years 
ago,  but  it  is  now  very  rarely  seen  (MS.  1886).  It  also  occurs 
in  Teesdale,  though  very  seldom,  and  it  appears  to  have  ceased 
to  nest  in  that  district. 

This  fine  bird  formerly  bred  in  Cleveland,  on  the  high 
ridge  between  Waupley  and  Danby,  and  it  also  used  to  nest 
in  Douthwaite  Dale,  near  Whitby.  It  is  still  occasionally 
obtained  in  these  districts,  noticeably  in  the  Grinkle  and 
Mulgrave  Woods,  where  specimens  were  trapped  in  1886, 
1887,  and  1895  ;  as  also  at  Ingleby-in-Cleveland,  the  latest 
record  at  that  place  being  in  1887,  when  an  adult  female  was 
captured. 

As  a  partial  migrant  the  Buzzard  is  most  frequently  met 
with  in  the  autumn,  it  is  occasionally  noted  in  spring,  and 
although  it  has  been  frequently  observed,  especially  near  the 
coast,  it  is  far  from  regular  in  its  occurrence,  more  particularly 
during  the  last  few  years.  Near  Beverley  it  is  stated  to  be 
now  more  rare  than  its  congener  the  Rough-legged  Buzzard, 
and  this  really  appears  to  be  the  case.  The  communicated 
and  recorded  instances  of  its  occurrence  have,  however, 
become  too  voluminous  for  particularization ;  suffice  it  to 
say  that  it  has  been  noted  in  most  parts  of  the  county  dur- 
ing the  autumn  and  winter. 

Mr.  W.  Walton  of  Middleton-in-Teesdale  informs  me  that 
his  grandfather  kept  a  pet  "  Buzzard  Hawk,"  and,  cock- 
fighting  being  then  in  vogue,  he  pitted  it  against  game- 
cocks, when  it  came  off  victorious.  He  also  remarks  it  had 
a  very  peculiar  method  of  attacking  its  foe.  The  late  J. 
Harrison  of  Wilstrop  reported  in  the  Field  (29th  May  1886), 


328  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

an  interesting  instance  of  a  Buzzard  in  his  aviary  nesting 
and  laying  two  eggs. 

This  bird  is  now  too  rare  to  be  known  by  any  vernacular 
names,  though  in  former  days,  when  it  was  abundant,  it 
was  sometimes  confounded  with  the  Kite,  and  known  by  that 
name,  as  also  Glead  or  Gled. 


ROUGH-LEGGED    BUZZARD. 

Buteo  lagopus  (Gmelin). 


Winter  visitant,  occurring  occasionally  in  varying  numbers,  and 
chiefly  near  the  coast.  Rarely  observed  on  the  spring  migration. 

Apparently  the  earliest  reference  to  this  species  in  York- 
shire is  contained  in  Thomas  Allis's  Report,  1844  : — 

Buteo  lagopus. — Rough-legged  Buzzard — My  friend  John  Heppen- 
stall  says  that  many  were  seen  and  obtained  near  Sheffield  in  the 
winter  of  1839-40;  with  this  exception  it  appears  to  be  a  rare  bird. 
H.  Chapman  informs  me  he  has  had  it  ;  besides  which,  the  recorded 
specimens  are  by  Henry  Denny,  shot  at  Garforth  in  1833  ;  two  by  A. 
Strickland  who  says  that  one  of  these  came  into  his  possession  a  few 
years  ago  ;  it  had  been  noticed  on  the  Wolds  for  some  time,  and  had 
the  appearance  and  habit  of  an  Owl  upon  the  wing,  and,  from  its  low 
flights  and  small  feet,  he  has  no  doubt  but  its  principal  food  will  be  found 
to  be  insects  ;  I  differ  from  him  in  opinion  on  this  head,  as  in  1839 
my  friend  H.  Doubleday  sent  me  a  live  bird  which  was  one  out  of 
more  than  fifty  which  had  been  trapped  on  a  rabbit  warren  ;  this  took 
animal  food  just  like  vulgaris.  Dr.  Farrar  reports  two  taken  in  1840, 
one  of  them  being  shot  at  Clayton  Heights,  the  other  trapped  at 
Hawksworth  Hall ;  H.  Reid  reports  one  shot  at  Bilham,  now  possessed 
by  the  Rev.  G.  Wright.  W.  Eddison  says  it  is  scarce  near  Huddersfield, 
and  H.  Denny  mentions  it  as  being  frequently  met  with  at  Black  Hill, 
when  a  rabbit  warren. 

This  bird  occurs  almost  annually  in  Yorkshire  as  an 
autumn  migrant,  usually  in  the  month  of  October,  and  varies 
very  considerably  in  its  numbers  ;  some  years  being  very 
scarce  or  unnoticed,  whilst  in  others  great  flights  visit  us  ; 
the  first  great  migration  of  which  mention  is  made  took 
place  in  the  winter  of  1839-40  ;  others  at  intervals  occurred 


ROUGH-LEGGED  BUZZARD.  329 


until  1876-77,  again  in  1879,  I^8i,  1892,  and  the  most  recent 
in  the  autumn  of  1903,  affording  the  most  marked  evidence 
of  these  irregular  and  inexplicable  occurrences.  That  in 
1903  was  observed  along  the  north-east  coast  from  Holy  Island 
to  Spurn,  the  first  arrivals  taking  place  on  the  loth  of  October, 
when  I  saw  one  which  had  been  killed  at  Flamborough  ;  and 
the  latest  reported  example  was  seen  on  Swainby  Moor  in 
the  middle  of  April  following.  So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to 
ascertain  they  occurred  at  the  following  places  :  — 

Flamborough,  loth  October,  two  seen,  one  of  which  was 
captured. 

Bempton,  same  date,  two  seen  in  the  neighbourhood, 
where  they  remained  for  several  days. 

Spurn  promontory,  same  date,  two  occurred  near  Kilnsea, 
and  several  others  noticed  daily  for  a  week  or  more  afterwards, 
at  various  localities  between  Patrington  and  Spurn,  where 
their  appearance  was  a  common  topic  of  conversation  amongst 
the  inhabitants  of  the  farms  and  villages. 

Hull,  about  the  end  of  October,  one,  taken  near  the 
borough. 

Seamer  Moors,  near  Scarborough,  between  the  I3th  October 
and  the  7th  November,  no  fewer  than  twenty  were  reported, 
ten  of  which  were  trapped. 

Whitby,  I2th  October,  one,  washed  up  on  the  beach. 

Grosmont,  I4th  October,  two  seen,  one  being  obtained. 

Glaisdale,  same  date,  seven  observed. 

Loftus-in-Cleveland,  end  of  October,  four  seen  on  an 
adjacent  moor  ;  one  was  trapped  and,  through  the  courtesy 
of  Mr.  Claude  Pease,  it  came  into  my  possession. 

Teesmouth,  loth  October,  one  seen. 

Swainby,  i6th  November,  two  seen  on  the  moor  ;  one  in 
April  1904. 

Bransdale,  27th  November,  one  caught,  six  or  seven 
others  seen. 

Farndale  Head,  middle  of  October,  one  seen  ;  ist  Nov- 
ember, one  trapped  ;  another  killed  on  i8th  January  1904, 
and  a  third  on  I5th  March.  One  seen  in  April,  and  others 
reported  in  the  district. 


330  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Boltby,  near  Thirsk,  February  1904,  three  trapped. 

Gatherly  Moor,  near  Richmond,  one  caught  alive  in 
November. 

Swaledale,  one  in  November. 

Wharfedale,  November,  several  seen  in  various  places  ; 
it  was  calculated  that  nine  at  least  were  observed,  besides 
four  others  which  were  captured. 

An  examination  of  several  specimens  obtained  during 
1876-77,  and  many  of  those  killed  in  1903-4,  resulted  in  the 
discovery  that,  with  one  exception  in  each  case,  they  were 
all  in  immature  plumage  and  light  tawny-coloured  birds 
with  the  upper  parts  mottled  with  lightish  brown,  whilst 
the  breast,  belly,  and  thighs  were  striped  longitudinally 
with  the  same  tint ;  the  irides  were  pale  straw  colour.  The 
exceptional  bird  was  of  a  generally  uniform  dark  brown  colour. 

On  going  through  the  numerous  instances  of  winter 
occurrence  in  this  county,  I  can  only  find  mention  made  of 
two  mature  birds  ;  one  of  these  was  taken  at  Patrington  in 
January  1877,  and  described  as  an  old  male.  On  25th  May 
1877,  I  found  on  the  sands  at  Redcar  the  remains  of  a 
Rough-legged  Buzzard,  which  had  apparently  died  while 
crossing  the  sea  and  had  been  washed  ashore.  This  is  the 
only  instance  of  late  spring  migration  which  has  come  under 
my  notice.  The  occurrence  of  this  species  in  mature  plumage 
in  the  British  Isles  is  of  the  greatest  rarity. 

Its  former  breeding  on  the  ground  at  Hackness,  near 
Scarborough  (A.  G.  More,  Ibis,  1865),  is  no  longer  regarded 
as  worthy  of  consideration. 

During  the  autumn,  winter,  and  spring  this  species  has 
occurred  at  one  time  or  another  in  all  parts  of  the  county, 
being  especially  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast.  As  the 
recorded  and  communicated  instances  are  so  very  numerous, 
and  the  bird  is  regarded  as  an  annual  visitant,  an  enumeration 
of  the  localities  is  quite  unnecessary. 

Although  in  cultivated  or  low-lying  country  the  Rough- 
legged  Buzzard  feeds  largely  on  rats,  voles,  and  such  "  small 
deer,"  it  cannot  be  acquitted  of  the  offence  of  killing  game, 
and  when  opportunity  offers  it  is  an  inveterate  poacher  ; 


GOLDEN  EAGLE.  331 

many  of  those  which  visited  Yorkshire  in  the  autumn  and 
winter  of  1903-4  took  up  their  abode  on  the  moorlands,  and 
on  Seamer  Moor  they  were  observed  quartering  the  ground 
and  hovering  like  Kestrels ;  two  that  were  captured  had 
remains  of  voles  and  rabbits  in  their  crops,  but  on  some  of 
the  Cleveland  Moors  individuals  were  detected  whilst  in  the 
act  of  killing  and  devouring  Grouse.  My  taxidermist  tells 
me  that  in  the  crop  of  a  Buzzard  which  he  preserved  he 
found  a  quantity  of  flesh  and  feathers  of  this  game-bird  ; 
others  have  been  seem  to  capture  and  carry  away  game ; 
in  Farndale  one  was  shot  while  killing  a  Grouse  ;  on  Swainby 
Moor  another  was  killed  as  it  rose  from  its  quarry,  that  proved 
to  be  a  freshly  killed  and  warm  hen  Grouse  ;  yet  another 
has  been  seen  to  carry  off  an  old  Grouse  and  clear  every 
particle  of  flesh  off  its  bones  at  one  meal,  whilst  one  bold  robber 
ventured  into  the  vicinity  of  a  keeper's  house  on  the  edge  of  the 
moors,  where  it  raided  the  domesticated  pigeons. 


GOLDEN     EAGLE. 

Aquila  chrysaetus  (Z.). 


Casual  visitant,  of  very  rare  occurrence. 


The  first  mention  of  the  Golden  Eagle  as  connected  with 
Yorkshire  is  in  Dodsley's  "  Annual  Register,'1  1804,  where 
it  is  stated  that  a  bird  of  the  Eagle  kind  was  shot  on  2Qth 
November  1804,  at  Stockfield  [Stockeld  (?)]  Park,  near 
Wetherby,  by  Mr.  Cummins,  gamekeeper  to  the  Countess 
of  Aberdeen,  in  the  grounds  near  the  house,  and  was  secured 
alive.  This  specimen  is  also  mentioned  under  the  heading 
of  Golden  Eagle  in  the  late  Henry  Denny's  catalogue  of  the 
animals  occurring  near  Leeds,  published  in  1840. 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Aquila  chryscetus. — Golden  Eagle — Arthur  Strickland  reports  that 
one  has  been  killed  in  the  East  Riding,  and  one  specimen  in  the  North 
Riding  ;  it  was  shot  near  the  Tees  on  5th  November  1833.  by  T.  L. 
Rudd,  Esq.,  of  Marston  [Marton]-in-Cleveland  ;  it  weighed  I2lbs., 


332  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

its  length  was  3ft.  4ins.  ;  expanse  of  wing  7ft.  sins.  ;  bill  3ins.  See 
Hogg's  "  Nat.  Hist,  of  Stockton-on-Tees."  [The  following  note  is 
inserted  in  the  opposite  sheet  of  Allis's  Report,  and  the  paragraph 
referred  to  above  is  crossed  out.] 

The  bird  reported  as  the  Golden  Eagle  in  the  "  Natural  History  of 
Stockton-on-Tees,"  proved  to  be  abicilla  ;  there  are,  I  believe,  there- 
fore, only  two  recorded  Yorkshire  specimens  ;  the  one  reported  by 
Arthur  Strickland,  and  a  subsequent  specimen,  shot  by  Admira 
Mitford's  gamekeeper,  and  which  is  in  the  Scarborough  Museum. — T.A. 

The  instances  of  the  visits  of  this  noble  species,  which  is 
an  inhabitant  of  the  Scottish  Highlands,  to  any  part  of 
England  being  extremely  rare,  as  evidenced  by  its  absence 
from  most  county  lists,  Yorkshire  would  seem  to  have  been 
favoured  by  them  to  an  unusual  degree,  no  fewer  than  seven 
instances  of  its  occurrence  within  the  limits  of  the  county 
being  recorded  ;  chiefly  during  the  winter  months. 

From  the  fact  that  the  White-tailed  Eagle  in  the  dark 
plumage  of  immaturity  has  been  so  frequently  confounded 
with  the  present  species,  the  most  careful  enquiries  have  been 
made  as  to  the  identification  of  the  following,  and  many 
other  supposed  occurrences  which  were  communicated. 

The  first  Yorkshire  instance  is  that  referred  to  (above) 
in  1804.  Efforts  have  been  made  to  trace  this  specimen, 
but  the  authority  is  so  good  that  there  appears  to  be  no 
reason  for  doubt. 

The  York  "  Courant  "  for  January  1838  contained  an 
account  of  an  Eagle  which  was  trapped  during  that  month 
at  Beningborough,  near  that  city,  in  which  neighbourhood 
it  committed  numerous  depredations  for  a  week  before  its 
capture.  The  expanse  of  wing  in  this  specimen  was  given 
as  7  feet  10  inches.  Neville  Wood,  noticing  the  occurrence 
in  his  "  Naturalist "  (1838,  iii.  p.  214),  presumed  from  the 
dimensions  given  that  the  specimen  was  referable  to  this 
species. 

One  in  the  first  year's  plumage  was  taken  at  Hunmanby 
on  24th  July  1844,  on  the  estate  of  Admiral  Mitford,  who 
presented  it  to  the  Scarborough  Museum.  This  information 
was  communicated  by  the  late  Alfred  Roberts,  and  is  also 
mentioned  by  Allis. 


GOLDEN  EAGLE.  333 

One  instance  of  its  occurrence  in  the  East  Riding  was 
reported  by  Arthur  Strickland  to  Thomas  Allis,  and  is  included 
in  his  Report  at  the  head  of  this  chapter. 

Captain  Edward  H.  Turton  of  Upsall  Castle,  Thirsk, 
states  (MS.)  that  a  specimen  in  his  museum  was  obtained 
about  Christmas  1851,  on  Court  Moor,  Kildale,  near  Stokesley, 
in  the  North  Riding,  by  his  father's  keeper. 

A  beautiful  young  female,  in  the  first  year's  plumage, 
was  captured  in  December  1861,  at  Skerne,  near  Drimeld, 
in  the  East  Riding,  when  in  the  act  of  eating  a  hare,  by  a  man 
called  Kemp,  gamekeeper  to  Mr.  A.  Bannister.  It  was 
skinned  and  set  up  by  Alfred  Roberts  of  Scarborough,  who 
said  it  weighed  8fbs.  5ozs.  This  bird  is  now  in  the  fine  collec- 
tion of  the  Norwich  Museum,  to  which  it  was  presented  by 
Mr.  Francis  Hoare,  formerly  of  Tranby  Park,  near  Hull, 
to  whom,  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton  and  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney,  I 
am  indebted  for  the  particulars. 

In  the  winter  of  1850-51,  one  was  shot  at,  and  wounded 
in  one  wing,  by  Mr.  Tom  Fewster  at  Helwath,  Harwood  Dale, 
about  ten  miles  from  Scarborough.  It  was  captured  alive, 
little  the  worse,  and  taken  to  Sir  John  Johnstone  of  Hackness 
Hall,  who  presented  it  to  Squire  Hill  of  Thornton.  The 
bird  recovered  the  use  of  its  wing  and  lived  in  captivity  until 
1864  ;  when  captured  it  was  evidently  immature,  having 
black  bars  at  the  end  of  its  tail  and  white  at  the  base  ;  the 
tail  gradually  darkened  in  colour,  only  becoming  uniformly 
black  in  its  last  year.  The  specimen  was  preserved  by  Graham 
of  York,  and  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Hill  of  Thornton, 
the  son  of  its  original  owner  (Prodham,  Nat.  1887,  p.  84). 
This  is  the  example  described  by  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  ("  Birds 
of  Yorkshire,"  Trans.  Y.N.U.),  as  shot  at  Thornton  in  1864. 

The  latest  Yorkshire  Golden  Eagle  is  an  immature  male 
bird  killed  at  Kettlewell,  near  Starbotton,  on  the  upper 
reaches  of  the  Wharfe,  on  I7th  November  1902,  by  Mr.  J.  W. 
Mallinson,  river-watcher,  who  informs  me  (in  litt.},  that,  while 
in  pursuance  of  his  duties,  his  attention  was  attracted  by  a 
noise  in  a  tree,  afterwards  found  to  have  been  caused  by  the 
Eagle  knocking  a  steel  rabbit  trap,  that  was  fastened  to  its 


334  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

left  foot,  against  a  branch  while  preparing  for  flight  as  its 
enemy,  man,  approached.  The  bird  flew  about  two  hundred 
yards  and  then  settled  on  the  ground,  when  Mr.  Mallinson 
killed  it  with  a  stick.  It  proved  to  be  in  poor  condition 
owing,  doubtless,  to  the  encumbrance  of  the  trap,  and  is 
supposed  to  have  been  in  the  neighbourhood  for  some  time, 
as  the  farmers  had  complained  of  trapped  rabbits  being  torn 
to  pieces  in  the  snares.  The  dimensions  of  the  specimen 
were  :  total  length  3  feet  i  inch,  expanse  of  wings  8  feet 
2j  inches,  weight  gj  Ibs.  Mr.  R.  Butterfield  of  Wilsden 
supplied  me  with  further  particulars  to  the  effect  that  the 
basal  two-thirds  of  the  tail  is  white,  and  the  acuminated 
tips  of  the  feathers  in  the  cervical  parts  appear  to  indicate 
the  tawny  colour  of  the  adult.  The  gizzard  contained  some 
hare's  fur  and  sheep's  wool.  The  specimen,  which  is  supposed 
to  be  a  third  year's  bird,  was  preserved  by  Mr.  G.  Widdas 
of  Bradford,  and  is  in  the  possession  of  its  captor. 


WHITE-TAILEJ    EAGLE. 
Haliaetus  albicilla  (/,.). 


Casual  visitant,   of  rare  occurrence,   chiefly  in   winter,   and   near 
the  coast,  but  not  confined  to  that  district. 


The  earliest  published  reference  to  this  bird  in  Yorkshire 
is  contained  in  the  Tunstall  MS.  (1784),  where  it  is  stated, 
under  the  heading  of  "  Cinereous  Eagle,"  to  have  been  "  not 
unfrequently  shot  in  Yorkshire,"  though  as  Tunstall  did  not 
himself  see  the  specimens  he  could  not  determine  the  species. 
(Fox's  "  Synopsis,"  p.  47.) 

Thomas  Allis,  in  1844,  wrote  : — 

Halieetus  albicilla. — White-tailed  Eagle — Several  specimens  have 
been  killed  in  the  North  and  East  Ridings.  I  have  notice  of  only  one 
in  the  West  Riding,  shot  at  Okeley,  and  which  went  into  the  possession 
of  Mr.  John  Childers. 

The  White-tailed  or  Sea  Eagle  is  but  a  very  occasional 


WHITE-TAILED  EAGLE.  335 

visitor,  occurring  chiefly  in  the  autumn  and  winter,  on  its 
passage  southward  from  northern  latitudes.  Although  most 
frequent  on  the  coast,  yet  it  is  by  no  means  confined  to  it, 
and  visits  our  large  inland  woods  and  waters,  where  its  size 
soon  attracts  the  attention  of  the  gamekeeper,  to  whose  gun 
or  snare  it  usually  falls  a  victim.  In  Yorkshire,  as  in  Norfolk, 
Durham,  and  Northumberland  ("  Birds  of  Northd.  and  Dm." 
1874),  the  majority  of  specimens  that  have  occurred  are  in 
immature  plumage.  Stevenson  in  his  "  Birds  of  Norfolk  " 
attributed  this  to  the  well-known  habit  of  the  old  birds  of 
most  of  the  Falconidae  of  driving  away  their  young  from 
the  nesting  places  as  soon  as  they  are  able  to  provide  for 
themselves.  A  specimen,  formerly  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  A. 
Clapham  of  Scarborough,  and  now  in  the  Leeds  Museum,  is 
interesting,  inasmuch  as  only  two  or  three  feathers  of  the 
tail  show  black  tips,  having  only  these  to  cast  to  attain  to 
maturity  of  plumage.  This  bird  was  taken  at  Castle  Howard 
in  the  year  1841. 

In  Graves's  "  History  of  Cleveland "  one  is  mentioned 
as  having  been  shot  in  December  1807,  at  Staingate,  near 
Danby  Lodge,  and  is  possibly  the  one  referred  to  in  the 
next  paragraph. 

Mr.  Thomas  Stephenson  of  Whitby  obtained  information 
of  one  killed  in  Stonegate  Ghyll  many  years  ago  by  a  man 
named  Pringles,  whilst  poaching  by  moonlight.  This  was 
formerly  in  the  possession  of  the  late  G.  Page  of  Guisborough, 
and  was  sold  at  the  dispersal  of  his  collection. 

Mr.  A.  Woodruffe-Peacock  announced  (Nat.  1895,  p.  332), 
the  discovery  of  a  record  of  this  species,  obtained  near  Hessle 
between  1810  and  1818,  and  which  had  been  noted  in  an  old 
copy  of  Bewick's  "  British  Birds,"  formerly  in  the  possession 
of  Mr.  Michael  Woodcock,  surgeon,  of  Hemsworth. 

One  was  reported  off  the  mouth  of  the  Tees  on  5th 
November  1823  (Zool.  1845,  p.  1051). 

Admiral  C.  C.  Oxley  of  Ripon  has  in  his  collection  an 
individual,  taken  near  Marske-by-the-Sea  church  in  October 
1836.  This  is  the  bird  recorded  by  John  Grey  as  a  Golden 
Eagle,  (torn.  cit.  p.  1051). 


336  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

The  late  Patrick  Hawkridge  recorded  in  Neville  Wood's 
"  Naturalist  "  (1837,  P-  324)>  one  at  Haverah  Park,  which  was 
presented  to  the  Scarborough  Museum  by  Sir  W.  A.  Ingilby 
of  Ripley  Castle. 

A  specimen  at  Okeley  is  mentioned  in  Thomas  Allis's 
Report,  1844. 

Mr.  James  Backhouse,  writing  in  1880,  states  that  an 
Eagle,  probably  of  this  species,  was  trapped  at  Cronkley 
Scar,  Upper  Teesdale,  in  1844,  by  C.  Dowson,  whose  son 
described  the  specimen. 

Sterland  in  his  "  Birds  of  Sherwood  Forest  "  mentioned 
an  immature  bird  which  was  shot  at  Laughton-en-le-Morthen 
on  I3th  January  1857,  after  a  fortnight's  sojourn  in  the 
neighbourhood. 

An  example  was  reported  on  the  Cleveland  coast  between 
Skinningrove  and  Cattersty  by  G.  Allison,  in  the  year  1860, 
as  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  Kenneth  McLean. 

In  October  1863  one  was  secured  at  Speeton  Cliffs  by 
Thomas  Leng,  after  several  unsuccessful  attempts.  It  was 
preserved  by  Mr.  Matthew  Bailey  of  Flamborough,  who  has 
kindly  given  me  this  information,  and  further  states  that  the 
bird  measured  thirty-nine  inches  from  the  tip  of  the  bill  to 
the  end  of  the  tail,  and  7  feet  6  inches  in  expanse  of  wing. 
This  bird  passed  into  the  collection  of  Captain  Crowe  of 
Speeton.  Not  very  long  before  this  (January  1861),  Leng 
procured  another,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
M.  Bailey.  In  both  instances  the  age  is  given  by  Mr. 
Bailey  as  about  three  years.  The  examples  mentioned  by 
Cordeaux  ("  Birds  of  Humber  District,"  p.  2),  are  referable 
to  these  specimens,  there  being  an  error  of  date  in  Cordeaux' s 
record. 

The  late  Alfred  Roberts  of  Scarborough  stated  (MS.), 
that  one  was  obtained  at  Wykeham  in  1864 ;  and  another 
on  Seamer  Moor,  which,  when  observed,  was  mobbed  by 
hundreds  of  Rooks. 

A  fine  male,  trapped  at  Long  Pain,  Bedale  Wood,  near 
Scarborough,  on  I7th  January  1865,  and  sent  to  D.  Graham 
of  York,  to  stuff,  by  Lady  Downe,  was  exhibited  at  a  meeting 


WHITE-TAILED  EAGLE.  337 

of  the  Yorkshire  Naturalists'  Club.  Graham  remarked  that 
it  had  been  noticed  in  the  neighbourhood  for  several  winters. 
This  information  is,  however,  too  vague  to  warrant  any 
opinion  as  to  the  maturity  or  immaturity  of  the  bird. 

One  in  the  Duke  ot  Devonshire's  possession  at  Chats- 
worth  was  killed  by  a  keeper  in  the  Forest  Moors  near  Bolton 
Abbey,  about  the  year  1871.  It  was  unable  to  rise  at  the 
time,  being  gorged  while  feeding  on  the  carcase  of  a  sheep, 
and  the  keeper  tried  to  capture  it  alive,  but  the  bird  fought 
so  hard  that  he  was  compelled  to  kill  it  with  his  stick. 

Mr.  P.  W.  Loten  of  Easington  informs  me  that  in  October 
1876  a  White-tailed  Eagle  frequented  Kilnsea,  near  Spurn, 
for  some  weeks,  during  which  period  it  was  often  observed. 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux,  writing  in  the  Naturalist  (1890,  p. 
10),  recorded  the  occurrence  of  two,  one  of  which,  an  immature 
female,  measuring  eight  feet  in  extent  of  wings,  was  killed 
on  28th  October  1889,  by  Mr.  G.  E.  Clubley,  with  a  charge  of 
No.  8  shot  in  the  head,  while  skimming  over  the  bents  at 
Spurn.  (See  also  Zool.  1891,  p.  365.)  At  Scalby,  near  Scar- 
borough, Mr.  W.  J.  Clarke  recorded  (torn.  cit.  1891,  p.  470), 
the  capture  of  an  immature  specimen  on  7th  November  1891, 
a  second  bird  being  seen  on  the  two  following  days. 

In  the  Field  of  7th  January  1893,  Mr.  Stuart  of  Beverley 
described  a  bird,  captured  at  Leven  on  the  2nd  of  the  same 
month,  which  was  brought  to  him  to  preserve.  It  measured 
6  feet  lof  inches  in  expanse  of  wings,  and  weighed  loj  fts. 
Mr.  F.  Boyes,  who  examined  the  specimen,  expresses  the 
opinion  that  it  was  an  adult. 

In  the  same  year  a  male  example  was  taken  to  Mr.  T. 
Machen  of  Bridlington,  who  informed  me  that  he  also  had  an 
adult  female,  taken  at  Boynton,  on  Sir  C.  Strickland's  estate; 
on  8th  February  1897,  which  may  have  been  the  individual 
reported  by  Mr.  M.  Bailey  (Nat.  1897,  p.  80),  as  having  been 
observed  for  some  days  in  the  vicinity  of  Flamborough. 

An  immature  individual  was  killed  on  8th  December  1898, 
at  South  Kirkby,  near  Burntwood  Hall,  Barnsley,  and  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  Dymond  of  Burntwood  Hall 
(Dymond,  in  litt.  1905). 

VOL.  i.  z 


338  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

At  various  times  and  in  different  parts  of  the  county, 
"  Eagles  "  are  announced  to  have  been  seen,  though  it  is 
difficult  to  distinguish  the  species  of  the  larger  raptores 
without  close  examination.  In  the  winter  of  1876  no  fewer 
than  six  large  birds,  described  to  me  by  the  observer  (who  had 
a  Golden  Eagle  in  confinement)  as  "  Sea-Eagles,"  came  from 
seaward,  in  stormy  weather,  and  flew  over  the  Tees  Break- 
water towards  the  north  side  of  the  estuary.  In  1886,  as  I 
am  informed  by  Dr.  Snowdon  of  Hutton  Rudby,  an  immense 
Eagle  flew  within  a  dozen  feet  as  he  was  driving  on  his  profes- 
sional rounds  near  Crathorne-in-Cleveland  ;  the  tawny  colour 
was  distinctly  visible.  Another  was  seen  on  the  moor  at 
Scarth  Nick,  near  Swainby,  in  1895.  A  fine  adult,  with  white 
tail,  was  observed  by  Mr.  G.  E.  Clubley,  on  23rd  January 
1891,  on  a  block  of  ice,  on  the  coast  near  Kilnsea,  where  he 
attempted  to  stalk  it,  as  related  in  the  Field  of  I4th  February 
in  that  year.  In  the  autumn  of  1891  Mr.  M.  Bailey  of  Flam- 
borough  noticed  two  Eagles,  presumably  of  this  species; 
and  on  2nd  May  1892  an  example  was  seen  at  Easington  by 
Mr.  Pye.  In  the  Field  of  23rd  April  1892,  Mr.  R.  Lee  of 
Thirsk  describes  two  individuals  seen  near  that  place  on  the 
I2th  of  the  same  month.  And  at  Lowthorpe,  in  1899,  Mr. 
W.  H.  St.  Quintin  saw  an  Eagle,  flying  close  to  the  ground 
pursued  by  Rooks,  and  which  passed  within  a  hundred  yards 
of  a  shooting  party.  Another  example  was  seen  on  Swainby 
Moor,  in  February  1904,  by  T.  Whitwell,  Mr.  Emerson's  keeper, 
who  described  it  as  being  "twice  as  large  as  a  Buzzard." 
As  remarked  above,  these  birds  may  have  been  Sea  Eagles, 
but  without  further  particulars  it  is  impossible  to  name  the 
species  with  accuracy. 


339 
GOSHAWK. 

Astur  palumbarius  (Z.). 


Casual  visitant,  in  spring  and  autumn,  of  rare  occurrence.  Hat 
been  observed  occasionally  in  winter,  and  is  most  frequent  near  the 
coast. 


The  earliest  mention  of  the  Goshawk  in  Yorkshire  appears 
to  be  in  Thomas  Allis's  Report,  written  in  1844,  thus  : — 

Astur  palumbarius. — Goshawk — The  only  Yorkshire  specimen  on 
record  was  shot  at  Cusworth  by  Mr.  Wrightson's  gamekeeper,  in  1825. 

This  fine  Hawk,  formerly  one  of  the  falconer's  first 
favourites,  has  occurred  at  intervals  in  the  county,  generally 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast,  when  on  the  spring  and  autumn 
passage.  There  are,  however,  instances  on  record  of  its 
being  obtained  in  January  and  in  June. 

One,  in  the  year  1825,  at  Cusworth,  near  Doncaster,  as 
mentioned  above. 

Near  Easington  in  Holderness,  a  male  and  female  were 
killed  on  I5th  October  1852,  by  G.  S.  Gibbs,  gamekeeper  to 
Mr.  H.  Kirk  of  Stockton-on-Tees,  as  mentioned  in  Morris's 
"  Naturalist  "  (1853,  p.  19),  by  D.  Graham  of  York. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Yorkshire  Naturalists'  Club  on  2nd 
March  1864,  D.  Graham  exhibited  a  fine  specimen  taken 
near  Oswaldkirk  by  Mr.  J.  Bower. 

Mr.  R.  Lorrimer  obtained  a  fine  specimen  whilst  in  pursuit 
of  its  prey  on  Filey  Brigg  in  the  first  week  October  1864 ; 
the  fact  being  communicated  to  the  Sheffield  "  Daily 
Telegraph  "  (8th  October  1864),  by  Colonel  Newman,  mention 
being  also  made  of  it  in  the  Zoologist  (1864,  p.  9327). 

On  29th  August  1875,  one  was  reported  at  Ewecote,  near 
Whitby,  of  which  a  note  was  included  in  the  Rural  Notes 
communicated  to  the  "  Yorkshire  Post "  (i4th  March  1876), 
by  Geo.  Roberts  of  Lofthouse. 

About  the  year  1877  a  Goshawk  was  captured  at  Ewecote, 
near  Whitby,  by  Mr.  T.  Crosby,  for  whom  it  was  stuffed  by 
Mr.  Kitching  of  that  town.  Possibly  these  last  two  records 
relate  to  the  same  example. 


340  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

One  in  the  possession  of  Admiral  Oxley  of  Ripon  is  said 
to  have  been  obtained  in  that  neighbourhood,  but  no  details 
are  forthcoming  as  to  the  date  of  its  occurrence,  nor  of  that 
of  a  specimen  stated  by  Mr.  Thomas  Bunker  (MS.),  to  have 
been  caught  by  the  keeper  at  Ousefleet  Grange. 

Mr.  Matthew  Bailey  of  Flamborough  has  supplied  the 
particulars  of  a  specimen  obtained  near  Flamborough  ;  from 
this  communication  the  following  account  is  condensed  :— 
The  bird,  a  fine  old  female,  had  frequented  the  neighbourhood 
for  some  weeks,  baffling  all  attempts  made  to  shoot  it,  until 
23rd  January  1877,  when  it  was  observed  by  the  gamekeeper 
of  the  Rev.  Lloyd  Greame,  of  Sewerby  Hall,  to  kill  a  full-grown 
rabbit,  which  it  had  carried  about  twenty  yards  when  he  shot 
at  but  missed  it.  Concealing  himself  in  an  adjoining  wood 
the  keeper  had  not  long  to  wait,  as  the  bird  soon  returned 
and  was  killed.  This  bird,  Mr.  Bailey  informs  me,  is  now  in 
the  collection  of  Sir  Vauncey  Crewe,  Bart. 

In  the  collection  of  Mr.  A.  Clapham  of  Scarborough  are 
four  Yorkshire  specimens,  and  I  am  indebted  to  the  owner 
for  the  following  information  relating  to  them  : — An  adult 
female,  brought  to  him  in  the  flesh  in  the  spring  of  185-, 
which  had  been  taken  by  Lady  Downe's  keeper  at  Wykeham. 
A  young  male  in  singular  "  cuckoo  "  plumage,  trapped  on 
the  Lockton  Moors,  near  Pickering,  in  June  1864  (mistaken 
for  an  Iceland  Falcon,  Zool.  1864,  p.  9244).  A  mature  female, 
obtained  through  D.  Graham  of  York,  in  Mowbraydale  above 
Malton ;  Mr.  Clapham  has  unfortunately  misplaced  the 
memorandum  of  the  date.  An  adult  female  trapped  on  a 
rabbit  warren  near  Harrogate  on  I5th  April  1871. 

In  addition  to  these,  Mr.  Clapham  has  examined  four  or 
five  others  obtained  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Scarborough, 
and  remarks  that,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  these  passed 
through  the  hands  of  the  late  A.  Roberts,  who  stated  that  he 
had  preserved,  since  the  year  1864,  no  fewer  than  five  birds  of 
this  species,  obtained  principally  from  Seamer  and  Wykeham. 
Mr.  A.  Young,  keeper,  Blankney,  formerly  of  Seamer,  informs 
me  (in  Hit.  February  1904),  that  two  of  these  specimens  are 
in  his  possession. 


GOSHAWK.  341 

A  specimen  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Forster  of  Bridlington 
was,  I  am  informed  by  that  gentleman,  procured  in  the  West 
Riding,  and  purchased  at  the  Rev.  C.  Hudson's  sale,  Marton 
Hall,  East  Riding. 

Mr.  E.  R.  Waite  states  (Nat.  1891,  p.  99),  that  the  late 
John  Harrison  saw  a  Goshawk  at  Wilstrop  in  1880  ;  the 
bird  was  on  the  ground  so  near  to  him  that  he  had  no  difficulty 
in  recognising  it. 

About  the  year  1886  a  single  occurrence  at  Dee  Side, 
in  Dentdale,  is  mentioned  by  the  Rev.  Ed.  Peake  (op.  cit. 
1896,  p.  42). 

An  adult  male  example  was  trapped  by  one  of  the  keepers 
at  Keldy  Castle,  near  Levisham,  on  I4th  February  1889, 
and  was  recorded  by  Mr.  Thos.  Stephenson  of  Whitby  (op. 
cit.  1889,  p.  78). 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  stated  ("  Birds  of  the  Humber 
District,"  1899,  P-  I^)»  tnat  a  Pan~ were  reported  at  Easington, 
near  Spurn,  by  the  late  H.  B.  Hewetson,  on  27th  September 
1896. 

I  am  informed,  by  Mr.  W.  Hewett  of  York,  that  a  specimen, 
which  had  been  captured  at  Escrick,  in  the  winter  of  1896-97, 
was  preserved  by  Mr.  J.  Pulleine  of  Selby. 

And  lastly,  as  Mr.  Thos.  Stephenson  writes,  an  immature 
male  of  this  species  occurred  at  Wheeldale,  near  Whitby,  in 
December  1897,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  C. 
Walker  of  that  town. 

An  instance  is  recorded  of  the  Goshawk  nesting  in  York- 
shire, but  the  authentication  is  so  slender  that  no  reliance 
can  be  placed  on  it.  This  appeared  in  the  Zoologist  (1863, 
p.  8678),  the  recorder  being  J.  Ranson  of  Linton-on-Ouse, 
near  York,  and  was  as  follows  : — "  This  spring  the  nest  of 
this  rare  bird  was  found  in  some  ivy  which  surrounds  an  old 
oak  tree  which  is  situate  in  the  boundary  hedge  of  a  plantation. 
I  did  not  see  the  nest,  but  the  three  eggs  were  of  a  very  pale 
blue.  They  were  unfortunately  broken  by  one  of  the 
possessor's  children." 

A  second  occurrence,  however,  is  entitled  to  more  con- 
sideration, the  evidence  connected  with  it,  as  communicated 


342  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

to  the  Zoologist  (1899,  p.  28),  and  later,  in  correspondence, 
by  Mr.  T.  Southwell  of  Norwich,  being  satisfactory  as  regards 
the  identification  of  the  bird  and  eggs.  The  recorder  writes  : — 
An  adult  female  Goshawk  was  shot  at  the  nest  a  few  days 
before  the  I3th  May  1893,  by  Mr.  W.  M.  Frank,  keeper  to 
Capt.  Duncombe  at  Westerdale,  in  Cleveland.  The  nest, 
which  contained  four  fresh  eggs,  was  placed  on  the  branch  of  a 
slender  spruce  fir,  near  the  trunk,  and  about  twenty  feet  from 
the  ground.  It  was  very  large  and  flat,  and  the  bird  was  wild 
and  difficult  to  get  a  shot  at ;  eventually  she  was  enticed  by 
imitation  of  her  cry.  Mr.  Frank  was  under  the  impression 
she  had  a  mate,  but  he  did  not  see  two  birds  together.  Two 
eggs  were  sent  to  the  Norwich  Museum,  along  with  the  parent 
bird.  A  suggestion  was  put  forward  by  Mr.  Heatley  Noble, 
who  supplied  the  facts  to  Mr.  Southwell,  that  the  Hawk 
may  have  been  an  escaped  trained  bird,  as  only  one  was  seen  ; 
the  eggs  were  fresh ;  and  the  bird  was  mutilated  by  the  loss 
of  a  toe.  Per  contra  Mr.  Frank  argued  that  though  he  did 
not  see  a  male  bird  he  thinks  there  was  one,  but  it  may  have 
been  scared  away ;  the  eggs  were  fresh  because  the  female 
had  not  time  given  her  to  incubate.  As  to  the  inference  that 
she  was  an  escaped  bird,  Prof.  Newton  called  attention  to 
a  passage  in  Gairdner's  Edition  of  the  "  Pas  ton  Letters  " 
(Lubbock's  "  Fauna  of  Norfolk,"  1879,  p.  225),  which  shows 
that  these  trained  Hawks  were  so  far  sedentary  in  their  habits 
that,  provided  the  locality  were  suitable,  a  liberated  bird 
might  be  expected  to  remain  and  nest. 

In  confirmation  of  the  "  escape  "  theory  it  may  be  well 
to  bear  in  mind  that  at  Mulgrave  Castle,  near  Whitby,  which 
was,  at  the  date  of  Mr.  Southwell's  communication,  in  the 
occupation  of  Lord  Hillingdon,  I  have  seen  Goshawks  used  for 
rabbit  hawking,  which  was  a  favourite  sport  of  his  lordship, 
though  I  am  not  aware  of  the  loss  of  any  of  these  trained  birds. 


343 

SPARROWHAWK. 
Accipiter  nisus  (£.}• 


Common  and  generally  distributed  resident,  also  regular  immigrant 
from  the  north  in  autumn. 


Probably  the  first  mention  of  the  Sparrowhawk,  as  a  county 
bird,  is  contained  in  Graves's  "  History  of  Cleveland  "  (1808), 
where  it  is  enumerated  in  the  list  of  resident  birds. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Accipiter  nisus. — Sparrowhawk — By  no  means  uncommon. 

Next  to  the  Kestrel  this  is  the  most  abundant  of  the 
Hawk  tribe,  being  a  generally  distributed  resident,  breed- 
ing in  almost  every  part  of  the  county  where  there  are 
suitable  woodlands.  It  deposits  its  eggs  in  a  nest  of  its  own 
construction,  contrary  to  the  statements  of  some  authorities, 
who  aver  that  a  deserted  nest  is  usually  selected  ;  this  is  very 
rarely  the  case,  and  indeed  when  it  happens  is  an  exception 
to  a  very  general  rule.  The  nest  made  by  this  species  may 
be  described  as  a  rather  flat  structure  of  dead  twigs,  slightly 
hollowed,  the  upper  edge  having  generally  a  little  down  from 
the  body  of  the  bird  adhering  to  it. 

The  evidence  furnished  to  the  British  Association  Migration 
Committee  proves  that  the  Sparrowhawk  is  a  regular  im- 
migrant from  the  north  in  autumn  on  the  coast ;  I  have,  on 
several  occasions,  observed  individuals  freshly  arrived  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Teesmouth,  and  it  sometimes  appears 
in  considerable  numbers. 

This  species  is  becoming  much  scarcer,  the  result  of  the 
family  grudge  cherished  by  the  gamekeeper,  who  allows  the 
young  to  be  hatched,  and  then,  lying  in  wait,  secures  both 
parents  without  trouble,  leaving  the  young  to  perish  miserably 
in  the  nest. 

The  late  J.  Carter  of  Masham  related  an  incident  shewing 
the  boldness  of  one  of  these  birds  which  flew  at,  and  struck, 
a  Barn  Owl,  the  latter  falling  to  the  ground,  while  the  Hawk 


344  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

continued  its  flight,  and  the  Owl,  likewise  little  worse,  rose 
and  flew  off  before  it  could  be  picked  up  (Carter  MS.). 

In  the  collection  of  Mr.  A.  Clapham  of  Scarborough  are 
many  interesting  varieties  of  the  Sparrowhawk,  thirty  of 
which  were  obtained  in  Yorkshire. 

A  nest,  containing  the  unusual  number  of  seven  eggs,  was 
taken  near  York  on  2ist  May  1896. 

In  Cleveland  it  was  formerly  considered  to  be  equally  lucky 
to  find  either  a  dead  Hawk,  Raven,  Owl,  or  Carrion  Crow. 

The  old  name  for  this  Hawk,  used  by  Falconers,  was 
Musket ;  vernacular  names  are  Pigeon  Hawk  and  Blue  Hawk, 
in  general  use  ;  Gold  Tip  at  Sedbergh,  and  Stannin  (Standing) 
Hawk  at  Halifax. 


KITE. 

Milvus  ictinus  (Savigny). 

Casual  visitant,  of  very  rare  occurrence.     Formerly  nested  in  the 
county. 


Historically,  the  earliest  Yorkshire  allusion  to  the  Kite 
is  contained  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine  "  (1747,  p.  23), 
where  it  is  mentioned  by  George  Stovin,  under  date  of  3ist 
August  1727,  as  a  native  of  the  country  about  Hatfield  Chase. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Milvus  vulgaris. — The  Kite — About  twenty  years  ago  one  was 
caught  in  a  trap  at  Edlington  Wood,  near  Doncasjer,  and  a  pair  of 
young  taken  from  the  nest,  by  H.  Reid  of  Doncaster  ;  none  have  been 
seen  there  since.  One  was  obtained  at  Hornsea  [Horsecar]  Wood 
in  1833,  and  another  in  Lunn  Wood  in  1844,  both  near  Barnsley,  by 
Dr.  Farrar  ;  and  it  is  of  very  rare  occurrence  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Halifax.  I  have  no  notice  of  its  being  found  in  the  North  or  East 
Riding.  It  has  been  observed  by  C.  Waterton  (see  Yarrell's  "  British 
Birds  ")  very  near  Huddersfield.  W.  Eddison  has  seen  one  specimen 
shot  near  Penistone. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  fine  bird  formerly  bred 
in  our  county,  but  the  necessarily  old  information  on  this 
point  is  difficult  to  procure,  or  at  least  I  have  not  been  fortunate 


KITE.  345 

enough  to  meet  with  it.  A  record  is  given  by  Thomas  Allis 
(ante),  and  it  may  be  as  well  to  remark  that  Hugh  Reid, 
who  is  quoted,  was  admittedly  a  first-rate  and  thoroughly 
reliable  ornithologist.  The  Edlington  specimen,  as  I  am 
informed  by  Mr.  Newstead,  is  now  in  the  Chester  Museum. 
In  a  MS.  list  supplied  in  1880,  the  late  J.  Tennant  wrote  of 
this  species  : — "  One  was  shot  early  in  the  present  century 
from  the  nest  at  Murton,  near  Hawnby,  by  the  late  Charles 
Harrison,  who  obtained  both  birds.  A  pair  was  obtained 
in  Redhouse  Wood  by  A.  Christie,  in  spring,  twenty  to  thirty 
years  ago.  A  pair  passed  over  Wilstrop  in  1874,  and  was 
noticed  by  the  late  J.  Harrison,  his  attention  being  directed 
to  the  long  forked  tails  of  the  birds,  which  were  being  mobbed 
by  a  large  party  of  Rooks." 

The  veteran  naturalist,  the  late  Charles  Waterton  of 
Walton,  in  Loudon's  "  Mag.  Nat.  Hist."  (1835),  remarked  that 
"  of  all  the  large  wild  birds  which  formerly  were  so  common 
in  this  part  of  Yorkshire,  the  Heron  alone  can  now  be  seen. 
The  Kite,  the  Buzzard,  and  the  Raven  have  been  exterminated 

long  ago  by  our  merciless  gamekeepers Kites  were 

frequent  here  in  the  days  of  my  father ;  but  I,  myself,  have 
never  seen  one  near  the  place." 

Dr.  Farrar  of  Barnsley,  in  a  MS.  list  of  the  birds  of  that 
district,  dated  1844,  mentioned  specimens  at  Horsecar  Wood 
in  1833,  and  at  Lunn  Wood  in  1844.  The  woods  adjoin 
each  other  and  are  two  miles  from  Barnsley  on  its  eastern 
quarter.  These  records  are  referred  to  in  Allis's  Report, 
as  also  are  occurrences  at  Halifax,  Huddersfield,  and  Penistone. 

In  a  list  of  birds  prepared  for  this  work  by  Wm.  Lister 
of  Glaisdale,  in  Cleveland,  for  which  I  am  indebted  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Stephenson  of  Whitby,  that  gentleman  stated  that 
he  killed  a  Kite  in  Glaisdale  in  the  year  1843  or  1844,  and 
that  one  was  also  trapped  by  W.  Bennison  of  Egton  Bridge, 
and  stuffed  by  the  late  Mr.  Ruddock. 

Admiral  C.  C.  Oxley  of  Ripon  informs  me  that  a  specimen 
in  his  collection  was  killed  in  Redcar  in  1837. 

A  female  occurred  near  Market  Weighton  on  5th  July  1850, 
as  recorded  in  the  Zoologist  (1850,  p.  2952),  by  J.  C.  Garth. 


346  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Near  Ackworth,  Major  Arundel  mentions  a  single  occur- 
rence in  1851. 

The  late  James  Varley  of  Almondbury,  near  Huddersfield, 
mentioned  (MS.),  that  he  saw  one  on  the  wing  near  that  place 
in  the  summer  of  1853. 

In  the  Zoologist  (1859,  p.  6561),  the  late  A.  Roberts  of 
Scarborough  recorded  one,  a  male  in  fine  plumage,  near  that 
town  in  the  spring  of  1859. 

Mr.  Christy  Horsfall  of  Horsforth  Low  Hall  wrote  (op.  cit. 
1863,  p.  8441),  that  a  specimen  of  the  Kite  had  frequented 
the  woods  there  for  eighteen  months  previous  to  the  date  of 
his  communication,  and  was  still  there  on  2nd  January  1863. 

About  1864  a  Kite  captured  by  Mr.  R.  Hill  near  Newholme 
was  stuffed  by  J.  Kitching  of  Whitby. 

In  the  Loftus  and  Staithes  district  one  is  mentioned  as 
having  occurred  in  1868,  at  Highfields. 

At  Stainsacre,  near  Whitby,  an  example  was  caught  about 
1877-78,  by  a  person  named  Wedgewood. 

An  adult  female,  now  in  the  Hull  Museum,  was  taken  near 
Ripon,  in  the  spring  of  1877. 

One  of  these  birds  was  observed  to  fly  in  from  seaward 
at  the  Teesmouth,  on  I5th  September  1883,  and  alight  on  the 
vane  of  an  old  lighthouse — which  at  that  time  stood  on  the 
Tees  sands — where  it  was  eventually  captured.  I  had  an 
opportunity  of  examining  the  specimen  in  the  flesh  at  G. 
Mussell's,  who  preserved  it  for  the  Middlesbrough  Museum. 

The  latest  occurrence  of  which  I  have  notice  relates  to  a 
female  example,  measuring  2  feet  4  inches  in  length,  secured 
at  Flamborough,  on  i5th  October  1901,  and  identified  by  Mr. 
T.  Machen  of  Bridlington,  who  has  kindly  supplied  me  with 
the  above  facts. 

The  Kite  has  also  been  obtained  or  has  occurred  as  follows, 
but  unfortunately  without  any  indication  of  date  : — 

The  late  P.  Inchbald  mentioned  it  as  occurring  rarely 
near  Halifax  (Huddersfield  Catalogue,  1859). 

The  late  A.  Roberts  of  Scarborough  stated  that  four 
specimens  have  passed  through  his  hands  for  preservation, 
all  obtained  near  Seamer ;  one  of  these  was  then  in  the 


SWALLOW-TAILED  KITE.  347 

collection  of  Mr.  A.  Clapham,  and  two  are  in  that  of  Mr.  Young, 
keeper,  Blankney.  The  last  was  obtained  three  or  four  years 
before  1879. 

One  was  preserved  by  Mr.  R.  Lee  which  had  been  obtained 
near  Thirkleby,  about  three  miles  from  Thirsk.  No  date  is 
given,  but  it  was  since  1867. 

A  male  example  in  the  Burton  Agnes  collection  was  caught 
on  the  moors  near  Scarborough,  but  the  date  is  not  mentioned. 

Included  in  a  sale  at  Stevens 's  rooms  on  2ist  February 
1905,  was  a  "  Yorkshire-killed  kite  1880." 

The  reports  of  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  should  be  received 
with  caution,  as  my  experience  is  that  in  the  mountainous 
portions  of  the  county  the  Buzzard  is  usually  known  by  the 
names  of  Kite  or  Glead,  and  this  is  also  the  case  in  North 
Wales,  where  the  former  synonym  applies.  It  is  not  im- 
probable, therefore  that  the  "  Glead "  mentioned  in  the 
Rev.  Ed.  Peake's  "Avifauna  of  Ribblesdale "  (Nat.  1896, 
p.  42),  as  "  occurring  in  the  memory  of  the  old  dalesfolk, 
especially  near  Wharf e  and  on  Greygreth,"  is  referable  to 
the  Buzzard.  The  old  Yorkshire  name  for  the  Kite  was  Gled, 
Glead,  or  Greedy  Gled,  being  derived  from  the  Saxon  "  glidan  " 
to  glide,  referring  to  the  bird's  sailing  or  gliding  motions  in 
the  air.  Forktail  was  another  name  formerly  in  use  in  the 
north  country. 


[SWALLOW-TAILED    KITE. 

Elanoides  furcatus  (/,.). 

The  status  of  this  American  Kite,  with  regard  to  this 
country,  is  of  such  a  doubtful  character  that  I  have  deemed 
it  advisable  to  merely  quote  the  evidence  respecting  its 
occurrence. 

Thomas  Allis's  Report,  1844,  contains  the  following 
allusion  to  this  species  : — 

Nauclerus  furcatus. — Swallow-tail  Kite — The  only  British  specimen 
of  this  elegant  bird  appears  to  have  been  taken  alive  at  Shawgill,  near 
Hawes,  in  Wensleydale,  on  6th  September  1805.  (See  Yarrell's  "  British 
Birds,"  Vol.  I.  p.  72.) 


348  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Three  specimens  of  this  wanderer  from  the  "  Far  West  " 
are  reported  to  have  visited  our  county.  One  of  these  has 
passed  into  history,  and  the  following  are  the  particulars 
of  it  from  Professor  Newton's  admirable  edition  of  Yarrell's 
"  British  Birds  "  :— 

"  In  the  extracts  from  the  Minute  Book  of  the  Linnean 
Society  printed  at  the  end  of  the  Fourteenth  Volume  of  its 
'  Transactions '  (p.  583),  under  date  "  4th  November  1823,' 
there  is  a  notice  of  a  communication  by  Dr.  Sims  mentioning, 
on  the  authority  of  the  late  Mr.  Fothergill  of  Carr  End,  near 
Arkrigg  [Askrigg]  in  Yorkshire,  the  occurrence  of  a  Swallow- 
tailed  Kite  near  Hawes  in  Wensleydale  in  that  county.  The 
Editor  has  been  favoured  by  a  son  of  the  gentleman  last 
named — Mr.  William  Fothergill  of  Darlington,  with  a  com- 
plete corroboration  of  this  story  in  the  shape  of  the  original 
note  in  the  handwriting  of  his  father.  This  note  states  that 
"  on  the  6th  September  1805,  during  a  tremendous  thunder- 
storm a  bird,  of  which  a  correct  description  follows,  was 
observed  flying  about  in  Shaw  Gill,  near  Simonstone,  and 
alighting  upon  a  tree  was  knocked  down  by  a  stick  thrown 
at  it,  which  however  did  not  prove  fatal,  as  I  saw  it  alive 
and  had  an  opportunity  of  carefully  examining  it  four  days 
after  it  was  taken."  A  very  accurate  description  of  the 
specimen  ....  follows,  and  the  note  proceeds  thus — the 
latter  portion  having  to  all  appearance  been  written  subse- 
quently : — "  The  bird  was  kept  to  the  27th,  and  then  made 
its  escape,  by  the  door  of  the  room  being  left  open  while 
showing  [it]  to  some  company.  At  first  it  arose  high  in  the 
air,  but  being  violently  attacked  by  a  party  of  Rooks,  it 
alighted  in  the  tree  in  which  it  was  first  taken.  When  its 
keeper  approached,  it  took  a  lofty  flight  towards  the  south, 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  follow,  and  has  not  since  been  heard 
of. — [Signed]  W.  FOTHERGILL.  30th  September  1805."  The 
Editor  has  further  been  kindly  shown  by  his  obliging  cor- 
respondent a  letter  addressed  to  his  father  the  following 
year  by  his  nephew,  the  late  Charles  Fothergill  of  York,  an 
ardent  naturalist,  who  says,  "  I  have  also  proved,  what 
I  expected  would  be  the  case,  that  the  Falco  taken  at 


SWALLOW-TAILED  KITE.  349 

Hardrow  Scarr  was  the  Swallow-tailed  Falcon  or  Falco 
furcatus  of  Linnaeus."  Unaccountable  then  as  the  fact  may 
be,  it  rests  on  the  evidence  of  perfectly  competent  witnesses, 
and  there  is  accordingly  no  room  for  doubt  in  this  case." 

The  second  specimen  is  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  A.  Clapham 
of  Scarborough,  who  stated  that  he  purchased  it  from  Mr. 
Graham  of  York,  to  whom  it  had  been  sold  by  Mr.  Jonathan 
Taylor,  a  schoolmaster  at  Harome,  near  Helmsley.  Mr. 
Clapham  made  careful  enquiries  before  purchasing  this  bird 
and  communicated  with  Mr.  Taylor,  the  following  being  a 
copy  of  that  person's  reply  : — 

"  Harum,  I3th  May  1872.  In  referring  to  my  old  book 
of  memoranda  is  the  following  : — 25th  May  1859,  Little  George 
(the  name  by  which  this  keeper  was  always  known  at  Dun- 
combe  Park),  brought  me  to-day  a  Swallow- tailed  Kite,  shot 
by  himself  in  the  Quarry  Bank,  near  Helmsley,  on  the  estate 
of  the  Earl  of  Feversham. — [Signed]  JONATHAN  TAYLOR." 
Mr.  Clapham  had  also  other  letters  from  Mr.  Taylor  bearing 
out  his  statements,  and  in  one  he  greatly  regrets  having  sold 
the  bird  to  Mr.  Graham  for  a  few  shillings,  not  knowing 
its  value  at  that  time.  Confirmatory  evidence  bearing  out 
this  statement  was  received  from  a  totally  independent  source. 
Mr.  Thomas  Stephenson  of  Whitby,  who  kindly  interested 
himself  in  procuring  information  relating  to  north-eastern 
Yorkshire,  reported  that  Wm.  Lister  and  his  brother  observed 
about  this  same  year  a  Swallow-tailed  Kite  at  Glaisdale. 
Mr.  Lister  was  an  ornithologist  and  had  no  hesitation  as  to 
the  identification  of  the  bird,  which  he  thus  described  :  "black 
and  white  and  the  tail  much  more  forked  than  that  of  the 
common  Kite,"  which  he  knows  well. 

The  third  example  of  this  rare  bird  attributed  to  Yorkshire 
is  in  the  fine  collection  of  Mr.  Alfred  Beaumont  of  Huddersfield, 
and  is  supposed  to  have  been  obtained  in  Bolton  Woods  some 
forty  or  fifty  years  ago.  For  many  years  it  formed  part  of 
the  collection  of  a  Brighouse  or  Halifax  gentleman,  on  whose 
death  the  collection  came  under  the  hammer,  when  the  bird 
passed  into  the  possession  of  its  present  owner,  the  price 
paid  for  it  being  £11.  This  is  all  the  information  obtainable, 


350  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSNIRE. 

but  Mr.  Beaumont  was  perfectly  satisfied  as  to  its  validity  as 
a  Yorkshire  specimen  ;  a  satisfaction  in  which  I  am  unable 
to  participate,  from  the  extremely  vague  character  of  the 
evidence  adduced.] 


HONEY    BUZZARD. 

Pernis  apivorus  (/..). 


Bird  of  passage,  of  rare  occurrence  in  spring  and  autumn ;    most 
frequently  observed  at  the  latter  period,  and  near  the  coast. 


The  first  mention  of  the  Honey  Buzzard  in  the  county  is 
probably  that  in  Denny's  Leeds  Catalogue  (1828),  where  one 
was  said  to  have  been  obtained  at  Harewood,  which  passed 
into  the  collection  of  Dr.  Leach. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Pernis  apivorus. — Honey  Buzzard — Two  or  three  specimens  are 
mentioned  as  having  occurred  in  the  East  Riding  ;  in  the  West  Riding 
it  has  been  met  with  rarely  by  most  of  my  correspondents,  except  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Doncaster,  where  it  is  met  with  not  infrequently. 

The  late  John  Hancock  in  his  catalogue  of  "  Birds  of 
Northumberland  and  Durham,"  considered  this  to  be  one 
of  the  commonest  larger  birds  of  prey,  whilst  the  late  J. 
Cordeanx  in  his  "  Birds  of  the  Humber  District  "  stated 
he  had  not  met  with  a  Lincolnshire-killed  specimen.  In 
Yorkshire  it  has  been  frequently  recorded  when  on  its  migratory 
course. 

It  has  no  doubt  bred  hi  the  county,  for  Dr.  Farrar  in- 
formed Thomas  Allis  that  a  pair  fixed  their  quarters  in 
Wharncliffe  Wood  in  1833,  one  of  them  being  shot ;  and  the 
late  W.  W.  Boulton  of  Beverley  was  of  opinion  that  two  young 
birds,  which  formerly  constituted  part  of  his  fine  collection, 
were  bred  amid  the  wooded  margins  of  the  Hornsea  Mere. 
The  specimens  are  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  F.  Boyes 
who,  however,  observes  that  they  are  quite  mature  enough 
to  have  been  migrants.  Additional  important  evidence 
respecting  the  nesting  of  this  species  is  furnished  by  an  item 


HONEY  BUZZARD.  351 

in  a  catalogue  of  a  sale  at  Stevens's  Rooms  on  22nd  April  1895, 
viz. : — "  Two  eggs  of  the  Honey  Buzzard  taken  at  Hackness, 
near  Scarborough,  from  the  collection  of  Dr.  Rooke  of  that 
town "  ;  and  it  seems  not  improbable  that  some  of  the 
individuals  seen  in  spring  and  early  summer  may  have  intended 
to  nest  in  the  county  if  allowed  to  remain  unmolested. 

Although  this  species  is  not  so  regular  in  its  appearance 
as  some  others  of  the  Falconidae,  yet  the  published  and 
communicated  instances  of  its  occurrence  number  nearly 
one  hundred,  and  therefore  it  is  undesirable,  and  would  prove 
tedious,  to  give  particulars  of  each  individual.  It  has  been 
observed  most  frequently  in  the  spring  on  its  passage  to  its 
breeding  quarters  in  north-west  Europe,  and  in  the  autumn 
when  on  its  way  back  to  its  African  winter  resorts,  and  more 
often  near  to  the  coast-line  than  in  inland  localities. 

The  curious  capture  of  one  at  Bridlington  in  1849  was 
communicated  to  the  Zoologist  (1850,  p.  2649),  by  -Dr.  C.  R» 
Bree.  It  was  flapping  against  a  window  at  twelve  o'clock 
at  night,  and  making  such  a  noise  that  the  person  got  up, 
opened  the  window,  and  captured  it. 

At  Whitby,  J.  Kitching  of  that  town  had,  some  time  ago 
(1875),  a  fine  living  specimen  of  the  Honey  Buzzard  in  his 
possession,  which  had  been  caught  at  sea  about  four  miles 
off  Whitby,  whilst  in  pursuit  of  a  pigeon  which  took  refuge  on 
board  a  fishing  coble.  The  Buzzard  hovered  round  the 
coble,  and  was  eventually  knocked  down  into  the  water 
and  captured.  This  must  be  regarded  as  a  most  unusual 
occurrence. 

Mr.  J.  Backhouse  has  presented  to  the  York  Museum 
a  specimen  taken  at  i  a.m.  on  i4th  September  1883,  against 
the  Spurn  Lighthouse. 

On  4th  September  1896,  at  about  7  a.m.,  an  immature 
example  was  shot  near  the  rocks  below  '  The  Cliffe '  at  Redcar. 
The  morning  was  fine  but  hazy,  and  three  of  these  birds  were 
noticed,  amongst  the  usual  concourse  of  Gulls  near  the  water 
line,  at  low  tide.  The  Gulls  and  two  of  the  strangers  flew 
off,  but  the  third  visitor  remained  until  fired  at  and  wounded. 
It  then  flew  to  Redcar  Pier  and  perched  on  the  rail  at  the  head, 


352  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

where  a  fisherman,  observing  it  fall  dead  on  the  deck,  picked 
it  up  and  brought  it  to  me  for  identification. 

In  August  1902  the  gamekeeper  at  Aske,  near  Richmond, 
killed  an  immature  individual  while  in  the  act  of  carrying  off 
a  Wood  Pigeon.  For  this  information  I  am  indebted  to  the 
Marquis  of  Zetland,  in  whose  possession  the  specimen  now  is. 
I  may  state  that  I  have  been  at  some  pains  to  ascertain  the 
correctness  of  this  incident,  and  the  identity  of  the  specimen. 

The  stomach  of  one  which  occurred  at  Flamborough  on 
2nd  June  1855,  was  found  to  be  full  of  worms  and  slugs 
(Zool.  1855,  p.  4761),  and  the  crop  of  an  individual  killed  at 
Storthes  Hall,  near  Huddersfield,  on  28th  May  1874,  contained 
a  young  bird  and  egg  shells  of  the  Mistle  Thrush  (op.  cit. 
1874,  p.  4153).  It  will  be  observed  that  the  Flamborough 
example,  referred  to  above,  was  in  pursuit  of  a  Pigeon,  and, 
in  confirmation  of  this  departure  from  the  bird's  usual 
habits,  it  may  be  repeated  that  the  specimen  obtained  at  Aske, 
near  Richmond,  in  August  1902,  was  in  the  act  of  carrying 
off  a  Wood  Pigeon. 

Almost  every  known  phase  of  plumage  in  the  Honey 
Buzzard  has  occurred  in  the  county ;  melanic  examples  are 
recorded  from  Seamer  in  the  spring  of  1869,  and  Bridlington 
in  the  "  seventies  "  ;  the  latter  specimen  was  picked  up  on 
the  shore,  and  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Forster.  A  dove- 
coloured  individual  was  obtained  in  1869  at  Scarborough, 
and  another  at  Redcar  on  3rd  October  1903. 


GREENLAND  FALCON. 

Falco  candicans  (jf.  F.  Gmdin). 

Accidental  visitant,  from  Iceland,  Greenland,  arctic  North  America, 
and  northern  Asia,  of  extremely  rare  occurrence. 


The  confusion  that  formerly  prevailed  among  ornithologists 
with  regard  to  the  specific  identification  of  the  Northern 
Falcons  is  now  a  thing  of  the  past,  and  has  resulted  in  the 


GREENLAND  FALCON.  353 

recognition  of  three  distinct  species,  one  of  which — the 
true  Jer  Falcon  of  the  Scandinavian  Peninsula — has  been 
ascertained  -to  have  occurred  in  the  British  Isles  on  two 
occasions. 

Under  the  names  of  Gyr  and  Jer  Falcon,  I  have  records 
of  ten  occurrences  in  this  county  :  four  of  them  (three  certainly 
and  one  probably)  are  referable  to  the  species  under  con- 
sideration and  the  remaining  six  to  the  Iceland  Falcon  ;  and 
it  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  the  specific  names  of  some  of 
them,  which  would  otherwise  have  been  open  to  grave  doubt, 
have  been  determined  by  the  highest  authorities. 

The  first  occurrence  of  this  species  of  which  we  have  any 
record  was  in  1837,  and  was  communicated  to  Neville  Wood's 
11  Naturalist  "  (1837,  PP-  53  an(i  l63)»  bY  Thomas  Allis  of  York, 
of  whose  accounts  the  following  is  an  abstract : — A  fine  adult 
specimen  of  the  Jer  Falcon  was  shot  at  Sutton-upon-Derwent, 
by  a  man  named  Storthwaite,  on  I3th  March  1837,  an(^ 
passed  into  Allis's  possession.  It  was  shot  in  each  wing, 
but  not  wounded  in  the  body.  Like  most  birds  of  the  family 
when  in  captivity,  it  sulked  and  entirely  refused  all  food 
for  the  first  four  days  ;  it  was  still  alive  on  the  26th  April, 
and  seemed  likely  to  do  well.  That  this  was  a  Greenland 
Falcon  we  have  high  authority  in  John  Hancock,  the  author 
who  was  the  first  to  point  out  the  distinction  between  this  and 
the  Iceland  Falcon.  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Thompson  ("  Natural 
History  of  Ireland  "  :  Birds,  i.  p.  32),  Hancock  says,  "  I 
know  of  one  instance  of  the  capture  of  F.  Grcznlandicus  in 
this  country  ;  it  was  a  mature  bird,  and  was  in  the  collection 
of  Mr.  Ellis  [Allis]  of  York,  up  to  the  time  of  his  collection 
being  sold  ;  it  was  obtained  in  Yorkshire,  and,  to  the  best  of 
my  recollection,  was  shot  about  the  year  1836." 

Thomas  Allis's  Report  on  Yorkshire  Birds  (1844),  contains 
the  following  reference  to  this  specimen  : — 

Falco  islandicus. — Gyr  Falcon — The  only  recorded  Yorkshire  speci- 
men is  a  fine  adult  bird  that  was  shot  on  i3th  March  1837,  at  Sutton- 
on-Derwent,  and  came  into  my  own  possession.  A  shot  had  struck  it 
at  the  extremity  of  each  wing  without  injuring  the  body,  and  it  lived 
with  me  for  several  months,  entirely  refusing  food  for  the  first  three 
or  four  days. 

VOL.  I.  2  A 


354  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

The  second  bird  is  now  in  the  Scarborough  Museum 
(where  I  have  seen  it)  and  is  a  fine  mature  female.  It  was 
obtained  on  25th  November  1854,  by  a  person  named  Dixon, 
near  Robin  Hood's  Bay,  on  the  moors  of  Sir  John  Johnstone, 
Bart.,  and  recorded  in  the  Zoologist  (1855,  p.  4558),  by  the 
late  A.  Roberts  of  Scarborough,  by  whom  it  was  preserved* 
The  length  from  the  point  of  the  beak  to  the  end  of  the  tail 
was  2oJ  inches,  full  extent  of  the  wings  3  feet  10  inches, 
weight  3  HDS.  3  ozs. ;  the  crop  was  overloaded  with  the  entrails 
of  some  animal,  the  stomach  with  feathers  and  portions  of 
a  Grouse. 

In  the  third  instance  the  bird  was  not  absolutely  identified, 
but  from  the  description  may,  I  think,  be  referred  to  this 
species.  It  is  recorded  in  Cordeaux's  "  Birds  of  the  Humber 
District/'  under  the  head  of  Jer  Falcon,  as  follows  : — "  Was 
reported  at  Flamborough  several  years  since  by  Thomas  Leng, 
fisherman.  Leng  was  shooting  Rock-pigeons  at  the  time 
from  the  Speeton  rocks,  and  says  that  at  some  distance 
the  bird  looked  quite  white,  but  on  a  nearer  view  he  distinctly 
saw  that  its  plumage  was  speckled  with  black,  although  it 
was  altogether  a  very  light  bird.  It  fell  to  the  bottom  of  the 
cliff ;  and  he  sent  his  son  down,  also  descending  himself 
to  recover  it,  but  was  unsuccessful,  as  the  rising  tide  had 
carried  it  out." 

The  fourth,  and  latest,  occurrence  was  on  the  moors  of 
north  Yorkshire,  in  the  autumn  of  1892,  when  a  fine  example 
was  captured,  and  came  into  the  possession  of  the  late  Mr. 
Foulds  of  Bradford ;  afterwards  being  acquired  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Morley  of  Scarborough,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for 
the  opportunity  of  examining  the  specimen. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Tinkler,  in  a  communication  to  the  Zoologist 
(1844,  p.  131),  says  that  four  instances  of  the  occurrence 
of  the  Gyr  Falcon  (F.  candicans),  have  been  noted  in  north- 
west Yorkshire.  In  1879  or  1880,  near  Roe  Beck,  in  Arken- 
garthdale,  one  was  seen  to  pounce  upon  and  carry  off  a  Grouse. 
Another,  an  immature  specimen,  was  killed  in  the  early  spring 
of  1877,  or  thereabouts,  on  the  edge  of  Ellerton  Moor,  while 
pursuing  a  Woodcock.  The  other  two  occurred  at  the  extreme 


ICELAND  FALCON.  355 

head  of  Swaledale,  near  the  Westmorland  boundary ;  the 
recorder  did  not  see  the  birds  himself,  but  they  were  reported 
as  "  large  white  Hawks,  spotted  with  brown."  It  may  be 
well  to  remark  that,  while  mentioning  these  supposed  occur- 
rences, the  evidence  adduced  in  support  of  their  authenticity 
is  not  by  any  means  satisfactory. 


ICELAND    FALCON. 

Falco  islandus  (J.  F.  Gmelin). 


Accidental  visitant  from  Iceland  and  south  Greenland,  of  extremely 
rare  occurrence. 


As  stated  in  my  remarks  on  the  Greenland  Falcon,  there 
are  six  instances  of  this  species  having  occurred  in  Yorkshire. 

The  first  was  shot  about  the  middle  of  March  in  the  year 
1837  on  the  moors  between  Guisborough  and  Normanby, 
as  recorded  by  John  Hogg,  F.R.S.,  in  his  catalogue  of  the 
Birds  of  S.E.  Durham  and  N.W.  Cleveland  (ZooL  1845,  p. 
1052).  It  is  there  described  as  "  a  young  bird,  having  all  the 
upper  parts  of  a  brown  ash-colour,  the  white  occurring  on  the 
edges  of  the  feathers.  The  under  parts  white,  with  large 
longitudinal  brown  spots."  This  specimen  is  referred  to  as 
being  in  its  first  year's  plumage,  and  in  the  collection  of  John 
Hancock,  in  a  letter  addressed  by  him  to  Mr.  Wm.  Thompson 
("  Natural  History  of  Ireland "  ;  Birds,  i.  p.  32).  It  is 
now  in  the  Hancock  Collection  in  the  Newcastle  Museuir>| 
and  in  the  official  guide  is  described  as  "  a  male,  in  first  plum- 
age, shot  near  Normanby  "  (which  is  about  four  miles  from 
Guisborough).  See  also  Hancock,  "  Ann.  Nat.  Hist."  1838, 

ii.  p.  159- 

In  the  collection  of  Admiral  Oxley  of  Ripon  is  a  fine 
specimen  of  the  Iceland  Falcon,  which  is  said  to  have  been 
captured  on  Marston  Moor,  in  December  1826  or  1836.  This 
bird  was  purchased  at  the  sale  of  the  collection  of  the  late 
Dr.  Hobson  of  Leeds. 

The  third  occurrence  was  in  November  186^,  when  a  fine 


356  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

young  female  was  obtained  at  Upper  Poppleton,  as  mentioned 
in  the  Zoologist  (1861,  p.  7312),  by  David  Graham  of  York, 
who  purchased  the  bird  for  five  shillings.  This  bird  is  now 
in  the  collection  of  Mr.  A.  Clapham  of  Scarborough,  who 
possesses  not  a  few  Yorkshire  rarities,  and  who  has  also  been 
at  considerable  trouble  in  furnishing  valuable  information 
and  replying  to  numerous  enquiries. 

The  fourth  specimen  is  also  in  Mr.  Clapham's  collection  : 
it  was  killed  by  Mr.  Lorrimer  on  Filey  Brigg,  on  4th  October 
1864,  while  in  company  with  another  of  the  same  species, 
which  escaped.  This  individual  for  some  time  proved  a  puzzle 
to  Mr.  Clapham's  friends,  who  thought  it  to  be  a  young 
Peregrine.  At  length  it  was  submitted  to  Mr.  H.  E.  Dresser, 
author  of  the  "  Birds  of  Europe/'  for  his  opinion  ;  in  a  letter 
from  that  ornithologist  he  states  : — "  The  other  bird  is  not 
a  Jer  Falcon  but  an  Iceland  Falcon,  not  in  mature  plumage 
and  most  probably,  if  not  certainly,  a  male.  It  is  a  capital 
specimen." 

Mr.  Thomas  Stephenson  of  Whitby  states  (MS.),  that 
about  the  year  1865,  Mr.  Kitching,  the  bird  preserver,  of 
that  town,  found  one  nailed  on  a  wall  along  with  other 
"  vermin  "  at  Newton  House  near  Whitby,  by  the  game- 
keeper Parker,  who  shot  it.  Mr.  Kitching  removed  the  bird, 
but  it  had  been  exposed  too  long  to  make  a  specimen  of ; 
he  retained  portions  and  thinks  they  belong  to  this  species. 

The  sixth,  and  until  now  unrecorded,  instance  is,  chrono- 
logically speaking,  the  third.  The  specimen  is  in  immature 
plumage  and  is  one  of  two  which  occurred  on  the  Wemmergill 
Moors  in  north  Yorkshire,  in  the  spring  of  1846,  and  was 
purchased  in  the  flesh  by  the  late  Joseph  Duff  of  Bishop 
Auckland,  in  whose  collection  it  remained,  labelled  "Jer 
Falcon,"  until  his  decease,  when  it  passed  into  the  possession 
of  his  son,  the  late  Theo.  Duff.  The  collection  was  sold  in 
1901,  and  I  purchased  the  example  under  consideration.  (See 
also  Zool.  1851,  p.  3036,  where  this  bird  is  recorded  in  mis- 
take as  "  Gyrfalcon,  got  at  Werner  Gill,  in  Northumberland."} 

The  Jer  Falcon  supposed  to  have  occurred  on  the  Lockton 
Moors,  near  Pickering,  and  recorded  in  the  Zoologist  (1864, 


PEREGRINE  FALCON.  357 

p.  9244),  by  J.  Cordeaux — on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Jones  of 
Bridlington,  who  sold  it  to  Mr.  Clapham  of  Scarborough, — 
proved  to  be  a  Goshawk,  and  is  the  one  described  under  the 
head  of  that  species  as  being  in  the  singular  "  cuckoo  "  plumage. 


PEREGRINE    FALCON. 

Falco  peregrinus  (Tunstall). 


Resident,  restricted  now  to  a  few  pairs  nesting  on  the  north-western 
fells,  an  occasional  pair  on  the  sea-cliffs,  and  possibly  another  pair  in 
Cleveland.  Observed  fairly  regularly  on  migration  at  the  coast. 


Pennant  appears  to  have  first  recorded  this  species  in 
Yorkshire,  under  the  head  of  "  Grey  Falcon,"  from  a  specimen 
shot  near  Halifax  in  1762  ("  Brit.  Zool."  Vol.  I.  p.  137). 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Falco  peregrtnus. — Peregrine  Falcon — Many  birds  have  been  shot 
at  different  periods  ;  its  occurrence  is  mentioned  by  most  of  my 
correspondents  ;  it  still  breeds  near  Pickering,  but  is  becoming  much 
more  rare  than  formerly  ;  it  has  also  bred  this  year  at  Kilnsey  Crag, 
and  near  Arncliff  [Wharfedale]. 

In  former  years  the  records  show  that  the  Peregrine  was 
far  from  uncommon  as  a  resident  in  the  county ;  and  it 
seems  probable  that  when  the  sport  of  falconry  was  in  vogue, 
and  this  noble  bird  in  high  favour  and  enjoying  a  certain 
degree  of  protection,  there  would  hardly  be  a  locality  suitable 
for  its  eyrie  which  was  untenanted.  But  now  all  this  is  changed, 
the  protection  has  long  since  been  withdrawn,  and  the  former 
favourite  so  far  descended  in  the  scale  as  to  rank  as  "  vermin  " 
in  the  estimation  of  the  descendants  of  its  former  protectors. 
Among  the  places  where  its  eyries  have  been  noted  are  Goath- 
land,  and  Killingnab  Scar,  in  Cleveland.*  J.  Hogg  mentioned 

*  The  farmers  in  Newton  Dale  were  formerly  obliged,  by  the  ancient 
tenures  of  their  land,  to  attend  to  the  hawks  which  bred  in  Killingnab 
Scar,  in  order  to  secure  them  for  the  King's  use.  These  hawks  were 
said  to  be  of  large  size  (doubtless  Peregrines),  and  in  1831,  when  Allen's 
"  History  of  the  County  of  York  "  was  published,  they  continued  to 
frequent  their  ancient  place  of  resort. 


358  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

(Zool.  1845,  p.  1052),  on  the  authority  of  J.  Grey,  that  it 
bred  annually  on  Huntcliffe,  in  the  early  part  of  last  century. 
It  also  bred  on  Black  Hambleton,  which  was  the  only  locality 
from  which  Colonel  Thornton,  as  he  assured  Montagu,  could 
procure  a  Tercel  (a  male)  that  would  kill  ducks,  although 
he  had  tried  many  from  other  places. 

It  is  an  unmistakable  pleasure  to  be  able  still  to  claim 
this  noble  bird  as  a  resident.  A  pair  or  two  bred  almost 
annually  until  1879  in  the  stupendous  cliffs  of  our  coast  at 
Flamborough  and  Speeton,  where  its  favourite  prey,  the  Rock 
Pigeon,  is  numerous,  and  occasionally  a  pair  or  two  also  breed 
inland. 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  stated  that  there  were  two  eyries 
at  Flamborough  in  1867,  one  of  which  was  robbed  by  the 
climbers.  The  other  pair  were  more  fortunate,  and  escaped 
unmolested,  the  young  birds  getting  off. 

On  3rd  June  1876,  Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  was  at  Buckton 
and  Bempton,  between  Flamborough  Head  and  Filey,  and 
saw  in  the  possession  of  the  climbers  three  young  in  whitish 
down,  which  had  been  taken  on  30th  May.  They  had  come 
across  them  quite  by  accident  in  the  highest  portion  of  the 
cliff ;  there  was  not  the  slightest  sign  of  a  nest,  the  young 
being  simply  on  a  ledge  about  four  feet  wide.  On  visiting 
the  cliffs  he  saw  both  the  old  birds,  the  female  leaving  the 
ledge  from  which  the  young  were  taken  and  flying  round 
uttering  a  very  plaintive  note.  The  climbers  wished  him  to 
purchase  these  young  birds,  but  this  he  declined  to  do,  hoping, 
as  he  had  heard  them  complain  about  the  trouble  of  feeding 
them,  and  also  some  mention  of  putting  them  again  on 
the  eyrie,  that  they  might  yet  be  restored  to  the  old  birds  ; 
however,  they  eventually  found  their  way  to  Barnsley.  In 
the  same  year  another  brood  was  taken  by  Edward  Hodgson, 
and  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  G.  D.  Armitage, 
who  at  that  period  hawked  with  Major  Brooksbank  of  Middle- 
ton.  A  pair  of  old  birds  returned  to  the  cliffs  in  the  spring 
of  1879,  when  I  regret  to  say  one  of  them  was  ruthlessly  killed 
and  the  eyrie  consequently  deserted.  Occasional  attempts 
to  re-occupy  it  have  been  made  at  intervals,  but  without 


Telephoto  picture  of  a  wild  Peregrine,  taken  in 

north-west  Yorkshire. 

R.   Fortune. 


See  page  360. 


PEREGRINE  FALCON.  359 

success,  until  the  present  year  (1906),  when  a  pair  took  up 
their  quarters  between  Dane's  Dyke  and  the  "  Dor/1  and  were 
only  discovered  when  the  climbers  commenced  work  about 
the  middle  of  May.  I  visited  Bempton  at  the  end  of  that 
month,  and  spent  some  considerable  time  at  the  cliffs,  being 
repeatedly  rewarded  with  a  sight  of  one  or  other  of  the  Falcons, 
and  on  some  occasions  both  of  them  perched  for  fully  half-an- 
hour  on  a  projecting  point  known  as  "  Staple  Neuk,"  where 
I  watched  them  through  powerful  binoculars.  On  6th  June 
the  climber  went  down  purposely  to  locate  the  eyrie,  which 
he  found  in  a  part  of  the  cliff  not  visible  from  the  top ;  the 
young,  three  in  number,  fledged  about  the  2ist  of  the  same 
month.  All  naturalists  will  echo  the  wish  that  these  birds 
may  continue  to  frequent  their  old-time  haunts,  thus  im- 
parting an  additional  interest  to  the  cliffs  of  the  Yorkshire 
coast.  Near  Scarborough  a  pair  of  Peregrines  arrived  in  the 
winter  of  1900  and  nested  in  the  following  May,  in  a  precipitous 
cliff  a  few  miles  distant  from  the  town,  where  they  successfully 
reared  their  young,  which  were  frequently  seen  on  the  wing 
together  with  the  parent  birds.  The  male  was  killed  in 
the  autumn  of  1901,  but  the  female  found  another  mate 
and  nested  again  in  the  two  following  years.  Odd  individual?, 
chiefly  in  immature  plumage,  frequent  the  district  between 
Scarborough  and  Flamborough  almost  every  winter. 

The  late  Geo.  Brook  of  Huddersfield,  stated  (MS.),  that 
in  1871  a  clutch  of  four  eggs  was  taken  from  the  Fells  in 
Swaledale,  and  the  old  male  shot.  The  eggs  and  bird  were 
in  his  collection,  but,  as  it  is  some  years  since  he  died,  the 
collection  may  have  been  dispersed. 

In  the  year  1879  a  Paif  reared  their  young  in  safety  in 
the  Cleveland  Hills,  the  information  concerning  them  being 
supplied  on  condition  that  the  locality  be  nameless. 

In  Upper  Teesdale  the  Peregrine  has  bred  intermittently 
on  the  Yorkshire  side  of  the  river,  during  the  past  twenty 
years,  the  nesting  site  being  sometimes  occupied  by  Ravens 
and  in  other  years  by  the  Falcons.  Three  eggs  were  taken 
there  in  1903,  and  the  keepers  trap  the  birds  whenever  oppor- 
tunity occurs,  no  fewer  than  seven  being  killed  in  the  year  1900. 


360  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

At  the  head  of  the  Swale  Valley  a  pair  annually  attempt 
to  breed,  but  with  variable  success,  for  here,  as  in  other  places, 
the  gun  and  trap  are  employed  against  these  noble  birds. 
The  Rev.  Edward  Peake  says  that  in  the  Craven  and 
Ribblesdale  districts  it  still  breeds  on  the  crags  if  unmolested, 
Mr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  visited  an  eyrie  on  the  north-western 
fells  in  1880,  where  orders  had  been  issued  for  the  destruction 
of  a  pair  of  nesting  Peregrines,  whose  doom  was  sealed  owing 
to  their  penchant  for  Grouse.  The  Falcon  was  shot  as  she 
left  her  nest,  which  had  four  eggs,  she  being  the  sixteenth 
victim  to  the  gun,  all  killed  from  eyries  on  this  fell. 

It  is  with  great  satisfaction,  however,  that  I  am  able  to 
state  that  this  magnificent  bird  is  known  to  nest  in  another 
north-western  locality,  one  eyrie  having  been  occupied 
regularly  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  though  very  rarely  do 
the  birds  succeed  in  rearing  a  brood ;  four  pairs  nested  in 
1901,  and  from  the  summit  of  a  neighbouring  hill  six  eyries 
may  be  pointed  out  on  a  clear  day.  The  eggs  are  persistently 
taken,  and  from  one  spot  three  clutches  were  abstracted 
in  a  single  season,  there  being  an  interval  of  about  three 
weeks  between  each  laying.  In  1899  three  eggs  were  taken 
on  nth  April,  and  a  second  clutch  was  completed  on  the  30th  ; 
at  the  same  place  four  eggs  were  taken  on  i6th  April  1902. 
Sometimes  an  old  nest  of  the  Raven  is  utilised  as  an  eyrie,, 
and  in  1896  a  clutch  of  Raven's  was  found,  while  later  in  spring 
three  Falcon's  eggs  were  discovered  in  the  same  nest.  On 
one  occasion  an  experiment  was  tried  with  a  fledgling  Pere- 
grine which  was  introduced  into  a  Kestrel's  nest,  where  it 
was  reared. 

As  an  autumn  and  winter  visitant  the  Peregrine  is  most 
frequent  on  the  coast,  but  it  also  occurs  inland,  visiting  all 
parts  of  the  county,  so  that  an  enumeration  of  the  occurrences 
would  be  unnecessary  and  tedious. 

These  immigrants  are  mostly  birds  in  immature  plumage  ; 
this  species  is  a  regular  autumn  and  winter  visitor,  and  three 
have  been  seen  together  in  autumn,  beating  along  the  coast> 
and  disturbing  the  shore  birds.  A  few  of  these  remain  in 
the  district  during  the  winter,  chiefly  near  the  coast,  though 


s 

'to 

I 


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•  ••  • 

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•«  *• 


PEREGRINE  FALCON.  361 

it  is  not  very  uncommon  at  this  period  on  the  higher  Wolds, 
where  it  feeds  on  the  Stock  Doves  which  are  very  common 
there.  In  the  majority  of  cases,  however,  these  autumn 
immigrants  amongst  the  Falconidae  leave  the  district  (Holder- 
ness)  before  the  advent  of  the  winter  season.  Two  were 
observed  at  Spurn  on  the  return  passage  in  the  spring  of  1898., 

An  interesting  anecdote  is  related  of  the  Falcon  at  Flam- 
borough  by  Mr.  M.  Bailey  of  that  place.  I  quote  Mr.  Bailey's 
words  : — "  Being  on  a  cruise  at  sea  on  3ist  March,  .... 
I  saw  something  that  might  be  interesting  to  you,  that  of 
a  fine  Peregrine  Falcon  hawking  after  sea  birds.  It  was 
amusing  to  see  him  dart  at  the  Guillemots  as  they  sat  or 
floated  on  the  sea.  The  moment  the  Hawk  made  a  dash  at 
his  prey,  to  his  great  disappointment,  under  water  went  the 
Guillemot.  I  watched  him  for  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes, 
but  he  never  once  appeared  to  touch  the  water.  I  was  speak- 
ing of  this  to  the  master  of  a  fishing  yawl,  who  told  me  that, 
only  a  few  days  previously,  when  some  miles  distant  from, 
land,  he  observed  a  Blackbird  chased  by  a  Peregrine  Falcon. 
It  was  so  closely  pursued  by  the  Falcon  that  it  took  shelter 
on  board  the  yawl." 

On  25th  October  1890,  I  watched  a  Peregrine  coming  in 
off  the  sea  at  10-30  a.m.,  and  noticed  it  was  carrying  something 
in  its  talons.  It  dropped  the  object,  a  bird  probably,  near 
Redcar  Pier,  and  flew  past  me  within  two  hundred  yards, 
going  in  a  southward  direction.  Mr.  W.  H.  St.  Quintin 
states  (MS.),  that  wild  birds  constantly  come  to  his  trained 
Hawks  in  winter.  One  remained  at  Scampston  most  of  the 
winter  of  1901-2. 

A  very  fine  mature  female,  which  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton 
dissected,  contained  the  remains  of  a  Rock  Pigeon,  including, 
amongst  other  portions,  one  entire  foot  and  shank  and  a 
few  feathers. 

The  local  name  on  the  north-west  fells  is  Great  Blue  Hawk. 
In  Ryedale  it  is  called  Perry  Hawk  ;  and  Swainson  gives  the 
terms  Blue-backed  Falcon  and  Duck  Hawk  as  used  in  the 
north  of  England. 


362 

HOBBY. 
Falco  subbuteo  (£.)• 

Casual  visitant,  of  rare  occurrence,  chiefly  in  spring  and  summer, 
but  occasionally  in  winter.  Has  nested  in  one  or  two  localities. 

Probably  the  earliest  Yorkshire  mention  of  this  bird  is 
in  Willughby's  "  Ornithology  "  (1678,  p.  21),  thus  :— "  This 
form  persecuting  of  Larks  (which  are  its  chief  and  particular 
game)  is  not  unfitly  by  Mr.  Johnson  [of  Brignall,  near  Greta 
Bridge]  entitled  Accipiter  alaudarius" 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Falco  subbuteo. — Hobby — Frequently  obtained  in  different  parts 
of  the  West  Riding  ;  occasionally  met  with  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
York,  but  I  have  no  mention  of  its  capture  in  the  East  Riding.* 

The  Hobby  is  only  occasionally  observed.  The  summer 
months  are  the  usual  time  for  its  appearance,  but  instances 
are  recorded  of  its  having  been  obtained  in  the  months  of 
October  (the  3ist),  December,  and  February,  contrary  to 
what  might  be  expected  of  a  species  regarded  as  a  summer 
visitor  to  Britain. 

This  bird  is  described  by  Hewitson  in  his  "  British  Oology  " 
(1838),  as  "  more  common  in  some  parts  of  Yorkshire  than 
elsewhere."  J.  Heppenstall  of  Sheffield  in  1843  mentioned 
it  as  pretty  generally  distributed  in  that  district  in  the  summer 
months  (Zool.  1843,  p.  247),  and  Dr.  Farrar  of  Barnsley, 
writing  in  1844,  said  it  is  far  from  uncommon.  Whatever 
may  have  been  its  abundance  in  former  years  in  south  York- 
shire, it  is  now,  as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  only 
to  be  regarded  as  a  rare  casual  visitor  to  that  and  all  other 
parts  of  the  county.  As  regards  north  Yorkshire,  we  find 
that  in  Cleveland,  J.  Hogg  (op.  cit.  1845,  p.  1052),  described  it 
as  being  a  rare  species  and  migratory ;  and  Mr.  R.  Lee  of 
Thirsk  states  that  he  has  only  seen  two  in  his  experience. 

A.  G.  More  in  his  paper  on  the  distribution  of  Birds  in 
Britain  during  the  breeding  season  (Ibis,  1865),  mentioned  it 

*  More  recent  information  than  that  possessed  by  Allis  proves 
that  the  bird  has  occurred  in  the  East  Riding. 


HOBBY.  363 

as  breeding  occasionally  in  Yorkshire.  He  has  since  stated, 
in  reply  to  inquiries,  that  the  only  locality  known  to  him  was 
Rossington  Wood,  near  Doncaster,  and  that  his  informant  was 
the  late  Hugh  Reid. 

One  instance  of  its  having  nested  at  Bishop  Wood,  near 
Selby,  in  the  summer  of  1869  (year  not  quite  certain),  was 
reported  by  the  late  keeper,  Wm.  Harland,  who  stated  that 
its  eggs  were  taken  from  a  Crow's  nest,  and  were  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  A.  R.  Kell  of  Barnsley.  In  the  East  Riding  the 
nest  has  been  reported  at  Everingham  Park,  near  Market 
Weighton,  in  1875. 

The  following  are  the  instances  of  its  occurrence  which 
have  come  under  my  notice  : — 

In  Neville  Wood's  "Naturalist"  (1837,  P-  384)>  p- 
Hawkridge  of  Scarborough  remarked  : — This  bird  is  very 
scarce  in  our  neighbourhood.  A  specimen  was  once  killed 
by  a  boy  with  a  stick  at  Knapton,  near  Scarborough,  and 
presented  to  the  Scarborough  museum  by  Mr.  Tindall.  When 
we  consider  the  diminutive  size  of  this  Falcon,  we  may  venture 
to  pronounce  it  second  to  none  of  its  family  in  point  of  courage. 
At  the  time  the  individual  above  mentioned  was  taken  it  had 
just  seized  a  Rook. 

The  late  Wm.  Talbot  in  his  "  Birds  of  Wakefield  "  stated 
that  he  saw  one  in  the  flesh  which  had  been  taken  at  Bilham, 
near  Doncaster,  in  February  1845. 

Near  Bridlington,  a  male  was  killed  in  1860  by  T.  Ellotson, 
gamekeeper  to  Sir  Henry  Boynton,  and  is  preserved  in  the 
Burton  Agnes  collection. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Raw  of  Lealholm,  near  Whitby,  has  a  fine 
specimen  which  he  obtained  in  Fryup,  in  the  year  1866. 

The  late  J.  Cordeaux  in  his  "  Birds  of  the  Humber  District  " 
(1872),  said  that  the  late  W.  W.  Boulton  of  Beverley  informed 
him  that  it  is  not  infrequently  seen  near  there,  and  that  he 
has  had  several  during  the  last  few  years  shot  near  the  river 
Hull  and  at  Spurn  Point;  though  Mr.  F.  Boyes  throws  a 
doubt  on  this  statement. 

Mr.  F.  G.  S.  Rawson  of  Halifax  reported  one  at  Ovenden 
in  1873. 


364  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

In  1874  Mr.  R.  Richardson  of  Beverley  had  two  females 
sent  to  him  for  preservation.  One  of  these  was  captured 
at  Kilnwick  on  6th  June,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
F.  Boyes.  The  other,  obtained  at  Flamborough  on  3oth 
October,  is  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  R.  Crowe. 

A  male  and  female  in  the  Hull  Museum  were  procured 
in  the  West  Riding,  the  male  at  Coniston,  in  1867,  and  the 
female  at  Flasby  Hall,  in  July  1874. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  York  and  District  Field  Naturalists* 
Society  on  I4th  November  1877,  Mr.  Helstrip  exhibited  a 
fine  adult  example  from  near  York.  This  specimen  and  an- 
other adult,  also  shot  near  York,  are  in  the  museum  in  that  city. 

Mr.  R.  Richardson  of  Beverley  preserved  a  female  for  Mr. 
R.  H.  Barugh  of  Bridlington,  which  had  been  shot  on  7th 
June  1879. 

On  2 ist  May  1879,  an  immature  example  was  preserved  by 
Pearce  Coupe  of  Marske-by-the-Sea,  who  obligingly  gave  me 
an  opportunity  of  examining  it. 

Two  examples,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  T.  Machen  of 
Bridlington,  were  procured  in  the  year  1890,  and  about  the 
same  period  a  pair  were  killed  near  Thwing,  in  the  East  Riding. 

An  adult  male  was  obtained  at  Danby,  in  February  1894,. 
and  sent  to  Geo.  Mussell  of  Middlesbrough,  who  shewed  me 
the  bird  in  the  flesh.  This  specimen  is  now  in  my  collection. 

In  Washburndale  one  was  taken  in  Lindley  Wood,  in  the 
spring  of  1896.  On  loth  July  in  the  same  year  one  was 
noted  near  Scarborough,  which  had  the  "  hatching  spot " 
plainly  visible  (Zool.  1896,  p.  387). 

Mr.  W.  H.  St.  Quintin  has  informed  me  of  a  specimen 
captured  at  Scampston  in  May  1897. 

An  instance  is  recorded  in  the  Field  of  nth  January  1902, 
from  near  Kettering,  on  7th  December  1901,  when  a  male 
Hobby  in  adult  plumage,  evidently  killed  by  a  gun  shot,  was 
picked  up  by  Mr.  R.  N.  Stockburn. 

Mr.  W.  Wilson  states  that  a  pair  was  noted  near  Flasby 
in  1904,  one  bird  being  afterwards  shot  at  Thorleby  Springs.. 

And  in  October  of  the  present  year  (1906)  an  example  was 
killed  near  Thirsk,  and  was  taken  to  Mr.  R.  Lee  of  that  town. 


MERLIN.  365 

In  addition  to  the  above  instances,  the  Hobby  is  reported 
to  have  occurred  in  the  undermentioned  localities,  no  precise 
information  being  given  : — 

Halifax  (R.  Leyland,  1828)  ;  Barden  and  Bolton  (H.  Denny, 
1840) ;  Kirklees  and  Castle  Hill,  near  Huddersfield  (P.  Inch- 
bald,  1859) ;  Killingbeck,  near  Leeds  (John  Dixon,  1853)  ; 
Carlton  and  the  moors  west  of  Barnsley  (T.  Lister)  ;  Redcar, 
one  in  the  collection  of  C.  C,  Oxley,  late  of  The  Cliffe,  sold  at 
his  sale,  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  T.  Watson  of  Redcar  ;  one 
at  Danby,  about  1870,  shot  by  R.  Raw  ;  Bridlington  (M. 
Lawson,  1879) ;  Stainland  (C.  C.  Hanson,  1879) ;  a  summer 
visitor  to  Scarborough  but  not  plentiful  (A.  Roberts,  1879) ; 
one  in  summer  plumage,  killed  there,  is  in  Mr.  A.  Young's 
possession  at  Blankney.  Western  Ainsty,  occasionally  seen, 
one  shot  near  Wetherby,  about  1860  (Nat.  1891,  p.  99) ;  two 
near  Ulleskelf,  about  1876  (Baynes  MS.)  ;  Loftus-in-Cleveland, 
has  been  noted  and  shot  (K.  McLean  MS.) ;  Easington,  near 
Spurn,  one  on  ist  September  (about)  1880,  now  in  the  York 
Museum  ;  Sedbergh,  reported  as  a  summer  visitor,  very  rare 
(W.  Morris  MS.  1902)  ;  at  Colne  Bridge,  near  Huddersfield, 
an  example  was  killed  some  years  ago,  and  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  S.  Calvert  of  Kirkheaton  (S.  L.  Mosley  MS.). 


MERLIN. 

Falco  aesalon  (Tunstall). 


Resident,  breeding  on  the  high  fells  and  moors  of  the  west  and 
north-east,  over  which  it  is  thinly  scattered.  More  generally  dis- 
tributed during  autumn  and  winter,  when  it  is  occasionally  observed 
on  migration.  

The  first  mention  of  the  Merlin  in  Yorkshire  is  probably 
in  the  Allan  MS.,  descriptive  of  the  Tunstall  or  Wycliffe-on- 
Tees  Museum,  dated  about  1791,  where  it  is  stated  that 
"  This  bird  ....  migrates  here  in  October."  (Fox's 
"  Synopsis,"  p.  53.) 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Falco  asilon. — Merlin — Mentioned  as  occurring  by  almost  all  my 


366  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

correspondents,  and  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  many  parts  of  the 
West   Riding. 

This  dashing  little  falcon  breeds  sparingly  on  most  of  our 
high  moorlands,  depositing  its  eggs  among  the  heather  and 
showing  a  strong  predilection  for  the  vicinity  of  boulders, 
on  which  it  loves  to  rest.  On  gth  May  1877  a  nest  was  found 
on  the  Ilkley  Moors  ;  the  old  male  being  first  observed  sitting 
on  a  stone  post,  which  on  approach  he  quitted,  and  flying  low 
over  the  heather  put  the  female  off  her  nest.  The  nest, 
which  contained  four  eggs,  was  merely  a  slight  depression 
lined  with  and  surrounded  by  burnt  heather  stems.  H. 
Smurthwaite  of  Richmond  mentioned  in  Morris's  "  Naturalist  " 
(1854,  P-  80),  that  he  once  heard  of  a  nest  being  found  in  the 
centre  of  a  field  of  young  wheat — a  most  unusual  occurrence. 

As  illustrating  the  partiality  of  these  birds  to  certain  nesting 
localities,  Mr.  W.  Morris  of  Sedbergh  writes  that  about  1890  a 
gamekeeper  killed  a  pair  of  breeding  Merlins,  but  did  not  destroy 
the  eggs  ;  these  were  found  by  my  informant,  the  following 
year,  in  the  nest  together  with  a  fresh  clutch  of  four  eggs, 

In  the  year  1899  a  pair  of  Merlins  selected  a  very  unusual 
position  for  their  nest  in  a  remote  part  of  Scugdale,  in  Cleve- 
land, the  site  chosen  being  in  a  tree,  where  both  birds  were 
o  >served. 

The  Merlin  breeds  in  the  following  localities  : — On  the  high 
moors  of  the  Pennine  Range  it  is  reported  from  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Sheffield  (for  an  interesting  and  lengthy  account  of 
its  breeding  in  this  district,  from  the  pen  of  Henry  Seebohm, 
consult  "  Dresser's  Birds  of  Europe,"  part  38),  Penistone, 
Hebden  Bridge,  Halifax  and  Haworth,  and  from  the  Fells 
of  Langden,  Waddington,  and  Grindleton.  In  Craven  and 
the  district  known  as  "  The  Dales,"  it  nests  on  the  moorlands 
above  Ilkley,  Barden,  Pateley  Bridge  (now  very  rarely),  Ley* 
burn,  Bedale,  Masham,  Ripon,  Richmond,  Barnard  Castle, 
and  Upper  Teesdale.  In  the  north-east  it  affects  the  Cleve- 
land Hills  and  the  moors  above  Whitby  and  Scarborough. 
The  late  Canon  Atkinson  stated  in  1880  that  it  used  to  be 
common  on  Danby  Moor,  but  had  then  become  very  scarce.  In 
Arkengarthdale  and  Swaledale,  and  on  the  Bowes  and  Scargill 


RED-FOOTED  FALCON.  367 

Moors  adjoining,  it  nests  regularly,  but,  as  it  figures  in  the 
keeper's  vermin  list,  it  is  not  allowed  to  remain  unmolested. 
Between  1881  and  1890  sixteen  nests  with  eggs  or  young 
were  destroyed,  and  forty-four  old  birds  were  killed,  the 
majority  captured  by  that  cruel  abomination,  the  pole-trap. 
It  may  be  mentioned  that  in  most  of  these  exposed  localities 
its  numbers  were  materially  reduced  by  the  instrument  named, 
now  forbidden  by  statute.  (For  details  as  to  the  persecution 
to  which  the  poor  birds  are  subject,  see  Nat.  1892,  p.  320.) 

It  is  occasionally  observed  as  an  immigrant  in  autumn 
at  the  coast ;  I  have  noted  it  at  the  Teesmouth  in  October, 
and  on  one  occasion  witnessed  a  newly  arrived  Merlin  in  full 
flight  after  a  Dunlin.  In  the  Humber  district  it  usually 
appears  during  the  first  fortnight  in  October. 

In  inland  districts  it  is  more  frequently  observed  in  the 
autumn  and  winter  months,  when  it  is  not  so  local,  and 
instead  of  being  confined  to  the  moorlands  descends  from  these 
elevated  localities  and  visits  the  more  enclosed  country,  and 
occasionally  the  close  proximity  of  large  towns.  At  this 
season  it  is  met  with  quite  commonly  in  the  "  Carrs  "  of 
east  Yorkshire,  where  it  is  sometimes  noticed  chasing  the 
Skylarks. 

Local  names  are  : — Little  Blue  Hawk,  in  general  use  ; 
Little  Hawk,  in  east  Cleveland ;  Little  Blue  Pigeon-Hawk, 
at  Wakefield  ;  Stone  Falcon,  in  north-west  Yorkshire  ;  while 
Rock  Hawk  and  Stone  Hawk  are  given  by  Swainson  as  north 
country  names. 


RED-FOOTED    FALCON 
Falco  vespertinus  (Z.). 

Accidental  visitant,  from  southern  and  eastern  Europe,  of  extremely 
rare  occurrence.  

In  the  year  1830  this  species,  which  appears  to  have  been 
to  this  date  an  entire  stranger  to  Britain,  occurred  almost 
simultaneously  in  this  county  and  in  Norfolk.  The  first  of 
these  occurrences  took  place  in  our  county  in  the  month  of 


368  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

April,  when  a  male  was  shot  near  Doncaster,  which  was 
reported  to  the  Linnean  Society  at  its  meeting  on  ist  May 
1832  ("  Transactions,"  xvii.  p.  533),  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  H. 
S.  Foljambe.  Four  specimens  were  shot  in  Norfolk  during 
the  following  month. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Falco  rufipes. — Red-footed  Falcon — I  have  notice  of  five  instances 
of  the  capture  of  this  bird  ;  F.  O.  Morris  says  that  a  pair  were  shot 
near  Doncaster,  and  a  female  at  Rossington  ;  the  latter  specimen  is 
stated  by  Hugh  Reid  of  Doncaster  to  be  in  the  possession  of  W.  R.  Read, 
Esq.,  of  York  ;  a  fourth,  a  female,  was  shot  a  few  years  back  near 
Easingwold,  and  sent  to  H.  Chapman  of  York,  with  a  message  that 
*'  if  it  was  a  Cuckoo  "  he  was  to  stuff  it,  and  return  it  to  the  person  who 
shot  it,  but,  if  it  was  not  a  Cuckoo,  when  stuffed  he  might  keep  it  for 
his  pains  ;  the  fifth  specimen  was  shot  on  6th  May  last,  at  Stainer  Wood, 
near  Selby,  and  is  in  the  possession  of  Massey  Hutchinson  of  Selby. 

Since  1830  it  is  reported  to  have  been  obtained  on  the 
following  different  occasions.  One  in  the  Sheffield  Museum, 
said  to  have  been  killed  in  that  neighbourhood,  is  recorded 
in  the  Zoologist  (1843,  p.  247),  by  J.  Heppenstall. 

In  May  1844  a  fine  female  was  shot  in  Stainer  Wood,  near 
Selby,  by  a  gamekeeper  of  the  Right  Hon.  E.  R.  Petre.  It 
passed  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Massey  Hutchinson  of  Selby 
(op.  cit.  1844,  p.  654). 

Thomas  Allis,  in  his  Report,  recapitulated  the  foregoing, 
and  added  two  other  occurrences. 

A  female  in  mature  plumage  was  shot  from  a  ship  entering 
the  mouth  of  the  Humber  in  November  1864,  as  it  hovered 
over  the  vessel.  This  specimen  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  late  W.  W.  Boulton  of  Beverley,  in  the  flesh,  and  was 
recorded  by  that  gentleman  in  the  Zoologist  (1865,  p.  9415). 

Mr.  J.  E.  Harting  in  his  "  Handbook  of  British  Birds  " 
(2nd  Ed.  p.  324),  mentions  that  a  mature  male  occurred  at 
Bempton  Cliffs  on  6th  July  1865.  Mr.  J.  Whitaker  of  Rain- 
worth  Lodge,  Mansfield,  informs  me  that  he  purchased  this 
specimen  for  his  collection. 

In  the  collection  of  Mr.  T.  Machen  of  Bridlington  there  is 
a  mature  male,  obtained  at  Bempton  by  Mr.  R.  Morris  on 
i8th  June  1869  (Cordeaux,  "  Birds  of  the  Humber  District  "). 


RED-FOOTED  FALCON.  369 

A  pair  of  adult  birds  in  the  Hull  Museum  was  bought  at 
the  sale  of  Mr.  Hall's  Scorborough  collection,  1878.  These 
birds  are  supposed  to  be  local  specimens. 

William  Lister  of  Glaisdale  mentioned  that  one  was 
captured  at  Egton  Bridge,  near  Whitby,  by  the  keeper  of  Mr. 
Smith,  in  1876  or  1877. 

Mr.  A.  Clapham  of  Scarborough  states  (MS.),  that  an  adult 
in  his  collection  was  trapped  by  Lord  Londesborough'a 
keeper  in  the  vicinity  of  Hackness,  and  that  the  keeper  had 
another  that  was  taken  near  Scarborough.  The  latter  speci- 
men is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  A.  Young,  keeper,  Blankney, 
son  of  Lord  Londesborough's  late  keeper. 

Three  specimens  have  been  preserved  by  the  late  A. 
Roberts  of  Scarborough  ;  these  afterwards  passed  into  the 
collections  of  Mr.  A.  Clapham,  E.  Tindall,  and  A.  Young, 
gamekeeper.  Mr.  Roberts  stated  that  all  these  birds  had 
been  feeding  on  the  large  common  dew-worms.  Two  of 
these  last  mentioned  birds  are,  no  doubt,  those  recorded  by 
Mr.  Clapham. 

A  fine  female  was  obtained  in  Wadworth  Wood,  near  Don- 
caster,  during  the  last  week  of  April  1884,  and  was  preserved 
by  the  late  A.  Paterson  of  Doncaster,  who  kindly  supplied 
the  foregoing  information. 

In  tl  e  spring  of  1895  a  pair  was  reported  at  Ackworth, 
and  Major  Arundel  of  that  place  has,  at  my  request,  prosecuted 
inquiries  in  reference  to  this  occurrence,  and  communicated 
the  result  as  follows  : — "  i7th  March  1903.  For  a  fortnight 
or  more  during  the  spring  of  1895  two  (probably  a  pair), 
Red-footed  Falcons  were  seen  several  times  at  Brook-o'-Dale 
and  Stapleton,  and  one  of  them  eventually  fell  to  the  gun 
of  the  gamekeeper,  Savage,  who  shortly  afterwards  left  the 
district  and  is  now  dead.  I  did  not  see  the  birds  myself, 
but  they  were  reported  to  me  by  Mr.  G.  P.  Rhodes,  a  com- 
petent observer,  who  saw  them  on  the  wing,  and  examined  the 
specimen  that  was  shot,  in  the  flesh." 


VOL.  I.  2  B 


370 
KESTREL. 

Falco  tinnunculus  (Z.). 


Resident,  common  and  generally  distributed.     An  influx  of  migrants 
occurs  in  autumn. 


The  earliest  mention  of  this  Hawk  in  Yorkshire  appears 
to  be  in  Graves's  "  History  of  Cleveland  "  (1808),  where  it 
is  enumerated  among  the  resident  birds. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  : — 

Falco  tinnunculus. — Kestrel — Common  in  most  parts  of  the  county. 

In  Yorkshire,  as  in  most  other  counties,  the  Kestrel  is 
the  most  numerous  and  the  best  known  species  of  the 
Falconidae.  It  is  generally  distributed,  being  reported  from 
every  district  in  the  county  as  occurring  during  some  part  of 
the  year.  As  a  breeder,  it  is  found  in  all  suitable  localities, 
adapting  itself  to  every  variety  of  situation  for  the  rearing 
of  its  progeny.  In  wooded  districts  it  prefers  the  deserted 
nest  of  a  Crow  or  Magpie  ;  among  the  fells,  a  rocky  ledge  ; 
and  on  the  coast  the  cliffs  ;  while  in  the  open  pastoral  country, 
ruins  and  hollow  trees  are  occasionally  resorted  to.  All  seem 
to  be  acceptable,  and  its  absence  from  them  can  be  accounted 
for  by  persecution  or  the  immediate  vicinity  of  some  manu- 
facturing centre.  A  pair  bred  in  an  unoccupied  house  on 
the  main  road  between  Ripon  and  Harrogate,  and  in  Ribbles- 
dale  a  nest  was  found  in  a  barn.  Amongst  other  curious 
nesting  incidents  are  that  of  a  Crow,  Magpie,  and  Kestrel 
breeding  in  the  same  tree,  near  Worksop  ;  and  a  Kestrel 
nesting  in  proximity  to  a  Long-eared  Owl,  near  York,  in  1897. 
There  are  certain  portions  of  the  densely  populated  districts 
of  the  West  Riding  in  which  this  species  is  now  only  observed 
as  a  winter  visitant,  probably  from  elevated  and  more  exposed 
localities,  though  formerly  it  bred  there ;  and  at  Spurn 
Head  it  is  annually  noticed  as  an  early  autumn  migrant. 

With  regard  to  the  Kestrel's  wintering  in  Yorkshire,  Mr. 
J.  E.  Harting  wrote  as  follows  in  the  Field  for  1872  :— "  The 
Kestrel,  which  to  a  certain  extent  is  migratory,  has  been 


KESTREL.  371 

observed  to  be  a  resident  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Barnsley 
throughout  the  year.  This  district  may  possibly  be  the 
northern  limit  of  its  winter  haunts  ;  and  if  this  is  so,  in  all 
probability  the  Kestrels  seen  at  Barnsley  in  the  winter  are 
not  the  same  birds  which  spent  the  summer  there,  but  are 
new  comers  from  the  north,  taking  the  place  of  the  others 
which  have  moved  further  south."  As  a  resident  throughout 
the  year  the  Kestrel  is  by  no  means  confined  to  south  York- 
shire, as  Mr.  Harting  suggests,  but  is  generally  distributed 
over  the  county.  Mr.  Robert  Lee  of  Thirsk  and  Mr.  James 
Brigham  of  Slingsby  stated  (MS.),  that  in  those  parts  of  the 
North  Riding,  the  Kestrel  may  be  found  at  all  seasons.  Further 
south  it  occurs  commonly  around  Leeds  in  the  winter.  In 
high  and  exposed  districts,  the  Kestrel  is  compelled  in  hard 
winters  to  seek  more  sheltered  quarters,  but  in  milder  seasons 
remains  in  its  old  haunts.  The  evidence  given  above  only 
tends  to  prove  that  the  Kestrel  is  not  confined  in  winter 
in  its  distribution,  and  does  not  preclude  the  possibility  of 
such  an  exchange  of  birds  taking  place  as  Mr.  Harting  suggests. 
Indeed,  the  observations  communicated  to  the  British  Associa- 
tion Migration  Committee  indicate  that  it  receives  a  consider- 
able accession  to  its  numbers  in  autumn,  chiefly  during 
September  and  October.  I  have,  almost  yearly,  noticed 
individuals  flying  in  from  the  east  or  north-east,  and  have 
occasionally  seen  them  crossing  when  at  sea  off  the  Cleveland 
coast.  In  some  seasons  they  are  very  abundant  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Tees  and  Humber  estuaries. 

Mr.  A.  Clapham  of  Scarborough  reported  that  he  had  a 
dwarf  specimen  of  this  species  obtained  on  Strensall  Common, 
and  that  about  1877  he  saw  a  recently-killed  male,  in  a  York 
bird-stuffer's  shop,  that  was  almost  black. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  lamented  that  such  a  useful  bird  should 
be  subject  to  the  rule  of  wholesale  extermination  which  is 
applied  to  all  the  Hawks  ;  a  gamekeeper,  when  questioned  on 
this  point,  quite  admitted  the  harmless  character  of  the  bird, 
but  added  "  it  frightens  the  young  Pheasants  by  its  hovering  " 
— a  most  grievous  offence  certainly. 

Mr.  W.  Storey  of  Fewston  relates  an  incident  of  one  of 


372  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

these  small  Hawks  pursuing  a  Pipit  which  alighted  near  a 
horse  feeding  in  a  field,  when  the  Hawk  immediately  perched 
on  the  horse's  back  on  the  look  out  for  its  quarry.  Near 
Masham  a  Kestrel  was  seen  to  capture  a  Starling. 

The  local  names  are  : — Windhover  in  general  use  ;  Hover 
Hawk  in  the  North  and  West  Ridings  ;  Stand  Hawk  in 
Cleveland  ;  Standing  Hawk  at  Skelmanthorpe  ;  Steangall 
in  Arkengarthdale  and  in  the  West  Riding  dales  ;  Jack  Hawk, 
Little  Red  Hawk,  and  Yellow-backed  Hawk  in  Arkengarth- 
dale ;  Red  Hawk  and  Mouse  Hawk  at  Loftus-in-Cleveland 
and  Beverley  ;  and  Brown  Hawk  in  the  Western  Ainsty. 
Stannel,  Stanchel,  Stannel  Hawk,  Fleingall  (i.e.  Fly-in-gale), 
Vanner  Hawk,  and  Wind-fanner  are  all  old  names  mentioned 
by  Swainson. 

[An  example  of  the  American  representative  of  our  species 
(F.  sparverius),  now  in  the  York  Museum,  was  formerly 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  Backhouse  of  York,  who  states 
that  it  is  one  of  a  pair  captured  near  Helmsley  in  May  1882, 
and  that  he  is  convinced  of  its  authenticity.  Opinions  differ, 
however,  as  to  the  reliance  to  be  placed  on  the  evidence  con- 
nected with  its  occurrence,  and  I  regret  my  inability  to 
include  it  in  the  Yorkshire  list.  (See  Zool.  1883,  p.  126  ;  1884, 
pp.  176,  230  ;  Nat.  1884,  p.  169  ;  and  Saunders'  "  Manual," 
2nd  Ed.  p.  356.)] 


LESSER     KESTREL. 

Falco  cenchris  (Naumati). 


Accidental  visitant,  from  southern  Europe,  of  extremely  rare 
occurrence. 

The  first  British  example  of  this  south  European  species  was 
obtained  by  the  late  John  Harrison  of  Wilstrop  Hall,  near 
Green  Hammerton,  who  supplied  the  following  particulars 
of  the  occurrence  : — 

About  the  middle  of  November  1867,  this  bird  was  observed 
by  him  for  some  days  flying  about  his  farm,  and,  his  curiosity 


OSPREY.  373 

having  been  aroused  by  its  diminutive  size,  he  at  last  shot  it. 
Still  thinking  it  to  be  only  a  small  and  curious  variety  of 
the  common  Kestrel,  he  took  it  to  D.  Graham  of  York  for 
preservation.  Mr.  Graham  afterwards  identified  the  bird 
and  he  persuaded  Mr.  Harrison  to  present  it  to  the  York 
Museum,  where  I  have  seen  it.  Mr.  W.  S.  Dallas,  F.L.S., 
at  that  time  curator  of  the  Museum,  informed  Mr.  Harrison 
that  the  specimen  was  a  mature,  though  apparently  not  an 
old  male,  presenting  all  the  distinctive  characters  of 
Tinnunculus  cenchris,  among  which  the  yellowish-white 
claws  were  mentioned.  Mr.  Harrison  greatly  regretted  his 
inability  to  supply  the  exact  date,  owing  to  his  omission 
to  make  a  note  of  it  at  the  time.  The  bird  being  undoubtedly 
a  Lesser  Kestrel,  and  thus  the  authenticity  of  the  occurrence 
resting  on  Mr.  Harrison's  word,  it  may  be  considered  as 
quite  beyond  doubt. 

Since  the  date  of  the  first  occurrence  five  others  are  placed 
on  record,  and  a  second  Yorkshire  specimen  is  reported  by 
Mr.  Robert  Lee  of  Thirsk,  who  writes  in  the  Field  (23rd  April 
1892),  that,  on  the  I2th  of  that  month,  an  adult  male  in  good 
plumage,  and  without  any  traces  of  being  in  confinement, 
was  brought  to  him  to  preserve.  The  total  length  was  nf 
inches,  expanse  of  wings  26  inches,  and  weight  4^  oz.  The 
specimen  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Foggit  of  Thirsk. 


OSPREY. 
Pandion  haliaetus  (Z.). 


Bird  of  passage,  of  very  rare  occurrence  in  spring  and  autumn. 
Formerly  observed  regularly  on  its  way  to  and  from  its  northern 
breeding  haunts. 

The  earliest  reference  to  the  Osprey,  in  connection  with 
Yorkshire,  is  a  quotation  from  R.  Johnson  [of  Brignall, 
near  Greta  Bridge],  who  stated  that  "  It  preys  often  upon 
our  rivers."  (Willughby's  "  Ornithology,"  1678,  p.  21.) 


374  THE  BIRDS  OF  YORKSHIRE. 

Thomas  Allis,  1844,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Pandon  haliatus. — Osprey — Numerous  specimens  have  been  killed. 

In  former  years  the  Osprey  was  not  infrequently  observed 
in  the  spring,  while  on  the  passage  to  its  breeding  stations 
in  the  north,  and  again  in  the  autumn  while  returning  to 
its  southern  winter  quarters.  During  these  migrations  the 
size  of  the  bird  and  the  habits  peculiarly  its  own  have  caused 
it  to  be  noticed  by  those  not  usually  interested  in  ornithology. 
Latterly  it  has  become  much  less  frequent ;  this  scarcity  is 
in  a  great  measure  attributable  to  the  fact  that  it  no  longer 
frequents  its  former  favourite  haunts  in  Scotland,  and  its 
association  with  the  name  of  that  country  is  now  confined  to 
perhaps  a  pair  or  two,  if  even  that. 

The  instances  of  its  appearance  in  this  county,  however, 
as  chronicled  during  the  past  century,  or  otherwise  brought 
under  my  notice,  number  upwards  of  seventy,  and  it  seems 
hardly  desirable  to  give  the  particulars  of  each  case  ;  the 
majority  of  these  have  been  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast.  It 
may  suffice  to  state  that  the  earliest  spring  record  is  8th  April 
1883,  when  one  was  observed  by  the  late  H.  B.  Hewetson, 
soaring  over  the  lake  at  Charles  Waterton's  residence,  Walton 
Hall ;  others  have  been  noted  at  various  dates  in  the  spring 
and  summer  up  to  the  28th  July,  when  one  was  killed  at 
Hebden  Bridge  in  the  year  1878  (Crabtree,  "  Halifax  Nat." 
December  1900).  The  earliest  record  in  the  autumn  is  2gth 
August  1899,  at  Pilmoor  Farm,  Hunmanby,  and  the  latest 
at  that  season  occurred  at  Cherry  Burton,  near  Beverley, 
on  22nd  November  1876.  The  most  recent  occurrence  was 
at  Loftus-in- Cleveland,  on  29th  August  1905. 

Dr.  Farrar  (1844),  mentioned  that  a  female  which  occurred 
on  Burnsall  Moor,  near  Bolton  Abbey,  in  April  1844,  was  gorged 
with  the  remains  of  a  Red  Grouse. 

The  Osprey  is  too  rare  at  the  present  time  to  be  known 
by  any  vernacular  names,  though  Swainson  mentions  Mullet 
Hawk,  Eagle  Fisher,  and  Bald  Buzzard  as  used  of  old  in 
the  north  country. 

END    OF   VOL.    I. 


PRINTED   AT   BROWNS*    SAVILE   PRESS, 
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