NOTES FROM YORKSHIRE. 19 



The hen harrier (Falco pygargus) 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. 



That beautiful bird the goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) may be seen 

 in companies of from ten to twenty or forty, throughout the winter, on 

 our sheepwalks and large open pastures where thistles abound. In 

 July and August the starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) congregate together 

 in large flocks, and may be found generally, in the day time, in our 

 sheep pastures; they seem more partial to sheep than to any other 

 animal ; two or three may often be seen on a sheep's back. 



On the 10th instant I saw a young cuckoo, apparently quite healthy ; 

 but the poor bird, I am sorry to say, has not been at all consulted in 

 regard to its comfort and convenience, as it has all along been confined 

 in a small canary cage, and has hardly room to spread both its wings 

 at once. 



I am sorry that ill health prevented me from getting out in the 

 spring to inspect a few nests and eggs of the carrion crow, or lesser 

 raven ; I think it quite possible that I may find Mr. Waterton and 

 yourself both right on that head. It is possible a crow may have more 

 reasons than one for covering her eggs sometimes, before leaving them ; 

 a magpie's nest, built in the same neighbourhood, may cause her to do 

 so when she is going to be absent from it for some time. 



I should like to see naturalists a little more courteous and respectful 

 in their criticisms one towards another, and not abusing one another 

 like tinkers, as I have seen specimens in another magazine, and all 

 about " trifles light as air." 



The chapters relating to our British smaller birds in some of your 

 magazines are exceedingly interesting, and they will, I have no doubt, 

 be the means of awakening greater attention towards them among 

 country naturalists. 



The Zoological Dictionary was announced to be forthcoming in 

 1833. I have not yet heard of its publication ; pray when may we 

 expect it out * ? 



I should like to have some good coloured illustrations of some of our 

 British birds, to bind up with the Field Naturalist and Montagu's 

 Ornithological Dictionary. Can I get any at a reasonable rate for 

 that purpose, and where ? I have never seen any but Lewin's, and 

 they are very indifferently executed f. 



I was just about closing my letter, when a young friend of mine 



* The publisher, Mr. Tegg, said it would be out at Christmas or in Spring. EJ>. 



f I am not aware of any separate plates of British birds. Selby's are the best ED. 



D 2 



