66 



NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF THE LEEDS 

 DISTRICT, WITH A CATALOGUE OF THE RARER SPECIES. 



BY JOHN DIXON, ESQ. 



Before submitting to your pages a somewhat tedious and imperfect catalogue 

 of the ornithological rarities of this district, I must acknowledge the obligation 

 due from me to George Walker, Esq., of Killingbeck Lodge, and William 

 Wood, Esq., of Moor Allerton ; two practical naturalists, from whose joint 

 contributions and remarks I have drawn pretty freely; and as the observations 

 extend over a period of many years, I have been enabled, with the aid of inspecting 

 a few private collections, to complete a list of one hundred and fifteen birds 

 occurring in the vicinity of Leeds, a field which at first sight would seem to 

 furnish few attractions for any of the feathered tribe, save a few dirty impudent 

 Sparrows, whose noisy carols are always heard amidst the busiest scenes of 

 industry. 



It gives me much pleasure to find that many of our humble artisans seek 

 to pass a few pleasant leisure hours in the study of Natural History; and what 

 a delightful relaxation it must be to those of our poorer fellow-creatures, whose 

 daily bread is earned by a routine of almost incessant toil. I have examined 

 with great satisfaction several ornithological collections formed by working men, 

 the majority of specimens having been procured in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of this smoke-canopied town. With such limited means and brief leisure, 

 it seems surprising how such collections are got together; but no doubt the 

 clue to this success may be found in the good old adage — "Where there's a 

 will there 's a way." Some do not confine their pursuits entirely to the feathered 

 tribe, but will exultingly exhibit their cabinets of fossils or insects, or perhaps 

 warmly expatiate on the beauty of some floral gem just added to a well-selected 

 herbarium — delightful remembrancer of sunny fields and shady groves: such 

 pursuits must lead the reflective mind to a due consideration of the everlasting 

 gratitude we owe to the Giver of all good gifts. 



Within the memory of old people still living, many noble varieties of the 

 Falconidce were to be found in this locality, particularly about the woody districts 

 of Harewood and Temple Newsam; but as all this tribe have been long looked 

 upon as arrant rascals, a wholesale persecution has materially diminished their 

 number. A. fine specimen of the Peregrine-Falcon was shot a few years ago 

 near Winmoor, in the act of pouncing on a Ring Dove; two or three specimens 

 of the Buzzard, Kite, Harrier, Hobby, and Merlin, have within a few years 

 been shot at Gledhow, (this name is derived from Glead — a Kite; and How — a 

 hill,) Harewood, Roundhay, and Killingbeck; the Kestrel and Sparrow-Hawk 

 arc about the only representatives of this class now left, both of which will 

 doubtless be exterminated ere long. 



A specimen of the Short-Eared Owl was caught alive at Roundhay, blindly 

 flying in the glare of a mid-day sun, and "bully-ragged" by a parcel of small 

 birds. The last Tawny Owl coming under my notice was shot one night at 



