ORNITHOLOGY OF THE LEEDS DISTRICT. 67 



Gledhow, by an old poacher, who mistook it for a Woodcock. The story runs 

 that before levelling his gun, the old fellow, (who had a dash of the ^haksperian 

 in his composition) muttered "If thou be a Woodcock, as I suppose thou be, 

 have at thy long bill." His failing eyesight however for once deceived him, and 

 he picked up the poor bleeding and dying Owl with a good round volley of 

 imprecations on the whole tribe, since which time none have been seen at 

 Gledhow. 



The Raven, some seventy years ago, is said to have been tolerably plentiful; 

 it is now quite extinct; the last solitary pair were seen hovering about Almais 

 Cliff, near Harrogate. The Hooded Crow is often shot in winter. The Magpie 

 with us seems very local; thus at Killingbeck it is considered rare, while in 

 the neighbourhood of Meanwood it is tolerably plentiful, building in old thorns 

 and slender birches. The Jackdaw used to be very abundant about the ruins of 

 Kirkstall Abbey, but somehow or other their numbers appear to be rapidly 

 diminishing. A short time ago I was sketching some portions of Calverley Church, 

 and had occasion to examine and make some notes on the bells. On ascending 

 the spiral staircase, I was astonished to find it almost blocked up with Jack- 

 daws' nests, built of huge pyramidal piles of sticks; with some difficulty I managed 

 to pass them, though I fear not without causing some damage. It seems 

 probable that the sticks are collected by the birds, and dropped in at the narrow 

 embrasures until a sufficient quantity is collected to build these singular nests. 

 In the flat meadows about Killingbeck, immense flocks of Starlings congregate 

 just before the commencement of winter, accompanied by their sable allies the 

 Rooks; — it is very pleasing to pass a few minutes in watching their graceful 

 movements when on the wing. The Fieldfare's note is often heard after dark, 

 right over the town; but whether this bird keeps late hours or not I cannot 

 determine. Last year I found a Titlark's nest at Moor AUerton, the occupant 

 being a young Cuckoo; when nearly fledged it was trodden to death by a foal. 

 The Mountain Sparrow, Twite, and Linnet are common about the high 

 barren lands of JMoortown and Blackmoor; these are favourite localities with 

 bird-catchers, who, on fine Sunday mornings in spring, are to be found busily 

 entrapping great numbers of unfortunate Larks and Linnets;, these are taken 

 to Leeds, and exposed for sale on market days, at about sixpence each; some 

 die on their journey, and thus escape a cruel imprisonment; others contrive to 

 once more cheer up, and pour forth a sweet lament over lost freedom. The 

 Goldfinch is common about Sherburn, and all districts where the teazle is 

 cultivated, the seeds of which it seems very partial to. The country people 

 call them ^captains:' in this district it may be considered rare. The Golden Plover 

 is found in small flocks about Winmoor; its principal food here seems to be worms, 

 slugs, and snails, the shells of which are often found in its stomach quite entire. 

 The various species of Water-Fowl enumerated in my list, have been observed 

 or shot at Killingbeck. There are several other localities with large sheets 

 of water, where most of them are occasional visitants, as Roundhay, Harewood, 

 and Eceup. 



