EARLY SPRING ON THE MOORS 31 



the appreciative eye — should one be there. I know 

 I have already incidentally mentioned this fact, but this 

 bird is not only typical of the moorland, but one of my 

 firm familar friends — a companion in the solitudes dur- 

 ing five of the happiest months- — -and he shall not lack 

 a second record here, in its proper place. 



The grey wagtail frequents alike the loneliest moun- 

 tain-burns and the broader streams below : but never, in 

 spring", ranges beyond the wilder region. In the rich pas- 

 tures and water-meadows of the lowland, it is replaced by 

 the yellow wagtail — the latter unknown on the moorlands. 



Simultaneously comes another species — not compan- 

 ionable, and with a curious record. This is the Stock- 

 dove, which, during my own lifetime, has voluntarily 

 added itself to the avifauna of the north. The first we 

 ever saw, was shot by my brother Alfred on September 

 25th, 1878; and since then it has become quite a regular 

 resident in the lowlands, feeding and "flighting" with 

 the wood-pigeons in winter, and nesting in hollow trees 

 and rabbit holes. 1 On the moors, its ways are quite 

 different. None see it come or go : but, in March, it 

 will be found to have taken possession, here and there, 

 of some remote and hoary crag, some rifted rocks 

 splintered by old-time convulsion, and often far away 

 on the moors, surrounded by miles of heather. These 

 strongholds the stockdoves share with jackdaws, ring- 

 ouzels, and often a pair of kestrels. They "keep them- 

 selves to themselves," as the saying is : but attend 

 strictly to business, for they breed twice in rock-cranny, 

 and are gone before August 12th. The latest I ever 

 saw on the moors was on August 18th. They are 

 quite unknown there in autumn or winter. 



1 We found one nest on Derwentwater, in an old squirrel's drey. 



