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 — Locustella. 

 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 locustella. — 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, 



