264 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



A singular instance with reference to the roosting habits 

 of this bird is related by Mr. W. Gyngell, who saw one near 

 Scarborough clinging to a pendent branch in a tree about 

 twenty feet above the ground, and then hanging suspended 

 vertically, swaying like a scarecrow to and fro in the breeze, 

 and evidently settled for the night {Nat. 1897, p. 298 ; Zool. 

 1897, p. 468). 



The vernacular names are somewhat numerous and varied. 

 Its cries give it the name of Screecher, — a term in general 

 use, — Devil Screamer and Devil Squeaker in the North and 

 West Ridings, and Devil Shrieker in the West Riding. These 

 terms become Screw and Devil Screw at Ackworth, and the 

 diabolic association is kept up in the West Riding term of 

 Devil-bird, which at Skelmanthorpe, near Huddersfield, be- 

 comes Devil's Bitch. In many parts of the North and West 

 Ridings it is known as Devilin or Dicky Devilling ; in the 

 East Riding it is Devilling, which at Thirsk is transmuted 

 into Dibbling.* In Ryedale and Cleveland it is designated 

 Collier. Swainson gives Whip as a West Riding term ; at 

 Loftus-in-Cleveland it is called the Tile Swallow ; and the 

 shepherds on Bowland Fells call it Longwings. In the Allan 

 MS. (1791) it is called Black Martin, which may possibly 

 be merely a book name. 



WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT. 

 Cypselus melba (Z.). 



Accidental visitant from Central and Southern Europe, of rare 

 occurrence. 



A summer immigrant to Central and Southern Europe, 

 North Africa, and Asia Minor, wintering in India, Assam, 

 and South Africa, this large Swift is but an accidental visitant 

 to Yorkshire, having occurred on seven occasions only. 



* A North Riding superstition carries the belief that to see two 

 Devil-screamers fighting brings ill-luck. 



