29 



GENUS LOCUSTELLA. 



GRASSHOPPEE-WAEBLEE. 



LocusTELLA N.EYiA (Bodclaei't) . 



A summer visitor, whose whirring note is usually 

 heard the last few days of April or beginning of May. 

 Its retiring habits make it a difficult subject of observa- 

 tion, but it probably leaves with the rest of the War- 

 blers in September. In suitable localities it is not 

 uncommon, but is nowhere al)undant. In the Manches- 

 ter district it nests regularly, according to Mr. John 

 Hardy ; I also Mr. Frank Nicholson, Ed.] ; and near 

 Garstang, Mr. J. A. Jackson generally hears one or two 

 each summer. It breeds in the Goosnargh neighbour- 

 hood, where it is called " Hurrer " or " Huzzer "; and 

 Mr. John Weld says it was very common near Chipping 

 in 1882. It is probably more numerous in the Eibble 

 valley than anywhere else, and near Clitheroe many 

 pairs breed each year ; it being found also annually at 

 Balderstone, and within three miles of Preston Mr. 

 J. B. Hodgkinson considers it common. On Longridge 

 Fell, above Button, it nests at a considerable altitude. 

 Mr. Thomas Jackson records its appearance at Overton 

 in June in 1879 and succeeding years, and Mr. W. A. 

 Durnford's informant W. B. K, ("Birds of Walney," 

 1883) states that it occurs on the mainland of Furness. 

 Its favourite habitat is the thick undergrowth of a young 

 plantation, and it will frequent such a place for years 

 until the growing timber has rendered the means of 

 concealment too scanty, when it is entirely deserted ; 

 an open meadow is also often chosen for a breeding- 



