INTRODUCTION. 9 
are sparsely populated, the hillsides being covered with 
rough pastures, separated from one another by stone 
walls, whilst the higher ground is generally uncultivated 
grouse-moor. The ‘cloughs,’ the little valleys which 
the peat-stained mountain streams have cut in the mill- 
stone grit, are generally treeless except for a few stunted 
mountain-ashes and birches. In Longdendale or among 
the hills of Macclesfield Forest one may walk for miles 
amongst the heather. During spring and summer these 
breezy uplands abound in bird life which contrasts as 
strongly with that of the Plain as do the physical 
features of the country themselves. Here the Red 
Grouse reigns supreme: in its interest the birds of prey 
are persecuted unmercifully; but the beautiful little 
Merlin still nests in certain places, and in autumn the 
Peregrine Falcon is a not infrequent visitor. The clear 
whistle of the Golden Plover and the bubbling cry of 
the Curlew, as well as the Snipe’s bleat and the Lap- 
wing’s mournful wail, are familiar sounds, whilst the wild 
ringing song of the Ring Ousel may be heard on every 
hand. The Twite nests in the ling, and the Meadow 
Pipit, perhaps more abundant here during summer 
than any other bird, pours forth its quavering song, 
or follows its enemy, the Cuckoo, with plaintive peep. 
The Wheatear haunts the stone walls of the pastures, and 
the Mistle Thrush and Tree Pipit are characteristic birds 
of the plantations on the lower slopes. In winter, how- 
ever, except for the Red Grouse, these hill solitudes 
are practically deserted, and at that season we have 
tramped from dawn to dusk across the Longdendale 
Moors without seeing any other bird. 
The chief streams are the Etherow, Goyt, and Dane. 
The Etherow has been dammed, and the upper part 
of its course forms a chain of reservoirs some five miles 
