Mr J. A. Harvie-Brown on the Stockdove. 249 



in South Yorkshire, but is now not uncommon but local. In 

 1865 it is described as ' rarely visitin^,^ ' the neighbourhood 

 of Beverley in East Yorkshire, and the occurrence of a flock 

 there in the winter of 1864 and the shooting of a single male 

 (one of a pair) in March 1865 is considered worthy of a com- 

 munication in the Zoologist. Now, the recorder of the above 

 fact informs me it is common, and breeds. 



" Another correspondent in East Yorkshire tells me that it 

 has much increased in numbers during the last twenty years. 

 In the cliffs at Flamborough, where it now breeds in num- 

 bers, I am told there were but few ten or twelve years before 

 (1881). At Slingsby, near Malton, in north-east Yorkshire, 

 it is described as only having established itself twelve or 

 fifteen years prior to 1881 (1866 or 1869), and before that 

 date only a few had occurred in that neighbourhood ; now 

 they are abundant, and perhaps less numerous in winter. 



" In the western portion of the county it is only given as 

 occurring in a few of the lists received from my correspond- 

 ents. In the extreme west, about Slaidburn, it only made its 

 appearance for the first time ' a few years ago,' and now a few 

 pairs breed every season. It is included in the lists received 

 from Halifax and Bingley in the southern and central por- 

 tions of western Yorkshire, but not in any list from the 

 north-west. It is also omitted from a list by a valued corre- 

 spondent in Huddersfield, which is singular, since it is recorded 

 for Halifax. 



"In all the lists received from southern, central, eastern, 

 north-central, and north-eastern portions of the county it is 

 included as a resident without comment, except in those from 

 which I have quoted. Some observers refer to it as being 

 less numerous in winter. 



" The above is a rough but accurate sketch of its Yorkshire 

 distribution, based on the material now in my possession. I 

 could easily obtain further and more detailed particulars on 

 applying to my correspondents, and if you are sufficiently 

 interested in this problem, and care to pursue it further, you 

 may rely on me for most willing and hearty co-operation. 



" I have no information other than that contained in books 

 on its increase in other northern counties or Lincolnshire, but 



