1 78 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



the south. No wonder their return in spring seems 

 to be in fewer and fewer numbers. The Sky-lark is 

 more fortunate. It breeds in much the same localities 

 as the Corncrake, but nests earlier, so that the young 

 are generally able to fly before the mowers enter the 

 fields. Speaking of Sky-larks we may mention that 

 large flocks of this bird appear upon certain suitable 

 fields in the late autumn, remaining throughout the 

 winter. These birds are from the Continent, and 

 come to our isles in that vast tide of migration that 

 sets westwards across Europe from the far East in 

 October and November. The birds always prefer 

 high ground, and we have remarked this choice in 

 the southern counties as well, and seldom wander 

 far from a district during their stay, except under the 

 pressure of continued snow-storms. They invari- 

 ably return to the usual haunts when the ground is 

 clear again. 



At least two species of Wagtails are common birds 

 upon the fields and pastures of the northern shires. 

 The Pied Wagtail is perhaps the most familiar, al- 

 though both this bird and the Yellow Wagtail are 

 more or less migratory. Perhaps these birds are 

 most interesting when they congregate in large num- 

 bers upon the ploughed fields in March, and run to 

 and fro with dainty steps about the heels of the 

 ploughman and his team. We knew an old farmer 

 \vho had a special liking for these pretty birds. He 



