Birds. 9527 



Ornithological Notes from Beverley, East Yorkshire. 

 By W. W. BouLTON, Esq. 



(Continued from page 9494). 



Swift.— hli: W. Jeffeiy,jun., suggests (Zool. 9434), "May not the 

 absence of convenient nesting-places have something to do with the 

 scarcity of swifts at Beverley ? Have no old buildings been pulled 

 down or repaired ? " &c. Beverley, one of the most ancient towns in 

 Yorkshire, presents more than usual inducements for the nidification 

 of this bird. In the belfries of its lofty towers, and amidst the gloomy 

 rafters of its long roofings, corridors and aisles (easily accessible from 

 without), our Minster alone would appear to offer such inducements to 

 an unusual degree : moreover, on the south side, this edifice faces the 

 open country. In the heart of the town stands St. Mary's Church, a 

 very ancient structure; and I find on inquiry that in former years 

 swifts have been observed clinging to and apparently taking up their 

 abode in the massive tower of this church; latterly, however, these 

 bijds would seem to have well nigh forsaken us. Referring to Mr. 

 Jetfery's second suggestion, there may be some force in it, for it is 

 quite true that repairs have been going on in both churches, but 

 I think not to a greater extent than has been customary each pre- 

 ceding year, unless, indeed, during the past summer of 1864, when 

 the ceilings of St. Mary's Church were cleaned and painted; but this 

 process did not in any way reduce the facilities afforded in the tower 

 for the nesting of swifts and other birds. The Minster possesses a 

 very rich building fund, to be applied solely to repairs, &c., and thus 

 various alterations and renewals of different portions of the building 

 are continually going on, but certainly not to an extent likely to inter- 

 fere with the nidification of those birds frequenting the sacred edifice. 

 Indeed the tribe of swallows, sparrows, jackdaws, with an occasional 

 pair of redstarts, that have year by year found places there wherein to 

 build their nest and rear their young, may still be seen in undiminished 

 numbers. No ancient building has been pulled down, nor has any 

 extensive alteration of those still remaining occurred to thus explain 

 the very decided reduction in the number of swifts that have visited 

 the town of Beverley for the last several years. 



Jack Snipe. — I never recollect so many jack snipe seen and shot in 

 this neighbourhood as during the present season, — two, three and 

 even five of these birds, in one instance, having been flushed together, 

 or within the radius of a very few yards. I have not observed a 



