The Zoologist— August, 1867. 869 



Stonechat. — Not Dearly so common as the redstart, yet generally 

 distributed through the district. Never saw this bird on the top of the 

 higher fells, invariably finding it from the base to rather more than 

 half-way up to the summit. Did not observe the whinchat in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Wheatear — Common, more particularly in the elevated fell district; 

 seen on the summit of all the highest hills. One day saw a male of 

 this species, with a fly in his mouth, alight 0.1 the branch of a spruce- 

 fir. 



Pied and Gray Wagtails.— Common, and equally distributed. I 

 did not see one common yellow wagtail [Molacilla Rayi) anywhere ill 

 the neighbourhood of Grasmere. 



Tree and Meadow Pipits.— The tree pipit, I fancy, is a scarce bird in 

 this district; have only once heard it. The meadow pipit is everywhere 

 common, from the cultivated valley to the tops of the highest and 

 bleakest fells, where, often for miles together, its simple little song is 

 the only indication of bird-life. 



Mountain Linnet. — Not uncommon ; observed several in the vicinity 

 of Fairfield and the Grisdale Pass. 



Swift.— Only once seen ; I was then on the highest point of the 

 Borrowdale Fells, the wind north, and, in that elevated region, bitterly 

 cold, and I was only too glad to get under shelter of the nearest rock : 

 on looking upwards from this point could just discern a party of swifts 

 hawking; they were scarcely distinguishable, although the air was 

 remarkably clear: 1 judged them not much less than three thousand 

 feet above the summit of the fell, itself nearly three thousand feet 

 above the sea-level. To what an immense height had these swifts 

 ascended, and what insects would they find in that " cold thin atmo- 

 sphere ?" Probably, however, in those higher regions, a warmer current 

 of air was blowing from the west or south. 



Fern Owl. — Not seen, but, in the pleasant summer nights, frequently 

 heard; evidently are no strangers in the woods which girdle Grasmere 

 Lake. Often late in the evening, when all was still, have I paused in 

 rowing over the lake, to listen to the strange notes of the night birds. 

 A conceit not equal to that wonderful burst of melody we may some- 

 times hear in early morning, when blackbird and thrush, and all the 

 rest of our little early-rising warblers are pouring forth their morning 

 hymn of praise, and greeting the rising sun with such a burst of 

 melody as no combination of human voice and instruments can rival 

 or even distantly approach unto ; yet it was a concert worth listening 



