THE NATURALIST IN NIDDERDALE. 418 - 
Dacre Banks, and Wheatears are common on the higher ground. 
They abound in the flat green fields of Cracoe (700 feet), near 
Linton in Wharfedale, where there are stone walls or iron railings, 
and no hedges, with a few scattered thorns. They evidently 
consider, with Col. Lovelace, that— 
“Stone walls do not a prison make, 
Nor iron bars a cage.” : 
The young Wheatears arrive at the south coast early in August, 
where they flock during the autumn. 
I have not seen the Grasshopper Warbler in the whole district, 
except once, about June 15th, 1869, at Garth Crook (1000 feet), on 
the border of the high moors of Barden Fell, between the Wharfe 
at Bolton and the Washburn, an exposed situation, with an easterly 
aspect. I have observed it farther south, near Huddersfield. 
Notwithstanding the efforts of a local author to disprove the 
existence of the Nightingale in this district, I venture to record 
two localities in which I have seen these birds—Esholt Woods, in 
Airedale, in the summer of 1868, and on May 8th, in Jonas Wood, 
near Farnley Hall, Wharfedale. Nightingales usually reach the 
south coast the first week in August. -On July 27th, 1867, I saw 
the first at Heene. On the 15th one was for some time on a 
geranium, in front of a window where I was writing, pecking the 
underside of the leaves. On looking to see what it could get, 
I found numbers of cobwebs stretched in various directions to 
catch the flies that might shelter there from the rain that had 
fallen lightly all the morning. On August 16th I saw a beautiful 
cock bird in the asparagus bed, of which dense forest it seems 
particularly fond. It runs nimbly up the perpendicular stalks, 
now and anon pecking on its way. It flew to a tree about thirty 
yards off—a straight slightly undulating flight. 
I used frequently to hear the Blackcap singing through the 
night, in company with the Corn Crake, at Apperley Bridge and 
at other places in the district. 
The Whitethroat occurs in Nidderdale, where its “ee tscbrale” 
may be heard, but not plentifully. 
The Lesser Whitethroat is by far the commonest bird in the 
whole district, from the vale of York up to the borders of the moors, 
where its place in this respect is taken up by the Titlark. It ascends 
Nidderdale to Angram (1200 ft.), at the Dale Head. The inclined 
plateaux, peculiar to the eastern slopes of the millstone-grit range, 
