ORNITHOLOGY OF RIDING MILL ON TTNE. 103 



shooting season, in such a complete manner as to raise suspicions 

 of its having met with foul play ; about the end of January the 

 covey returned to the same spot in undiminished numbers (it had 

 been frequently looked for meanwhile in vain), and in a few days 

 the members separated and paired off. 



Quail, Coturnix communis, Bonnat. — A casual summer visitor. 

 Curiously enough, it only seems to occur on the high ground 

 near Broomley, where I have several times heard it. A keeper 

 of the late George Fenwick, Esq., informed me that he generally 

 noticed some Quail there every year, and that he had once taken 

 the nest. His account may be relied on, as he certainly knew 

 the bird, and showed me a specimen he had shot and stuffed 

 himself. 



Grouse, Lagopus scoticus, Lath. — Bare near Biding Mill ; a 

 few pairs only breed on Broomley Fell (on the Healey Estate), 

 or did as late as 1878, when I ceased to have the shooting 

 there. Towards Blanchland, of course. Grouse are much more 

 numerous. 



Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix, L. — Used to be much more 

 common near Healey than the last, and might be plentiful there 

 if there were more suitable ground, and if the grey-hens would 

 choose the places for their nests with more judgment ; but, from 

 their choosing spots particularly exposed to the action of the 

 water, their chicks, which are very delicate in constitution, 

 probably suffer more from a wet hatching season than those of 

 any other species. I never killed more than five brace in a 

 day, and I should say that they have decreased there of late 

 years, owing to the growing up of young trees in all the open 

 spaces, by which alone the young birds were preserved in wet 

 summers. 



Water Bail, Rallus aqiiaticus, L. — Most probably more com- 

 mon than it ajDpears to be, owing to its retiring nature. A male 

 in my possession, shot near Healey Church, on Nov. 20, 1878. 



Corn Crake, Crex pratensis, Bechst. — A common summer 

 visitor, and apparently not decreasing in numbers, as would 

 seem to be the case in some places. I was very much surprised, 

 on June 3, 1876, by finding that a Corn Crake, which I had 

 stealthily approached while uttering its peculiar note, was 

 perched on the top of a high hedge ; there was no doubt 

 whatever on this point, as I got quite close to it. 



