NOTES FROM N.W. YORKSHIRE. 135 



Pipit, Anthus trivialis, is a common summer migrant, arriving 

 about the middle of April and leaving again early in September. 

 The Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, is very abundant both 

 on the moors and elsewhere. Towards winter it congregates in 

 large flocks and departs southward, returning very early in 

 spring. An odd bird or two, however, may generally be observed 

 all the year round. I have found its nest at the height of two 

 thousand feet above ths sea. Skylarks, Alauda arrensis, are 

 equally as numerous as the last-named species, but do not reach 

 such a great elevation. 



In severe winters the Snow Bunting, Plectrophanes nivalis, is 

 found on certain portions of the district in large flocks number- 

 ing several hundreds each. In mild winters we still have them, 

 but only in small parties of from twenty to thirty. Common, 

 Eeed, and Yellow Buntings are sparsely scattered over the more 

 cultivated parts ; the Yellow Bunting is more numerous near 

 Eichmond. 



Chaffinches, Linnets, Greenfinches, and Sparrows are common 

 and resident. The Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus, is common 

 near Eichmond. The Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla, has 

 been observed in winter, but is exceedingly rare. Goldfinches 

 have been noticed near Gunnerside, but they are not common 

 far above Eichmond. The Twite, Linota flavirostris, and Lesser 

 Eedpoll, Linota rufescens, breed with us annuallj^, the former in 

 limited numbers on the moors, the latter being much the com- 

 moner of the two. Bullfinches are common and resident, con- 

 gregating in small parties of from three to five during winter. 



About the end of October, 1858, nine Crossbills, Loxia curvi- 

 rostra, were killed near Eeeth out of a flock of eleven. They had 

 frequented the fir plantation in which they were killed since the 

 previous February. I am also told that the Crossbill is a regular 

 winter visitor to some woods near Eeeth, Thirty years ago the 

 Starling was almost unknown in the district ; now it is common, 

 and, although it generally leaves us for the winter, still, when 

 the weather is mild and open, I have noticed that a few stragglers 

 remain behind ; indeed, only a few weeks since I saw several 

 about our church tower. In the course of an interesting note to 

 'The Field,' of October 20th, 1888, Mr. Ford, of Caistor, 

 says: — "I spent nine years in the upper part of Swaledale, 

 where these birds were then exceedingly rare ; in fact, a friend 



