136 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



of mine told me that he recollected the first pair that came into 

 the Dale, and that they took up their residence in a house 

 situated in the middle of Low Eow. A few years after this they 

 made their way to Summerside, three miles higher up the valley, 

 and I hai^pened to live in the house where the first pair built. 

 However, they soon increased and found their way to Muker, 

 Keld, and other places still further up the valley. A year or two 

 ago I went that way on an angling excursion, and, as autumn 

 was approaching, I saw them flocking in fair numbers, as in 

 southern counties. But the winters there are too severe for 

 them, so they all migrate south, where there is more food for 

 them." 



Six or seven years ago the Eaven might still have been found 

 nesting on Swaledale Head, and on July 4th, 1877, a young bird 

 of the year was shot on Water Crag. Now, I am sorry to say, I 

 do not think there is a single pair of these fine birds to be found 

 breeding in the whole district, owing to the constant persecution 

 they receive at the hands of keepers and others. There was a 

 rumour that a pair nested on the crags at the head of Oxnop Gill 

 in the spring of 1881, and a pair were seen flying about the 

 moor near Keld the same spring, but I could get no satisfactory 

 evidence of their breeding anywhere in Swaledale during that 

 year. Last spring the watcher at Tanhill trapped a pair, which, 

 if unmolested, would probabl}' have built in theii* old haunts in 

 the neighbouring district. 



Carrion Crows, though not numerous, are found scattered over 

 most parts of the district. The Hooded Crow, Corvus comix, is 

 generally noticed on its migrations in spring and autumn ; a 

 few, however, ma}' be seen throughout the winter on certain 

 portions of the district. Eooks, though common, are not found 

 in such great numbers as in some parts of the country, and the 

 only rookeries in the district are those of Marske Hall, Draycott 

 Hall, and Healaugh, but these are of no great extent. Jackdaws 

 are very numerous, especially about the scars at Ellerton and 

 Downholme. 



The Jay is seldom seen above Eeeth ; below Eeeth it is com- 

 mon in most of the woods. Magpies are common and resident. 

 During winter they congregate in small parties of from three to 

 five, and occasionall}' more. The Green Woodpecker is occa- 

 sionally found in the district, but is far from common. The 



