Field Notes. 361 



BIRDS. 



Early Reference to Starlings. — In this week's Nation 

 is the following early reference to the starling, extracted 

 from ' Jack of Newbury,' l)y T. Delanev', 1528 : — ' Husbands 

 (quoth she) think that women are like Starlings, that will burst 

 their gall before they will yield to the Fowler ; or like fish 

 Scolopendra that cannot be toucht without danger ? . . . I tell 

 you, husband, the noble nature of woman is such that for 

 their loving friends they will not stick (like the Pellican) to 

 pierce their own hearts to doe them good.' — J. T. Skwell, 

 Whitby, 25th October, 191S. 



White Wagtail in Nidderdale. — On the 2rst September 

 last as one of my sons and I were walking from Hampsthwaite 

 to Darley in Nidderdale, we had a fine view of a White Wagtail 

 just as we were nea.ring our destination. At the place where 

 we saw it, which was about half a- mile from Darley, we had 

 to take shelter from rain, which detained us at least half an 

 hour, during which time it was feeding in company with a 

 somewhat scattered party of Pied Wagtails, and at times, 

 when it got too close, was evidently regarded as an interloper. 

 The White Wagtail at all seasons is a rare species with us, but 

 especially is this the case in autumn. — E. P. Butterfief.d. 



Corncrake calling in the air. — About the middle of August, 

 whilst I was staying on the moorside beyond Ilkley, the shrill 

 call of a corncrake up in the air attracted my attention 

 about 10 p.m. The position, as well as my sense of direction 

 could guide me, was over an adjacent hayfield, then uncut. 

 As near as I could judge the bird woi;ld be about 25 to 

 30 feet high. The crake was only momentary and the bird 

 seemed to come down quickly. It was a dark night, and I 

 had not before heard the bird so high up the moorside (just 

 under the lea of the first moorland ledge — level with the 

 Swastika stone), nor have I heard the bird since. — A. P. 

 HoRROx, The University, Leeds, 3rd September, 1918. 



A Late Swift. — On September 2gth, while on duty with a 

 detachment of the Volunteer Regiment on the Rifle Range at 

 Birk Crag, my attention was drawn to a Swift circling about, 

 high above us. It was a dull day, but an exceptional one for 

 the month, being the only one we have had without rain. 

 As the Swifts left us on August 12th (a large number had 

 departed previously) one wondered why this bird had delayed. 

 I was again on duty on the range on the following vSunday, 

 October 6th, a fine sunny day, with a strong west wind blowing, 

 and a single Swift was again seen flying about high above us. 

 Can it have been the same bird, and what can have caused it 

 to linger so long after the usual time for departing ? It is 

 much the latest record I have for the district. The week 



1.^18 Nov. 1, 



