Bnii))} : Pied F/vcd/c/icr in Vorks/iire. 255 



seen a Pied Flycatcher, had the fortune or misfortune to pick 

 up, drowned in a water-tank, one male and three females. 



Since this dramatic introduction I have been specially inter- 

 ested in the bird — in its habits and local distribution. I long- 

 had the impression that it was a very rare bird, but I find that 

 everywhere in North Yorkshire it may be met with in suitable 

 places. Contrary to the habit of its spotted relative it affects 

 the tops of the hig'hest trees as its hunting- g-round, but, accord- 

 ing- to observations I have been able to make, it nests near the 

 g-round and never in the hig^her part of the tree. 



On two occasions as I have watched them, Iving- on my 

 back, a bird has dropped from a g-reat heig-ht and tumbled into 

 a hole in a tree within a few yards of where I lay. I say 

 ' tumbled ' and ' dropped ' advisedly, as these words seem best 

 descriptive of their movements. 



In certain positions and lig-hts their white brows do not 

 show, and all that is seen is a little ball of black feathers 

 floating- about. This no doubt is the bogie man whicli the insect 

 mothers point out to keep in order their unruly young-sters. 



At such high elevations as the Flycatchers frequent their 

 notes are difficult to identify, the incessant chatter of their lively 

 associates increasing- the difficulty ; once only have I been 

 sufficiently near to be certain that the brig-ht, lively 'chip ' was 

 from this bird. This sound is quite unlike the soft, swiping-, 

 pensive note of the spotted species which on its arrival in sprino- 

 makes you fancy that you are near fledg-Iing- Robins calling- to 

 their parents to hurry up with the next meal. 



Its distribution in North Yorkshire is most likelv co-exten- 

 sive with the division of the county. At Brig-gswath, near 

 Whitby, where I first met with it, in the Woodlands, the Carrs, 

 in the Esk Valley ; on the Earl of Mulgrave's estate ; in Egton, 

 Glaisdale, and Fryup Woods ; at Goathland, Newton Dale, 

 Pickering, Kirbymoorside, and Helmsley, where it holds high 

 revel in Duncombe Park. The dales on the Earl of Feversham's 

 splendid estate appear to be specially attractive as breedino- 

 grounds. Bilsdale, Farndale, and the smaller dales where tall 

 trees abound are also favourite haunts. Scarborough, on Lord 

 Londesborough's estate ; Hackness to Langdale End ; Hovin^r- 

 ham, Gilling, Newbury Park, Coxwold to Whitestone Cliff, and 

 the lordly domain of Castle Howard are included in its summer 

 homes. It probably is to be found all over Cleveland and in 

 the neighbourhood of Masham. 



It would be interesting to many readers of ' The Naturalist ' 

 to have other areas indicated where the Pied Flycatcher 

 breeds. 



1903 July I. 



