Io8 CLARKE AND NELSON : THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



been looked on as a rarity, often two, but seldom more, within 

 the precincts of this borough. The first note I can find is in 

 1868, where I have put down that I went to hear a Nightingale 

 sing on May ist. In 1874 I have a note that two sang nightly 

 in our public common, where they bred and I was told a pair 

 of old ones and the young were taken. In 1875 one bird came 

 to the same common (but not exactly to the same place) where 

 it also bred, as I saw the old bird on the nest myself which had 

 five eggs. It was afterwards taken. It has appeared at uncer- 

 tain intervals since but I have not been able to find my note 

 books. It has visited many places in the Riding but I believe 

 always singly and generally uncertainly. At North Cliffe, 

 Market Weighton, I was told by old Reynolds that it had 

 appeared there several years in succession and he pointed out 

 to me the particular wood where it came.' — W.E.C. 



With regard to the present status of the species, Mr. Boyes' 

 opinion, as expressed to me at Beverley, in March, 1901, may be 

 summed up in these words: — 'Time was when the Nightingale 

 was pretty Avell known as a summer visitor to Beverley, but I 

 fear the bird-catchers gave them very little peace: of late years 

 its visits have been few and far between, and always intermittent. 

 I have known some instances of the birds taking up their 

 quarters in copses, etc., where they have not been molested and 

 yet have not returned to them in the following summer; in fact, 

 I never once knew a Nightingale to come the following year to 

 a spot which had been occupied by one the previous season. 

 This is strange when we remember that many birds return to 

 their old haunts. In some seasons I have heard Nightingales 

 sing for an evening or two in a particular spot and then never 

 be heard again; not having found mates, they have gone 

 elsewhere probably.' 



Other instances in the Beverley district are at Cherry 

 Burton in 1889 (F. Boyes, Field, 25th of May, 1889); at Walk- 

 ington in 1892 (F. Boyes); at Middleton in 1898 (F. Boyes); 

 and at Boynton in 1890 (VV. Machen). — T.H.N. 



Trans. V.N.U., 1898 (pul). 1901). Series B 



