310 TINKLER: THE AVI-FAUNA OF ARKENGARTHDALE, ETC. 
above Gunnerside, and there are many others scattered over the 
district wherever there are lead-workings. 
The chief woods in Swaledale are found below Reeth, near 
Grinton, Marrick, Ellerton, Marske, Applegarth (noted for its yews), 
and Downholme. Above Reeth, beyond large patches of thorn, 
wild briar, and hazel bushes (chiefly on the hill slopes between Keld 
and Low Row), scattered clumps of trees here and there, and fir 
plantations on Whitaside, Crackpot, Kisdon, and at Thirnswood, 
there is very little woodland. Scar and Eskeleth are the chief 
woods in Arkengarthdale, and there are besides several smaller 
plantations and scattered groups of trees, together with patches of 
thorn, hazel, etc., here and there in the lower part of the valley, but 
by far the greater part of the dale is without wood. The New Forest 
is fairly well wooded, Rispey and Hollin Woods being a fair sample 
of the woods which formerly clothed the hill slopes and valley 
bottoms of the whole district. Hedges are almost unknown, stone 
walls taking their place. The enclosed and cultivated part of the 
district lies mainly on the slopes of the hills and in the valleys. In. 
Arkengarthdale and Higher Swaledale it consists entirely of pasture 
and meadow land ; in Swaledale, below Reeth, there is some arable 
land, but of no great extent. 
There are several species of birds which I have little doubt occur, 
but I have never seen them myself, and have no information respect- 
ing them. For instance, the Grasshopper Warbler, Tree Sparrow, 
Hawfinch, and Little Grebe are all found in Teesdale and Wensleydale, 
on either side of my district, while the Quail and Redshank both breed 
in Wensleydale. Wild geese often pass over in winter, and have been 
shot from time to time, but never having had an opportunity to 
examine any I cannot determine the species. The Tufted Duck, 
Goldeneye, Goosander, and Whooper have all been obtained on the 
Swale near Richmond, on the outskirts of my district, and I have no 
doubt that stray specimens of these and others of the Anatidz occur 
most winters within its limits, but are not distinguished by those who 
see or obtain them, being simply classified as ‘ wild duck’ or ‘ teal.’ 
In the early years of this century the Henand Marsh-Harriers must have 
been found all over our moors, for on the Teesdale moors, a very 
few miles away, they were then very abundant, as mentioned by the 
late Mr. Hancock in his ‘Birds of Northumberland and Durham. 
About ten years ago, Mr. M. Willey saw, near the Roe Beck, in 
Arkengarthdale, a large white hawk, slightly spotted with black, 
carry off a grouse a few yards away from him. He had no gun wl 
him, or could easily have obtained it. This was most probably 4 
specimen of the Iceland Falcon. 
Aa eee ; 
Naturalist, 
