FIELD MEETINGS FOR 1912 373 



south, climbing toward Downholm, a group of rather gloomy 

 stone cottages planted against the hillside, whose strength 

 spoke of wind and snow to be withstood in the storms of winter. 

 The clouds which had been gathering up the dale with ominous 

 scowl now broke, and rain followed us across Hudswell Moor. 

 The piping and the chattering of the stonechats and wheatears 

 was added to the plaintive cry of the lapwing and the whistle of 

 the curlew in the solitude of the moor. A snipe arose, and 

 darting high into the air, kept up a wide circular flight, then 

 dropped obliquely for a short distance, uttering that peculiar 

 bleating noise or " drumming," the production of which has 

 puzzled so many observers, and then rose in flight to repeat the 

 manoeuvre again. 



From the height of Hudswell Moor probably the finest and 

 most extensive view of the Swale, as it flows from its hilly bed 

 to the plain towards York with the Hambledon Hills shewing 

 against a hazy bluish background, is obtained. One regrets 

 that with such an outlook and with such health-giving air, the 

 village itself in its deserted and ill-repaired cottages reflects one 

 of the signs of the times ; so we gladly turn off to the fields to 

 reach home by the Billy Bank Woods. 



Starting on our last day's expedition up the steep bank 

 leading to Leyburn, a soaking rain and dull ominous skies 

 altered our plans ; and after following the Badger Burn a short 

 distance we struck for the uplands towards Hipswell. As we 

 proceeded by the shelter of the plantations the rain gradually 

 ceased and the sun broke out, drawing forth the fragrant odour 

 of the conifers, and the larks overhead poured forth their 

 melody. Along the road the wild roses were still in abund- 

 ance, and the hedgerows were filled with the summer flowers, 

 leading us pleasantly to Hipswell, a smiling village whose 

 roseclad cottages surround the broad open green. Nestling 

 behind the trees in one corner stand the church and towered 

 parsonage bearing the date 1589. A small crayfish. was found 

 in the trough of the spring where we stopped to quench our 

 thirst. Across a sheep meadow by the mill we strike the 



