Fauna of Twizell 389 



that I have dissected nothing but the remains of wasps in various 

 stages were detected. The moor-harrier is rapidly declining in 

 numbers, many of the marshes in which they used to breed having 

 been drained and reclaimed. Some few years ago I recollect it as 

 one of the most abundant species in this neighbourhood ; now an in- 

 dividual is rarely to be seen. Of the owls, the long-eared (Otus 

 vulgaris) is the most plentiful, and is met with in all the planta- 

 tions where the fir, particularly of the spruce kind, abounds. They 

 breed early, and have generally eggs by the middle of March. An 

 old nest, either of the magpie or carrion crow, is the situation in- 

 variably selected as the place of deposit. The young continue to 

 be fed by their parents long after they have quitted the nest ; and 

 their querulous cry, which commences immediately after sunset, is 

 heard throughout the greatest part of the summer. The tawny 

 owl is now rarely seen. I may here mention, that a very small owl, 

 probably Nyctipeies nudipes or Tengmalmi, Swain, was seen near 

 the stables at Twizell by a person well acquainted with birds, and 

 who could scarcely mistake an owl of such small dimensions for any 

 of the common species, particularly as he was within a very short 

 distance, and had an opportunity of examining it before it flew from. 

 its perch. The cinereous shrike, (Lan. excubitor,) is the only spe- 

 cies, I believe, that has yet been detected north of the Tyne. At 

 Twizell I have killed two or three individuals, and have seen va- 

 rious other specimens from the adjoining districts. Its time of ap- 

 pearance is between the months of November and March. Two 

 specimens, both adults, of the pied flycatcher (Mus. luctuosa) have 

 been killed within our confines, and another was seen but allowed 

 to escape. They all appeared in May ; but no instance of its breed- 

 ing either here, or within the county, has yet come to my know- 

 ledge. Of the various thrushes, it may be remarked, that the mis- 

 sel, (Mer. viscivora,) has of late years been rapidly on the increase 

 in the north of England and Scotland. I well remember when it 

 was considered a very rare bird. Now it is met with in all directions 

 and at all seasons, as it has not been observed to migrate even dur- 

 ing the severe winter months. This, however, the common thrush 

 usually does to a certain extent, as it regularly moves from the in- 

 terior to the sea coast towards the middle of November, and there 

 continues till January is pretty far advanced. The ring-ouzel 

 (Mer. torquata) pays us a passing visit on commencing its autum- 

 nal migration, but rarely remains more than a few days, durino- 

 which it is generally seen in the neighbourhood of the mountain-ash 

 trees, whose berries are a favourite repast of this as of all the other 



