Fauna of Twizell. 39 1 



warbler (Sal. locustella,) which, during the early growth of many 

 of the plantations, then abounding in whin, broom, and other under- 

 growth, might be heard in various directions, pouring forth its sibi- 

 lous note, now that they have attained a considerable growth, is 

 rarely heard, and then only in the brushwood adjoining the moor and 

 other open ground. The white throat (Cur. cinerea) is plentiful ; 

 but no example of the lesser species (Cur. garrula) has yet been de- 

 tected. Of the greater pettychaps (Cur. hortensis) the number is 

 limited ; but its congener, the black-cap (Cur. atricapilla) is abun- 

 dant. Of the Sylvise or willow wrens, the hippolais of Lath. &c. 

 the rufa of Temminck, is, comparatively speaking, a rare bird, and 

 seldom more than three or four pairs annually visit the district, 

 which are always confined to peculiar spots or localities. The S. 

 sibilatrix or wood wren is plentiful in the woods of older growth, 

 particularly where beech and oak abound. The S. trochilus is, how- 

 ever, the most abundant of all our summer visitors. This species 

 and the black-cap arrive about the same time, and the period, from 

 the observations of many years, is between the 14th and 18th of 

 April; Mr Hewitson's work renders it almost unnecessary to add, that 

 the nest of S. sibilatrix is easily distinguished from that of ^S". trochi- 

 lus, by having a lining of hair instead of feathers. The diminutive 

 but active little gold-crest (R. auricapillus) is very plentiful, and 

 may be seen at all seasons in the plantations, delighting especially 

 in the thick masses of the spruce and silver firs, among which it 

 finds a constant supply of food, as well as a favourite site for its nest, 

 which, as a semipendulous structure, yields in neatness and elegance 

 of fabrication to none with which I am acquainted. In addition to 

 our constant residents, we receive a great accession of strangers 

 about the end of October and beginning of November from the 

 colder regions of Norway, Sweden, &c. The pied wagtail (Mot. 

 alba) migrates in autumn, but returns at an early period of the 

 year, as I have frequently noticed it on the roof of the house during 

 the last week of February, when the weather was mild. The ma- 

 jority of the grey species (Mot. boarula) also leave us during win- 

 ter, a few individuals only remaining, which are occasionally seen in 

 warm situations near spring heads and other water courses that re- 

 main open even during severe frosts. This species prefers the ledge 

 of a rock upon the banks of our limpid rivulets for the site of its 

 nest. It breeds very early, and the first brood has generally quit- 

 ted the nest before the middle of May. The yellow wagtail is 

 never seen in this district, though far from uncommon upon the dry 

 hilly grounds a few miles to the westward. The Anthus arboreus. 



