xl YORKSHIRE— VERTEBRATE FAUNA. 



Such are the principal losses which Yorkshire has sustained in 

 breeding-birds, the result chiefly of the changes which have taken 

 place in the physical aspect of the county. 



To all rules there are, of course, exceptions ; and it is 

 therefore not surprising to find that winter visitants, like the 

 Short-eared Owl, Hooded Crow, Redwing, Tufted Duck, and 

 Rough-legged Buzzard ; casual visitants, as the Dartford Warbler, 

 Bearded Reedling, Siskin, Crossbill, Cirl Bunting, and Redbacked 

 Shrike; and even accidental visitants, as the Orphean Warbler, 

 have occasionally and in isolated instances remained to breed. 



With respect to migratory species, the dates of arrival and 

 departure quoted in the catalogue are those observed on the 

 coast, as more likely to be reliable than observations made in 

 inland localities. 



It is of interest to note that in addition to the Mottled Owl, 

 Lesser Kestrel, Cuneate-tailed Gull, and Bulwer's Petrel — which 

 are unique as British specimens — there are several other species 

 whose first occurrence in Britain was in this county. Amongst 

 these are the Waxwing (1681), Red-breasted Goose (1766, one 

 also occurring near London about the same time). Scops Owl 

 (1805), Red-legged Falcon (April, 1830), and Orphean Warbler 

 (1849); ^"d probably also the Eagle Owl, mentioned by Pennant 

 in 1768 as having once been shot in Yorkshire. 



The species recorded in the present work for the first time as 

 Yorkshire birds are the Lapland Bunting, Dartford Warbler, 

 Ruddy Sheldrake, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, and 

 Wilson's Petrel. It may also be remarked of Tengmalm's Owl, 

 that out of the seventeen known British specimens no less than 

 five have occurred in this county, and three of these Mr. Clarke 

 has had the personal pleasure of adding on the most unquestion- 

 able authority. In addition to this, numerous occurrences of rare 

 species — which have hitherto remained unpublished — now appear 

 for the first time in print. 



