CHAPTER TEN 

 YORKSHIRE 



On entering Yorkshire it is natural for our 

 thoughts to turn to Waterton, that eminent 

 naturalist who wrote with equal charm and 

 vigouronsomany subjects — vultures, miracles, 

 and Hanoverian rats! We think of him to-day 

 with mingled feelings; for, although he built a 

 dovecote, which is so much to his credit, he 

 pulled down an old one, and who knows what 

 treasure of antiquity he thus destroyed? 



That of his own erection occupies the centre 

 of the stable-yard at his old home of Walton 

 Hall; a tallsquare structure builtof stone, with 

 a hipped roof, two dormer windows, and a cu- 

 pola. The number of the L-shaped nest-holes 

 is three hundred and sixty-five; was this in- 

 tentional? There is a socket-hole in the floor, 

 which seems to show that he considered a pot- 

 ence of some use in a square house. 



Waterton thoroughly understood the busi- 

 ness of pigeon-rearing. 1 1 may be noted in pass- 

 ing that he derives the term "glover," some- 

 times applied to the lantern or cupola, from the 

 Frenchow^^y^andis very probably correct. He 



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