THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



325 



August 28th. Took C. Ustata on Harden 

 Moor. B. guercus larvae in profusion, and 

 full-grown. 



August 31st. Saw a large flock of Ring- 

 ouzels on Blackhills, evidently preparing 

 for migration. (E.P.P.B.) 



A DAY IN BALDERSDALE, 



By J. P. Soutter, Bishop Auckland. 



Having long had a desire to explore the 

 upper recesses of Teesdale, accompanied by 

 a friend we left Bishop Auckland by an 

 early train one day last week, and after a 

 brisk run by railway, were safely deposited 

 at Cotherstone station, where we were met 

 by two of our fellow-townsmen at present 

 ruralising in this quiet Yorkshire village. 

 The first thing to attract attention is a neat 

 new church, rapidly approaching completion. 

 More fortunate than the inhabitants of cer- 

 tain other places, the denizens of this Tees- 

 side "sleepy hollow" have escaped the 

 anathemas of irate archaeologists against 

 barbarous restorations, for, as they never 

 had a church to restore, they have gone in 

 for a brand new edifice, by this innovation 

 showing that they are awakening to the 

 needs of nineteenth century civilisation. 

 After a sumptuous breakfast we strolled 

 round a large and productive garden, noting 

 particularly the gooseberry bushes, literally 

 laden to the earth with their burden of 

 luscious fruit, and showing no trace of the 

 presence of the caterpillar whose ravages 

 have proved so destructive in other districts. 

 We next visit the Friends' Meeting House, 

 which seems the ideal realization of religious 

 seclusion. The building is devoid of the 

 slightest attempt at architectural embellish- 

 ment, but is relieved from plainness by the 

 rich drapery of ivy which mantles its walls, 

 whilst the neatness and cleanness of its 

 surroundings betoken it the object of loving 

 care. The adjoining grass-grown grave- 

 yard, with its formal rows of narrow mounds, 



is strewn with the needle-like leaves of the 

 massive larches which environ and over- 

 shadow it, giving one the idea of an Indian 

 burial place in the midst of a primeval pine 

 forest, where 



That delicate forest flower 

 With scented breath, and look so like a smile, 

 Seems, as it issues from the shapeless mould, 

 An emanation of the indwelling Life, 

 A visible token of the upholding Love, 

 That are the soul of this wide universe, 



whilst the prim and diminutive headstones, 

 rigidly of an uniform pattern, reminds one 

 of the severe simplicity of this somewhat 

 sombre sect. We have no time to further 

 explore the beauties of Cotherstone, which, 

 charmingly situated at the junction of the 

 Tees and the Balder, is just such a rural 

 retreat as one might choose wherein to live 

 and die, the world forgetting, by the world 

 forgot. We now start for the moor, follow- 

 ing the course of the stream. We drive over 

 a fairly good road, pleasantly beguiling the 

 time by rehearsing local legends, such as 

 the orgin of the famous christening of calves 

 at Cotherstone, which has given rise to so 

 many rustic attempts at wit. It happened 

 in this wise. Once upon a time a family, 

 rejoicing in the euphonius name of Calve, 

 resided in Cotherstone ; as to them young 

 Calves were born, and they must needs be 

 baptised, it was truly said that at Cother- 

 stone they christen Calves. The grass- 

 grown and mouldering ruins of Cotherstone 

 Castle, recalls the untimely fate of its last 

 lord, who whilst hunting was carried away 

 by a frightened steed, and dashed to pieces 

 over the highest precipice on the Tees, the 

 frowning front of which can be seen in the 

 distance. The passing of a haunted hall 

 reminds us of the tragic termination of a 

 practical joke, which happened there in the 

 early years of this century. Amongst the 

 retainers was a half-witted fellow, who was 

 often badgered by his fellow-servants as to 

 his timidity in prospect of seeing the ghost ; 

 so one night, to test his courage, one of his 

 youthful comrades procured a bullock's 



