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THE BIRDS OF WAKEFIELD: 



TFitk particulars of the occasional visits of Rare Species ^ and of those 

 that have been observed to breed in the neighbourhood, 



From 1840 to the present time. 

 BY WILLIAM TALBOT. 



FALCONID^.— (Continued). 

 Ring Ouzel {Turdus torquatus) — 



One shot at Warmfield, and one near Balne Beck. Three years 

 ago, I, with a friend, visited Hebden Bridge and the Calder 

 Valley, towards Todmorden, for the purpose of observing these 

 birds in their breeding quarters. In a space of 2 J miles we 

 found no less than thirteen nests. The male bird seems very 

 timid and shy. The field naturalist who has once heard its song 

 will not easily forget, or fail to recognize, it again. 



Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula) — 



The late Mr. Johnson, of the Nag's Head Inn, Wakefield, 

 received a specimen of this bird to be stuffed, which had been 

 shot at Bottom Boat. I saw the bird before it was skinned ; it 

 was in splendid plumage. 



SYLYIAD^. 



Hedge Accentor (^Accentor modularis) — 



Locally Hedge Sparrow, or Dickey Dunnock, breeds abundantly 

 in this neighbourhood. I have seen the nest with eggs in, as 

 early as the 15th of March. 



Redbreast {Erythaea rubicula)— 



Is plentiful both in town and country. It breeds in most extra- 

 ordinary and unlikely places. A short time ago a pair built 

 their nest between two bales of. coir yarn, in an exposed situation 

 in the Prison yard, where the prisoners were continually passing 

 to and fro. 



Redstart {Ruticilla phcenicurus) — 



Breeds freely round Wakefield. Its song is very sweet, but 

 short, and to an inexperienced ear scarcely distinguishable from 

 that of the Whinchat. The earliest date I have noted its 



N. S. Vol ;1.-~.Tan,, 187^. 



