PILMOOE: OCCUEREXCE OF THE TWITE'S NEST. 



By Rev. Hexey H. Slater, 

 vice-pkesident toekshiee naturalists' union. 



On April 27th, the Rev. E. P. Kuublej and I, with two friends, 

 investigated Pilmoor, with a view to verifying recorded occurrencesj 

 and collecting information for the circular to be issued for the 

 coming visit of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union to that locality. 



We reached the moor about 10-30, and were first pleased with the 

 sight of a lesser spotted wood-pecker, flying from one tree to another, 

 uttering its characteristic and not unmelodious note, and which, from 

 its conduct, might have a nest near. It is perhaps noteworthy that 

 Thirsk, ten miles to the north, seems to be the northernmost limit 

 which this bird is satisfactorily ascertained to reach in Great Britain. 

 Snipe were heard drumming, and soon we found a nest, of which the 

 eggs were just hatched. Whincbats were next seen in considerable 

 abundance, and a small pond with steep banks, near the chapel, 

 contained a coot's nest with two eggs (other coots' nests we sub- 

 se(^uently found had all hatched their eggs). The old coot swam about 

 within twenty yards of us, without showing as much shyness as is 

 usual with this species. 



Having now examined that part of the moor nearest the station, 

 we crossed the line on to the main moor ; before we had gone many 

 yards, a bird flew out of a tuft, in a manner which shewed she had a 

 nest there. It had five eggs, and evidently belonged to the linnet 

 kind, and vias placed two inches from the ground, supported by 

 heather stems, which rose six or eight inches above it, and almost 

 concealed it. I proaounced it a twite's nest, being accjuainted with 

 that bird in Scotland. The bird, after flying round us, perched on a 

 telegraph wire, so I took the binoculars, and approached to inspect it. 

 The first thing I remarked was, that it seemed a rather smaller bird 

 than a whinchat perched on the wires within a yard of it, except in 

 one particular^ — that its tail was longer in proportion ; going nearer 

 I had little doubt that it was a twite. Mr. Knubley also examined 

 it, and thought so too. To make myself quite certain, I lay down 

 under a whin bush near the nest, while the others went on. I saw 

 them shortly find another nest, and then proceed. In a short time 

 the bird returned, and sat on another bush not twenty yards from me, 

 and, looking at her carefully for some time with the binocular, I 

 satisfied myself that .^he was a twite. 



