342 



NOTE ORNITHOLOGY. 



The presence of water seems indispensable to them, probably on 

 account of the flies about it ; and I observed that at times, especially 

 when frightened, both genders uttered a shrill note, very like that of 

 M. grisola. 



The males, when gliding through the trees, reminded me of 

 short-tailed House Martins, and when sitting, or clinging to the bark 

 of a tree, of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. 



I saw an old nest of the previous year in a decayed stump of a 

 tree, and this, or a hole in some bridge or wall, seems to be their 

 regular nesting-place. They always affect the more open parts of the 

 woods, and seem to rigorously avoid thick cover. 



On June 5th I revisited the nest found building on May 23rd, 

 and to-day the hen bird was sitting, snugly ensconced on her nest in 

 the wall, which contained six fresh eggs. 



The female sat very close, and was loath to leave her eggs ; even 

 when I touched her with a twig as she sat, she only crouched lower 

 down on her nest. Meantime the male bird, which had been sinsnnsf 

 close at hand, came quite near, and when we withdrew a little dis- 

 tance, he popped into the hole beside his mate ; both then, however, 

 came out together, and we proceeded to examine the nest, which was 

 composed entirely of dry white grasses, with a few dead leaves as a 

 foundation ; there were absolutely no signs of any other material in 

 the lining. 



It was remarkable that we only saw one other pair of birds here 

 to-day, where on May 23rd we had seen so many, and I then con- 

 cluded that the birds seen on the first occasion were part of a migra- 

 tory flock, most of which had since passed on ; moreover, the keepers 

 on the estate informed me — and they were men thoroughly acquainted 

 with the- birds of the district — that they had never seen so many- 

 Pied Flycatchers in any previous year. 



NO TE — ORNITHOL O G Y. 



The Turtle Dove in Yorkshire.— There is no doubt that many birds 

 which a few years ago were considered purely South of England birds are gradually 

 extending, year by year, their range northwards. Perhaps one or two instances of 

 the extended range of the Turtle Dove {Cohuuba turtur) may prove interesting 

 to the readers of the Naturalist. 



On July 31st of the present year I saw a pair of these birds near Weeton. 

 They were on the Harrogate side, and when first seen were feeding in a grass field.. 

 I have no doubt but that the nest was near at hand. 



A specimen has also been obtained near Guisborough, this year, May 22nd- 

 It was in fine plumage, but in poor condition. 



Last year I found them nesting in fair numbers in the neighbourhood of Aln- 

 wick, Northumberland, on July 26th ; and this year they have also been seen in 

 the same county near Chathill, a name which will be recognised by many as being 

 the nearest station to the noted Fame Islands. — Riley Fortune, Alston House, 

 Harrogate, September 27th, 1886. 



Naturalist,. 



