THE ORNITHOLOGY OF 

 SKIDDAW, SCA FELL, AND HELVELLYN. 



JOHN ^V A T S O N , 

 Fern Lei_s^h, Kendal. 



Skiddaw (3,022 ft.), Sea Fell (3,160 ft.), and Helvellyn (3,055 ft.) 

 are the three highest mountains in England proper. Each being 

 in the same system, has, generally speaking, faunal and botanical 

 species in common, the flora partaking of an alpine character, and 

 containing many rare and fast-vanishing forms. Most of the birds 

 are rare, whilst one or two species are almost peculiar to these 

 mountains. One portion of Skiddaw consists of granite, but the 

 great mass of the mountain, as well as its neighbours, is composed 

 of a dark schistose stone. Sea Fell is composed of hard shaly 

 slate, which structure applies also to Helvellyn, though a portion 

 of it is made up of flinty porphyry. 



I purpose here to set down some notes on the birds of these 

 Lake District mountains, the information contained in which has been 

 gleaned by actual observation, extending over many years. Living 

 under canvas among the higher hills during many successive seasons 

 has given opportunity of a peculiarly favourable kind for observation, 

 and these opportunities have not been missed. So local is the 

 distribution of species on the mountains under notice, that what 

 applies to one generally holds good with regard to the other. When 

 this is not so, special reference will be made to the fact. But little 

 order can be observed with regard to the birds to be mentioned, 

 though it may be well to begin with those that exist at the lowest 

 elevation. In ascending, from the cultivated belt which borders the 

 valley, the first bird that appears is the Water-Ouzel {Cincliis aquaticiis). 

 Everywhere among the beds of the fell 'becks' it is common, and a 

 few hundred yards higher up the stream, and where it becomes a 

 torrent with numerous waterfalls, the white crescented form of the 

 Ring-Ouzel {Tiirdus torquatiis) is seen. This bird comes to the fells in 

 spring, and is regular in making its appearance. For four consecutive 

 years the arrival of a flock, generally numbering about a dozen, has 

 been comprehended betwixt the 24th and 27th of March. For some 

 days after their arrival, the only note heard is a harsh chatter. 

 At the commencement of the second week the males sing freely, 

 though mostly in the evening. During the early part of May 1 have 

 heard five singing at one time, and all within the space of a mile and 

 a half. It builds by the 'becks' — sometimes beneath the very 



June 1888. 



