134 Ritson: A Ramble in North - West Durham. 



just started to walk in the following- field, which was a hay-field f 

 when I set up another hare, and on going- a few feet further I 

 walked right on to a leveret about six weeks old ; it never 

 stirred, but was just couching close to the ground with its ears 

 thrown back, and its beautiful yellow-circled eyes staring as if 

 into nothingness. I walked on, and immediately I had turned 

 my back, I heard the grass rustle behind me, and on turning 

 round saw the leveret skipping along with its long legs stretched 

 as if to straining point. As I walked further afield I saw 

 several hares and leverets, some of which fled at my approach, 

 whilst others sat, thinking I never saw them, and trusting to 

 the harmony of colour of their coat and the ground for protec- 

 tion. I also saw several Larks rise out of the grass and others 

 fly into the grass as if feeding young ; several times a lark 

 would rise almost at my feet, and although I spent some time 

 in searching for their nests I only succeeded in finding one, 

 which contained five young birds. This nest was made of dried 

 grass and a few horse hairs to line it with. Not far from this I 

 saw a Corncrake leave a clump of grass and run along, dodging 

 her way between the entangling mass. Marking the spot, I 

 went straight forward, and here was the nest with its full com- 

 plement of eggs ; they seemed quite fresh, and as the bird had 

 just left them were quite warm. This is only the third corn- 

 crake's nest I have ever found in my life, and I think it is almost 

 impossible to find them, so securely hidden are they, unless one 

 sees the bird leave the nest, or one stumbles upon a nest 

 unavoidably. In a field to our right I heard the plaintive 

 musical note of the Curlew, and after a little while I saw one of 

 the birds in the air, flying as at some alarm, all the w T hile 

 intermingling its flight with its wild cries. 



The field I next entered presented a beautiful sight, the 

 hedgerows were a mass of bloom, Cowslips nearly covered the 

 field, whilst here and there upon the hedgeside could be seen 

 the modest little Violet. Crab-apple trees were in full bloom,, 

 and in one of these trees I found the nest of a Chaffinch. 

 Nothing, I think, could present a more beautiful sight than this 

 nest did ; lying within a fork of one of the outer branches and 

 almost covered with bloom ; the mother bird . intent on the 

 parental cares never endeavoured to leave the nest, and I did 

 not disturb her, preferring to leave such a pretty sight for 

 another to see, should one who cared to observe happen to set 

 eyes on it. Along the hedge-side and over the field several Blue 

 and White Cabbage Butterflies were seen, flitting from flower 



Naturalist, 



