Ritson: A Ramble in North-West Durham. 135 



to flower, or resting upon the grass in the sun. As I was 

 about to see if I could discern the male Chaffinch, I found him 

 perched upon a Hawthorn branch, pausing- every minute or so 

 in his song- to snatch a passing- insect. One Of the Blue 

 Butterflies happened to fly too near to him ; ending - his song 

 abruptly he darted forward, caught the insect, and proceeded 

 with his song- as if nothing- whatever had happened. The field 

 I had just entered was sown with oats, which were about a foot 

 hig-h and seemed strong- and healthy. I saw several Swallows 

 darting- along over its surface, twittering- to one another as they 

 passed. I also saw two or three of these birds flying- in and 

 out of a cattle-hemmel in the next field, so I went towards it, 

 and on arriving- found that several birds had built their nests 

 under the roof among the leaves. I now entered the Heather- 

 clad field of Humber Hill, and had hardly got over the railings 

 when a Pheasant left her nest a little to my right and made off 

 up the hill, and lighted in the heather ; the nest was an ideal 

 pheasant's nest, made of entwined bracken and dead leaves, all 

 interlaced with dead grass. I never before had seen a nest so 

 complete made by a pheasant. Leaving this nest I walked into 

 the heather, which was up to my knees, and started what 

 I took to be a Whin-chat out of the heather to my left. Think- 

 ing it hopeless to seek for a nest in such a place I walked on, 

 and had got about 20 yards up the hillside when a Partridge 

 flew up almost at my feet, and endeavoured to fly away. She 

 had not got many yards until she fell into the heather again. 

 In this place I was able to see her, because the heather is not 

 so thickly overgrown. Going forwards I saw a little partridge 

 chicken running across some open place immediately to my 

 right; another soon followed, and another, and then quite a 

 number followed and were lost amongst the heather. Not want- 

 ing to follow them I turned my attention upon the old bird, which 

 on my approach again struggled violently to regain her w ings. 

 At last, when I was quite near to her, and having been quite 

 convinced that she was a lame bird, she took to her wings, now 

 strong and healthy, and with a derisive triumphant call she 

 alighted in the heather, in the place where her chicks had 

 betaken themselves. 1 was much impressed with the scene, 

 both as regards how perfectly she imitated her inability to fly 

 gind also with the parental care and anxiety which she demon- 

 strated to me, showing how great is the power of instinct in 

 birds. As 1 proceeded along the top of the heather 1 came 

 across a Grass Snake coiled up and basking peacefully in the 



1904) May i. 



