397 
place, and duty at Church is performed only once in a month, and 
in winter this place is scarcely approachable. Woodcocks & Jack 
Snipes came over this season very early, a great many of the former 
were seen on the 15 lh of Oct r , and I killed six Jack Snipes on 
the 24 th of September, and a friend of mine shot some Jack Snipes, a 
few days before tho 24"‘. I very much want to discover a Jack 
Snipe’s nest, but am afraid I shall not succeed, though I once shot 2 
Jack snipes close on to May, which much looked as if they intended 
having an amatory proceeding in this country : I have reproached 
myself often since, for killing these two birds, as possibly I might 
have been in possession of what no man I believe is, I mean the Jack 
Snipe’s egg laid in this country. Your museum is already so rich, 
I am fearful any birds I could send you, would not be acceptable, 
but if there are any specimens that I can send you, I shall be very 
glad so to do. We are richer in the Scolopax and Tringa tribes, 
perhaps than any other county in England : if any of these would 
be of use to you, there are few, very few, I could not procure you 
in the space of 12 months. I am informed the Red Godwits breed 
in some marshes about ten miles from hence ; but I cannot speak 
to the fact, but this I know, we had some shot near about the 
20 th of June — last season, and my bird-stuffer says he has had 
them in all the summer months and he is a man of veracity. 
Pray make my compts. to Mrs Selby, and remember me to your 
brother & Cap* Mitford,* Mr. Burrell t & Major Ogle,+ also all my 
other northern friends. Believe me dear Sir 
Yrs very truly 
C. S. Girdlestone. 
P.S. Scaup ducks are called Greybacks 
P. J. Sei.by Esq r 
Twizlk House 
Belford 
Northumberland 
* Captain, afterwards Admiral, Robert Mitford, of Mitford in Northum- 
berland and Hunmanby in Yorkshire, was brother-in-law to Mr. Selby, and 
rendered him much assistance in his ornithological studies. lie was born in 
1781, and died in 1870. His only daughter and heiress married Mr. Tyssen- 
Amhurst, of Didlington in Norfolk. 
t These gentlemen were neighbours of Mr. Selby’s. 
