Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/90

66 Ellison, of Steeton, which he found some years ago near Keighley, are the only records I know of the breeding of the Stonechat in Upper Airedale. Further north-west, Mr. Peake, in his list of Settle birds, knows but one instance of its nesting in that district (1896); whilst for the Sedbergh district, the extreme north-west, Mr. Richardson states that there is no satisfactory record; and it is marked as of doubtful occurrence for Langsthothdale (midwest). Messrs. Clarke and Roebuck omit it from the list of birds for Washburndale, but it is included in their list for Nidderdale as rare, but unfortunately not stated whether it breeds, and Mr. Lucas omits it altogether from his list of birds of this dale. Mr. Thomasson informs me, quoting from Mr. Backhouse's 'Guide to Upper Teesdale,' that it does not occur in Upper Teesdale; but, curious to say, it breeds, and not uncommonly, in Weardale, the next valley to the north. Mr. Jas. Carter includes it amongst the rarer birds of Leyburn (North Riding), but nothing is said of its breeding; and Mr. Chapman has known of but one nest in Wensleydale. Mr. Tinkler has not observed it in Swaledale, although "he has kept a sharp look-out for it." Mr. Goodchild, however, remarks, relative to its distribution in Swaledale, that the "Whinchat is commonest in summer? Stonechat less common." It is reported to breed near Richmond, but is not said with what frequency, but is omitted from the list of Aysgarth birds. In Ryedale (north-east) it is said to be rarely observed. I did not notice it in the neighbourhood of Whitby in the spring of 1898, but it is quite probable it might have been overlooked, as I have seen it during the breeding season at Flamborough Head. In the list of Flamborough birds, revised by the late Mr. Cordeaux, it is stated to be "resident, but very local." Mr. S. L. Mosley, of Huddersfield, writes me that it "used to be fairly common at Fiamborough Head"; but Mr. Oxley Grabham, who resides in the north-east district, remarks, in the 'Yorkshire Weekly Post,' Oct. 10th, 1900, that it is "very local and sparsely distributed" in Yorkshire; so, if it were once fairly common at Flamborough Head, it would appear to be dying out there. The Stonechat is mentioned in the list of birds given by the Rev. E.M. Cole, M.A., for the vale of York, in the excursion circular of the Yorkshire Nat. Union; but, again, nothing is said whether as a breeding species or on migration. Mr. Boyes, of Beverley,