cxci THE NATURAL HISTORY THE VALE OF BELVOIR. By the Rev. GEORGE CRABBE, B.D. Rector of MUSTON. Do but compare the Country where I lye. " My Hill and Oulds will say, they are the Island's eye, •' Consider next my Site, and say it doth excell; " Theii come unto my Soil, and you shall see it swell " With every grass and grain that Britain forth can bring; " I challenge any Yale, to shew me but that thing *' I cannot shew to her, that truly is my own." DRAYTON, Poly-olbion, Song XXVI. THAT part of the County of Leicester called The liberality of the family, and their regard to the Vale1 of Belvoir lies to the North, North-west, and interests of the farmer, they are fewer than ih for- South-west of Belvoir Castle, without any definable mer times, when the tillage of the soil was loaded limit; and under this name are comprehended a with the-heavy expence of nightly watchmen for the part of Nottinghamshire and a few parishes in the preservation of their crops3. county of Lincoln. The remaining animals, which' being Feræ Na- The soil, as well as the first appearance, is uni- tara, are yet not considered as common right, are form, with very little diversity of wood or water. Hares and Rabbits; the former are found plentifully Viewed from the Castle, or the hill of Belvoir, the ih most parts of the Vale; and the latter, of a very whole country appears flat, and the prospect rather fine kind, at the foot and along the declivity of the extensive than agreeable* yet it grows interesting hill which leads from the Castle to the parish of Sta- upon a further examination, and gains in fertility thern. what it loses in variety. This and the neighbouring hill-country are cele- The Natural History of such a country may seem brated for hunting, and many Foxes are found heret of little importance, and Confined to a few objects; a few years sinCe, two very beautiful ones, of the but whatever may be the case with the common ob- black kind, were turned off from Croxton Park by server, or the admirer of general views, the Natu- the Duke of Rutland, with a view to their associating ralist will certainly meet with much to engage his with the common kind, and they did so; but it does attention, and pay his researches. not appear to have added any thing to the variety or This is more particularly true in the department pleasure of the chace. of Natural History which relates to Fossiology, and In the river Devon is sometimes found the Otter4, especially the division of Petrefactions: in the higher but this happens farely; and Badgers5 have been classes of the three kingdoms (the Tria Regna taken, but not often, in the woods of Barston and Naturae of Linne) little can be expected. Our Stathern* Beasts, Birds, Reptiles, and Fishes, are already The Fitehet6; or Polecat, makes its usual devas- described; and few or none of them can be consi- tation in this country, and, with the Weasel7 and dered as local curiosities. Our Insects are more Ermine8, may be frequently met with. numerous, more local, and defined with more un- The Cream-coloured Mole9, a variety of the certainty. The Vermes of an Inland County cart common kind, which is mentioned by Mr. Pennant but little engage our attention; and in the Vegetable as inhabiting his lands near Downing, is also found Race, the Botanist will scarcely expect more than in the Southern part of the Vale, but more fre- the places or growth for some particular plants, and quently about the parish of Dalby; it particularly a description of one or two individuals. The Mine- possesses one inclosure, from which it has almost rals and Fossils will therefore engage us longer than excluded the black kind, and made them, though in any other objects of Natural History; and of these all the neighbourhood very plentiful, the scarcer some account shall be given of all the Genera, with animal in that meadow. a few of the Species, and mention shall be made of The smaller Quadrupedes in the order of the certain Varieties. Mammalia called Glires by Linne, which are com- mon throughout the kingdom, need not be noticed The MAMMALIA of the Vale of Belvoir are not perhaps sufficiently distinguished by any form or as inhabitants of a particular part of it, as they are property to merit a peculiar description; The la- neither found in great numbers, nor are totally bouring Horses are large and heavy, and their strangers. prevailing colour is black • the Cows are of a middle The BIRDS in this neighbourhood will not long size, and of the horned breed. The Sheep are less engage our attention. The Kite is very common in than those of Lincolnshire; yet large, and yearly the woods between Belvoir and Stathern, and is at improving from the breed introduced by Mr. Bake- almost all times gliding over the burrows of the well of Dishley, a gentleman who is much cele- Rabbits. Of the Pie kind, Woodpeckers and Jays brated for his attention to this part of rural cecb- are numerous. The Hooded Crow is seldom seen; nomy2. * and the Hoopo is totally a stranger10. The King- The Chace-deer belonging to the Duke of Rutland fisher is more frequent in the Southern part of the range in considerable numbers over the Vale and the Vale than might be supposed from itsinland situation, adjacent parts of the Hill country; yet, through the and the smallness of its streams. The Gallinaceous 1 " Some of the following articles are not, strictly speaking, in the Vale; but all of them are in the vicinity of Belvoir Castle. 3 " Mr. Bakewell has Rams, which he is said to les, for one season, at the astonishing prices of two, three, and even four hun- dred guineas each: a relation perhaps incredible in other counties, but well known in this part of Leicestershire, where some of the persons reside who adopt the opinions and improvements of Mr. Bakewell; of whom see some Memoirs in vol. III. p. 759." G. A< 3 " But then they had the land cheap." G. A. * Mustela lutra. 4 Vrsus m'eles. 6 Mustela putorius, •' Mustela vitlgaris, Mr. Pennant. 8 Mustela erminea, the Stoat. s Talpa alba. 10 "The Crane, Egrett, Bohem. Chatterer, Snowflake, are as much strangers as the Hoopo. I have seen the Bearded Manica, actually shot near Melton Mowbray. The Nightingale doth not migrate far North; but, what is more extraordinary, is'a stranger to Devon- shire and Cornwall, where Myrtles grow to the tops of cottages." G. A. VOL. I. PART I. [ddd] Tribe.