NATURAL HISTORY OP EAST CUMBERLAND. 251 



The Green Cormorant, (Pelecanus cristatus,) was shot on the Calder, 

 near Cummersdale, on the 2nd. of October, last year. 



The Spotted Rail, (Crex porzana,) has frequently been shot on Monkhill 

 Lough. I met with a specimen last year that was shot on August 24th. 

 The Quail, (Perdix coturnix,) is common here; a fine male specimen was 

 shot on the 24th. of December, 1S56, at Blackwell. 



The Tufted Duck, (Anas fuligula,) the Pintail, (Anas acuta,) the 

 Garganey, (Anas querquedula) , the Scoter, (Anas nigra,) the Shieldrake, 

 (Tadorna vulpanser,) and the Shoveler, (Anas clypeata,) are frequently 

 met with. * 



The Surf Scoter, (Anas perspicillata,) one of our scarcer British birds, 

 was killed at Crofton Hall, by a farm servant, on the 2nd. of November, 

 1856; and fell into the hands of the late naturalist, Thomas C. Heysham, 

 Esq., of Carlisle. It was first noticed diving on one of those beautiful 

 ponds where the fallow deer are sometimes observed to plunge, near the 

 mansion of their owner, Sir Wastel Brisco, Bart. 



The Kite, (Milvus regalis,) was shot near Carlisle, on the 13th. of 

 November, 1856. The Merlin, (Falco Msalon^) is common on Alston 

 Moor; they are frequently shot where Red Grouse, (Lagopus Scoticus,) are 

 abundant, and which this little bird does not hesitate to attack and destroy. 



In the lake district, on Ullswater, many rare birds of the order Anseres 

 are often met with, which are to be seen in the collections of the taxi- 

 dermists of Penrith. 



The Little Auk, (Alca alle,) was caught at RocklifF, in a fisherman's 

 net, on the 13th. of November, 1856. A fine specimen of the Red-throated 

 Diver, (Coli/mbus septentrionalis,) was caught in a similar way in April, 

 the same year. 



I have also' paid particular attention to the Oology of the district. In 

 1855 I found the nest of the Sandwich Tern, (Sterna cantiaca,) with two 

 eggs, on Burgh Marsh; and in the same year, near the Solway, I found 

 that of the Black Tern, (Sterna nigra;) the only instances of these birds 

 breeding here. 



The Tawny Owl, ( Ulula stridula,) the Barn Owl, (Strix flammea,) the 

 Long-eared Owl, (Strix otus } ) are common here. I have taken the eggs 

 of the latter from the same nest three successive seasons. 



The eggs of the Cuckoo, (Guculus canorus,) and the Nightjar, (Capri- 

 mulgus Europoeus,) as well as the Pied Flycatcher, (Muscicapa luctuosa,) 

 are often taken here. On Wragmire Moss I once found the egg of the 

 Cuckoo in a Titlark's nest, and observed a Cuckoo perched on a low tree, 

 a pair of Titlarks were flying around it, one at last settled upon its back, 

 the Cuckoo all the while flapping with its wings; the other was flying 

 about them with apparent fondness, the Cuckoo evidently delighted with 



