48 
the piles supporting the bridges which span the creeks ; and its 
rarer relative, the White Wagtail ( JZ alba), has been observed on 
Burgh in September, resting on migration (Macpherson). 
An interesting bird which nests sparingly on Rockliffe Marsh is 
the Rock Pipit (4. obscurus); far more numerous at all seasons, 
however, is the well-know Meadow Pipit (A. pratensis), which is 
only rivalled in numbers by the Skylark (Alauda arvensis). The 
Skylark seems to find abundance of food on the salt meadows 
throughout the year, and generaliy rears two broods in a season, 
the first broods flying about the middle of May. Frequenting the 
same broken ground as the Skylark, the Snow Bunting (P. zzvalis ) 
appears in flocks, but more frequently in twos and threes, about 
the beginning of November, and stragglers linger until the end of 
March. 
One species constantly to be seen in large droves upon the 
marshes during early autumn is the Starling (.S. vudgaris); indeed 
some individuals are present throughout the year. 
A less welcome visitor is the Carrion Crow (Corvus corone), 
which seems to find the young birds and eggs of other species to 
its taste, and wages a relentless war against wounded birds. ‘The 
Hooded Crow ( C. cornix ) likewise frequents the marshes in winter, 
but only at irregular intervals, and always singly, being on the 
coast, as inland, a somewhat scarce visitor to Cumberland. I have 
often met with specimens of the Kingfisher ( Alcedo ispida ) flying 
along the creeks during the dreariest periods of the year. 
Coming to the Birds of Prey, I may say at once that the only 
Owl which I have watched in the act of hunting over the marshes 
is the Barn Owl (Strix flammea); but the Tawny Owl, the Long- 
eared Owl, and the Short-eared Owl also occur either on the 
marshes or in their immediate vicinity. Of the diurnal Birds of 
Prey, the Kestrel, Merlin, and Sparrowhawk are most frequently 
seen ; but I have observed the rapid flight of the Peregrine ( Falco 
peregrinus ) on various occasions. ‘This Falcon passes through the 
air with quickly repeated beats of the wing, which to my mind 
somewhat recall the action of the Wood Pigeon ( Columba 
palumbus). The Falcon generally “means business” when he 
