INTRODUCTION. XVll 



The most acceptable feature of the work, to general 

 readers, is undoubtedly constituted by the delightful Dotterel 

 experiences of Mr. Francis Nicholson of Altrincham. 

 Faunistic The chief fannistic changes which have taken place during 



° ' the last hundred years are identical with the departure of the 

 White-tailed Eagle, the Marsh Harrier, the Kite, the Chough, 

 the Bittern, and other breeding species which only occur as 

 stragglers at the present time ; and, with the increase of the 

 Pheasant, the Partridge, and many small species of birds in 

 proportion to the pains expended to destroy their natural 

 enemies . 



Some species are slowly pressing forward, such as the 

 Pied Flycatcher. Others have progressed by leaps, such as 

 the Starling, Stockdove, Jackdaw, and the Eook. Some, 

 while holding their ground with firmness, are forced to con- 

 centrate themselves and to breed less sporadically than 

 formerly ; the Shelldrake is an instance. The Quail and 

 Grasshopper Warbler are tolerably numerous in some seasons, 

 and scarce in others ; but such has always been the experience 

 of observers. vSome species are slightly decreasing, e.g.^ the 

 Barn Owl. Others appear only on passage in the districts in 

 which they formerly bred, as the Wryneck. The Nuthatch 

 has not been authenticated in Cumberland during the present 

 century. On the other hand, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 

 has bred with us, and possibly the Hawfinch ; but it would be 

 unsafe to infer that Cumberland is the north-west breeding- 

 limit of these two species, on the evidence of isolated facts. 

 But the Siskin, always a winter visitant, has for some years 

 past regularly nested in the north of the county, and the 

 Turtledove appears to do the same. 



Certain winter visitants are scarcer than formerly, e.g. the 

 Grey Lag Goose ; but others, e.g. the Barnacle, are on the 

 increase. Nor does a local decrease, of necessity, imply that a 



