the birds of cumberland. 65 



Genus GECINUS. 



G. Viridis. Green Woodpecker. 



The Green Woodpecker is an exceedingly rare 

 casual visitant, but paired birds have been seen in 

 some few instances during the summer months. For 

 some years a pair haunted Kirklinton, where they 

 probably nested. In 1840, three fresh eggs were 

 taken, after a stiff climb, from a hole in an ash tree, 

 by Mr. W. Mc. Cornish {Mc. Cornish in lit.) Mr. 

 A. G. More included it as having bred in Cumber- 

 land (Ibis. 1865, reprint, 43), on the strength of the 

 information supplied by Mr. C. S. Gregson that 

 this species nested at Barron Wood, a fine stretch 

 of old timber extending along the left bank of the 

 Eden from Lazonby almost to Armathwaite, and at 

 that time the favourite ground of the egg collectors 

 of Penrith and Carlisle. The area of Barron Wood 

 has been much curtailed of late years. 



Sub-Family lYNGIN^. 

 Genus IYNX. 

 I. Torquilla. Wryneck. 



The Wryneck is a casual visitant of uncommon 

 occurrence on vernal migration. In the experience 

 of both the Heyshams, the Wryneck bred regularly 

 in north Cumberland. A clutch of eggs, Avhich are 

 probably the most recent Cumbrian specimens, were 

 taken at Bickerby about 1863, by James Fell, both 

 old birds being shot at the same time. One or 

 two stragglers occur in most years, on the vernal 

 migration. 



