82 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



P. Gracidus. Shag. 



The Shag is a winter visitant to our coast and 

 estuaries, of decidedly infrequent occurrence. It is 

 rarely obtained inland, though an example was 

 secured on the Caldew in 1855, and an immature 

 bird near Alston in 1866. Dr. Parker has hazarded 

 an opinion that the Shag breeds at St. Bees Head 

 (Zool., 1879, p. 118), but we are quite unable to 

 confirm his conjecture. (Cited, Birds of Lancashire, 

 p. 122.) 



Genus SULA. 



S. Bassana. Gannet. 



The Gannet is an irregular visitant to our coast. 

 Of late years but few herrings have frequented our 

 coast, and Gannets have consequently been scarce ; 

 but when fish are abundant the Gannet arrives to 

 display its powers of diving from a height. We 

 lately saw a fine Gannet shot as he rose from the 

 water, and found a splendid herring, quite fresh, 

 in his gullet. 



An example in the Carlisle Museum, in adult 

 plumage, w^as captured alive at Whitehaven. We 

 have two notes of Gannets captured a few miles 

 inland during the prevalence of stormy weather. 



Family ARDEID^. 

 Genus ARDEA. 



A. Cinerea. Heron. 



The Heron is a well-established resident, six 

 large colonies existing in different parts of the 



