THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 85 



with on several occasions in the Carhsle district, 

 three at least being obtained in the vicinity of 

 the city. 



The Bittern appears to visit the western border 

 of the county rather more frequently than the north 

 or east, and Dr. Lumb has a fine specimen which he 

 shot a few winters since on his own shootings near 

 Whitehaven. 



Dr. Heysham says (1797) — "The Bittern is not 

 so numerous as the Heron, and is always solitary. 

 It breeds in bogs and makes its nest upon the 

 ground. In the spring it makes a loud bellowing 

 kind of noise, from which it is called in Cumber- 

 land Miredrum." Similar evidence is adduced by 

 Richardson : " Sometimes, though rarely, breeds by 

 the side of Eamont, on the low grounds." 



Family PLATALEID^E. 

 Genus PLATALEA. 



P. Leucorodia. Spoonbill. 



The Spoonbill is a rare visitant, probably from 

 Holland, and has only been obtained in Cumberland 

 in two instances, though it is possible that certain 

 "white Herons" seen on the Sol way at different 

 times may have been really Spoonbills. An immature 

 male was shot on Scaleby Meadows, Nov. 7th, 1859 

 (Carlisle Journal, Nov. 11th, 1859), and was mounted 

 by Mr. S. Watson. Another was shot near Bootle 

 in 1876, and is in the museum of Mr. Wallace of 

 Distington. [H. P. Senhouse, MS.) 



