92 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



heard at a distance, to a pack of harriers in full 

 cry. 



When lying in wait for Barnacle Geese on 

 RocklifFe marsh, Mr. A. Smith has repeatedly 

 witnessed the Geese sparring and plucking one 

 another's feathers. Sentinels are constantly posted 

 to give the alarm. 



Except when migrating. Barnacles do not occur 

 far inland in Cumberland ; but the late Mr. G. 

 Mawson records (Zool., 1865, p. 9733), that in 

 January, 1865, when frost prevailed, a flock of 

 Barnacles appeared in the neighbourhood of Cocker- 

 mouth. At the same time, a flock, estimated at 

 sixty birds, frequented a field near the Eden, 

 about two miles above Carlisle, several of the 

 party being shot by James Fell and others, by 

 moonlight. 



If frost be continued. Barnacles become tamed 

 by hunger, and admit of an approach in broad 

 daylight. Thus, in the winter 1860-1, a large 

 flock of Barnacles flew over the top of a car- 

 penter's shed at Bowness, within shot of the men 

 who were at work inside. They settled in a 

 neighbouring field, and several were shot in a few 

 minutes. Again, in 1881, when a long-continued 

 frost broke up on February 23rd, Barnacles were 

 very tame on Bockliffe marsh, so that Mr. A. Smith 

 walked within one hundred and fifty yards of them 

 on the open marsh, a circumstance which had never 

 before occurred in his long experience. Some of 

 them were so weak that they could hardly rise from 

 the ground. 



