THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 93 



The Barnacle has of late years become less 

 plentiful than formerly on the basin of the Waver 

 and Wampool ; but while — from 1868 to 1877 (ex- 

 cepting the winter 1869-70, in which no Barnacles 

 visited Rockliffe marsh) — the Barnacles only fre- 

 quented Rockliffe marsh for a few days out of every 

 month, since 1877, and especially during the severe 

 winters of 1879-80, 1880-1, these birds have spent 

 the entire season at Rockliffe, and though naturally 

 night feeders, may, as already remarked, be occa- 

 sionally observed on the marsh during the day. 

 Comparatively few Barnacles are obtained upon the 

 English Solway, owing to the extreme caution of 

 the large flocks in open weather ; but in November, 

 1883, seventeen fine Barnacles were shot on Rockliffe 

 marsh in a single evening by a party of four guns. 



The Barnacle leaves the Solway at the beginning 

 of April, but has been observed in one or two in- 

 stances at the end of the month. It has not occurred 

 voluntarily in summer. A female was caught on the 

 Solway early in July, 1884, but it could not fly, 

 and had probably been pinioned, accidentally or 

 otherwise. Winged birds run with great rapidity, 

 and are difficult to capture. The female just alluded 

 to has thriven in confinement, but is very shy of 

 strangers. During the present spring (1885) she 

 became extremely vociferous, no doubt desiring to 

 attract a mate, as did a Gander which has also been 

 under our observation. Mr. J. W. Harris remarks 

 that a pinioned Barnacle lived for thirty years in 

 confinement, and sat in three successive seasons 

 upon her unfertilized eggs. Upon the whole, the 



