THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 97 



C. Beivicki. Bewick's Swan. 



Bewick's Swan is a rare winter visitant, but 

 Dr. Parker considers, that some of the wild Swans, 

 which pass along our west coast every winter, should 

 be referred to this species. 



An example was killed near Edenhall some years 

 since, and a second was obtained in that neighbour- 

 hood in the winter of 1879-80. On November 23rd, 

 1884, Messrs. Shepherd and W. Duckworth had an 

 excellent opportunity of examining a single Bewick's 

 Swan as it settled upon the ice on Monkhill lough. 

 Capt. Johnson believes, that two Swans, shot many 

 years since near Brampton, belonged to this species. 



Genus TADORNA. 



T. Cornuta. Common Sheldrake. 



The Sheldrake is a numerous resident ; but 

 owing to the growth of seaports and the develop- 

 ment of mining industries upon our coast, it is 

 chiefly restricted to the Duddon and Ravenglass 

 estuaries and to the uj)per portion of the Solway 

 durino^ the breedino^ season. 



During the present summer (1885) we observed 

 many pairs near Cardurnock, and the strength of 

 the colony breeding under Lord Muncaster's pro- 

 tection at Ravenglass, was estimated by the resident 

 keeper as exceeding forty pairs. 



In Cumberland, the eggs of the Sheldrake are 

 constantly laid in rabbit-holes. A single deviation 

 from this rule came under our notice near Silloth, 

 where we found a Sheldrake's clutch placed above 



