THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 105 



reported from the Ravenglass or Duddon estuaries. 

 In the north of Cumberland, the Shoveller is most 

 numerous in September and April, but stray adults 

 occur in August, and we observe a few pairs during 

 winter near the Solway, whence they stray into the 

 lake district, where Capt. K. Dover occasionally de- 

 tects their presence. They are shy birds, and rarely 

 observed in winter until they take wing, which they 

 do in a peculiar undecided fashion. 



From the irregular presence of single drakes in 

 May, and from the fact that Mr. Tremble shot a 

 young one on the edge of Burgh marsh, in the first 

 week of August, further research may show that 

 one or two pairs of Shovellers occasionally remain 

 to breed on the Cumbrian side of the Solway, 



Genus FULIGULA. 



F. Cristata. Tufted Duck. 



The Tufted Duck is a winter visitant, constantly 

 present with us from November to April, and toler- 

 ably plentiful near the Solway, being less frequently 

 met with far inland. The drakes are usually in poor 

 plumage in early winter ; it is in spring that they 

 are most attractive, raising the snow-white feathers 

 of the flanks above their wings, until you begin to 

 imagine that they are far whiter than is really the 

 case. At this season they wander less than in 

 winter. Old birds have long since paired, and the 

 demure little female threads the track of her mate 

 in and out of the mazy sedges, until the hope 

 revives, that they may nest in Cumbrian waters. 



