THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 119 



M. Albellus. Smew. 



The Smew is a very rare winter visitant. We 

 have only notes of eight Smews obtained in Cum- 

 berland during the last thirty years, and most of 

 these were females or immature males. Three of 

 the number were shot on the Eden, near Carlisle. 

 The most recent specimen is a fine Smew, shot on 

 the Lyne in December, 1883. Another, an im- 

 mature bird, was shot on the Scotch side of the 

 Solway, about five years since. 



Family COLUMBID^E. 

 Genus COLUMBA. 



C. Palumhus. Ringdove. 



The Wood Pigeon is a common resident, nesting 

 upon our eastern fells up to an elevation of eleven 

 hundred feet. The number of residents is swelled 

 by the arrival of large flights of Wood Pigeons, 

 considered small in size, at the beginning of winter. 



C. (Enas. Stockdove. 



The Stockdove is a numerous resident ; and 

 though Dr. Heysham was uncertain of its presence 

 in 1797, we have reason to believe that a few birds 

 have long bred in Cumberland, though the evidence 

 on this point is decidedly conflicting. Between 

 1870 and 1875, the Stockdove certainly expanded 

 its breeding quarters (if it bred in Cumberland prior 

 to 1870) in a most remarkable degree, alike in the 

 north, north-east, east, centre and west of the 



