THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 121 



county, and it is probable that a very few pairs 

 breed with us annually. 



Family PTEROCLID^. 

 Genus SYKRHAPTES. 



S. Paradoxus. Pallas' Sand Grouse. 



The Pallas' Sand Grouse is an accidental visitant 

 from the Steppes of central Asia. In 1863, an 

 extraordinary wave of this species swept across 

 Europe {Newton, Ibis, 1864, pp. 185-222), and 

 two examples were shot in Cumberland. The 

 first was shot in May or June, 1863, near Penrith 

 (Zool., 1863, p. 8724), and this was a fine male, 

 though spoilt in stuffing [T. Hope, in lit.) The 

 second was a female, shot about the same time, 

 near Silloth, by Mr. Lightfoot, who informs us that 

 he was taking an early stroll among the sandhills, 

 when he saw a strange bird resembling a joartridge 

 resting in an adjacent meadow. He fired a long 

 shot and secured this specimen, which, as he subse- 

 quently learnt, had been pursued unsuccessfully for 

 three days by other gunners. The bird was skinned 

 by James Fell, and is preserved in the Belle Vue 

 Museum. 



^ Family PHASIANIDiE. 



Genus PHASIANUS. 

 P. Colchicus. Pheasant. 



The Pheasant is at present an abundant resident, 

 but does not appear to have been introduced into 

 Cumberland, as to other parts of England, by the 



