THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 125 



Obs. — Lagopus Mutus. Ptarmigan. Mr. A. G. 

 More has shewn conclusively (Zool., 1881, p. 44-47), 

 that the Ptarmigan, which Pennant and Dr. Heysham 

 believed to exist in the Keswick district, were of 

 mythical origin, the birds in question being probably 

 pied Grouse. But Mr. Jerry Smith of Bassenthwaite 

 assures us that some Ptarmigan, imported from 

 Scotland, were turned down on Skiddaw within his 

 personal recollection. It is therefore possible that 

 the white birds seen on Shap by Scotch keepers, 

 who called them Ptarmigan, were in reality birds 

 which had strayed from Skiddaw, where the experi- 

 ment of introduction seems to have failed. 



Genus TETRAO. 



T. Tetrix. Black Grouse. 



The Black Grouse is an abundant resident, but 

 somewhat local, being more strongly established in 

 the east and north of the county, particularly in the 

 Bewcastle district, than in the south or west. 

 Edmund Sandford, writing about 1675, alludes to 

 the presence of " black heath cocke and more 

 cockes : and ther pootes, a delicate dianty feeding 

 as phesants," on the Naworth estate ; but Dr. 

 Heysham states about 1797, that '' The black-cock 

 is at present but a rare bird in Cumberland : it is 

 most plentiful upon Sir James Graham's estate at 

 Netherby. In general there is an annual brood 

 upon Newtown common, within a mile of Carlisle." 

 A few grey hens still breed on the lower grounds 

 of the Sol way district, and sit closely on their 



