974 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
This dearth of birds on the higher ground is, however, partly 
compensated for by the numerous species which may be seen at 
any time on the neighbouring coast extending from Morecambe 
Bay to Solway Firth. Notwithstanding the fact that the past 
winter has, in this neighbourhood at least, been one of the mildest 
on record, yet I am glad to be able to note that greater numbers 
of birds—mere especially those which come under the designation 
of sea-fowl—have visited our shores than have been observed for 
several seasons past in this locality. This fact must in the main 
be attributed to the prevalence of westerly and north-westerly gales, 
but I think it may be safely alleged that the protection afforded 
by the Sea Birds and Wild Fowl Preservation Acts has in some 
measure brought about this satisfactory state of things. 
The Gullery on Walney Island was more thickly tenanted than 
ever during last summer—indeed the mortality arising from over- 
crowding was very considerable among the young birds. I observed 
that a larger number than usual of the Black-headed Gulls had 
taken up their abode towards the south end of the island, at a 
distance of four or five miles from the main body. Numbers of 
this species nest also on the Cumberland coast. 
The local names of the birds which breed on Walney Island are 
perhaps worth noticing, and may be of use to future visitors to the 
locality. The Gulls are known as “Sea Maws”; Common and 
Arctic Terns .are designated as “ Sparlings,” the same term being 
applied to a Sandwich Tern which was brought to me on May 5th, 
and which I was charitable enough to suppose had been picked up 
dead. Ring Plovers are called “ Grundlings”; the name Peewit 
is pronounced “ Peuit” or “ Teuit”; and Lesser Terns, or at least 
their eggs (for I can hardly think that such an unsuitable name 
can be applied to the bird itself), are termed “Sea Mice.” ‘“ Shel- 
ducks” and “Sea-pies” speak for themselves; and the Stock 
Doves, which are tolerably plentiful, come under the general 
designation of “ Pigeons.” 1 may add, in reference to an editorial 
note in ‘The Zoologist’ for April, that Herons are here, as in 
Ireland, universally known as “ Cranes.” 
Of the birds enumerated above as natives of Walney Island the 
most interesting is the Sheldrake, numerous pairs of which nest 
annually in the sand-hills both here and on the coast of Cumber- 
land. This species disappears in the autumn, and resorts, | presume, 
to some more secluded spot, though where situated I have not been — 
