NOTES FROM WEST CUMBERLAND. lie 
foster-mother ; the third was reared. The Merlin is common on 
the fells, where it breeds. I have known of two or three nests 
lately. The other small hawks are very abundant. 
In December, 1876, a specimen of Tengmalm’s Owl was shot 
in one of the Newton Manor coverts, in Gosforth parish, by the 
keeper. It was an adult bird, in full plumage, and is now in the 
collection of the Rev. C. F. Smith, of York. The keeper told me 
he thought it had a mate, but he never saw it after the first was 
killed. The White, Tawny, and Long-eared Owls are common, 
especially the latter. I have known nests of all three this year. 
The Short-eared Owl does not occur nearer than Barrow, where 
it is not infrequent on Walney Island. 
The Raven is perhaps more abundant in Cumberland than in 
any other English county, especially about Scafell. I knew of 
two nests last spring, one of which was perfectly inaccessible, and 
though my friends and I made several toilsome journeys to the 
other, and succeeded in reaching it by aid of a rope, we got 
nothing for our pains but a sight of the old birds. 
The Great Grey Shrike I have seen once only. The Red- 
backed Shrike is common, also the Nightjar, and a pair of 
Crossbills were seen in Wastdale some years ago. The Kingfisher 
is usually rare, but I have heard of four or five this year, two of 
which I am sorry to say were shot, and, after having gone the 
round of the village, found their way to my collection. The 
Snipe breeds here often: I found a nest by the side of the river 
Irt last season with four eggs, and am sure there were two or 
three more nests near. A Woodcock’s nest with four eggs was 
found in one of the Irton Hall covers in May, 1877. 
The Dotterel is sometimes seen on the grassy tops of the 
Screes mountains which border Wastwater, but I have never been 
fortunate enough to see one myself. 
In June, 1877, a Waterhen was brought to me of a light fawn- 
colour all over except the usual white markings: the tail is lighter 
than the rest of the body, the legs light-coloured, the bill natural. 
It was shot on Hallsenna Moor, in Gosforth, by a gamekeeper. 
On the 5th December I saw a Rook with a large white patch on 
the left wing. I have also in my collection a Song Thrush, killed 
in the neighbourhood, with a white blotch on the back of the 
neck and shoulders, and Dr. I’Anson, of Whitehaven, informs me 
that he lately saw in an adjoining parish a perfectly white Sparrow. 
