118 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Albino specimens of other birds seem to be frequent. During 
the last two years I have seen six pied Blackbirds :—(1) spotted 
all over; (2) white on both sides of the head—both in Irton 
parish; (3) white wing, cheek and spot on the back; (4) white 
head and greater part of body, now in my collection; (5) broad 
white ring round neck and shoulders; (6) white feather on 
shoulder and another on the side—all four in Gosforth parish. 
Coming nearer the shore, we have in the winter large flocks of 
Golden Plover and Turnstones. I fired into a flock of birds last 
winter, and on picking up the seven slain found they were all 
immature Turnstones. I was sorry to have killed so many, but 
“made the best of it by having five preserved in a group by Hope 
of Edinburgh. 
Of Herons we have plenty; they breed at Muncaster Castle, 
and may be seen on the shore in flocks of as many as twenty. 
A Bittern was shot four years ago at Nethertown, and the Water 
Rail is occasionally seen. 
In November, 1877, six Swans appeared on Braystones Tarn, 
which were supposed to be wild. They remained about the place 
for about three weeks, and last month turned up again on 
Bassenthwaite Lake. 
Of Ducks we have a varied list. Several years ago a couple 
of Ferruginous Ducks were killed on Braystones Tarn; the Eider 
Duck and Scaup have been shot on Wastwater, while the estuary 
at Ravenglass attracts many species in the winter. Between the 
river Irt, which forms part of the estuary, and the sea, is a lonely 
strip of land, about a mile and a half long and a third of a mile 
broad, consisting entirely of sand-hills. Here the Sheldrake 
breeds in the rabbit-holes, also the Oyster-catcher, Common 
Tern, Lesser Tern, Ringed Plover, and numbers of Black-headed 
Gulls. Wild Duck, Teal, and Widgeon abound, and the Goosander 
occurs sometimes. A good number of Cormorants are to be seen 
there through the day: towards evening they fly back to St. Bees 
Head, where they are said to breed, and the Green Cormorant 
as well. 
A Bernicle Goose was shot on the Irt on the lst November 
last. It was alone and very tame. One leg had been broken at 
some former time, but was quite healed. It is now in my 
collection. A great number of wild geese have been in the 
neighbourhood for the last three weeks: three times flocks of 
