130 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



I saw a particularly fine clutch of Dunlin's eggs obtained by a 

 parishioner on Burgh in 1883. 



On October 13th a male Spotted Crake was shot on Rockliflfe ; 

 this species visits us on passage both in spring and autumn. 

 Probably a few pairs occasionally remain to breed in the 

 Solway marshes. House Swallows left Carlisle on October 13th, 

 and so did most of the House Martins, though one straggler 

 of the latter species lingered until the 22nd. Bramblings 

 arrived on the loth. On the 29th ]\Ir, Duckworth observed 

 a single Hooded Crow near Bow ; this species seldom visits the 

 district ; the only other bird of this kind seen in 1883 occurred 

 near Eden Bridge on December 11th, but was driven away by 

 the churlish Rooks. 



November, owing to its mildness, yielded nothing of interest, 

 except a single Shoveller drake from Rockliflfe, and a female 

 Shoveller from the Solway coast. In one evening four guns 

 shot seventeen Bernicle Geese on Rockliflfe. A single Peregrine 

 visited Burgh Marsh. 



In December a few Goldeneyes, old and young, were obtained 

 by the fowlers, together with a few Goosanders and Scaup ducks. 

 Two old female Scaups turned the scales at two pounds and a 

 half and two pounds respectively, while a young Tufted drake 

 weighed barely one pound and a half. Of waders only Knots 

 and Bar-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank or two, a few Dunlins, 

 Golden Plovers, Green Plovers, and Curlews came into Carlisle ; 

 a few Gray Plovers had visited Rockliflfe in the course of the 

 season. Siskins put in their appearance on December 2nd, and 

 about a fortnight later a Great Grey Shrike was shot at Kirk- 

 linton, as separately reported. Though locally considered very 

 rare, I have since seen two Grey Shrikes myself (in 1844), and 

 I have heard of at least ten specimens shot in the district at 

 dififerent times. 



On December 22nd there was shot within our parish, and 

 close to the town, a Corn Crake, which had been observed in the 

 same locality for at least a month previously ; notwithstanding 

 the mild weather, it proved to be in poor condition, though it 

 shewed no trace of any injury. 



