226 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NATUEAL HISTORY EECORD BUREAU (1910): THE 

 MUSEUM, CARLISLE. 



By D. Losh Thorpe & Linnjsus E. Hope, Keepers of the Records. 



The year 1910, though not altogether unproductive of orni- 

 thological incident, has perhaps been less so than most seasons, 

 at least as regards rare occurrences on the Solway, or in 

 Cumberland generally. 



This was no doubt greatly owing to the mildness of the 

 spring months, there being little or no frost or snow after the 

 end of January in this district, and the absence of storm during 

 the period of migration, which apparently pursued its normal 

 course without any noticeable break. 



The mild weather conditions during this season had also the 

 effect of producing early nuptial arrangements amongst our 

 resident birds. Thrushes were singing in January, Chaffinches 

 in February, and Lapwings were investigating suitable nesting 

 quarters high up on the moors by the end of February. " Mr. 

 Eric B. Dunlop, who has exceptional opportunities, and uses 

 them, of observing the birds in his district, gives some early 

 instances, and his notes on the birds in the Windermere district 

 give a very good idea of the sequence of arrival of our summer 

 visitors in the Lake District. On several dates in the spring of 

 1910 he heard and recorded the singing of the Redwing {Turdus 

 iliacus) ; it is not the good fortune of every English ornithologist 

 to hear the low plaintive song of this species of migratory Thrush 

 in this country. 



A considerable amount of controversy in the Press was 

 occasioned by the extraordinary behaviour of a Common Buzzard 

 {Buteo vulgaris), which has contracted the somewhat offensive 

 habit of swooping at persons who trespass on the hillside which 

 it considers its special domain. Let it be clearly understood 

 that it is a single bird which has contracted this habit ; the bird 



