NATURAL HISTORY RECORD BUREAU. 227 



is well-known to several Westmorland and Cumberland ornitho- 

 logists, and this habit is not characteristic of the species. This 

 bird has been variously described as a "Buzzard," "Bustard," 

 and " Golden Eagle," but the reports of it attacking people are 

 somewhat exaggerated, although it is a little disconcerting to 

 have a large bird like a Buzzard swoop down near enough to 

 knock off one's hat. It frequently swoops at and "strikes" 

 sheep on the hillside when annoyed by the presence of man. 

 We saw it do this when irritated. 



Mr. W. Nichol, of Skinburness, Silloth, relates an instance 

 of the persistence with which a Stoat will attack and pursue so 

 large a bird as a Pheasant. On November 3rd he noticed a 

 Pheasant running, followed closely by a Stoat ; the Stoat tried to 

 take the bird in the rear, but the Pheasant showed a bold front 

 and kept his assailant at bay. After some time a Blackbird, 

 which had been a spectator of the whole proceeding, attracted 

 the Stoat's attention for a moment, when the Pheasant made 

 off and hid in a clump of grass, but the Stoat, not yet defeated, 

 again gave chase, and its tactics in again reaching his desired 

 prey were most mteresting ; sitting up on its haunches, it spied 

 out the ground frequently, but finally detected its quarry by 

 scent, and after another tussle gave up in disgust and left the 

 Pheasant master of the situation. 



Mr. Nichol also contributed an interesting note on a Peregrine 

 which frequented the shores of the Solway, near Silloth. On 

 December 27th he noticed the Falcon chasing a Curlew which 

 three times took to the water to escape its pursuer; the Falcon 

 did not attempt to lift its prey from the surface, as it is said to 

 do in the case of ducks which it has chased until exhausted, but 

 finally left it on the water. Shortly after this incident the 

 Falcon brought down a Barnacle Goose which Mr. Nichol had 

 wounded by a shot. 



The most interesting ornithological event of the year is one 

 which is close home to us in connection with the wild Whooper 

 Swan which has visited the Eden for six successive winters. 

 Last year, as we recorded in these notes, the Whooper returned 

 to the Eden on December 24th, accompanied by a mate and two 

 other Swans of the same species, adult birds. On Nov. 16th 

 she again returned, this time also accompanied by her mate, 



