A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 
identification. It used to breed near Keswick 
as long ago as 1835, and may occasionally do 
so still; but it has been very scarce in that 
district for the last twenty years. 
49. Woodchat Shrike. 
Sparrman. 
Lanius pomeranus, 
A very rare visitant. The late Mr. W. 
Dickinson observed a woodchat shrike near 
Stainburn tannery in the spring of 1872, and 
stood for some minutes within twenty yards 
of it. Another good observer, Mr. T. 
Cooper, who obtained so many rarities for the 
younger Heysham, met with a woodchat at 
Woodside. 
50. Waxwing. Ampelis garrulus, Linn. 
A rare winter visitant. Only two large 
flights of waxwings are known to have visited 
the county, the first in the winter, 1786-87, 
and the second in the winter of 1866-67. 
But small numbers of these birds have appeared 
at irregular intervals in all parts of this area 
between the months of October and March. 
Of recent occurrences, several appeared in 
January and February, 1893, when a single 
bird was shot near Penrith and others at 
Carlisle ; three were seen near Keswick in 
the autumn of 1894; two were killed near 
Carlisle in January, 1895 ; two were seen at 
close quarters at Wragmire Bank by Mr. W. 
Little, February 19th, 1897. 
51. Pied Flycatcher. MMuscicapa atricapilla, 
Linn. 
Locally, Laal Magpie. 
A summer visitant, but much restricted in 
its choice of breeding grounds; the chief 
colonies annually returning to the same well- 
timbered parks, though a few pairs nest as 
stragglers in the neighbourhood of our smaller 
streams, or at a short distance from our lakes. 
Many details of the habits of this species will 
be found in the Fauna of Lakeland (pp. 123- 
129), also in the Birds of Cumberland (pp. 31- 
37). 
52. Spotted Flycatcher. Muscicapa grisola, 
Linn. 
Locally, Sea-Robin, French Robin. 
A summer visitant, generally distributed in 
the breeding season, though less numerous 
near the coast than further inland. In 1886 
a single pair reached Scotby on April 22nd, 
but this date is very early. I did not meet 
with this flycatcher in the north of Spain 
until April 24th. 
53. Swallow. Hirundo rustica, Linn. 
This summer visitant reached Cockermouth 
in 1872, as early as February 9th. Mr. T.C. 
Heysham reports another early bird seen at 
Carlisle on March 26th (1852); a swallow 
was shot at Whitehaven in 1837 on April 
2nd, while several birds were seen hawking 
insects at Carlisle on April 4th, 1896 ; but 
I have no notes of any large numbers seen in 
the county before the middle of April. 
54. House-Martin. Chelidon urbica (Linn.). 
The house-martin is rather later in reach- 
ing our county than its congeners, but is also 
generally distributed, though checked in its 
breeding operations by the persecution of 
house-sparrows. Both this and the preceding 
species are subject to variation of colour; 
white, cream-coloured, pied, and bluish 
varieties have come under my notice locally. 
55- Sand-Martin. Cotile riparia (Linn.). 
The last days of March witness the return 
of this summer migrant to its favourite water- 
courses. Its nesting colonies are chiefly 
established in the sides of quarries and other 
convenient slopes; one pair nested in a low 
ridge of sand in an open meadow at Carlisle. 
I have also seen this species nesting in sand- 
stone rocks near Maryport. 
56. Greenfinch. Ligurinus chloris (Linn.). 
Locally, Greenie. 
A common resident in arable districts, but 
nearly absent from treeless moors. It nests 
in gardens and hedges, gathering into great 
flocks in winter, when it frequents our stack~ 
yards with other small birds. 
57. Hawfinch.  Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas. 
Though breeding in the adjoining county 
of Westmorland, the hawfinch has not 
hitherto become established with us. A pair 
probably nested at Bridekirk in 1882, when 
Canon Sutton shot a nestling out of a family 
party. The hawfinch is one of our rarer 
birds even in winter, though single specimens 
have occurred far apart, as at Keswick, upon 
Crossfell, at Cotehill and at Cockermouth ; in 
the beginning of 1888 a small flock of haw- 
finches appeared near Wigton, and one or two 
were caught alive. 
58. Goldfinch. Carduelis elegans, Stephens. 
Goldfinches used to nest in most of our 
sheltered vales until thirty years ago, but have 
latterly become restricted as partial residents 
to a few favoured spots, chiefly in the Eden 
valley, and in the west of the county. Mr. 
Hodgson, of Keswick, informed me that the 
goldfinch nested near Keswick in fair num- 
bers until the severe winters of 1879-80, and 
1880-81, exterminated the local breed. At 
Calderbridge a pair of goldfinches used to nest 
186 
