A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 
243. Guillemot. Uria troile (Linn.). 
Locally, Old Wife. 
Present in our tideway all through the 
year, but the only breeding colony is at 
Sandwith. Enormous numbers perish in late 
autumn and winter, chiefly after heavy wea- 
ther, when their carcases strew our beach for 
many miles. Stragglers often occur far in- 
land. 
244. Black Guillemot. Uria grylle (Linn.). 
This guillemot is a rare bird in our waters ; 
so rare that I never myself examined but one 
local specimen. ‘The bird in question was 
caught in a ditch between Silloth and the 
Abbey Holme, October, 1891. Other speci- 
mens have been obtained on our open coast, 
but only at long intervals. 
245. Little Auk. MJergulus alle (Linn). 
A rare winter visitant, obtained at least as 
often inland as upon our seaboard. The most 
recent specimens that have come under my 
notice include the following : one sent to me 
from the Solway Firth by Bryson of Port 
Carlisle, December, 1893; two captured 
near Penrith, and a third taken on the 
Eden near Carlisle, January, 1895 ; a fourth 
procured near Port Carlisle by Greenwood the 
punt-gunner, and brought to me in the flesh, 
December, 1896; a fifth shot by W. Nicol, 
near Skinburness, February, 1900. 
246. Puffin. Fratercula arctica (Linn.). 
Locally, Sea-Parrot, Manx Puffin. 
A tolerably common bird along our coast ; 
but the birds that are washed ashore are usu- 
ally immature. An old bird in full breeding 
dress was brought to me at Allonby, May 5th, 
1897, having just been picked up upon the 
beach. I have also met with this species in 
the Solway Firth in mid-winter. 
247. Great Northern Diver. 
alis, Linn. 
Our larger lakes are occasionally visited by 
birds of this species in summer, as well as 
during the winter months. It occurs like- 
wise on our open coast, but is rare in the 
shallow waters of the Solway Firth. Speci- 
mens have been obtained far inland. 
Colymbus glaci- 
248. Black-throated Diver. Colymbus arcticus, 
Linn. 
This diver occasionally visits Ulleswater 
Lake; a young female was shot on that 
extensive sheet of water, January Ist, 1891. 
I had previously examined another local bird ; 
but this was an adult, fast acquiring summer 
plumage. It was killed on the Eden near 
Rickerby, whilst feeding on fry, March 2oth, 
1888. Others have been obtained on our 
estuaries and inland waters, but this diver is 
one of our rarer birds. It is usually procured 
in the winter time. 
249. Red-throated Diver. 
trionalis, Linn. 
Locally, Speckle-backed Diver. 
A spring and autumn visitant to the estu- 
aries of Cumberland, and met with incident- 
ally in almost every month of the year, the 
red-throated diver is well known to our 
fishermen and punt-gunners; it occurs in- 
land but very rarely, preferring the sea to 
freshwater lakes during its sojourn with us. 
I have picked up adults which have been 
washed ashore dead, having previously shed 
their wing quills and being thus disqualified 
for combating a succession of heavy gales. 
Colymbus septen- 
250. Great Crested Grebe. 
tus (Linn.). 
This grebe has been obtained at most sea- 
sons in Cumberland, even in July, when it 
might have been expected to be breeding. It 
is however principally a winter visitant, and 
as such is often shot on our larger lakes as 
well as on such lesser sheets of water as Tal- 
kin Tarn, where an adult in winter dress was 
killed on February 28th, 1898. I have often 
seen birds that had been killed in spring, when 
assuming nuptial dress. 
251. Red-necked Grebe. 
(Boddaert). 
A winter visitant of somewhat rare occur- 
rence on the larger rivers. No adult in sum- 
mer livery has ever been procured in the 
county up to date; but a very pretty bird 
in first dress was shot by W. Nicol at Skin- 
Podicipes crista- 
Podicipes griseigena 
burness, September 22nd, 1894. It may be 
seen in the Carlisle Museum. 
252. Slavonian Grebe.  Podicipes auritus 
(Linn.). 
This small grebe occurs on our rivers and 
lakes from September to March, but has not 
been procured in either nuptial or first plum- 
age. It sometimes appears in couples, but 
never in flocks. A bird killed near Drum- 
burgh in March, 1897, was still in winter 
dress ; but another killed near Silloth on 
March 17th, 1889, had newly commenced 
to acquire summer dress. 
253. Eared Grebe. 
(Brehm). 
A rare visitant, obtained at long intervals 
upon our estuaries and inland waters, but only 
in winter or immature plumage. During the 
severe weather of January, 1895, when sharp 
frost prevailed in most parts of England, a 
Podicipes _ nigricollis 
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