(S18) 
NATURAL HISTORY RECORD BUREAU, CARLISLE 
MUSEUM: REPORT FOR 1911. 
By Linnazus E. Horr & D. Losu THorps, Keepers of the Records. 
THe year 1911 was a remarkable one in many respects. The 
coldness of the early months of the year and the heat of the 
succeeding summer and autumn were not without their effect 
upon the bird-life of the country. The cold spring slightly 
retarded migration, and the bulk of the summer visitors were a 
few days later in arrival than in the previous year, although 
some individuals were reported earlier. 
The earliest reported migrant was again the Sand-Martin, 
which was seen at Westward, Wigton, on March 18th, the 
earliest note in 1910 being March 13th, at Crosby-on-Hden. 
The Cuckoo was reported at Todhills on April 17th, eleven days 
earlier than in 1910, and the Corn-Crake was recorded on April 
27th, the earliest note sent in for 1910 being May Ist. 
Many birds finished their nesting early and commenced 
migration, whilst some species reared several broods and stayed 
very late, as, for instance, a Swallow was reported sitting on her 
egas as late as Oct. 17th. This may have been a third brood. 
One or two notes by correspondents seem remarkable and 
invite comment. On July 4th Major Spencer Ferguson wrote : 
‘* Last night twenty Grey Geese passed over Lynehow to Rock- 
liffe Marsh from east... time, 8.20 p.m.” Mr. J. M. Charlton 
(a good observer) wrote: ‘‘On July 25th a flock of Wild Geese 
was seen flying north-east over Brampton ... grey in colour... 
time, 8.30 p.m. ...seen by two observers.”’ Wild Geese were 
also seen by other observers near Carlisle towards the end of 
July. Both correspondents remark on the abnormality of the 
dates (July 3rd and 25th). 
The Wild Geese which visit the Solway Marshes do not, as a 
rule, arrive until the middle or near the end of September, and 
they have generally left by the end of April. That Grey Geese 
