98 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



large tree on the banks of Eden fairly alive with Goldcrests ; 

 this was on a bright frosty day, and very attractive the little 

 midgets looked as they actively prospected the finer twigs in 

 search, I suppose, of hibernating insects. 



FIRE-CRESTED WEEK 



Regulus ignicapillus (Brehm). 



I have paid considerable attention to the annual immigration 

 of the Goldcrest into our spinnies and plantations, without 

 ever detecting the presence of the Firecrest among the Gold- 

 crests. In the beech woods of Navarre we found it easy to 

 identify the Firecrest, and even to distinguish a female of 

 this species on the wing. In the neighbourhood of Kendal 

 a sharp look-out has been kept latterly for Firecrests, but 

 only Goldcrests have been procured. No doubt can reason- 

 ably be entertained as to the correct identification of a male 

 Firecrest killed with a stone at Rose Hill, near Carlisle, by 

 Mr. Graham, in 1845. It was only identified as a Firecrest 

 after a careful reference to the figure and description of this 

 Regulus in Yarrell's British Birds, which was then in course of 

 issue. Mr. Graham is an accurate, painstaking observer of birds, 

 and recollects the circumstances perfectly. He allowed Story, 

 the bird-stuffer, to have the specimen. Story most likely dis- 

 posed of it either to T. C. Hey sham or Mr. Losh of Woodside. 

 I have not been able to ascertain in whose possession it finally 

 rested. Mr. Graham's impression was that Heysham most likely 

 secured it, but his transaction was only with Story. It is 

 possible that Story sold the bird to one of his customers at 

 Newcastle. 



CHIFFCHAFF. 



Phylloscopus rufus (Bechst.). 



As long ago as the year 1831 we find T. C. Heysham writing 

 to his friend Doubleday : ' The Lesser Petty chaps, I have reason 

 to believe, seldom visits the immediate neighbourhood of Car- 

 lisle ; indeed, I have only heard its note once, and that some 

 years ago. The Wood and Yellow Wrens are abundant.' Sixty 

 years have passed, and still this Phylloscopus is only sparsely 



