122 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



land as yet ascertained, the interval of eighty years between 

 these two dates producing probably a lesser number in the aggre- 

 gate than the droves which frequented our hedgerows in either 

 of those two seasons. Dr. Heysham examined some of the 

 birds shot in 1787. Many of the individuals shot in the winter 

 of 1867 have come under my own notice, especially in the 

 Alston district. For example, I distributed among my friends 

 seven skins of Waxwings shot on that occasion by the late 

 B. Greenwell, who preserved many others. Mr. J. Walton of 

 Garrigill still possesses a handsome case of the Waxwings which 

 fell to his own gun on that occasion. Then, as in most other 

 seasons, this species occurred chiefly on the favourite fly-lines 

 from the east coast, yet several were shot near Windermere in 

 January 1867, when a single bird was killed on Cartmel Fell. 

 This species is rarer in Westmorland than in Cumberland, but 

 even in the former county is well known as an occasional winter 

 visitant. Several were shot in Westmorland in January 1850, 

 and sent to Newcastle for preservation. Philip Turner mounted 

 two Waxwings shot near Askham at the same time. Dr. Gough 

 knew of specimens obtained near Kendal prior to 1861. The 

 species likewise wanders into the west of Cumberland, as witness 

 two birds shot near Maryport in December 1859, and December 

 1863 ; others have more recently visited Wigton. It is a matter 

 for regret that nothing has been ascertained regarding the habits 

 of the Waxwing in Lakeland, further than that it usually appears, 

 if it comes at all, in small droves or family parties, between the 

 months of November and February. These frequent the taller 

 hedgerows, feeding greedily on wild berries (especially the seed- 

 vessels of wild roses), and sometimes admit of a tolerably close 

 approach, so that they may be observed raising and depressing 

 their elegant crests, occasionally uttering the peculiar trilling note 

 familiar to those of us who in bygone years kept Waxwings in 

 captivity. The earliest arrival of this species reported to me 

 was the 12th day of October — in 1884. On that date William 

 Little (who had shot a couple of specimens the previous winter) 

 closely observed a single Waxwing near Cotehill. On the other 

 hand, this bird has not been observed in Lakeland later than 

 the middle of March. As early as 1803, the author of Observa- 



