178 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



furnishes of the plumage of both old and young birds. He 

 states explicitly, ' This bird is very frequent upon our moors. 

 It lays four or five eggs of a dirty white colour, upon the 

 ground, among heath or rushes.' No doubt the gamekeepers had 

 commenced to decimate its numbers even at the close of the 

 last century. By the time that the younger Hey sham began to 

 write the Marsh Harrier appears to have become rare. Indeed, 

 it is quite problematical whether T. C. Heysham ever saw it 

 alive in Lakeland. That he received fresh specimens from the 

 Pennine range is evidenced by the following letters : — 



' Alston, 22 Nov. 1830. 

 ' Mr. Heysham. 



'Sir, — I have this day sent you two Hawks, which were 

 brought to me by Mr. Jos. Dickinson, a Gentn. of this place 

 who has usually taken every pains in trying to procure me any- 

 thing of the kind which was likely to suit your purpose. It 

 seems to me that they are what you call the Moor Buzzard, a 

 bird not often met with here, but you '1 have the goodness to 

 say in your next whether my conjecture is right or not. I hope 

 you will receive them safe. ... I beg to subscribe myself, yours 

 Respty., ' Wm. Dodd.' 



To this T. C. Heysham replied : 



' Carlisle, Nov. 24, 1830. 

 < Mr. William Dodd. 



1 1 have to thank you for the two Moor Buzzards which 

 reached me safe the evening previous to the receipt of your 

 letter. They are both young birds, although one is probably a 

 year older than the other. The very old ones have the head, 

 neck, and breast entirely yellowish-white. They, as well as the 

 majority of hawks, vary much in the colour of their plumage, 

 and it rarely happens that two are taken exactly alike. I beg 

 you will present my compliments to Mr. Dickinson, and say 

 that I feel myself greatly obliged to him for his kindness and 

 trouble in trapping them for me.' 



This Harrier probably maintained its footing longest in the 

 wild border country. The late Mr. Proud recorded in his diary 

 the capture of two in that district prior to 1846, and Captain 



