224 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



Hutchinson found to be tenanted by seven pairs of birds in 

 1888. The same gentleman tells me that six pairs was the 

 complement of birds occupying the Heronry at Killington 

 Reservoir in 1886. The Ingmire Hall Heronry is situated on 

 the borders of Westmorland and Yorkshire, near Sedburgh. 

 This was occupied by Herons quite recently, but I am given to 

 understand that it has been much harried. In Cumberland, 

 from sixteen to twenty pairs of Herons used to nest until 

 recently at Muncaster, obtaining no doubt a plentiful supply of 

 food in the estuary and neighbouring streams. I have known 

 for some j^ears a nice Heronry in the Wythop Woods, close to 

 Bassenthwaite Lake. Of late a few Herons have nested at 

 Crofton Park, where Mr. W. Storrs Fox ascertained for me 

 that eight nests were occupied in 1888. Other small Heronries 

 exist at Netherby, at Floriston, and near Greystoke ; in addi- 

 tion to which, one or two solitary pairs of Herons generally nest 

 on the Eden and the Gelt. By far the finest of local Heronries 

 is that preserved at Edenhall. Most of the trees in which the 

 nests are placed are inaccessible to the majority of climbers, 

 while an unlimited supply of food can be obtained from the 

 Eden and the Eamont with their tributaries, but especially from 

 the fine piece of water, shaped like a horse-shoe, known as 

 Whin's Pond. 



This abounds in trout, notwithstanding the fact that it is 

 sadly over-stocked with voracious pike. Here, accordingly, the 

 Heron is to be seen at all times of the year, especially in July, 

 when the young birds flock together on the grassy slopes of the 

 lake. The birds are then performing their annual moult. Con- 

 sequently, such spots as these birds frequent are often strewn 

 with blue feathers of all shapes and sizes. When a spell of 

 sharp weather freezes the sheets of water inland, and our rivers 

 are also choked with floating ice, the Herons often appear in 

 flocks upon the saltings. But I never could ascertain that the 

 poor birds secured any kind of prey upon the surface of the 

 marsh under such disadvantageous circumstances. 

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