BIRDS 321 



(D) West Cumberland. (1) Near Cockermouth the Eev. A. 

 Sutton, whose experience of Sand Grouse in the Soudan is 

 extensive, observed three birds on the Tallantine Hill, July 2-3. 

 When disturbed they flew to Millstone Moss. 



At Sandwith, as reported by Mr. H. Nott, four Sand Grouse 

 were seen on the high ground above St. Bees during the second 

 week of July by a young farmer, whose dog turned them out of 

 the turnips. 



At Seatcale a male and female were shot out of a flock of 

 nine by Mr. John Porter. Both birds were killed at one shot, 

 and sent to Dr. Parker. The survivors flew off in a westerly 

 direction. 



At Bavenglass a flock, numbering at first twenty-three, settled 

 among the sand-hills on July 24, as ascertained by Joseph Farren. 



Mr. W. Duckworth most kindly visited Walney Island at 

 my request, both on June 4th and subsequently. He ascer- 

 tained on that date the presence of a flock of fourteen, and of 

 another of seven, the first birds having arrived on the 19th of 

 May. Between that date and June 18th seven were shot and 

 sent for preservation to Williams of Barrow. On June 11th a 

 flock of forty, and another of seventeen, birds, appeared at the 

 north end of Walney. On June 17th a flock of eight were seen 

 at the south end of the island. 



The advent of these interesting strangers roused hopes that 

 they might become naturalised, or, at least, breed amongst our 

 littoral sand-banks for a season, and much labour was expended 

 in ascertaining whether the birds were breeding. I sent to 

 the Field office the ovaries of two females, killed on the 

 26th and 28th of May, requesting that a professional expert 

 might give an official opinion as to whether the birds were 

 nesting. The editor replied : ' Both the hens would have nested, 

 the one in the course of a few days, the other in less than a 

 fortnight.' This was quite my own impression. 



Ignorance of the signification of hedgerows, easily compre- 

 hended as characterising a species accustomed to range at will 

 over vast tracts of unenclosed country, proved fatal to some 

 individuals on their first arrival ; the survivors were not slow 

 to adopt habits of increased vigilance. Thus when a flock of 



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