BIRDS 329 



brood on the Long Marton Glebe, which had spread from 

 Kirkby Thore. There are very few remaining now about the 

 Kirkby Thore estate.' Mr. Heelis adds that black game exist 

 in considerable numbers near Alston. 



Mr. E. Kaine says that there is ' a breed of black game ' at 

 Soulby. He saw a brood this year on Hartley Fell near Kirkby- 

 Stephen, but there the bird is becoming rare because the adjoin- 

 ing moors are not preserved. Mr. Hindson included black game 

 as found ' about Shap, Eeagill and Lowther wood.' E. Eaine 

 writes that black game are to be found about Ulleswater and 

 Haweswater. The head keeper at Lowther says that they 

 shoot from ten to twelve brace per day while Grouse driving. 



Mr. H. Arnold, who rents the shooting over Kentmere and 

 Sleddale Forest, informed me that he had a brood of black 

 game in Sleddale Forest last season [1890], and that his keeper 

 saw two head of black game in Kentmere this year [18.91]. As 

 regards the southern portion of the Lake district, it may be 

 convenient to correct a slight misapprehension. In his Birds 

 of Lancashire, Mr. F. S. Mitchell states that black game appear 

 to have been unknown in that county 'until a few pairs 

 established themselves in Furness nearly forty years ago ' (i.e. in 

 1842). He then quotes, in a condensed form, a statement 

 made on this subject in the Zoologist by the late W. Pearson, 

 upon which he comments : ' This is a most interesting example of 

 the ivay in which changes in the character of a district will bring 

 about changes in avifauna. 7 



It is hardly necessary to assure the reader that the establish- 

 ment of black game in this part of Lakeland was due to artificial 

 means, i.e. to the intentional introduction of breeding birds. 

 Of course their introduction would not have been undertaken 

 if the district had not become suitable to them. Probably 

 their introduction was attempted from more centres than one. 

 At all events, Mr. C. W. Archibald assured me that black game 

 were intentionally introduced into the Eusland valley between 

 1832 and 1840. His late father introduced them himself. 



The Westmorland Gazette of September 13, 1845, contains a 

 paragraph headed ' The Black Cock in the Lake district.' The 

 writer states that the black game had formerly existed in the 



