ARMISTEAD : BIRDS OF SOLWAY DISTRICT. 71 



Heron. Ardea cinerea. 



Common; breeds. Frequents the smallest rivulets at the 

 time trout are spawning and makes havoc amongst them. I 

 have shot them at my trout ponds close to the house, and only 

 a few weeks ago I missed several thousand yearling trout from 

 a nursery pond, and set three or four traps, and next morning 

 had the thief, which proved to be one of these birds. 

 Uight Heron. Uycticorax griseus. 



Has occurred once in Cumberland to my knowledge. 

 Bittern. Botaurus stellaris. 



Has occurred once in Cumberland to my knowledge. 

 Bean Goose. Anser segetum. 



Occurs sparingly in winter. 

 Pink-footed Goose. Anser brachyrhyneims. 



Occurs sparingly in winter. 

 Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta. 



Much less plentiful than the next species, and only found in 

 one or two localities. 

 Barnacle Goose. Bernicla leucopsis. 



Plentiful in some localities, and often gathering into large 

 flocks; arrives about the end of October and remains all winter. 

 Swar. Cygnus musicus. 



Occurs on the Frith sparingly in winter, being mostly 

 observed during very severe weather. 

 Bewick's Swan. Cygnus bewicki. 



Same as the last species. Eleven of these birds passed close 

 over my head during the winter of 1880, but not having a gun 

 I could not secure a specimen. It is difficult to distinguish 

 from C. musicus, its smaller size being the chief guide. In very 

 severe weather tame Swans are often driven off the fresh-water 

 and betake themselves to the sea and mouths of rivers. 

 Shieldrake. Tadorna cornnta. 



Common during the breeding season, but as soon as the 

 young are able to fly these birds leave our coasts and do not 

 appear again in any numbers until January and February, when 

 they arrive again near their breeding grounds. I have found the 

 nests of these birds several miles inland, and they do not by any 

 means confine themselves to the seashore or its immediate 

 neighbourhood for breeding purposes. A few are occasionally 

 seen between August and January, mostly on the sea. 

 Widgeon. Mareca penelope. 



Plentiful in winter. A straggler may be got occasionally in 

 September, but the main body puts in an appearance in October, 



March 1886. 



