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 BIRDS or more numerous than in Bedfordshire. The Dunstable downs have long been noted for the number of sky-larks caught there. It often passes over our county in considerable flights on migration. Buff, pied, white and other varieties have been frequently met with. 81. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea, Linn. The only specimen recorded was shot at Oakley in 1867, and passed through the hands of Mr. A. Covington. 82. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.) Locally, Devilin. A common summer migrant. It nests in the town of Bedford, but to a very great ex- tent is restricted to the vicinity of the older portion in the neighbourhood of St. Mary's and St. John's. It arrives during the first few days of May and departs at the end of August. 83. Nightjar. Caprimulgui europaus, Linn. Locally, Goatsucker, Night Hawk, Fern Owl. A summer migrant decreasing numerically in most of its present haunts. It is known to nest at Turvey, and has been observed from time to time in Odell and Clapham Woods. In many of the fir woods around Leighton Buzzard it is still fairly common, and at Asp- ley Woods several pairs have come under my notice ; around Ampthill, Maulden and Clop- hill several pairs may still be found, but at Flitwick, Major Brooks says it is now rare. At Warden, Southill and Rowney Warrens it is far less plentiful than formerly ; on the latter in recent years I have never found more than two pairs of birds in any one day ; whereas as recently as ten years ago Mr. J. King has found as many as five or six nests there in a day's ramble. The fir plantations at Sandy, especially Sandy Warren, are the favourite haunts of this bird, where owing to the careful protection given to wild life generally by Viscount Peel they are likely long to remain. When upon the southward migration it may occasionally be flushed from varied localities and situations. 84. Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn. Locally, Cuckoo's Mate. Although the wryneck may still be heard more or less frequently about the county, it is unfortunately nowadays decreasing in num- bers. It is one of our earliest summer migrants, not arriving as is generally supposed with the cuckoo — whence its local name — but often fully a fortnight earlier. 85. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridu (Linn.) Locally, Whetile, Laughing Lady. A far commoner bird with us than either of the other two species of woodpeckers, and generally distributed throughout the county, particularly in the vicinity of old timber. In such localities as Bromham, Stagsden, Turvey, Odell, Colworth, Ampthill, Flitwick, Woburn, Southill, Warden, Renhold, Muggerhanger, Tempsford, Roxton and Bushmead, I have notes of it nesting rather commonly. Mr. A. Covington remarks that this species is far commoner now than in former years. 86. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus major (Linn.) At Rowney Warren, Sandy, Clophill and in Ampthill and Turvey Parks, I have found this species nesting, in the latter locality the excavation used being certainly of several years' standing. Mr. J. King used to find its eggs rather frequently at Southill and War- den, and the bird is still plentiful there. It nests also at Woburn Park and probably does so at Bromham and Bushmead Parks ; at Henlow Park it is also said to be a resident species. Professor Alfred Newton occasionally saw this woodpecker around Everton when he resided there, 1847-8. Davis mentioned it as a common species around Luton. It is more numerous during the winter months, and judging from the numbers received by the local taxidermist, our resident birds must, especially in some years, be considerably added to by migratory sojourners. A variety con- siderably pied with grey has been obtained. 87. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus minor (Linn.) This species is about as numerous as the last named, but being a much smaller bird is more likely to escape general observation, though probably it does not roam the country as freely as the former species during the winter. At least one pair nest regularly in Turvey and Bromham Parks. I have also found it during the nesting season at Roxton Spinneys and at Kempston ; I believe this bird is a resident also at Henlow Grange and Wo- burn. Mr. J. King adds Warden and South- hill, where in the latter park years ago he found two nests, both of which contained young. 88. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, Linn. Notwithstanding its too numerous persecu- tors this bird is still fairly common except perhaps in a few localities. The kingfisher is early in its nesting, generally being found 117