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 BIRDS 120. Bernacle-Goose. Bernicla leucopsis (Bech- stein) A very unfamiliar species with us. An adult male purchased by Mr. Covington about 1885 had been shot near Renhold ; it was alone when killed and was in extremely poor condition. Mr. A. F. Crossman records that on 24 December 1890 a flight of eight flew over the river quite close to him near the Britannia Iron Works in Bedford. 121. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas) Evidently occurs far more commonly in Bedfordshire than the previous species. On 11 February 1871 four were killed at Great Barford by Dr. C. Sprigge from a flight of thirteen. An adult male was obtained by Mr. J. Bennett close to the town of Bedford on 3 December 1877, and others had been seen the day before at Cardington (see also Zoologist, 1878). Mr. A. Covington men- tions two locally obtained specimens and also a flight of forty-seven which he saw near Clapham Wood on 4 October 1881 ; they were going very slowly at the time and he obtained a good view. A few days later he heard of a black-headed goose being shot in the neighbourhood of Pavenham. Mr. A. F. Crossman observed a solitary brent goose passing over the Clapham road, near the Bedford waterworks, on 10 March 1892, and several were said to have been seen on the sewage farm 5 November of the following winter. Mr. W. J. Chalk once saw a flock passing over a hedge at the back of the rec- tory at Wilden, so low as to come within ten yards of him ; and Mr. C. F. Woods records occasional winter visitants to Woburn. 122. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus, Bech- stein. An occasional visitant, more particularly during severe winters, and nearly always ob- served passing onwards without alighting. I have seen one in the possession of Mr. J. Cole, which was killed with one or more mute swans at Newmill End near Luton in the winter 1 890-1. Mr. A. Covington is aware of only one instance of its being obtained locally, when one was killed at Milton many years previous to its first coming under his observation in 1865. Mr. C. F. Woods men- tions that in the long frost which set in on Christmas Eve, either in 1862-3 or J 863-4, a party of seven, two adults and five birds of the year, came to the Basin and Large Drake- low Pools at Woburn, and remained several weeks, most of them being killed. 123. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus bewicki, Yarrell A rare winter visitor. Three were procured within a mile of Woburn in the latter end of January 1864 (C. Hervey Smith, Zoologist, 1864). Mr. A. F. Crossman says that two wild swans came under his observation on 29 November 1890 near Cardington Locks, which he considered were of this species. Their note was tong, tong, and as he was able to get within one hundred yards of them, he particularly noticed their small size. 124. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmelin) Occurs with us at rare intervals. In the severe and continued winter, 1894-5, Mr. J. Wilkerson mentions that about twenty were observed along the Ouse in the neighbourhood of Wyboston Corner. One, an odd bird, was killed about February and passed into the possession of Mr. J. Addington, who has also seen this duck in that district, the last time being in February 1900, when two came comparatively near to him while duck-shooting upon the floods. Two together were also seen by Dr. C. Sprigge at Great Barford about 1 887. Mr. A. Covington has preserved two that were killed locally, both adult males, one being ob- tained at Cardington in 1864, and the other from Great Barford several years later. He purchased a case containing two immature sheld-ducks many years ago ; they were simply labelled ' Goldington.' 125. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas, Linn. In the winter our home-bred birds are frequently added to considerably by numbers of immigrants, probably continental birds, and when the weather is in any way severe, es- pecially after a north-east wind, duck-shooting along the waterways and at our various lakes may be carried on for a time with fair success. When the Ouse and other streams are in flood, large flights may frequently be observed. In very mild winters even small flights are rarely seen along our rivers. Pied, cream- coloured and white variations have been met with. 126. Gadwall. Anas strepera, Linn. A rare visitant. Mr. J. King shot an im- mature male on 5 April 1 861 on the Ivel at Langford ; in this specimen the crescentic margins on the feathers of the breast were as yet visible in one of the feathers only. Mr. A. Covington mentions a female killed at Blunham during the winter 1 889-90 in company with mallards. 23