Page:VCH Bedfordshire 1.djvu/175

 BIRDS found in this county except when driven under the stress of severe weather, for when pro- cured they are generally picked up dead, or in a very exhausted condition and unable to fly. An old specimen came into the hands of Mr. A. Covington some years ago that had been shot close to Milton Mill. One was picked up at Renhold 26 November 1893 ; others have been obtained at Sharnbrook, Goldington, and two in addition at Milton, one in November 1893, an ^ an a ^ult speci- men in 1894. 200. Little Auk. Mergulus alle (Linn.) There are many instances of this little arc- tic visitor being storm driven into our county. The earliest noted is one that was picked up near Bedford in the winter 186 1-2, which, although not actually seen by Mr. A. Covington, was sufficiently described to him to leave little doubt as to its being correctly named. Davis [History of Luton, 1874, ed. 2) refers to four having been taken near Luton in the last thirty years ; particu- lars of only two are given, one of which was obtained in Hertfordshire and the other found at Barton in January 1870. The late Mr. T. Cane also mentioned to me one having been received by him from Caddington in the last week of January 1895, and he had a second during that winter. In the Field one is recorded by Mr. Allen as having been picked up dead after severe gales on 8 December 1878, upon the allotment gardens at Hus- borne Crawley. Again in the same journal Mr. W. F. Higgins sends particulars of one killed at Turvey on 22 November 1882. One in the possession of Mr. J. Day of Rox- ton was picked up dead on 21 November 1894 near Colmworth Woods. In the ex- ceptionally severe weather at the end of Janu- ary 1895 two came into the hands of Mr. J. S. Wright, one found on 20 January at Hinxworth in Hertfordshire, and another, which is now in my possession, was picked up on 2 February, almost dead, in Haynes Park. The most recent was one, a male, picked up near Hanger's Wood, Stagsden, on 19 February 190 1 ; when found it^was still alive, but in a very exhausted condition. 201. Puffin. Fratercula arctica (Linn.) The very few obtained ar^ probably storm- driven birds, occurring more particularly with us during their spring and autumnal move- ments. Several have been received by Mr. A. Covington, but have generally been found dead or nearly so. One he mentions was picked up in the middle of Clapham Wood, and he has received others from near Castle Mills, Willington, Turvey and Harrold, the most recent from Kempston at the latter end of March 1901 after a westerly gale. A uniform cream-coloured specimen was sent to him in the autumn of 1880 which had been picked up at Girtford. On 5 January 1895 a female was caught at Marston, and a male in the same parish two or three days later. Colonel H. Barclay has one in his possession which was picked up dead in Tin- grith Park in November 1893, driven in by the great storm at that time. 202. Great Northern Diver. Colymbus gla- cialis, Linn. A very rare winter visitor. Morris l refers to one being met with in Bedfordshire on the river Ouse 4 February 1830, which is evidently the same bird now in the possession of Mr. J. F. Day of Kettering, who kindly informs me that one was shot by Mr. William Francis, his grandfather, during that year and month. It was shot on the ice on the Ouse near Cardington Mill. Another which was purchased by Mr. A. Covington in the flesh in December 1876 had been shot on the river at Cox's Pits, Biddenham, after being hunted and fired at several times before being secured. 203. Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septen- trionalis, Linn. The local specimens handled in the flesh by Mr. A. Covington have not shown any trace of the red neck of its summer plumage, and all have been extremely fat. One was killed at Kempston about 1890 near the Hill Grounds, another at Pavenham in January 1898, and the last received by him was killed near Felmersham in January 1897 ; in its gullet there were nine roach, each from 3 to 4 inches long. Another, a male, was also shot at Felmersham in January 1886 by Mr. A. W. Saunders, who informed me when I examined the specimen in his posses- sion that when killed it was absurdly tame and never attempted to escape by either diving any distance or attempting to get upon the win;;. One was shot by Major Duberly on the Ouse by his house at Fenlake on 18 November 1 891, and another was obtained by Mr. Hassall close to the railway bridge over the river at Cardington on 17 November 1893. 204. Great Crested Grebe. Podicipes crista- tus (Linn.) Until a few years ago known only as a winter visitant, occurring not uncommonly ntish Birds, by F. O. Morris (i860). 135