BIRDS Northamptonshire must have been a most interesting field for an ornithologist early in the nineteenth century. Just outside its north- eastern border lay Whittlesea Mere, the haunt of many rare birds, in- cluding the bittern, spotted crake, rufF and avocet, and others, which used to wander thence up the Nene Valley. There were many wild, unenclosed upland commons — still called ' heaths ' or ' wolds ' — where the great bustard used at times to wander, and many interesting open- ground birds occurred, especially at the spring and autumn migration periods. There were large tracts remaining of what had been primeval forest, of which Salcey Forest, Whittlebury Forest, Rockingham Forest, the Bedford Purlieus, and Castor Hanglands, and a few more, still remain as reduced survivals. In these the kite, buzzard, and raven used to breed, and the hen-harrier to be found with other forest-loving species. And an ornithologist in those days — there were not many then — was free to pursue his investigations when and where he chose. Since then the spread of agriculture (especially in the years following the Napoleonic and Crimean wars, with their consequent high profits on corn growing) has brought much of the forest, fen, and common land under the plough, and the old haunts of many of the rarer birds are now unvisited by them, or, if they occur, it is as rare stragglers from over the sea. However much we may regret this as naturalists, we cannot find fault, for naturalists, after all, are specimens of ordinary humanity, plus their special tastes and studies, and the bulk of their individuality cannot help seeing that all this is necessary, and even desirable in the interests of the country. But would that the 'Yellowstone Park' idea had only occurred to Englishmen sixty years ago ! It is a far-sighted and really patriotic idea, and might have preserved to us restricted areas of immense scientific interest. We are now slowly awakening to it, now that it is all but too late, and, as in the case of Wicken Fen, are preserving the few relics of primeval England for posterity. There appears to be an opinion — rather a widespread one — in our county, that, since the publication of the late Lord Lilford's Birds of Northamptonshire and Neighbourhood, little or nothing remains to be done in the way of ornithological research within our boundaries. But any one reading the preface and opening paragraphs of that excellent work will find that the author held a strong view to the contrary. The fact is, that the work which has fallen into the hands of us of to-day is one of a totally different character — less striking, perhaps less interesting, III
