A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE preference for certain localities ; it will be found nesting in woodlands with thin under- growth, and uncultivated districts generally. 41. Meadow-Pipit. Anthus pratensis (Linn.) Locally, Tit-Lark. Better known within the county as a win- ter migrant than as a resident. Numbers appear during the autumn and distribute them- selves generally where suitable food can be found. Towards the latter end of September and onwards one or more pairs, and frequently small parties, can often be flushed from among the turnip crops ; our meadow lands, especi- ally during floods, have also great attractions for it, and on the sewage farm at Newnham throughout the winter it is a very common bird indeed. As a nesting species within Bedfordshire it must now be considered very local. It formerly had several nesting haunts close to Bedford, as for instance the Long- holm meadows, but it has ceased to breed here and elsewhere for several years past. A few pairs still nest on the Dunstable downs, and during the year 1902 I found a nest with young on Flitwick Marsh. 42. Great Grey Shrike. Lanius excubitor, Linn. This bird formerly seems to have occurred most winters, a year seldom passing without one or more being received at the local taxider- mist's, or reported as having been seen within the county ; but now several years may pass without one being recorded. Four have come under the personal notice of Mr. J. King, two of which were shot by himself, one 12' December 1866, and the other 9 November 1867. His son shot a third on 6 January 1873. He failed to get within shot of the fourth bird. He tells me that all these birds frequented the same dead ash tree in his mea- dows at Langford, perching always on the topmost branches. During the past thirty years about a dozen county specimens have passed through the hands of Mr. A. Covington. Four or five have been sent to Mr. Cane, one killed at Dunstable, another, about three years ago, at Sutton. Three have been received by Mr. J. S. Wright, one of which was caught in a ground clap-net. John Cole shot another 17 October 1880 at Haynes. Dr. Sprigge told me of one that was killed previous to " ' on the Wilden road near Great Barford. tree (evidently a favourite site), and Mr. C. F. Woods sends me the record of a male killed at Hockliffe in 1861. The most recent records of this species are one killed at Fen- lake in November 1898, and another shot near Luton in the winter 1 900-1. 43' „amus minor. Another, my own possession, was taken near Clophill about the year 1848 ; Mr. P. Addington saw a grey shrike near Wyboston about 1873; Dr. Edward Hamilton shot a t^a e harrf f l T tabl l 25 N r mbCr l848 ' ' that had ahghted on the top of a decayed ash the last one being from Wilden Lesser Grey Shrike. J. F. Gmelin. The addition of this rare visitor to our county list is made on information kindly sent to me by the late Lord Lilford. The Duchess of Bedford informed him that she and a gen- tleman staying at Woburn saw there in the first week of September 1894 a bird that they have little hesitation in considering as of this species. The only other British species for which it could possibly be mistaken is Lanius excubitor, and the date of its occurrence at Woburn puts this supposition almost out of the question. 44. Red-backed Shrike. Lanius collurio, Linn. Locally, Butcher-bird. A regular summer migrant, but, taking the county generally, less numerous perhaps than in some other counties. Probably commoner now with us than in former years. 45. Waxwing. Ampdis garrulus, Linn. Many instances have come to my know- ledge of this irregular winter visitor being recorded in our county, and no doubt there are many others that could be added to the present list. One, an adult male, is recorded in the Zoologist, 1847, as shot 23 January at Luton. One was picked up at Houghton Conquest in the winter 1872-3, and another was killed at Aspley Guise about 1879. In the winter 1882-3 waxwings were reported commonly about the county, and one was shot at Fairfield, Biggleswade, on 1 5 January. Two were given to me by Mr. J. King, one of which was shot in Southill Park, and the other in Henlow Park the same winter, about 1856. Another, which was alone, was shot by his son in the meadows at Langford 20 January 1885. During the same winter one was picked up dead at Ampthill. A male was shot at Odell Rectory 19 January 1890, one near Bedford the same year, and another at Odell in January 1 893. A specimen in the writer's possession was caught in a field at Girtford 31 January 1895, and another was shot at Upper End farm, Shillington, on the same date. Mr. A. Covington writing on this bird states that he has had specimens "«• through his hands from many localities, January
