A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE with eggs early in April. My friend, Mr. W. Knight, informed me of a pair having a nest containing six eggs as early as 28 March, and I have known them with young still in the nest as late as 6 August. 89. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, Linn. One was shot at Thurleigh by a Mr. King many years ago (A. Covington), another at Woburn Park about 1868, and one in the writer's possession was obtained by Mr. J. Cole at Haynes in the autumn of 1876. A fourth was shot 5 October 1890 by a keeper to one of the shooting tenants of Lord St. John at Melchbourne, and is now in his lordship's possession (see also the Field, 1890). Another was killed between Luton and Dunstable about 1885, and passed through Mr. T. Cane's hands. 90. Cuckoo. Cucului canorus, Linn. A common summer migrant, arriving gener- ally about the middle of April, and leaving during the first week in July ; immature birds remain with us until September. I have notes of a cuckoo's egg being found at Lang- ford as early as 8 May, and of a young one, several days old, as early as 18 May. In addition to the usual foster parents there are records of the nests of the greenfinch, chaffinch, yellow hammer, willow warbler, chifFchaff and whinchat being chosen. 91. White or Barn Owl. Strix fammea, Linn. Still fairly abundant in old timbered parks, such as Ampthill, Woburn and Bromham, where several pairs may be found nesting. In former years when farming was a profitable industry, and barns in which to store grain were more needed than at present, an • owl hole' would frequently be left in the barn at the top corner of the gable end to allow this bird an entrance, so that the rats and mice might be kept in check. A pied variety with the tail and the whole of the wing feathers pure white was shot at Harrold in January 1894. 92. Long-eared Owl. Asia otus (Linn.) This species still nests frequently in the fir woods and spruce plantations between Sandy and Potton ; during 1900 at least three pairs nested at Rowney Warren and two pairs in the small plantations at Sharpenhoe ; a pair nest regularly in one of the fir plantations at Maulden. It formerly bred in Southill Warren and may still do so, as also in War- den Warren and the fir woods around Ampt- hill and Woburn. Judging from the thou- sands of pellets of this species that I have been able to examine from those localities, there is little doubt that this owl is comparatively harmless to game preserving and well deserv- ing of protection, as in no single instance have I ever detected any remains of the young of game ; mice, voles and various species of finches comprising nearly their entire prey. 93. Short-eared Owl. Asio accipitrinus (Pallas) A regular winter visitor, but as a rule in very limited numbers, and solitary birds are usually found. Mr. C. T. Lindsell whilst partridge-driving at Cople in November 1894 observed nine or ten together ; five were seen some years ago at Biddenham sitting in some sedgey-grass ; four were killed in one day at Woburn, and I understand that it occurs fre- quently on Flitwick Moor. Mr. J. King re- fers to its having been killed around Biggles- wade. The earliest migrant noted was one killed 17 October 1878, and the latest, one shot 3 April 1895, as it rose out of the flags alongside the river. 94. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluco (Linn.) By no means a common species with us and rarer than formerly. I have known of several nests at Bromham and Southill, and in recent years have found its eggs also at Wilden. At Turvey it nests regularly, and it may still continue to do so at Woburn, Ampthill, Haynes, Odell, Tempsford and Warden ; in the last-named locality Mr. J. King once found a nest containing the unusual number of six eggs. 95. Little Owl. Athene noctua (Scopoli) For many years the late Lord Lilford en- deavoured to establish this species at Oundle Park in Northamptonshire and eventually suc- ceeded in so doing, a nest and eggs being found there in 1889. No doubt the numbers of this species that have been shot in recent years have originated from this locality. Mr. J. Wilkerson mentioned this bird nesting regularly of late years in the neighbourhood of Wyboston, and during 1 900 a nest containing four or five eggs from which the young were reared was found at Great Barford. A female killed near Southill on 22 May contained eggs, so was also probably nesting at the time. A nest from which two young were taken was found at Harlington in 1902 and a pair were nesting near Ampthill in 1903 {Field). In 1862 one was caught at Woburn and was kept alive by Mr. C. F. Woods for three months, but it eventually escaped. 18
