BIRDS visitor, occurring more particularly in small parties from November till the following March. It is not so numerous as in former years, and in localities where it was once of annual occurrence it is now seldom observed. The inequality in the numbers of the two sexes is remarkable, males almost invariably outnumbering the females. On 1 6 April 1896 I counted about thirty upon the two pools in Luton Hoo Park, and learnt from the water keeper that considerable numbers had been breeding there for many years past ; on a second visit on 26 May of the same year upwards of forty of this species were counted, most of the females being then with young. One nest I examined was situated among the rushes close to the margin of the pool ; this, I was informed, was almost invariably the situ- ation chosen there, the majority of nests being unapproachable from the banks. Visit- ing the park in 1899 I found the number of pochards considerably decreased, and again, on 7 May 1901, only three in all could be noted. On 15 May following a pair were noticed on the smaller pool in Battlesden Park, where previously they had not been identified at all during the breeding season. Davis, in his History of Luton and Neighbourhood (both in the 1855 and second edition of 1874), re- fers to this species as a winter visitor, so that it has evidently only bred there in later years. 133. Ferruginous Duck. Fuligula nyroca (Goldenstadt) A rare visitor. One that is now in my collection was bought by Mr. J. Cole, taxider- mist, when in the flesh, during the winter of 1 890-1, having been shot on the river Lea, at Newmill End, close to Luton Hoo Park. 134. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata (Leach) Although not so frequent as several others of the duck family, it is constantly met with, either singly, in pairs or small parties, from October onwards throughout the winter ; it is found along the Ouse, Ivel and other streams. Mr. W. C. Thompson assured me that this species bred at Luton Hoo Park in 1894, but the water keeper there could not confirm this beyond that they remained there till late in the spring. When I visited the pools on 16 April 1895 there were six or eight together, several beautiful males being among the party. Upon visiting the park again in May 1896, and in following years during the same month, I have failed to find this species. 135. Scaup-Duck. Fuligula marila (Linn.) The occurrence of this duck in any winter is now the exception rather than the rule as in former years. It has been met with almost as frequently along the Ouse as either the pochard, tufted duck, or goldeneye, and on the Ivel and in the neighbourhood of Lang- ford Mr. Josiah King used to consider it even commoner than those species, being only outnumbered by the mallard and teal. It is some years since I heard of its being obtained. Very few adult males have been obtained locally ; not more than a dozen have passed through the hands of Mr. A. Covington during over thirty years' experience as a local taxidermist, and Mr. J. King could never obtain one. 136. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (Linn.) Immature specimens of the goldeneye seem to occur somewhat frequently upon our rivers, and at times it is as numerous as the pochard or tufted duck, but adult males of this species are far rarer than either of the latter. Usually a pair or an odd bird only will be met with, or small parties rarely numbering more than four or five. 137. Long-tailed Duck. Harelda glacialh (Linn.) So far as it has been possible to ascertain only two records of this rare arctic species have been locally obtained. A female was shot along the New Cut at Goldington during a heavy snow in the winter of 1870-1, and eventually passed into the possession of Mr. A. L. Jessopp (see also Zoologist). Another, an immature bird, is in the small but interest- ing collection belonging to Mr. G. Pestell. It was picked up dead some few years ago, also out of the New Cut. 138. Common Scoter. CEdemia nigra (Linn.) Although this bird cannot be considered as a common inland visitor with us it has been obtained too frequently in our county to be classed as rare. It has, I believe, generally been observed singly, and apparently always during the autumn movements. Mr. J. King shot a male on the Ivel near his house at Langford on 21 October, 1858. Mr. A. Covington records the following instances : In November 1865 a boy from Ravensden brought in a fine old male in beautiful plum- age ; another was reported some few years afterwards during October at Harrold, and on 4 November 1883 another male was brought in from Great Barford. In addition a female was shot at Fenlake in 1886. On 1 1 July 1870 a flight of ten of these ducks was observed by Mr." P. Addington when shooting along the
- 25
