BIRDS very commonly. It continues nesting over a very considerable portion of the year, in fact exceeding that of any other of our breeding species. I have particulars of a nest with eggs taken at Bedford Ford End as early as 8 March 1893, and another elsewhere also with eggs on 12 March 1899; then we have the record of Mr. C. M. Prior [Zoologist) of finding fresh eggs as late as 2 October in 1875. I have occasionally found these birds utilizing old nests of the magpie. 145. Turtle-Dove. Turtur communis, Selby. A summer visitor, becoming more numerous every year. Twenty years ago we looked upon the finding of the nest of this bird as of some rarity, but nowadays it is by no means an uncommon incident in any neighbourhood ; and in its more favoured haunts, particularly the small plantations between Wootton and Marston, or again in Muggerhanger Grove, it nests very commonly. Its arrival generally takes place during the last week in April or early in May and its departure about the middle of September. 146. Pallas's Sand-Grouse. Syrrbaptes para- doxus (Pallas) During the immigration of sand-grouse that reached the British Islands in considerable numbers in 1863 and several years following, no record of its occurrence is found any nearer than in the adjoining county of North- ampton. In 1888, when that wonderful irruption of some thousands reached our shores, many favoured us with their presence, but received I am afraid little better reception than that meted out to them only too generally. Mr. J. H. Barnard records that a flock of about fourteen visited the neighbourhood of Cople in May of that year and stayed for upwards of three weeks ; and Mr. A. Covington informs me that sand-grouse were also reported from Cranfield and Kempston ; in the latter locality one was taken alive on 3 July, and after being kept some few days again set at liberty. There is a specimen in the Modern School Museum which was picked up dead under telegraph wires at Thurleigh on 1 1 June, and another was obtained there shortly after- wards, but unfortunately not preserved. Another was killed at Caddington during the same year. 147. Pheasant. Phasianus colcbicus and P. torquatus, Linn. Both the black-necked pheasant (P. col- cbicus) and the ring-necked pheasant (P. torquatus) are common with us, as well as the intermediate forms produced by the inter-breeding of these two species. At Woburn several other species of pheasant have been turned out on the estate. 148. Partridge. Perdix cinerea, Latham. Very abundant. All the occurrences of albinism and white variations, which seem to have been unusually plentiful with us, have occurred in one particular district, namely be- tween Pertenhall and Bolnhurst, some four miles distant from each other. All may have arisen from one common stock, but it more probably bears out the statement that partridges reared on heavy clay lands are often poor in colour ; nevertheless it seems strange that with so much similar land in the county the records should be confined to this one locality. 149. Red-legged Partridge. Caccabis rufa (Linn.) An introduced species now abundant throughout the county, though not in any way as numerous as our indigenous bird. Mr. J. Allen mentions that it was first killed in the neighbourhood of Ampthill at Brickhill Pas- tures in i860, and Mr. W. J. Chalk that one was shot by his grandfather at Wilden in 1845. According to Davis it was common in the neighbourhood of Luton in 1855. 150. Quail. Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre. A summer migrant, but it is very doubtful if it occurs every year with us ; it was former- ly far more plentiful. There is little doubt that this bird is far oftener met with in the vicinity of the chalk hills in the south than in any other part of the county. The land be- tween the Embankment and Goldington Road (particularly about that part where Howbury Street now stands) used to be al- most invariably frequented by quails and most years a few were killed. Mr. J. King shot one on 22 June 1854 near Stanford Mill and another at Langford on 3 July following, but not recently, and Major Brooks also mentions that the quail has been absent for years from Flitwick where formerly he often shot it. Numerous records have been supplied by Mr. A. Covington, Mr. J. Cole, Mr. A. F. Cross- man and others. 151. Corn-Crake or Land-Rail. Crex pra- tensis, Bechstein. A fairly abundant but decreasing summer migrant. It arrives generally at the latter end of April or early in May, and leaves again usually in September, but often later, October birds being commonly met with. One was taken on 3 January a few years ago in the Grammar School grounds, Bedford, and another on 7 December 1899 at Henlow. [27
