A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 152. Spotted Crake. Porxana maruetta (Leach) Occurs with us regularly, though in small numbers, whilst on migration in the spring and autumn, but is far more commonly ob- tained during the latter movements. Mr. A. Covington has received altogether about two dozen specimens, the minority of which have been shot, and the remainder picked up along the railway, having killed themselves against the overhead wires. He mentions that most occur on the low meadows at Clapham and Oakley, and at Goldington and Fenlake, being generally obtained during April and August, though a few have occurred in Sep- tember and one as late as 7 November 1894. Mr. J. King has occasionally shot this species at Langford, and killed one at Clifton on 1 1 November 1867. Mr. H. Pestell has one which was found dead on 11 June 1892 under the telegraph wires at Elstow, and ac- cording to Mr. J. Cole several have been ob- tained at Leagrave Marsh, the most recent being one that killed itself against the railway wires on 7 September 1897. The last local occurrences of this bird were two in 1898, one shot at Cox's Pits and another at Golding- ton, and on 3 November 1900 an unusually large adult bird was shot from the New Cut, the gizzard of which was full of seeds. 153. Little Crake. Porzana parva (Scopoli) A very rare visitor. The only instance which has come under my notice was one caught by a dog at Longholm, close to the town of Bedford, on 2 May 1901. 154. Water-Rail. Rallus aquaticus, Linn. A regular winter resident, varying consider- ably in numbers, but not very abundant. It is likely to be found in most localities where there are sufficient water and unlimited skulk- ing accommodation for its requirements. During a continued frost its numbers increase for a time, but if such weather is prolonged a re-migration further south takes place, and the birds return when the weather becomes open again. In the severe weather of Decem- ber 1899, fifteen were taken to one of the local taxidermists within a fortnight. 155. Moor-Hen. Galllnula chloropus (Linn.) It is extremely common along the Ouse, Ivel and our larger streams and pools ; in some favourite localities regular colonies appear, and almost in every waterway and pond, no matter how isolated, where there is the least bit of cover, either under or above the water, and some sort of accommodation for a nest, the moor-hen will be found. This bird re- mains about its nesting haunts throughout the year, unless frost compels it to seek sustenance elsewhere. A pied variety, having the upper breast of ash-grey and under plumage white, was shot at Felmersham in January 1895 ; one with the head, neck and lower breast of a light buff colour was killed in October 1 900. Coot. Fulica atra, Linn. 156. Unlike the moor-hen, this bird is restricted in its nesting haunts almost entirely to the few pools that occur on several of the larger estates within our county, such as at Woburn, Luton Hoo, Southill and Battlesden, where they are in each instance exceedingly plentiful for the area of the waters. Although one would expect to find at least a few pairs nest- ing alongside our sluggish Ouse, especially in the private reaches of the river, such is very rarely the case. The majority remain at their breeding haunts the year through, pro- vided the weather remains open, but after a few days' continued frost they are frequently found along our principal waterways, though seldom more than a solitary bird or at most two in company, the greater number evidently departing direct to the coast. 157. Great Bustard. Otis tarda, Linn. One said to have been killed on Mr. P. Addington's farm at Wyboston about 1840 by Mr. Martin George, at whose sale it was pur- chased for £2, passed into the possession of Dr. Rix of St. Neots. At his death it was again sold. Unfortunately I am unable to trace its present whereabouts. 158. Stone-Curlew. CEdicnemus scolopax (S. G. Gmelin) Until the middle of the nineteenth century this species was a familiar summer migrant to the neighbourhood of the chalk hills running through the south of Bedfordshire and oc- curred in other parts of the county, probably more or less frequently during its spring or autumn movements. Davis wrote of it as common around the neighbourhood of Luton in 1855 ; and Mr. T. Cane, whose local knowledge of that district carries him back also into as early years, mentions it as fre- quenting the Dunstable downs, but com- monest around Streatley. Mr. J. King informs me that about Hexton and Pegsdon Hills he has flushed two or three pairs during the day, and has seen them at Langford on two or three occasions. Mr. C. F. Wood mentions that between 1860-70 a pair or two nested between Toddington and Houghton Regis where he once put up five. One was obtained at Wilden in September 1864, another came 28
