A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 167. Woodcock. Scolopax rustkula, Linn. Thinly distributed in many of our more suitable woods and plantations from October onwards, but there is little doubt that it is gradu- ally decreasing in number. Several instances of its remaining to nest within our county have been recorded. A nest with four eggs in it was found at Chicksands Priory Woods on 15 April 1828. 1 In the Field, 1868, a young bird is mentioned as having been caught on 17 April in one of our woods (the particular locality not being mentioned) by a labourer, who, whilst sitting on the ride eating his dinner caught sight of old and young together, and secured one of the young as a witness of the fact. Another contributor to the same newspaper, also writing under a nom-de-plume, sends particulars of one caught from a brood of young by one of the keepers in Charle Wood, Woburn, about the same date, so possibly it may be the same bird as above quoted. About 1863 two young woodcocks scarcely able to fly were taken to Mr. A. Covington. In 1899 a nest containing four eggs was found in Maulden Wood, where also it has been reported as nesting in previous years. 168. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (J. F. Gmelin) Of occasional occurrence as a winter visitant. The first within Mr. Covington's knowledge was shot previous to i860 at Willington, and another was killed about the same year on the Renhold side of the river. In September 1866 one came into his hands which was shot at Biddenham. About 1878 two were shot at the Newnham farm in the one season, and on 3 October 1885 an old male was shot in the same locality. An im- mature bird in Mr. Covington's possession was brought to him in September 1887 ; it had killed itself against the telegraph wires by the New Cut. Mr. P. Addington, referring to the hundreds of snipe he ob- tained at Wyboston, mentions having only shot one, and that in November about i860. 169. Common Snipe. Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel) Locally, Full Snipe. Except in continued severe weather, when a re-migration takes place, the common snipe may be found fairly plentiful along our water- ways, ditches, and in other suitable localities from the autumn to the following spring ; at 1 White's Natural History of Melbourne (1853). Edited by Capt. Thomas Browne. times erratic arrivals in considerable numbers take place, and a ' wisp ' may sometimes be flushed together. There is ample evidence that it was once far more numerous than nowadays, in many districts cultivation and drainage having greatly restricted, if not com- pletely changed, its former haunts, as for instance Crawley Moor and a large portion of Flitwick Moor. Throughout the summer of 1897 two pairs were frequently observed and heard drumming over the Newnham farm, but whether they bred or not I cannot say. There is little doubt that it nested for- merly in the vicinity of our lowlying meadow lands, as also at Staughton and on Flitwick Moor, where a nest and eggs were seen in 1875 by the late Mr. T. W. Overman. During the summer of 1901 I frequently flushed this bird off that moor, and on several occasions at least three snipe were seen there. On 27 May I flushed one of the birds over and over again from the same spot, to which it would almost immediately return, but failed to find the young which were un- doubtedly close at hand. A cream-coloured variety was seen by Mr. T. Taylor at Temps- ford. 170. Jack Snipe. Gallinago ga Hi nula (Linn.) A regular winter resident, but varying in numbers. It arrives usually in October and occasionally in September (as early as 3 September 1893), remaining with us until the following March and not infrequently well into April. 171. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. In the autumnal and spring migrations, as also in its winter movements, this bird utilizes the valley of the Ouse with great regularity, and the enormous number of birds that occa- sionally pass over the town of Bedford pro- bably contain large flights of this little wader. It frequents any expanse of water with a stretch of mud in the vicinity, and at such an attractive site as the Newnham farm it is particularly noticeable throughout the greater part of the year. It is commonest in August and March, but almost a regular visitant in greater or lesser numbers from the end of July till the following May, and not uncom- monly a straggler has been seen even in June. I have seen them as late as 21 May 1899, several being in their full summer plumage, and again as early as 3 July 1900, when five were in company with other waders in the above locality. Mr. A. Covington records that on 28 July 1886 nine adult males in perfect plumage were picked up under the telegraph wires near the New Cut and 30
