BIRDS 184. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin) Occurs very occasionally during migration. Morris 1 mentions it as having been obtained at Cardington, but without any additional re- mark. One which I have seen in the posses- sion of Mr. H. Manning was shot by him near the park at Luton about 1885 > the third instance is an immature male shot by Mr. G. Pestell by the osier bed at Goldington during the first week of September 1897 > another was in company with it at the time, but though wounded was not secured. 185. Common Curlew. Numenius arquata (Linn.) Of irregular though by no means un- common occurrence with us; but being wary in its habits it is seldom obtained. Mr. A. Covington mentions one shot at Longholm about i860, two brought to him from Riseley in the month of July, and one shot at Little Staughton in September 1 896. A variety with neck partly pied with white was killed at Wil- lington about 1890. During the long severe winter 1894-5 one was picked up dead on Mr. H. Dillamore's farm at Sandy, and a few curlews frequented the sewage farm at Newn- ham in 1894. Mr. H. Pestell has observed a solitary curlew occasionally at Elstow, the last was seen in December 1897, flying over the old racecourse. On 4 January 1901 one was shot at Roxton, another was picked up dead, at Kempston on the follow- ing day, and on 8 January three were seen together at Langford, two of which were eventually killed. On 15 and 24 July of that year curlews were reported to me passing on migration during the night over the town of Bedford and at Langford. Mr. J. King mentions a flight of about a dozen, which flew quite low over Langford on 5 May 1895. One was killed 10 May 1896 at Brickhill Pasture by Mr. J. Crisp. 187. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.) Although for about the last fifty years it has not been known to nest in the British Islands, this bird is nevertheless fairly com- mon as a passing migrant with us. In the early part of the last century it must have occurred here in considerable numbers whilst journeying to and fro from its nesting haunts in the Fenlands; the nearest point — Whittle- sea Mere — at which it was known to nest until about 1843 not being more than twenty miles distant from our county. Mr. A. Covington informs me that until about 1870 it appeared regularly in small com- panies along our river every May, and in one instance he heard of seven being killed from a flock of about thirty. Year by year since its numbers have decreased on the spring migra- tion, and adult birds are now seldom obtained. During one morning in August 1896 he counted thirty-two, all immature birds, on the Newnham farm. On 15 May 1901 the writer observed nine together in Woburn Park over the Basin Pool, where they re- mained at least all the morning, flying back- wards and forwards over the water. Common Tern. Naumann. Sterna jtuviati/is, A common passing migrant with us. The buoyant flight of this or the following species may often be recognized over many of our larger pools, as well as along the Ouse and Ivel. Generally single birds will be observed, but not infrequently small parties of some six or eight together. 186. Whimbrel. Numenius pba-opus (Linn.) Evidently a regular passing migrant, occur- ring in small flights during the spring and autumn. Like the curlew this bird is more frequently seen than obtained, and as it usually flies high overhead is often unrecog- nized Not more than six locally obtained eve'n at close quarters— records based birds have been received by Mr. A. Coving- ton, shot either in May or September. Har- rold, Kempston, Turvey and Cardington are localities in which four of them were obtained. The last he saw was one which had killed itself against the telegraph wires in 1896. In 1894 one was killed at Streatley by Mr. Osborn, and one in Colonel H. Barclay's possession was killed at Tingrith in 1868. British Birds, by F. O. Morris (i860). 189. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Nau- mann. Evidently not so numerous as the last species. Owing to the difficulty of dis- tinguishing these two terns upon the wing — obser- vation alone are unsatisfactory. Five which were brought to Mr. A. Covington during one week, were shot near the Common Bridge over the river just above Bedford about August 1866. The last he set up was one from Bletsoe 19 September 1894. An adult was shot near Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, in August 1885 (Lilford, Birds of Northamp- tonshire and Neighbourhood). The water keeper at Luton Hoo has one which was killed at the lake there in May 1899.
