A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 190. Little Tern. Sterna m'inuta, Linn. By far the least plentiful of the four terns that visit us. In thirty-seven years of taxi- dermy Mr. A. Covington can remember re- ceiving but five local specimens ; they came from Fenlake, Wellington and Harrold, and in every instance appeared during their spring migration northwards. In addition he men- tions a male and female that were shot near Wellington church in the month of June about 1865. Mr. R. J. Cawse has one, he says, in his possession which he shot on the Ivel at Biggleswade in 1883. I saw a single bird on 11 May 1899 at Newnham, which was resting upon a small patch of ground in one of the flooded parts of the farm. 191. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn. Perhaps the commonest of the sea-gulls that one may so frequently observe as far inland as Bedfordshire. It evidently seems to be a regular migrant, journeying to and from its nesting colonies during the spring and autumn, but more particularly, I think, during the latter period. Often driven inland after heavy gales. 192. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. This is one of the least common of the gulls which occur with us. Apparently it does not appear in the county with any regu- larity in the spring or autumn like several others of the gull family, but this may be more easily accounted for by the total absence of breeding stations in England ; their visits seem therefore more particularly in the nature of winter records, and at this season evidently under conditions of stormy weather only. Adult plumaged birds are nearly always ob- tained. One I have seen was shot at Blun- ham in 1836 ; another was killed near Bed- ford on 7 September 1892 and one at the Newnham farm on 31 December of the same year. On 21 January 1893 one was picked up dead at Ravensden, and in February 1900 one was obtained at Keysoe. During the winter 1 900-1 one was killed at Barton and set up by Mr. J. Cole, who remarks that it is the only one of this species he has ever had that had been obtained locally. 193. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, J. F. Gmelin. Evidently utilizes the valley of the Ouse very regularly during its migratory periods of the year, and often at no inconsiderable height, but in these overland movements it seldom alights again before reaching the coast. Dur- ing April and early May we may frequently see this bird either singly or in small parties ; greater numbers are seen throughout August and September, the majority being immature birds. Throughout the winter months soli- tary birds not infrequently appear. 194. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus, Linn. Like the last species it is more frequent with us during its local migrations in the autumn, but it is frequently met with all through the winter, and whilst on its return journeys overland in spring. Immature birds comprise by far the greater proportion of those obtained. 195. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus mar- inus, Linn. Very rare. Mr. G. B. Clarke records an adult shot in the spring of 1849 at Hockliffe {Naturalist, 1 85 1). Three have been received by Mr. A. Covington, the last of which was shot from near the New Cut at Goldington in the winter 1892-3. 196. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.) Almost as plentiful a species locally as the black-headed gull, but, unlike that bird, not particularly noticeable during any migratory season of the year, though appearing freely from November until the following February. It generally occurs inland in the wake of every storm that beats upon our coasts, very fre- quently reaching us in an exhausted condition, as numbers of them are picked up dead, and often in localities far removed from any water. The birds seen are usually solitary, but occa- sionally two or three may be observed together. 197. Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius pomato- rhinus (Temminck) On 18 October 1879 a male bird of this species, which has since passed into my posses- sion, was taken by a countryman to Mr. A. Covington. It had been shot by the man from a ploughed field at Ravensden. When skinned it was found in very poor condition and the stomach quite empty (see also Zoolo- 198. Razorbill. A lea tarda, Linn. The only local record that can at present be given is that of an old stuffed specimen mounted in company with a green wood- pecker, which Mr. A.Covington purchased at a local sale. The label on back of case stated, ' Razorbill from Fenlake.' 199. Guillemot. Uria troth (Linn.) A very rare species, and probably never 134
