176 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
is still a stronghold for the Greater Spotted Woodpecker. Ornithologists 
will hear with regret that at least five examples have been Jately shot. 
I had the pleasure of seeing one in Bromham Park on the 7th February. 
As usual several Short-eared Owls, exhibiting a great variety of plumage, 
were killed in the autumn. On November 5th a Long-eared Owl was 
obtained at Sharnbrook. Since Christmas a great many Bramblings have 
been brought into Bedford, but no Snow Buntings. In the last week of 
December a pair of Leach’s Petrel visited Bedford. They were heard flying 
round the town, uttering their note for some time. In the morning, how- 
ever, one was picked up, having apparently dashed itself against one of the 
lamps. Mr. Covington kindly showed the bird to me; it seems to be an 
adult male. ‘Two or three specimens of the Great Crested Grebe have been 
observed on the river this winter; one was picked up by a plate-layer under 
the telegraph-wire at Milton, and a second was shot at Kempton. A speci-. 
men of the Little Auk was picked up dead at Husborne Crawley, on the 
8th December. Three old male Tufted Ducks have been shot. This species 
is to be met with here every winter. One Pochard, a male, has been 
obtained. Iam told four Goldeneyes were shot at Willington; none were 
preserved. An extraordinary number of Herons have been killed, and 
many also have been eaten. This seems like a return to olden days, when 
our omnivorous ancestors thought no feast complete without a Heron. 
We usually find Water Rails here in the winter, and this one has been no 
exception. Fewer Hawfinches than generally is the case have been killed. 
‘wo males were shot, one at Turvey, the other at Pavenham, and a single 
female down the New Cut, near Bedford. ‘Three were seen together in 
Bromham Park. A “ flock”—I suppose, technically, it should be termed 
a small “ gaggle”—of nine Canada Geese were observed on the river in 
several districts. One was shot on the 28th January; I saw it soon after 
it was skinned, and was assured that it “scaled” over twenty pounds. 
I should be glad to learn whether a Canada Goose ever has been known to 
reach that weight. It seems free from any “cross,” and exhibits no mark 
of captivity. The length was about forty-three inches; from the carpal 
joint to the end of the wing fully twenty inches. ‘The bird was killed at 
Sharnbrook. Three Kittiwakes, all immature, and several Common Terns 
were Obtained during the autumy. More Coots than usual have been met 
with on the river during the winter. A few Widgeon, all birds of the year, 
were procured. A friend tells me he saw three Dunlins in a ploughed field 
near the town. Dunlins have been remarkably scarce here this winter. Last 
year I only noticed sixteen, and did not hear of others; but in former years 
large flocks have visited us. I should think quite two hundred were shot 
in the winter of 1875-76. The same day the Dunlins were seen, about the 
middle of December, nine Curlews were noticed in the same field. Snipe 
were yery abundant, as also were Golden Plovers aud Lapwings before the 
