BIRDS 
30. Great Tit. Parus major, Linn. 
Locally, Large Tom-Tit. 
The great tit is common generally, nesting 
asarule in holes of trees, but occasionally 
selecting some very odd sites in which to build. 
During the winter months the pairs still seem 
to prefer their own company, but occasionally 
when a good supply of food offers more than 
usual attraction, several may be seen together, 
or at other times may be observed accom- 
panying the other species of tits, goldcrests, etc., 
about the woods, though generally preferring 
the company of the blue tits to that of the 
others ; often these two species hold them- 
selves somewhat aloof from the rest. A buff 
variety shot at Broom was in the possession of 
Mr. J. King. 
31. Coal-Tit. Parus ater, Linn. 
Although fairly common, the coal-tit is by 
no means as plentiful as the blue and great 
tits as a breeding species, but when the mi- 
gratory flocks arrive to winter with us its 
numbers are increased considerably. 
32. Marsh-Tit. Parus palustris, Linn. 
Resident and somewhat commoner as a 
breeding species than the last named, and dis- 
tributed, I think, generally over the county. 
It is the most unsociable of all the tits, for 
except when accompanied by their young sel- 
dom more than a pair are ever seen together. 
33. Blue Tit. Parus ceruleus, Linn. 
Locally, Tom-Tit, Little Tom-Tit. 
A very common resident ; and its handsome 
plumage, its vivacious movements and _ its 
partiality for the haunts of man make it a 
great favourite. Mr. A. Covington states 
that he has had several pied varieties of this 
tit pass through his hands. 
34. Nuthatch. Sitta cesia, Wolf. 
A resident wherever old timber abounds; 
hence the neighbourhood of our numerous 
‘old parks offers the nuthatch irresistible at- 
traction. In such localities as Ampthill, Wo- 
burn, Luton Hoo, Silsoe, Southill, Warden, 
Blunham, Tempsford, Turvey, Bromham and 
in many another district, it can be very often 
observed, and its note will be constantly heard 
to verify its presence. In such localities it 
nests plentifully, often utilizing the same site 
year by year. 
35. Wren. Trogldytes parvulus, Koch. 
Locally, Jenny Wren. 
A numerous resident and universal favourite. 
Mr. J. King has found in the winter time 
as many as six or eight wrens roosting 
together in one hole, and thinks possibly they 
may have been one family party. At Wo- 
burn, Mr. C. F. Woods was examining one 
evening in the winter time some martins’ 
nests situated under his stable eaves, when he 
found as many as five wrens sleeping together 
in one of the nests. 
36. Tree-Creeper. Certhia familiaris, Linn. 
A common resident. In winter it appears 
to be more numerous than in summer, but 
this may be due to the fact that the leafless 
trees give us better opportunities for obser- 
vation. The old timbered parklands during 
the nesting period seem to offer the tree- 
creeper special attractions, and nowhere is it 
more common than at Ampthill, Woburn, 
Turvey, Southill, and Bromham Parks; in 
the latter I have always found it particularly 
abundant. 
37. Pied Wagtail. 
minck. 
Locally, Water-Wagtail, Dishwasher. 
As the winter approaches, this wagtail for- 
sakes the majority of its summer haunts and 
will be but rarely seen. Along our waterways 
a few remain the winter through, or until 
severe weather forces them to migrate. They 
may be often observed roosting together in 
considerable numbers in the willows and reed 
beds by the water. 
Motacilla lugubris, Tem- 
38. Grey Wagtail. MJotacilla melanope, Pallas. 
Except during the nesting period, the grey 
wagtail can be found generally distributed and 
fairly abundant throughout the county, haunt- 
ing the smallest streams and ponds as well as 
our larger waterways, and is not infrequently 
noticed far removed from any water. The 
sewage farm at Newnham seems to offer 
special attraction for these birds during their 
winter sojourn ; a few at least will invariably 
be found there. 
39. Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla raii (Bona- 
parte) 
Locally, Yellow Dishwasher. 
A fairly abundant summer migrant to some 
parts of Bedfordshire. Nesting generally in 
growing crops, its eggs are seldom obtained. 
I have seen numbers of these birds roosting 
on the bed of rushes at the junction of the 
New Cut and the Ouse at Cardington ; in 
my diary on g August 1892 I noted a com- 
pany of about 200 yellow wagtails flushed 
from this locality. 
40. Tree-Pipit. Anthus trivials (Linn.) 
Locally, ‘Tit-Lark. 
An abundant summer migrant, having a 
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