A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 
preference for certain localities; it will be 
found nesting in woodlands with thin under- 
growth, and uncultivated districts generally. 
41. Meadow-Pipit. 
Locally, Tit-Lark. 
Better known within the county as a win- 
ter migrant than as a resident. | Numbers 
appear during the autumn and distribute them- 
selves generally where suitable food can be 
found. ‘Towards the latter end of September 
and onwards one or more pairs, and frequently 
small parties, can often be flushed from among 
the turnip crops; our meadow lands, especi- 
ally during floods, have also great attractions 
for it, and on the sewage farm at Newnham 
throughout the winter it is a very common 
bird indeed. As a nesting species within 
Bedfordshire it must now be considered very 
local. It formerly had several nesting haunts 
close to Bedford, as for instance the Long- 
holm meadows, but it has ceased to breed here 
and elsewhere for several years past. A few 
pairs still nest on the Dunstable downs, and 
during the year 1902 I found a nest with 
young on Flitwick Marsh. 
Anthus pratensis (Linn.) 
42. Great Grey Shrike. 
Linn. 
Lanius excubitor, 
This bird formerly seems to have occurred 
most winters, a year seldom passing without 
one or more being received at the local taxider- 
mist’s, or reported as having been seen within 
the county ; but now several years may pass 
without one being recorded. Four have come 
under the personal notice of Mr. J. King, 
two of which were shot by himself, one 12 
December 1866, and the other 9 November 
1867. His son shot a third on 6 January 
1873. He failed to get within shot of the 
fourth bird. He tells me that all these birds 
frequented the same dead ash tree in his mea- 
dows at Langford, perching always on the 
topmost branches. During the past thirty 
years about a dozen county specimens have 
passed through the hands of Mr. A. Covington. 
Four or five have been sent to Mr. Cane, one 
killed at Dunstable, another, about three years 
ago, at Sutton. Three have been received 
by Mr. J.S. Wright, one of which was caught 
in a ground clap-net. John Cole shot another 
17 October 1880 at Haynes. Dr. Sprigge 
told me of one that was killed previous to 
1894 on the Wilden road near Great Barford. 
Another, in my own possession, was taken 
near Clophill about the year 1848; Mr. P. 
Addington saw a grey shrike near Wyboston 
about 1873; Dr. Edward Hamilton shot a 
male near Dunstable 25 November 1848, 
that had alighted on the top of a decayed ash 
tree (evidently a favourite site), and Mr. C. F. 
Woods sends me the record of a male killed 
at Hockliffe in 1861. The most recent 
records of this species are one killed at Fen- 
lake in November 1898, and another shot 
near Luton in the winter 1900-1. 
43. Lesser Grey Shrike. 
J. F. Gmelin. 
The addition of this rare visitor to our 
county list is made on information kindly sent 
tome by the late Lord Lilford. The Duchess 
of Bedford informed him that she and a gen- 
tleman staying at Woburn saw there in the 
first week of September 1894 a bird that they 
have little hesitation in considering as of this 
species. The only other British species for 
which it could possibly be mistaken is Lantus 
excubitor, and the date of its occurrence at 
Woburn puts this supposition almost out of 
the question. 
Lanius minor, 
44. Red-backed Shrike. Lanius collurio, Linn. 
Locally, Butcher-bird. 
A regular summer migrant, but, taking the 
county generally, less numerous perhaps than 
in some other counties. Probably commoner 
now with us than in former years. 
45. Waxwing. Ampelis garrulus, Linn. 
Many instances have come to my know- 
ledge of this irregular winter visitor being 
recorded in our county, and no doubt there 
are many others that could be added to the 
present list. One, an adult male, is recorded 
in the Zoologist, 1847, as shot 23 January at 
Luton. One was picked up at Houghton 
Conquest in the winter 1872-3, and another 
was killed at Aspley Guise about 1879. In 
the winter 1882-3 waxwings were reported 
commonly about the county, and one was 
shot at Fairfield, Biggleswade, on 15 January. 
Two were given to me by Mr. J. King, one 
of which was shot in Southill Park, and the 
other in Henlow Park the same winter, about 
1856. Another, which was alone, was shot 
by his son in the meadows at Langford 20 
January 1885. During the same winter one 
was picked up dead at Ampthill. A male 
was shot at Odell Rectory 19 January 1890, 
one near Bedford the same year, and another 
at Odell in January 1893. A specimen in 
the writer’s possession was caught in a field 
at Girtford 31 January 1895, and another 
was shot at Upper End farm, Shillington, on 
the same date. Mr. A. Covington writing 
on this bird states that he has had specimens 
pass through his hands from many localities, 
the last one being from Wilden in January 
TIO, 
