A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 
with eggs early in April. My friend, Mr. 
W. Knight, informed me of a pair having a 
nest containing six eggs as early as 28 March, 
and I have known them with young still in 
the nest as late as 6 August. 
89. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, Linn. 
One was shot at Thurleigh by a Mr. King 
many years ago (A. Covington), another at 
Woburn Park about 1868, and one in the 
writer’s possession was obtained by Mr. J. Cole 
at Haynes in the autumn of 1876. A fourth 
was shot 5 October 1890 by a keeper to one 
of the shooting tenants of Lord St. John at 
Melchbourne, and is now in his lordship’s 
possession (see also the Fie/d, 1890). Another 
was killed between Luton and Dunstable 
about 1885, and passed through Mr. T. 
Cane’s hands. 
go. Cuckoo. 
Cuculus canorus, Linn. 
Acommon summer migrant, arriving gener- 
ally about the middle of April, and leaving 
during the first week in July ; immature birds 
remain with us until September. I have 
notes of a cuckoo’s egg being found at Lang- 
ford as early as 8 May, and of a young one, 
several days old, as early as 18 May. In 
addition to the usual foster parents there are 
records of the nests of the greenfinch, 
chaffinch, yellow hammer, willow warbler, 
chiffchaff and whinchat being chosen. 
git. White or Barn Owl. 
Linn. 
Still fairly abundant in old timbered parks, 
such as Ampthill, Woburn and Bromham, 
where several pairs may be found nesting. In 
former years when farming was a profitable 
industry, and barns in which to store grain 
were more needed than at present, an ‘owl 
hole’ would frequently be left in the barn at 
the top corner of the gable end to allow this 
bird an entrance, so that the rats and mice 
might be kept in check. A pied variety with 
the tail and the whole of the wing feathers 
pure white was shot at Harrold in January 
1894. 
Strix flammea, 
92. Long-eared Owl. Asio otus (Linn.) 
This species still nests frequently in the fir 
woods and spruce plantations between Sandy 
and Potton ; during 1900 at least three pairs 
nested at Rowney Warren and two pairs in 
the small plantations at Sharpenhoe ; a pair 
nest regularly in one of the fir plantations at 
Maulden. It formerly bred in Southill 
Warren and may still do so, as also in War- 
den Warren and the fir woods around Ampt- 
hill and Woburn. Judging from the thou- 
sands of pellets of this species that I have been 
able to examine from those localities, there 
is little doubt that this owl is comparatively 
harmless to game preserving and well deserv- 
ing of protection, as in no single instance have I 
ever detected any remains of the young of 
game; mice, voles and various species of 
finches comprising nearly their entire prey. 
93. Short-eared Owl. Asio accipitrinus (Pallas) 
A regular winter visitor, but as a rule in 
very limited numbers, and solitary birds are 
usually found. Mr. C. T. Lindsell whilst 
partridge-driving at Cople in November 1894 
observed nine or ten together ; five were seen 
some years ago at Biddenham sitting in some 
sedgey-grass ; four were killed in one day at 
Woburn, and I understand that it occurs fre- 
quently on Flitwick Moor. Mr. J. King re- 
fers to its having been killed around Biggles- 
wade. The earliest migrant noted was one 
killed 17 October 1878, and the latest, one 
shot 3 April 1895, as it rose out of the flags 
alongside the river. 
94. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluco (Linn.) 
By no means a common species with us 
and rarer than formerly. I have known of 
several nests at Bromham and Southill, and in 
recent years have found its eggs also at Wilden. 
At Turvey it nests regularly, and it may still 
continue to do so at Woburn, Ampthill, 
Haynes, Odell, Tempsford and Warden ; in 
the last-named locality Mr. J. King once 
found a nest containing the unusual number 
of six eggs. 
95. Little Owl. Athene noctua (Scopoli) 
For many years the late Lord Lilford en- 
deavoured to establish this species at Oundle 
Park in Northamptonshire and eventually suc- 
ceeded in so doing, a nest and eggs being 
found there in 1889. No doubt the numbers 
of this species that have been shot in recent 
years have originated from this locality. Mr. 
J. Wilkerson mentioned this bird nesting 
regularly of late years in the neighbourhood of 
Wypboston, and during 1900 a nest containing 
four or five eggs from which the young were 
reared was found at Great Barford. A female 
killed near Southill on 22 May contained 
eggs, so was also probably nesting at the time. 
A nest from which two young were taken 
was found at Harlington in 1902 and a pair 
were nesting near Ampthill in 1903 (Field). 
In 1862 one was caught at Woburn and was 
kept alive by Mr. C. F. Woods for three 
months, but it eventually escaped. 
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