BIRDS 
120. Bernacle-Goose. Bernicla leucopsis (Bech- 
stein) 
A very unfamiliar species with us. An 
adult male purchased by Mr. Covington about 
1885 had been shot near Renhold; it was 
alone when killed and was in extremely poor 
condition. Mr. A. F. Crossman records that 
on 24 December 1890 a flight of eight flew 
over the river quite close to him near the 
Britannia Iron Works in Bedford. 
121. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas) 
Evidently occurs far more commonly in 
Bedfordshire than the previous species. On 
11 February 1871 four were killed at Great 
Barford by Dr. C. Sprigge from a flight of 
thirteen. An adult male was obtained by 
Mr. J. Bennett close to the town of Bedford 
on 3 December 1877, and others had been 
seen the day before at Cardington (see also 
Zoologist, 1878). Mr. A. Covington men- 
tions two locally’ obtained specimens and 
also a flight of forty-seven which he saw 
near Clapham Wood on 4 October 1881 ; 
they were going very slowly at the time 
and he obtained a good view. A few days 
later he heard of a black-headed goose being 
shot in the neighbourhood of Pavenham. 
Mr. A. F. Crossman observed a solitary brent 
goose passing over the Clapham road, near 
the Bedford waterworks, on 10 March 1892, 
and several were said to have been seen on 
the sewage farm 5 November of the following 
winter. Mr. W. J. Chalk once saw a flock 
passing over a hedge at the back of the rec- 
tory at Wilden, so low as to come within ten 
yards of him ; and Mr. C. F. Woods records 
occasional winter visitants to Woburn. 
122. Whooper Swan. 
stein. 
Cygnus musicus, Bech- 
An occasional visitant, more particularly 
during severe winters, and nearly always ob- 
served passing onwards without alighting. I 
have seen one in the possession of Mr. J. 
Cole, which was killed with one or more mute 
swans at Newmill End near Luton in the 
winter 1890-1. Mr. A, Covington is aware 
of only one instance of its being obtained 
locally, when one was killed at Milton many 
years previous to its first coming under his 
observation in 1865. Mr.C. F. Woods men- 
tions that in the long frost which set in on 
Christmas Eve, either in 1862-3 or 1863-4, 
a party of seven, two adults and five birds of 
the year, came to the Basin and Large Drake- 
low Pools at Woburn, and remained several 
weeks, most of them being killed. 
123. Bewick’s Swan. Cygnus bewicki, Yarrell 
A rare winter visitor. Three were procured 
within a mile of Woburn in the latter end of 
January 1864 (C. Hervey Smith, Zoolgist, 
1864). Mr. A. F. Crossman says that two 
wild swans came under his observation on 29 
November 1890 near Cardington Locks, 
which he considered were of this species. 
Their note was tong, tong, and as he was able 
to get within one hundred yards of them, he 
particularly noticed their small size. 
124. Common Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta 
(S. G. Gmelin) 
Occurs with us at rare intervals. In the 
severe and continued winter, 1894-5, Mr. J. 
Wilkerson mentions that about twenty were 
observed along the Ouse in the neighbourhood 
of Wyboston Corner. One, an odd bird, 
was killed about February and passed into the 
possession of Mr. J. Addington, who has also 
seen this duck in that district, the last time 
being in February 1900, when two came 
comparatively near to him while duck-shooting 
upon the floods. ‘Two together were also seen 
by Dr. C. Sprigge at Great Barford about 1887. 
Mr. A. Covington has preserved two that were 
killed locally, both adult males, one being ob- 
tained at Cardington in 1864, and the other 
from Great Barford several years later. He 
purchased a case containing two immature 
sheld-ducks many years ago ; they were simply 
labelled ‘ Goldington,’ 
125. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas, 
Linn. 
In the winter our home-bred birds are 
frequently added to considerably by numbers 
of immigrants, probably continental birds, and 
when the weather is in any way severe, es- 
pecially after a north-east wind, duck-shooting 
along the waterways and at our various lakes 
may be carried on for a time with fair success. 
When the Ouse and other streams are in 
flood, large flights may frequently be observed. 
In very mild winters even small flights are 
rarely seen along our rivers. Pied, cream- 
coloured and white variations have been met 
with. 
126. Gadwall. Anas strepera, Linn. 
A rare visitant. Mr. J. King shot an im- 
mature male on 5 April 1861 on the Ivel at 
Langford; in this specimen the crescentic 
margins on the feathers of the breast were 
as yet visible in one of the feathers only. 
Mr. A. Covington mentions a female killed 
at Blunham during the winter 1889-90 in 
company with mallards. 
123 
