BIRDS 
visitor, occurring more particularly in small 
parties from November till the following 
March, It is not so numerous as in former 
years, and in localities where it was once of 
annual occurrence it is now seldom observed. 
The inequality in the numbers of the two 
sexes is remarkable, males almost invariably 
outnumbering the females. On 16 April 
1896 I counted about thirty upon the two 
pools in Luton Hoo Park, and learnt from the 
water keeper that considerable numbers had 
been breeding there for many years past ; on 
a second visit on 26 May of the same year 
upwards of forty of this species were counted, 
most of the females being then with young. 
One nest I examined was situated among the 
rushes close to the margin of the pool ; this, I 
was informed, was almost invariably the situ- 
ation chosen there, the majority of nests 
being unapproachable from the banks. Visit- 
ing the park in 1899 I found the number of 
pochards considerably decreased, and again, 
on 7 May 1901, only three in all could be 
noted. On 15 May following a pair were 
noticed on the smaller pool in Battlesden Park, 
where previously they had not been identified 
at all during the breeding season. Davis, in 
his History of Luton and Neighbourhood (both 
in the 1855 and second edition of 1874), re- 
fers to this species as a winter visitor, so that 
it has evidently only bred there in later years. 
133. Ferruginous Duck. 
(Gildenst&dt) 
A rare visitor. One that is now in my 
collection was bought by Mr. J. Cole, taxider- 
mist, when in the flesh, during the winter of 
1890-1, having been shot on the river Lea, 
at Newmill End, close to Luton Hoo Park. 
Fuligula  nyroca 
134. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata (Leach) 
Although not so frequent as several others 
of the duck family, it is constantly met with, 
either singly, in pairs or small parties, from 
October onwards throughout the winter ; it 
is found along the Ouse, Ivel and other 
streams. Mr. W.C. Thompson assured me 
that this species bred at Luton Hoo Park in 
1894, but the water keeper there could not 
confirm this beyond that they remained there 
till late in the spring. When I visited the 
pools on 16 April 1895 there were six or 
eight together, several beautiful males being 
among the party. Upon visiting the park 
again in May 1896, and in following years 
during the same month, I have failed to find 
this species. 
135. Scaup-Duck. Fuligula marila (Linn.) 
The occurrence of this duck in any winter 
is now the exception rather than the rule 
as in former years. It has been met with 
almost as frequently along the Ouse as either 
the pochard, tufted duck, or goldeneye, and 
on the Ivel and in the neighbourhood of Lang- 
ford Mr. Josiah King used to consider it 
even commoner than those species, being 
only outnumbered by the mallard and teal. 
It is some years since I heard of its being 
obtained. Very few adult males have been 
obtained locally ; not more than a dozen have 
passed through the hands of Mr. A. Covington 
during over thirty years’ experience as a local 
taxidermist, and Mr. J. King could never 
obtain one. 
136. Goldeneye. Clangula glaucion (Linn.) 
Immature specimens of the goldeneye seem 
to occur somewhat frequently upon our rivers, 
and at times it is as numerous as the pochard 
or tufted duck, but adult males of this species 
are far rarer than either of the latter. Usually 
a pair or an odd bird only will be met with, 
or small parties rarely numbering more than 
four or five. 
137. Long-tailed Duck. 
(Linn.) 
So far as it has been possible to ascertain 
only two records of this rare arctic species 
have been locally obtained. A female was 
shot along the New Cut at Goldington during 
a heavy snow in the winter of 1870-1, and 
eventually passed into the possession of Mr. 
A. L. Jessopp (see also Zoolgist). Another, 
an immature bird, is in the small but interest- 
ing collection belonging to Mr. G. Pestell. 
It was picked up dead some few years ago, 
also out of the New Cut. 
Harelda glactalis 
138. Common Scoter. C£demia nigra (Linn.) 
Although this bird cannot be considered as 
a common inland visitor with us it has been 
obtained too frequently in our county to be 
classed as rare. It has, I believe, generally 
been observed singly, and apparently always 
during the autumn movements. Mr. J. King 
shot a male on the Ivel near his house at 
Langford on 21 October, 1858. Mr. A. 
Covington records the following instances : 
In November 1865 a boy from Ravensden 
brought in a fine old male in beautiful plum- 
age; another was reported some few years 
afterwards during October at Harrold, and on 
4 November 1883 another male was brought 
in from Great Barford. In addition a female 
was shot at Fenlake in 1886. On 11 July 1870 
a flight of ten of these ducks was observed by 
Mr. P. Addington when shooting along the 
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