A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 
167. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticula, Linn. 
Thinly distributed in many of our more 
suitable woods and plantations from October 
onwards, but there is little doubt that it is gradu- 
ally decreasing in number. Several instances 
of its remaining to nest within our county have 
been recorded. <A nest with four eggs in it 
was found at Chicksands Priory Woods on 
1§ April 1828. In the Fie/d, 1868, a young 
bird is mentioned as having been caught on 
17 April in one of our woods (the particular 
locality not being mentioned) by a labourer, 
who, whilst sitting on the ride eating his 
dinner caught sight of old and young together, 
and secured one of the young as a witness of 
the fact. Another contributor to the same 
newspaper, also writing under a nom-de-plume, 
sends particulars of one caught from a brood 
of young by one of the keepers in Charle 
Wood, Woburn, about the same date, so 
possibly it may be the same bird as above 
quoted. About 1863 two young woodcocks 
scarcely able to fly were taken to Mr, A. 
Covington. In 1899 a nest containing four 
eggs was found in Maulden Wood, where 
also it has been reported as nesting in previous 
years, 
168. Great Snipe. 
Gmelin) 
Of occasional occurrence as a winter 
visitant. The first within Mr. Covington’s 
knowledge was shot previous to 1860 at 
Willington, and another was killed about the 
same year on the Renhold side or the river. 
In September 1866 one came into his hands 
which was shot at Biddenham. About 1878 
two were shot at the Newnham farm in the 
one season, and on 3 October 1885 an old 
male was shot in the same locality. An im- 
mature bird in Mr. Covington’s possession 
was brought to him in September 1887; 
it had killed itself against the telegraph 
wires by the New Cut. Mr. P. Addington, 
referring to the hundreds of snipe he ob- 
tained at Wyboston, mentions having only 
shot one, and that in November about 1860. 
Gallinago major (J. F. 
169. Common Snipe. caelestis 
(Frenzel) 
Locally, Full Snipe. 
Except in continued severe weather, when 
a re-migration takes place, the common snipe 
may be found fairly plentiful along our water- 
ways, ditches, and in other suitable localities 
from the autumn to the following spring ; at 
Gallinago 
1 White’s Natural History of Selbourne (1853). 
Edited by Capt. Thomas Browne. 
times erratic arrivals in considerable numbers 
take place, and a ‘wisp’ may sometimes be 
flushed together. There is ample evidence 
that it was once far more numerous than 
nowadays, in many districts cultivation and 
drainage having greatly restricted, if not com- 
pletely changed, its former haunts, as for 
instance Crawley Moor and a large portion 
of Flitwick Moor. ‘Throughout the summer 
of 1897 two pairs were frequently observed 
and heard drumming over the Newnham 
farm, but whether they bred or not I cannot 
say. There is little doubt that it nested for- 
merly in the vicinity of our lowlying meadow 
lands, as also at Staughton and on Flitwick 
Moor, where a nest and eggs were seen in 
1875 by the late Mr. T. W. Overman. 
During the summer of 1901 I frequently 
flushed this bird off that moor, and on several 
occasions at least three snipe were seen there. 
On 27 May I flushed one of the birds over 
and over again from the same spot, to which 
it would almost immediately return, but 
failed to find the young which were un- 
doubtedly close at hand. A cream-coloured 
variety was seen by Mr. T. Taylor at Temps- 
ford. 
170. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.) 
A regular winter resident, but varying in 
numbers. It arrives usually in October 
and occasionaliy in September (as early as 3 
September 1893), remaining with us until 
the following March and not infrequently 
well into April. 
171. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. 
In the autumnal and spring migrations, as 
also in its winter movements, this bird utilizes 
the valley of the Ouse with great regularity, 
and the enormous number of birds that occa- 
sionally pass over the town of Bedford pro- 
bably contain large flights of this little wader. 
It frequents any expanse of water with a 
stretch of mud in the vicinity, and at such an 
attractive site as the Newnham farm it is 
particularly noticeable throughout the greater 
part of the year. It is commonest in August 
and March, but almost a regular visitant in 
greater or lesser numbers from the end of 
July till the following May, and not uncom- 
monly a straggler has been seen even in June. 
I have seen them as late as 21 May 1899, 
several being in their full summer plumage, 
and again as early as 3 July 1900, when five 
were in company with other waders in the 
above locality. Mr. A. Covington records 
that on 28 July 1886 nine adult males in 
perfect plumage were picked up under the 
telegraph wires near the New Cut and 
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