BIRDS 
found in this county except when driven under 
the stress of severe weather, for when pro- 
cured they are generally picked up dead, or 
in a very exhausted condition and unable to 
fly. An old specimen came into the hands 
of Mr. A. Covington some years ago that had 
been shot close to Milton Mill. One was 
picked up at Renhold 26 November 1893 ; 
others have been obtained at Sharnbrook, 
Goldington, and two in addition at Milton, 
one in November 1893, and an adult speci- 
men in 1894. 
200. Little Auk. Mergulus alle (Linn.) 
There are many instances of this little arc- 
tic visitor being storm driven into our county. 
The earliest noted is one that was picked 
up near Bedford in the winter 1861-2, 
which, although not actually seen by Mr. 
A. Covington, was sufficiently described to 
him to leave little doubt as to its being 
correctly named. Davis (History of Luton, 
1874, ed. 2) refers to four having been taken 
near Luton in the last thirty years ; particu- 
lars of only two are given, one of which was 
obtained in Hertfordshire and the other found 
at Barton in January 1870. The late Mr. 
T. Cane also mentioned to me one having 
been received by him from Caddington in the 
last week of January 1895, and he had a 
second during that winter. In the Field one 
is recorded by Mr. Allen as having been picked 
up dead after severe gales on 8 December 
1878, upon the allotment gardens at Hus- 
borne Crawley. Again in the same journal 
Mr. W. F. Higgins sends particulars of one 
killed at Turvey on 22 November 1882. 
One in the possession of Mr. J. Day of Rox- 
ton was picked up dead on 21 November 
1894 near Colmworth Woods. In the ex- 
ceptionally severe weather at the end of Janu- 
ary 1895 two came into the hands of Mr. 
J. S. Wright, one found on 20 January at 
Hinxworth in Hertfordshire, and another, 
which is now in my possession, was picked 
up on 2 February, almost dead, in Haynes 
Park. The most recent was one, a male, 
picked up near Hanger’s Wood, Stagsden, on 
19 February 1901; when found it was still 
alive, but in a very exhausted condition. 
201. Puffin. Fratercula arctica (Linn.) 
The very few obtained are probably storm- 
driven birds, occurring more particularly with 
us during their spring and autumnal move- 
ments. Several have been received by Mr. 
A. Covington, but have generally been found 
dead or nearly so. One he mentions was 
picked up in the middle of Clapham Wood, 
and he has received others from near Castle 
Mills, Willington, Turvey and Harrold, the 
most recent from Kempston at the latter end 
of March rgor after a westerly gale. A 
uniform cream-coloured specimen was sent to 
him in the autumn of 1880 which had been 
picked up at Girtford. On 5 January 1895 
a female was caught at Marston, and a 
male in the same parish two or three days 
later. Colonel H. Barclay has one in_ his 
possession which was picked up dead in Tin- 
grith Park in November 1893, driven in by 
the great storm at that time. 
202. Great Northern Diver. 
Colymbus gla- 
cialis, Linn. 
A very rare winter visitor. Morris! refers 
to one being met with in Bedfordshire on 
the river Ouse 4 February 1830, which is 
evidently the same bird now in the possession 
of Mr. J. F. Day of Kettering, who kindly 
informs me that one was shot by Mr. William 
Francis, his grandfather, during that year and 
month. It was shot on the ice on the Ouse 
near Cardington Mill. Another which was 
purchased by Mr. A. Covington in the flesh 
in December 1876 had been shot on the river 
at Cox’s Pits, Biddenham, after being hunted 
and fired at several times before being secured. 
203. Red-throated Diver. 
trionalis, Linn. 
Colymbus  septen- 
The local specimens handled in the flesh 
by Mr. A. Covington have not shown any 
trace of the red neck of its summer plumage, 
and all have been extremely fat. One was 
killed at Kempston about 1890 near the 
Hill Grounds, another at Pavenham in 
January 1898, and the last received by him 
was killed near Felmersham in January 1897 ; 
in its gullet there were nine roach, each 
from 3 to 4 inches long. Another, a male, 
was also shot at Felmersham in January 1886 
by Mr. A. W. Saunders, who informed me 
when I examined the specimen in his posses- 
sion that when killed it was absurdly tame 
and never attempted to escape by either diving 
any distance or attempting to get upon the 
wing. One was shot by Major Duberly on 
the Ouse by his house at Fenlake on 18 
November 1891, and another was obtained 
by Mr. Hassall close to the railway bridge 
over the river at Cardington on 17 November 
1893. 
204. Great Crested Grebe. 
tus (Linn.) 
Until a few years ago known only as a 
winter visitant, occurring not uncommonly 
Podicipes crista- 
1 British Birds, by F. O. Morris (1860). 
135 
