BIRDS 
numbers are less frequent owing to its being 
too freely harassed—it occurs commonly 
throughout the whole course of the Ouse and 
Ivel, particularly on the former river between 
Willington and St. Neots. During continued 
frosts they suffer considerably, often allowing 
themselves to be caught with the hand, and 
being occasionally even picked up in the streets 
of Bedford. Until about 1885 they nested 
regularly on several ballast-holes close to the 
town of Bedford, one locality in particular 
being the ballast-hole along the Hitchen line 
at Elstow, close to the London and North- 
Western Railway station, and onceat least, some 
years previously, in the lime-pit holes at Cox’s 
Pits. At that time Mr. A. Covington frequently 
received specimens during the spring in the 
full summer dress, most of them having been 
killed against the telegraph wires. At another 
ballast-hole close to Biggleswade station several 
pairs used to nest, as witnessed by Mr. J. 
King, but we failed to find them continuing 
to do so in 1895 or since. Again several 
nests have been found by him alongside the 
Ivel at Langford; and at Southill, on the 
small Basin Pool, one or more pairs nested 
regularly formerly, but had ceased to do so 
about 1890. They have nested also at 
Woburn, Ravensden, Tingrith and Luton 
Hoo. 
208. Storm-Petrel. Procellaria pelagica, Linn. 
Occasionally found, and generally during the 
autumn. The following have been recorded : 
One picked up near the Ashburnham Road, 
Bedford, on 30 October 1879 ; one shot by 
Mr. G. Steadman at Ridgmount on 13 
October 1880, as reported at the time in the 
Field; another during the same month of 
that year, caught in the old tanyard at 
Shefford ; one found in the Midland Road, 
Bedford, on 7 October 1889; one caught 
whilst fluttering against the windows of the 
old Borough Police Station in Silver Street, 
Bedford, on 20 October 1890; and one 
caught by Mr. J. Bennett in his garden in 
Peel Street, Bedford, on 5 December 1893. 
Major Brooks sent me word in 1894 that one 
had been taken at Toddington a few years 
previously. Another was picked up dead near 
Colmworth Wood in 1894, and one in Novem- 
ber, 1878, at Staplow, both of which were 
seen by Dr. Sprigge. 
209. Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel. 
droma leucorrhoa (Vieillot) 
Mr. F. J. Thynne informs me that one was 
picked up in Wilstead Park on 16 November, 
1877, and is still in his possession at Haynes ; 
and during the last week of December 1878 
a male was picked up alive under one of the 
street lamp-posts near the Grove, in the town 
of Bedford (see also the Zoolgist), On 2 
November 1880 a flock of seven of these 
birds was said to have been observed along 
the river at Goldington, and Mr. Covington, 
from the description given at the time, 
thinks they were undoubtedly of this species ; 
two days afterwards one was sent him from 
Fenlake, the adjoining parish. 
Oceano- 
210. Manx Shearwater. 
(Temminck) 
Occasionally driven inland by storm. One 
in the collection of Mr. T. Cane of Luton 
was taken at Stopsley, some two miles 
north of that town, and another in my collec- 
tion was picked up alive at Cotton End near 
Haynes in the autumn of 1885. 
Puffinus anglorum 
211. Fulmar. Fulmarus glacialis (Linn.) 
The only occurrence on record is an adult 
bird picked up at Goldington on 1 October 
1888, which was placed upon a pond where 
it survived a few days. It was eventually 
taken to Mr. A. Covington, and when skinned 
was found to be extremely emaciated. 
ADDENDA 
White Wagtail. Motacilla alba, Linn. 
One picked up under telegraph wires at 
Turvey in the spring of 1902, and an adult 
male obtained at Newnham in September of 
that year, were verified by Mr. A. S. Coving- 
ton (see also Beds Times). 
Great Skua. Aegalestris catarrbactes (Linn.) 
One that is in the writer’s possession was 
caught alive by Mr. J. Cole on 11 May 1902 
on Bankey Park pond near Leagrave. It had 
a large sea fishing-hook it its throat, to which 
cord and two pieces of wood with lettering 
thereon were attached. 
Black-throated Diver. Colymbus arcticus, Linn. 
On 20 February 1897 one was reported 
by Mr. Tomalin as having been seen ona 
fishmonger’s stall at Northampton said to 
have been shot at Wootton, Beds (Fourn. 
Northants Nat. Hist. Soc. and Field Club). 
I 137 18 
