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BIRDS 30. Great Tit. Parus major, Linn. Locally, Large Tom-Tit. The great tit is common generally, nesting as a rule in holes of trees, but occasionally selecting some very odd sites in which to build. During the winter months the pairs still seem to prefer their own company, but occasionally when a good supply of food offers more than usual attraction, several may be seen together, or at other times may be observed accom- panying the other species of tits, goldcrests, etc., about the woods, though generally preferring the company of the blue tits to that of the others ; often these two species hold them- selves somewhat aloof from the rest. A buff variety shot at Broom was in the possession of Mr. J. King. 31. Coal-Tit. Parus ater, Linn. Although fairly common, the coal-tit is by no means as plentiful as the blue and great tits as a breeding species, but when the mi- gratory flocks arrive to winter with us its numbers are increased considerably. 32. Marsh-Tit. Parus palustris, Linn. Resident and somewhat commoner as a breeding species than the last named, and dis- tributed, I think, generally over the county. It is the most unsociable of all the tits, for except when accompanied by their young sel- dom more than a pair are ever seen together. 33. Blue Tit. Parus cteruleus, Linn. Locally, Tom-Tit, Little Tom-Tit. A very common resident ; and its handsome plumage, its vivacious movements and its partiality for the haunts of man make it a great favourite. Mr. A. Covington states that he has had several pied varieties of this tit pass through his hands. 34. Nuthatch. Sitta casta, Wolf. A resident wherever old timber abounds ; hence the neighbourhood of our numerous old parks offers the nuthatch irresistible at- traction. In such localities as Ampthill, Wo- burn, Luton Hoo, Silsoe, Southill, Warden, Blunham, Tempsford, Turvey, Bromham and in many another district, it can be very often observed, and its note will be constantly heard to verify its presence. In such localities it nests plentifully, often utilizing the same site year by year. 35. Wren. Troglodytes parvulus, Koch. Locally, Jenny Wren. A numerous resident and universal favourite. Mr. J. King has found in the winter time as many as six or eight wrens roosting together in one hole, and thinks possibly they may have been one family party. At Wo- burn, Mr. C. F. Woods was examining one evening in the winter time some martins' nests situated under his stable eaves, when he found as many as five wrens sleeping together in one of the nests. 36. Tree-Creeper. Certhia familiaris, Linn. A common resident. In winter it appears to be more numerous than in summer, but this may be due to the fact that the leafless trees give us better opportunities for obser- vation. The old timbered parklands during the nesting period seem to offer the tree- creeper special attractions, and nowhere is it more common than at Ampthill, Woburn, Turvey, Southill, and Bromham Parks ; in the latter I have always found it particularly abundant. 37. Pied Wagtail. Motacilla lugubris, Tem- minck. Locally, Water-Wagtail, Dishwasher. As the winter approaches, this wagtail for- sakes the majority of its summer haunts and will be but rarely seen. Along our waterways a few remain the winter through, or until severe weather forces them to migrate. They may be often observed roosting together in considerable numbers in the willows and reed beds by the water. 38. Grey Wagtail. Motacilla mtlanope, Pallas. Except during the nesting period, the grey wagtail can be found generally distributed and fairly abundant throughout the county, haunt- ing the smallest streams and ponds as well as our larger waterways, and is not infrequently noticed far removed from any water. The sewage farm at Newnham seems to offer special attraction for these birds during their winter sojourn ; a few at least will invariably be found there. 39. Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla raii (Bona- parte) Locally, Yellow Dishwasher. A fairly abundant summer migrant to some parts of Bedfordshire. Nesting generally in growing crops, its eggs are seldom obtained. I have seen numbers of these birds roosting on the bed of rushes at the junction of the New Cut and the Ouse at Cardington ; in my diary on 9 August 1 892 I noted a com- pany of about 200 yellow wagtails flushed from this locality. 40. Tree-Pipit. Anthus trivialis (Linn.) Locally, Tit-Lark. An abundant summer migrant, having a [00