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BIRDS 107. Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus, Linn. Common, nesting plentifully, though some- what locally, even in unpreserved districts. During the winter months it is a partial migrant, as at that time several may be seen together about the meadow lands and espe- cially in the neighbourhood of Goldington and Cardington, whereas in the summer it will rarely be observed. The nests of the magpie, both old and new (if the latter have already been robbed of the rightful owner's eggs), are usually adopted, and also crows' nests, holes in trees being next in favour. Occasionally the nest of the sparrow-hawk is selected, and in one instance I have found their eggs in the fork of an ivy-covered oaktree. 108. Osprey. Pandion haliaetus (Linn.) An occasional spring and autumn migrant. The earliest record is one shot at Luton in 1839 {Beds Mercury). One formerly in the posses- sion of Mr. W. King was shot by him in 1852 at the moats in Biggin Spinney, Roxton ; another was shot on the Ivel at Blunham by Mr. Triplow in 1877, both of which have come under my observation. One shot at Tur- vey in July 1863 is preserved at the Abbey, and another frequented the river between Stevington and Oakley about 1867 for over a fortnight. Davis {History of Luton, ed. 2) re- fers to one killed in Luton Park about 1844, and Dr. C. Sprigge saw one near Roxton Bridge about 1894. According to Mr. J. Wilkerson the osprey has occurred twice near Chawston, the last instance being in 1889. On 18 May 1894 Mr. King and I saw an osprey at the pool in Southill Park. The most recent occurrence is a male shot at Southill 31 August 1900. 109. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.) A rare straggler inland. Three have come within the knowledge of Mr. A. Covington, but only one, which was shot at Sutton in 1863, was received by him in the flesh ; one of the others was killed previous to that year on the brick-kiln in one of the brickyards along the road to Clapham. Mr. T. Cane received one to set up which had been shot about 1865 as it sat on the roof of Todding- ton church. Mr. J. King mentions having seen one about 1875 at Southill Lake, and on 3 May 1901 another came under my observation there — it was sitting on the brick- work surrounding the pool island. no. Shag or Green Cormorant. Phalacro- corax graculus (Linn.) Another rare straggler inland. Mr. J. King mentions an immature bird which was I I caught in a potato field at Biggleswade on 29 August 1877, and the following instances are given by Mr. A. Covington : One killed at Biddenham Backwater about 1859; an immature bird received by him about 1 868 that had been killed on the river at Kemp- ston ; another taken to him alive on 28 August 1887 — it had been caught by a man at Renhold, who had seen two birds alight on a pond during a very high wind, and by running up was able to catch one, which was apparently exhausted. in. Gannet or Solan Goose. Sula bassana (Linn.) Very rarely observed. Mr. A. Covington remembers one being caught alive locally many years ago, but he cannot call to mind the name of the place. In February 1895 Mr. J. King saw two gannets at Langford flying over during the first week of that month. They were passing at a good height from south-west to north-east. 112. Common Heron. Ardea cinerea, Linn. Locally, Heronshaw, Mollhern. A common winter visitant, and at times I have seen them in flights of as many as ten together, but no heronry now exists in the county. Until about 1869 they bred in Luton Hoo Park, when by an accident in a high wind some trees were blown down on what is known as' The Island* and destroyed their nests (Davis, Hist, of Luton, ed. 2, 1874). Isolated nests have occasionally occurred. Two were built in the Cowhill rookery at Woburn about 1855, but being within a stone's throw of the London road they were harried, and the birds did not attempt nesting there again (C. F. Woods). Dr. Sprigge records that a pair nested on a fir tree in the six-acre plantation at Temps- ford about 1890. In the Twin Woods at Clapham at least a few pairs nested regularly until about 1850, or possibly a few years later. A pair attempted nesting about 1880 in the tall poplar trees close to the island in the river between Cardington and Castle Mills, and previous to 1895 another pair nested on the small island in the lake at Southill Park. When I visited this island in May 1899 a nest which the birds had placed there in that year was on the horizontal branch of a tree overhanging the water, but only partly constructed. Either the owners had forsaken it, or they had no intention at the time of completing it. I was assured that they were in no way molested. The only locality in the county where at least two pairs nest regularly, and have done so II 16