BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, a south-midland county of England, its greatest length being about 54 m., its average breadth 18, and total area 738 sq. miles. The plastic clay tertiary strata occupy the southern parts of the county, which is finely diversified with hill and dale, wood and water. To the n. is a broad chalk-band, including the Chiltern range of chalk-hills, which enter from Oxfordshire, and stretch across the county in a n.e. direction into Bedfordshire, partly covered with heath and wood, and near Ivinghoe and Wendover, above 900 ft. high. Sloping n. from these hills, and crossed by narrower bands of grecnsand and oolite, is the extensive and very fertile vale of Aylesbury, watered by the Thame. The chief rivers are the Thames, bordering the county on the s.w., the Ouse, Ousel, Colne, and Thame, the latter two falling into the Thames. The Grand Junction canal, and the Great Western and North-western railways, intersect the county on the e. and south. The climate of Bucks is mild and healthy; the soil is mostly good, chalk and clay predominating. About half the county is under the rest in meadows and pasture. The agriculture is not equal to the capabilities of the land, which is often overcropped and exhausted. The farms are generally small, averaging 200 acres. The cottages are generally good. Wheat and beans are the prin cipal crops. The chief dairy product is butter, of which four to five millions of pounds are annually sold, chiefly in London. In the vale of Aylesbury, fattening of cattle is extensively carried on ; the sheep aro noted for their fine and heavy fleeces; and large numbers of ducks are reared for metropolitan consumption. In 1875, the number of cattle in the county was 68,831; sheep, 292,383; and pigs, 35,370, Beech and oak are the chief timber-trees, but box and juniper are also grown. The chief manufactures are
paper, straw-plait, and thread-lace. B. returns 8 members to parliament-3 for the county and 5 for the boroughs. The chief towns arc Aylesbury, Buckingham, Marlow, and Wycombe. B. contains some Roman and British remains, as traces of Watling, lekneld, and Akeman streets or ways; The chiefs ecclesiastical ruins are those of 3Iiss enden and Notley abbey, the latter of which has been converted into farm-buildings. There are many examples of early English and decorated architecture. The church of Chetwode, near Buckingham (13th c.), contains some very fine examples of ancient glass-staining. Many events of historical interest occurred in this county. It was the scene of contest in the civil wars of Stephen and John. At Chalfont St. Giles, Milton finished his Paradise Lost, and at Horton, he wrote L' Allegro. At Hampden lived the great patriot of that name; Waller was proprietor of Beaconsfield manor; Atterbury was born at Milton ; Stoke Poges churchyard suggested Gray's Elegy, and is the place of his burial; at Olney, Cowper lived; at Gregories, near Beaconsfield, Burke died and was buried; Scott, the Biblical commentator, was rector of Aston Sandford; Herschel's great telescope still stands at Slough, where lie made most of his important discoveries; and at Stowe is a magnificent mansion—one of the finest in England, alike for extent, architecture, and beauty of site—formerly belonging to the duke of Buckingham. Pop. '71, 175,879.