OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1905. 53 



been realized, and the bird appears for the time being to be 

 not only in no danger of extinction, but actually increasing in 

 numbers. While, as stated, it is for the most part sedentary 

 in the Norfolk Broads during summer, it appears also to be 

 somewhat given to wandering in the winter months. About the 

 time that our specimen was seen in Hertfordshire, I noticed in 

 one of the natural history papers that a small party of three 

 or four had been seen (and shot) in the Oakham district in 

 Rutland. It seemed, therefore, that these as well as our 

 Hertfordshire specimen were birds which had either migrated 

 from the Continent or wandered from the Broads, and in order 

 to clear up this point, if possible, I wrote to the Rev. M. C. H. 

 Bird, M.A., M.B.O.U., of Stalham, who probably knows more 

 from actual all-round-the-year observation of the bearded tit 

 than any other person in England. He sent me the following 

 interesting particulars in reply : — " There is no inherent impossi- 

 bility in your having had a reed-pheasant in Hertfordshire, the 

 Languard Fort migrant proving the possibility of this species 

 getting so far as from here to you — unless, of course, the 

 Languard specimen was an escape. Years ago I used to look 

 upon these birds as practically stationary throughout the year, 

 but they have been seen in North Norfolk in autumn, and within 

 later years I have been surprised to meet with them in 

 unexpected spots in Broadland during the winter months ; but 

 I do not think that they roam over other parts of this country 

 systematically. There certainly is no immigration from the 

 Continent to us at any season. Our reed-grounds are decreasing, 

 whilst bearded tits are rather on the increase, and so I should 

 fancy that the stray specimens which have cropped up lately in 

 other parts of the country were wanderers from Norfolk. ,In 

 winter they seem more restless and take longer flights than at 

 other seasons, and only last Tuesday (6th February, 1906) 

 I was watching some at Catfield mounting high in the air and 

 travelling two or three hundred yards ere dropping into the 

 reeds again, passing over similar vegetation all the time that 

 they were on the wing. In spring, summer, and early autumn 

 they are much more crepuscular, and do not show themselves 

 much above the reeds, rushes, and sedges." 



Tree-Creeper {Certhia famlUaris) . — In 1902 I reported on the 

 then increasing scarcity of this attractive little bird. I regret 

 that I cannot now, after three years' further observation, report 

 any increase in its numbers so far as the Watford district is 

 concerned. In fact, it seems to get more and more scarce each 

 year. I have seen only three during the year, two of which it is 

 perhaps worth stating were nesting in a tree growing at the side 

 of a well-used high road near Watford. The old birds were busy 

 carrying in food to the youngsters, so that the traffic had not 

 interrupted their domestic arrangements. Speaking of this little 

 bird nesting by the roadside reminds me, by-the-bye, of one of 

 the most amusing incidents which has ever come under my notice 



