OBSEKVED IX nEllTFORDSniRE IX 1895. 77 



Lesser Redpoll [Linota rnfescens). — On February lOtli, 1895, 

 I saw one of these birds feedinp: on the bank of the canal between 

 Borkhamstcd and Boxmoor. It was very tame, and was nearly 

 caught several times. In fact, once I threw my cap over it, but 

 the cap fell over, and the bird escaped. There do not seem to 

 be many records of the lesser redpoll having been observed in 

 Hertfordshire, but it probably occurs frequently, although seldom 

 recorded. 



Crossbill {Loxia curvirostra). — Mr. Lewis, in his last report, 

 mentioned the occurrence of the crossbill near Berkhamsted and 

 at Tring in the early pax't of 1895. They were again seen at the 

 former place in March and April. On March 3rd I saw a single 

 bird on the edge of Northchvirch Common. On March 10th I heard 

 some in Ockridge Wood, and on March 17th I observed what was 

 evidently a pair at the same place, when I heard the male bird 

 singing. On April 7th I noticed a party of these birds in the same 

 wood feeding on the buds and cones of larch-trees. Some of them 

 uttered a note very like a loud chirp of a cock sparrow. I think 

 it quite possible that some of these birds strayed to breed in 

 Ockridge Wood, although of course their staying so late in the 

 year is no proof of their doing so. The crossbill has on numerous 

 occasions bred in the southern portions of Great Britain, while 

 in some of the more northern parts it breeds plentifully. In the 

 fourth edition of Yarrell, Hertfordshire is mentioned as being one of 

 the counties in which this bird has nested, but there are no details. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major). — This bird 

 is fairly plentiful in the neighbourhood of Berkhamsted. It also 

 occurs near Sawbridgeworth, for Mr. Rivers saw one there in 

 December. 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker {Dendrocopus minor). — This bird 

 is found in some numbers near Berkhamsted, especially in Ashridge 

 Park. Mr. Yaughan Roberts informs me also that it is not uncommon 

 near Watford. Its flight is rather slow, and very undulating. 



Tawxt Owl {Syrnium aluco). — On May 18th I saw a pair of 

 these birds flying in broad daylight in Ashridge Park. 



Peregrixe Falcox {Falco peregrinuH). — On March 16th, 1895, 

 when coming home from Tring, I was lucky enough to see a 

 peregrine falcon at Pendley Manor. It made a stoop at a partridge, 

 which, however, it did not succeed in striking. From its size 

 I should say it was a female. In a letter to me Mr. Sainsbury 

 Terey sent the following note: "Mr. Grifiin, taxidermist, Rick- 

 mansworth, has obligingly shown me a male specimen of Falco 

 peregrinus, captured in August, 1895, at Croxley Green." The 

 peregrine falcon has occurred on several occasions in Hertford- 

 shire, and it is a great pity that it should nearly always get shot. 

 It is a bird which might be said to have the highest sporting 

 instincts, as it seldom, if ever, condescends to kill a bird except 

 in full flight. 



Cormoraxt {PhaJacrocorax carlo). — On October 31st, James 

 Street, the keeper at Tring Reservoirs, saw a bird of this species 



