OBSERVED IN IlERTFORDSHrRE IN 1896. 155 



Am-^vcllbury, Ware. He stated that on May 12th of that year 

 ho found a young bird of this species nearly fledged, having 

 cWdently fallen out of the nest, which, however, he could not 

 discover. He earned it into the shade. Towards evening it 

 became much livelier, and managed to climb upon a railing about 

 eighty yards from the house. On going to look at it about 8 p.m., 

 and while still some ten yards away from it, one of the old birds 

 swooped down on him from a neiglibouring tree unseen, striking 

 him a heavy blow on the ear and cheek and drawing blood with 

 claws and beak. The blow was almost a knock-down one, but the 

 bird passed on immediately. 



Hen-Haeeier [Circus cyaneus). — Mr. Lucas tells me that he 

 once saw a hen-hamer near Hitchin. About the year 1845 a pair 

 of these birds were shot in the parish of Sandon. They were pre- 

 served by the late Mr. Norman, and were in the possession of the 

 late Mr. Hemy Fordham at the time of his death. The only other 

 record that I can find of this bird in Hertfordshire is of one that 

 was killed near Weston Manor, Stevenage, on 28th October, 1883. 



Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrimcs). — A female of this species 

 was killed on 6th August, 1896, on Mr. Sutton's premises at North- 

 church, by a boy with a stick, while it was attacking some fowls. 

 It is now in the possession of Mr. W. Sutton. On December 20th 

 in the same year a fine specimen was shot on the very borders 

 of the county near Brockley Hill, by Mr. Arthur Wilshin. 

 Mr. Latchmore mentions that this bird has occasionally been 

 obtained in the neighbourhood of Hitchin, but gives no further 

 information. Mr. Nunn informs me that a pair were shot by 

 a keeper in Newnham plantation, not far from Baldock, about the 

 year 1878, and were formerly in the possession of Mr. Simpson. 

 In my report for 1895 I mentioned two other occasions on which 

 the peregrine had occurred in that year in Hertfordshire. 



Hobby [Falco suhhuteo). — Mr. Latchmore has in his possession 

 some eggs of this hawk which were taken at Stevenage. Mr. Nunn 

 infonns me that when he went to reside in the parish of Kelshall 

 in 1847, the hobby was fairly plentiful in that neighbourhood, but 

 that in 1849 the last bird obtained in that parish was shot from the 

 nest. The bird is now in his possession. The hobby has been 

 recorded as nesting in Hertfordshire on one other occasion, A nest 

 with four eggs was found in Moor Park by a keeper in 1881. 



Merlin {Falco cesalo7i). — Mr. Thompson, of Elstree, informs me 

 that a merlin was observed near there in December, 1896, and 

 Mr. Lucas states that it has been seen at times near Hitchin. This 

 bird has only been recorded as having been shot in this county on 

 five other occasions. One was shot at Hitchin, but no date is 

 given, and it is probably one of those mentioned by Mr. Lucas. 

 The other four were obtained at Tring, two being shot there in 

 February, 1886, and two in January, 1887. 



OsPREY {Pandion haliaetiis). — In the 'Ibis' for 1865 there is 

 a letter from the Rev. H. H. Crewe about a pair of ospreys which 

 frequented the Tring Reservoirs during the month of September, 



