OBSERVED IN nERTFOKDSlIUlK IN 1896. 167 



Common Scoter ((Edemia nigra). — In tlic 'Birds of Ecrks and 

 Pucks ' the scoter is lueutioiu'd as having been observed at Tring. 

 "Within recent times it has occurred at liushey Heath, a pair having 

 been seen there in 1881, and at Tring, where a female was shot 

 in October, 1884. 



Goosander {Jfergus merganser). — Small parties of goosanders 

 used occasionally to visit the Tring Reservoii's in fonner years, but 

 of late they have been less frequent. In January, 1896, however, 

 Street saw two there. 



Eedbreasted Merganser [Mergus serrator). — This bird also 

 appeared at the Tring Eeservoirs there at times, but does not seem 

 to have done so recently. At Munden House, near Watford, there 

 is a pair of these birds which were obtained there between 1840 

 and 1850. 



Stock-Dote {Columla osjias). — Captain Clarke Kennedy, in his 

 book, states that the stock-dove formerly nested in large numbers 

 in Ashridge Park, and I can bear witness to. their being fairly 

 plentiful there at the present time. 



Quail [Coturnix communis). — Mr. Sainsbury Verey informed 

 me that he heard a quail near Heronsgate early in June. 1896. 

 Mr. Lucas gives this as one of the birds observed near Hitcliin, 

 and Mr. Latchmore states that it breeds in that neighbourhood 

 every year. 



Spotted Crake {Porzana maruetta). — Mr. Latchmore has a spotted 

 crake which was killed by flying against the telegraph-wires near 

 Hitchin in November, 1893, and has seen others obtained in 

 that locality. He also states that one was found dead in August, 

 1896, at Offley. Mr. Lucas informs me that one was procured 

 in the Hitchin district during the past winter. 



Stone-Cprlkw [Q^dicnemus scolopax). — In the 'Birds of Berks 

 and Bucks,' Captain Clarke Kennedy mentions, on the authority 

 of the Kev. H. H. Crewe, that this bird was formerly very common 

 in the neighbourhood of Tring. Mrs. Ashby, of jS'orcott Hill Farm, 

 has in her possession a stuffed specimen which, was obtained some 

 twenty years ago, at Dudswcll, between Berkhamsted and Tring. 

 This is a very light-coloured bird. Mr. Lucas states that the 

 stone-curlew is still faiiiy plentiful in the neighbourhood of 

 Hitchin, and Mr. Latchmore infonns me that it breeds near 

 Hexton. On the other hand, Mr. Nunn tells me that he has 

 known of no eggs ha^-ing been found in the Royston district since 

 1894. This bird, which frequents much the same sort of country as 

 the great bustardiised formerly to do, seems, I am sorry to say, to be 

 gradually disappearing fi'om our county. I should be very glad 

 of any notes on the habits and distribution of the bird in Hertford- 

 shire, in order that, in times to come, our descendants may not 

 be without some information about it, as is unfortunately the case 

 with us with reference to the great bustard, which disappeared 

 from the county without any record at all having been kept even 

 as to when the last one was seen. 



Dotterel {Eudromias morinellm). — Mi*. Latchmore informs me 



