158 A. F. CKOSSMAN — NOTES ON BIRDS 



that the dotterel comes every spring to the hills near Royston, 

 resting there a few days on its way north, and appearing there 

 again in the autumn. He also tells me that he has seen some 

 very fine specimens which were obtained by a farmer at Walliagton, 

 near Baldock. In the 'Birds of Berks and Bucks' there is 

 mention made of a male obtained by one of Lord Brownlow's 

 keepers on 14th August, 1862, on the very borders of the county, 

 in a cornfield near Ivinghoe. 



Ringed Plovee {jS^gialitis Maticula). — This bird occurs at the 

 Tring Reservoirs every year on migration. 



Golden Plover (Charadrius pluviatilis). — Large parties of golden 

 plovers appeared at Tring in December, 1896. 



Gret Plover {Squatarola helvetica). — I am informed that in the 

 spring of 1893 a female of this species was found at Royston, 

 having come in contact with the telegraph-wires. The only other 

 specimen of this bird recorded in Hertfordshire was shot near the 

 Tring Reservoirs in 1885. 



Oyster - Catcher {Hmmatopus ostralegm) . — - An oyster - catcher 

 was killed at Elstree Reservoir early in April, 1866. The only 

 other specimen recorded in Hertfordshire was also shot at Elstree ; 

 this was in February, 1868, 



Great Snipe {GalUnago major). — In the 'Birds of Middlesex' 

 Mr. Harting mentions a bird of this species as having been obtained 

 at Bushey Heath, but gives no particulars. This bird appears 

 to have occurred on one other occasion in this county, an albino 

 specimen ha-v^g been obtained at Tring. 



Dunlin {Tringa alpnia). — This bird is mentioned by Mr. Harting 

 as frequenting Elstree Reservoir during the winter. It is also 

 an annual visitor to Tring, where Street saw some in August, 

 1896. 



RuPF (Machetes pugnax). — A reeve was obtained at Chisfield 

 Park, near Stevenage, about fourteen years ago, and is now in the 

 possession of Mr. C. Poyntz Stewart. In my report for 1895 

 I mentioned the various occasions on which this bird has occurred 

 in Hertfordshire. 



Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucus). — Mr. Latchmore informs 

 me that a nest of this bird was found by the miller of Hyde Mill, 

 near Hitchin ; it was placed under a high bank at the sluice-pit. 

 Mr. Latchmore says that he himself used frequently to flush the 

 birds from the place, but never thought of looking for a nest. No 

 actual date can be given by the miller as to when he found the 

 nest. This is the first time that this bird has been recorded as 

 nesting in Hertfordshire. 



Green Sandpiper {Totanus ochropus). — This bird occurs annually 

 at the Tring Reservoirs and also in the neighbourhood of Hitchin. 



Redshank {Totanus caUdris). — On September 19th Street saw 

 two birds at Tring, presumably, from his description, of this 

 species. In my last report I enumerated the various instances of 

 the occurrence of the redshank in Hertfordshire. 



Greenshank {Totanus canescens). — The greenshank occurred at 



