OBSERVED IN HERTFOUDSnilfE IN 1896. 159 



Tring during the autumn migration. It may now, I think, be 

 considered an annual visitor there. 



Common Curlew {Numenius arquatus). — In April, and again in 

 August, some birds of this species were observed at Tring. 



Black Tern {Hydrochclidon nigra). — This bird appeared in large 

 numbers at Tring during the summer of 1896, as many as sixty 

 having been seen there together on May 11th. 



Common Tern {Sterna fluviaUlis). — This species was also fairly 

 plentiful at Tring in 1896. Mr. Rivers informs me that on August 

 18th and again on September 27th he saw a bird presumably of 

 this kind at Sawbridge worth. 



Arctic Tern {Sterna macrura). — The Rev. H. H. Crewe informed 

 the author of ' The Birds of Berks and Bucks ' that the Arctic tern 

 used occasionally to visit the Tring Reservoirs. The only recent 

 record, however, of this bii'd in Hertfordshire, is of one shot at 

 Tring in the spring of 1886. 



Lesser Tern {Sterna tnimita). — Street informs me that he saw 

 two lesser terns at Tring on 17th October, 1896. Some were seen 

 there about the same time in 1895, as I mentioned in my report 

 for that year. 



Black-headed Gull {Lartis ridihundus). — A few birds of this 

 species were observed at Tring at various times in 1896. On 

 March 15th Mr. Rivers observed one sailing about at Sawbridge- 

 worth. 



Common Guxl {La/rus canus). — Street mentions the occurrence of 

 certain gulls at various times, which he speaks of as common gulls. 

 Though probably these were not all '■'■ Larus canus,^^ some of them 

 were most Likely of that species. In 1896 small parties of these 

 so-called common gulls appeared at Tring nearly every month. 

 Mr. E. W. Arnold mentioned to Mr. Hopkinson that two gulls 

 were seen flying over Redboum about the first week in February. 



Black-backed Gull {Larus fuscus vel mariniis). — Street also in- 

 forms me of the occurrence of black-backed gulls at the Reservoirs 

 occasionally, but he does not state whether they were lesser or 

 great black-backed gulls. 



Little Auk {Mergulus alle). — In my report for 1895 I mentioned 

 the occurrence of a little auk at Sarratt, but could give no date. 

 I have since ascertained that the actual date was January 25th. 

 Mr. Nunn informs me that in the autumn of 1894 a little auk, 

 which is now in the possession of Mr. D. H. Nash, stuffed, was 

 brought to him alive at Royston. Mr. Latchmore also tells me 

 that in the winter of 1895-96 little auks were picked up dead at 

 Hitchin, Welwyn, and Ashwell. 



Great Northern Diver {Colymbus glacialis). — Captain Clarke 

 Kennedy mentions that an immature specimen of this bird was 

 obtained at one of the Tring reservoirs in December, 1841. This 

 species has only been recorded in this county on four other occa- 

 sions — two being obtained at different times at Elstree Reservoir, 

 one being shot in January, 1887, and another being seen in 

 February of the same year at Tring. 



