74 J. E. LITTLEBOT BIKDS OBSERTED IN" 1879. 



right into my face. "When able to examine the eggs, I found that 

 they were six in number, and tliat they had been laid quite re- 

 cently. I may add that another egg was deposited on the follow- 

 ing day." 



The Great Grey Shrike [Lanius excuhiior). — We are indebted 

 to a lady, Miss E. Vicars, of St. Albans, for the mention of one of 

 our rarest birds. "When walking, during the month of July last, 

 near Tittenhanger Green, she was foitunate enough to observe a 

 great grey shrike, and was able unhesitatingly to identify it. 

 These birds are extremely scarce in Herts, and only once before 

 has their occurrence been noted in our register. 



The Red-backed Shrike [Lanius collurio).— This bird was 

 tolerably abundant during the summer. It was observed near 

 King's Langiey, singing on the top of an ash-tree, on the 2nd of 

 May. On the 14th of May a male bird, in splendid plumage, was 

 seen near Elstree. On the same dny another was noticed near 

 Odsey Grange. They are reported, by Miss E. Vicars, as frequent 

 at St. Albans, where they have been observed perched on the 

 telegraph wires by the side of the road. 



The Spotted Elycatcher [Mmcicapa grisola). — Eirst seen at 

 Watford, by Mr. Bernard Smith, on the 18th of April; at King's 

 Langiey on the 22nd of May ; and at Odsey Grange on the 23rd. 



The Grey Wagtail {Motacilla su/phurea). — The grey wagtail 

 has been tolerably abundant during the past year. It constantly 

 frequented the gardens at Hunton Bridge during the months of 

 September, October, and IS'ovember, and is reported to have been 

 frequently seen near Eedbourn. Lord Ebury informs me that a 

 pair of these birds built in the gardens of the Hon. H. Coke, at 

 Batchworth House, near Moor Park. 



The Yellow Wagtail {MotaciUa Raii). — This beautiful and 

 most graceful bird has been reported from three different localities. 

 On the 17th of Eebruary three birds were observed near Bury Mill 

 End, Hemel Hempstead, by Mr. Wyman ; on the 2nd of Eebi uary 

 it was noticed near Eedbourn ; and again, on the 24th of May, in 

 the low meadows near King's Langiey. 



The Hawfinch ( Coccothraustes vulgaris). — During the months of 

 January and Eebruary the hawfinch was unusually abundant 

 throughout our county. I first saw it on the 2nd of January, and 

 a pair frequented the garden at Hunton Bridge till about the end 

 of that month. It was also observed on the 2nd of January at 

 Russell Earm by Mr. W. E. M. Copeland ; on the 15th of January 

 at Hitchin by Mr. James H. Tuke ; and on the 19th at King's 

 Langiey. Mr. Abel H. Smith reports that he saw hawfinches on 

 several occasions during the month of January at Woodhall Park ; 

 and Mr. Bernard Smith noticed one at Southfield House, Watford, 

 on the 9th of Eebruary. Lord Ebury states that he observed haw- 

 finches at Moor Park on the 23rd of January ; and that for several 

 days a pair regularly fed, in company with sparrows, chaffinches, 

 and tomtits, on crumbs supplied from the mansion. It would be 

 interesting to ascertain whether the hawfinch will ordinarily accept 



