OBSERVED IX 1880 AND 1881. 245 



Januaiy and February, 1880, fieldfares were extremely scarce. 

 They arrived in considerable numbers towards the end of October, 

 and are reported as plentiful tlu'()us;hout November and December. 

 The Gold-crest {Rajulus crisfatm). — Tbis cluirmiup; little bird 

 has been abundant in the neighbourhood of Kunton Bridge during 

 the whole of the year. 



The Goldfinch ( Carduclis elcfjans). — A large flock of goldfinches 

 was observed by Mr. George Underwood at Little Gaddesden, in 

 January, 1881. It is satisfactory to find that these beautiful birds 

 are yet occasionally met with in considerable numbers. They 

 become but too fre(jueutly the victims of the bird-catcher. 



The Siskin (Carditelis Spmifs). — A flight of about a dozen siskins 

 was noticed on the 5th of i^ov., close to the Hunton Bridge farm. 



The Hawfinch ( Coccothniuste.i vulgaris) breeds regularly in the 

 garden at Cecil Lodge, Abbot's Langiey, and is reported as follows: 

 — January 21st, 1880, in the garden at Hunton Bridge; February 

 14th, at the mansion. Moor Park; March 7th and 9th, at Serge 

 Hill, and at the same place a pair apparently preparing to build 

 was observed on April 21st and 23rd. On the 21st of January, 

 1881, when the ground was tbickly covered with snow, several 

 were shot, in very fine plumage, in Hatfield Park. On the 22nd 

 of January one was again seen in the garden at Hunton Bridge. 



The Beambling {Fringilla montifringilla). — Bramblings were 

 abundant during January and part of February, 1881, throughout 

 the western portion of the county. Several were observed by Mr. 

 Wyman, near Hemel Hempstead, on the 27th of January. At the 

 commencement of February they are reported by Miss Selby as 

 abundant near Aldenham ; one specimen having been kindly for- 

 warded to me for identification. Bramblings are also reported as 

 numerous about the same time at Hazelwood near Hunton Bridge, 

 Redboum, and Little Gaddesden. The brambling is one of the 

 most uncertain and irregular of our winter visitants. Occasionally, 

 as in the present year, it is met with in abundance in the Midland 

 Counties ; on the other hand, it is frequently absent for several 

 years in succession. It has been appropriately described as a 

 " gipsy migrant, perpetually trying to migrate northward with 

 every appearance of milder weather, and perpetually driven south- 

 ward with each recurring frost." It seems pretty certain that we 

 are indebted to the very severe weather that prevailed early in the 

 year for its visit to our county. Like most of our winter visitors, 

 the brambling is met Avith abundantly throughout Scandinavia, 

 Northern Russia, and Siberia. It breeds within the Arctic circle. 



The Jay (^Garrulus glandarius). — The jay is reported by Dr. 

 Brett to be so abundant in Oxhey Woods that quantities of its blue 

 feathers are annually sent to Scotland for the manufacture of 

 artificial flies for salmon-fishing. 



The Rooe [Corvtis frugilegm). — Mr. P. B. Croft reports tbat 

 rooks began to build near Ware about the 26th of February. 

 Young birds were hatched on the 7th of April, and appeared strong 

 on the wing by the 4th of May. Dr. Brett informs me that 



