OBSEETED IX 1880 AXD 1881. 249 



Charles Danvin, F.K.S., etc. In reply he writes as follows : — " The 

 loss of a pait or the whole of a liiiih by luoustrosity is not very 

 rare and most likely has been inherited. The most remarkable point 

 about your case is, as I believe, tlie deformity being common to 

 so uumy young- birds ; this renders it possible that Ave must look to 

 the state of the parentage rather than to any treatment of the eggs 

 as the cause of the monstrosity." 



The QvxiL f Coiurnix com/))U)i/sJ. — Quails have been unusually 

 plentiful on the eastern side of the county. They are reported, by 

 Mr. Hill, jun., to have been frequently observed in the neiglibour- 

 hood of Hitchin, and by our excellent correspondent, Mr. H. G. 

 Fordham, as abundant near Ashwell and Royston. 



The Heeox {Ardea cinerea). — I am informed by ^fr. George 

 Flatten that a heron's nest, in which three young birds were 

 hatched and brought up, was carefully observed in the vicinity of 

 the Broadwater, Hatfield Park. I am not aware that, prior to this, 

 herons have been known to breed within the limits of our county. 

 If such has been the case, I am sure the Society would esteem as a 

 favour any information respecting the locality selected. A pair of 

 herons are again reported by Lord Ebury as frequenting the water 

 at Moor Park, and Mr. H. Manser reports that two have been 

 occasionly seen on the lake at Hoddesdon. 



The Geeex HANDFiFEn^JIelodronias Ochropus). — Mr. W. Hill, jun., 

 informs me that the green sandpiper is a regular spring visitant 

 near Ickleford, and that a few years ago one of these little waders 

 paid a visit for a few weeks in the autumn to the public baths at 

 Hitchin. It used to run round the edge of the baths, apparently 

 in search of food. 



The CoMirox Sxipe {Gallinago gallinarid). — Miss Selby reports 

 that a large number of snipe were observed on the 27th oc 

 February, 1881, between Hatfield and Colney Heath. Flocks of 

 snipe are not unusual during the periods of autumnal and spring 

 migration, and it is probable that in this instance they were 

 detained in their northern flight by the severity of the weather. 



The Peewit oe, Lapwixg ( VeneUus cristatus). — Unusually large 

 flights of peewits have been observed in most parts of the county. 

 They are reported by Lord Ebury as ocurring near Rickmansworth ; 

 by Mr. George Flatten, near Hatfield ; and by Mr. H. G. Fordham, 

 near Odsey Gi-ange. 



The Watee-Eail (Eallus aquaticiis). — Reported by Lord Ebury 

 as seen in Moor Park, and by Mr. George Flatten as not uncommon 

 in Hatfield Park. 



The Ceested Geebe {Podiceps cristatus). — A specimen of the 

 crested grebe was shot at Headstone, near Pinner, by Mr. D. Hill. 

 It is a rare bird, but has been reported as occurring in the county 

 on two previous occasions since the commencement of our register. 



The Tufted Duck {Faligula cristata). — A young drake hardly in 

 full plumage is reported by Mr. Henry Manser as frequenting the 

 lake at Hoddesdon during the winter of 1880-81. 



The Fochaed {Fuligula ferina). — A pair of pochards was shot by 



VOL I. — PART VII. 17 



