250 BIKDS OBSERVED IX 1880 AND 1881. 



Mr. Roffe on the 28tli of January, 1880, at Garston, near "Watford, 

 and a pair is reported by Mr. Henry Manser as frequenting the 

 Hoddesdon lake during the past winter. 



General Remarhs. — I have again to report a continued paucity of 

 small birds. Wet summers and the extreme severity of succeeding 

 winters satisfactorily account for this fact. The occurrence of 

 several raptorial birds, only occasional visitors in our county, may 

 probably be considered the most notable feature of the year. I may 

 mention that two common buzzards, one rough-legged buzzard, a 

 hobby, an osprey, one long-eared owl, and several short-eared owls 

 have been reported. Bullfinches were very abundant last January, 

 their brilliant plumage being conspicuous along almost every hedge- 

 row. It seems to be certain that several birds that do not rank 

 among migrants, are semi-migrant in their habits, and that, in 

 fact, they migrate in flocks from one part of England to another. 

 Bullfinches must, I think, be classed among this number. A con- 

 siderable immigration to our district appears to have taken place at 

 the commencement of the present year. 



May I be allowed a word or two about wagtails. Only three 

 species have yet been identified, the " pied " which is the commonest 

 of all, the " grey," and the " yellow " or *' Ray's wagtail." It is 

 more than probable that two others, the " white," and the " grey- 

 headed," ought to be recorded. There is considerable difficulty in 

 distinguishing these fi'ora the birds first mentioned. Mr. Harting 

 has defined the distinctions as follows* : — " The particular respects 

 in which the white wagtail differs from its congeners are 

 noticeable chiefly in the summer, or breeding plumage, when 

 the former has a black cap clearly defined against a grey back, 

 while in the latter the black colour of the head merges in the black 

 of the dorsal plumage and no such cap is discernible." The grey- 

 headed " differs chiefly from Eay's wagtail in having a well-defined 

 cap of a grey colour on the head, a white instead of a yellow 

 streak over the eye, and a white chin instead of a yellow one." 

 All the wagtails are said to be migrants, but the grey is certainly 

 a constant resident at Hunton Bridge. 



In conclusion I have once more cordially to thank my numerous 

 correspondents for their welcome contributions. I will also take the 

 liberty of stating that I propose to give in the Hertfordshire news- 

 papers a list of birds not as yet reported to our Society, but which 

 in all probability ought to be found within our district ; also a 

 second list of sundry birds that have been reported only occasion- 

 ally, and about which additional information is very desirable. 

 Notes respecting any of these species will be most acceptable. 

 * ' Summer Migrants,' pp. 110 and 121. 



