XI. 



XOTES OX BIRDS OBSERVED IX IIERTFORDSEIRE 

 DUIUNG THE YEAR 18S1. 



By John E. Littleboy. 



Read at JFn/furd, 'lUt March, 1882. 



Ox referring to our register, I find that I have recorded, since 

 my hist report, thirteen additional species of birds. Of these 

 thirteen species, only one belongs to the large class known as 

 Passeres ; two are Accipitres ; four Grallatores ; and the remainder 

 Natatores. Twelve of them have been observed within the year ; 

 one, although only recently reported, belongs to a former year, but 

 is comprised within the period of our register. I will proceed, as 

 on previous occasions, briefly to notice them. 



1. The Gold ex Oriole {Oriohis Galhnla) — The nest of a golden 

 oriole with three eggs was found at Charlie Farm, in the parish 

 of Amwell, near Ware, by Mr. H. Beningfield and his son, in the 

 month of June. It was built in a thick hawthorn hedge about ten 

 feet from the ground. When first discovered it was believed to be 

 a thrush's nest, but an inspection of the eggs quickly dispelled the 

 illusion. I have carefully compared one of them with a number of 

 authenticated specimens at the British Ornithologists' Union, and I 

 think that there can be no doubt wluitever as to the accuracy of 

 this important announcement. The golden oriole is among the 

 rarest of our summer visitors. The brilliant plumage of the male 

 bird, said to be attained only in its second or third year, renders 

 it peculiarly conspicuous, and whenever it occurs in our English 

 counties, it is hunted down and shot with an eagerness worthy 

 of a better cause. Yarrell * states that "its flat and saucer- 

 shaped nest is very different in the style of its architecture from 

 those of nearly all other birds, being placed in and suspended under 

 the horizontal fork of a bough, to both branches of which it is 

 firmly attached." It winters south of the Mediterranean, and 

 ■when recorded in England has been generally met with in the 

 month of May. 



2. The Little Owl {Carine noctua). — I am informed by Mr. W. 

 ^N^orraan, of Boyston, that a "little owl" was taken at Ashwell 

 on the borders of our county in the month of May, 1877. It is a 

 rare bird, and having occurred within the period comprised by our 

 register, I am pleased to be able to record it. The little owl is 

 described by Macgillivray f as about the size of a jay, and is the 

 smallest of its class. It is nocturnal in its habits, and this fact 

 may probably account for its apparent scarcity. 



3. The Hoxey-Buzzaed {Pernis apivorus). — Two honey-buzzards 

 "were shot within the limits of our county on the 23rd of September. 



* ' British Birds,' ed. iv. vol. i, p. 234. 

 t 'Rapacious Birds,' p. 359. 



