OBSEllVED IX HEETFORDSnillE IN 1881. 87 



the Eritish Isles. It breeds in Iceland, Siberia, and Northern 

 Europe, Irecjueuting principally the open wastes within the arctic 

 circle. Flocks of bean-geese occasionally fly over our county 

 during the winter months, but generally at a height that secures 

 them perfect immunity from the efforts of the sportsman. It is 

 believed that they reach our shores from Iceland, and that they 

 follow the coast-line that is supposed, in pre-historic times, to 

 have stretched from that island, vid the Faroes, to Scotland. 



13. The Black Scoter {(Edemia nigra). — During February Mr. 

 P. Clutterbuck observed a pair of black scoters on Bushey Heath. 

 The male bird was the first to disappear, but it was followed by 

 the female after the interval of a day or two. Tlie black or common 

 scoter is said to breed freely in some parts of Scotland, but is a 

 winter visitant in both England and Ireland. It is the only duck 

 that is completely black, and is readily distinguished from all others. 

 It is an expert diver, and lives principally on small mollusks and 

 crustaceans obtained by diving. It occurs but very rarely in our 

 inland counties. 



The birds now mentioned increase the number of species at 

 present on our register to 137. 



The dates at which the arrival and departure of our summer 

 migrants and winter visitants have been reported, together with 

 the names of the observers, will be found in the following tables : — 



Summer Migrants. 

 Species. Locality. Date. Observer. 



Nightingale Ilailey Hall, Hertford Apl. 9 H. C. Heard. 



{Laulias Luncinia) Throcking Rectory ,, 11 Rev. C. Harvey. 



Odsey Grange ,, 12 H. G. Fordham. 



Eoyston ,, 12 P. F. Fordham. 



Royston ,, 13 W. Norman. 



Watlord ,, 13 W. M. Fawcett. 



Fanliams Hall ,, 13 R. B. Croft. 



Kimpton Rectory ,, 14 Rev. T. D. Croft. 



Shenley ,, 15 J. K. L. 



Watford ,, 15 J. Hopkinson. 



Hoddesdon ,, 15 Mis'; Warner. 



Moor Park „ 16 C. K. Smith. 



Hertford „ 16 R. T. Andrews. 



Redbourn Bury ,, 17 Mrs. Arnold. 



(Last heard) liunton Bridge June 11 J. E. L. 



Redstart Hertford Apl. 25 R. W. Brett. 



{Jiuticilla phcenicurus) 



Whinchat Odsey Grange May 13 H. G. Fordham. 



[Pidtincola rubetra) Elstree ,, 17 J. E. L. 



Wheatear Royston Apl. 21 P. F. Fordham. 



[Saxicoln (Enanthe) Odsey Grange ,, 25 H. G. Fordham. 



Chiff-Chaff Fanhams Hall Mar. 16 R. B. Croft. 



[I'hi/lloscopus coUybita) Huuton Bridge ,, 24 J. K. L. 



Royston Apl. 4 P. F. Fordham. 



Watford ,, 8 A. Barraud. 



Throcking Rectory ,, 14 Rev. C. Harvey. 



Watford „ 15 B. 0. Smith. 



Willow-Wren Odsey Grange Apl. 8 H. G. P'ordham. 



[Phylloscopus tiochiltis) Watford ,, 13 A. Barraud. 



