OBSEEVED IN HERTFOEDSniRE IX 1881. 91 



tut it is very Tinnsual. The Eov. T. D. Croft reports that a 

 " snovr-white " partridge was frecjueutly observed from the railway 

 on the Hatfield side of Cole Green. It was seen by himself, Mr. 

 Kichard Hoare, and other gentlemen. 



Tuv. Heron [Ardea cinerea). — Mr. P. F. Fordham reports having 

 seen two herons near Royston on the 14th of January. A speeimen 

 was shot at Bennett's End, near Hemel Hempstead, in December. 



The Gkeex Sandpiper {Uelodromos ochropus). — A green sand- 

 piper is again reported, by Mr. W. Hill, jun., as observed, during 

 the autumn, near Hitchin. 



The Spotted Crake [Porzana marueUa). — A spotted crake was 

 killed in the month of October, by flying against the telegraph- 

 wires, near the railway-arch at the bottom of Watford. It is now 

 in the possession of Mr. Walter Downer. 



The Dusky Grebe [Podicepa cornutm). — A dusky grebe was 

 caught by some boys in Gadebridge Park, near Hemel Hempstead. 

 It has been mounted by INlr. Bowers, and is now in his possession. 



General Remarks. — The influx of numerous sea-birds during 

 the mouths of October, November, and December, appears to be 

 the distinguishing feature of the present year. It is not difficult 

 to account for the occurrence. On the 14th of October a violent 

 storm of wind, the effects of which have been already noted by the 

 Rev. C. W. Harvey, passed over our district. Storms of less 

 severity occurred during the succeeding months, and it is reason- 

 able to suppose that the birds in question were driven inland by 

 atmospheric forces which they were unable to resist. 



I am informed by sportsmen that partiidges have been unusually 

 abundant throughout the county during the past season. 



The extreme scarcity of fieldfares and redwings during the two 

 consecutive winters, 1880-1 and 1881-2, the first remarkable for 

 its severity and the latter for its mildness, is a fact worthy of notice. 

 Precisely opposite causes appear, in this instance, to have [iroduced 

 similar results. In 1880-1 fieldfares and redwings found the 

 English winter too severe for them and left us for the south. In 

 1881-2 the mildness of the European winter has allowed them to 

 remain in southern Russia or Scandinavia. !Mr. J. Cordeaux in- 

 forms me that but very few fieldfares and redwings passed the 

 light-ships on our east coast durii]g the autumn, and that he has 

 seen none in Lincolnshire during the winter. 



Several of our members have remarked on the comparative 

 scarcity of " summer migrants " ; among these the red-backed 

 shrike has been especially alluded to by the Rev. C. W. Harvey. 

 On the other hand, I think it must be admitted that nightingales, 

 flycatchers, and some of the warblers, have been tolerably abundant. 



Allow me once more heartily to thank my correspondents for 

 their interesting communications. I am glad to report several 

 additions to their number fi'om the eastern side of the county. 



