OBSERVED IN ITEETFOEDSniRE IN 1882. 211 



the rustic bunting; somewhat rcsemb]cs a female yellow-hammer, 

 but in place of yellow, a reddish-brown colour appears to pre- 

 dominate, and behind the eyes there is a stripe of pure white. 



5. The Peuegkixe Falcon {Falco 2)<'fC(jrinus). — The peregrine 

 falcon has frequently occurred in Herts, prior to the date of our 

 register. I have now the pleasure to record it in regular course. 

 Mr. G. Shrimpton, of Port Vale, Hertford, reports the capture of 

 two of them. The first was shot at Stoney Hills, near Bengeo, on 

 the 18th of September, 1881, and the second, at Bramfield, near 

 Hertford, on the 23rd of November, in the same year. 



The peregrine, described by Montagu*" as "the Tyrant of the 

 air," takes its place among the largest and most daring of British 

 Eaptors. " In the wideness of its distribution," writes Mr. 

 Seebohm,f "the peregrine is equalled by few other raptorial birds. 

 Its haunt is the open country — the moorlands, mountain sides and 

 commons, and waste lands near the sea being its favourite places. 

 Truly, indeed, the peregrine is a noble bird, his courage when on the 

 wing, and his proud bearing when seated on some naked branch or 

 rock-pinnacle, stamp him as one of the most lordly of his race." 

 In days when falconry was a fashionable pastime, the peregrine 

 was prized, protected, and petted beyond all his compeers. At 

 present a retributive destiny appears to have overtaken him, and 

 he shares the common fate that awaits, in game-preserving England, 

 the appearance of all or any of his congeners. 



Peregrines still breed occasionally in AVales and Scotland, where 

 they select wild mountainous heights and rocky headlands as their 

 home, but, thanks to game-keepers and gun-loafers, they are 

 constantly becoming scarcer ; and it seems more than probable 

 that, in a few years, they may become, like the kite, rare and 

 accidental visitors to our shores. 



6. The Virginian Colin {^Ortyx Virginianus). — An old female 

 colin, or American quail, was shot on the 12th of August, near 

 Stevenage, and is reported by Mr. Marlborough R.. Pryor. 



The Virginian colin is, as its name implies, a native of America, 

 and can only be regarded as an introduced species. It has however 

 become more or less naturalised in some of the eastern counties, 

 and is accepted by Wharton and other authorities as a British bird. 

 Respecting its occurrence in Hertfordshire, Mr. Harting writes to 

 me as follows: — "No doubt the bird in question was a wanderer 

 from Norfolk or Suffolk, where a great number have been turned 

 out; as has been the case also in Northamptonshire, where a few 

 years ago some hundreds were liberated by Lord Lilford." 



7. The Common Citrlew [Numenius arqiiata). — The common 

 curlew has been twice reported in our county during the year. 

 Mr. G. Shrimpton, Port Vale, Hertford, to whom we are indebted 

 for much vahiable information, informs me that a female curlew, 

 shot during the month of May, at Sacombe Park, was brought to 

 him to be mounted. On opening the bird he found that it con- 



* Ornithological Dictionary, p. 361. t 'British Birds,' vol. i, p. 24. 



