OBSERVED IN nERTFOKDSnrRE IN 1882. 217 



Species. Locality. Date. Observer. 



Bramblixo ITazehvooJ Jan. Mr. Stauuard. 



{Fiiogillti Montifringilla) Shomlish Feb. 21 E.Lake. 



Hooded Crow Odsey Grange Jan. 21 H. G. Fordham. 



{^Con-US Comix) „ Feb. 28 H. G. Fordham. 



,, Oct. 9 H.G. Fcinlham. 



Berkhamstead Common Dec. 19 IMrs. Littleboy. 



Short-eared Owl Moor Park Dec. Lord Ebury. 



{Asio accipitrinus) 



Woodcock Otterspool, Watford .... Oct. 14 A. F. Holland. 



{Scolopax rusticola) 



I must now direct your attention to sundry reports, received 

 during- the year, from various localities throughout our county. 



The Redstart {Ruticilla pha'iiicurus). — Redstarts have been 

 more geuorally reported than on any previous occasion. The Rev. 

 J. A. Ewing, Westmill Rectory, Buntingford, writes that "a pair 

 of redstarts built a nest and brought out their young in a plantation 

 by the side of the Rectory lane." Mr. A. Barraud reports that he 

 observed a bird, in fine plumage, about the end of April, on the 

 outskirts of Cassiobury Park, and that a pair of redstarts built and 

 reared theii* young in Mr. C. Fry's summer-house, at the Little 

 Elms. 



The Stonechat {Pratincola ruhicola). — Although said to be 

 resident, stonechats are certainly more plentiful on this side of 

 the county in the winter months and during the early spring 

 than at other times in the year. They may generally be met with 

 in February between Hunton Bridge and King's Langiey, and I 

 have frequently seen them near Berkhampstead and elsewhere, at 

 about the same period of the year. 



Thrushes {Tardus musicus, T. iliaciis, and T. pilaris). — The 

 song-thrush commenced to sing at a very early date. It is reported 

 from all parts of the county from January 2nd to the end of 

 February. A nest with four eggs was found by Mr. H. G. 

 Fordham on the 26th of March. Redwings appear to have been 

 more plentiful than has been the case since the disastrous winter 

 of 1879-80. At the same time it is only right to state that their 

 absence from the neighbourhood of Stevenage is specially referred 

 to by Mr. Marlborough Pryor. Fieldfares have again been scarce. 

 Mr. Percy F. Fordham mentions having observed considerable 

 numbers about the 13th of January, in the Royston district, but 

 with this exception all the reports received confirm their general 

 scarcity in our county. 



The Grasshopper-Warbler {Locustella ncevia). — Grasshopper- 

 warblers are reported by Mr. A. F. Griffith to breed regularly in 

 the neighbourhood of Sandridge. I have only once before had 

 occasion to register their occurrence ; but they are difficult birds 

 to identify unless the observer is thoroughly familiar with their 

 peculiar note, and it is probable that they are much commoner 

 than is generally supposed. 



The Great Grey Shrike {Lmiiiis exciihitor). — A great grey 

 shiike was shot during November near Throcking by Mr. Coleman. 



