OBSKRVED IN HERTS IN 1894. 151 



duck, still the sbovellor is met with not unfrequently on the coast." 

 This bird nests at the Reservoirs. The pochard, Dresser (vi, 503) 

 says, " frequents both the sea -coast and inland waters, and obtains 

 its food cbietiy under the surface of the water. It is consequently 

 an expert diver and able to remain below for some time, and to 

 swallow its food when under water." The tufted duck is stated 

 by Dresser (vi, 574) to be, " as a rule, only a winter visitant " in 

 Great Britain. 



Goldex-Eye {Clangula glaucion). — Mr. Hartert says that the 

 golden-eye "was seen in flocks on the Reservoirs at the end of 

 December, 1894, and the beginning of Jannary, 1895." Dresser 

 (vi, 595) says of this bird that "In Great Britain it is known only 

 as a winter visitant. Mr. Grey says that it probably breeds 

 occasionally in Sutherlandshire, as specimens have been obtained in 

 that county as late as the end of May. It frequents the sea-coast, 

 and appears to obtain its food chiefly under water, being a most 

 e.xpert diver, so much so that it will dive at the flash when fired at. 

 "When undisturbed it sits rather lightly on the surface of the water, 

 but when alarmed can swim so low that the back is only just 

 shown above the surface of the water." 



Woodcock (Scolopax rusticula). — "Woodcocks wei'e seen more 

 often than during the last few years," so Mr. Hartert writes. This 

 must be welcome news to those of us who have tasted woodcock 

 (and who has not ?). It is to be hoped that some of these winter 

 visitors may prolong their visits into the nesting-season, as they 

 have previously done. Mr. Littleboy reported that woodcocks 

 "have once or twice nested in Tring Park"; and from Dresser 

 (yii, 623) we leam that in Germany "it is supposed to make 

 its first appearance on the so-called ' Occuli ' Sunday (the third 

 Sunday in Lent), which is usually termed Woodcock Sunday." 

 I alluded in a former report to the habit this bird possesses of 

 carrying its young, which it does from the wood to the swamp 

 to feed, as well as in case of danger. 



This completes the report from the Tring district. 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



Redbreast [Erithacus riihecula). — On the 28th of August I 

 received two dead robins, picked up by Mr. Ashwell in his garden 

 at The Priory, St. Albans. They were found about fifteen yards 

 from each other. He had separated them only a short time before, 

 and they must have succumbed to the injuries they received whilst 

 engaged in mortal combat. They were both severely pecked about 

 the head, the injuries being quite sufiicient to account for their 

 death. One bird had a much duller-coloured breast than the other. 

 I have often been asked the question, "Do the young robins kill 

 the old ones?" Mrs. Biightwen ('Wild Nature Won by Kind- 

 ness,' p. 194) observes: "Every robin fights his neighbour all 

 the year through, except when paired and busy with domestic 

 duties." Yarrell (' British Birds,' vol. i, p. 306) tells us that after 

 their annual moult, " The old bii'ds, then in renewed vigour, 



