SESSION 1898-99. xxxiii 



The following lecture was delivered : — 



" Eirds and their Nests in Hertfordshire." By Alan F. 

 Crossman, P.L.S., M.E.O.U. An extempore lecture in place of 

 "which Mr. Crossman contributed for publication " A List of the 

 Birds of Hertfordshire." {Transactions, Vol. X, pp. 84-102.) 



The Lectukkr said that with the aid of lantern-slides he would 

 give some account of birds and their nests which he iiad observed 

 in Hertfordshire. He thought that if the size of the county and 

 its inland position were considered, the record of birds which had 

 at various times been observed in it was a good one. So far as its 

 birds were concerned Hertfordshire might be divided into three 

 districts. In the part of the county towards London, which was 

 chiefly grass laud, would be found most of our warbleis and birds 

 of their kind. In the wooded portions such birds were also found, 

 but there were more of the larger kinds. In the vast open fields 

 in tlie north there were very few birds, considering the extent of 

 that area. In former times there must have been many more. 

 He might also mention that the reservoirs of Tring and Elstree 

 were a great attraction to water-birds. 



He then made a running commentary on the slides of the birds 

 and their nests as they were shown on the screen, some from 

 photographs, others from drawings. 



Mk. T. Vaughan Roberts remarked on the occurrence of the 

 kingfisher, which he thought was more common than Mr. Crossman 

 imagined it to be, for he fished a good deal from time to time and 

 rarely without seeing a kingtisher, especially in this neighbourhood. 



Mb. Henry Lewis said that some little siskins were this year 

 seen at West End, Essendon. They were interesting birds to 

 study and to keep as pets, being tamer than any other birds he 

 had ever kept. They would perch upon his finger. Their note 

 was peculiar, being something like that of a penny trumpet. 



The President remarked that many years passed without his 

 seeing a kingfisher, the first he then saw being in the town of 

 Hitchin. He had seen several this summer on the north coast 

 of Cornwall. He was not awai'e before that the bird frequented 

 salt water as well as fresh. There were also other birds there 

 which he was not in the habit of seeing on the coast, and he 

 suggested that it might be owing to the drought this yeiir, the 

 birds thinking that salt water was better than none at all. He 

 thought that the kingfisher ought to be taken care of on account 

 of its great beauty ; if it did eat a few fish, they were fish which 

 we do not eat as a rule. 



Mr. CfiossiiAX replied that he did not intend to say that the 

 kingfisher was really rare, but inclined to become so, and no doubt 

 it would if netted under bridges, for it was a bird which flies very 

 straight, and it would get into a net before it would notice it, 

 especially the fine silk nets which were sometimes used The 

 bird visited the coast after the nesting-season. He could not say 

 what was the exact number of birds recorded in the county. 



