38 A. F. CEOSSMAJS' XOTES OX BIRDS 



me. The common buzzard has only been recorded in Hertfordshire 

 on very few occasions, although most probably in former times it 

 was a resident in the county, together with such birds as the kite 

 and raven, which are now also no longer found here. 



Pekegeine Falcon {Falco peregrinus). — On September 30th a 

 female peregrine was shot by Mr. W. Brown, of Newnham, Baldock. 

 It weighed 4 lbs., and measured 43 inches from tip to tip of the 

 wings. The bird was preserved by Mr. J. S. Wright, of Clifton, 

 Beds, and is now in the possession of Mr. Brown. On December 

 16th a peregrine was seen in the neighbourhood of Elstree, and 

 Mr. E. P. Thompson informs me that it remained there some 

 days. The peregrine falcon occurs in Hertfordshire nearly every 

 year during the autumn, but unfortunately it is nearly always 

 killed. 



Glossy Ibis {Falcinellus igneus). — In November, 1887, a specimen 

 of this bird was shot about 200 yards from the village of "Waterford 

 by Mr. J. Eoberts. It was stuffed by Mr. Shrimpton, of Hertford, 

 and passed into the hands of Mr. W. P. Westall, who sold it to the 

 Hon. Walter Rothschild. This bird is, I believe, now in the Tring 

 Museum. The biixl has been obtained in Hertfordshire on one 

 other occasion, one having been shot by Mr. Pantia Ealli, in Ball's 

 Park, on 10th September, 1881. 



Sheldeake {Tadorna cornuta). — Street saw a sheldrake at the 

 Tring Reservoirs on January 10th. In my report for 1896 

 I mentioned the various occuiTences of this duck in Hert- 

 fordshire. 



Pintail {Bafila acuta). — Mr. Lucas informs me that a specimen 

 of this duck was shot at Radwell, near Hitchin, by Mr. Hilton in 

 1877, and was preserved. 



Teal {Querquedida crecca). — Mr. Lucas has often seen teal at 

 Oughton Head, near Hitchin, but has not been able to ascertain 

 whether they nest there. The late Mr. J. E. Littleboy recorded 

 the nesting of this species at Tring, the nest being sent to the 

 South Kensington Museum. 



WiGEON {Ilareca penelope). — Street shot a wigeon at Tring on 

 February 9th, and another which was preserved was obtained near 

 Hitchin during the year. 



Stone-Cuelew {£dicnemus scolopax). — Mr. Lucas reports that 

 he heard this bird near Hitchin during the summer of 1897. I am 

 pleased to be able to record this, as the stone-curlew, although 

 formerly a fairly plentiful breeding species, is now a very rare bird 

 in Hertfordshire. 



Golden Plovee {Charadrins plnvialis). — This bird appeared in 

 large numbers in various parts of the county in December. Street 

 informs me that he saw considerably over a hundi-ed together on 

 one occasion at the Tring Reservoirs during that month. 



Otstee-Catchee {ITmmatoptis ostralegi(s). — Street shot an oyster- 

 catcher at one of the Reservoirs on September 24th. This bird has 

 been obtained on one occasion at Elstree Reservoir, where 

 Mr. Wilshin shot one in February, 1868, These, so far as I can 



