THE BIRDS OF nEIlTFOKDSnTRE. 89 



69. TwtTE {Limta flavirostris). — lu December, 1883, a pair, 

 and in February, 1884, two pairs, were caught on the borders of 

 the county towards Aldbury, and on the 4th of May of the latter 

 year a male was captured near llitchin. 



70. BtJLLFiNca {Pyrrhnla eiiropeea). — Resident and plentiful, 

 though much persecuted in fruit-growing districts. 



71. Crossbill {Loxia curvirostra). — .1 fairly regular winter 

 visitor to suitable localities. In tlie third edition of Yarrell's 

 • British Birds ' Hertfordshire is mentioned as one of the counties 

 in which tliis bird has been found nesting. In March, 1895, 

 I observed a pair near Berkhamsted which may have been nesting. 



72. Tavo-barked Crossbill {Loxia bifusciata). — The only specimen 

 of this bird which has been obtained in this county was one which 

 from its plumage was probably a female and which was shot at 

 Tharbies, near Sawbridgeworth, by Mr. H. S. Hi vers, on 11th 

 January, 1890. It is now in his possession. 



73. CoRX-BuNTiNG {Emberiza miliaria). — Resident and common, 

 especially towards the north and north-west of the county. 



74. Yellowhamjier [Einberiza citrinella). — Resident and common. 

 7-5. CiRL-BtrxTiN'G {Emberiza cirlas). — Scarce. A few are found 



on the Chalk hills to the north-west, where the species breeds 

 sparingly. 



76. Rustic Bunting {Emheriza rustica). — A young male was 

 taken by a birdcatcher at Elstree on 19th November, 1882. It 

 was stuifed by Burton, of Wardour Street, and passed into the 

 possession of the late Lord Lilford. 



77. Reed-Bunting {Emheriza schceniclm). — Resident and not 

 uncommon in suitable localities. 



78. Snow-Bunting {Plectrophanes nivalis). — In February, 1881, 

 one, which passed into the possession of Mr. AV. Hill, was shot 

 near Hitchin, while about the same time several were seen near 

 Royston, two of which were caught with some larks. On 24th 

 January, 1883, one was shot on Harpenden Common, and on 

 27th December, 1886, and again on the 29th, a flock was seen 

 at Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead. On 6th December, 1893, 

 a specimen was picked up under the telegraph-wires on Royston 

 Heath, and in January, 1894, one was shot at Sandon. 



79. Starling {Sturnus vulgaris). — Resident and common. 



80. American Red-winged Starling {A//elceus ^jhostiiceus). — In the 

 fii'st volume of the ' Transactions ' of this Society there is mention 

 of a bird of this species having been obtained near Bovingdon 

 during the spring of 1879. This is a bird which is imported as 

 a cage-bird into this country in some numbers, and no doubt the 

 specimen mentioned above was an escaped example. 



81. Chough {Pyrrhocorax graculus). — In the ' Herts Advertiser' 

 for 21st June, 1884, appeared a letter from a Mr. Henry Cross, of 

 Harpenden, in which he gave a description of a bird of this species 

 which he had seen on the eastern side of the Midland Railway 

 near Beechbottom Wood, St. Albans, on 27th May in that year. 

 Much correspondence appeared in the papers about it, but no 



