OBSKUVKI) IN UERTFORDSmKE IN 1898. 139 



■months. Mr. Pvvor ■writes to luc that a party of crossbills appeared 

 at "Westou ]\Iaiior at Christmas, and stayed for ten days in the 

 neighbonrhood. 



CiKL-BuNTiNG {Emieriza cirlus). — On August 21st I had the 

 pleasure of identif\"ing a eirl- bunting at Hastoe, near Tring. 

 This is the first occasion on which I have I'ocognized this bird in 

 Hertfordshire, although Mr. Howard Saunders states that it is not 

 uncommon on the hills around Tring. 



Starling (^Sdirnics vulgaris). — 1 frequently saw a starling, which 

 had a nearly white tail, in our garden at Berkhamsted in 1898. 



Rook ( Corvus frufji'Ipqiis). — I saw some of tliese birds busy with 

 their nests on January 24th in Berkhamsted Castle grounds. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker {Dendrocopus major). — This bird 

 was very plentiful around Berkhamsted, and Mr. E. P. Thompson, 

 of Elstree, and Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, sent me records of 

 its occurrence in those places. 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker {Dendrocopus minor). — Mr. E. P. 

 Thompson informs me of the occurrence of this species at Elstree, 

 and 1 saw it occasionally near Berkhamsted. 



Green Woodpecker \Gecinus viridis). — Mr. Joseph jS^unn writes 

 to me that on jS'ovember 16th and 18th he saw a green woodpecker 

 in his garden at Royston. He has never heard of the occurrence 

 of the bird in that locality before. 



Little Owl {Athene nodua). — This bird again fi'equented the 

 locality from which I had a report of its occurrence in 1897, and 

 again nested there. On this occasion I am sorry to say that it 

 was disturbed and eventually deserted the nest w^hich was placed 

 in a loft of a barn. One of the eggs was sent to Mr. A. E. Gibbs 

 for the County Museum at St. Albans. In 1897 the nest was 

 placed in a hollow tree. In addition to the above occurrence 

 Mr. Sainsbury Vercy informs me that a bird of this species was 

 obtained at Bull's Land, Heronsgate, early in 1898, and another at 

 AVest Hyde later in the year. I am also informed by the head- 

 keeper at Moor Park that during the past year he has on several 

 occasions seen a small owl about the size of a blackbird : these 

 birds no doubt belonged to this species. 



BuzzAED {Buteo vulgaris). — Mr. Alexander Grossman saw a 

 buzzard flying over Earlswood, Cokenach, near Royston, on 

 October 7th. 



Common Scoter {CEdemia nigra). — A specimen of the common 

 scoter was obtained near Rickmansworth in IS'ovember. 



Stone-Curlew {Q^dicnemus scolopax). — Mr. M. R. Pryor saw 

 seven of these birds near Ash well in the middle of September. 



Ringed Ploveb, {^gialitis liiaticula). — Six ringed plovers 

 appeared at Tring on May 22nd, and nine on June 4th. 



Golden Plover ( Charadrius jdiivialis). — Street saw large parties 

 of these birds at Tring in December. 



Oyster-Catcher {Ilcematopns osfralegus). — On March 12th Street 

 saw two oyster-catchers at Tring, and two were shot near Rick- 

 mansworth in November. 



