NOTKS ON BFRDS ORSKUVETt IN 18i)9. 181 



I watched it tlii'ouii-li my ficld-ji-lasscs and found that it belonged to 

 this s2)eeies. Whether the other bird belouginc; to the nest was 

 also a white wagtail I had not the opportunity of seeing, but it was 

 interesting to nie to lind this bird nesting in Hertfordshire. The 

 tirst record of the wlute wagtail in our county was in 1895, when 

 it was identified by Mr. H. 8. Rivers at Sawbridgeworth, where he 

 afterwards found a nest, one of the occupants of which was 

 undoubtedly of this species. 



Goldfinch {Cardnelis i'/eqans). — In spite of the persecution by 

 birdcatchers of this beautiful bird in many districts, it is, in my 

 opinion, most certainly on the increase in other parts of the county. 

 1 very seldom go out in the neighbourhood of Eerkhamsted without 

 seeing goldfinches. Mr. M. li. Pryor informs me also that this 

 species was common in the neighbourhood of Stevenage during last 

 winter. 



Bkambling {Fringilla montifringilla). — I saw some of these birds 

 near Berkhamsted as late as April 7th, while a friend of mine saw 

 them in the same district on the 15th of that month. 



Lksser Redpoll {Linota riifcscens). — I have again to record the 

 nesting of this bird in Hertfordshire, as a nest, from which young 

 birds were eventually hatched off, was found in a shrubbery at 

 Newsells, Bark way. This species has only been recorded as nesting 

 in this county on three occasions, although no doubt it would be 

 found much more frequently if diligently searched for. 



Crossbill [Loxia curvirostra). — This species occurred frequently 

 near Eerkhamsted during the early part of 1899, but disappeared 

 entirely during the latter half of the year, nor were any of these 

 birds seen at Tring at that time. I think it possible that they may 

 have nested in Ockridge Wood, near Eerkhamsted, as I saw cross- 

 bills paired there at the end of February. Mr. E. P. Thompson 

 informs me that he saw a pair in his garden at Elstree on 

 20th February, 1899. 



Short-eared Owl {Asio accipitrinus), — This species has not 

 been recorded in Hertfordshire for some years, although in foinner 

 times it has occun-ed fah'ly plentifully. This year I am able to 

 mention a specimen which was obtained at Elstree Reservoir on 

 12th October, 1899. 



Tawny Owl {Sijrnmm aluco). — It is, I should think, somewhat 

 unusual for owls to come to grief by contact with the telegraph- 

 wires, but Mr. H. G. Fordham sent me an example of this species 

 which had met its end in this way. 



Buzzard {Buteo vulgaris). — This fine species has occuiTed for at 

 least the last three years at Cokenach, near Royston, during the 

 autumn. Last year one was seen there on October 14th, which is 

 within a week of the date on which a specimen was observed 

 in 1898. 



Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrimis). — About the beginning of 

 May in last year a falcon was seen at Cokenach, but it may have 

 been an escaped bird. 



Hobby {Falco subhuteo). — On July 27th I saw a small falcon at 



