34 J. n. TrKE — birds obseeted xeae hitchin. 



under my notice is the common sandpiper, which is sometimes seen 

 on the banks of our little stream — the Hiz. The stone curlew 

 or jS^orfolk plover is a regular visitor on the Chalk downs to 

 the west of the town, where it breeds, though I have never had 

 their eggs from that neighbourhood. The quail and red-legged 

 partridge are also common, as also is the dabcliick. 



Before closing these hasty notes on the birds around Hitchin, I 

 should like to call attention to how much may be done, even in a 

 small space, by carefully protecting birds. Immediately adjoining 

 the town of Hitchin, on the road to the station, from which it is 

 not distant more than a quarter of a mile, my partner, Mr. Seebohm, 

 and myself, have about seven acres of wood, in which, in addition 

 to the commoner birds, the following have bred : — The sparrow-hawk, 

 rook, jackdaw, hawfinch, turtle-dove, stock-dove, cushat, nightin- 

 gale, bullfinch, redstart, golden-crest, longtailed tit, and kingfisher. 

 The last named took possession, some years ago, of quite a small 

 sand-pit, which was not more than six feet across, and dug a 

 deep hole in the side of the pit (two feet or more in depth) ; and 

 in each succeeding year, in various parts of the dell, wherever 

 sand has been dug out, these beautiful birds have brought out one 

 or more broods. Is not Tennyson's " Blue bird of March " intended 

 for the kingfisher, as it commences to utter its curio-us note and to 

 build, or rather bore for, its nest, early in this month ? ^yhat is 

 curious about the position of these nests is, that the sand-pits are 

 surrounded by trees and quite away from the small stream whicb 

 runs through the town. The thrush and blackbird build in large 

 numbers in tliis little wood, and it is an excellent place for listening 

 to their song. "It's quite a charm of bii'ds, sir," as a laboui'er 

 said to me one day, using quite naturally the words which Chaucer 

 uses in his unrivalled descriptions of the song of birds in the early 

 spring morning. 



I do not think the fact of the great variety and individuality of 

 the song of birds of the same species has been sufficiently noted. 

 To me it seems that there is as great an individuality in the notes 

 of the thrash or blackbird as there is in the voices of different 

 people, and I notice the same peculiarity of note going on year after 

 year in what I believe to be the same bird. Blackbirds often have 

 a curious little finishing note, and one especially which I noticed, 

 seemed to sing over and over again the name of a gentleman of my 

 acquaintance, in a manner which I have never heard before or 

 since ; and what note is there which equals in depth and melody 

 the early morning note of the blackbird — which, quite distinct 

 from that in the after part of the day, seems to come forth as a 

 morning anthem of praise and joy ! In addition to the birds, the 

 fox, the rabbit, and the hedgehog all breed in the wood. 



