36 J. E. LITTLEBOY — PtJKTHER NOTES ON OUR BIRDS. 



I have to report an addition of three birds to the list pre- 

 viously read.* On the 14th of November we had the pleasure 

 of identifying a ring ousel {Tiirdm torquatus) in the most satisfac- 

 tory manner. We observed it from the turnpike-road between 

 Hunton Bridge and King's Langley, at a distance from us of about 

 20 or 30 yards. It was seen a second time on the 21st of Novem- 

 ber, at almost precisely the same place. The ring ousel is abundant 

 during the summer in Scotland, and in some parts of the North of 

 England. I have but little doubt that the bird we were fortunate 

 enough to notice was merely a passing visitor, journeying from 

 its northern abode to winter quarters. It is said to select Corsica 

 and other of the Mediterranean Islands as its winter retreat. My 

 friend Mr. Fletcher Harris, of Leighton Buzzard, informs me, also, 

 that on three different occasions he has observed specimens of a 

 decidedly uncommon grebe upon the Tring Reservoir. At first he 

 believed it to be the red-necked grebe {Podiceps rubricoUis), but on 

 closer examination he has no hesitation in identifying it as Podiceps 

 cornutus, or the "dusky grebe." It is stated by Meyer as a 

 " remarkable fact in the character of this species, that it generally 

 swims about near the shore and scarcely ever dives on the approach 

 of danger till it becomes imminent." This characteristic is strik- 

 ingly confirmed by Mr. Harris, who writes to me as follows: — 

 " The three birds I saw were much larger and more slim than the 

 dabchick. They were almost close to the side, and although I 

 tried to frighten them, they did not take any notice. Most of the 

 coots, of which I think I saw between thirty and forty, went off 

 into the reeds directly they saw me." The dusky grebe is said to 

 be a permanent I'esident in many parts of Scotland. It is reported 

 as having been shot at Weston Favell, near Northampton, and also 

 in the neighbourhood of Oxford, in both cases during the winter 

 months, but I cannot discover that it has previously been seen in 

 Hertfordshire. Lastly, I find that the carrion crow [Corvus cor one) 

 has been observed near Bousebarn-lane, in the lower portion of 

 Cassiobury Park. Perhaps I had better state, before I conclude, 

 that a small Wader has been observed by Mr. Thomas Toovey, in 

 the low meadows near King's Langley. He believes it to be one 

 of the sandpipers, but has not been able definitely to identify it ; 

 possibly some of our members may be able to look up the interesting 

 stranger and report its name to a future meeting of the Society. 



* See p. 31. The three additional species are incorporated in the list. 



