143 



21. — XoTES OJJ" Birds observed in 1878. 

 By John E. Littleboy. 

 [Read 12th December, 1878.] 



It will, I think, be remembered tluit I was requested about a 

 year ago to preseiTe a record of all the rarer birds observed or shot 

 within our district. I have now to announce eight species not 

 previously reported. 



1. — The Crossbill {Loxia ciirvirostra). — I am informed by Dr. 

 Brett that a specimen of the common crossbill was recently shot in 

 a garden at Harrow Weald. Notwithstantling its name, it is a 

 decidedly rare bii'd. It is described as being about the size of a 

 hawfinch, and as conspicuously differing from all other species of 

 English birds in the extraordinary shape and character of its beak. 

 Buffon has described this strange formation as "an error and defect 

 in nature," and as " a useless deformity." I imagine that but few 

 would be willing to admit the correctness of such a verdict ; on the 

 contrary, I find it stated by Morris that the bill of the crossbill 

 " is most peculiarly and admirably adapted to the mode of life for 

 which it was created." * 



2. — The Cirl Bunting [Emherha Cirlus). — A cirl bunting was 

 observed by Mr. Lake, of King's Langley, during the month of 

 ^November, near Chipperfield Common. It closely resembles the 

 yellow hammer, but is readily distinguished from it by its black 

 chin and throat. 



3. — The Hobby [Falco Suhbuteo). — A good specimen of this 

 hawk was shot last year at St. Margaret's, near Great Gaddesden. 

 The hobby is one of the smallest of the hawk tribe, and is a 

 migratory bird, arriving in England about the beginning of May 

 and leaving in the autumn. 



4. — The Spotted Crake {Porzmia maruetta). — On the 4th of last 

 September Mr. Alfred Dyson shot a beautiful little spotted crake 

 in the Colne meadows, near "Watford. This species is somewhat 

 smaller than the corn crake, it frequents damp, fenny meadows, 

 generally hiding itself among reeds and long grass, and is but very 

 rarely to be met with in Hertfordshire. 



5. — The Crested Grebe [Podiceps cristatus) ; and 



6. — The Red-]S^ecked Grebe [Podiceps nihricoUis). — In my 

 supplementary notes on the "Birds of our District," read last 

 year,f I mentioned the occurrence of the dusky grebe on the Tring 

 Eeservoii's. I further stated that my friend, Mr. F. Harris, 

 believed that he had also seen the red-necked grebe on the same 

 waters. I am glad to be able to state, on the unquestionable 

 authority of the Rev. H. Harpur Crewe, of Drayton Beauchamp 

 Bectory, that this bird is occasionally to be met with in the locality 

 mentioned, and it is therefore highly probable that my informant 



* ' British Birds,' vol. ii, p. 341. t ' Transactions,' Vol. II, p. 36. 



