14G J. E. LITTLEBOY — BIRDS OBSKHVED IN 1878. 



The Green "Woodpecker [Gecimis viridis). — A pair of these 

 birds were well identified in the plantation, near my garden, at 

 Hunton Bridge, on the 6th of last August. They flew away 

 together in the direction of Langleybury, and we have not since 

 seen them. 



The Cuckoo {Cuculus canorus). — First heard at Cassiobury by 

 Lord Essex, on the 22nd of April ; by Dr. Brett on the 24th of 

 April ; and on the same day, by Lieut. E.. B. Croft, at Ware. 



The jN^ightjar (^CapnmulffUfi europceus). — Two young birds were 

 observed in the garden at Hunton Bridge on the 1 3th of September. 



The Swift {Cypselus (/pus). — First seen at King's Langley, near 

 the church, on the 5th of May ; and at Ware, by Lieut. R. B. 

 Croft, on the 1 7th of May. 



The Turtle Dove {Turtur auritus). — We noticed turtle doves 

 in our garden, on several occasions during the summer, but on the 

 3rd of September a nest, with one young dove, was discovered in a 

 tree near the waste-water. Directly it was disturbed the parent 

 bird attempted to divert our attention by scrambling along, as if 

 desperately wounded, across the meadow ; on reaching the stream 

 she at once flew across without the slightest diificulty, but whilst 

 crossing the grass-plot completely tumbled over four or five times. 

 I had never before witnessed so remarkable a performance, and I 

 could not but wish that it had been possible to assure the distressed 

 mother of the perfect safety of her ofi^spring. 



The Short-Eared Owl {Asio accipitrinus). — A beautiful speci- 

 men of this bird was shot about a month ago by Mr. D. Hill, at 

 Northwood, near Pinner. 



The Kestrel [Falco Timmnculus). — I have again to report that a 

 brood of young kestrels was reared during the summer in an oak 

 tree at Russell Farm. A remarkably fine bird was noticed on the 

 5th of October near Langleybury, and on the 29th of October 

 another was observed chasing a rook in the neighbourhood of 

 Pinner. 



The Common Sandpiper {Actitis hypoleums). — Eeported by Dr. 

 Brett as seen in Bushey meadows. 



The Woodcock [Scolopax Rimticola). — Two birds first seen on 

 the 8th of November by the Rev. H. R. Peel, near Abbot's Hill. 



The Coot {Fulica atra). — Abundant on the Tring Reservoirs. A 

 specimen was shot on the Colne by Mr. A. Dyson only last Friday. 



The Common Gull {Larus canus). — During the past year I have 

 repeatedly noticed flights of gulls sailing over Hunton Bridge. 

 On the 24th of August I counted a flight of twelve birds. 



I will only say, in conclusion, that I should be extremely 

 obliged to the members of our Society if they would more 

 generally assist me by forwarding information respecting birds 

 observed in their several localities. By so doing they would add 

 greatly to the interest and intrinsic value of any future notes. 



