16 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



Mr. William Hare, of St. Albans, an old and well-read Naturalist, 

 told me to-day that a Common Buzzard was shot in Hertfordshire 

 on Friday last, the 27th January. It had been seen in the neigh- 

 bourhood for some days. My informer was pledged to secrecy 

 us to where, and by whom, the bird was shot, as it is a penal 

 offence on the estate to shoot or destroy a bird of prey. Mr. Hare 

 kindly told me the Buzzard was in the hands of Mr. Spary, a local 

 Taxidermist, and I have been and seen the bird. It is a very 

 fine specimen, and measures three feet from tip to tip, wing 

 measurement 



Mr. Hare tells me that on Saturday last, the 28th January, he saw 

 a pitched battle between two male House Sparrows as to a nesting 

 site ! The audacious rascals fought for ten minutes at least. Fancy, 

 nest building in January ! 



This snow will act as a deterrent on the singing of our feathered 

 musicians, although I have often heard the Robin and Wren singing 

 in the very depth of Winter, evidently cheered by the transient gleam. 



3rd. We woke this morning to find that much more snow had 

 fallen last night. It was very deep in places where it had drifted, 

 but there were at least 10 to 12 inches generally. I cleared a place 

 in my garden to lay the breakfast table for the birds. How hard 

 weather, and the pangs of hunger, affects their tameness 1 I could 

 stand within a few feet and watch the Great Tit and the Sparrows, 

 the Robin and the Starlings. I put up a Linnet or two on some waste 

 ground this morning. The Larks do not seem to relish this return of 

 Winter, and are quite silent again. 



The hedgerows look very pretty, just as if snowballs had been 

 made and stu^.k on to them; I do not remember seeing this before. 

 As the fall was accompanied by wind many very exposed trees are 

 quite destitute of the pure, crisp substance. 



4th. Thawing very fast, but the air still seems full of snow. 

 Weather mild and clear; some sunshine. A Coal Titmouse was in 

 the garden this morning. The House Sparrows are fighting for 

 partners; I saw three male birds this morning fighting like demons, 

 and hovering Hawk-like in the air. All birds quite silent again. 



It may be interesting to those into whose hands this book may 

 fall, to know that there are four species of Water Newts in Britain, 

 and their names are as follows: I, The Great Water Newt; 2, the 

 Common Smooth Newt; 3, the Straight Lipped Water Newt; 4, the 

 Palmated Smooth Newt. 



