A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 



having been shot there in August, 1884, and 

 two in the same month in 1886, while on 

 August 1 7th, 1895, two were seen there, one 

 of which was afterwards shot and turned out 

 to be a reeve. 



1 8 1 . Common Sandpiper. Tetanus bypoleucus 



(Linn.). 



This bird is a common visitor on the spring 

 and autumn migration to many parts of Hert- 

 fordshire, arriving about the third week in 

 April, but only on one occasion has it been 

 found nesting in the county. This was in 

 1896, when the miller at Hyde Mill near 

 Hitchin, found a nest under the high bank of 

 the mill sluice-pit. Mr. Latchmore, who in- 

 formed me of this, further corroborated it, as 

 he had often flushed the birds from the place, 

 but had never thought of looking for a nest. 



182. Wood - Sandpiper. Tetanus glareola 



(Gmelin). 



The Hon. Walter Rothschild informed the 

 late J. E. Littleboy that an example of this 

 species was obtained at the Tring reservoirs 

 in August, 1886. 



183. Green Sandpiper. Tetanus ockropus 



(Linn.). 



This is a fairly regular visitor to Tring on 

 migration, and at one time frequently appeared 

 at Ickleford near Hitchin. It has also been 

 observed at Weston near Stevenage, Hertford, 

 St. Albans, Radlett and Braughing. 



1 84. Redshank. Tetanus calidris (Linn.). 

 The redshank has appeared at Tring more 



frequently than formerly during the last two 

 or three years, as up to the year 1898 it had 

 only been recorded in Hertfordshire on about 

 three occasions, but since then two or three 

 have been seen at the reservoirs each year. It 

 has occurred near Watford once, one having 

 been shot in the Colne meadows in 1875 or 

 1876, while in June, 1891, a redshank was 

 picked up on the Midland Railway between 

 St. Albans and Radlett. 



185. Greenshank. Tetanus canescens (Gmelin). 

 The greenshank may be considered an 



annual visitor to the Tring reservoirs, as 

 some appear there every year in the spring 

 and autumn. The only other place in the 

 county from which it has been recorded is 

 Watford, where one was shot by Mr. A. 

 Dyson in the Colne meadows in the early 

 part of 1880. 



1 86. Bar-tailed Godwit. Limosa lappenica 



(Linn.). 



In December, 1880, a bird of this species 

 was obtained at the Tring reservoirs. 



187. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica 



(Gmelin). 



A black-tailed godwit is said to have been 

 shot at Tring in September, 1886. 



1 88. Curlew. Numenlus arquata (Linn.). 

 Whether this bird occurs nowadays oftener 



or not than formerly I do not know, but it is 

 certainly the fact that there are more records 

 of it at the present time. In May, 1882, a 

 female was shot at Sacombe Park, while later 

 in the year curlews were heard near Hertford. 

 It has also been recognized at Great Berkham- 

 sted, Elstree, Royston and Stevenage. But it 

 is to Tring that these birds come most 

 frequently : formerly its visits there were few 

 and far between, but during the last few years 

 it has appeared regularly and at times in some 

 numbers, the largest number seen there at 

 once being sixteen. 



189. Whimbrel. Numenius pbteopus (Linn.). 

 A whimbrel was shot during the month of 



July, 1 88 1, in the parish of Throcking, by 

 Mr. John Coleman. The only other example 

 ever obtained in Hertfordshire was procured 

 at Buckland near Royston, on May lyth, 

 1883. 



190. Black Tern. Hydrocheltden nigra (Linn.). 

 This pretty bird is to be seen at Tring 



every year and often in considerable numbers, 

 as many as sixty or seventy having been 

 observed there at one time. One noticeable 

 fact about the visits of this species is that it 

 comes all through the summer, instead of 

 only appearing in the spring and autumn. 

 On April 24th, 1886, Mr. Henry Lewis saw 

 two black terns between Park Street and 

 Moor Mill, one of which was eventually shot 

 and mounted by Mr. Luff of St. Albans. 

 Mr. Benefield of Ware also informed Mr. 

 Littleboy that he obtained six of these birds 

 some years ago near Broxbourne, and that on 

 May 1 3th, 1886, he observed a pair of them 

 flying over some flooded meadows on the 

 banks of the Stort in the parish of Gilston ; 

 they were very tame and frequently came 

 within a few yards of him. Mr. E. P. 

 Thompson mentions a black tern which was 

 obtained at Elstree reservoir about 1882 : it 

 was sitting on a buoy to which boats were 

 attached at the time. 



191. Sandwich Tern. Sterna cantiaca, 



Gmelin. 



The only record I can find of this species 

 in Hertfordshire is that two, which I believe 

 passed into the possession of the Hon. W. 

 Rothschild, were killed at the Tring reser- 

 voirs in October, 1886. 



214 



