506 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
fine young cock that had been shot in his covers. It was in beautiful 
plumage, without a white mark on the neck, it had a conspicuously short 
tail, and no spurs on either leg —Oxtry GraByam (Heworth, York). 
Nesting Habits of the Moor-Hen.—In that most interesting book, 
‘Game Birds and Wild Fowl of the British Islands,’ by Charles Dixon, I 
notice, in the details of the nidification of the Waterhen (Gallinula 
chloropus, Linn.), Mr. Dixon states (p. 82), “ When the sitting bird leaves 
the nest it covers the eggs with bits of vegetation.” Now, during the past — 
twenty-six years, I have seen a large number of nests and eggs of this bird — 
(principally in the neighbourhood of York, but also in various parts of the 
county), and I have never yet found the eggs covered ; and my experience 
is confirmed by several practical field naturalists of my acquaintance to 
whom I have referred. I am of course quite aware that the habits of birds, 
like the colours of the plumage, are subject to variation, and perhaps this is 
a local instance; but that it is the rare exception (if it occurs) and not the 
rule in Yorkshire, I am firmly convinced. Perhaps other ornithologists will 
be good enough to inform us how far their experience confirms or refutes 
Mr. Dixon’s statement.— WiLti1am Hewert (12, Howard Street, York). 
The Birds of the Riffelalp.—I was much interested in reading Dr. 
Sclater’s paper on the Birds of the Riffelalp (ante, p. 474), as I was myself 
in quest of birds there in 1894, and again in 1896. Two of the birds he 
has specified I did not observe there—the Water Pipit and the Alpine 
Accentor—the latter being one of the very few alpine birds with whichI — 
am still unacquainted. I did, however, observe the Rock Thrush above the © 
Riffelberg Hotel. The Nutcracker is, as Dr. Sclater observes, a very con- — 
spicuous bird of the higher forests of Switzerland, and when chaplain 
at Gimmelwald I was frequently asked by sojourners at the Pension 
Schilthorn, ‘‘ What was the large black bird with the white tail” which they — 
so frequently met in the woods? Until I had myself seen the Nutcracker 
I was unable to answer. I also observed near Murren that beautiful little © 
song bird, the Citril Finch (Chrysomitris citrinella), which has a pleasing 
song frequently uttered when on the wing. It is much to be wished that 
some handbook of Swiss birds were available for visitors, as in all my 
chaplaincies I found that great interest was taken in ornithology by so- 
journers in the hotels -CHarLes W. Benson (Rathmines School, Dublin). 
Birds of Hertfordshire.—As it is desired by the Hertfordshire Natural 
History Society to have as complete a list of birds of the county as possible, — 
I should be glad, as Recorder of Birds to this Society, if anybody having 
notes on any species which have occurred in Hertfordshire would send me 
particulars of same. — ALAN Fairrax Crossman (St. Cuthbert’s, Berk- — 
hampstead). 
