IN A HERTFORDSHIRE LANE 
49 
I Ring-necked or Bengal VarraXieet [Palaornis torquata). This 
is so well-known as not to need description. The nude only 
has the ring, the female is clad almost entirely in green. It 
frequents the cultivated districts of India, Ceylon and Cochin 
China. It is regarded as a nuisance by the farmers, owing to 
the marauding visits it pays to their growing corn. Hardy, 
very noisy ; some specimens learn to talk very intelligibly, but 
they are terrible screamers. In London think of the neighbours ! 
It should have a little fruit, boiled potato or raw carrot, and in 
season green peas, in addition to its seed menu. Size 14 to 15 
in. long, of which the tail measures 5 in. 
J King Parrakeet {Apyosiiiictiis cyanopigins). A lovely south- 
east Australian species, found principally in New South Wales, 
where it does a deal of damage to the growing corn (as it 
frequents the neighbourhood of cultivated districts), consequently 
the farmers regard it with little favour ; with them its great 
beauty does not cover its sins. It should have boiled oats and 
maize when rearing young. Size 14 to 15 in. long ; stoutly 
built. 
Wesley T. P.\ge, F.Z.S. 
IN A HERTFORDSHIRE LANE. 
T is near the middle of “ merrie ” May, three hours 
before sunset, and we hnd ourselves in one of the 
quiet, secluded leafy lanes of beauteous Hertfordshire. 
It has been a day tempered with brilliant sunshine, 
and all Nature seems pleased. Turning round the corner out 
of the main road, by the time-worn sign post, the main post 
plastered with an auctioneer’s announcement of a sale at a 
neighbouring farmhouse, we are safe from interruption, and can 
hear and watch all that is going on. The first thing which 
attracts our notice is a robin redbreast hopping in front of us, 
turning his head first one side and then the other to see if we are 
peeping into that grassy tangled bank or that clustering ivy 
l)Ower for the nest. Then, in the tall trees above us, the little 
wood wren, in his green and gold livery, treats us to a delicate 
warble and then off to the next giant forester on the other side 
of the lane, for on the left it is woodland. 
Skirmishing through the tall trees a few restless jays disport 
themselves, but our attention is distracted by an orange-tipped 
butterfly flying right across us. A nightingale takes up the 
chorus of welcome afforded us. He has surely not arrived here 
long — that particular bird — for he is by no means in good song 
yet. Those rich, mellow notes are absent that we know full well 
will come. 
The hedge on the right is sheltered from the still keen winds, 
and here we look for, with confidence, and find nests in abundance. 
