J. E. LITTLEBOT—-NOTES ON BINDS. 
77 
and is now in the Tring Park collection. It is a rare summer 
visitor to the south of England; Mr. Harting has only recorded 
six occurrences, hut it is probable that it may have frequently 
been mistaken for its congener, the reed-warbler. These two birds 
are very similar in general appearance, but are readily distinguished 
by their song and the different character of their nests and eggs. 
The marsh-warbler winters in Africa, and is a regular summer 
visitor to mid-Europe. 
2. The Water-Pipit ( Anthus Spipoletta ).—Two specimens of the 
water-pipit were shot on the water-cress beds, near Perkhamsted, 
in 1886, and are preserved in the Tring Park collection. This 
species is believed to be an occasional spring or autumn visitor to 
Great Britain, but its occurrence has been so seldom recorded that 
it is hardly possible to speak of it with much certainty. 
3. The Beaeded Tit ( Panurus biarmious ).—The late Bev. James 
"Williams, of Tring Park, records the occurrence of the bearded tit 
in the following words * :—“ On the 21st of December, 1848, a pair 
of these beautiful little birds were shot in the neighbourhood of 
the reservoirs. Owing to the unusual quantity of rain which fell 
during the latter part of last summer, the reeds, which have 
generally been cut every autumn, remained uncut, and this will 
no doubt account in some measure for the appearance of my little 
friends.” I may add that Mr. William Lucas, of Hitchin, records 
a similar occurrence as having taken place near that town, in the 
same month, as follows j :—“ I think there is a small flock of 
bearded tits in a bed of reeds on the banks of the Orton. A pair 
allowed me to approach almost close to them.” The bearded tit is 
yearly becoming more and more scarce. It is emphatically a u bird 
of the reeds,” and, Tike other species which it would be easy to 
mention, is constantly driven from its favourite haunts by the 
civilising influence of drainage and progressive agriculture. It 
still breeds on the Norfolk and Suffolk broads. It is resident in 
our island, and in winter small flocks frequently fly far away from 
their breeding-ground in search of food. 
4. The Shobt-toed Lark ( Calandrella brachydactyla ).—On the 
9th of March, 1886, a short-toed lark was shot in Tring Park, quite 
accidentally, by Mr. Bothschild. He was endeavouring to procure 
food for a tame owl, shot at a small bird, and was unconscious of 
the prize he had secured until he picked it up. It has been identi¬ 
fied by Mr. Bowdler Sharp, of the British Museum, and has been 
kindly entrusted to me for exhibition here. The short-toed lark 
has only been recorded in England about half a dozen times, and 
generally in the autumn. It frequents the vast steppes of eastern 
Europe, and appears, like several other species, to migrate west¬ 
wards across Europe and southwards towards the Mediterranean, 
occasionally detaching a few stragglers on the south-eastern shores 
pf England. 
5. —The Bar-tailed God wit (limosa lapponica ).—A bar-tailed 
godwit was shot by the keeper on the reservoirs in December, 1880. 
* 4 Zoologist/ 1849, p. 2418. f lb., p. 2346. 
