OBSERVED IF HERTFORDSHIRE IF 1887. 
79 
“ It is essentially* an arctic bird, breeding in tbe old-world portion 
of the circumpolar region, on tundras above the limit of forest 
growth.” 
11. The Little Stift ( Tringa minuta). —Two “ little ” stints 
were shot on the reservoirs in August, 1885, and are preserved at 
Tring Park. Like the species last described, the little stint visits 
us only on migration, but it is more frequently met with than its 
congener. I am pleased to record the occurrence of this interesting 
little sandpiper, not only as an important addition to the birds of 
our county, but as intimately associated with the name of a gentle¬ 
man who has acceptably addressed our members on two occasions. 
To my friend, Mr. Henry Seebohm, and his companion, Mr. Harvie 
Brown, belongs the honour of having first discovered the breeding- 
grounds of the little stint. Having followed the course of the 
Eiver Petchora to its mouth, they landed at Dvornik and invaded 
the vast prairies which border the Arctic Ocean. At a spot almost 
due south of the island of Nova Zembla their exertions were 
rewarded. “On a comparatively dry extent of tundra, sloping 
towards the north-east,” both nests and eggs were discovered. 
Young birds in down were also obtained, and are at present 
exhibited at South Kensington. 
12. The Great Sfipe ( Gallinago major). —In August, 1880, a 
purely white specimen of the great snipe was shot near the re¬ 
servoirs. The great snipe is an occasional autumnal visitor to 
Britain. It has frequently been taken on the eastern coast, but is 
extremely rare in the Midland Counties. I cannot find any record 
of a white specimen having been previously obtained, and I think 
that it must be regarded as a sport of nature. 
13. The Grey Plover ( Squatarola helvetica). —A grey plover 
was shot near the reservoirs in March, 1885. The grey plover 
occurs more or less frequently, chiefly during its autumnal migra¬ 
tion, on the coasts of the British Isles, and is occasionally taken in 
the inland counties. It breeds in Northern Siberia, and its eggs 
were secured by Mr. Seebohm in the same district as those of the 
little stint. 
14. The Little Crake ( Porzana parva). —A “ little ” crake was 
shot near the Mars worth Beservoir on the 5th of January, 1887. 
The little crake, like so many of the waders, is a spring and autumn 
visitant to Britain, but, writes Mr. Seebohm,j- “it is not impossible 
that some may remain to breed and others occasionally to winter.” 
15. The Arctic Terf (Sterna macrura). —In the spring of 1886 
an Arctic tern was shot on the reservoirs by the keeper, James 
Street. The Arctic tern is by no means uncommon. It is a 
summer migrant, and breeds abundantly in the Shetlands, the 
Orkneys, the fame Islands, and on many parts of our coast. It was 
formerly confounded with the common tern, but it is, in fact, more 
abundant and more widely distributed than that species. It is 
distinguished from it by its red bill, and by the fact that its wings 
do not reach beyond its tail. 
* Seebohm, ‘ British Birds/ vol. iii, p. 217. 
f lb., vol. iv, p. 549. 
