82 
J. E. LITTLEBOY-NOTES ON BIRDS 
Wild Deck (Anas Boschas ).—From 100 to 150 nests every year. 
Shoveller (Spatula clypeata ).—Three to five nests every year. 
Eggs have been taken and are preserved. 
Pochard (Fuligula ferina ).— Fifty to eighty nests every year. 
In 1886 a female pochard paired with a tufted duck (Fuligula 
cristata), and reared a brood of nine young ducks, which in appear¬ 
ance were very like scaup. A female hybrid remained on the 
water till last May. The same birds again paired in 1887 and 
reared a second brood. 
I will complete my notice of the birds of the reservoirs by 
selecting a few of the rarer species for record in our 1 Trans¬ 
actions ’:— 
Wheatear (Saxicola (Enanthe ).—Fairly plentiful. 
Bing-Ousel (Turdus torquatus ).—Two shot in July, 1886, and 
one in October, 1886. 
A hybrid between thrush and blackbird was shot 25th January, 
1886. 
Fire-Crest (Regulus ignicapillus ).—One shot in January, 1887. 
Wood- Warbler {Phylloscopus sibilatrix). 
Garden-Warbler (Sylvia hortensis). 
Bed backed Shrike (lanius collurio). 
Tree Pipit {Anthus trivialis ).— Two killed 22nd May, 1886. 
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). 
Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans ).—Fairly common. 
B rambling (Fringilla montifring ilia ).—Generally common in 
winter. 
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris). 
Lesser Bedpoll (Linota rufescens). 
Tree-Sparrow (Passer montanus ).—One shot in August, 1886. 
Common Bunting {Emberha miliaria). 
Cirl Bunting (Emberha cirlus ).—Two caught in November, 1885. 
Waxwing (Ampelis garrulus ).—One of these rare birds was 
obtained in March, 1883. 
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major). 
Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis). —Frequent. 
Night- jar (Caprimulgus europceus). —Occasionally. 
Long-eared Owl (Asio Otus ).^One taken in August, 1885; 
another in December, 1886. 
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus ).—Yery rare; a female taken in 
December, 1884. 
Merlin (Falco AEsalon ).—Only once before have I had the pleasure 
of recording this beautiful little hawk. Two in immature plumage 
were taken in February, 1886, and two in mature plumage in 
January, 1887. All four were secured near the canal. 
Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus ).—Two ospreys visited the reservoirs 
in the early part of September, 1886. 
Bittern (Botaurus stellaris ).—Two bitterns were shot on the 
reservoirs on 9th November, 1884. 
Glossy Ibts (Plegadis falcinellus ).—One of these rare waders was 
shot in October, 1886, just beyond the border of Hertfordshire in 
