0BSEKVED IN HEKTFOEDSHIKE IN 1887. 
87 
tained.” Mr. Horace J. Tuck, of St. Leonard’s, Bengeo, Hertford, 
informs me that on the 29th of May a cuckoo was seen to flutter 
for a few seconds over a bush in his garden, closely followed by a 
cock blackbird. On visiting the bush two eggs were found iu a 
whitethroat’s nest, one of which was a cuckoo’s. On the 15th of 
June another cuckoo’s egg was found in the nest of a reed-warbler. 
In due time it was hatched, three eggs belonging to the foster- 
parents being turned out a day or two afterwards. The reed- 
warblers were most assiduous in their efforts to find sufficient food 
for the young cuckoo. It consisted chiefly of flies and caterpillars, 
especially of the gooseberry-caterpillar, and the birds completely 
cleared a few bushes which were covered with the latter. The 
cuckoo left the nest on 18th July, and was occasionally followed by 
its foster-mother, which still continued to feed it, frequently resting 
on the cuckoo’s wing to reach its beak. This is the first time that 
I have recorded the fact of a cuckoo depositing her egg in the nest 
of a reed-warbler. 
Hobby-Hawk (Falco subbuteo ).— Our President, Mr. F. M. 
Campbell, has been good enough to inform me that a hobby-hawk 
was shot to the north of Cow-heath Wood, near Hoddesdon, on the 
3rd of July, and is now in his possession. 
Ospeey \Pandion Haliaetus ).—On Saturday, 17th September, as 
a party of gentlemen were shooting over some land in the parish 
of Great Gaddesden, a large bird rose from the Biver Gade and flew 
just within gun-shot. It was slightly wounded in one of its wings, 
and at once brought to the ground. Six of the party formed a 
circle round it, but it exhibited its powerful hooked beak and 
villainous-looking talons with such decided effect that no one felt 
inclined to touch it. The offer of a gratuity to a farm-labourer 
quickly effected its capture, and when once seized it offered but 
little resistance. It was brought for identification to Hunton 
Bridge, where it remained for about a week. It proved to be a 
female osprey. It was confined in a covered fowl-run and fed 
entirely on fish. It refused to eat anything that was dead, but 
directly a live dace was placed in some water within its reach, it 
devoured it with avidity. It appeared to possess tastes superior 
to the attractions of minnows, and allowed them to swim about 
unmolested, but for chub, perch, and dace it evinced a decided pre¬ 
dilection. Its method of feeding was peculiar ; it commenced by 
tearing its victim open, and proceeded to devour the entrails before 
consuming the more fleshy portions. It measured 5 feet 2 inches 
from tip to tip of wing, and was in capital plumage. It lived in 
captivity for about six weeks. It is now mounted and is in the 
possession of Mr. W. M. Shirreff, Belsize Park, London. I am 
informed by Mr. Norman Thrale that, on the 18th of September, 
the day following the capture just described, an osprey was observed 
fishing in the River Lea, near Wheathampstead, where it was seen 
to take several trout. It was shot by Mr. William Thrale. It 
proved to be a male bird; has been mounted, and is preserved. 
There can be but little doubt that these birds were a pair, and 
