88 
J. E. LITTLEBOY — NOTES ON BIRDS 
It flew about with the rest, and, with the exception of its colour, 
was in all respects similar in appearance to its fellows. 
Kingfisher ( Alcedo Ispida). — I am glad to be able to report that 
these brilliant-plumaged birds have been very plentiful on this 
side of the county during the year. At Hunton Bridge we have 
seen them almost daily, and have constantly watched them diving 
into the stream after small fish. It is noticeable that they almost 
always kill their victims by rapping them on the rail or stone on 
which they alight, before eating them. 
Long-eared Owl (. Asio Otus). —Mr. Percy F. Fordham reports 
the finding of two nests of these interesting birds near Boyston ; 
the first on July 12th, with two young owlets; the second on 
July 23rd, with three eggs. Both were built in branches of the 
spruce-fir, the one in a deserted hawk’s nest, the other in the nest 
of a wood-pigeon. It has often been asserted that the long-eared 
owl rarely or never builds its own nest; these two instances appear 
to corroborate the statement. 
Whimbrel ( JVumenius Phceopus). —I am pleased again to record 
the occurrence of a whimbrel within the limits of our county. 
Mr. W. Norman, of Boyston, reports having obtained a specimen 
shot at Bucklancl. The whimbrel has only once before been 
reported. 
Woodcock (Scolopax Rusticola). — Woodcocks have been tolerably 
plentiful on this side of the county, and several are reported as 
having been shot in the Boyston and Therfield districts. 
Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). —Large numbers of the 
golden plover have visited us during the past year. In March 
they are reported by Mr. H. G. Fordham as abundant near Odsey. 
A few are reported as observed in the same district, and also 
near Hertford, early in September ; but from that date to the com¬ 
mencement of the east winds which preceded the snow in December, 
they were, to use the words of Mr. H. C. Heard, “ remarkable by 
their absence.” In December they became very abundant. Large 
flocks are reported by Mr. Heard on the 6th and 9th, and on the 
14th and 29th “immense flocks” are again mentioned. On the 
latter occasion they were extremely tame, and several were shot 
within a distance of thirty yards. 
Dabchick ( Podiceps minor). —Mr. N. Thrale, of Port Yale, 
Hertford, has forwarded to me a note respecting the choking of 
dabchicks which is, I think, worthy of record. “ In November,” 
writes Mr. Thrale, u I was walking by the river Beane at Water¬ 
ford Marsh, near Bengeo, when I noticed a bird floating on its back 
in the water. It proved to be a dabchick with rather a large bull¬ 
head in its throat, partly swallowed. The fish was full of spawn, 
and the dabchick could neither swallow nor eject it. About three 
weeks later a young gentleman found a second dabchick, which 
had been choked in a similar manner, but in this instance the 
bull-head was very nearly swallowed. It had floated down the 
Beane and lodged against some river-gates. To-day (February 15th, 
1884) I found in the river Beane, but rather nearer Hertford, a 
