216 
J. E. LITTLEBOY-—NOTES ON BIRDS 
vented it from floating further. The birds, nothing daunted, con¬ 
tinued to sit on the eggs, which they successfully hatched, and, 
much to our interest and pleasure, succeeded in rearing the young.” 
Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata ).—A flight of seven tufted ducks 
visited the Lynch, Hoddesdon, early in the present year. I quote 
the following from a letter received from Mr. Henry Manser: —• 
“ The Lynch, January 26th, 1885. Lor the past week I have had 
seven specimens of the tufted diver on the lake ; they are all 
drakes. Yesterday, whilst watching the seven strangers, six of 
them rose from the water and flew several times round the high 
forest-trees on the island, and again settled on the water. They 
looked very pretty during their flight. Only one out of the seven 
is in perfect plumage, the others are evidently last year’s birds ; the 
tuft on the head not being so long, full, and perfect as it will be in 
a few months hence, and the white on the breast and sides not the 
pure clean white of the adult bird.” I ought to mention that M r. 
Manser has had some pinioned tufted ducks on the Lynch pond for 
several years, and this fact may probably account for the visit of the 
seven drakes. 
Little Auk (Mergulus alle). — Mr. J. Sharp, of St. Albans, 
informs me that a little auk was found dead in a field, at Symonds 
Hyde, near Sandridge. It is the second time that I have been able 
to record the occurrence of this very peculiar little sea-bird in 
Hertfordshire. I believe that it is never a voluntary visitor to 
inland districts, and its presence here can only be due to storm- 
pressure. 
Albino Sports. —The number of albino sports, especially in the 
St. Albans district, appears during the past year to have been 
unusually large. Mr. Arthur Lewis reports having observed a 
milk-white jackdaw in Gorhambury Park. It was feeding with a 
large number of other jackdaws, and when it rose from the ground 
it seemed to be guarded by five or six of them. Lord Grirnston, in 
a letter dated November 9th, informs Mr. Lewis that it has been 
there for some years, and that there are in the park several other 
more or less white birds, including a white rook, and two or three 
of a grey colour or with patches of white on the wing. His lordship 
further states that he first observed a rook with white patches on 
its wing about ten years ago, and that he has seen the same or similar 
ones, at intervals, ever since. Mr. E. W. Arnold, of Redbourn 
Bury, reports having met with a perfectly white wood-pigeon ; and 
Mr. Arthur Lewis has now in his possession a cream-coloured 
greenfinch, not quite white, but nearly so, which was caught near 
St. Albans last December. 
General Remarks. 
I need hardly remark that observations, taken and recorded, 
respecting the arrival and departure of migrants, can only be 
permanently useful in proportion as they tend to throw light upon 
the habits and instincts of our feathered visitors, or upon the “ why 
