OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1886 . 
165 
was laid about 8 o’clock in the morning, close up to the window, 
and in a position from which nothing but a very strong wind could 
dislodge it. I waited for about an hour to see if the mother would 
return to notice it, but although both of the hen chaffinches that 
feed at my window showed themselves, and one gave slight signs 
of distress, no bird went near the egg.” It is possible that the 
chaffinch may have failed to complete her nest in time to receive 
her first egg, or her nest may have been wantonly destroyed. 
Snow-Bunting (. Plectrophanes nivalis ).—Mr. H. Wyman observed 
a flock of snow-buntings, from the 27th to the 29th of December, 
frequenting hawthorn trees near Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead. 
They appeared to be feeding greedily on the berries. 
Hooded Crow ( Corvus Curnix ).—Mr. E. 0. Eordham reports that 
on the 31st of March he observed, near Hyde Hall, between twenty 
and thirty Boyston crows busily engaged in feasting upon the 
carcase of a single sheep. 
Greater Spotted Woodpecker ( Ficus major). —In the month of 
January three of these birds were shot near Hertford and brought 
to Mr. G. Shrimpton, of Port Yale, to be mounted. On the 2nd of 
last Eebruary I observed one on the branch of a tree, close to the 
road between St. Albans and Leverstock Green. 
Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus). —Shortly before reaching the ‘ 1 Eagle, ” 
near Hash Mills, on the 23rd of last September, we observed a beau¬ 
tiful kestrel in. splendid plumage, perched upon the telephone wire 
close to the road. It flew up just as we approached, but again 
alighted on the wire about 50 yards in advance. It remained in 
this position until we had passed by it, and then, after fluttering 
for a few moments in the air just above us, as if determined to 
exhibit itself to the best possible advantage, darted off in the direc¬ 
tion of the canal. 
Quail ( Coturnix communis ).— 1 am informed by Mr. Hare that 
quails have been abundant during the autumn on the Barton Hills, 
and that a few of them have been shot. 
Woodcock ( Scolopax rusticola). —I have received the following 
note respecting the nesting of the woodcock in Hertfordshire from 
our President, Mr. E. M. Campbell, E.L.S.—“In April, 1886, I met 
with a woodcock’s nest in. the wood called Cowheath. It was a 
few feet from a ride, on a slope with a southern aspect. The 
keeper informed me that he had seen the female on the nest, and 
that she sat very close. The nest was afterwards deserted and I 
have one of the eggs. Another keeper informs me that he found 
two nests in 1885 in an adjoining wood called Bramblers. I also 
hear that in June of the same year young woodcocks were identified 
by an experienced naturalist on. Hertford Heath.” The nesting of 
woodcocks in Hertfordshire has been recorded on previous occasions, 
but it is the first time that I have registered its occurrence. The 
woodcock has always been regarded as a winter migrant, but the 
fact that numerous instances of its nesting in the Midland and 
Southern counties have now been established, raises the important 
question as to whether it may not more correctly be considered as a 
