168 
J. E. LITTLEBOY-NOTES ON BIRDS. 
Albino Sports.— Albino sports continue to be of frequent occur¬ 
rence. Perhaps the most remarkable instance reported is that of a 
pair of partridges with white wings and tails shot near Stevenage 
by Mr. W. Garratt, of Sele Mill, Hertford. 
General Per arks.— In my last paper I alluded to the wholesale 
destruction of redwings, fieldfares, and thrushes, by the influence of 
cold and hunger during the early part of the year 1886. During 
the present year large numbers of these birds have again been 
sufferers, but, as far as I have been able to obtain reliable information, 
not to the same extent as then reported. During the long continu¬ 
ance of snow in January all our resident birds suffered very severely 
from hunger; blackbirds, thrushes, and tits readily consorted with 
sparrows, chaffinches, etc., and fed contentedly on crumbs of bread 
and grain of any description, as though worms, grubs, insects, and 
berries had ceased to exist. The singing of the thrush had com¬ 
menced with unusual vigour before the expiration of the old year, 
but it ceased altogether during the snow, and the welcome sound 
was only heard occasionally during the month of February. Even 
swallows for once became the victims of climatic influence. Num¬ 
bers were picked up dead and dying in different parts of 
Hertfordshire soon after their arrival. This would doubtless 
result from the lateness of our spring, and the consequent absence 
of the insect-life usually abundant in April. 
Of golden plovers I have received but one report. They have 
been extremely scarce throughout the season. Perhaps it would 
not be difficult to account for their absence. In my report for the 
year 1882 I stated that the golden plover had long been regarded 
as the special harbinger of rain, and its specific name, Charadrius 
pluvialis , would seem to indicate that this popular belief has been 
more or less adopted by scientists. It is probable that the long 
continuance of dry weather, or very possibly the atmospheric causes 
which combine to promote such a result, may have proved sufficient 
to influence the acute migratory instincts of this sensitive bird, and 
to have directed its course to other shores. Partridges have been 
generally abundant, and the same may be reported respecting the 
snipe and the woodcock. 
I can hardly conclude my paper without offering my best thanks 
to Mr. Henry Lewis, of St. Albans, for the great assistance he has 
rendered me throughout the year. I trust that he will continue 
to help me in the future as he has done in the past, and that our 
members generally will kindly co-operate in endeavouring to make 
our annual ornithological report as comprehensive and interesting 
as possible. 
