34 
W. BICKERTON—NOTES ON BIRDS 
habit; and that it feeds on beetles, grasshoppers, large moths, and 
other insects; perhaps also on small birds and mice, but is chiefly 
insectivorous. It has the ear-tufts so characteristic of some other 
members of its family. It is gratifying to be able to record its 
presence in Hertfordshire, not only as a visiting species, but also as 
a breeding species, and one can only hope that it received such 
protection as will encourage both parents and young to return to 
their former haunts. 
In addition to the above species new to the county I have to bring 
to your notice three interesting records which are not entirely new. 
1. The Little Owl (. Athene noctua). —I am able to exhibit 
a specimen of this bird, which was trapped in the vicinity of 
Watford in December, 1901. This species has only twice been 
previously recorded for the county. 
The bird is a generally-distributed resident in the south of 
Europe, especially in the Mediterranean area. It is not much 
given to migration, but specimens occasionally visit this country. 
Several British naturalists—among them the late Lord Lilford— 
have made more or less successful attempts to introduce this species. 
Mr. M. R. Pryor informs me that these birds have bred in the 
north of the county during the past four years, a very gratifying 
piece of information. 
2. Peregrine Ealcon (Falco peregrinus). — The peregrine, 
according to Mr. Crossman’s list, has been previously recorded in the 
county at least 15 times, but on only one of these occasions were 
two birds obtained. It is therefore quite an unusual occurrence for 
two of these noble hawks to be obtained at the same time and 
in the same place, and we must account ourselves particularly 
privileged in being able to examine the two—I do not say pair, 
for I think they are both females—I am able to exhibit to-night. 
These birds were taken in the vicinity of Watford in December, 
1901. One of them was reported to me as the goshawk ( Astur 
palumbarius), a specimen of which has never yet been recorded 
for Hertfordshire. It was on the strength of this information that 
a statement was made as to my endeavouring to exhibit a goshawk. 
On thoroughly looking into the matter, however, there is no doubt, 
as members will see for themselves, that the birds are both 
peregrines—hawks which are known locally in many parts of 
the country as “ goshawks,” but of course are not so. The captor 
of this so-called “ goshawk ” informed me that with wings expanded 
the bird measured 42 inches from tip to tip, and w r as, roughly 
speaking, “ about as heavy as a pheasant.” It was seen to swoop 
at and capture a partridge. It has been mounted by a local 
bird-stuff er. 
This fine bird is a resident in Britain, and fortunately is still 
fairly common in many parts, especially in Scotland and Ireland. 
It is mostly to be found on our rugged rock-bound coastlines, for 
only in such places, as a rule, is it allowed to breed without dis¬ 
turbance. Mr. H. Saunders states that in Connemara one nesting- 
site, known to have been frequented in 1684, is still utilised. 
