126 
W. BICKERTON-NOTES ON BIRDS 
bird were seen by the Hon. Charles Rothschild on Wilstone 
Reservoir near Tring, in November, 1903. One of these, a young 
male, was obtained ; the other was seen for some time, but 
afterwards disappeared.” This interesting record enables me to 
state that the whole of the five grebes known to British ornithology 
have now been observed in Hertfordshire, although for two out of 
the five—the red-necked grebe ( Podicipes griseigena) and P. nigricollis 
—only one appearance is recorded, and in each case at the Tring 
Reservoirs. Like the purple heron, this grebe is chiefly a southern 
species, which occasionally comes so far north, or rather north¬ 
west, as the British Isles, and is most frequently taken on our 
north-eastern coasts. Mr. Hartert states that it nests freely in 
East Prussia. Mr. Saunders states that “ southward from Germany 
it breeds in suitable localities throughout the greater part of Europe, 
becoming abundant in the countries bordering the Mediterranean 
and Black Seas; while it is even more plentiful in North Africa, 
whence it ranges southward to the Cape.” It is curious to note 
that Canon Tristram found this grebe nesting “in societies more 
densely crowded than any rookery,” and that the nests “were 
raised on artificial islets, frequently almost touching each other, 
and sometimes piled on stout foundations rising from more than 
a yard under water.” The adult male in breeding plumage has 
the head and neck black, with a triangular patch of long hair-like 
feathers of a golden chestnut colour on the ear coverts. Doubtless 
from these two characteristics it has received its trivial names of 
“black-necked” and “eared” grebe. It is noteworthy, however, 
that both the black on the throat and the golden “ ear-tufts ” dis¬ 
appear with the autumn moult. The length of the adult bird is 
given as 12 inches. 
General Notes. 
Missel-Thrush ( Turdus viscivorus ) and Song-Thrush ( Turdus 
musicus ).—It is the general opinion of all the correspondents who 
have favoured me with notes during the last two years that these 
birds are decidedly on the increase in all 'parts of the county. 
Erom the information one sees in the natural-history papers and 
magazines, it is evident that this increase obtains practically 
throughout the whole country. With regard to the early nesting 
of the thrushes, I may state that I saw a new thrush’s nest so 
early as February 15th, near Grove Mill, but as it was not easily 
accessible I could not ascertain whether it was that of the 
missel-thrush or song-thrush, or whether it contained any eggs. 
Mr. Thompson, of Elstree, reports a song-thrush’s nest, containing 
five eggs, at Boreham Wood, on March 16th. I heard thrushes in 
full song both during the first week in January and the last week 
of December, 1903, and from the general results of my own 
observation I think that a few birds can be heard in song during 
every month of the year excepting perhaps August and September. 
Redwing ( Turdus iliacus) and Fieldeare (T. pilaris). —Although 
these birds were fairly numerous in the early months of the year, 
1 did not notice a single specimen of either of them in the Watford 
