OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1903. 
127 
district during the autumn and winter months at the close of the 
year. This is rather unusual, and makes 1903 the only one of 
the last five years in which I have not seen these winter visitors 
between October and December. Mr. Gibbs informs me that in 
the St. Albans district the redwing was much scarcer and the 
fieldfare rather more plentiful than usual. 
Blackbird ( Tardus merula). —Mr. E. Hartert (Tring) reports 
the following circumstance, almost unique I should think, in 
regard to the nesting habits of this species:—“ I found a blackbird’s 
nest underground about five feet inside a large entrance hole dug 
by marmots in Tring Park. It could only be reached by lying- 
down flat. It contained, however, no eggs or young.” 
Wheatear ( Saxicola cenanthe). —Mr. E. P. Thompson reports 
that on August 26th he saw a wheatear at Elstree, and that this 
is the first occasion on which he has seen it in that locality. It 
maybe of interest to state that this is the first note of the occurrence 
of the wheatear in the county that I have received during the 
past three years, so that it looks as if the visits of this striking 
bird are either very few or very rarely noticed and recorded. 
Redbreast ( Erithacus rulecula). —Mr. T. Brown (Hatfield) reports 
that he found a robin’s nest in an old lantern lying in a cart-shed. 
The glass on one side of the lantern was broken. Mr. Gibbs reports 
a nest of the species found in an old tin. 
Nightingale ( Daulias luscinia).- —There is a pretty general 
opinion among my correspondents that nightingales were either 
very scarce or very silent during the Summer of 1903. Thus 
Mr. Hartert (Tring) reports : “ Very few nightingales were heard, 
but probably they did not sing so much as in years with better 
weather.” And Mr. H. G. Eordham (Odsey) reports: “The 
nightingale has hardly been heard at all this Spring ; whether they 
have not come to this part of the country, or the wet weather has 
prevented their singing, I do not know. In 1902 there were few, 
or they did not sing much, but the present year has been remark¬ 
able for the absence of song.” It is also noteworthy that they 
were unusually late in arrival, doubtless owing to the cold and 
boisterous season. 
Grasshopper-Warbler ( Locustella ncevia). —This was another of 
our usual summer visitors which could not accommodate itself to 
the unhappy climate of last year. Mr. Barraud reports that 
whereas the species usually haunts Bushey Heath in Spring and 
Summer, not a single specimen was seen or heard during 1903. 
Hedge-Sparrow ( Accentor modularis). — Mr. E. P. Thompson 
reports that a nest of this species containing two eggs was found at 
Elstree on January 24th. This is a remarkably early date. 
Waxwing ( Ampelis garrulux). —Mr. A. E. Gibbs informs me that 
a pair of waxwings have been presented to the St. Albans Museum, 
and that they were two of four birds captured near Watford in the 
earlier part of the year. This is the first record of the appearance 
of the waxwing in the county since 1895. There are only eight 
previous visits recorded, and these range from 1850 to 1895. 
