130 
W. BICKERTON—NOTES ON BIRDS 
each of the young ones they bring up a portion, apparently the 
allowance for one, into their mouth, repeating this until all are fed. 
The visits to the young were at long intervals. The morning 
the young birds left the nest, July 8th, they were very restless 
and noisy, as if aware that some important step was about to be 
taken. About 5 a.m. one old bird came, as if to feed the young, 
but, instead of feeding, it kept moving slowly backwards from the 
hole, thus inducing the one that was looking out (and there was 
always, after the birds had attained a good size, one young bird 
looking out) to leave the hole, and follow the parent round the 
tree. In a short time both took to the wing and disappeared. 
After this the remaining young got more restless and noisy than 
ever. The next did not leave the hole till about 6.30, the others 
left at shorter intervals, and all had gone by 9 a.m. The old birds 
did not come near the hole to entice any of them out except the 
first. Unfortunately, during a recent gale, the greater part of 
the apple-tree was blown down, otherwise there might have been 
an opportunity for further observation next season. The tree 
was well situated for the purpose, being only a few yards from 
a window. I am hoping that the birds may yet return and 
make a fresh hole in the remaining part of the tree.” 
Hen-Harrier (Circus cyaneus). — One of the keepers in the 
Watford district informed me that on March 10th he saw a hen¬ 
harrier near Chandler’s Cross, but as he was without his gun at the 
time he could not obtain it. The bird has only been recorded for 
Hertfordshire four times previously. 
Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus). — Mr. H. G. Fordham reports: 
There was an extraordinary quantity of wood-pigeons in this part 
of the county (Odsey) from January onwards. Apparently they 
were attracted by the great crops of sheep-food—cabbage, turnips, 
etc., to which they did much harm till quite late in the. Spring.” 
Corn-Crake (Crex pratensis ).— I heard only one (near King’s 
Langley) during the whole of the Summer, and this is only the 
second time 1 have heard this species within four years. It is 
somewhat difficult to account for its increasing scarcity in the 
Southern and Home Counties. I may add that while spending 
a few days’ holiday at Whitby in June last I found this bird 
apparently common, almost every cornfield having at least one pair. 
Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis ).—The Hon. A. Holland- 
Hibbert informs me that in January he saw a party of six at Munden. 
Great Crested Grebe (Podicipes cristatus). — Mr. E. P. Thompson 
informs me that a bird of this species visited Elstree Reservoir on 
April 13th. 
The following birds are reported as being more plentiful than 
usual during 1903 :—Missel-thrush, song-thrush, fieldfare, black¬ 
bird, robin, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet, bullfinch, starling, rook, 
and ring-dove. 
The birds in the subjoined list are reported as being scarcer 
than usual-Redwing, nightingale, lesser whitethroat, swallow, 
house-martin, sand-martin, siskin, lesser redpoll, skylark (autumn 
