230 
W. BICKERTON-NOTES ON BIRDS 
whilst I have in my possession a buff variety of the former— 
a female killed in October near Bedmond.” 
Mr. A. W. Dickinson, JSTew Farm, St. Albans, reports that 
a white chaffinch was seen on January 20th in a field near 
Harpenden Common, and that a white starling on January 22nd 
formed one of a flock, and was seen on several occasions extending 
over a few weeks. Mr. F. W. Headley, M.A., of Haileybury, saw 
several albino varieties of blackbirds and sparrows. I myself saw 
a blackbird with a white head near Garston in November, and 
I may state that it is the only indication of albinism that I have 
personally noted during my 5J years residence in the district. 
It is especially noteworthy that this tendency towards albinism 
has been noted by independent observers in different parts of the 
county, and it would he interesting if one could ascertain whether 
there has been any corresponding tendency— 
(1) Among the smaller mammals of the county, such as the 
squirrel, weasel, stoat. 
(2) Among birds in other counties during the same year. 
I now pass to a few general notes. 
With regard to the thrush family, there is a general consensus of 
opinion that song-thrushes ( Turdus musicus ), missel-thrushes 
( T\ viscivorus ), and blackbirds ( T 1 merula ) continue to steadily 
increase, while redwings ( T . iliacus) and fieldfares (T. pilaris), and 
especially the former, have visited us in much reduced numbers 
during recent years. One would like to know definitely whether 
the mild winters of recent years are responsible for the apparent 
scarcity of the two last named, by allowing these birds to obtain 
sufficient supplies of food in winter in districts further north. 
Perhaps the next really hard winter, when it comes, may furnish 
us with definite evidence on the point. 
With regard to the blackbird, I noted a peculiarity in a nest seen 
near Hamper Mill in March. There had evidently been a “ paper 
chase ” out there, just before the bird had built its nest, for it had 
gathered a number of the white paper “ ribbons ” which lay about, 
and woven them into its structure, in every case leaving an inch or 
two of “ribbon” hanging down the side of the nest. Thus the 
nest all round presented a highly “decorated” appearance, and one, 
moreover, which rendered it extremely conspicuous to every passer¬ 
by, especially as there were no leaves on the bushes at the time. 
Redbreast ( Eriihacus ruhecula). —It may he remembered that in 
my last report I gave an account of a nest containing an altogether 
abnormal type of egg observed by the Hon. A. Holland-Hibbert 
at Munden, and that, after weighing up all the evidence afforded 
by the nest and eggs (the bird itself not having been seen), I came 
to the conclusion that they were those of the redbreast. I am. 
pleased to be able to report that the gentleman named has again 
had a nest containing eggs of exactly the same abnormal kind 
under observation during 1904, and that he has actually seen the 
bird and identified it, beyond the shadow of doubt, as a robin. 
I was again privileged to see both nest and eggs, and I also saw 
