OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1910. 
273 
Blackbird (T. merula ).—I have again found, several nests of 
this species (as also of the song-thrush) right on the ground. 
Generally such nests are well hidden in thick tufts of long 
coarse grass. Mr. Foster reports the extraordinary fact that 
he found a cuckoo’s egg in a blackbird’s nest which was built on 
a tree stump in a wood near Hitchin. The nest was only about 
a foot from the ground. It would have been very interesting 
to have ascertained whether the young cuckoo safely hatched 
out and eventually got off, and if so what happened to the black¬ 
bird’s eggs or young. The blackbird seems peculiarly subject 
to partial albinism. Mr. Foster reports that “ pied ” blackbirds 
have several times been seen in his district, one of which was 
“ whiter” than any he has hitherto seen. Lady Ebury has told 
me of a nearly white blackbird that has for several years past 
haunted the private grounds of the Park, and which, of course, 
is carefully protected there, and Mr. Dickinson reports a black¬ 
bird with a white head which has been a source of great interest 
in the district for over two years, but which unfortunately was 
killed against the telegraph wires last year. How pleasant it is 
to be able to note that even common birds of exceptional interest 
are now coming to be regarded as worthy of special preservation, 
rather than as creatures to be shot down at the first sight, 
stuffed, and set up in a glass case! Mr. Headley reports the 
blackbird as being in song on February 7th. 
Whinchat (Pratincola rubetra ).—This is decidedly a scarce 
bird in the Watford district, and I did not see or hear one 
all the summer. Mr. Dickinson (New Farm, St. Albans) 
reports its occurrence, and states that this is the first time he 
has ever noticed the bird in his district. But I suspect the 
truth of the matter to be that the bird is more local than rare, 
as it is a fairly common species in some districts. 
Redbreast (Erithacus ruhecula ).—It would be strange indeed 
if a year passed by without furnishing further evidence of the 
robin’s “ confidential eccentricity ” in the matter of nesting- 
sites. The following have been reported :—(1) Mr. H. Sansom 
(Cassiobridge) told me of a robin’s nest built in an old shoe 
that had been pushed aside on one of the shelves in a shed near 
the watercress ditches. (2) Mr. E. Snow Fordham (Ashwell, 
Baldock) reports a nest with five eggs “in an old rusty tin lying 
on the grass beside a much-frequented public road. The tin 
is about 10 inches in circumference, is round, and lies on its 
side.” (3) I myself found a robin’s nest inside an old watering- 
can in a wood near Hickmans worth. (4) Mr. J. Hopkinson 
has kindly sent to me the following note taken from the 4 Herts 
Mercury ’ :—“ A robin has built its nest in a Begonia rex in the 
greenhouse of Codicoteburv Hardens, Codicote, and brought up 
two healthy birds. Another robin has built its nest in a maiden¬ 
hair fern in the same greenhouse and laid four eggs.” 
Willow-Wren (Phylloscopus trochilus ).—It is, as a rule, our 
native, resident,—one might almost say domestic—birds which 
