282 
W. BICKERTON-NOTES ON BIRDS 
along the sedge-fringed margin of the stream, they had had 
perforce to take refuge in the trees, which were clear of the 
“ watery plain ” beneath, and that the new habit, once formed 
under stress of special circumstances, they were continuing to 
practise after the floods had passed away. 
Stone-Curlew ( (Edicnemus scolopax). — Mr. Gr. E. Bullen 
(St. Albans) reports that a stone-curlew has been shot at Colney 
Heath, and the date is given as February 6th. The bird is now 
in the County Museum. If that date should be confirmed, it 
will make the incident a very extraordinary one, for this bird is 
generally a summer visitor only, arriving in April and departing 
in October, though it is recorded that a few birds pass the 
winter in Devon and Cornwall. Therefore, for a specimen to 
be seen in Herts in the month of February marks a very 
unusual departure both in the habit and the winter range of the 
species. It may be remembered that a few years ago I was 
able to photograph this very rare nesting species within the 
county. I have made special inquiries as to whether the birds 
continue to nest in the same district, and I am pleased to report 
that they successfully reared their young there last year (1910). 
My informant also tells me that flocks of twelve have been seen 
on the wing in the autumn in that same district. This is very 
satisfactory. 
Ringed Plover ( JEgialitis hiaticula), Dunlin ( Tringa alpina), 
and Little Stint ( Tringa minuta). —Mr. Oldham and I saw 
fourteen of the first-named, with one dunlin and one little stint, 
at the Wilstone Reservoir on September 18th. 
Common Snipe ( Gallinago coelestis). —A nest of this species 
has been found between Watford and Rickmansworth, and 
I have succeeded in getting a very interesting series of photo¬ 
graphs of the nest, eggs, and sitting bird. The nest was rather 
late for a southern county, and was found about the middle of 
May. It contained four eggs, and was placed in the long grass 
of a water-meadow. The birds commenced “ drumming ” in 
that district in the middle of March, and it was because of this 
that I suspected a nest. I am pleased also to record that three 
of the four eggs hatched out, and the young got safely off. The 
date of hatching was May 27th. This makes the third recorded 
nest of the snipe for Hertfordshire, although I feel fairly sure 
that a few pairs of the birds nest within the county each year. 
I have seen a few snipe about during the winter, but they have 
not been nearly so numerous as in previous years. 
Common Sandpiper ( Totanus hypoleucus) .—I have received 
three notes on this species for the year, and one of these is an 
extremely interesting one, because it records the nesting of this 
bird in the county for the first time, and therefore enables us to 
add it to the list of Hertfordshire nesting-species. I am indebted 
to Mr. W. G-raveson (Hertford) for an account of the occurrence 
referred to. From this it appears that the birds chose as their 
nesting-site the grounds attached to a private residence in 
