BIRDS those districts where fruit is cultivated to any extent. 70. Crossbill. Loxia curuirostra, Linn. This species is a pretty frequent visitor to several places in Hertfordshire, more especially on the north-western border. At Tring Park and in the neighbourhood of Berkhamsted it appears every winter, staying at times well into the summer. In fact there are good grounds for believing that it has nested at both places, although the actual nest has never been discovered, the Hon. W. Roths- child having seen a young bird at the former place in June which could barely fly, while near Berkhamsted I have seen the birds paired in March and April during two different years. Yarrell also mentions Hertfordshire as a county in which the nest has been found. 71. Two-barred Crossbill. Loxia bifasciata (Brehm). The only example of this species which has been obtained in Hertfordshire was shot in a little larch wood on Tharbies Farm near Sawbridgeworth on January nth, 1890. It was in the plumage of a female, but the sex was unfortunately not ascertained by dissec- tion. Mr. H. S. Rivers, who shot it, first recorded it in the Zoologist for 1893 as L. leucoptera ; but Mr. E. Hartert had an oppor- tunity of examining it, and came to the con- clusion that it belonged to the European species. 72. Corn-Bunting. Emberiza miliaria, Linn. This species is a common resident, especi- ally in the more open parts of the county. 73. Yellow Hammer. Emberiza citrinella, Linn. This is also a common resident, whose numbers are however increased by immi- grants during the winter. 74. Cirl Bunting. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. This is rather a rare nesting species with us, although I think it must be sparsely distri- buted along the hills to the north of the county. In 1881 one was shot near Royston on February 1 4th while in company with some yellow hammers. The neighbourhood of Tring seems to be favoured by it most, and even there it is far from common. My acquaintance with it in Hertfordshire is decidedly limited, being confined to two examples one seen at Hastoe near Tring on August 2ist, 1898 ; while during the present year I saw a male at Aldbury on several occasions which probably had a nest near. 75. Rustic Bunting. Emberiza rustica, Pallas. The late Lord Lilford had in his collection a young male of this species which was sent to him in the flesh, having been taken by a birdcatcher at Elstree reservoir on November i gth, 1882. This specimen was only the third that had been obtained in the British Isles. 76. Reed-Bunting. Emberiza schasniclus, Linn. The reed-bunting is fairly plentiful at Tring and other suitable localities. It is however inclined to be rather local. 77. Snow - Bunting. Plectrophenax niva/is (Linn.). This bird has occurred on several occasions in the winter. The first record I have of it was in February, 1881, when a specimen which passed into the hands of Mr. W. Hill was shot near Hitchin. About the same time several were seen near Royston, two of which were caught with some larks. On January 24th, 1883, one was obtained on Harpenden Common; while on December 27th, 1886, and again on the 2gth, a flock was seen at Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead. On December 6th, 1893, a specimen was picked up under the telegraph wires on Royston Heath, and in January following one was shot at Sandon. 78. Starling. Sturnus vu/garis, Linn. This is a common resident, the numbers of which are greatly increased by migrants during part of the year. In the autumn it may be seen in vast flocks wending its way to and from some common roosting-place. During the last two years I have seen a starling at Berkhamsted which had a white tail, but which was otherwise of a normal colour. 79. Chough. Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linn.). It is the unexpected which always happens ; such is certainly the case in this species being seen in Hertfordshire. In the Herts Advertiser for June 2ist, 1884, appeared a letter from a Mr. Henry Cross of Harpenden, in which he gave a description of a bird of this kind which he had seen on the eastern side of the Midland Railway near Beech Bottom Wood, St. Albans, on May 27th previous. Much correspond- ence appeared in the papers about it, but no evidence was forthcoming that a chough had escaped from confinement at that time, al- though that would seem to be the most likely solution of such an occurrence. 80. Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.). The jay is a plentiful species in the wooded districts of the county, although it is pretty 203
